Peanut Cream Chocolate Bars

I just tried this recipe for the first time last night and it was delicious! Anything with peanut butter and chocolate has to be good, plus it was really easy. It's definitely a winner!

Base:

1 pkg. devil's food cake mix

1/3 c. oil

1 egg

Filling:

1/3 c. sugar

1 egg

3/4 c. peanut butter

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

3/4 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Mix, in large bowl, the cake mix, oil, and egg at low speed until crumbly. Reserve one cup for topping. Press remaining mixture in bottom of ungreased 9x13x2 inch pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 350.

Beat sugar, peanut butter, cream cheese, and egg until smooth. Spread over baked base. In small bowl, combine reserved base and nuts. Sprinkle over filling and lightly press down. Bake for 15 minutes at 350. Refrigerate for one hour and cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Boboli's Pizza Crust

My friend, Jessi, sent me a PDF file full of restaurant/professional recipes that I'll be sharing from time to time on here. Note that I haven't tried any of these yet, but they sound great! I LOVE making homemade pizza, so I wanted to post this recipe for pizza crust first. If you try it out, leave a comment to let me know how you liked it!



1 pk Dry Yeast
1/4 cup Water
2 1/4 cups Warm water
6 tb Olive oil,+ extra for pans
6 cups Flour
1 ts Salt

Dissolve yeast in warm water (105F is perfect). Let it sit for two minutes. Add the rest of the ingedients and mix well. Turn out onto board and knead for ten minutes. Place back in bowl covered with a damp towel and let rise 30 to 40 minutes.

Divide dough into 3 parts and place in 3 olive−oiled pie pans.

Dimple dough with fingers. Place on top the following mixture:
Coarse sea (or Kosher) salt, fresh ground pepper, chopped rosemary and thyme. If herbs are dried, soak them in water for 10 minutes and then pat dry on paper towels.

Let rise 50 to 60 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.

May dip in olive oil.

Brandon's Famous Salsa

Brandon makes the best home made salsa. I'm not even a fan of salsa, but I love his! Did you know that salsa is actually good for you, too? The spiciness raises your metabolism, so you burn more calories. All from eating a delicious snack. Who knew?!?


Brandon's Famous Salsa

15 Roma Tomatoes, diced small
2 Jalapeno Peppers (quantity depends on desired intensity)
1/2 to 3/4 White Onion, diced small (can also use green onions)
3 cloves of Garlic, diced as small as possible
Salt & Pepper to taste
Fresh Green Parsley & Cilantro (key ingredient), handful diced small
1/2 Lime, cut into wedges and squeeze all juice out (can substitute with store bought lime juice)
2 cans of Tomato Sauce

Combine all ingredients, except for tomato sauce. Mix well, then stir in tomato sauce and add more pepper, if desired.

Crock Pot Pork Chops

I made this one up, so try it at your own risk!

I used 6 center cut pork chops for this recipe.

Crock Pot Pork Chops

In crock pot, mix two packets of brown gravy mix with water. Add pork chops and cook on low for 5 hours (time frame is variable depending on crock pot and setting). Pork chops should be very tender.

Optional: If you want them to be crisp on the outside, after removing them from crock pot, bake at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes.

German Pancakes

This is one of my favorite recipes ever! That's probably because it is so fast and easy. Plus, I just love having breakfast for dinner! Here's a tip to make baking this more fun: When there is about five minutes left on the timer, turn on the oven light and watch it bake. You'll see it grow right before your eyes!

German Pancakes

6 Eggs
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 cup Milk
1/2 stick Margarine
1 cup Flour
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
2 Tbsp. Sugar
Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 435 degrees. Melt butter in cake pan, while oven is preheating. Whisk eggs in large bowl until thick and lemon colored. Add remaining ingredients, except Cinnamon. Mix well. Pour into cake pan, then sprinkle Cinnamon on top. Bake for 15 minutes or until middle is solid and sponge-like. Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Tips: I also sprinkle some sugar on top, which gives it a thin crispy layer on top. I've also tried this with skim milk, low fat margarine and Splenda, instead of sugar, for a healthier version. It turned out great. We ate it with sugar free syrup and it was delicious. We really couldn't tell a difference.

Cinnamon Rolls

These cinnamon rolls are so light and fluffy, they're definitely a favorite! I usually half the recipe because it makes so many. Either way, you'll want to eat them all!

Mix:

3 1/3 c. warm water

1 c. oil

6 Tbsp. yeast

3/4 c. sugar

Let rest 15 minutes.

Add:
1 Tbsp. salt

10 1/2 c. flour
3 eggs

1/4 c. sugar

Stir, shape and roll out flat. Spread soft butter over the rolled out dough. Then, spread the cinnamon and sugar filling over the buttered dough. Roll like a jelly roll. Cut into 1 1/2 inch rolls. Place on cookie sheet. Sprinkle tops with filling. Let rise 15 minutes. Bake 425 for 8-10 minutes. Drizzle baked rolls with icing and enjoy!

Filling:
2 c. brown sugar

2 c. white sugar
4 Tbsp. cinnamon

1 c. chopped pecans (optional)

Icing:
1 bag (4 cups) powdered sugar
1/2 stick margarine, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pinch salt
add milk for desired consistency

(When halved, the recipe makes about 30 rolls. I use 2 eggs instead of the 3 it originally calls for. I also half the filling mixture, but I make the full recipe of icing and end up using it all.)

Sunday Dinner Mashed Potatoes

This recipe is proof that the Church is true. Really. Since the prophet received revelation that the Sisters of the Church should have Home, Family and Personal Enrichment nights, and since I went to Enrichment on one particular night that I received this recipe from none other than Tammy Barney, (yeah, you know it's gonna be good.) and since Cari started this Recipe blog and since I made this recipe last night for dinner at the Packard's house to celebrate Elder Harris's birthday, and since there wasn't ANY leftover, the Church is true. So there.

Here's what ya need:

5 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
4 T. butter, divided
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. onion salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Here's how to make it:

Place potatoes in boiling water for 20-25 minutes Or until very tender; drain well. In a large mixing bowl, mash potatoes. Add sour cream, cream cheese, 2 tablespoons butter, salt, onion salt and pepper; beat until fluffy. Transfer to a greased 2 qt. baking dish. Dot with the remaining butter. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. ENJOY!

Now you see it...

now you don't!

Man, I'M A GOOD COOK!!!

French Silk Pie

I thought I would start us out with my personal favorite and one of the only recipes that I make entirely from scratch. I'm pretty proud of this one, as it always gets compliments. It's a little time consuming, but it's definitely worth it, especially for the holidays.

Makes 1 9-inch pie

Crust:

8 Tablespoons (1 stick) chilled salted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for pan

1/3 cup pecan halves

1- 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup firmly packed light-brown sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

Filling:

12 Tablespoons (1- ½ sticks) salted butter, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled

1- ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

3 large eggs

Whipped cream, for serving

Chocolate curls, for serving

1. Make the crust: Preheat oven to 325°. Butter a 9-inch pie plate; set aside. Grind pecans in a food processor, or chop very finely with a knife. In a medium bowl, combine flour, pecans, sugar, and salt. Cut in cold butter with a pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press firmly into prepared pie plate. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

2. Make the filling: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. With the vanilla. Add eggs, on at a time, beating at medium speed for five minutes after each addition. Blend in chocolate. Pour filling into cooled pie crust. Cover with plastic wrap, and transfer to the refrigerator to cool for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

3. Just before serving, top pie with whipped cream, and decorate with chocolate curls.

Note: Raw eggs should not be used in food preparation for pregnant women, babies, young children, or anyone whose health is compromised.