Almond Raspberry Scones

2 cups of flour
1 1/2ish cups of raspberries
1 cup of cream
6 tablespoons of butter cubed up (cold)
3 tablespoons of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of slat
1/2 teaspoon of almond extract

Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt.  Cut cold butter into flour using a pastry cutter or fork until it resembles course corn meal

Gently mix in cream and almond extract and then raspberries.  They will get mashed and its okay

Form dough into a large but still thick disk and cut into eight wedges

Bake at 400 for 15-18 min. Remove from oven and cool before glazing

Whisk together some powdered sugar, milk and almond extract to desired consistency  Drizzle glaze over scones and then let the glaze set up.

Swiss Cheese and WIne Bread

I had coffee with a friend the other day and they were selling wine and cheese bread so when I got home I thought I would give it a try.

3 cups of flour (bread flour is better but you can use all purpose)
2 teaspoons of surgar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 stick of butter
3 eggs
2 1/4 teaspoons of yeast
1/2 cup of dry white wine
1 pound of Swiss cheese (or other kind)

Mix together sugar, butter, salt and wine.   Heat slowly until it reaches 115-120 degrees and the butter is partially melted.   It is important that it does not get over or it will be too hot and kill the yeast.

Whisk together flour and yeast and then mix in wine mixture to flour  Thoroughly combine

Mix in eggs and then knead for 5 min

Cube up cheese.  I bought sliced cheese which makes it easy to cut up.  Knead in cheese and then place in a greased bowl.

Cover and place in a warm place and let rise until doubled about 1 - 1 1/2 hours.

Punch down and turn into a loaf pan and let rise for about 40 min to 1 hour until doubled.

Bake at 400 for about 40 min.

Let cool and slice

Salted Caramel Butter Cookies

Cookies
1 1/2 cups of flour
1/2 cup of sugar
2 egg yolks
1 tablespoon of vanilla
1 1/2 sticks of butter

Cream together butter and sugar and then add yolks and vanilla

Slowly mix in flour

Scoop and make a valley and then chill for 30 min. Bake at 350 for 10-12 min then cool completely

Now for the caramel
1/3 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup of butter
3 tablespoons of cream

In a small sauce pan whisk together butter and sugar.  Heat over medium low heat until bubbling and then cook 1 min longer.  Remove from heat and then whisk in cream. Cool for 15 min

Spoon caramel into valley and then sprinkle with course sea salt and let cool completely

Chocolate Mint Cookies

1 1/2 cups of flour
1 cup of sugar
1 1/2 sticks of butter
3/4 cups of cocoa powder (I love Hershey's Special DarkO
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract
1 teaspoon of espresso powder

Whisk together espresso, cocoa, and flour

Whisk together softened butter and then sugar and add in egg and peppermint until fluffy

Slowly stir in flour mixture.  Scoop with a small cookies scoop about a tablespoon and flatted.  Then refrigerate for about 30 min

Bake at 375 for 15 min.  Cool completely.  Melt chocolate chips in freezer bag in microwave and drizzle onto cookies and then let cool so the chocolate can firm up.

Chocoalte Mint Patties

These took only 10 min of active time

1 pound of powdered sugar
4 oz of softened cream cheese
1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract

Whisk together cream cheese and powdered sugar and roll into small balls

Make a valley with a measuring spoon and then refrigerate covered for at least an hour

Melt some chocolate chips in a freezer bag in the microwave.  Cut off a corner and squeeze into valley.  Chill to harden up chocolate.

Magic Bars

These are super easy and quick.  You can add nuts and or coconut too.

1 stick of butter
1 bag of butterscotch chips
1 bag of chocolate chips
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
3ish cups of graham cracker crumbs

Melt butter in pan in oven while it is heating to 350.  Once it is melted pour in graham cracker crumbs and pat down

Sprinkle chocolate chips and then butterscotch and pour milk over.  Bake at 350 for about 30 min until golden around the edges.

Lasagna Roll Ups

Its  a nice alternative to lasagna.  Kinda like a Italian Enchiladas.

Let's start with the sauce. 
1 28 oz of crushed tomatoes
1 onion
6ish mushrooms (even if you don't like mushrooms dice them small, they add nice flavor)
1 can of tomato paste
1 pound of sausage
1/4 teaspoon of red peppers
3-4 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper to taste
3ish tablespoons of italian seasoning
fresh basil would be great but I forgot to get it at the store

Brown meat, finely chopped mushrooms, and onion in a medium sauce pan over medium heat until meat is brown and onions and mushrooms are soft

 

Zest in garlic, add tomato paste, and crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer

Stir in seasonings and simmer for about 20 min.  Add some water if it is too thick

Now on to the filling
1 box of lasagna noodles
baby spinach
2 eggs
16 oz of ricotta cheese
1/2 cup of grated Paresam
mozzarella for topping

While sauce is simmering cook noodles.  They need to be hot to roll up.  Now start mixing filling.  Take ricotta and thoroughly mix in eggs and then add in Parmesan and some salt and pepper

Drain noodles.  Spoon a little sauce to the bottom of a pan.  Spread some of the ricotta on noodles and the add some spinach.

Repeat the process until all the noodles and filling are gone.  Pour sauce over roll ups. Sprinkle with mozzarella.  Bake at 375 for 30 min and then turn of broiler for a couple min to brown cheese.  Be sure to watch or you will burn it. You can freeze it and then bake it longer until it is bubbly.