Friday, December 25, 2009

Caramel Apple Rolls

1 box Pillsbury Hot Roll Mix, prepared according to Cinnamon Roll directions

Filling:

1/2 - 3/4 cup buttercream frosting
1/4 - 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 apples, peeled and diced
3 tablespoons brown sugar
cinnamon to taste

Prepare Hot Roll mix according to cinnamon roll directions. Roll out in large rectangle, spread filling all over and the roll up into long tube. Cut into twelve and set in greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Let rise for 30 min and bake at 375 degree oven for 20 to 30 min. Frost and serve warm.....mmmm.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels

I love hot and tangy things. These little appetizers are a little of both worlds. I am also obsessed with semi-homemade recipes that are easy and usually include crescent roll dough. I think this recipe is from Pillsbury.
1 can refridgerated crescent roll dough
1/2 cup finely chopped cooked chicken
1/4 cup hot sauce or wing sauce
3 oz. cream cheese softened
1/4 cup blue cheese (1 0z.)
2 tbs. chopped fresh chives

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Unroll the dough and separate it into 4 rectangles, try to seal the seams together.

In a small bowl, mix the chicken together with the hot sauce until well coated. Spread about 1 tbs. cream cheese over each rectangle. Sprinkle with chicken mixture, blue cheese and chives.

Starting from one end, roll the dough up and tuck in anything thats falling out. Cut into 4-5 pieces per rectangle. Place cut side down on the cookie sheet and bake for 13-17 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
I serve them with carrot and celery sticks.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

not your average lemon bar.


i made these for a christmas party we are going to tonight. oh wow. please make these and tell me how delicious they are.

ingredients:

  • 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel
  • 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S Premier White Chips, divided
  • 2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 cups regular rolled or quick-cooking oats
  • 3/4 cup toasted pecan pieces*
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon shortening

directions:

1. heat oven to 350°F. lightly grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan. combine sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice and lemon peel in medium bowl; set aside. measure out 1/4 cup and 1/3 cup white chips; set aside. add remaining white chips to lemon mixture.

2. beat butter and brown sugar until blended in large mixer bowl. stir together flour, oats, pecans, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture, blending well. remove 1-2/3 cups oats mixture; set aside. add egg to remaining mixture, blending until crumbly. press egg/crumb mixture on bottom of prepared pan. gently spoon lemon mixture on top, spreading evenly. add reserved 1/3 cup white chips to reserved crumb mixture. sprinkle over lemon layer, pressing crumbs lightly.

3. bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. cool in pan on wire rack. place remaining 1/4 cup white chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 30 seconds; stir. if necessary, microwave at MEDIUM 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. drizzle over bars. allow drizzle to set; cut into bars. about 36 bars.

*to toast pecans: heat oven to 350°F. spread pecans in thin layer in shallow baking pan. bake 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown; cool.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

banana chocolate chip muffins




these were oh my gosh delicious. boxed blueberry muffins will forever hold a place in my heart, but i might have had a slight change of heart after trying these. i made them for breakfast when all of our family was in town in october and they were gobbled up within a matter of minutes. again, from my trusty blog friend jessica.

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 bananas mashed
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips (however many you like in your muffins)

heat oven to 350 degrees. cream sugar and butter. add eggs and beat well. sift or mix flour, baking soda, and salt. add bananas and vanilla, and lastly chocolate chips. fill muffin cups 2/3 full. bake 20-25 minutes.

cheesy breadsticks

i told you i was on a role with bread.



i don't know this guy, but i couldn't find a picture of cheesy breadsticks that look like these, so i opted for someone who looks like they're having fun eating a breadstick in front of a kitschy-european looking souvenir shop.

this recipe comes from my blog friend jessica (i got permission to share with everyone). and these are not so "light and airy!" but are now my go-to breadsticks.

3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 pkg active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast)
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup warm water
2 tbsp olive oil


in a large bowl, mix 1 1/4 cups flour with yeast and salt, add warm water and oil. beat with a whisk for 3 minutes. using a wooden sppon, stir in another 3 1/4 cups flour, or enough so mixture holds together. place dough on a lightly floured surface. knead in 1/4 to 1/2 cup more flour-stop once it's lump free. cover dough and let it rest for about 10 minutes. heat oven to 425 degrees. (leave it on the oven while it's heating up for a quicker rise).

on a greased baking sheet (i use parchment paper sometimes), press out dough into a rectangle, as thin as you like it. prick dough with a fork lightly. bake about 8 minutes. melt butter and brush on top of dough. sprinkle with garlic salt and cheese. (mozerella and parmesan are da best). bake another 8 minutes or until browned. cut into wedges and enjoy!

parmesan puff pastry breadsticks



don't these make you want to jump up right now and whip up a batch?

ok so i have a thing for bread. namely, bread with cheese on it, in the form of a stick that can easily be shoved into my mouth. i made these as an appetizer for thanksgiving and they were everything i hoped for: light and airy so i could consume large amounts without even knowing!

the original recipe for these comes from good ol' paula dean found here. but since i know some of you are a little particular on following links (liz, cough), i will post the whole recipe here too.

1 (17.3-ounce) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed
1 cup freshly grated parmesan (yes it must be FRESH! dust off your grater)
1 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 cup butter, melted

(i actually had to double all of the ingredients to cover a whole package of pastry sheets).

preheat oven to 400 degrees. lightly grease a baking sheet (i used parchment paper for easier cleanup).

on a lightly floured surface, unfold pastry sheets (i just used one of our cutting mats). cut each sheet into 13 strips, about 3/4 by 10-inches apiece.

in a shallow dish, combine cheese, basil, and garlic. brush pastry sticks with melted butter on both sides. roll pastry in cheese mixture, lighly coating each side. gently twist pastry sticks, and place on a prepared baking sheet. bake for 12 minutes. remove to wire racks to cool.