Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:
2 1/4 c. flour
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 c. softened butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/4 c. molasses
1 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp sugar
Frosting, optional

Recipe: makes approx. 2 1/2 dozen cookies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. In a separate bowl combine butter and sugar until well blended. Beat in egg, water and molasses. Pour in flour mixture and blend well. Shape into balls (add a little more flour if dough is too sticky). Roll balls in the 2 Tbsp of sugar, place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.

Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Eat frosted or unfrosted.

Praline Pumpkin Pie

Pastry for one crust:
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c. plus 1 Tbsp shortening
2-3 Tbsp cold water

Pie:
2 large eggs
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1/3 c. brown sugar
2/3 c. pecan halves.
1 Tbsp butter, softened


If you're making homemade crust, mix four and salt. Cut in shortening, using a pastry blender, until you get crumbles. Add the water, and shape the pastry into a ball. Wrap the ball in plastic wrap and flatten slightly with a rolling pin. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or longer.

Heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Roll out pastry onto a floured surface then transfer to your pie plate. Press the dough against the plate and flute the edges.

Line the edges with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 2 minutes.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs then add the rest of the ingredients. Put the foil back on the edges of the pie crust to prevent burning, and then place the pie plate on the oven rack. Pour the filling into the hot pie crust.

Bake for 15 minutes then reduce the heat to 350 degrees F. Bake for 35 minutes longer. Meanwhile, mix the brown sugar, pecans, and butter. After the 35 minutes, place the pecan mixture over the pie. Bake for another 10 minutes. Let cool, and enjoy!

Baked Potato Pizza with Caramelized Onions

Ingredients:
1 sweet onion, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
1/2 tsp Worcestershire
1 tsp each salt and pepper
2 small potatoes, sliced
2 tsp minced garlic
shredded cheeses
Pizza dough

Recipe:
To caramelize the onions, heat oil and butter and add the sliced onions. Add the salt and pepper and saute for 25-30 minutes until onions are golden and caramelized. Yes, it takes that long.

Remove the onions from the pan and place on a paper towel to cool. Use the left over oil to spread on the pizza dough.

Meanwhile, place the sliced potatoes on a greased cookie sheet and season lightly with salt and pepper. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes flipping once.

Along with the leftover oil, spread the minced garlic over the dough. Mix the cooled onions with Greek yogurt, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Once combined, spread it over the pizza, and top with potato slices. Finally, sprinkle the cheeses over the potatoes, and bake for 10-12 minutes in a 400 degree oven.

Homemade Kahlua

Ingredients:
1 750 mL bottle vodka
1 1/4 c. dark rum
1 1/2 c. sugar
3/4 lb. whole coffee beans
1 vanilla bean

Recipe:
Combine all ingredients in a sealable glass container. Shake hard to mix. Label with the date and let it sit in a cool, dark place for 3 weeks. Shake it several times a week.

After 3 weeks, strain through a fine mesh strainer. Use it like you would any other coffee liqueur.

Note: I thought the coffee flavor was too strong which made this liquor very bitter. If you're making this maybe add more sugar or try it after two weeks to see how it tastes. It may not need a full 3 weeks to infuse all the flavors

Week 1:

Week 2:

Week 3:

White Russian
2 oz. vodka
1 oz. Kahlua
splash of cream or half and half

Cheesy Artichoke Bread

Ingredients:
1/4 c. butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 c. mozzarella cheese
1 c. Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt
1 loaf French bread
salt and pepper to taste

Recipe:
Set oven to broil. Melt the butter in a pan on the stovetop. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Add artichokes, cheeses, and yogurt. Stir to combine. Slice the bread lengthwise and spoon mixture onto bread.

Broil 4-7 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Cut the bread into equal pieces and serve warm. 

Jalapeno Popper Pizza

Ingredients:
I used this dough recipe: Mac and Cheese Pizza
2 oz. cream cheese
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tbsp butter
1 1/2 c. colby-jack shredded cheese
2 jalapenos, sliced
1 shallot, sliced
optional: bacon bits

Recipe:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Heat up the garlic, butter, and cream cheese in the microwave until smooth. Mix and spread cream cheese mixture over dough. Top with cheese, jalapenos, and shallot.

Bake pizza for 10-14 minutes or until cheese starts to brown and bubble.

S'mores Rice Krispies

Do you have left-over s'mores fix'ns from summer camping trips or bon fires? If so, you should make these s'mores rice krispies! They were so tasty, I'm surprised I've never thought of making them before.

Ingredients:
1 pkg marshmallows
1 Hershey's chocolate bar
1/4 c. mini chocolate chips
6 graham crackers
6 c. rice krispies
4 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla

Recipe:
Melt butter and marshmallows. Make sure to save a few marshmallows (or a handful of mini marshmallows if you use them) to cut up into chunks.

Mix in rice krispies, and let it cool for a while so when you add the chocolate it doesn't melt too much.

Break the chocolate bar and graham crackers into small pieces. Dump into the rice krispies/marshmallow mixture. Add half of the mini chocolate chips.

Pour into a 9x13 inch pan. Top with remaining chips and left-over marshmallow chunks. Press down into pan and let cool.

Baked Garlic Fries

These are the most amazing baked fries. I whipped up some chive sour cream to dip them in, and they were delish!

Ingredients:
8 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tbsp olive oil
3 potatoes, cut into wedges
4 Tbsp corn starch
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Recipe:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

In a large microwave save dish, warm garlic in oil for 1 minute in the microwave. Transfer 3 Tbsp of the warm oil (leave the garlic) to a cookie sheet or 9x13 in. pan to coat the bottom.

Add the potatoes to the bowl and toss with the warm garlic oil. Cover and microwave for 3 minutes. Toss the potatoes once more and microwave for another minute and a half.

Mix the cornstarch with the spices. Sprinkle over the potatoes and spread them out onto the pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes turning once.

Vegetarian Enchiladas with Spicy Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

For the sauce:
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
2/3 c water
1 habanero pepper, diced
1 jalepeno pepper, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt

For the enchiladas:
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 can black beans, drained
1 c. instant brown rice, uncooked
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
2 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese blend
8 medium tortillas

Recipe:

To make the sauce, pour the soup, diced tomatoes and water in a large pan. Cook over medium heat. Stir in peppers, garlic, and spices. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, saute the onion and bell pepper in a little bit of olive oil. Set aside. Prepare the rice according to the package. Add the sauteed veggies and the can of beans to the cooked rice. Season with spices.

Pour a little sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan, and spread it around in a thin layer. Spoon 1/8 of the rice and bean mixture on each tortilla, top with a small amount of cheese, and roll up. Place seam side down in a the pan. Top with the sauce and remaining cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Honey Beer Bread

 Ingredients:
3 c. flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp honey
1 bottle (12 oz) beer
4 Tbsp butter, melted

Makes 1 loaf

I'm not a big fan of drinking beer, but I don't mind cooking with it. I've made beer cheese soup and this amazing bread. It is sweet, yet has the sour yeasty taste of beer.

I used Milwaukee's own Oktoberfest Lager brewed by Lakefront Brewery.

Recipe:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in beer and honey and mix until combined. Pour half of the melted butter in a bread pan. Spoon bread batter into pan, then pour the rest of the melted butter on top.

Bake 50-60 minutes, or until golden brown. Let it rest in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

I like to eat it while it's still warm.

Stuffed Baked Apples a la Mode

Ingredients:
4 large apples
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. oats
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
4 tbsp butter, cut into pieces
1/8 c. raisons
1/4 c. chopped walnuts
Vanilla or caramel ice cream

Recipe:

Core the apples and remove a little bit extra so that they can be stuffed. Sprinkle the apples with lemon juice. Mix the rest of the ingredients (excluding the ice cream) and over-stuff the apples. Place them in an oven safe dish and bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees F.

Let cool slightly before topping with ice cream.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients:
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c. oats
3/4 c. raisins

Recipe:
I cut the recipe in half. It made about 18 cookies.

Stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl cream the butter and sugars. Add the egg and vanilla. Combine the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Add the oats and raisins making sure not to over-mix.

Drop 2 inches apart on a sprayed cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 11-13 minutes, or until golden. Let them rest for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Mai Tai

Ingredients:
2 parts Rum
1/2 part Triple Sec
2 parts orange juice
1/2 part grenadine
splash of lime juice
Ice

Recipe:
Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into an ice filled glass. Garnish with pineapple wedges or cocktail cherries.

Crock Pot Apple Butter

Ingredients:
6 apples (you can use a variety)
1/2 c. apple cider
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp salt

Recipe:
Core, peel, and cube apples. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and stir. Cook on low for about 10 hours. This makes a 1 pint jar. I would recommend canning your apple butter if you plan to make more.