Baked Pasta and Cheese Sauce

A great dish for any baked pasta fans. This dish incorporates spicy brown mustard which gives the pasta a little extra kick that goes a long way in flavor. An enjoyable dish for everyone.

 Preheat oven to 425

Ingredients:
               1 tsp garlic powder
               2 cups pasta
               2 tbs butter
               2 tbs flour
               Dash of pepper
               1/2 tsp salt
               1 cup milk
               5-8 flakes red pepper
               1 tsp cajun mustard
               1/2 tsp spicey brown mustard
               1/2 tsp basil
               1 tsp pesto
               1/2 cup shredded cheese
               1/4 cup bread crumbs
               2 tbs melted butter
               1-2 tbs Parmesan cheese

Bring to a boil a pan 3/4 full with water

Add 1 tsp garlic powder

Add 2 cups pasta once boiled

Boil for 8-10 minutes

Drain and rinse with hot water

Cheese Sauce:

Melt in a saute pan
              2 tbs butter

Whisk in
               Dash of pepper
               1/2 tsp salt
               1 cup milk
               5-8 flakes red pepper
               1 tsp cajun mustard
               1/2 tsp spicey brown mustard
               1/2 tsp basil
               1 tsp pesto

Continue to whisk until sauce is thick and bubbly

Boil for 1 minute then remove from heat

Add 1/2 cup shredded cheese and stir

 Combine pasta and cheese sauce into a 8x8 pan

Mix together in a mixing bowl
               1/4 cup bread crumbs
               2 tbs melted butter
               1-2 tbs Parmesan cheese

Sprinkle bread crumbs over pasta

Bake 425 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted

Breakfast Scones

If you enjoy scones for a breakfast treat or anything else, this a dish you will remember. These scones are a great lemony scone that melts in you savor in your mouth.

Preheat oven to 375

Ingredients:

               2 cups flour

               1/4 cup brown sugar

               1 tbs baking powder

               1/4 cup plus 2 tbs butter

               Zest of an entire lemon

               2/3 cup chocolate chips

               1 egg

               1/4 cup plus 1 tbs milk

               1 tbs lemon juice

               1/3 cup butterscotch chips

Mix together in mixing bowl until butter looks like sand

               2 cups flour

               1/4 cup brown sugar

               1 tbs baking powder

               1/4 cup plus 2 tbs butter

               Zest of an entire lemon

               1/3 cup chocolate chips

Mix together in a separate bowl using a whisk

               1 egg

               1/4 cup plus 1 tbs milk

               1 tbs lemon juice

Pour the milk over the dry ingredients and stir with wooden spoon or fork

Dough will be soft not sticky

Flour a baking sheet where scones will sit on

Shape dough with hands into 8 inch circle about 1 inch thick

Using a knife cut the dough into 3-4 triangle pieces

Place pieces on floured baking sheet 

Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes (15 usually works)

Optional:
Melt in double boiler
               1/3 cup chocolate chips
               1/3 cup butterscotch chips

Use melted chocolate to drizzle over scones

Buttercream Icing

Simple to make and delicious to eat. This icing is great for cupcakes or cake or anything else your heart desires. Whip it up and eat it up.

Ingredients:
              1/4 cup vegetable shortening
              1/4 cup butter
              2 tsp vanilla
              2 cups confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
              2 tbs half and half

Add everything to a mixing bowl and blend together with electric or hand mixer

picture from thebuescherproject.wordpress.com

Moist Chocolate Cupcakes

If your a chocolate lover, this recipe is for you. These delicious cupcakes are moist when finished cooking, and even after we stored them in the fridge overnight they were still moist the next day. If you want a delicious spongey cupcake this is it.

Ingredients:
              1/4 cup chocolate chips
              3/4 cup hot brewed coffee
              1 1/2 cup sugar
              1 1/4 cup flour
              3/4 cup coco powder
              1 tsp baking soda
              1/2 tsp baking powder
              1 tsp salt
              2 eggs
              1/2 cup vegetable oil
              3/4 cup buttermilk
              1 tsp vanilla

Add to mixing bowl and let it melt

              1/4 cup chocolate chips
              3/4 cup hot brewed coffee

In large bowl mix together

              1 1/2 cup sugar
              1 1/4 cup flour
              3/4 cup coco powder
              1 tsp baking soda
              1/2 tsp baking powder
              1 tsp salt

In another bowl (electric mixer if possible, if not use a hand mixer) beat together 2 eggs

Slowly add to eggs

              1/2 cup vegetable oil
              3/4 cup buttermilk
              1 tsp vanilla

Continue to add chocolate mixture beating until well combined

Add a quarter of the dry mixture then blend until incorporated, then add another quarter and repeat, etc

Pour batter into prepared cupcake tins lined with cupcake liners

Bake 300 for 28-32 minutes (usually done at about 28)

Chocolate Butterscotch Cookies

Personally, one of my favorite recipes, this one is a great tasting cooking that always comes out soft when made. And the flavor combination between chocolate and butterscotch is something you will not regret.

Ingredients:
              1 stick butter
              1/4 cup sugar
              1/3 cup brown sugar
              1 egg
              1 tsp + 1/2 tsp vanilla
              1/2 tsp baking soda
              1 tsp hot water
              1/4 tsp salt
              1 1/2 cup flour
              1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips + butterscotch chips

Cream together in a large bowl using pastry blender

              1 stick butter
              1/4 cup sugar
              1/3 cup brown sugar

Whisk together slightly in a small bowl

              1 egg
              1 tsp + 1/2 tsp vanilla

Add the egg mixture to the butter

In a glass measuring cup mix together

              1/2 tsp baking soda
              1 tsp hot water

Add baking soda mixture to butter/egg mixture

In a medium bowl mix together

              1/4 tsp salt
              1 1/2 cup flour

Add flour mixture last

Stir in
              1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips + butterscotch chips

Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet

Bake 350 for 8-10 minutes

Greek Wedding Soup

Another hearty soup choice thats great for all. The meatballs compliment the broth and pasta perfectly and give off their own delicious flavor. This soup is a great alternative from chicken noodle soup for anyone who wants a change.

Ingredients:
             3 1/4 cups water
             2 chicken bullion cubes
             1 tbs minced onion
             2 small carrots minced
             1/3 cup very small pasta
             1/4 pound hamburger
             1 tbs parmesan cheese
             2 tbs bread crumbs
             1/4 tsp garlic
             2 tsp parsley

Place into deep pan and bring to boil

             3 1/4 cups water
             2 chicken bullion cubes
             1 tbs minced onion
             2 small carrots minced

Turn heat to simmer and continue to cook for 5 minutes

In another pan fill half with water and boil

Add          
             1/3 cup very small pasta

Boil for 8 minutes or until noodles are soft

Drain, rinse and pour into broth

In a large mixing bowl mix until everything is completely combined

             1/4 pound hamburger
             1 tbs parmesan cheese
             2 tbs bread crumbs
             1/4 tsp garlic
             2 tsp parsley

Shape into marble sized circles

Place meatballs into simmering chicken stock for 6 minutes

Meatballs will rise to the surface and continue to cook

Pour into bowls and enjoy

picture from rachaelray.com

Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are a great choice for a breakfast snack or if you just want something with cinnamon in it. These rolls have a perfect mixture of cinnamon with sugar to not overwhelm, the taste buds with more of one flavor then another allowing for an enjoyable treat.

Ingredients:
             1 pkg yeast
             1/3 cup very warm water
             1/4 cup sugar
             1 tbs olive oil
             1/4 cup milk
             1 egg
             1/2 tsp salt
             2 cups flour
             1 tbs butter
             2 tbs sugar
             2 tbs brown sugar
             1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

In a large bowl dissolve

             1 pkg yeast
             1/3 cup very warm water

Add to yeast

             1/4 cup sugar
             1 tbs olive oil

Warm 1/4 cup milk in saute pan just enough to take off chill

Add warm milk to yeast

Stir in

             1/2 tsp salt
             2 cups flour (maybe another 1/3-1/2 cup if still sticky)

Knead dough for 5 minutes until soft and pliable

Roll out dough onto lightly floured surface into very large circle

Melt 1 tbs butter in a saute pan and spread over surface of circle

Mix together in a small bowl

             2 tbs sugar
             2 tbs brown sugar
             1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Sprinkle sugar mixture over butter evenly

Roll up dough like a sleeping bag

Cut 2-3 inch intervals

Place on lightly greased pan making sure each roll touches another roll

Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes before baking

Bake 375 15-20 minutes or until golden brown

picture from whatscookingamerca.net