NO CHURN ICE CREAM - REQUIRES NO MACHINE

http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/mint-chocolate-cookie-no-churn-ice-cream/

NO CHURN ICE CREAM
We did this for St. Patricks Day 2017.  Could use any toppings/flavorings.  We liked.  Not the same consistency as real ice cream but easy and good.

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ - 1 tsp mint extract
• 3-5 drops of green food coloring
• 20 chocolate mint cookies, broken into pieces
• ½ cup mini chocolate chips

1. With a mixer, beat the whipping cream until stiff peaks form.
2. In another bowl combine condensed milk, extract and food coloring. Mix to combine
3. Fold milk mixture into whipped cream mixture until combined.
4. Gently fold in cookies and chocolate chips.
5. Put in a container and cover.
6. Place in freezer for at least 6 hours or overnight.

VEGETABLE CHOW MEIN

VEGETABLE CHOW MEIN
We loved!  Easy!  Have everything ready before starting to prepare on stove.  Goes together fast once things prepped.  Sugar snap peas or broccoli would be a good addition.

http://www.dish-ditty.com/recipe/vegetable-chow-mein-recipe/

• 1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
• 4 cups Napa Cabbage (shredded, more to taste) (Napa was so spendy used regular cabbage)
• 1 cup Carrots (shredded)
• 1/2 bunch Green Onions (sliced in long thin strips)
• 1lb Fresh Steamed Thin Chow Mein Noodles** 
• 1 cup Chicken Broth
• 1/4 cup Soy Sauce (Light)
• 1/8 - 1/4 cup Pure Sesame Oil (To taste)
• 1/4 cup Panda Brand Lo Mein Sauce (oyster sauce, 1 tsp Better than Bouillon Chicken base, and 1/2 tsp sugar.)
• 2 cups Bean Sprouts (cleaned and trimmed)
• 2 cups Baby Bok Choy (sliced thin)

**used 3 pkgs ramen - cooked 2 min in boiling water or Angel Hair pasta and cook the pasta for 2 minutes, then rinse with cold water

Step 1

In a large colander, run hot water through the steamed chow mein for about 30 seconds, separating the noodles and removing the excess flour. Set aside. Step 2 In large wok or pan, heat oil on medium-high and add green onions, cabbage and carrots. Stir-fry for about 2-4 minutes, or until the cabbage is wilted. Step 3 Increase the temperature to high and add the chow mein noodles and 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Cook stirring and tossing constantly for about 45 seconds and then add the remaining chicken broth. Cook for another 1-2 minutes or so or until all the liquid is dissolved. Step 4 Add the remaining ingredients, soy sauce, sesame oil and lo mein sauce. Continue to cook for another 2-4 minutes. Remove from heat and serve. Step 5 Variation: You can also choose at this point to crisp the bottom by spreading the noodles on the pan and cooking on high for about 1-2 minutes without moving or stirring the noodles. Flip over onto a plate and serve.

CHOCOLATE LOVER'S DREAM CAKE

CHOCOLATE LOVER'S DREAM CAKE
Yum!  Had this for my birthday 2017.  Tasted great days later.  On the caramel-toffee topping we did less than it called for and that was still plenty.  We thought next time maybe do the genache topping then drizzle the caramel and other toppings on individual pieces.

Ingredients

1

box Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ chocolate fudge cake mix

3/4

cup chocolate milk (hot chocolate would work too)

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted 

3

eggs

1

container (8 oz) sour cream

1

box (4-serving size) chocolate fudge instant pudding and pie filling mix

1

bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

Ganache Glaze

1

cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)

2/3

cup whipping cream

Caramel-Toffee Topping

1 1/2

cups semisweet chocolate chips (9 oz) (we did 1/4 c mini chocolate chips)

1/2

cup caramel topping (used Trader Joe's)

1/2

cup toffee bits (wouldn't have to have and it will still be good)

1

bar (2.07 oz) Snickers™ candy bar, unwrapped, chopped (we did 6 mini chopped in 1/4)

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Generously grease 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with shortening and lightly flour, or spray with baking spray with flour.
•  In large bowl, mix cake mix, chocolate milk, butter, eggs, sour cream and dry pudding mix with spoon until well blended (batter will be very thick). Stir in 2 cups chocolate chips. Spoon into pan.
•  Bake 56 to 64 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool 10 minutes. Turn pan upside down onto cooling rack or heatproof serving plate; remove pan. Cool completely, about 2 hours.
•  Place 1 cup chocolate chips in small heatproof bowl. In 1-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream to simmering; pour over chips. Let stand 5 minutes; stir until smooth. Drizzle glaze over cake. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips. Drizzle caramel topping over cake. Sprinkle with toffee bits and chopped candy. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

BREAKFAST POCKETS

https://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/14617061/breakfast-pockets/

BREAKFAST POCKETS
These were really good.  Froze most of them for kids to have later.  Reheated well.  The only things the kids didn't like was the potatoes.

• 
  
• 1½
  tablespoons yeast
• ½
  cup warm water (110 degrees)
• ¾
  cup evaporated milk (110 degrees)
• ½
  cup vegetable oil
• ¼
  cup sugar
• 1
  egg
• 1
  teaspoon salt
• 3½
  cup flour
• 
  Filling:
• 1
  pound bulk sausage
• ½
  cup onion, chopped
• 1½
  cup frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
• 7
  large eggs
• 3
  tablespoons milk
• ½
  teaspoon salt
• ½
  teaspoon pepper
• ½
  teaspoon garlic salt
• pinch of cayenne pepper
• 2
  cups cheddar cheese, shredded
  
  Dough: In a bowl, dissolve yeast in the water. Add milk, oil, sugar, egg, salt, and 2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Add enough flour until it makes a soft dough but do not knead. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
  
  Filling: Cook the sausage and onion over medium heat until browned. Drain. Add the hash browns, eggs, milk, and spices. Cook and stir until set. Sprinkle with cheese and keep warm. Assembling the pockets: Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Punch down the dough and cut into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into 7 in circle on a floured surface. Top with 1/3 c filling, fold, and pinch shut. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
  
  To freeze: Allow to cool on the baking sheet. Once cooled, place in the freezer until frozen. Store in a ziplocK bag in the freezer for 3-6 months. To reheat, place on a paper towel and microwave for 1 1/2-2 minutes.

SEA SALT VANILLA CARAMELS

http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2016/10/14/sea-salt-vanilla-caramels/

SEA SALT VANILLA CARAMELS
These tasted very good but were not a caramel consistency.  Could have been the weather?  See recipe in blog folder - there is attached tips.  Used red cast iron pan.  Took about 45 minutes.

• 1 and 1/2 cups (355ml) heavy cream
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup (80ml) light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• seeds scraped from 1/2 of a vanilla bean
• 1 Tablespoon (14g) unsalted butter, softened (plus more for lightly buttering the pan)
• coarse sea salt for topping

1. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving enough overhang on the sides to easily remove the caramel once it has set. Lightly grease the foil with butter.
2. Combine the cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and corn syrup in a 3-quart heavy duty saucepan over medium heat. Using a wooden spoon, stir constantly as the sugars dissolve. The mixture will be thick and cloudy looking.
3. Once boiling, brush down the sides of the pan with a water-moistened pastry brush. Attach a candy thermometer to the pan, making sure not to let it touch the bottom.
4. Cook and stir gently every minute or so until the temperature reaches 245°F (118°C). Immediately remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of salt, the vanilla extract, vanilla bean seeds, and butter. The mixture may burst and bubble, so be careful stirring.
5. Pour the hot caramel into the prepared baking pan and top with coarse sea salt. Allow to cool at room temperature, uncovered, for 4 hours or overnight (no need to cover).
6. Once set, remove the caramel from the pan by lifting out the aluminum foil. Peel the foil off and, using a very sharp knife, cut into rectangles or squares. Wrap with candy wrappers, if desired.

LEVAIN BAKERY

Fun post to read about cookies:
http://www.modernhoney.com/levain-bakery-dark-chocolate-peanut-butter-chip-cookies/

LEVAIN BAKERY DARK CHOCOLATE COOKIES
I enjoyed reading the post about these cookies.  Abagail is on a real kick about making cookies all by herself.  These were a little hard for her to do by herself so I helped a little.  They are seriously so yummy!  The dough is really good too.  It will be a long time until we make them again because they are so yummy!  I couldn't stay out of them.  We didn't have quite enough peanut butter chips so used some semi sweet chips.

A copycat recipe of everyone's favorite Levain Bakery Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookie. It will knock your socks off!

Author: Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey

Recipe type: Cookies

Serves: 8

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup Cold Butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• ½ cup Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• ½ cup Dark Baking Cocoa
• 1 cup Cake Flour, sifted 
• 1½ cup All-Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
• ¾ teaspoon Baking Soda
• ½ teaspoon Salt
• 1⅓ cup Peanut Butter Chips

1. Preheat oven to 410 degrees.
2. In large bowl, cream together cold butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
3. Add cocoa, cake flour, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt and stir until combined. Stir in peanut butter chips (or can substitute chocolate chips).
4. Chill dough for 10 minutes.
5. Separate dough into large balls and place on lightly colored cookie sheet. Lightly press on top of dough to smooth out. They are bigger than you think! You will fit 4 cookies on one large cookie sheet. The dough makes 8 extra large cookies.
6. Bake for 8-11 minutes or until golden brown on the top. Let them rest for at least 10 minutes to set.

LEVAIN BAKERY CHOCOLATE CHIP CRUSH COOKIES

http://www.modernhoney.com/levain-bakery-chocolate-chip-crush-cookies/

Yum!  We made 12 big cookies.  We didn't add the walnut, but I really wanted to because I think it would make them even better.

• 1 cup Cold Butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• ½ cup Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1½ cups Cake Flour*
• 1½ cups Flour
• 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
• ¾ teaspoon Baking Soda
• ¾ teaspoon Salt
• 2 cups Chocolate Chips
• 2 cups Walnuts, roughly chopped
• *can substitute all-purpose flour for cake flour

1. Preheat oven to 410 degrees.
2. In large mixing bowl, cream together cold cubed butter, brown sugar, and sugar for 4 minutes or until creamy.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each one.
4. Stir in flours, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just combined to avoid overmixing. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
5. Separate dough into large balls and place on lightly colored cookie sheet. They are bigger than you think! You will fit 4 cookies on one large cookie sheet. The dough makes 8 extra large cookies.
6. Bake for 9-12 minutes or until golden brown on the top. Let them rest for at least 10 minutes to set.

DATE BARS

Date Bars
This is the recipe from Candace. She use to bring them to Pacific Yurts.  They are super yummy!
 
Filling:
 
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 1/2 cups chopped dates
1 1/2 cups sour cream (I use plain yogurt)
1 tsp maple extract (I use vanilla)
3 egg yolks
 
Base & Topping:
 
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 cups quick oats
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup margarine or butter, softened
 
Heat oven to 350.  Grease a 9 x 13 pan.  In med. saucepan  combine all filling ingredients.  Cook over med. heat until thickened slightly, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and beat with a hand mixer for a few minutes to break up the dates a bit more.  It doesn't have to be completely smooth.  Set aside.
 
Mix all base & topping ingredients.  Reserve 1 1/2 cups for topping.  Press remaining oat mixture evenly in bottom of greased pan.  Add filling and spread evenly over base.  Then sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups over the top.  
 
Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes until top is a light golden brown.