One-Minute Peanut Butter Cake

I'm serious!

This is one of those recipes you wished you'd had long ago, so you could have been enjoying it all this time.

I honestly don't know where I saw it, or else I would give credit.

This makes a single serving, and really, in only one minute.

It can satisfy a sweet tooth late at night, or it makes a great afternoon snack too.  Any time you get a hankerin' for a little bit of something sweet.

If you don't have a ramekin (this raises quite a bit so make sure there's plenty of room for it to expand) use a coffee mug.  One with a rounded bottom works best.

Add a few chocolate chips if you'd like. It's great either way.

I know from experience....

ONE MINUTE PEANUT BUTTER CAKE

(From The Better Baker)

(Serves 1)

1 egg, beaten

1 Tb. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 hp. Tb. all purpose flour

2 Tb. peanut butter

1 tsp. milk

1 Tb. powdered sugar (give or take)

In small bowl, whisk together egg, brown sugar, baking powder, peanut butter and flour. 

Pour batter into a greased ramekin.  Microwave for 30 seconds.

(Check - if not done, add a few seconds at a time).

Mine took 40 seconds and my microwave is 1100 watts.

While the cake is microwaving, stir together milk and powdered sugar, adding more powd. sugar if necessary to thicken frosting.

Remove cake from ramekin (or not) pour frosting over top.

Pour yourself a nice cold glass of milk, grab a spoon or fork, and enjoy!!

Then put the recipe somewhere you can find it again quickly next time...because there will be a next time! =)

Linked to Crazy Sweet Tuesday
                  Totally Tasty Tuesday
             Full Plate Thursday
              Wonka Wednesday

WOOHOO! Twist & Shout for my friend Lark!

Did you see it at Facebook over the weekend?

Our amazing friend Lark is one of the "Real Women of Philadelphia!"  She's won a contest at Kraft! 

She is the "Make  to Impress Dessert Winner 5" with her Pecan Cream Cheese Custard Pie recipe!

WOOOWZERS!!

(If you didn't know already, Lark and I are co-bloggers, along with Libby at Country Cooks Across America blog) One day I hope to write about about experience together....

Take a look-see at this cool video. Can we even imagine seeing our name pop up like this from such a BIG site!?

Real Women of Philadelphia video

I can't wait to try that recipe.

I had already been wanting to post a picture of the gifts I received from Lark this week.  She went to Disneyland and ran a race...as she often does...and thought of me while she was there!

These are the lovely things I opened and then giggled & giggled.

The 'Main Man' Mickey shaped pasta...measuring spoons and a Minnie head on a chain.

How cute huh?

I'm blessed to call Lark my friend...she's definitely a sister of the heart, and we have yet to meet. 

One day we will...I'm trying to coax her to come to my part of the world because she's infatuated with Amish and we have many living in our corner of the world.

Thanks for your thoughtfulness Sparky Larky! MUAH!

Amazing Chicken Squares - OH MY!

This dish rates right up there as one of my most favorite dishes...it's great for serving company too.

These are simple enough to make.

But there's definitely nothing 'square' about their taste!

And really...they're not square, but shaped much like an apple dumpling.

I feel so spoiled whenever we enjoy these for a meal.

I was recently told by a friend that she has to double the recipe for her family because they can't get enough of this dish.

Try 'em...I'm sure you'll like 'em.

I love that they can be made a day ahead and refrigerated until ready to bake.

The picture above is before baking..

Yep, this is another favorite recipe that made it into my cookbook....page 50. 

(By the way...I'm running a 'first year' discounted special - I sold my very first cookbook one year ago August 1st - YAHOOO!!  Sold over 400 within the first five months!  Unbelievable! So I'm running a special deal...check out this page and click here for more info)

I can't say enough wonderful things about how delicious these chicken squares taste.

For me...they're 'over the top'.  On a scale of 1 - 10, I would rate these 11!

(But then...I LOVE cream cheese...and crescent rolls too.  My favorite two ingredients to bake with!)

CHICKEN SQUARES

4 ozs. cream cheese, softened

3 Tb. butter or margarine, melted, divided

2 c. chicken, cooked and cubed

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper (we like more)

1/2 (10-3/4 ozs) can cream of chicken soup

2 Tb. milk

1 (8 ozs) can crescent rolls

3/4 c. seasoned croutons, lightly crushed

Preheat oven to 350. Blend cream cheese and 2 Tb. butter until smooth.  Add chicken, salt, pepper, soup and milk.  Mix by hand until smooth.  Separate crescent rolls into 4 rectangles.  Firmly press perforations to seal.  Spoon heaping 1/2 c. mixture onto center of each rectangle. Pull four corners of dough to top center of chicken; twist slightly and seal edges. (This may be the hardest part). Brush tops with remaining margarine; dip in crouton crumbs.  Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown. 

Yield: 4 'sandwiches'

(Or cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.  Bring to room temperature before baking.)

Linked to Melt in Your Mouth Monday
    Ingredient Spotlight

(Sugar free) Dreamsicle Salad: Updated

This is the most pinned recipe at my blog!  And it's a real winner! I thought it was time I updated the photo as it's a very old post....do hope you'll give it a stir, and a taste, soon! 

This is an easy and delightful dish that is light and can be served as a salad or a dessert.

It only calls for 4 ingredients!

And it can be whipped up in just minutes.  Ya gotta love that about any recipe! 

It tastes like the frozen treat made with vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet.

(A Creamsicle)

MMMMM!

DREAMSICLE SALAD

1 sm. box (4 serv. size/.3 oz pkg)* sugar-free orange jello

1 sm. box (4 serv. size/1 oz pkg)* sugar free instant vanilla pudding

1 - 10 ozs. can mandarin oranges, drained

1 - 8 ozs. tub fat free frozen whipped topping, thawed

Dissolve jello in 1 c. boiling water. Add 1/2 c. cold water; let set in fridge for 
20 - 30 minutes.  With mixer or whisk, add dry vanilla pudding mix to jello and beat until

smooth. Fold in oranges and whipped topping (by hand). Refrigerate.

Try strawberry jello with strawberries, peach jello with (no sugar added) peaches, etc.

Dreamy!  Weight Watchers points per cup - 1 (Prior to Points Plus)

1 serving = 1/2 cup 

*these sizes refer to brand-name sugar-free packaging in the small box.  Other brands or sugar-full packages may contain a different oz. by weight or volume, but for this recipe, I use the small box in any case.

Linked to Ingredient Spotlight
          Fit & Fabulous Friday
Full Plate Thursday
Weekend Potluck

Make Ahead M-M-M-Mac 'n' Cheese

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!!!

THIS IS A SPECIAL POST!!!!

I'm one of many bloggers (73 last count) across the country who are all posting a mac 'n' cheese recipe at the same time today!

More info at the bottom of this page...

HOW FUN IS THAT???

@@@@@@@@@@@@@

I was tickled when I saw the recipe for this creamy...dreamy..MAKE AHEAD TOO! macaroni & cheese at Jane Doiron's Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms recently....a guest post by Comfy Cuisine.

My daughter's 5 mo. old son, Sam, had colon surgery in mid-August, and I planned to spend a week with them as he was recovering. They live nearly 3 hours away.

I love to fix make ahead meals for Deb and family, so she can just pull things out of the freezer and have a nutritious meal for dinner on busy busy days.

SO...I took this recipe along with me and it sure was delicious! We enjoyed one dishfull for dinner the day I made it, and the other one went into the freezer. 

I would never have guessed you could freeze mac 'n' cheese!

I shredded the cheese myself.  Sometimes the pre-shredded won't melt smoothly, and I like smoooooth!!!

I made a white sauce and cooked it over the stove per directions. I was tickled when a long distance friend called just then cause I had time to stand and visit while I stirred.  *_*

Then I stirred that yummy cheese into the sauce until it melted together.  MMMMM!

All of us really REALLY liked the crunchy topping!

It was perfect for the soft and smooth mac 'n' cheese.

M-M-M-Marvelous Mac 'n Cheese!

I lined one of her baking dishes with foil and poured the rest of the mac 'n' cheese in it..when it was cooled to room temp, I placed it in the freezer until frozen, then removed the dish and wrapped the mac 'n cheese tightly in the foil.  (Directions below)

Make-Ahead Macaroni and Cheese from Comfy Cuisine



2 microwave-safe 8-inch square baking dishes for this recipe
4 slices white sandwich bread, torn into pieces
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 garlic clove, minced
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Salt and Pepper
1 lb. elbow macaroni (I used mini penne)
6 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
4-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1-1/2 cups heavy cream
4 cups shredded colby cheese
2 cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese

Process topping: Pulse bread, Parmesan, garlic and 2 Tbsp. butter in food processor until coarsely ground. Divide crumb mixture between 2 zip-lock freezer bags and freeze.

Cook pasta: Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot over high heat. Add 1 Tbsp. salt and macaroni and cook until barely softened, about 3 minutes (important to avoid mushy blown-out macaroni). Drain pasta, then spread out on rimmed baking sheet and let cool.
Make sauce: Heat remaining butter, flour, mustard and cayenne (if using) in empty pot over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until golden and fragrant; about 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in broth and cream and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Off heat, whisk in colby, cheddar, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper until smooth.

Freeze: Stir cooled pasta into sauce, breaking up any clumps until well combined. Divide pasta mixture between two 8-inch square baking dishes. Cool to room temperature. Wrap dishes tightly with plastic, cover with foil, and freeze for up to 2 months.

Bake: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove foil from casserole and reserve. Microwave casserole until mixture is thawed and beginning to bubble around edges, 7 to 12 minutes, stirring and replacing plastic halfway through cooking. Discard plastic and cover pan with reserved foil. Bake 20 minutes, then remove foil and sprinkle with 1 bag frozen bread crumbs. Continue to bake until crumbs are golden brown and crisp, about 20 minutes longer. Let cool 10 minutes.

OOPS - there's a picture of Sam!  HOW DID THAT GET HERE?  ;-}

Isn't he just a dollbug?  He's a redhead - it runs in our family.

He did GREAT after surgery...recovered very nicely. This pix was taken a week post-surgery. He's a very happy little guy.

The look on his face kinda makes one think he's saying..'I'm in charge here!" *_*

Won't be long and he'll be enjoying mac 'n' cheese with the family too!  He just cut his first tooth this week!


Linked to Tina's Crazy Cooking Challenge

Linked to Sunday Funday