Divine Fudge Cookie Rounds

Homemade Fudge Rounds

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs 

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups flour

3/4 cup cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda  

1. Heat oven to 350

2. In the a large bowl cream butter and sugar on medium until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time mixing after each addition. Mix in vanilla.

3. Mix in flour and baking soda, adding slowly to the mixture. Beat until combined.

4. Drop spoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 7-9 minutes. 

5. Remove baking sheets to cooling racks and remove cookies after a few minutes to continue cooling.

...While cookies cool, make your filling.

Filling:

1/2 cup shortening 

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons warm water

1. In a medium bowl, beat the shortening and butter on medium speed until smooth and combined. Beat in vanilla. 

2. Add cocoa powder and powdered sugar and beat on low until just combined. Add water and beat on medium high for about 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.

Once cookies have cooled, pipe or spread filling on the flat side of half of them. Gently press another cookie on top of the filling.
For the stripes, microwave 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in a microwave safe bowl, stirring every 15 seconds until smooth. Drizzle or pipe on top of Fudge Rounds. Refrigerate until chocolate is set. *I used white chocolate chips to give it color.

Microwave Sloppy Joes

12 minutes = sloppy joes.  And no cooking other than in the microwave.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs ground beef                                     1/2 cup ketchup

2/3 cup onions, chopped                               1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup celery, diced                                      1 tsp. salt

1/4 cup green pepper, diced                           1 tsp. pepper

1. In a microwave-safe dish, crumble raw beef, onion, celery and green pepper.  Cover and microwave for 6 minutes, stirring after three minutes.

2. Drain grease.  Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Cover and microwave for 6 minutes, stirring after three minutes.

3. Serve on hamburger buns, or toasted bread.

*I didn't have celery so I just omitted that from the recipe and it was still great.  We also added a bit of cheese on our sloppy joes.  

Easy Fried Rice

This is one of my easy go-to recipes when I need something quick. I have it memorized because I'm made it about twice a month since we've gotten married. I just love how easy it is, and I've added things like an egg or one time I added sesame seeds. It's a fun recipe to play around with. I actually found it on the Disney website here.

Fried Rice

Hands-On Time: 10 minutes
Ready In: 10
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 cups cold cooked rice (I add lots to make up for less chicken)
4 tablespoons soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced (optional, I always use this)
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
2 cups cooked and cubed chicken (optional, I do this much or less)
2 cups cooked veggies (optional, I always do 3-4 cups)
2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as vegetable or canola (I haven't used any oil since I first made it because I have a Teflon wok. We think it tastes better without the oil)

Directions

1. Heat a wok or large non-stick skillet over high heat.
2. When oil starts to "shimmer", turn the heat to medium-high.
3. If using garlic and/or green onions add to oil now and stir.
4. Add chicken and vegetables if using and mix well.
5. Quickly add rice and continue to stir until rice is separated and coated with oil or mixed evenly with chicken and veggies.
6. Sprinkle soy sauce over rice and stir until distributed well throughout rice.

*Ingredient Tips
Almost any veggie can be used -- we like frozen green peas or snow peas and julienned carrots. Beef, pork or shrimp are all good protein ideas. Make sure they are bite sized pieces and are cooked well before adding. Garlic is optional because it is not the norm for fried rice. I find it lends a delicious depth to the finished dish. Freshly grated ginger and a bit of sesame oil added with the neutral oil are nice additions. 

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Rainy,overcast days like today make me crave soup! And this one is just so good! And I loved loaded baked potatoes....what better than a combination!?!

2/3 C butter
2/3 C flour
6    C milk
4    C baked potato cubes
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1 1/2 C cheddar cheese, shredded
1  C  sour cream
1 12oz can evaporated milk
6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter, add floud, and slowly stir in milk. Cook and stir until thickened. After mixture thickens, add remaining ingredients. Serve and enjoy.

Yield: about 4

Xoxo

Jamie

Cornflake Chicken

This is the chicken our family loves. Any special occasion, conference weekend, birthdays, Sunday dinner, etc, this is what we have. I want this every birthday. We always called it cornflake chicken, and I didn't know it had an actual name until my mom gave me the recipe when I got married.

Cornflake Chicken or Boneless Baked Parmesan
Chicken tenders or breasts
¼ cup margarine, melted
½ cup corn flake crumbs
¼ cup parmesan cheese
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper (or less)
½ tsp. salt

1. Place corn flakes in doubled plastic bag. Crush corn flakes with rolling pin. Add cheese, cayenne, and salt to plastic bag. Shake well.
2. Dip chicken in margarine. Then dip in corn flake mixture until evenly coated.
3. Arrange chicken in single layer in shallow baking pan.
4. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.