Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Yummy Garlic Bread

Oh, the WalMart sure has some fun choices for bread. Italian style with herbs or sesame seeds. Sourdough, French, and the yummiest of all that I have found there... Whole Wheat French Loaf. It is simply delish. Oh and at $1.50 a loaf you can't beat it. Originally, I was going to make a big ole sandwich out of it, but tonight I made Yummy Garlic Bread to accompany Cheese Raviolis and Marinara sauce with a little Chipoltle ham in it. Um um umm.

Yummy Garlic Bread

One loaf Whole Wheat bread from the WalMart cut horizontally into two pieces
Butter, softened
Italian Herbs in a grinder
Garlic Powder
salt

Spread some butter on both halves of the bread. Sprinkle with garlic powder. Grind some Italian Herbs on the bread. Sprinkle a bit of salt. Pop in a 375 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Cut into slices and serve with Pasta, or salad or with Steak and taters. Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Pizza Grilled Cheese

First for dinner I made some frozen food from Trader Joes. Rob and I are NOT frozen food people. He ate half of his dinner and I nibbled at mine. Later on, I found myself to be hungry. So I made a grilled pepper jack cheese sandwich on sourdough. It was warm, toasty cheesey and garlicy. Simply divine.

Then, I remembered that I had pepperoni and salami in the deli drawer. The Pizza Grilled Cheese was then created.

Pizza Grilled Cheese

Sourdough bread
pepper jack cheese
pepperoni
salami
butter
garlic powder
salt

Pizza Sauce
Grated Parmesan Reggiano

On a microwave safe plate take two pieces of bread. Layer one side with cheese and salami, layer the other side with cheese and pepperoni. Top one side with another piece of cheese. Microwave for 30-45 seconds. Assemble the sandwich and butter each side. Place sandwich on the pan and grill on high heat. Flip and cook. Flip until both sides are toasty and golden brown. Sprinkle sandwich with Parmesan Reggiano.

Serve your sandwich with warmed pizza sauce for dipping. This sandwich is amazing!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Almond Shortbread Snowballs

I baked. I made a few cookies that I have not made before. As I child, my big sister would make similar cookies but used pecans. As an adult, I created my own with almonds. They passed the test, my Mom, an almond fan, loved them and ate every last one I gifted her in her tin.

Almond Shortbread Snowballs

1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups unbleached flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup finely chopped raw almonds
powdered sugar to coat cookies

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a bowl combine flour, salt and almond bits. Cream butter. Add p. sugar and mix together. Add almond extract and mix. Slowly add flour mixture until dough is set. Place dough balls on cookie sheet and bake 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven, take cookies from cookie sheet and cool on paper towels. Cool completely and roll cookies in powdered sugar.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Shortbreads With a Kiss

Oh my my. These cookies melt in your mouth. They do. They are flipping fantastic. You must make these immediately. They are that good. Well make them if you like shortbread cookies and Hershey Kisses.

Shortbreads With a Kiss

1 cup unsalted butter room temp
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached flour
1/4 tsp. salt
Powdered sugar in a shaker
Unwrapped Hershey Kisses


Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Set aside. In the KitchenAid mixer, whip up the butter. Add the powdered sugar and whip until smooth. Add the extract and mix again. Slowly add the flour mixture and mix. Once completely mixed shape dough into a ball and wrap it with plastic wrap. Put dough in the fridge for about an hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove dough from frige. Line cookie sheet with parchment. Using a teaspoon, scoop dough. Roll it into a ball and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle cookies with powdered sugar and then press one Hershey's Kiss into each cookie. Allow to cool. Enjoy!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Coconut Ginger Honey Cookies

I love honey and I love coconut. Over the last year or two I have grown to like ginger. This cookie recipe combines all of those ingredients so nicely. This is sure to be a new holiday cookie for me.

Coconut Ginger Honey Cookies

2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter
2 tablespoons finely chopped crystalized ginger
1/4 cup fine grated coconut
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup Wilcox Honey

1/4 cup or more of the fine grated coconut to roll dough balls in

Combine flour, b. soda, and salt in a bowl and whisk. In another bowl beat butter and brown sugar together. Mix until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix. Add ginger and coconut. Mix until those ingredients are incorporated. Add half of the flour mixture and mix on low speed. Add the other half and mix again.

Put dough in the 'fridge for about an hour. Remove dough from the 'fridge. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Using a teaspoon scoop dough and shape into balls. Roll balls in coconut and then place on the cookie sheet. Bake 12-14 minutes or until edges are set a bit. Dough will flatten out.

Cool on a rack and enjoy.

Holiday Baking Time

I have this itch to bake. I bake once a week, usually for Sunday dinner. It's Holiday time people. We need to bake something. In previous posts, under sweets you will find some recipes for yummy things that can be gifted.

Super Sweet Bars
Kahlua Coconut Rolo Brownie Cups
Cinnamon Chocolate Fudge for Christmas
Christmas in July Cookies
Variety Brownies in One Pan
Re-Inventing Chocolate Chip Cookies
A Twist on an Old Sweet

Each of the above mentioned would make a lovely addition to any baked goodie gift.

One recipe that always screams Christmas is Sugar Cookies. My Mom would make the dough. She would roll it out and cut it with our favorite cookie cutters. Bake them and once cooled she would let us paint them with Colored Powdered Sugar glaze. Oh the memories!!! We would make such a mess and indulge in a sugar high.

As an adult, I have tried to make sugar cookies and have been unsuccessful. But if you have a recipe, the time and the patience... DO MAKE SOME and make some memories at the same time.

CVS is having a sale on Hershey's Chocolate. Thanks for the CVS tips LifeasMom.com, RUN don't walk over there, as Hershey kisses make an excellent topper on so many cookies recipes. Make Peanut Butter or Shortbread cookie dough, bake and remove from the oven and top the cookie with a kiss. You will be glad you did. And if you purchase $20 worth of Hershey's Chocolate, CVS will give you $10 bucks back in Extra Care Money. Seriously, get a CVS card.

Over the next week or two, I will bake and post my recipes. Embrace the Holiday Season and try to enjoy the rest of 2008.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Pepper Jack Crescent Rolls

I made Pot Roast with carrots, potatoes, purple onion and celery. YUM! I simply sprinkled the meat and veggies with garlic powder, celery salt and fresh cracked pepper. The only thing missing was some kind of bread. I didn't have a nice crusty sourdough round. But, I did have sitting in my 'fridge a tube of those Pilsbury Crescent Rolls. How can I make a yummy carb out of that?

Pepper Jack Crescent Rolls


One roll Pilsbury Crescent rolls
8 one inch by 3 inch thin slices of Pepper Jack cheese
Olive oil spray
Grated Parmesan Reggiano
Italian Seasoning grinder

Preheat oven to 375 degree F. Open roll of Crescents. Seperate into the 8 triangles. Place a piece of cheese on the larger end of the dough and roll as indicated on the directions and place on a cookie sheet. Spray each roll with olive oil and sprinkle with cheese and grind a little seasoning on top of that.

Pop them in the oven and bake 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and serve with your meal. Enjoy.