Lofthouse Sugar Cookie Bars

Lofthouse Sugar Cookie Bars (from here)

Notes: These were a) easy b)quick and c)delicious. Will make for all group get togethers I have to go to in the future...

 1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. butter, room temperature
8oz. cream cheese, room temp
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

1.  Preheat oven to 350
2. Line a jelly roll pan (15x10x1) with aluminum foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.
3. In your mixer cream butter, cream cheese and sugar together. Add in egg and vanilla and mix until incorporated.
4. With mixer on low, add in your dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and baking soda.
5. Mix until just combined.
6. Press dough evenly into your prepared pan (dough will be sticky)
7. Bake for 20 mins until edges begin to golden.
8. Cool completely before frosting.

Use a buttercream frosting.

Basic Crepes

Basic Crepes

1 c. all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. water
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tbsp butter, melted
sugar, to taste

Whisk flour and eggs. Add in milk and water, stirring. Add salt and butter, beat until smooth.

Heat griddle over medium high heat. Pour ~1/4c. batter and tilt pan until batter coats surface evenly.

Cook for about 2 minutes and flip. Serve hot.

Fresh Peach Sauce

Fresh Peach Sauce (from here)

Notes: This was good. We had with crepes.

1/2 c. water
3 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 dash ground nutmeg
1 c. sliced peeled fresh peaches (I used fresh ones that I froze last fall.)
1/8 tsp. almond extract

In a saucepan, bring water, sugar, cornstarch, and nutmeg to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Add peaches. Bring to a boil; boil another 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in extract. Serve warm.

Italian Roast Beef

Italian Roast Beef (from here)

Notes: This is really good and smells AMAZING while it cooks.

1 1/2 c. water
3 cubes beef bouillon (or equivalent in broth/bouillon)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp crushed garlic
2 tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp dired oregano
2 tbsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried red pepper flakes (optional - I didn't add. I'm a spice wimp.)
4 lbs rump roast (I just use whichever roast is on top on the freezer :) )
1/2 c. vegetable oil (I didn't add this last time, and it was fine.)

Put the roast in the crock pot. Put water and beef bouillon. Sprinkle spices over roast.

Cocktail Meatballs

Cocktail Meatballs (originally from here - but I modified as it says below)

Notes: These were delicious. I didn't actually measure everything, and I think I added slightly too much vinegar from the chili sauce recipe). I tried adding a little more sugar to counter it, and it sorta helped. I would definitely just put a dash of vinegar next time.

1 lb. ground beef
1 egg
2 tbsp water
1/2 c. bread crumbs
3 tbsp minced onion

1 (8oz) can jellied cranberry sauce
3/4 c. chili sauce (see recipe below)
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- I added a little bit of soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Mix ground beef, egg, water, bread crumbs, and minced onion. Roll into small meatballs.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, turning once.
4. In a slow cooker or large saucepan (I did the sauce pan) over low heat, blend the sauce ingredients and add meatballs. Simmer for 1 hour before serving.

Chili Sauce Recipe (from here)

1 c. tomato sauce
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 tbsp vinegar (i used cider vinegar, but not for any particular reason)
1/4 tsp allspice

Chocolate-Coconut Bars

Chocolate-Coconut Bars (from here)

Note: These were delicious.

3 cups finely ground cookies (12oz) - graham cracker, chocolate wafters, or combo
1/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
1 c. pecan pieces
1 c. semisweet chocolate chips or chunks
1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 c. sweetened shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly splash a 15x10 rimmed baking sheet evenly with water, then line with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, stir together cookie crumbs, sugar, and batter until combined. Evenly press onto bottom and up sides of prepared baking sheet. Bake, rotating halfway through, until firm, about 10 mins. Transfer to a wire rack; cool, about 20 minutes.

Sprinkle cooled crust evenly with pecans and chocolate. Pour condensed milk over the top, spreading to cover completely (do not let it drip over the edges). Sprinkle with coconut.

Bake until coconut is toasted, 10 to 15 mins. Transfer to rack; cool completely. Trim edges, if desired, and cut into equal-sized bars.

Chewy Lemon Snowdrop Cookies

Chewy Lemon Snowdrop Cookies (from Kim Routsong)

Notes: These were sooooo good! The perfect chewy lemon cookie.

1 3/4 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
8 tbsp unsalted butter

zest of 2 lemons
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup agave nectar or honey
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons lemon juice
about 1 cup powdered sugar, for coating

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together flour and salt.  Set aside.

2. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter, lemon zest, sugar, and agave nectar. Mix until very smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides.

3. In a small cup, combine the lemon juice baking soda. With the mixer on low, add in flour mixture and lemon juice mixture. Scrape down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula and mix the dough by hand a few times to ensure an even distribution of the ingredients.

4. Roll the dough into balls, one inch in diameter. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheets , and then toss in powdered sugar to coat

Asian Inspired Meatballs

Asian Inspired Meatballs (form here)

Notes: I want to try these..or some variation of these at some point in time.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup saltine crackers, crushed
• 1 eggs
• 1/2 cup onions, chopped
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 cups catsup
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 teaspoon dried ginger ( or 1/2 tsp fresh grated)
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons molasses

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Thoroughly combine ground beef, milk, oats, crackers, egg, 1/4 cup onion, 1 teaspoons garlic powder, salt, pepper and chili powder for meatballs.
3. Form meat mixture into 1-inch balls and place in a 13x9-inch baking pan.
4. Combine catsup, brown sugar, liquid smoke, 1 teaspoons garlic powder, 1/4 cup chopped onion, ginger and sesame oil. Stir mixture until sugar dissolves (will be a bit grainy).