Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Better 'n Punkin Pie

This recipe makes the rounds every holiday season. It goes by many names -- Pumpkin Crunch, Pumpkin Crisp, Pumpkin Dump Cake. This took the place of pumpkin pie on my holiday menu ever since the first time I made it. Have a safe Halloween!

BETTER 'N PUNKIN PIE

1 15 oz. can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup butter melted

Mix pumpkin, milk, sugar, eggs, cinnamon and vanilla until blended together. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan. Mix pecans with dry cake mix. Pour dry mix over pumpkin mixture. Pour melted butter evenly over the top. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes. Can serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

Cookies Cookies Cookies

Someone sent me this really neat e-mail today that has links to cookie recipes. Just click on the name of the cookie and the recipe is there. Good to keep handy.

1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel Bars Chocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice Cookies Christmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Crème De Menthe Chocolate Squares Crème Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho Bars Holiday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon Bars Lemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar Cookies Nut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice Cookies Parking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins Pfeffernuesse Pffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Pumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer Cookies Short Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle Cookies Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies Swedish Sugar Cookies Sweet Marie's Swiss Treats Taralle (Italian Cookies) Tea Time Tassies Texas Brownies The Best Shortbread in The World Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Toffee Squares Traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies Traditional Gingerbread Men Cookies Triple-Chocolate Chip Cookies Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies Vanilla Waffer Balls Walnut Butter Cookies Walnut Crumb Bars White Chip Chocolate Cookies Wild Oatmeal Cookies Will's Famous Apple Jack Cookies Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Low-Fat Banana Bread

We have been on a wellness kick at work lately. I looked around for a low-fat banana bread recipe to make and came across several that had the same basic recipe. The use of applesauce helps to make a good substitute for butter or oil. This makes a nice big loaf and is really moist inside.

LOW-FAT BANANA BREAD

2 eggs
2/3 cup sugar (I used 1/3 white and 1/3 packed brown)
3 medium-sized very ripe bananas smashed (the riper the better)
1/4 cup applesauce (I used cinnamon flavored)
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk (I just used plain skim with no problem)
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup toasted pecans

With a mixer blend eggs and sugar for about 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Add bananas, applesauce, oil, vanilla, milk. Stir until blended. Mix dry ingredients together and add to wet mixture. Add pecans. Pour into a 9 inch loaf pan that has been sprayed with Pam. Bake at 325 degrees for 40-50 minutes until done. Turn onto rack to cool.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Peanut Butter Cookies (Kinda Sorta)

I'm not a big fan of chocolate chip cookies (I know, a character flaw I'm sure). I do make a pretty good chocolate chip cookie though. I like to use the same dough and add peanut butter chips to them to make a nice peanut butter cookie. I mixed up my usual cookie dough and went to the pantry and grabbed the bag of what I thought was peanut butter chips and they were mini Reeses Pieces instead. They were in fall colors (though fall has still not even begun to reach us here). They were well received at the office. This recipe makes a BUNCH of cookies.

PEANUT BUTTER CHIP COOKIES

1-2/3 cups shortening
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 bag Reeses Peanut Butter Chips (any chips at this point will work in this recipe)

Blend shortening with sugars. Add eggs one at a time blending well. Add vanilla. In a separate bowl mix flour with soda and salt. Mix into wet mixture. Add Reeses Pieces and mix. Scoop dough onto baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Oh Fall, Wherefore Art Thou Fall?

So, the calendar says it is Fall. Somehow it has forgotten to 'fall by' in Texas. We are still experiencing 90+ degree weather. It should be time for pumpkins, apples, cranberries and all things Fall, but we are still in barbecue and hotdog season. I know there are people who travel south to enjoy warm temperatures, but I would seriously consider traveling north to participate in a 'weather exchange' program. I love cold weather. So in spite of the air conditioner being on 24/7 I pulled out this Fall recipe for today.

CRANBERRY APPLE NUT BREAD

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 cup shredded peeled apple (about 1 medium)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/2 cup dried cranberries (I used Craisins)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, mix 3/4 cup sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla. Stir in apple, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir in toasted nuts and cranberries. Pour batter into pan (it is very thick). In a small bowl, mix together the remaining sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over batter in pan. Bake 45 to 55 minutes.