Caramel Apple Crumble Cheesecake

INGREDIENTS

Serves: 12
Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
⅛ cup brown sugar
⅓ cup butter, melted
Filling:
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup white sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 green apples, peeled and thinly sliced
Topping:
¼ cup rolled oats
¼ cup flour
¼ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Caramel sauce

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C.
2. In a bowl, mix the crust ingredients. Press into the bottom of a greased 8-inch springform pan. Bake for 5 minutes.
3. In another bowl, mix all the filling ingredients except the apples. Spread over the graham cracker crust, then layer the apple slices on top.
4. In another bowl, mix all the topping ingredients except the caramel, and sprinkle evenly over the apple layer. Bake for 30 minutes.
5. Drizzle on caramel sauce.
6. Enjoy!

Save & Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

INGREDIENTS

Serves 30
2 cups butter, melted
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
4 cups chocolate chips


PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until evenly combined and light in color.
3. Add in the eggs and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
4. Add the flour and baking soda, folding the mixture until it forms a smooth dough.
5. Fold in the chocolate chips until evenly combined.
6. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop 6 balls of dough onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 minutes, then serve!
7. To save cookie dough for later use, scoop the dough into balls and place them side-by-side on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
8. Wrap the tray with cling wrap, then freeze for up to one month.
9. To bake the frozen dough balls, remove desired number from the tray and bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes at 375°F/190°C.
10. Enjoy now and later!

Mac ‘n’ Cheese Breadsticks

Makes 8

INGREDIENTS

1 frozen macaroni and cheese dinner
1 tube of premade pizza dough
Olive oil
Parmesan cheese
Italian seasoning


PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 400°F/200˚C.
2. Grease a foil-lined baking sheet with cooking spray.
3. Remove macaroni and cheese (still frozen) from the packaging. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut into 8 equal-sized sticks.
4. Unroll pizza dough. Using a pizza cutter, cut into 8 strips.
5. Working quickly, wrap each mac and cheese stick with pizza dough, making sure not to leave any parts uncovered, and place onto greased baking sheet.
6. Brush each with olive oil, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning
7. Bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until dough is cooked and golden brown.
8. Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly.
9. Enjoy!

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 24 bites
For the bites:
2 ½ cups warm water
2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast (1 packet)
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon melted butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
4 cups flour
3 eggs
For the baking soda bath:
9 cups of water
½ cup baking soda
For the cinnamon sugar coating:
¼ cup melted butter
¾ cup sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon
For the cream cheese dip (optional):
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
¼ cup butter, room temperature
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups powdered sugar



PREPARATION

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl. Stir together minute until mostly combined.
Add salt, sugar, butter and stir to combine.
Add flour, 1 cup at a time, until dough is thick and no longer sticky. Poke dough with finger. It should bounce back.
Flour a surface and knead dough for 3 minutes until it forms a smooth ball.
Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 425ºF/ 220ºC.
Bring 9 cups of water to a boil and add ½ cup of baking soda.
Pull bite sized pieces from large dough ball and drop into the baking soda bath. Boil 25 seconds.
Remove dough bites from baking soda bath and place on a well oiled baking sheet
Beat together your eggs and brush over each pretzel bite.
Place in oven and bake 15 minutes or until pretzel tops are golden brown
Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Dip each pretzel bite into melted butter then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture.
To make the cream cheese dip, combine butter and cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and stir.
Enjoy!

Upside-Down Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 6-8
4-5 ripe bananas
3 eggs
½ cup oil
½ cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 cups flour
½ cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2-3 bananas, sliced
Vanilla ice cream


PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C.
In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas.
Add the eggs, oil, sugar, and cinnamon, mixing until evenly incorporated.
Add the flour and mix until the batter has no large pockets of flour. Set aside.
In a pot over low heat, melt the butter, then mix in the brown sugar until dissolved.
Bring up the heat to medium, cooking until the mixture starts bubbling.
Remove the caramel from heat and pour into a greased 9×9 baking pan.
Lay the banana slices evenly on top of the caramel.
Spread the banana bread batter on top.
Bake 40-50 minutes.
Cool until the bottom is barely warm and use a knife to loosen the edges from the pan.
Place a plate upside-down on top of the pan, then invert the pan, flipping the banana bread onto the plate.
Slice, then serve with vanilla ice cream.

Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 9
Cooking spray
6 graham crackers, whole
½ box vanilla cake mix, prepared according to package
1 pound strawberries with tops removed
1 8-ounce block cream cheese, softened
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup milk
8 ounces whipped topping
Strawberries for garnish


PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 350°F/175C.
Spray a 9×9 baking pan with cooking spray.
Take 5 of the graham crackers and arrange them in the pan, breaking some of them to fill in the gaps.
Crush the remaining graham cracker and set aside.
Pour the vanilla cake batter on the graham cracker base, then bake for 25-30 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Using the back of a wooden spoon, poke 4 rows of 4 holes in the cake, making 16 holes total.
In a large bowl, mash strawberries with a whisk until very fine.
Add cream cheese and condensed milk, whisking until there are no large lumps.
Add the milk, stirring until smooth.
Pour the mixture over the cake and set until the cake has absorbed as much of the mixture as it can. Some of the mixture will still stay on top, which is okay.
Spread the whipped topping evenly on top.
Chill the cake anywhere from 3 hours to overnight.
Slice, and serve with strawberries and the reserved graham cracker crumbs.

Cookies & Cream Puffs

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 15-20
25 chocolate sandwich cookies
2 egg yolks
2 cups half & half
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
1 cup water
8 tablespoons butter
½ cup flour
4 eggs


PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 425°F.
Using a knife, separate the cream from the cookies, and place them in two separate bowls.
Crush cookies in a blender or a food processor until fine. Set aside.
In a pot over low heat, combine egg yolks, half & half, sugar, and cornstarch. Turn the heat up to medium-high, whisking constantly to prevent any lumps.
Once the mixture starts to thicken, add in half of the cookie cream, stirring until smooth.
Transfer the cream mixture into a bowl, covering the top with plastic wrap and pressing the wrap down onto the surface of the cream to prevent a skin from forming.
Chill.
In a pot, combine the water and butter, bringing it to a boil. Add the flour and ½ cup of the crushed cookie mixture, stirring until the dough comes together in a ball. Remove from heat.
Add in the eggs one a time, stirring until the dough becomes a paste. Transfer the dough into a piping bag with a large round tip.
On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, pipe 1-inch mounds. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the pastry has risen considerably and the insides are dry.
Transfer the chilled pastry cream into a piping bag with a small tip. Poke a hole in the center of the bottom of each cream puff and fill each puff with the pastry cream.
Microwave the remaining cookie cream for 30 seconds, stirring until smooth.
Dip the top of each filled cream puff into the cookie cream, dripping off any excess.
Sprinkle any remaining cookies crumbs on top of each cream puff.
Serve!

Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Brownies

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 12
Cheesecake:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
¼ cup sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon mint extract
4 drops green food coloring
1 cup mini chocolate chips
Brownie:
½ cup flour
1 cup sugar
⅓ cup dark cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup butter, melted
2 eggs


PREPARATION

1.Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C

2.For the cheesecake, in a bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.

3.Add sugar, egg, mint extract, and food coloring, and beat until smooth. 

4.Fold in the chocolate chips. Set aside.

5.For the brownie, in a separate bowl, whisk the dry ingredients until combined.

6.Add the butter and eggs, and beat until smooth.

7.To assemble, fill each cup of a standard, lined muffin tin half full of brownie, then half full of cheesecake mixture. 

8.Bake 25 - 30 min.

9.Enjoy!

Grab And Go Breakfast Muffins

INGREDIENTS

Servings 6 large muffins
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
7 eggs
1 ¼ cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup sour cream
1 cup bacon, cooked and chopped
1 cup green onion, chopped
1 ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded, divided

Other equipment needed:
6 cup large muffin tin


PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F (175˚C). Grease a 6 cup large muffin tin.
2. In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. In a medium mixing bowl whisk together 1 egg, buttermilk, melted butter, and sour cream.
4. To the dry ingredients, fold in the wet ingredients, cooked bacon, green onion and 1 ¼ cup of the cheddar cheese until just incorporated.
5. Using an ice cream scoop, fill each cup of a prepared large muffin tin with one large scoop.
6. Using a spoon, create a well in each of the scoops, pressing the batter up against the side of the pan, making sure it is deep enough to hold an egg.
7. Crack an egg into each of the wells of batter.
8. Using two spoons, drop small scoops of batter, first around the outside of the egg, building up the outer edge of the muffin and sealing in the egg whites and yolk, and finally over the top to cover the yolk. Be careful not to apply too much pressure while dropping above the yolk or it may break.
9. Top each muffin with remaining ¼ cup of cheddar cheese.
10. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes
11. Remove from oven and allow to set 5 minutes before removing from pan.
12. Best served warm. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Mini Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler With Buttermilk Cream Cheese Biscuits

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 12 mini cobblers
3 cups strawberries, chopped
3 cups rhubarb, thinly sliced
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ lemon, juiced
½ tsp cinnamon
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
¾ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
4 ounces cream cheese, cold and cubed
4 tablespoon butter, cold and cubed
Other equipment needed:
12 jam jars


PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 450˚F (230˚C).
2. In a medium mixing bowl combine strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, flour, slurry of cornstarch and lemon juice, and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. Add cream cheese and butter and cut it into the dry ingredients until it reaches a “sandy” consistency but large pieces of cream cheese and butter remain.
5. Add buttermilk and mix together with a wooden spoon until the dough start to come together.
6. Flip out onto a floured surface and knead the dough until it comes together.
7. Roll the dough out and fold it in on itself, repeat this process several times (this will help create flakey layers of the biscuit)
8. Roll the dough out once more and using a jam jar, cut out 12 individual biscuits.
9. Place 12 jam jars into a large roasting tray.
10. Fill each jar about halfway with the strawberry rhubarb filling.
11. Top each jar with a biscuit and brush with additional buttermilk and coarse sugar
12. Pour 2-3 cups of water into the baking tray to create a water bath, coming roughly halfway up the side of the jam jars.
13. Bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until the biscuits are browned and cooked through.
12. Remove from oven, and allow to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

Eton Mess Sponge

Servings: 9

INGREDIENTS:
140g caster sugar, plus 1 tbsp extra for coating
140g unsalted butter
3 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
200g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
100g crushed meringue
Pinch of salt
200g strawberries
75g icing sugar
250ml double cream


INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C and line a 6x10 inch square tray with greaseproof paper.
2. Cream the butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the beaten eggs to the batter along with the vanilla extract and mix again to combine.
3. Add the flour, baking powder and 50g of the crushed meringue and gently mix together. Pour into the prepared tray.
4. Cut 3 strawberries in half. Place evenly on top of the mixture and then sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of caster sugar. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
5. Once done, leave the cake to cool on a cooling rack. Slice up the rest of the strawberries and prepare the topping by whisking the icing sugar and double cream together.
6. Spread on top of the cake and scatter on the sliced strawberries and remaining 50g of crushed meringue.

Chocolate Banoffee Biscuit Balls

RECIPE:
1 400g Package Digestives - or substitute Graham Crackers
1 Banana
1 Can Dulce De Leche/Toffee*
Chocolate for coating



*”Toffee”/Dulce De Leche can be purchase already prepared - or can be made at home through a process of heating Sweetened Condensed Milk - Recipes/instructions can be found online.

Crush Digestive Biscuits in a large plastic bag. Pour into a large bowl and add Banana and about half the can of Dulce De Leche. Use a fork to mash and incorporate the banana and toffee into the biscuit crumbs. Add additional Toffee as needed - just enough to coat all the biscuit crumbs without it becoming too sticky.

Form the mixture into 1 inch balls and freeze for 15 minutes until firm.

Microwave chocolate for 60 Seconds - stopping after 30 seconds to check and stir.

Remove balls from freezer and dip into the melted chocolate. Set on wax paper and sprinkle with additional biscuit crumbs (optional). Allow chocolate coating to harden (chill in fridge to speed up this process) and drizzle with additional toffee just before serving. Enjoy!

Gooey Brownie Mud Hen Bars

RECIPE:

Ingredients:

- 1 Box Brownie Mix + Corresponding Ingredients (eggs/oil/water)
- 2 Egg Whites
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Pecans
- 1/2 cup Mini Marshmallows
- 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips



Prepare Brownie Mix according to directions on the box.
To a medium mixing bowl add two egg whites and beat until stiff peaks form (about 2-3 minutes). Carefully fold in Brown Sugar until incorporated.

Pour Brownie Mix into greased 9x9 inch baking pan. Top Brownie Mix with Pecans, Marshmallows, and Chocolate Chips. Spread Brown Sugar Meringue evenly over brownie layer. Bake in preheated oven at 350˚F (175˚C) for 35 minutes - (f the top starts to brown too quickly - cover loosely with aluminum foil halfway through). Remove from oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature. Enjoy!

Scallion Pizza Dough Pancakes

RECIPE:
For the scallion pancake:
- pizza dough
- scallions
- sesame oil
- salt
- white pepper



For the dipping sauce:
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sriracha
- 1 Tbsp. garlic
- 1 Tbsp. ginger
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- chopped scallions

Brush pizza dough with sesame oil. Liberally spread scallions. Salt and white pepper the pizza dough. Cut pizza dough into 6”x10” pieces. Roll and coil. Rest covered for an hour.

After an hour, flatten each coil of dough, roll out as flat as possible. Fry on medium heat until both sides are golden brown (5 minutes). Quarter and serve with dipping sauce.

Cheesecake Baked Apples

RECIPE:

Mix 8 oz softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 egg.

Hollow A Honeycrisp (or baking apple of your choice) with a melon baller, fill 2/3 with cream cheese mixture.
Bake 25-30 minutes at 176C / 350F.

For maple pecan sauce, boil 1 cup whipping cream, 3/4 cup maple syrup until thick, and add crushed pecans before serving.

Pumpkin Waffles With Apple Cider Maple Syrup

RECIPE:

Combine 1 cup pumpkin puree, 2 eggs, 4 tbsp. melted butter, and 1/4 cup brown sugar in a bowl. In a separate bowl combine 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 3 tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp. cinnamon, 1 tbsp. ginger, and 1 tbsp. all spice. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry. Cook waffles according to your waffle maker.

In a small sauce pan simmer equal parts apple cider and pure maple cider until thick.

Pumpkin Waffles With Apple Cider Maple Syrup
Full recipe: Pumpkin Waffles With Apple Cider Maple Syrup http://tastyfood2015.blogspot.com/2015/12/pumpkin-waffles-with-apple-cider-maple.html
Posted by Tasty Food on Friday, March 4, 2016

Pesto Mozzarella Cheese Balls

RECIPE: 

2 cans refrigerated biscuits (7.5 oz each)
4 oz Mozzarella cheese cut into 20 equal cubes
8 oz jar of basil pesto.
4 Tbsp. melted butter
2 cloves of garlic

1. Cut biscuit dough in half. Flatten dough, spread a teaspoon of pesto in the center of the dough, place a Mozzarella cube on top, pinch the sides around the cheese so the pesto and cheese are completely encased by the dough.

2. Place stuffed dough balls in a cast iron pan.

3. Crush garlic and mix with melted butter. Brush the garlic butter over each ball.

4. Bake for 20 minutes at 400˚F / 200˚C or until the dough is golden brown. Serve warm.

Homemade Cronuts

Here's the recipe:
Ingredients:

1 8oz canister of Crescent Dough
6 cups of Powdered Sugar
1 tsp of Vanilla Extract
1 cup of Milk
Oil for frying
Cinnamon
Sugar

Directions:

Open up and unroll the canister of crescent dough. Break it in half along the perforated edges and set one half aside. Then, fold the dough into thirds length-wise. Roll the dough flat. Then, fold the dough into thirds width-wise. Roll the dough flat again. Fold and roll again for extra thickness, if desired. (It may look thin, but will expand in the oil).

Heat Canola Oil on medium heat for 10-15 minutes until ready to fry. (Pro tip: Place the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil and if bubbles form around it, it’s ready for frying!) Fry the cronuts for 60-90 seconds on each side (or until golden brown). When done, place on a plate covered in paper towels to cool off.

For a tasty vanilla frosting, combine 6 cups of sugar with 1 tsp of vanilla extract and 1 cup of milk (stirred in gradually). Then dip the cronuts in the icing followed by a cinnamon sugar mix.

Baking: Pizza

So here's a closer look at my contribution to the FBM Holiday Potluck this year. Like I mentioned in the previous post, I participated in a chopped challenge like cook off. We were given a list of ingredients. And from that list, we had to choose 4 out of the 5 and use them in a dish of our choosing.

The ingredients in my basket were beef, cheese, canned soup, winter squash, and pretzels. After thinking about it for awhile, I opted to use all but the pretzels. And then I had to decide how I'd like to showcase the ingredients. I finally ended in choosing pizza.

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Baking: Three Layer Smores Cake

I really enjoyed how this smores cake came out that I'm dedicating a whole post (with recipe!) to it.

To remind you, the cake is a chocolate base with white chocolate graham cracker filling, and a toaste marshmallow frosting.

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