Lemon Bars

I am not the biggest fan of lemons bars, but Clif asked me to make lemon bars for work one day, these are the best lemon bars I have tried.

For the crust:

• 3/4 lb. unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt (I used regular salt)

For the filling:

• 6 large eggs, at room temperature
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp. finely grated Meyer lemon zest
• 1 Tbsp. finely grated lime zest
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon/lime juice (I used 6 small Meyer lemons and 2 limes)
• 1 cup flour
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Butter a 9 x 13 x 2" baking pan, then line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper. This is optional but will make removing the bars from the pan, much simpler.

For the crust: Cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.

Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter mixture until just mixed.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into the bottom of prepared pan.

Chill the pan while the oven preheats to 350° F.

Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.

For the filling: Whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon and lime zest, lemon and lime juice, and flour.

Pour over the crust and bake for 35-45 minutes, until filling is set.

Let cool to room temperature. Cut into squares or triangles and dust with confectioners' sugar.

Store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator.

Makes about 24 squares.

recipe found at http://lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com/2011/03/best-ive-ever-had.html

Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream-Cheese Butter Frosting!

Found this Recipe on Pinterest:  made by Lady with the Red Rocker



Ingredients...

1 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
5 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Directions...

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. (I beat the butter and sugar together, for about 5 minutes, until it was really light and fluffy.) Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla extract and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda and stir with a wire whisk to mix well. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread dough onto a greased 13 x 18 baking sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean. The bars won't look done so do the toothpick test. Cool completely and then frost.

Cream-Cheese Butter Frosting…

1/2 cup butter, room temperature 4 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 tsp.
vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
5 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp. milk food coloring (if desired) sprinkles (of course)

Directions…

Combine butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract and salt. Add powdered sugar in 1 cup increments until combined, then add milk and mix until smooth and spreading consistency. Spread over cooled sugar cookie bars.

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

Picture and recipe from www.noblepig.com

3/4 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup whole milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
4 ounces pepperoni, cut into small cubes (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup pizza sauce
2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil

Preheat oven to 375^o. Grease a 24-cup mini muffin pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder; whisk in the milk and egg. Stir in the mozzarella and pepperoni; let stand for 10 minutes.

Stir the batter and divide among the mini-muffin cups. Bake until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

Microwave the pizza sauce until warmed through, then stir in 1 Tablespoon basil. Sprinkle the puffs with the remaining 1 Tablespoon basil. Serve the puffs with the pizza sauce for dipping.

Found this recipe at:  http://noblepig.com/2010/03/30/pepperoni-pizza-puffs.aspx

This is such a fun easy recipe.  I made this one Saturday when my Father-in-law was over and we were all working outside in the yard. 

Pizza Bites

So my camera is acting up... I think it is finally giving the ol' Heave-Ho and saying it's done being abused by me. The lens isn't focusing. So I couldn't take pictures to show you my yummy, delicious dinner that we just ate. I had made them before but the recipe I tried before I didn't like, so I improvised my own and thought I would share.


I make my pizza dough from scratch but if you don't want to you can just grab Rhodes or some brand of bread dough to use. 


My dough recipe is:
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons yeast 
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 Tablespoons olive oil
A dash of garlic salt
3 cups flour


Add yeast to water, let stand for a min. Then add all ingredients but flour. Do a quick stir up. (I do my mixing in my KitchenAid.) Then add the flour. You may need to add a little more water if the dough is not wet enough. I don't change my mixing attachment to the kneading hook, it mixes just fine. Let mix for about 4 min. This is not a sticky dough. The olive oil gives it the perfect texture. (Remove from mixer and put in a greased bowl. Cover with towel and let rise about an hour or till doubled in size. 


Preheat oven 375. Now, I get out my ingredients for the pizza part. I put in two pepperoni's when I make the balls. And grated mozzerella cheese. When the dough is ready, have a Bundt pan out and spray with oil. Start grabbing little amounts of dough and spread it a little smaller than the palm of your hand. Add the two pepperoni and some cheese. Fold into ball shape and put in Bundt pan. Keep doing this until all the dough is gone. Mince a clove of garlic and sprinkle on top of the balls. Drizzle olive oil on top of that, a decent coating. (I wish I could pictures up of this). You definitely do not want too much oil, but you don't want too little either. Sprinkle garlic salt over the balls and then some parsley flakes. Bake in oven 18- 20 minutes, but check to make sure they are slightly golden brown on top. Even a little light is okay, because you don't want the bites in the bottom of the pan to get too crisp because of the olive oil. As I am writing this I am wondering if this sounds too complicated. It's hard for me to write because I just go with the flow and love to cook so I feel kind of in-tune to it. ha! Making these are definitely not a big deal, but I was so disappointed last time that I really baby-sat these this time.


And obviously you can add anything in the middle you want. 


Remove from oven. Heat up in a little bowl some marinara/tomato sauce for dipping. And ENJOY! Our family loves them. These were fun to do for a little change-up because we have Family Pizza Night Fridays. (It makes planning the menu for the week so easy when I get to Friday!)  


PS. This dough recipe makes for a medium size dough. I actually use a little bit different recipe for a pizza crust that turns out great. If you want that recipe, just ask!

Pork Rub

Pork Rub Recipe:
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon mustard powder
2 teaspoons salt
3 teaspoons brown sugar

found here: The Country Cook

Homemade Hamburger Buns (Bread Machine)

Found at www.food.com.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups milk, slightly warmed
• 1 beaten eggs
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 3/4 cups bread flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in pan of bread machine according to manufacturer's directions.
2. Select dough setting.
3. When cycle is complete, turn out onto floured surface.
4. Cut dough in half and roll each half out to a 1" thick circle.
5. Cut each half into six 3 1/2" rounds with inverted glass as a cutter.
6. Place on greased baking sheet far apart and brush with melted butter.
7. Cover and let rise until doubled, about one hour.
8. Bake at 350° for 9 minutes.
9. Note: Oven temperatures vary so check after 9 minutes to see if done. Some reviewers baked these anywhere from 12 to 30 minutes.

Grape Salad

Grape Salad with Brown Sugar and Pecan Topping Recipe

Ingredients:

4 lbs grapes(a mix of colors); cleaned 8 ounces sour cream 8 ounces cream cheese; softened 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the topping: 1 cup brown sugar; packed 1 cup crushed pecans Instructions: In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and crushed pecans for the topping. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, sugar sour cream and vanilla until blended. Stir in the grapes. Cover with the topping and chill for at least two hours.

Fluffy Pancakes

Taco Cupcakes

Taco Cupcakes
makes 18 cupcakes

www.plainchicken.com

1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
2/3 cup water
1 can black beans, drained
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
36 wonton wrappers
your favorite taco toppings - salsa, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, etc
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375.

Brown the meat in a skillet and drain off fat (I use a collander). Return the meat to the skillet; add the taco seasoning, water and black beans. Mix and simmer for 5-10 minutes, until water is absorbed.

Spray 18 regular muffin pan cups with cooking spray. Place one wonton wrapper in each muffin cup. Divide half of the taco meat between muffin cups. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the cupcakes. Repeat layers - wonton, taco meat and cheese. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. Top with your favorite taco toppings.