ENCHILADA SOUP

I had company coming for lunch this week.  We finally have some cold weather here on the Gulf Coast so soup was on the menu.  This recipe is from someone who I worked with who always had a Christmas party at his home.  His wife would make a huge roasting pan of this to serve.  The soup is delicious and adding all the toppings makes it even better.  I also had avocado slices and lime wedges but didn't get them in the picture.

ENCHILADA SOUP

2 to 3 cups cooked chicken cut into pieces (can use rotisserie or just boil about 3 chicken breasts with seasonings in the water)

2 cans chicken broth

1 pound Velveeta cheese (use Mexican flavored if desired)

1 stick butter

1 medium onion chopped

1 can green chiles

1 can Old El Paso Red Enchilada sauce

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup

Seasonings to taste, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, etc.

I added some drained black beans and frozen corn to mine, but that is just a suggestion.

Sauté onion in butter until soft.  Add all ingredients in crock pot or on the stove top.  Cook until cheese is melted and hot.  Serve with tortilla strips, cilantro, chopped jalapenos, shredded cheese, avocado slices and lime wedges.  Anything you like.  This makes quite a bit but because of the cheese I do not think it will freeze well.  

MOUNDS CHOCOLATE BALLS

Another new treat we tried while visiting my sister.  I found this recipe on Pinterest.  Of course, like anything in Texas, we added pecans which made it similar to Almond Joy.  You could leave out the nuts or use almonds and make it an Almond Joy.  For the record, I do not like dipping things in chocolate.  It is a messy job and not an easy task to make look nice.  They tasted really good though.

MOUNDS CHOCOLATE BALLS

1 stick butter, melted

2 cups powdered sugar

3 cups shredded coconut

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

1 16-ounce bag chocolate chips (we used milk chocolate, but semi-sweet would be good too)

Melt butter.  Add powdered sugar and coconut and stir well to blend together.  Add nuts if using.

Roll into walnut-sized balls and place on a cookie sheet.  Place in refrigerator to chill.  Melt chocolate chips.  Dip chilled balls into chocolate and place on parchment paper to harden up.  

PECAN PRALINE CRUNCH

A recent visit to my sister for Thanksgiving.  We got a head start on getting her Christmas goodies done while I was there.  I'm always looking for something new to try for Christmas treats and this looked like a really good one.  I believe it will become a favorite.

PECAN PRALINE CRUNCH

1 family size box of Crispix cereal

4 cups pecan halves

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup Karo syrup

2 sticks butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

Empty box of cereal into a large roasting pan.  Add pecans and stir together.  Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  In a saucepan put brown sugar, Karo syrup and butter.  Bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and add baking soda and vanilla.  Pour over cereal and stir well.  Put roasting pan in oven and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes (3 times).  Spread parchment paper on counter top and spread mix over to dry out and become crunchy.  Put into bags. 

SWEET ALABAMA PECAN BREAD

These days it is hard to bake for anyone other than family.  Pot lucks and gatherings with large groups have been gone since March when I went to my last pot luck.  I don't bake for myself, so baking these days comes with Sunday dinners with family or visiting my cousin.  I found this on Pinterest in several places so I decided to try it.  We have had a really nice pecan season this year after having several years of slim to none.  I took advantage of having some really nice ones for this recipe.
SWEET ALABAMA PECAN BREAD
1 cup granulated sugar1 cup brown sugar, packed1-1/2 cups flour2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt(If desired you can use 1-1/2 cups self-rising flour instead of all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt)1 cup oil4 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla2 cups pecans, chopped1 teaspoon vanilla2 cups pecans, chopped
Mix all ingredients well and pour into a 9 x 13 baking pan that has ben sprayed with Pam or Baker's Joy.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean from middle.  Cool for 15 minutes before cutting into squares.

CHOCOLATE TOPPED PRALINES

A recent visit with my cousin and she wanted to learn how to use a candy thermometer to make pralines.  She had a recipe she had seen on Food Network from Kadea Brown for Chocolate Topped Pralines.  My usual recipe is from the Candy Man in Savannah, Georgia when I visited there but this looked easy so we tried that one.  Pralines can be tricky but this was an easy recipe and they turned out beautifully.  I did not get a picture after we drizzled the chocolate, but I am a purist when it comes to pralines and do not care for that part.

CHOCOLATE TOPPED PRALINES

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup evaporated milk

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups pecans halves (toasted)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Use parchment paper or silicone mat.  Set aside.  Have a tablespoon or cookie scoop ready.  In a saucepan add granulated sugar, brown sugar, evaporated milk, butter and baking soda.  Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon occasionally until the sugars are dissolved and the mixture begins to boil.  Clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pot and continue to cook until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage (235 to 240 degrees).  remove the pot from the heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.  Add the vanilla and pecans and stir vigorously until the candy begins to dull and the mixture starts to thicken. Work quickly.  Drop by heaping tablespoons or cookie scoop onto parchment paper.  If the mixture gets too thick, add a few tablespoons of hot water to thin out and continue.  Cool completely until set.  If desired melt chocolate chips and drizzle over pralines.

FRESH APPLE CAKE

The calendar says it is Fall but the weather has a different idea. Still battling hurricanes down here on the Gulf Coast and Fall seems far away yet.  But apples are now showing up in the grocery stores and time to make apple things.  Made this for Sunday Dinner and even though the temperature said 90 plus degrees with high humidity, just for a minute we could dream of cooler temperatures soon.

FRESH APPLE CAKE

CAKE:

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups granulated sugar

3 eggs

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon or apple pie spice

3 cups chopped apples

1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

FROSTING:

1 stick butter

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup cream or milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 9 x 13 pan with Bakers Joy.  Combine oil, sugar, and eggs.  Mix well.  Stir in flour and baking soda. Add vanilla and apples and pecans if using.  Spread in prepared pan.  Bake for 50 minutes or till done.  Cool for 2 hours then prepare frosting.

For the frosting:

Place all ingredients in small saucepan.  Bring to a boil.  Boil for 2 minutes.  Set pan in a bowl filled with ice water.  Beat icing until spreading consistency.  Spread over top of cake.  Sprinkle chopped pecans if desired.

TRIPLE THREAT PEANUT BUTTER CAKE

Sunday dinner recently with the kids and wanted to make something new for dessert.  I found this recipe on Facebook videos (The Farm Stand).  The original recipe called for a large sheet pan which would have been too much so I decided to half the recipe.  Unfortunately I chose the wrong size pan and these came out very thin.  The full recipe is below and if you half it, be sure and use the appropriate pan.  They were gobbled up though, so it did not cause any issues, just a learning experience.

TRIPLE THREAT PEANUT BUTTER CAKE

2 cups flour

2 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 stick butter

1/2 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup cold coffee

2 eggs beaten

1/2 cup half and half

1 teaspoon vanilla

FROSTING

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup peanut butter

6 Tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup crushed peanuts.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 12 x 17 inch sheet pan. (use a 9 x 13 pan if making half - NOT a 10 x 15)

In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, soda and salt.  Combine well.  In a saucepan, melt butter and peanut butter.  Blend in oil till smooth.  Add to dry ingredients along with coffee, eggs, half and half and vanilla.  Combine all ingredients until smooth.  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Remove and prepare frosting.

For the frosting, melt the butter and peanut butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add milk and vanilla.  Pour over powdered sugar and beat until smooth.  If too thick, add more milk to thin out.  Spread over cake.  Sprinkle with crushed peanuts.  

CINNAMON OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES

I recently visited my cousin and her husband.  I wanted to take a treat and went in search of something new to bake.  I had some beautiful raisins that I get when I visit California, the red flame raisins that are just amazing.  Nice and plump.  Like nothing you can buy in a grocery store.  

CINNAMON OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 sticks butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.  Set aside.  In a large bowl cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Gradually mix in flour until well mixed.  Stir in oats and raisins and pecans if used. Drop by tablespoons onto parchment paper line cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes until lightly brown.  Cool.

LEMON OATMEAL COOKIES

Things are certainly boring during the pandemic sometimes.  Another recipe hanging out in my to try file and wanting to make something lemony found this recipe.These cookies spread out really big so it only made 2 dozen which I shared with a few peeps at work but made them each a small bag since it wasn't good to have them on a plate for people to grab one with trying to keep safe from virus germs.

LEMON OATMEAL COOKIES

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1-1/2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 sticks butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon lemon extract

grated zest from 1 small lemon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup sugar for top of cookies

1/4 cup lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, wish together the flour, baking soda and salt.

In another bowl with a mixer beat the butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the lemon extract, vanilla and zest and blend well.

Slowly add dry ingredients. Add the oatmeal and mix well.

Roll dough into small balls about walnut size.  Press a glass in the lemon juice and sugar and pat the cookies down.  These cookies spread quite a lot.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes until tops are lightly brown.  Cool. 

CHOCOLATE COBBLER/HOT FUDGE CAKE

I have heard about Chocolate Cobbler for a long time.  I believe it is an old recipe.  Weirdly I am not a fan of chocolate but my youngest grandson prefers chocolate for dessert so for Sunday dinner I decided to try this.  It calls for quite a bit of cocoa and I feared it might be bitter, but as intensely dark as it appears I believe it works.  Served with Texas best Blue Bell ice cream finished it off nicely.

CHOCOLATE COBBLER/HOT FUDGE CAKE

First layer:

2 sticks butter, melted

2 cups all purpose flour

6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1/4 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 cups granulated sugar

2/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Blend above ingredients together and spread into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.  This batter is quite thick.  

Second layer:

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

1-1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 cups very hot water

For second layer, stir together dry ingredients.  Sprinkle over first layer and spread out to cover.  Pour hot water over entire dish.  DO NOT STIR.  

Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 to 55 minutes.  Serve warm with ice cream if desired.

INA GARTEN'S OLD FASHIONED BANANA CAKE

We have a counter in the kitchen at work where people bring things they want to share or needs using up.  Someone recently brought some bananas that were getting over-ripe which makes them perfect for banana bread or cake.  I found this recipe on Pinterest.  I made a few adjustments and here is my version. I had family come for a Sunday visit and it went over well.

INA GARTEN'S OLD FASHIONED BANANA CAKE

3 ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 large eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour or Baker's Joy a 9 x 2 inch round pan.  (I had a scalloped 10 inch pan in my stash so used that.)  

In a mixer bowl mix the bananas, sugars, oil, eggs, sour cream, vanilla.  In another bowl mix the flour, baking soda and salt.  Stir together.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well.  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 45-50 minutes.  Cool.  Frost with cream cheese frosting.

FROSTING

4 ounces soften cream cheese

2 cups powdered sugar

2-3 tablespoons milk or cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Blend ingredients together till smooth.  Frost cooled cake.

BABY APPLE PIES

Fourth of July this year was unusual in that we could not gather for our usual time together due to the Coronavirus going around.  Spending a quiet day at home, but I decided to make something to mark the holiday.  Hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans are the usual fare around here.  What's more American than some apple pie for dessert.  Decided to just make a few little pies rather than a big one. 

BABY APPLE PIES

Filling:

2 cups chopped apples

3 Tablespoons water

2 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

2 Tablespoons water

Pastry for double crust pie.

Peel and dice the apples. I don't like a lot of crunch, so I dice them small. Put apples, 3 Tablespoons water, 2 Tablespoons butter, cinnamon and brown sugar in a saucepan.  Stir together and bring to a boil.  Simmer until apples are starting to get soft.  Make a slurry of the cornstarch and water and add to apple mixture.  Stir to thicken.

Make your best recipe for pastry or use Pillsbury already made crusts.  I used a small 6 inch bowl to cut out circles.  Put a few tablespoons of filling onto circle.  Cover with another circle, cutting a vent in top.  (I had a little star cookie cutter).  Place on a baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar when out of the oven.   

APPLE CINNAMON OATMEAL BREAD

I needed to take a sweet treat to a visit with my cousin recently.  Although it is not Fall by any means, I found this quick bread in my files to try.  Even in summertime this tasted pretty good and was a hit.
APPLE CINNAMON OATMEAL BREAD
2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup oatmeal (I used old-fashioned, not quick) 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cinnamon 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 3/4 oil 1/2 cup sour cream  1 cup applesauce (I would recommend chunky as the regular did not have a strong flavor) 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
ICING/GLAZE
2 Tablespoons butter 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 2 Tablespoons heavy cream 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
In a large bowl combine dry ingredients and mix well.  In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, sour cream, applesauce and vanilla.  Combine wet ingredients to dry and mix well until blended. Add nuts if desired.  Pour into a greased 9 inch loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until middle tests dry.  Let cool.  Prepare icing/glaze.
For icing/glaze, in a saucepan add butter, brown sugar and cream.  Bring to a boil.  Stir until sugar melts, about 1 minute.  Remove and add powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Might need to add more cream to make good consistency.  Spread on cooled bread.  Can sprinkle pecans on top if desired.

GLAZED DONUT MUFFINS

For Mother's Day I cooked.  My daughter-in-law is an awesome mom to my 2 grandsons.  I think being the mom of kids is much harder than being a mom to a grownup so I felt good treating her by making lunch. I am always looking for something different and had this saved for a while to try.  There were none on the plate when I packed up leftovers so I am guessing they were pretty good. ♥

GLAZED DONUT MUFFINS

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup melted butter, cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla

GLAZE

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

2-1/2 tablespoons cream or milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Prepare muffin 12-cup muffin pan with baking spray or liners.  In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, sugar.  Whisk together.  Make a well in the center.  

In another small bowl, combine the eggs, sour cream, butter and vanilla. Whisk together until well blended.  

Mix the wet ingredients with dry.  Combine together well.  Scoop into muffin cups.  Let sit for 15 minutes before baking. Bake at 400 degrees for 16-20 minutes.  Cool on wire racks.  Dip muffins into glaze and set aside to harden.

To make glaze blend sugar, cream, and vanilla together. Can add cinnamon or nutmeg if desired for flavoring.

LEMON BARS

My blog has been so neglected.  I haven't been baking as much as I used to.  Most people request things I make often or are their favorites.  Almost everyone has made lemon bars one time or another.  I had a blessing of lemons this year from people's yards and froze a lot of juice.  I love anything made with lemon.  I needed a dessert recently so went in search of lemon bar recipes.  There are so many but this one seemed to work the best.  They were well received and not a crumb left on the plate.
LEMON BARS
CRUST:
2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup powdered sugar 2 sticks butter, melted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9 x 13 pan evenly.  Stir together the flour and powdered sugar.  Pour the melted butter over and mix well until crumbs form.  Put into the sprayed pan and pat down until evenly distributed.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until light brown.  Set aside.
LEMON CURD:
6 eggs 3 cups granulated sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup flour 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla
Whisk eggs until they are light and fluffy.  Add sugar, baking powder and flour.  Add  lemon juice and vanilla. Blend well. Pour mixture over crust.  Bake 45 minutes or until no longer jiggly in the center.  Cool completely before cutting.  Cut into squares.  Sprinkle powdered sugar over.