Texas Blue Cheese with Pears and food around the world!

There's no recipe here, just a story and some pictures.
I have been traveling to Europe for 44 years. I learned to enjoy many different foods and beverages that I had never experienced before. I drank my first coffee and ate my first baguette in Paris, my first great cheese in France, my first beer in Germany. I've become a food snob about all of those products. In France, I learned that the stinky cheese is the best cheese, I learned that nothing compares to a baguette with fresh country butter. In Germany I learned that a big hot pretzel is best when served with mustard and a good lager beer. I learned in Switzerland that Raclette is not only a great cheese, but a great social dining experience with friends and family. In Italy and Sicily, I learned that a big greasy slice of pizza is best served from a street vendor  wrapped in a piece of parchment paper. There's nothing that compares to an English Breakfast and Belgium has the best Chocolate! My wife and I are still planning trips to Europe and look forward to discovering new foods and beverages!
I've also learned that the world is getting smaller and we have the opportunity to experience all of the items above, in the States.
A great example is the Texas Blue Cheese that we recently purchased. We served it with slices of Pear and it was equal to any Blue or Roquefort Cheese that we have eaten in France. I was surprised and pleased at the same time.
Expand your taste level, experience new foods and beverages. If you never travel out of your small community, you can experience the world at your back door.

Texas Blue Cheese and Pears

English Breakfast at Borough Market in London

French Macarons

Raclette

Blue Cheese in London

French Cornichons

The experience of Raclette

A plate of Raclette with potatoes, bread and cornichons

Our favorite Cheese Shop in Paris

Enjoy!
The World of Food!

Texas Mac & Cheese

This needs no introduction.

Texas Mac & Cheese

1 pound of Elbow Macaroni
1 pound of Bulk Sausage, I use Vegetarian Gimme Lean Sausage.
1 C Diced Onion
16 oz of your favorite Salsa
2 - 8 oz packages of Shredded Queso Quesadilla Cheese
Pickled Jalapeno Nacho Slices, from a jar or can.

Garnish:
Tomato Wedges
Chopped Fresh Cilantro
Additional Salsa

Heavily butter a 3 quart casserole.
Cook Pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.

In a large skillet:
Heat 2 TBS of Vegetable Oil.  Sauté the Sausage and Onion, just until browned.
Add the Salsa.

Layer the ingredients into the casserole dish:
1/2 of the Macaroni
1/2 of the Sausage/Onion Sauce
1/2 of the Cheese
Repeat.

Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for 30 - 40 minutes.
Serve in individual bowls topped with Tomato Wedges, Jalapeño Slices and Chopped Cilantro.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Chocolate Chip Bars

As we were baking goodies for Christmas, my wife came across this recipe card from her recipe file box.
My wife grew up on a Mennonite Farm in the Heartland. Everyday her mother ( Irene Thiessen) would take lunch to her father and brothers working in the field. She would prepare a lunch, pack the pick up truck and spread it out on the tailgate when she arrived.
This was their favorite dessert. My wife made it for our kids and we are making it for our grand children. It's quick, easy, simple. delicious........ It's a great recipe to teach kids to bake.
I've adapted it a bit to update it. I have not changed the integrity of the original recipe.
This was made by hand, a mixer is not necessary.

1 stick of butter, melted
1 1/2 C well packed brown sugar
1/2 C white sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 TBS vanilla
2 1/2 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder  (my wife eliminated the baking powder to make the dough more dense)
1 (10 - 12 oz) bag of chocolate chips (for Christmas she uses a bag of red, green and brown chips)

In a bowl, mix together:
butter
brown sugar
white sugar
until well combined

Add:
eggs (one at a time)
vanilla

In a small bowl, sift together:
flour
salt
baking powder
Add to the wet ingredients
Stir until combined
(my wife folds some of the chocolate chips into the batter)

Spray a jelly roll pan with a cooking spray
Spread out the dough evenly and top with remaining chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes. The edges will be slightly browned
Do not over bake!
Cool completely and cut into squares

This is Irene Thiessen's original hand written recipe card.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

BBQ Sauce / Homemade for BBQ Meatballs or Sausage

To make BBQ Meatballs:

Saute baked Meatballs in Olive Oil until browned,

Make the following Sauce :

In a small bowl:

Mix well,

1 C Ketchup

2 TBS granulated Sugar

2 TBS Worcestershire  Sauce (I use vegetarian Worcestershire Sauce )

2 TBS White Vinegar

3 TBS finely minced Onion

Hot Sauce, (Tabasco) to taste ,(I use about 6 dashes)

Pour over browned meatballs in a skillet and re heat.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Hippy in the Kitchen!

I want to wish all of my viewers, in the over 78 countries that follow my blog, a very Merry Christmas. 
Happy Holidays as you celebrate the diverse traditions of the season.
I have included phrases in many languages to express my appreciation for all who view the blog.

I continue to hope and pray for Peace in the world. I am passionate about it.
I've had the opportunity to travel the world and I embrace all people, all cultures, all beliefs and certainly all food!

The world is an amazing place!
Travel is enlightening!

Terry!
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Afrikaans: Geseënde Kersfees
Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees
African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats
Albanian:Gezur Krislinjden
Arabic: Milad Majid
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha
Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce
Bosnian: (BOSANSKI) Cestit Bozic i Sretna Nova godina
Brazilian: Feliz Natal
Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!
Chile: Feliz Navidad
Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Chinese: (Mandarin) Sheng Dan Kuai Le
Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Corsian: Pace e salute
Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo
Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak
Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian: Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi
Ethiopian: (Amharic) Melkin Yelidet Beaal
Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French: Joyeux Noel
Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
Galician: Bo Nada
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!
German: Fröhliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna!
Haiti: (Creole) Jwaye Nowel or to Jesus Edo Bri'cho o Rish D'Shato Brichto
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi: Shub Naya Baras (good New Year not Merry Christmas)
Hungarian: Boldog Karácsonyt
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat
Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.
Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Kurdish: Serî sallî nwê pîroz
Lao: souksan van Christmas
Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!
Lausitzian:Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar
Luxembourgish: Schèine Chreschtdaag an e gudde Rutsch
Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik
Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb
Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori: Meri Kirihimete
Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh (good New Year not Merry Christmas)
Navajo: Merry Keshmish
Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul
Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado
Papiamento: Bon Pasco
Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu
Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!
Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philippines: Maligayang Pasko!
Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie
Portuguese:Feliz Natal
Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha
Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn
Romanche: (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele or Craciun fericit
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
Scots Gaelic: Nollaig Chridheil dhuibh
Serbian: Hristos se rodi.
Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene: Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto or Vesel Bozic in srecno Novo leto
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Switzerland (Swiss-German): Schöni Wienachte
Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tamil: (Tamizh) Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal (good New Year not Merry Christmas)
Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian: Z Rizdvom Khrystovym or S rozhdestvom Kristovym
Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho (good New Year not Merry Christmas)
Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen
Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

Texas loves Dump Cake. I've posted other recipes for:
Dump Cake (this is the original basic recipe)
Polly's Fall Spiced Dump Cake
Tropical Dump Cake

Caramel Apple Dump Cake: 

2 cans of apple pie filling  
1 box of yellow cake mix 
2 sticks of butter, melted (1 cup) 
1/2 cup caramel sauce
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans 
Whipped cream for garnish
In a greased 9x13 dish, mix apple pie filling and caramel sauce.
Add 1/2 tsp cinnamon evenly in pan.
Pour dry cake mix directly on top of the pie filing, spread evenly.
Top with melted butter and pecans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until top is golden brown and apple filling is bubbly around the edges.
Serve with ice cream or whipped cream

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Christmas Breakfast Casserole

This recipe is adapted from allrecipes.com

1 pound of ground pork sausage, I use vegetarian Gimme Lean Fresh Sausage
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs, beaten
2 C milk
6 slices of Artisan Bread (Artisan Breads tend to be baked in rounded, rustic shapes with a hard or chewy exterior.

( Pain de Campagne), cut into cubes
1/4 C Italian flavored Bread Crumbs
2 C of shredded Swiss or Emmenthal Cheese (I shred it from a block)

Saute sausage until browned, drain , cool slightly before adding to egg and milk mixture.

In a large bowl:
mustard
salt
eggs
milk

Stir well
Add:
sausage
bread
bread crumbs
cheese
Stir Well

Pour into a greased 9"X13" dish
Cover with foil and refrigerate for 8 hours or over night

Bake at 350 degrees covered with foil for 50 - 60 minutes

Uncover , reduce heat to 325 degrees and continue baking for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Christmas Queso / Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman

Chile con Queso (Spanish for "chile with cheese"), often described in North America simply as Queso, is an appetizer or side dish of melted cheese and chili peppers, typically served in Tex-Mex restaurants as a dipping sauce for nachos.


NOTE: When I made this I started in a Large Crock Pot. I added the Rotel, Pimientos and Jalapeños. Turned it on High until it started to get Hot. Then I added some cubes of the Cheese until they started to melt. I heated the rest of the Cubed Cheese with a scoop of the Hot Rotel, in an 8 cup Pyrex measuring cup, in the Microwave until the Cheese melted. Stir it and then spoon it back into the Crock Pot. I ended up transfering it to a smaller Crock Pot.

I saw this recipe on a recent episode of The Pioneer Woman. 
I simply re posted the original recipe.
We love Queso in Texas and everyone has their own family favorite recipes. 
I liked the looks of this one for the holidays.

This is the Large Crock Pot I started it in.
After the Cheese started to melt I added some of this
to the Measuring Cup along with the remainder of the Cheese Cubes until
it melted.
Transferred it to the Smaller Pot for serving.
The next time I'll make it in the Smaller Crock Pot.

The Smaller Crock Pot

Christmas Queso:

2 pounds queso blanco-style processed cheese, such as Velveeta Queso Blanco, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
2 cans Rotel (tomatoes with diced green chiles) I recommend Mild, not Hot. It makes a difference. 
1 jar diced pimientos
2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped finely
Tortilla chips, for serving


Directions: See Note above.


Serve with tortilla chips.

Disfrute!
Paz en la cocina!

Apple Dutch Baby Pancake ...... made in a Cast Iron Skillet

I love any recipe using Cast Iron Cookware. Here's a great example:

I just received a version of this recipe from Bisquick. I've made a few changes and adapted it.
I have other recipes for Dutch Babies with Ham and Miniature Dutch Babies in a Muffin Tin that can be found on the blog. I always loved serving Dutch Babies for a family Holiday Breakfast, or a Brunch with friends. I've had the Dutch Babies with Ham recipe since 1979. Since I've been a Vegetarian for 20 years, I had put that recipe in the back of my files. I resurrected it for my non Vegetarian friends. (I've recently discovered Tofurky make a Vegetarian Ham)

I've posted a home made recipe for Bisquick because I have many followers around the world that may not have access to the product. You can make a recipe for it and keep it in the refrigerator up to 4 months. You would use it in any recipe asking for Bisquick.


Apple Dutch Babies

3 TBS butter
4 Apples, peel, core and slice thin. (I use Jonagold, you can also use GrannySmith or Rome) There are many other varieties of Apples that are great for baking.
1/4 C Brown Sugar
2 TBS Cinnamon
1 1/2 C Bisquick Mix
1/4 C Granulated Sugar
1 C Buttermilk
1 TBS Lemon Juice
1 tsp Almond Extract
2 Eggs
1 TBS Cinnamon/Sugar mixture
Warm Maple Syrup

Heat the oven to 450 degrees.

Place the Butter in the Oven  in a 10" Cast Iron Skillet and Melt it, about 2 minutes.
Add:
Apples
Brown Sugar
Cinnamon
Toss to Coat Well.

Bake for 2 Minutes
Stir and Bake an additional 2 Minutes.
Stir again and Bake an additional 3 Minutes.
Stir for the last time.

Reduce heat to 400 degrees.

In a Large Bowl, Whisk together:
Bisquick
Granulated Sugar
Buttermilk
Lemon Juice
Almond Extract
Eggs

Whisk Well

Pour Batter evenly over the Apples.
Bake at 400 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with Cinnamon/Sugar

Serve with Warm Maple Syrup.


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen


Homemade Bisquick Mix: (use this Mixture whenever a Recipe calls for Bisquick)

6 C Flour
3 TBS Baking Powder
1 TBS Salt
1 C Vegetable Shortening

In a Large Bowl, Sift together:
Flour
Baking Powder
Salt
Sift this Mixture 3 times ( don't skip this process)
Cut in Shortening with a Pastry Blender or 2 Forks until the Mixture is Crumbly!
Store this in an Airtight Container for up to 4 months in the Refrigerator.


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

French Savory Olive Sable Cookies

Sable is a French word for sand, referring to the texture of the cookies. It's a French Shortbread Biscuit or Cookie originally from the city of Caen in the province of Normandy, France.
The cookie was created in Sable-sur-Sarthe in 1670. Among the best known Sable recipes are La Mere Poulard. We've been to the restaurant and shop on the island of Mont Saint Michel in Normandy.

Cookie ingredients:
3/4C + 2 TBS  butter, softened
1/4 C granulated sugar
2 C flour
1/2 C finely chopped black Kalamata olives, drained and patted dry with a paper towel.
1/2 C finely chopped pistachios
1/2 C finely chopped dark chocolate chips

Topping ingredients:
1 C dark chocolate chips
1 tsp vegetable oil
1/2 C finely chopped pistachios

Cookies:
In a bowl:
3/4 C butter
granulated sugar
Mix well
Stir in flour, if the dough seems to be too crumbly, add the additional 2 TBS of butter.
Stir in all remaining cookie ingredients.

On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/4" thick and cut 2" circles with a round biscuit or cookie cutter.
Place the cookies 1/2" apart on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 18 minutes.
Immediately remove them to a cooling rack, cool completely.

Topping:
In a small microwavable bowl:
chocolate chips
vegetable oil
Heat until smooth, stirring often.

Dip 1/2 of each cookie into the melted chocolate and sprinkle it with the chopped pistachios.
Place on waxed paper to set.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

This is one of the biscuit tins from Mont Saint Michel.

Pistachio Christmas Cake

This recipe is adapted from several different versions of Pistachio Cake. It's made in a Christmas Bundt Pan. I use a Christmas Wreath design. It's frosted like an English Pudding with icing on the top and a bit running down the sides. Garnish it with fresh Holly leaves and fresh Cranberries.

1 (18.25oz.) package of white cake mix
1 (3.4oz.) box of instant pistachio pudding mix
1/2 C water
4 eggs
1/4 C vegetable oil
1/2 tsp almond extract
green food coloring

Frosting:
1 (3.4oz.) box instant pistachio pudding mix
1/2 C milk
1 (8oz.) container of frozen whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed
green food coloring
1/2 C chopped pistachios for garnish

Cake:
In a bowl:
cake mix
pudding mix
Whisk well, create a well in the center and add:
water
eggs
oil
stir well
add 7 drops of food coloring
Mix by hand with an electric mixer for 2 minutes.

Prepare the Bundt pan. I use my Pan Release Mix ( recipe to follow) It's the best way to grease a detailed designed Bundt pan for instant release.

Pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 - 55 minutes.
Cool completely in the pan.
Invert onto a serving platter. (don't be alarmed that the outside of the cake isn't green, it's normal!)

Frosting:
In a bowl:
pudding mix
milk
Stir well
Fold in whipped topping
Fold in 5 drops of food coloring

Frost the top of the cake letting some of the icing run down the sides.
Sprinkle the top only with crushed Pistachios.
Garnish the top with fresh Holly leaves and fresh Cranberries.

Pan Release Mix:
This is my foolproof pan release recipe. It's the only way I grease any baking recipe that requires greasing the pan.
In a bowl, mix equal parts of the following:
Flour
Crisco
Vegetable Oil
Mix well and store in a jar in the refrigerator.
You can start with any equal amount based on how much baking you do.
Example:
1 C of each to begin with.
I always have a jar in the refrigerator.
Use a pastry brush to coat the pan.


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Baked Zucchini Appetizer Strips / with Ranch Dressing

Here's another great Tex - Mex recipe.

For each Large Zucchini, you'll need the following ingredients.

1 large Zucchini, trimmed, peeled and cut into French Fry Strips
1 tbs Olive Oil
3/4 cup plain Bread Crumbs 

1 tsp Adobo Seasoning

1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 tsp Salt

1/8 tsp Black Pepper

Ranch Dressing

1. Line a Sheet Pan with Foil ( spray it lightly with cooking spray) , preheat  oven to 425 degrees. Toss the Zucchini strips with the Olive Oil, making sure that every piece is well coated.

2. In a small bowl, combine the Bread Crumbs, Adobo Seasoning, Cayenne Pepper, Parmesan Cheese, Salt and Black Pepper. Cover the Olive Oil coated Zucchini Strips with the Bread Crumb mixture (shake off excess Breadcrumbs), place them on the Sheet Pan. Bake for about 15 minutes, until they look Crispy, Golden Brown and still tender in the middle. Serve warm dipped in Ranch Dressing.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Strawberry Fudge from I Love Texas Recipes

I think any little girl would love to have this Strawberry Fudge. I have 3 grand daughters and I know they would ! It's also a recipe that they can help make, it's simple , easy, and....... it's Pink!
Be creative with other flavors of icing.......!



STRAWBERRY FUDGE 

INGREDIENTS:
1- (16 oz.) can of Strawberry Frosting
1 -(12 oz.) bag of White Chocolate Chips
2/3 C  chopped Pecans (optional)
Sprinkles

DIRECTIONS:
Lightly spray 9x9 pan with cooking spray.
Put chocolate chips in microwave safe bowl and melt them until smooth and creamy. You could also use a double boiler.
Stir in entire can of strawberry frosting.
Stir in pecans.

Spread into pan.
Sprinkle with sprinkles
Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Cut into squares and serve

This is the one that my grand daughters made.
Silver Glitter Sprinkles, Pink Pig Sprinkles and White Snowflake Sprinkles.

This is another version with Christmas Red, Green, Silver and White Sprinkles.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Quick and Easy Peppermint Fudge / Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman

I saw this on a recent holiday episode of the Pioneer Woman. This would be a great recipe to make with children. It's simple, easy and the kids would love it! You could come up with alternative toppings such as holiday sprinkles, chopped nuts, chopped candy bars, miniature marshmallows etc.! 


Cooking spray, for spraying foil
3 C semisweet chocolate chips
1 can (14oz.) sweetened condensed milk 
Red peppermint candies, crushed, for topping
Directions
Line an 8-by-8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil hanging over the edges. Spray the foil with cooking spray.

In a medium saucepan over low heat, or in a double boiler, combine the chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk and stir until it's all melted and smooth. Pour it into the prepared pan and spread to even out the surface. Sprinkle on the crushed candies. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Lift the foil out of the pan and peel off the fudge. Cut into small squares.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Chocoholic Chocolate Chip Cookies

This may very well make it as an entry in the cookie contest next year.

Chocoholic Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 C + 1 Tbs flour
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1- (8 oz.) bag semi sweet chocolate chips
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
5 TBS butter, softened
3/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C granulated sugar
1 C dark chocolate chips
1/2 C milk chocolate chips
1/2 C semi sweet chocolate chips

In a bowl, whisk:
flour
cocoa powder
baking powder
salt
Set aside

In a microwavable bowl, melt the 8 oz. of semi sweet chocolate chips until creamy smooth.
Set aside

In a small bowl, whisk:
eggs
vanilla
Set aside

In another bowl:
Beat butter until smooth, 1 minute
Beat in both sugars
Add the eggs and vanilla mixture, until well combined
Add melted chocolate chips
Beat well

Add dry ingredients that were set aside, on slow speed
Fold in all chocolate chips by hand
Chill dough for 30 minutes

Scoop 2 TBS of dough & form a ball , I use a 1 3/4" cookie scoop, equal to 2 TBS.
Bake on a parchment paper lined baking sheet pans at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet pans for 5 minutes
Transfer cookies to cooling racks and cool completely.

These will be soft, chewy and very gooey!

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Magic Tomato Soup Cake !

This is truly a vintage recipe. 

My Aunt Faye used to make this.

I may have to search her recipes to see if she kept it.

I know that it may seem like an odd recipe but, like

Mom's Pantry said, "it's tried and true"

It has passed the test of time.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Cappuccino Cookies

I'm always in pursuit of cookie recipes as contenders for the annual cookie contest in Dallas. This one looks very appealing to me for next year.

• 12 TBS (1-1/2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1/3 C granulated sugar
• 1-(14oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 C flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 TBS espresso coffee powder (I use Medaglia d'Oro)
• 1 tsp dutch processed cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment:

butter

sugar

Until light and fluffy.

Add:

sweetened condensed milk

vanilla

Mix on high for 5 minutes, scraping down the sides.

Set aside

In a bowl, whisk:

flour

baking powder

espresso powder

cocoa

salt

With the mixer on low speed, begin adding the dry ingredients to the wet in batches.

Turn speed to medium and mix well.

Refrigerate dough for 1 hour

Line 2 baking sheet pans with parchment paper.

Use  a 1 3/4" cookie scoop, allowing quite a bit of space between them, because these cookies will spread, bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 15 - 18 minutes.

Cool 5 minutes on the baking sheet pan.

Transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Baked Homemade Vegetarian Burgers

Baked Homemade Vegetarian Burgers:

Not much more that I can write about this recipe.
I'm vegetarian and I like Veggie Burgers.

2 C cooked brown rice
1 can (15oz.) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 C cornmeal
1/2 C barley flour
1 C minced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp Tabasco Sauce
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 C corn
1 C finely diced tomato
1 C chopped fresh broccoli florets

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Line 3 baking sheet pans with foil or parchment paper

In a large mixing bowl:
rice
beans
cornmeal
barley flour
onion
garlic
cumin
Tabasco Sauce
salt
pepper
Mix well with your hands
Squish everything together well

Add:
corn
tomato
broccoli
Gently incorporate with your hands.

Scoop a cup to form a ball.
Place them on the baking sheet and press into a 1/2" thick patty

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes
Remove pan, flip burgers and bake an additional 20 minutes.
Serve on a bun with your favorite toppings or crumble over a salad.



Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Crock Pot Scalloped Corn

I am a huge fan of corn. I have so many variations of what can be done with corn. Here's my latest obsession, Slow Cooker and Corn. What a great idea!
I included this recipe in a post called Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Recipes.

2/3 C flour
1/3 C butter
4 eggs
3/4 C evaporated milk
1 TBS sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 - (14oz.) can of creamed corn
2 C frozen corn, thawed and drained

Spray a 3-4 quart slow cooker with a vegetable cooking spray
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and pout into the cooker.
Cover and cook on high 2-3 hours.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Malted Milk Ball Chocolate Vodka

I've made Cherry and Apricot Liqueur and I drink Martinis.
Our favorite restaurant in Grapevine, Texas created the Terry Tini for me years ago for my birthday.
This year I'm experimenting with Chocolate Vodka.
About 5 days ago I put 2 (141g.) boxes of Hershey's Whoppers, in a 1 quart bottle. Fill with Vodka.

Put the lid on it and shake vigorously.
Shake the bottle every day. (so far it's been 7 days)
The Whoppers will start to dissolve.
I'm not sure yet if they will dissolve completely, but I'll update the process on the blog.


I have some recipes for cocktails made with the chocolate vodka that I'll post as soon as I'm happy with the results.
At the end I'll edit this post with the results and the recipes.

More to come!

I left the bottle sitting for 10 days. I shook it every day. After ten days it was complete. I strained it and placed it back in the bottle. I keep it in the refrigerator.
It's delicious.
I'll post recipes later.

Mint Chocolate Martini:
3 oz. Chocolate Vodka
1.5 oz. Creme de Menthe
1.5 oz. Creme de Cocoa
Pour over ice in a cocktail shaker , shake and strain into a Martini glass.

White Chocolate Martini:
1 oz. Chocolate Vodka
1 oz. Vanilla Vodka
1/2 oz. White Creme de Cocoa
1 oz. Half and Half
Pour over ice in a cocktail shaker, shake and strain into a Martini glass.

Chocolate Espresso Martini:
2 oz. Chocolate Vodka
1 oz. Cold Espresso Coffee
1/2 tsp Orange Juice
1 strip of Orange Peel
Pour over ice in a cocktail shaker, shake and strain into a Martini glass.

Chocolate Hazelnut Martini:
1.5 oz. Chocolate Vodka
1.5 oz. Creme de Cacao
2.5 oz. Hazelnut non dairy Coffee Creamer
Pour over ice in a cocktail shaker, shake and strain into a Martini glass.


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

This is the finished product!