Easy Donuts

Easy Donuts

I love donuts.  The other day I went to the post office and in the 10 seconds I was walking to my car, I saw 2 people carrying donut boxes from the local bakery.  Oh, what a craving struck!  I didn't give in and buy any, but when I got home and remember this recipe, I just had to make it!  It it so simple, it really takes only about 10 minutes and you can enjoy a delicious fresh donut!

You will need:
1 can of buttermilk biscuits
oil for frying
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon milk

1.  In your fryer or a 10 inch skillet (I used my skillet) pour enough oil to fry donuts.  My oil came about an inch high in my pan.

2.  Heat oil until hot enough to fry.

3.  Remove biscuits from pan and cut out the center to form a donut.  I didn't have a small enough cutter, so I used the cap to my vanilla.  It was the perfect size!  You'll end up with 10 donuts and 10 donut holes.

4.  Fry 5 donuts at a time, flipping over when donuts are brown.  Then fry donut holes.

5.  After frying, place donuts on a paper towel covered plate to drain.

6.  Allow donuts to cool while you mix together the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk to form a thin icing.

7.  Dip donuts into icing and place on a cookie sheet until icing hardens.

These are best eaten within a day and can be stored in an airtight container.

Funfetti Bark

I made this Funfetti Bark for the Wall Expressions party I hosted last week.  Every year for my birthday, my mom makes me a Funfetti cake.  It's been my favorite for as long as I can remember; it just makes me happy looking at all the fun colors in the cake.  I made Funfetti Cake Filled Cinnamon Rolls for the party and I had lots of leftover cake mix.  I knew that a lot of the people coming to my party love white chocolate, so I made this bark just for them.  It's super easy and looks so fun, who wouldn't love it!?!?

Funfetti Bark
You will need:
1 12oz package white chocolate chips
1/3 cup dry yellow cake mix
sprinkles

1.  Place white chocolate chips in a medium microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave in 30 second increments until the chips are melted and smooth.  It took me about 1-1/2 minutes.

2.  Stir in 1/3 cup cake mix until well combined.

3.  Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray.

4.  Pour white chocolate mixture onto greased parchment paper and spread to 1/4 inch thickness.

5.  Top with sprinkles.

6.  The bark will harden after 30 minutes. Break apart to serve and store in an airtight container.

Funfetti Cinnamon Rolls

I know I've mentioned it before, but it's worth mentioning again:  I love cinnamon rolls!  When I saw this recipe on one of my favorite blogs, I knew I just had to make it!  I decided it would be the perfect addition to the snacks I was making for my party last week.  It was, and it also inspired my Funfetti Bark (recipe coming soon!)

I made these a lot smaller than a normal cinnamon roll because I intended them as a snack, not a meal.  They were the perfect size, about 3 bites, and a huge hit!  The cake batter dissolved into the cinnamon roll dough, infusing the rolls with the delicious flavor of cake.  I used Pioneer Woman's cinnamon roll recipe (my go-to for cinnamon rolls) as a base for these snacks and the addition of cake batter made these fabulous!

Funfetti Cinnamon Rolls
You will need:

For the cinnamon rolls:
2 cups milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 packet yeast (2-1/4 teaspoons)
4-1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup yellow cake mix
1/2 stick margarine
cinnamon
sugar
sprinkles

For the icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup yellow cake mix
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons milk

1.  Mix the milk, oil, and sugar in a large pot.  Scald milk mixture and then let it cool to room temperature.

2.  Sprinkle yeast over milk mixture and let it sit for a couple minutes.

3.  Stir in 4 cups of flour to form a sticky dough.  Cover pan and let the dough rise for 1 hour.

4.  After dough has risen, stir in remaining 1/2 cup of flour, baking powder, and baking soda until well combined.

5.  Divide dough in half.  On a flour covered workplace (I use my counter), roll the dough out until it's about 1/8" thick and in a rectangular shape.  Because I made mine into mini cinnamon rolls, I rolled my dough about 30 inches long and 6 inches wide.  If you want larger cinnamon rolls, make a smaller rectangle, probably 18 inches long and 12 inches wide.

6.  Melt margarine in a glass measuring cup (or a small bowl).  Pour half of the melted margarine over the dough.  Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon (the amount is up to you, I used less cinnamon so the cake flavor would really shine through).  Then sprinkle with 1/2 cup yellow cake mix and sprinkles.

7.  Roll dough in a line toward you.  Cut into 3/4 inch slices.  (I use dental floss to cut my cinnamon rolls, but a sharp knife works well too.)  Place in a greased pan.

8.  Repeat this process with the other half of the dough.

9.  Let the cinnamon rolls rise for 30 minutes.  Then bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.

10.  While rolls are in the oven, mix together ingredients for icing.  When the rolls are cool, pour over rolls and top with sprinkles.

Source:  How Sweet It Is

BLT Pasta

When I saw this recipe on It's a Keeper, I thought it was something Mike and I would like!  Then, she won a Williams-Sonoma recipe contest with this recipe and I knew it had to be good!  I got some grape tomatoes for a great price so it was the perfect time to make this dinner.

As I was cooking, Mike commented several times about how good everything smelled.  Seriously, fried bacon, onions, garlic...you know something that smells this good is going to taste amazing!  And let me tell you, it certainly lived up to my expectations.  Since I can't leave recipes alone, I did make some minor tweaks, but this meal will definitely be made again soon!  (Actually it made enough for at least 2 meals for us, so we'll be enjoying it again in the very near future.)

BLT Pasta
You will need:

6 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic (or 4 chopped garlic cloves)
4 cups chicken broth
1-14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
1/4 tsp salt
12 oz uncooked linguine pasta
4 oz cream cheese, cubed (I used Neufchatel)
2 Tablespoons dried parsley, divided
Halved grape tomatoes
Parmesan Cheese

1.  In a large skillet (I actually used my wok), cook bacon for 8-9 minutes, or until crisp.  Remove bacon and drain on paper towels.  Drain grease, leaving a small amount in the skillet.

2.  Add onion to skillet and saute until tender, 2-3 minutes.  Add garlic and saute for 20 seconds.

3.  Add in chicken broth, tomatoes, and salt.  Bring to a simmer.

4.  Add in bacon and pasta.  Simmer, covered, for 9-10 minutes, until pasta is al dente.

5.  Remove skillet from heat and stir in cream cheese, tomatoes, and 1-1/2 Tablespoons parsley.

6.  Cover and let it stand for 5 minutes, until sauce is thickened.

7.  Serve with Parmesan cheese and remaining parsley

Source: It's a Keeper

Giant Cinnamon Roll

I love cinnamon rolls.  In fact, they are one of my very favorite things to make. Though I usually stick with my same recipe, sometimes I like to try new ones and mix it up a bit.  This was one of those times!  This makes a giant cinnamon roll, mine usually ended up about 9 inches in diameter.  My mother-in-law couldn't believe that I made something so big, so I had to make another to show her (and for her to eat, of course!)

If you're really ambitious, you could eat this entire thing by yourself, but you probably wouldn't need to eat anything for the rest of the day.  Or, you can share.  I cut my cinnamon roll like a pie and the slices were just the right size!

Giant Cinnamon Roll

You will need:

1/3 cup warm water (100-110 degrees)
1 Tbsp yeast
2 Tbsp sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 stick margarine
1 tsp salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 eggs
3 cups flour


Filling:
4 Tbsp butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

1.  In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine warm water, yeast and sugar.  Let it sit about 5 minutes until the yeast bubbles.

2.  In a small microwave safe bowl, microwave milk and margarine for 15 seconds, until margarine softens.

3.  Add salt, nutmeg, and eggs to milk mixture.


4.  Pour milk and egg mixture into the yeast mixture.  Add 1 cup of flour and mix with a dough hook.

5.  Add remaining flour and mix until a soft dough is formed.  Knead for 5 minutes.

6.  Cover and let rise for 1 hour, until doubled.

7.  On a floured surface, roll dough into a 9x30 inch rectangle.  Using kitchen scissors or a pizza cutter, cut dough into thirds the long way, so you have 3 3x30 inch rectangles.

8.  Spread each piece with melted butter.  Then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.

9.  Begin rolling dough into cinnamon roll:  Start at the 3 inch end and begin rolling until you get to the end of the strip.  Then attach the end of the strip you just rolled to the next strip.  Roll it like the first strip and then attach the end of that to the last strip and continue rolling.  You'll end up with about a 6 inch roll.  Cover and let rise for 1 hour.

10.  Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

11.  In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk.  Drizzle over cinnamon roll.

Chewies

This is a recipe I grew up making.  In fact, I made it so often I have it completely memorized.  I would come home from school and quick throw the ingredients for these granola bars together, 20 minutes later I had a delicious, healthy, and filling snack.

A few weeks after we got married, I decided to make a batch of these.  I put it in our brand new microwave and went about my business in another room.  About 10 minutes later, I smelled something burning.  I checked the oven--dinner was fine, so I just assumed something was burning on the bottom of the oven.  A few minutes later I remembered my Chewies and discovered the source of that awful smell.  I hadn't thought about the fact that my new microwave is much more powerful than my parent's 25 year old one; therefore, I ended up with a batch of severely burned Chewies.  To this day, I still can sometimes smell the burned smell when I open my microwave, I probably did some permanent damage!!!  (Oops!)

This time however, I took into account my high-powered microwave and these turned out just how they should, nice and chewy.  I love how versatile these bars are.  I usually make them with chocolate chips, but I decided to mix it up and do raisins this time;  they are also delicious with mixed dried fruit.  You could also mix in some wheat germ or other healthy items to bump up the nutritional content.  I also use this recipe to make my granola.  Rather than baking the bars in the microwave, I put the mixture on a cookie sheet and bake it until crispy; double duty recipe--can't get much better!

You will need:
1/2 cup margarine (1 stick)
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 Tablespoons molasses (can also use light corn syrup)
3 cups old fashioned oatmeal (not quick cooking)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup chocolate chips (or raisins or dried fruit etc)

1.  Place margarine and brown sugar in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for about 35 seconds, until margarine is melted.  Stir until sugar dissolves.

2.  Mix molasses into sugar mixture to form a syrup.

3.  Stir in oatmeal and baking powder until oats are completely covered by the syrup.

4.  Stir in chocolate chips.

5.  Press into a 9x13 microwave safe pan.  Microwave on high for 5 minutes.  Let bars cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting into them.

If you want to make granola instead, for step 5 spread mixture on a large baking sheet.  Place in 300 degree oven for 20 minutes, stirring after 10.  If it's not crispy enough, you can leave it in the oven longer.  Store in an airtight container.

Steak Rub and Marinade

Steak Rub and Marinade


Sorry, no pictures for this post!  You'll just have to take my word for how incredible this rub and marinade are.  Mike said that it was the best steak he's ever had, and he didn't even need to use A1 (this is from someone who won't eat steak without A1!)  It was fantastic!


Steak Rub


You will need:
4 Tablespoons sea salt
1 Tablespoon coarse ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon dried onion
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1-1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary


Combine ingredients and rub into your steak (can also be used on chicken) before cooking.  Or, use the rub in the marinade.  Store extra rub in an airtight container.

Steak Marinade

You will need:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons minced garlic
3 Tablespoons vinegar
4 teaspoons steak rub (recipe above)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup Teriyaki sauce

1.  Combine ingredients in a large Ziploc bag, close the bag and gently squeeze to mix the ingredients.

2.  Add 4 medium steaks to the bag and seal. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or (better yet) overnight to marinate.

3.  Remove steaks from marinade and cook as you usually would.

Red Velvet Ice-Cream

Red Velvet Ice-Cream

Red velvet cake.  Yum.  Ice-cream.  Yum.  Red velvet ice-cream.  Double yum!!!  No more explanation needed :)

You will need:
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1 layer red velvet cake (or half of a double layer cake, or half of a 9x13 cake)

Frosting:
4 ounces cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

1.  In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup heavy cream and milk. 

2.  Cut cake into smaller chunks and add to cream mixture.

3.  Heat cream and cake mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the cake dissolves.

4.  Remove from heat and let the cream cool to room temperature.  Stir in remaining cream.

5.  Refrigerate at least 12 hours.

6.  Churn ice-cream in your ice-cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Mine took about 30 minutes.

7.  In a small bowl mix together frosting ingredients.  Carefully stir into ice-cream.

8.  Place ice-cream in a freezer-safe container and freeze at least 2 hours before serving. 

Adapted from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody

Pretzels

Pretzels

You can't make pretzel dough without actually making pretzels!  Pardon my funny shapes, I think I need to practice a bit!  I'd love to see how yours turn out.  These pretzels were fantastic!  So soft and tender on the inside, and full of flavor on the outside!

You will need:
Pretzel dough:
1 teaspoon yeast
1-1/2 cups warm water (100-110 degrees)
4-1/2 cups flour
1-3/4 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 Tablespoons olive oil (can substitute vegetable oil or melted margarine/butter)

Dipping solution:
1 cup warm water
4 teaspoons baking soda
1 egg white

Your choice of toppings:
Cinnamon sugar
Garlic powder/salt
Salt
Parmesan Cheese and Garlic Powder
Mozzarella cheese
Your choice--be creative!

1.  In a small bowl, combine yeast and water, stirring until yeast dissolves.  Let it sit for 5 minutes.

2.  In your mixer bowl, combine flour, salt and brown sugar.

3.  Pour in yeast mixture and add oil.  Mix on low speed for 1 minute.

4.  Switch to dough hook and mix on  low speed for 2 minutes.  Let dough rest for 5 minutes.

5.  Continue mixing dough on medium-low speed for 3 minutes until a slightly tack ball of dough forms.

6.  Form dough into ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl.  Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for up to 4 days.

7.  Remove dough from fridge about 2 hours before you want to use it, and allow it to come to room temperature.

8.  Divide dough into 12 equal parts.  Roll each piece into a long rope, try for about 15 inches.  (Note: my ropes were only about 10 inches long, resulting in a smaller pretzel).

9.  Shape into a pretzel.

10.  Dip into dipping solution and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Top each pretzel with your choice of topping.

11.  Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes, until golden brown.

This is the final installment of my 3 things to do with pretzel dough.  See the others here:
Mozzarella Pretzel Bites
Pretzel Dogs

Pretzel Dogs

Pretzel Dogs

Next up, Pretzel Dogs!  This are a fun meal for any age, they remind me of shopping malls because of places like Auntie Anne's Pretzels.  Mike and I really enjoyed these, and I think you will too!

You will need:
1 batch of pretzel dough (recipe below)
12 hotdogs
Salt

1.  Divide dough into 12 equal parts.

2.  Roll each piece of dough into a long rope, about 10 inches.

3.  Wrap dough around hot dog and secure ends with a toothpick to keep the dough in place.

4.  Sprinkle the tops of the dough with salt.

5.  Bake at 350 for 22 minutes, until golden brown.  Serve with ketchup.

Pretzel Dough

You will need:
1 teaspoon yeast
1-1/2 cups warm water (100-110 degrees)
4-1/2 cups flour
1-3/4 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 Tablespoons olive oil (can substitute vegetable oil or melted margarine/butter)

1.  In a small bowl, combine yeast and water, stirring until yeast dissolves.  Let it sit for 5 minutes.

2.  In your mixer bowl, combine flour, salt and brown sugar.

3.  Pour in yeast mixture and add oil.  Mix on low speed for 1 minute.

4.  Switch to dough hook and mix on  low speed for 2 minutes.  Let dough rest for 5 minutes.

5.  Continue mixing dough on medium-low speed for 3 minutes until a slightly tack ball of dough forms.

6.  Form dough into ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl.  Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for up to 4 days.

This was the second installment of things to make with pretzel dough.  See the others here:
Pretzels
Mozzarella Pretzel Bites

****UPDATED PICTURES HERE****