Double-Chocolate Pecan Balls | Real Simple Recipes

Double-Chocolate Pecan Balls Real Simple Recipes

Easy Key Lime Pie | Real Simple Recipes

Easy Key Lime Pie Real Simple Recipes

German Chocolate Cake Trifle

German Chocolate Cake Trifle

1 Chocolate cake mix, made according to directions
1 Instant Chocolate Pudding mix, made according to directions
2 cups Coconut toasted
1 cup Pecans, or Walnuts chopped
Buttermilk custard (recipe to follow)

In Trifle dish Layer Chocolate Cake, Drizzle Buttermilk Custard, sprinkle on Coconut, sprinkle Pecans, Spoon in Pudding. Repeat 2 more times. Make the top look pretty!

Buttermilk Custard.

1 1/2 cups Buttermilk (original recipe called for a can of evaporated milk)
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs

In saucepan add 3 ingredients and whisk cold. Place on medium heat and add

1/4 cup butter
1 tsp Vanilla

Stir frequently till boils and becomes thick. Cool before using in Trifle.

*I saw a similar recipe on Sandra Lee Money Saving Meals but I modified it and added pudding. I used one large box of pudding and Ryan said it needed even more. I made it for Sunday dinner and it was a big hit, especially for Jace who loves pudding and coconut.

Frosting

1 cup. softened butter
1 teaspoon vanilla (I like to do half vanilla, half almond)
4 cup. powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
Mix the softened butter in a kitchen-aid mixer (in my opinion, a hand mixer doesn't cut it.) Then add the vanilla and/or almond. Slowly add the powdered sugar little by little. If it clumps add a tiny bit of the milk. If you want to make chocolate icing add about a 1/2 half of cocoa powder here (I hate Hershey's I use Premium cocoa.) Continue to slowly mix the powdered sugar and milk as needed until all is mixed. Scrap the sides of the bowl as needed throughout.When I make the cream cheese version I add about half a chunk of cream cheese instead of the second butter stick. At least that's how I did it this time. I think it did it different last time, but I can't remember how I did it. It doesn't really matter as long as the consistency is what you want.
*This recipe is from my friend Lori but I have to search through her blog to find it everytime so I'm just posting it here so I can find it easier.

Valentine's Day Cake

This has become my new Valentine's Day cake. I made it last year too. It's actually pretty easy and so yummy. It's kind of like a deflated chocolate souffle, and oh so yummy.

Ingredients:

Serves 8

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for pan

8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

6 large eggs, separated

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.with the rack in the center. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.Place butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring each time, until completely melted. Let cool slightly. Whisk in egg yolks.In a large bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add granulated sugar, and continue beating until glossy stiff peaks form. Whisk 1/4 of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture; then gently fold in remaining egg whites.Pour batter into the prepared pan, and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Bake until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan and is set in the center, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack; remove sides of pan. Serve at room temperature, dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

Christmas Candy

Grace Morgan’s Divinity

3 cups sugar
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup white corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt

Combine above ingredients in a heavy saucepan with a tight fitting lid.
Cover with lid until mixture boils. Remove lid and cook until it reaches 260° (hard ball stage).
Do not stir while cooking.

When syrup is near 260° beat 2 egg whites in mixer bowl until medium stiff (hold their shape).
SPECIAL TRICK: When beating the egg whites add one package of Knots unflavored gelatin.

When syrup has reached 260°, pour syrup into the egg white mixture in a thin stream. Keep the mixer running. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Beat until the mixture holds its shape. It will look like thick whipped cream.
The more air that is incorporated into the mixture the better the candy will be.
Add 1 cup of finely chopped nuts.

Dip by teaspoon onto wax paper.

Note: Grace Morgan was the world’s best candy makers. Every Christmas she brought a package of her home made candies and several bottles of home canned fruit to Chuck’s Dad. It was one of his favorite gifts. She generously shared her recipes with me. LeOra Stevenson

Yummy Fudge

1 can evaporated milk
4 ½ cup sugar
1 pound Hershey Bars
60 miniature marshmallows or 15 regular marshmallows cut up.
12 ounce package semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Have Hershey bar, marshmallows, chocolate chips and nuts ready in a bowl.

Bring sugar and milk to boil in a large saucepan and keep at a rolling boil for 5 minutes. Dump this all at one time over the chocolate mixture. Stir vigorously by hand until chocolate bits and marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth.

Pour into greased (buttered) 9x13 pan and pack down. Let it set awhile.
Put in refrigerator to cool. Cut into desired size and enjoy.

The smaller the Hershey bar is chopped the faster it melts. You want it to melt quickly.
A food processor works well to chop the chocolate bar. (I always break it up by hand.)

Cinnamon Rolls

2 Pkg yeast 14 cups flour

2 cups water 3/4 cup melted butter

2 Tbs sugar 1 cup sugar

1 cup evaporated milk 6 eggs

1 cup boiling water 1 tsp salt

• Put 2 cups water and 2 Tbs sugar in bowl.
• Combine boiling water and evaporated milk and add to mixture.
• Add 3 cups flour with yeast sprinkled on top. Beat well.
• Melt butter and add 1 cup sugar. Add this to mixture.
• Add eggs, salt and remaining flour. Mix 10 minutes.
• If you do not have bread mixer add last flour and mix with hands. (will be soft dough).
• Let rise 2 hours or until double.

• Roll to about 1/8 inch thick.
• Spread with butter, sugar (I like to use brown sugar) and cinnamon.
• Can add pecans, walnuts, or raisins.
• Roll up like jelly roll and cut in 3/4 to 1 inch pieces.
• Place on greased cookie sheet.
• Let rise 1 hour
• Bake 10 - 15 minutes or until brown at 350° F.

Frost with glaze. I like to use a thin frosting made with cream cheese and powder sugar butter and canned milk.

Mom was always a high achiever - waking at 6 am to stuff the turkey, make cinnamon rolls and everything else from scratch! Wow... I get tired just thinking about it (but will a reminiscent smile on my face :)

Citrus Jell-O Salad

1 Lg Pkg. Orange Jell-O

1 Can Pineapple pieces, drained

1 Can Mandarin Oranges, drained (optional)

1 Pkg. Instant Lemon Pudding

1 ½ Cups Milk

1 Container Cool Whip

½ Cup Cheddar Cheese

• Prepare Jell-O as directed. Add fruit.
• Refrigerate until set.
• Combine pudding with milk until thicken, add Cool Whip.
• Sprinkle with cheese. Refrigerate.

Carmel Corn

This is a great fall treat from Sharon (Sorry, no picture - I only get to make it when Chad is out of town for a week)

Sharon’s Carmel Corn
1 cube butter
2 cup brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
4 bags microwave popcorn (I use more popcorn for mine)
Boil for 6 minutes. Pour over popcorn.

This is the sticky kind - I'll try to post the crunchy kind tomorrow.

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

PUMPKIN CRUMB CAKE
4 eggs
1 c. sugar
1 lg. can pumpkin
½ tsp. salt
1 ½ tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
½ tsp. cloves(nutmeg opt.)
1 can evaporated milk
1 box yellow cake mix
1 c. butter
1/2 c. pecans, chopped

Combine all ingredients from eggs through nutmeg. Then add one can evaporated milk and stir. Pour into 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle with one box yellow cake mix. Dot with 1 cup butter. Add pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

I'm making this tomorrow but I thought I would post the recipe now so I can find it again and add the picture tomorrow after I make it, plus a recommend once I've eaten it all.

So Yummy! It was a hit at family dinner, even Ryan ate it and he rarely eats my desserts. My sister in law who doesn't like Pumpkin Pie even liked it.

Pumpkin Cookies

Easy Pumpkin Cookies!
15oz. can of pumpkin
1 spice cake mix
1 bag of chocolate chips
Mix ingredients together. Grease cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 10 min. until brown on edges.
And that's it. No egg or butter. One cookie is one point for you weight watcher fans.

These are seriously good ... I barely remembered to take a picture of them before they were all gone...

Snoopy No Bake Cookies

(photo from flickr)

INGREDIENTS
2 cups white sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
3 cups quick cooking oats

DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, cocoa, milk and margarine. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, salt, peanut butter and oats.
Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Allow cookies to cool for at least 1 hour. Store in an airtight container.

Why did we call them Snoopy no bake cookies? I have no idea but it's better than the Spanglers name for them which was 'monkey poops'. Unfortunately I have all the ingredients to make these so they are going to temp me till I do. I'll let you know how long I hold out.

Paradise Bakery Sugar Cookie

(picture care of Noelle O, mine didn't turn out as cute as hers)

Warning: Do not make these cookies. They have everything in them your diet tells you not to eat and yet they are so melt in your mouth delicious you will eat them anyways and hate yourself in the morning. They should be called One night stand cookies. jk, sorry Mom.


Paradise Bakery sugar cookie

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups shortening
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg, beaten
4 1/3 cups cake flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Plain or colored sugar, for decorating

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, cream together sugars and shortening using an electric mixer. Mix on slow speed 30 seconds, then scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Increase speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes.
Slowly add vanilla and beaten egg while mixing.
In a separate bowl, combine cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing on slow speed until just blended. Do not over mix.Scoop with an ice cream scoop and roll in sugar. Place on baking sheet. Flatten slightly with palm of hand.

Bake 9 to 10 minutes.

Cookies are done when small cracks appear and are pale golden. Ideally, do not let edges brown. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

My friend Noelle posted this recipe and I've been dying to make them ever since I bought some at the Beehive Bizaare that she made, that's right I spent good money for these babies, they are that good.

Seriously Don't Make them!

Texas Sheet Cake

Texas Sheet Cake

2 Cups Flour
2 Cups Sugar
2 Sticks Margarine
4 Tbs Cocoa
1 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Buttermilk
2 Eggs beaten
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 tsp Cinnamon
Sift flour and sugar together into a large bowl
In a saucepan, bring to boil the margarine, cocoa and water and pour over the sugar and flour, mixing well
Add the last 4 ingredients and mix well. (Batter will be thin)
Pour into greased very heavy cookie sheet, 18x12x1
Bake 20 minutes at 400 Degrees. While cake is baking prepared frosting.

Frosting:
1 Stick margarine
2 Tbs. Cocoa
6 Tbs. Milk
1 Tsp. Vanilla
1 Cup Nuts
1 lbs. Powder Sugar (3 1/2 - 4 cups)

Bring to boil all ingredients except powdered sugar and nuts.
Sift powdered sugar into boiled ingredients, beat, add nuts, and frost cake while hot.

Sharon's Syrup

My tummy is full and happy. I finally made this delicious syrup that my sister Sharon makes. I heard years ago how good it was and it's taken me this long to finally try it. It calls for buttermilk that I never buy. I got some to make Ranch Dressing which I'm going to start doing more often. I made the syrup yesterday and have been trying to think of what else it would be good on, this morning I saw a banana and viola. You all need to try this at home.

Sharon's Syrup

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
Boil
Remove from heat then add
1 teaspoon soda (Be sure kettle is large as it foams up high1 teaspoon mapleine or vanilla

That's it, it was really simple and so yummy. I used vanilla and think it's probably best. The syrup is kind of a caramely butterscotch flavor. You'll be addicted.


*This was a post I made in May and I keep making this stuff and feel guilty every time and wonder why I can't loose this baby weight, thanks a lot Sharon.