Scotcheroos

If you're a fan of Rice Krispy Treats (and honestly, who isn't?) give scotcheroos a try. They're almost as easy as the original treats, but these will satisfy that chocolate-peanut butter craving in a way that Rice Krispy Treats never could!

Shopping List

Rice Krispies

Creamy Peanut Butter

Light Corn Syrup

Sugar

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Butterscotch Chips

Mix 1 cup sugar and 1.5 C Karo syrup in a saucepan over medium heat. Once the mixture begins to boil, remove from heat, and add 1.25 C creamy peanut butter.

In a large bowl, add 6 C Rice Krispies and then peanut butter mixture. Stir Rice Krispies until all are evenly coated with peanut butter mixture.

Press Rice Krispies into a 9 x 13 pan. Some people suggest buttering your fingers so the mixture won't stick. I, however, do this close to the sink, and keep my hands fairly wet with cold water. I find that it helps me to avoid the "butter-fingers" drama that may later ensue. (I drop enough AS IS!)

Melt 1 C. chocolate chips, and 1 C. butterscotch chips in microwave (2-3 minutes depending on microwave). Stir until smooth, and pour on top of Rice Krispies. Let them cool completely before cutting.

**Ever have drama when it comes to melting chocolate? Here's the key. NEVER put anything into the melted chocolate mix after you have microwaved it. If you ever need melted chocolate to be thinner than it's normal consistency, add the milk BEFORE melting chocolate. If the melted chocolate changes temperature too quickly, it turns thick and chalky.

Good luck - and enjoy!

Sour Cream Pound Cake

This cake was so tasty. I even forgot it was in the oven and over cooked it, which left the outside a bit crunchy. However, the next day (when I literally ate it for breakfast) the moisture from the cake had softened the outside, and I ended up eating a LOT more cake than I'd advise anyone to do in one sitting! It was pure, buttery, golden cake divinity.

Shopping List

1 box yellow cake mix (butter recipe)

butter

sour cream

flour

sugar

eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Mix cake mix, one stick of melted butter, 8 oz sour cream, 3 eggs, and 1/3 cup water with a hand mixer.

Add one cup of flour and 1 cup of sugar.

Mix until batter is smooth.

Spray bundt cake pan liberally with cooking spray, and pour batter in.

Bake for 1 hour, then cool for five minutes. Remove cake from pan and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

*Recipe courtesy of Mary Wilde

Try These

They are DELISH!

Banana Crumble Muffins

Shopping List

Flour

Baking Soda

Baking Powder

Salt

Bananas

Granulated Sugar

Eggs

Butter

Brown Sugar

Cinnamon

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F

In a large bowl combine:

1.5 C flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

In second large bowl:

3/4 C Granulated Sugar

1 egg

1/3 C melted butter

3 mashed bananas

Pour wet into dry and stir just until all ingredients are moist. Do not over stir. Pour batter into greased muffin tin. (Will make about ten muffins)

Topping:

1/3 C packed brown sugar

2 Tbs flour

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1 Tbs butter

Mix all the dry ingredients together, and then pour melted butter in. Use a fork to cut in the butter.

Sprinkle on top of uncooked muffin batter....be generous; the muffins will get bigger, and the topping needs to cover most of the top.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean!

Minnie Mouse Cupcakes

I made my son a Mickey cake for his birthday back in January. Since then my daughter has been talking about the Minnie cake she'd get for her birthday. I didn't want to do the same cake again, and I wanted something simple - so I came up with these.

I followed the cake mix directions and then added the following ingredients to moisten the cake up a bit:

1 cup sour cream

1 small packet of chocolate instant Jello (because my cupcakes were chocolate)

1 cup of sugar

I then baked according to the cake directions.

To decorate:

2 cans vanilla frosting

1 jar red professional food coloring (can usually be found at party stores)

1 pack of oreos

small (sandwich size) plastic bag

Empty contents of 1 jar of vanilla frosting into medium sized mixing bowl. Add entire jar of food coloring - mix well, cover, and let sit overnight. It takes a while for the true red to come through. It will look dark pink at first.

The next day - frost the cupcakes with red frosting. Take small scoop of vanilla frosting (from second can) and place in plastic baggie. Snip off very small corner of the bag, and squeeze white frosting for polka dots. They will look pointy at first. Allow them to dry before pushing down tips.

Take Oreos and twist open. Push down through frosting and into cupcakes. Don't worry about removing the frosting from the back of the Oreos - people like that part anyway!

Dreamsicle Pie

I found this recipe a few days ago - and it reminded me of something my roommates and I used to make in college. Technically it's not considered baking - but it is sweet, and it makes for a perfect 4th of July treat.

Shopping List

Orange Sherbet

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Cool Whip

Orange Juice

Cream Cheese

Prep: Soften sherbet and cream cheese

Line a loaf pan with foil extending foil past the edges (this make lifting pie out easier). Spread two cups of softened sherbet into pan. Put in freezer.

In medium mixing bowl beat 8 oz. softened cream cheese until smooth. Add 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 cup orange juice, and 1 tub (8 oz) cool whip, and stir until creamy.

Pull sherbet out of freezer and pour cream mixture on top. Freeze for three hours.

To serve invert dreamsicle pie onto large platter and slice.

Buttermilk Belgian Waffles with Vanilla Syrup

If you're a local, you've probably been to Magleby's Fresh for their all-you-can-eat french toast breakfast.  The french toast is fantastic, but it's the syrup that really makes the meal.  My recipe might not be exact, but it's pretty darn close.  If you don't have a waffle maker, try the syrup over buttermilk pancakes.

Shopping List

Butter

Sugar

Buttermilk

Vanilla

Corn Syrup

Baking Soda

Flour

Eggs

Baking Powder

Salt

Sugar

Oil

Waffles: (makes about 5 waffles)

In a medium sized bowl combine the following ingredients:

2 C. flour

2 eggs

2 C. buttermilk

2.5 tsp baking powder

1.5 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbs sugar

1/4 C + 2 Tbs oil

The order of the ingredients really doesn't matter in this recipe.  With morning cooking laziness, I generally throw everything in before I even mix the ingredients.  Stir until all ingredients are wet - but do not over mix.  

Cook batter in waffle maker, using your specific waffle maker instructions.

Vanilla Syrup:

In a small pot combine

1 stick (1/2 C.) butter

1 C. sugar

1 C. buttermilk

1 Tbs. vanilla

1 Tbs corn syrup

Bring ingredients to a boil - and let them boil for ten seconds.  Remove from heat and add 1/2 tsp baking soda.  Syrup will be very foamy.

***Serving Suggestion

This meal is fantastic with fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Yes, yes - another cookie.  But as a mother of three - they're always a hit.  I'm a big fan of anything that can be eaten sans silverware (less dishes).  These cookies are super, SUPER rich, but if you like peanut butter and chocolate you should give these a try.  I should warn you that the dough on these cookies is very sticky - so wear an apron while putting these together.  

Shopping List

Brownie Mix

Eggs

Cream Cheese

Butter

Creamy Peanut Butter

Powdered Sugar

Chocolate Frosting 

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F

I  large mixing bowl combine brownie mix, 1 egg,  4 oz softened cream cheese, and 1/4 C melted butter.  Stir until all ingredients have combined.  (Manually this may take some time - I prefer to use my Kitchen Aid)

Place dough in refrigerator, it will  be very sticky.

In separate bowl combine 1 C. peanut butter and 1 C. powdered sugar.  Stir together (I use a fork) until sugar is no longer visible, and mixture forms a large peanut butter ball.

Remove first mix from refrigerator, and roll dough into 1 tablespoon sized balls.  Place on greased cookie sheet two inches apart.

From the peanut butter mixture, roll out 1 tsp. sized balls, and push into the center of the chocolate cookie balls.  

Bake at 350 for 10-14 minutes, until edges are set.

Cool cookies completely - on cookie sheet, before frosting.  I prefer a small amount of frosting, because like I said, these cookies are already VERY rich.   I use the frosting to add a little bit of flavor, but mostly to make the cookies a little bit prettier.  

Happy Baking!