May 28, 2012

Mint Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

Mmmm...if you are a lover of the mint and chocolate combo then these cookies are for you!  They are the perfect blend of chewy, chocolatey and minty!

These cookies were originally called Grasshopper Mint Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies.  Well, the one thing I find absolutely intolerable about Texas - even worse than the crazy hot temperatures - is the giant grasshoppers!  No bug should be allowed to be that big, and I really don't want to think of them while I eat my delicious cookies, so I left that part out of the title.

These also call for green food coloring, but they taste just the same without it, and since nobody sees my colon, I don't think I need to die it a nice shade of green!

Ok!  Two gross tangents that I just chased there!  But really - these cookies are very addicting!  The cookies would be great even before adding the mint and chocolate toppings.  This would make a nice base recipe to experiment with.  Go make these!

Mint Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
From Six Sisters' Stuff

For the cookie:
1 box chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs

Mix ingredients together.  Drop by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 350 for 6-9 minutes.  Let cool completely.

For the peppermint frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened (You could probably get by with less.  Try using less and add more if necessary to get the right consistency.)
2 tablespoons millk
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract (You can add a little more if you like!)
Green food coloring (optional) 


Mix all together.  Spread evenly over cooled cookies.


For the chocolate topping:
2 1/4 cups chocolate chips (I had extra left (shocking, I know!) so I would use about 1 1/2 cups.)
3/4 cup butter (I left this out and really didn't miss it.)


Melt together in a double boiler or in the microwave.  Spread evenly over peppermint frosting.
  

May 27, 2012

Shepherd's Pie

I can't really call this a recipe because I really just threw it together and did no measuring.  It's been a long time since I tried a shepherd's pie.  This was pretty good and if/when I make it again I will probably change it up a bit - just to be different.  You can easily change this up to suit your tastes or to use up whatever you have on hand.

Shepherd's Pie

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 can Veg-All (or whatever veggies you like - corn & tomato would be good!)
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup beef broth
herbs & spices (I used garlic & onion powders, thyme and sage)
salt & pepper
2 potatoes
butter
sour cream
grated parmesan cheese
milk

Peel and chop potatoes.  Place in a pot, cover with water and boil for about 10 minutes.  Drain and return to pot.  Add whatever you like to make your mashed potatoes.  As listed above, I used butter, sour cream, parmesan cheese, milk, salt and pepper.  Cream cheese or a little cheddar would also be good.  Don't measure - just add enough of everything until it tastes good and mash until it is a nice consistency.

While your potatoes cook, brown the ground beef.  Drain your veggies and add them to the beef.  Also add ketchup, broth, salt, pepper and any herbs and spices you would like.  Cook over high heat until most of the liquid has cooked down.

Pour meat mixture into a pie plate.  Spoon mashed potatoes over the top and evenly spread them out.  Bake at 375 for about 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes just begin to brown.

May 24, 2012

Chocolate Pound Cake

This is my mom's recipe for chocolate pound cake.  It's best if it has just the right amount of gooeyness to it.  Even better - serve it warm and topped with some homemade vanilla ice cream...mmm!

Chocolate Pound Cake
From Joanna Knox

2 sticks butter
1/2 cup shortening or oil
3 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
5 eggs
1/2 cup cocoa powder

Cream together the butter, shortening/oil and sugar.  Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing after each addition.  In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder.  After this is mixed add it to the creamed mixture.  Add the vanilla and milk.  Pour into a greased pan and bake at 300 for about 90 minutes.

Notes:
1. This can be made in 1 bundt pan, 2 loaf pans or about 6 mini loaf pans.  Adjust the bake time as necessary depending on the size of your pan(s).
2. This recipe can be halved.  Use 3 eggs.  

May 23, 2012

Broccoli, Cheddar & Chicken Pockets

These were pretty good!  They kind of tasted like broccoli cheese soup in a bread bowl.  Best part - a great way to hide some veggies from Ezra!

Broccoli, Cheddar & Chicken Pockets

2 cups chopped cooked chicken (I used 1 1/2 chicken breasts)
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked broccoli
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup reduced fat Italian cheese & herb Philadelphia Cooking Creme
2 packages reduced fat crescent rolls

Combine all ingredients except crescent rolls.  You can form your pockets however you like.  You can use 2 triangles to make a rectangle, fill it and fold in half to form a small pocket.  You can put a rectangle made of 2 triangles on the bottom, fill and cover with another rectangle of 2 triangles.  You can get fancy and make a braid or a ring.  Whatever melts your butter, as my Nanny would say!  Place pockets on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake at temperature listed on crescent roll package until golden brown.

May 20, 2012

Bacon, Cheddar & Ranch Potato Casserole

Here's another recipe from my fave food blog, Plain Chicken.  I've adapted this recipe to make it healthy...er...slightly less bad for you.  And I added cream cheese just because.  This is great for pot luck or holidays!  If you want to be really indulgent you can add more of all the bad stuff.

Bacon, Cheddar & Ranch Potato Casserole
Adapted from Plain Chicken

1 bag frozen hash brown potatoes, the shredded kind 
16 oz. light sour cream
8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 package ranch dip mix

Mix all ingredients together.  You'll either need some muscles and a really big spoon or you can dig in with your hands.  Spread in a greased 9x13" pan or 2 8" square pans.  Bake at 400 for 45-60 minutes.

May 19, 2012

Lazy Cake Bars

Yum!  Part of what makes these so good is that they're so easy!  I used a yellow cake mix, but I think you could try an endless list of combos that would be good...strawberry cake with chocolate chips, chocolate cake with peanut butter chips, lemon cake with white chocolate chips, spice cake with chocolate chips...you get the idea!

Lazy Cake Bars
From I'm A Lazy Mom

1 box of cake mix
2 eggs
5 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 - 2 cups chips or mini M&Ms

Mix cake mix, eggs and butter.  Stir in chips.  Use hands to spread into a greased 9x13" baking pan.  Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.  

May 9, 2012

BBQ Chicken Pizza


I don't make homemade pizza very often.  It seems like it is usually less expensive to order it from somewhere than make it myself.  But this just sounded really good to me, so I threw it together and it didn't disappoint!

BBQ Chicken Pizza

pizza dough (I used Pillsbury but you can get all fancy and make your own if you want!)
1 small chicken breast, cooked and chopped
2 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 red onion, finely diced
fresh cilantro
Monterrey Jack cheese

Prebake pizza crust if necessary.  Top with sauce, chicken, onion, cilantro and cheese.  Bake until crust is golden brown and cheese is completely melted.

May 3, 2012

Hello Dolly Bars

These are the Hello Dolly bars I made to take to MOPS tomorrow.  What?  A piece is missing?  Well, I had to taste test to be sure no stealth murderer slipped into the kitchen and poisoned them while my back was turned.  This was a completely selfless gesture.  I sacrificed and didn't enjoy it at all.  Like letting a bee sting you so he'll look tough in front of his bee friends.  (Raise your hand if you know the TV reference here!)

Anyway, back to the ooey gooey subject at hand.  I don't know why these are called Hello Dolly bars.  (I've also heard them called 7 layer bars.)  But I do know that this picture doesn't let you see all of the good layers hiding underneath the coconut.  They are delicious and so easy!  I highly recommend that you make these and be sure you sample several bites - all for the sake of the safety of the ones you love!

Hello Dolly Bars

1 stick unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (1 sleeve)
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans)
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free)
1 1/3 cups shredded coconut

Heat oven to 350.  In a 9x13" pan melt the butter in the oven.  Be sure entire bottom surface of pan is coated in butter.  Spread crumbs evenly over butter.  Sprinkle chips and nuts over crumb layer.  Drizzle milk over all.  Sprinkle coconut evenly over the top.  Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.