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Archive for the ‘Recipes’ Category

oatmeal finished

One of the best things on a cold winter morning (whole whopping four degrees at our house this morning) is to wake up to the cinnamony scent of oatmeal in the slow cooker.

Warm, filling, and delicious, it definitely makes a great start to a chilly day.

And it’s super easy – did I mention that?

Basic ingredients - although you need to use steel cut oats.

Basic ingredients – although you need to use steel cut oats.

Grease the inside of your slow cooker with butter or shortening. Add ingredients and cook on low for eight hours (overnight). Captain Cavedweller got to the oatmeal before I could take photos this morning, which is why the pot is half-empty.

Grease the inside of your slow cooker with butter or shortening. Add ingredients and cook on low for eight hours (overnight). Captain Cavedweller got to the oatmeal before I could take photos this morning, which is why the pot is half-empty.

Overnight Oatmeal

Shortening or Butter

1 cup milk

4 tbsp. brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup steel-cut oats

2 apples, peeled, cored and cut into bite-sized pieces

2 tbsp. butter, cut into small pieces

4 cups water

Generously grease a 5-6 quart slow cooker with shortening or butter.

Add milk, sugar, vanilla, salt and water. Gently stir in the oats, apples and butter. Cook, covered, on low for eight hours (or overnight). Serve with milk and your choice of toppings such as almonds, cranberries, chocolate chips, maple syrup, dollop of whipped cream.

NOTE: If you don’t like your apples crunchy, put them in a microwave safe bowl and cook covered for two to three minutes before adding them.

Serves approximately four.

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Carmelitas plated

Captain Cavedweller made some random mention of oatmeal cookies the other day so I made these (which was not what he had in mind, but exeptionally yummy, nonetheless).

These came together quickly, were easy to make, and I had everything I needed on hand to make them (bonus points!).

Ingredients for Oatmeal Carmelitas

Ingredients for Oatmeal Carmelitas

Start with oatmeal and flour, blending the two together.

Start with oatmeal and flour, blending the two together.

Add in butter and baking soda until well combined.

Add in butter and baking soda until well combined.

 

Press half the mixture into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.

Press half the mixture into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees

Sprinkle on chocolate chips.

Sprinkle on chocolate chips.

Cover chips with caramel topping and sprinkle on some sea salt. Crumble remaining crust over the top and bake at 350 degrees for bake for 15 minutes.

Cover chips with caramel topping and sprinkle on some sea salt. Crumble remaining crust over the top and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool before cutting.

Remove from oven and cool before cutting.

Oatmeal Carmelitas

2 cups flour

2 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups butter, melted

2 tsp, baking soda

1 cup caramel ice cream topping

1 bag (11 ounce) chocolate chips

1/2 tsp sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, oats, butter, and baking soda until well combined and crumbly.

Press half the mixture into a greased 9 x 13 baking pan and bake for 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and top crust with chips, caramel sauce and salt.

Crumble on the rest of the crust over the mixture (as evenly as possible) and return to the oven for 15 minutes.

Remove and cool before cutting and indulging!

She Who Loves Caramel and Chocolate Goodies

 

 

 

 

 

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crescent rollsHave you discovered Pepperidge Farm Flaky Crsecent Rolls yet?

If not, run to the grocery store and get yourself a tube of pastry wonder.

I’ve long been a fan of refrigerated crescent rolls for whipping up quick recipes. I’ve used them as crust for every kind of filling you can think of from breakfast casseroles to meat pockets to danishes.

These rolls, in my humble opinion, far surpass the others for flavor and texture.

I used them recently to make a quiche by just pressing the triangles together in the bottom of this fancy little pan.

norita's pan

I poured in the filling, baked, then turned it upside down on a serving platter.

It looked like this:

norita's pan quiche

How cool is that?

The chicken pot pie I made with this crust as unbelievably good.

The texture, flakiness and flavor is really different from what you expect – and so good.

If you’re looking for something to take a meal from ho-hum to yum, these crescent rolls could be a good option for you. Try them and see what you think.

(Note – Pepperidge Farm doesn’t know me from anyone, I just really like this product.)

She Who Needs To Bake Something

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Popcorn cake plated

One of our favorite autumn treats is popcorn cake. My first experience with the sweet, sticky confection was when I was in college. Mom mailed one for my birthday and I thought it was delicious. (Of course anything not dorm food was delicious, back then.)

It’s easy to make, is best prepared with a little help, and meant to be sticky and messy and utterly wonderful.

popcorn cake angel food cake pan

Start by greasing an angel food cake pan. Make sure you have every surface of it greased.

While you are popping the popcorn, melt marshmallows, butter and oil in the microwave. I nuke mine about 30 seconds, stir, nuke again.

While you are popping the popcorn, melt marshmallows, butter and oil in the microwave. I nuke mine about 30 seconds, stir, nuke again.

When it is melted, it will look like this.

When it is melted, it will look like this.

Due to the stickiness of the situation, I missed taking a few photos here,  but basically in a huge bowl, mix the popcorn, nuts and spice drops together then pour the melted marshmallow over the top. Grease your hands with butter and mix well because you won't get far if you try to stir it with a spoon.

Due to the stickiness of the situation, I missed taking a few photos here, but basically in a huge bowl, mix the popcorn, nuts and spice drops together then pour the melted marshmallow over the top. Grease your hands with butter and mix well because you won’t get far if you try to stir it with a spoon. And make sure you get plenty of butter on your hands or you’ll look like this.

Press down into the angel food cake pan and let sit about thirty minutes or so before turning out on a serving platter.

Press down into the angel food cake pan and let sit about thirty minutes or so before turning out on a serving platter.

Popcorn Cake

24 cups of popped popcorn*

1 cup of spiced gum drops

1 1/2 cups of peanuts

1 large bag of mini marshmallows

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup butter

Mix oil, butter and marshmallows in a large bowl. Microwave at 20-30 second increments, stirring between each set until marshmallows and melted and oil and butter are mixed in nicely. (It will still look a little oily). Mix in popped popcorn, peanuts and gum drops. Press into greased bundt or angel food cake pan. Leave standing at room temperature for an hour or so until cake is set then slice and serve. You could also press into balls and wrap individually.

* For a fun variation, use colored popcorn kernels.

She Who Likes Easy Treats, Even If They Are Messy

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