Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

As soon I as saw this on Chelley's blog I knew I had to try it. It was very good....and sweet! This is on our list for our housewarming party.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip (adapted from Recipezaar)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 (8-oz) pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
3/4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips

1. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium heat. Stir continuously, until the brown sugar dissolves. (You can also do this in the microwave but watch it closely. The butter/sugar mixture will boil over fast. Stir every 30 seconds or so.)
2. Remove from heat, whisk in vanilla extract and set aside to cool.
3. Beat the cream cheese and confectioner's sugar for 1 minute.
4. Slowly beat in the cooled butter mixture and beat again for another minute.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Pour into a serving bowl and refrigerate.
7. Garnish with additional chips, if you choose.

I served this will Nilla Wafers. You could also use graham crackers, chocolate graham sticks or something else sweet!

I was happy it came out SO good because all the ingredients I used were Wal-Mart brand (except the chocolate chips and Nilla Wafers).

Marinated Baked Pork Chops

I found this recipe on Allrecipes while looking for something to do with pork chops I had gotten on sale. They came out very good, and I always like to find a recipe where I have all the ingredients on hand.


INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
6 pork chops, trimmed
*a few dashes of hot sauce (I added this to the recipe)


DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a small bowl, thoroughly blend soy sauce, vegetable oil, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, and ketchup. *I found it easier to use a whisk to combine the items.
Place pork chops in a medium baking dish, and spread with 1/2 the sauce. *Before spreading 1/2 the sauce I sprinkled the pork chops with some salt and pepper.
Bake pork chops 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Turn, and spread with remaining sauce. Continue baking 30 minutes, or until internal temperature of the chops has reached 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

I made this recipe with 4 pork chops and still used all the sauce. * = my changes and notes.

Salad Bites

While browsing some blogs I came across this idea in Cherrapeno's blog and thought it was the cutest thing.

Ingredients

cucumber

sundried tomatoes

cream cheese

salt

pepper

oregano

balsamic vinegar

extra virgin olive oil

toothpicks

Directions

1. Clean the outside of your cucumber and cut in half lengthwise.

2. Cut along the bottom of each half so the cucumber will be stable.

3. Scoop out the seeds and make a little well for the cream cheese.

4. Dry the inside of the cucumber with a paper towel.

5. Fill the cucumber with cream cheese (neatly).

6. Slice the cucumber in bite size pieces.

7. With your toothpick place on a piece of sundried tomato and stick the toothpick into the cream cheese through the cucumber.

8. Sprinkle some salt, pepper and oregano on top, and drizzle the balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil over the tops.

These were good and fun to eat. I think next time I will spice up the cream cheese and add an olive to the toothpick for some saltiness!

Quaker's Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Bars

I am not a big fan of oatmeal and raisins...but I made these for Jason and he thought they were good....but could of been a little sweeter for his taste. I want to try it next time w/ some chocolate chips. You really can not go wrong with Quaker Oatmeal's recipe. You can find this on their website or on the Quaker Oatmeal container.

Ingredients

1/2 pound (2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened (I used unsalted butter)
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
3 cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup raisins

Preparation Steps

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins; mix well.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Bar Cookies: Press dough onto bottom of ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered,24 BARS

VARIATIONS: Stir in 1 cup chopped nuts. Substitute 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or candy-coated chocolate pieces for raisins; omit cinnamon.Substitute 1 cup diced dried mixed fruit.

HIGH ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT: Increase flour to 1-3/4 cups and bake as directed.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Since I work 10 hour days I am try to use my slow cooker more so I can get other things done in the evening. I made this up just by using what I had on hand.

Bottom Round Roast

1 can tomato sauce

2 cups of water

2 beef bullion cubes

1 whole garlic clove

onion flakes

salt
pepper

thyme

I cooked mine on low for about 12 hours (it does not have to cook that long). It was very good!!

Need a side dish??? We used the broth in the slow cooker to make some rice...very tastey!

Olive, Basil and Garlic Bread

I used Joelen's "Sun-dried Tomato, Rosemary and Garlic Bread" recipe to inspire me for this one. Since I am not ready to try out yeast bread I was happy to see this recipe because there is not yeast involved...just beer!

Ingredients

3 cups all purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

2 -3 tablespoons basil garlic seasoning blend

1/4 cup finely chopped green olives with pimentos

1(12oz) can or bottle of beer (I used Budweiser)

cooking spray to grease loaf pan

Directions

Lightly grease loaf pan with cooking spray.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Combine all remaining ingredients except beer in a large bowl.Pour beer into the mixture and stir thoroughly - don't over mix!Pour bread batter into greased loaf pan.Bake 50-55 minutes in preheated oven.Remove from oven and allow to cool before slicing.

My thoughts:

It was good, but not as much flavor as I was hoping for. It seemed more sweet than savory. But I am sure it didn't help that I forgot the salt and for some unknown reason I added baking soda. It was early that morning and I guess I could not read! I am going to play with it some more and I always want to try a sweet version.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Jason made these with some garden fresh tomatoes he got from his Dad. They were so good!

Batter

Cornmeal

Baking Powder

Flour

Oil

Canola

Bacon Grease

I do not have exact measurements, but the batter should be mostly cornmeal and fairly thick. Heat up your oil in a skillet, dip your sliced green tomatoes in the batter, place in oil and flip them so both sides are golden brown. Sprinkle with a good amount of salt as soon as you pull them out of the oil. Serve warm.

Super Simple Cake Cookies

I am not sure where I found this recipe...but they are really easy and I will be making them again soon in some other great variation. Everyone enjoyed them!

Ingredients

1 box cake mix (I use Funfetti)
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil (I used canola oil - you can probably use less than 1/2 cup)
2 tablespoons of instant french vanilla pudding
Canned frosting and sprinkles (you do not have to frost them)

Directions

Mix together the first four ingredients, drop batter on a lined cookie sheet (tablespoon size) and bake on 350 for 8-10 minutes. Let cookies cool then frost them and add sprinkles.