No Empty Chairs: "Stout Hearts" around the Table

No Empty Chairs. . . "Stout Hearts" around the table.


Wanna Be A Stout... Eat, Don't Pout.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Lemon Cake Mix Cookies


Lemon Cake Mix Cookies

I've really been wanting something lemony lately, but I don't have any lemon recipes.  So I just used a lemon cake mix and followed the recipe for Cake Mix Cookies.  They turned out SO yummy!  I bet they would have been really good dipped in Cool Whip.

1 box cake mix
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs

Pour cake mix into a mixing bowl. Add oil and eggs, and mix well. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased pan (I flatten them just a touch). Bake at 350 for about 7 minutes.


For half the batch I mixed Betty Crocker Pearls Cupcake Gems into the dough.  The kids loved these ones, but they were a bit too crunchy for me.  I liked the soft, chewy, plain ones better.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Ham & Cheese Crescent Rolls


Ham & Cheese Crescent Rolls


Jason and I love these!  They're just so dang good.  And easy peesy, too!

Roll out some crescent rolls.  Keep two triangles together to make it a rectangle.  Sprinkle on some mozzarella cheese and lay out some sliced ham.
Roll them up and bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.
Enjoy!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Best Carrot Cake Ever


The Best Carrot Cake Ever

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 extra large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
1/2 cup buttermilk
2/3 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 pound finely grated carrots
1 cup toasted chopped pecans
1 cup golden raisins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare two 9-inch cake pans by lightly coating with oil and lining with parchment paper.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt and nutmeg together in a bowl. Set aside.
Mix the eggs, sugar, oil, buttermilk, brown sugar, vanilla, and pineapple together in a large bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until fully incorporated. Stir in the carrots, pecans and raisins just until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake on the center rack for about 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean.
Cool cakes in their pans for at least 30 minutes before attempting to remove them. Then, removed from the pans and peel off the parchment paper. Continue to cool the cakes completely before frosting.

To assemble the cake, place the bottom layer on a cardboard round or other flat surface and put on a cake turntable. Scoop about 1 1/2 cups of the cream cheese icing onto the top of the bottom cake layer. Using an offset spatula, spread the frosting evenly over the surface. Carefully place the second layer on top. Scoop another 1 1/2 cups or so of the frosting on the top of the cake and spread evenly, easing the frosting down the sides. Spread the icing around the sides of the cake, adding more as needed. Lift the cake off the turn table and place on a cake stand or platter and chill a bit to firm up the frosting before slicing.

Cream Cheese Frosting with a Hint of Orange

Ingredients:
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon orange extract
3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar to taste

Directions:
Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add extracts and beat just until incorporated. Beat in sugar, one cup at a time, until frosting has the flavor and consistency you want. You may not need to add all of the sugar.


I made this for my father-in-law's birthday and he loved it! 
Along with everyone else! 
Then I took pieces to several of my friends and they all gave it a two thumbs up!  Yay!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

1 box chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs

Pour cake mix into a mixing bowl. Add oil and eggs, and mix well. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased pan (I flatten them just a touch). Bake at 350 for about 7 minutes.


For half of the batch I stuffed 2-3 chocolate chips inside of each ball.  Then there was a warm, gooey, chocolatey surprise when the kids bit into the cookies.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Baked Zucchini Fries


Baked Zucchini Fries


3 small zucchini (about 1 lb)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 packet Shake & Bake Coating Mix
salt to taste
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Trim the zucchini and cut each in half width-wise.  Then cut each half into 1/4 inch sticks.  In a bowl, combine the parmesan cheese, coating mix, and salt.  In another bowl, whisk together the egg and water.  Place flour in another bowl.  Coat zucchini with flour.  Then place zucchini in the egg mixture, followed by the parmesan cheese/coating mix.  Place on a greased baking sheet.  Bake at 450 degrees for 12 to 13 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with ranch dressing or marinara sauce for dipping.

Look, even Samantha liked them! 
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