Fresh Peaches "Dump Cake" Cobbler

Last night I made a peach "dump cake" cobbler.  I went out on the internet, like I do many recipes and scanned several recipes and read the reviews. Most of them were pretty much the same thing. So here is what I did.

I had fresh peaches instead of canned peaches.  I put sugar on the cut peaches and let them sit for a couple hours to let them macerate.  They got good and juicy.  I put them in the bottom of a baking dish.  Then I poured a box of cake mix on top.  The dry cake mix.  I used Spice Cake mix because 1. that is what I had and 2. I thought it would be good with peaches. (spiced peachy right??)  Then I cut butter into bits and put it all over the top of the cake mix.  I baked at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  It looked done and I pulled it out and let it sit for about 30 minutes to cool slightly before busting into this.

The top was crusty and the peaches were soft and juicy underneath.  I topped it with some vanilla ice cream, sat down and dug in.  Peaches, yummy and tangy, not too sweet at all (note to self - put a bit more sugar in it next time).  The cake part was crusty like you would think peach cobbler would be.  I couldn't really taste the spice part. It was more like just the crusty crumbs of a topping. The taste I tasted though was strongly tainted with baking powder.  I was a bit disappointed.  I was expecting some sugary, buttery, crunchy taste or even a spicy(cinnamon and nutmeg perhaps).  I just got a strong baking powder taste. Hmm....

Peanut Butter Squares

This is to die for. It tastes just like a Reeces Peanut Butter Cup.

Ingredients:
Packaged Peanut Butter Cookie Mix
A Bag of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
9 x 13 inch pan

1. Take any packaged Peanut Butter Cookie mix and make it like you would cookies. Press into a 9 x 13 pan all across the bottom (the entire mix)
2. Cook at 375 for about 10-13 minutes.
3. Let cool for 5 minutes.
4. While it is cooling heat put the chocolate chips in a microwaveable bowl and heat in the microwave until melted.
5. Spread over the cookie cake and put in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the chocolate on the top hardens.
6. Cut into 2 inch squares and serve. Yum yum!

Triple Layer Boston Creme Pie

Yes you read that right. Triple layer Boston Creme Pie:

This recipe is so super easy you will wonder why you hadn't thought of it before.

Ingredients:
1 box cake mix (and whatever you need to make the cake from the box recipe)
1 large box of vanilla pudding (and the amount of milk necessary to make the pudding according to the box)Allow to firm up in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes.
1 container of milk chocolate icing.

Make the cake in two 8 or 9 inch rounds. Let cool on a rack. Slice each cake in half horizontally making 4 layers of cake.

Now, place one layer of the cake on a large plate, spread about 1/3 of the vanilla pudding on top of the layer. Then add another layer of cake. Spread another third of the vanilla pudding on top of that and add another layer. Last third of pudding on top and top that with the last layer of cake. Now here comes the yummy part. Heat the cocolate icing in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds or until slightly melted but not separated. Stir and then pour on top of the cake. The icing should only be slightly melted, enough to pour and have a slow drip not so fluid that it all runs down the edges of the cake. The icing will slowly drip down the sides. Put the cake in the refrigerater for 1 hour before serving.

YUM YUM!

Quick and Easy Donuts

These are so super easy! You will impress yourself and family at how yummy they are.

Ingredients:

1 tube of biscuits in the refridgerated aisle, buttermilk or regular (NOT flaky)

oil or shortening

In a deep fryer or large pot heat oil or shortening to about 350-360 degrees. Separate the biscuits and poke your finger in the middle and make a hole. Form the hole a bit so it stays open, stretching the biscuit some. Carefully drop into hot oil and fry on one side about 15 seconds and then flip it over. You will notice it puff up some. Flip again about 30 seconds later and then flip one more time about 15 seconds later. They take about a minute or minute and half to cook. Take them out when brown and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar or drizzle with a royal icing (milk and powdered sugar). Serve warm.

Chocolate Muffins

Okay, so not your perfect "I want to lose weight and start the new year on the right foot" kind of recipe, but thought I should share.

My older daughter, was surfing the net this morning and she came across a recipe she wanted to try. It is from the Holly Hobbie website. So we tried it and they are delicious and thought you all might want to try it too.

Chocolate Muffins

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup milk
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1/2 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease or line a cupcake pan.
2. Combine dry ingredients and stir. Add wet ingredients and blend until moistened. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Pour into cupcake pan about 2/3 full. Bake 18-20 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire rack before topping or serving.

Top with icing, chololate chips, peanut butter, or not at all!

An Experiment

I was talking with some co-workers and we were talking about how to make "Apple Betty". The conversation moved to an easy way to make a fruit cake. The men explained that you take a can of fruit in juice, put it in a baking dish. Then take a box of cake mix and pour it on top. (Yes the dry cake mix). Then put it in the oven and bake. The other gentleman said that he does it all the time with his boy scout troop in a dutch oven while camping. He said it works. The third gentleman then chimed in and asked me if I was going to make one. I said, "I'm game. Will you eat it if I bring it in tomorrow?". He agreed as he loves anything that I bring in to share.

It is in the oven now. I will let you know how it turns out.

Applesauce

Because we went apple picking two weeks ago, it seems that all I am cooking right now is applesauce. I have made a ton of applesauce in the past two weeks. It should keep my family happy until next summer.

Here is my recipe:

I take about 10 cups of apples peeled, chunked and cored, about 3-4 cups of water. Put all in a big pot and cook on medium high heat until the apples are soft. Stir often! Once the apples are soft mash them with a potato masher. If you like smoother applesauce then put in a food processor and mix until smoothness desired is achieved. Add about 1 to 1/2 cups of sugar and about a 1/2 TBS of cinnamon and stir. Taste. You may want to add a bit more water if it is too thick, you may want to go light on the cinnamon until you taste it and then add some more.

Fill canning jars and process in a water bath for about 10-15 minutes.

The chunky style is great served warm with pork chops or ham. The smoother, cold stuff is great, well, anytime!

Cheesecake!

While my family was all in town for my grandfather's funeral my uncle made some cheesecakes. There is no better comfort food than a good cheesecake. Now there are many kinds of cheesecakes and most of them pretty good. I will tell you the one I DON'T like is the one out of the tub that you get from the grocery store. The Philli cream cheese cake in a tub. All you have to do it pour this into a cracker crust and viola you have cheese cake. Well, it isn't very good and it is a waste of money if you ask me.

So I was able to get my uncle's cheesecake recipe out of him in a weak moment. Here it is:

Basic Cheesecake Recipe:

3 packages of cream cheese (1/2 lb packages)
3 eggs
1 14oz. can of Condensed Milk

Blend and pour into a graham cracker crust.

To make the graham cracker crust take about 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs and mix with 3 tbs melted butter. Press into a pie dish or a springform pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes. When you take it out run a knife around the outer edge and let cool for 1 hour on the counter and then 3 hours in the refridgerator.

For variations:

Chocolate chip cheese cake: use chocolate chip cookies and put in a food processor to make them crumbs and use for the crust (with 3tbs butter). Mix into the cheesecake mixture about 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips(cover with a bit of flour before putting in to the mixture. This will help them not all sink to the bottom).

Chocolate cheesecake: Use oreo cookies for the crust. Blend in cocoa powder and or baking chocolate and a bit of sugar.

Oreo cookie cheese cake: Use oreo cookies for the crust and blend in broken oreo cookies into the mixture. It works best when you use the double stuffed oreo cookies for the mix.

Lemon Cheesecake: Use graham cracker crumbs for the crust and blend in a bit of lemon zest into the mix.

The possibilities are endless. ... Thanks Uncle John!

An Easy Dessert - Brownies a la Mode

One of my family's favorite desserts is Brownies a la Mode.

Just as dinner is coming together I preheat the oven and make a quick batch of brownies (yes from the box). I throw it in the oven and it bakes while we eat. If I time it right the brownies come out of the oven just as we are finishing dinner and they cool while we clean up the dishes. When the dishes are in the dishwasher the brownies are still warm but not hot. We slice them with a plastic knife (because they don't stick to plastic) and I place a brownie in the bowl and scoop ice cream on top. Because the brownies are still warm the ice cream begins to melt and get all gooie! We eat them right away.

These taste like the brownie desserts you get from a restaurant and they are quite a treat! For left overs, put the brownie in a bowl and microwave it for 20-30 seconds and then top with ice cream. You can get the same effect all over again!!!

It is easy to plan for a great dessert if you have a few things handy all the time. I always have on hand a brownie mix, a yellow cake mix, ice cream (of any flavor), and a can of fruit. When fixing dinner just take an extra minute to think about dessert and your family will feel special.

Rice Krispies Treats

Today, we made Rice Krispies Treats, Caroline and I did. This is something that is easy and my 5 year old help.

Rice Krispies Treats (recipe from the box)

3 TBS butter or margarine

10 oz marshmallows

6 cups Rice Krispies

1. Melt the butter in a large sauce pan on low heat.

2. Add the marshmallows and and continue to melt until the marshmallows and the butter are smooth.

3. Add the Rice Krispies and mix until all are coated.

4. Dump into a 9x13x2 greased casserole dish (grease with Pam Cooking Spray). Press with a spatula or wax paper until the mixture is flat.

5. Let cool completely and cut with a plastic knife (it doesn't stick).

Sometimes we press chocolate chips, m+m's, or sprinkles on top. For other variation, add a few drops of food coloring to the melted marshmallows and they become festive for Christmas, Halloween, or Easter.