Brownie Pudding

My husband says this should really be called "crack cocaine"!  To die for!
  I love to serve it hot with vanilla icecream.
A slight variation taken from an Ina Garten cookbook.  She asked for a framboise liqueur which was optional and scraped vanilla seeds which I used vanilla extract in it's place.

2 sticks butter, melted and cooled
4 large eggs, at room temp.
2 c. sugar
3/4 c. flour
1/4 c. cocoa powder
1-2 tsp. vanilla


Preheat the oven to 325*.  Butter a 2 quart (9x12x2 inch)  baking dish.  
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle, beat eggs and sugar for 5-10 mins.  Until very thick and light yellow.  Meanwhile, sift the cocoa powder and flour together and set aside.
When the eggs and sugar mixture is done, lower speed and add vanilla and cocoa/powder mixture.  Mix only till combined.  With the mixer still on low, slowly pour in the cooled butter and mix again just until combined.
Pour brownie mixture into the prepared dish and place it in a larger baking pan.   Add enough of the hottest tap water to the pan to come halfway up the side of the dish and bake for exactly 1 hour.  The center will appear very under-baked; this dessert is between a brownie and a pudding.
Serve with vanilla icecream.

Homemade Croutons

These are super simple and so good!

1 loaf french bread (cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes)
3/4 c. olive oil
herbs, seasonings to your liking
garlic salt & pepper to desire
1/2 c. fresh parmesan


Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl combine seasonings, oil, salt, and pepper.
Dump the bread into mixture and mix well.
Pour the bread mixture on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 mins., or until golden. 
Keeps in ziplocks for several days.

Apple Pie en Papillotte

"pie in a bag"

Crust:
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. oil
2 TB. cold milk


Filling:
4 c. peeled, thinly sliced apples
1/2 c. sugar
2 TB. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. nutmeg


Topping:
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cold butter


Mix crust ingr. in a food processor.  Press into a 9-inch pie plate; set aside
Combine filling and dump into pie shell.
Mix topping in food processor, and sprinkle on top of pie.
Place pie in a large paper bag.  Seal with staples.  Bake for 90 mins. @350*.
Serve warm with vanilla icecream.

Sweet Potato Pie

This is like dessert!  Perfect for Thanksgiving dinner.


3 c. sweet potatoes
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c. milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla


Cook potatoes in over or in microwave until tender.  Then peel.
Smash.
Mix remaining ingredients together with potatoes till smooth.
Spread into a 9x9 pan.


Top with:
1c. brown sugar
1/2 c. flour
1c. pecans
1/2 stick butter


Mix topping ingredients with a fork until butter is incorporated.  Cover potato mixture with topping.
Bake @ 400* for 30 mins or until top is golden.

Lion House Rolls

These are the best "out of this world" rolls you will ever have!

2 TB. active dry yeast

1/4 c. warm water

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. shortening

3 eggs

1 c. warm water

1 1/2 tsp. salt

4-5 c. flour

Combine yeast and the 1/4 c. warm water in a small bowl and set aside to proof.

In a large bowl, cream sugar and shortening until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add softened yeast, 1 cup warm water, salt, and enough flour to make a soft dough. Mix well. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise 1 hour.

Punch down, let rise again for 40-45 mins. ( I have been known to skip this step )

Shape as desired and place on greased baking sheets. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, about 40 mins.

Bake at 350* for 15 mins.

Makes 3 dozen small rolls. I usually always double or triple the recipe.

Pumpkin Cookies

These are to die for! I make them even during the off season. MMmm.....

Super moist. They are even good without the chocolate chips. (Thats how Liv likes them)

3 cups canned pumpkin

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons nutmeg

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 cups sugar

1 teaspoon salt

5 cups flour

1 1/2 cup chocolate chips (milk or semi) we like semi.

In a large mixing bowl, combine all first 10 ingredients (down to flour). Add flour and mix.

Stir in chocolate chips. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 15 mins.

1 hour Cinnamon Rolls

These are the best ever! I got this from my friend Amy Thatcher who promised me they would only take an hour. She was right. I did modify her salt from 1 tsp. to 3 tsp.

3 1/2 cup warm water
6 TB. yeast
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup oil
Mix briefly in Bosch, let sit for 15 mins.

Then add:

3 tsp. salt
3 eggs
10 1/2 cup flour or less, just enough so it's not sticky
just keep adding the flour one cup at a time until it pulls from the sides of the bowl.

Divide dough in half. Roll into 20x12 inch rectangles. Spread with softened butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Add nuts or raisins if desired.
Using a pizza cutter, cut down middle lengthwise then cut in strips the other way. Roll up the strips and place on cookie sheets (Ungreased) 2 inches apart.
Bake 425 degrees for 10 mins.
Top with icing while still warm. Makes 2 pans.

Icing:
1 stick butter, softened
1 bag powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
milk to consistency
Mix well.