Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Chocolate Cookies 6 December 2009

From the Food Network website.  They’re amazing and taste like Mexican hot chocolate.  I’ve changed a few of the directions around because I thought it made more sense this way, but the result is still the same.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• pinch ground black pepper
• pinch cayenne pepper
• 3 Tbsp. sweet butter, at room temperature*
• 3 Tbsp. margarine, at room temperature
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 egg white
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp unsweetened Mexican cocoa powder (or substitute by using 3/4 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 cup plus 2 1/4 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder)
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Directions

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly, making sure no lumps remain.
2. In another bowl, mix butter and margarine thoroughly using hand mixer.  Add egg white and vanilla, mix.
3. Add sugar mixture to butter mixture, mix thoroughly.
4. In a separate bowl, mix remaining ingredients.  Add this mixture to other ingredients.  Mix slowly until incorporated, then mix with hand mixer until thoroughly combined.  (Don’t start with hand mixer or flour will make a mess.)
5. Roll into a log about 1 1/2 inch thick, wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap.  Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.
6. Cut into slices no more than 1/4 inch thick.
7. Cook at 350F for 12-14 minutes.
8. Optional:  Once cooled, top with dulce de leche and/or chopped almonds.

*If you don’t have sweet butter, use regular butter or margarine and omit the 1/4 tsp. salt.

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (a.k.a. bake sale cookies) 2 December 2009

It’s time for me to make Christmas cookies again!  My usual recipe:

This makes approximately a metric shit-ton of cookies.  For Christmas, I like to split the dough in half and color half red and half green, then put the opposite color icing on each.  Then I take them to work, family gatherings, anywhere where people like food.

Ingredients

• 4 sticks margarine, melted
• 3 ½ cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 16 oz. sour cream
• 8 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a VERY LARGE bowl.
3. Refrigerate overnight.
4. Scoop onto ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Smash with glass bottom dipped in sugar.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are brown.

These freeze well, unfrosted.

Brownie Pudding Cake 25 October 2009

The top is cake-like and the bottom is creamy and pudding-like.  From the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.

Instructions

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 Tbsp. cooking oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease an 8×8x2-inch baking pan; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl stir together the flour, granulated sugar, the 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder, the baking powder, and salt.  Stir in the milk, oil, and vanilla.  Stir in the walnuts if you choose to use them.  Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
3. In a small bowl stir together the brown sugar and the 1/4 cup cocoa powder.  Stir in the boiling water.  Slowly pour over batter.
4. Bake for 40 minutes.
5. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 45 to 60 minutes.  Serve warm.
6. Spoon cake into dessert bowls, spoon pudding from the bottom of the pan over cake.

Goes really well with vanilla ice cream.  It’s VERY VERY rich, and perfect with a big glass of milk.

Apple Enchiladas 21 October 2009

From Recipezaar.

Ingredients

• 8 flour tortillas
• 1 (16 oz.) can cinnamon apple pie filling
• ¾-1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 Tbsp. cinnamon
• ¼ cup butter, melted
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp. milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Mix the softened cream cheese and ¾-1 cup powdered sugar together until smooth and no lumps are visible.
3. Place 2 Tbsp. cream cheese mixture and 2 Tbsp apple pie filling on each of 8 tortillas.  Roll up as you would an enchilada and place in a greased baking pan.
4. Pour the ½ cup melted butter over the enchiladas.  Mix the granulated sugar and the cinnamon and sprinkle over the top.
5. Bake for 20 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
7. Mix ¼ cup melted butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, and milk together.  Pour over enchiladas.

Molasses Creams 26 August 2009

My favorite molasses cookies recipe.  Another one of my comfort foods.  From Recipezaar.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• ½ cup molasses
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¾ tsp. ground ginger
• ½ tsp. ground cloves
• ½ tsp. salt
• 3 Tbsp. butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1-2Tbsp. milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream 1 ½ cups butter and 2 cups sugar.
3. Add eggs and molasses, mix thoroughly.
4. Combine dry ingredients up through salt, gradually add to creamed mixture.
5. Shape into 1-inch balls.
6. Placed on ungreased baking sheets (do not flatten).  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until done.
7. In a small mixing bolw beat 3 Tbsp. butter, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla, add enough milk until creamy.
8. Frost cookies while warm.