Smokey Bastard

Ingredients:

1 c. mozzarella cheese

3/4 c. smoked Gouda

smoked salmon shredded into bite-size chunks

handful of fresh spinach, chopped

1 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp minced garlic

1/4 c. soy milk

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 onion, sliced

salt and pepper to taste

dough for 1 pizza crust

Recipe:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven while it's heating up. 

Caramelize the onion in a small amount of olive oil. This takes about 25 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes until the onions are golden brown. To make the garlic butter Alfredo sauce, saute the garlic in the butter and olive oil for 3-5 minutes. Stir in the milk until thickened, and season with salt and pepper. 

Spoon the sauce over the crust and top with cheeses and salmon. Sprinkle the chopped spinach over the pizza, and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Apple Chips

Ingredients:
3-4 apples
Cinnamon, optional

Recipe:
Preheat your oven to 250 degrees F.

Slice the apples very thin. Thicker slices may need to be baked longer. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and arrange the apple slices on the paper. Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon if desired. Bake for 2 hours flipping the apple slices after one hour. Let cool. Apple chips should be crisp, if some are still soft, bake those a little longer.

After storing mine they got soft again, I think some of the thicker slices still had moisture in them. I popped them back in the oven though and they crisped back up again.

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

Ingredients:

1 c graham cracker crumbs
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
4 Tbsp melted butter

2 (8 oz) pkgs. cream cheese
3/4 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
3 eggs
1/2 c plain Greek yogurt
cherry pie filling

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Line muffin cups with liners. Makes about 15 cakes.

To make crust, mix cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter until well combined. Divide the mixture among the liners and press down. Bake for 5-7 minutes.

Meanwhile (with a handheld or standup mixer) beat the cream cheese with sugar. Add the eggs one at a time mixing between each egg. Add vanilla, salt, and yogurt until smooth. Pour the cheesecake batter over the crust completely filling the cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the tops begin to crack. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cover them or place them in a container and refrigerate for a few hours. Spoon cherry pie filling onto the cheesecakes before serving. 

Coconut Dream Bars

This is a simple yet delicious dessert that lives up to its name.

Ingredients:
2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 stick of butter, melted
1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. butterscotch chips
2 c. coconut
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 in. pan with parchment paper.

Combine the melted butter and cracker crumbs. Pour them into the pan and pack down. Mix together the chips and coconut and sprinkle over the crust. Next, pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top.

Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool in the pan before cutting.

Apple Pie

Months ago I went to an orchard and made so many apple recipes with the fresh apples that I hand picked. I decided to make a pie, but I wanted to save it for later. I froze the unbaked pie and recently baked it so now I get to enjoy apple pie in January with the same fresh apples picked in the fall.

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Stars!

Ingredients:
2 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. butter
5-7 Tbsp ice cold water
6 c. thinly sliced, peeled apples
3/4 c. sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Recipe:
Mix flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter and shortening until you get coarse crumbles. Add the water a tablespoon at a time until the mixture clings together. Press into a ball and divide the dough in half. Shape each into a 1/2 in. thick round, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 10-15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Toss the apples with sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.

Roll out one dough round to fit into a 9 inch pie plate. Fill with the apple mixture and roll out the other dough round to place over filling. Trim and flute the crust edges.

Cut several slits near the center to let steam escape. I cut out leaves and overlaid them on the holes.
Bake 45-50 minutes.

*I froze the unbaked pie and it kept for several months. Just make sure to wrap it tightly before freezing. Bake frozen pie at 475 degrees F. for 15 minutes, reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake 45 minutes longer.

Cinnamon Rolls

I've made these before and even had them on my blog, but I really wanted to feature them again. The cinnamon roll recipe is the same, but I did change up the frosting a little.

Ingredients:
Dough:
3/4 c. + 2 Tbsp warm water
2 Tbsp softened butter
2 1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp yeast

Filling:
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter

Frosting:
6 oz. cream cheese
1/2 stick of butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Recipe:
I used a bread machine to prepare the dough. If you have a bread machine load it with the dough ingredients (in the order listed), set it on dough cycle, and let it work away for an hour and a half.

If you don't have a bread machine you have to knead it by hand, and let the dough rise for about and hour until it has doubled in size.

When the dough is finished, roll it out to a 9x13 in. rectangle. Mix together the sugar, cinnamon and butter. Spread the mixture evenly over the dough.

Then tightly roll up the side. Cut into one inch slices. Place in a 9x13 in. pan that is slightly greased, cover with plastic wrap, and set them aside to rise for an hour.

Remove plastic and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Frost them after they have cooled slightly.
(Makes about 12 rolls)

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.