No Empty Chairs: "Stout Hearts" around the Table

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


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

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! 

Friday, July 8, 2011

Chocolate Coconut Bars



OH...MY...GOSH!!!  THESE...ARE...SO...GOOD!!! 
No kidding, they're amazing!

3 cups finely ground cookies, such as graham crackers or chocolate wafers, or a combination
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted
1 cup pecan pieces (optional)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or chunks
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly splash a 15-by-10-inch rimmed baking sheet evenly with water, then line with parchment paper.  (I didn't have parchment paper so I used foil.)
2.  In a large bowl, stir together cookie crumbs, sugar, and butter until combined. Evenly press onto bottom and up sides of prepared baking sheet. Bake, rotating halfway through, until firm, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool, about 20 minutes.  (I left it in the pan to cool.  Took longer, but I was in no hurry.)
3.  Sprinkle cooled crust evenly with pecans and chocolate. Pour condensed milk over the top, spreading to cover completely (do not let it drip over the edges). Sprinkle with coconut.
4.  Bake until coconut is toasted, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool completely.  (I left it in the pan to cool overnight, loosely covered in foil.)

Allow several hours to fully cool and set up.  Then dig in!!  And share with friends--they'll love you forever!



Thursday, July 7, 2011

Green Rice



This “arroz verde” has a deep gorgeous color and a buttery, herbal flavor. You can make it to have with some traditional Mexican food, or it is also delicious served with a grilled steak.

I really liked the flavor of this rice, but for me it was a bit “too green”. Next time I make it I will use double the amount of rice and the needed addition of liquids for that amount, but will keep the cilantro and spinach the same amount.

Ingredients:

½ c tightly packed fresh cilantro sprigs (about ½ ounce)
1 cup tightly packed fresh stemmed spinach leaves (about 1 ½ ounces)
1 ¼ cups low-fat chicken stock
1 ¼ cups milk
1 tsp. salt
1 Tablespoon olive oil
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 ½ cups long-grain rice
¼ c finely minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced

Directions:

1. Put the cilantro, spinach and stock in the blender and blend until the greens are pureed.
2. Add the mixture and salt and blend a bit more until well combined.

(You can prepare the cooking liquid mixture earlier in the day and keep it refrigerated. Then, when it is time to make the rice it goes together quickly.)

1. Use a medium-sized (3-quart) heavy-based saucepan with t good lid over medium heat.
2. Heat the olive oil and butter until butter is melted
3. Add the rice and sauté – stir about every 30 seconds or until it just starts to brown (3-4 minutes).
4. Add the onion and garlic and cook for one minute, stirring constantly.
5. Add the contents of the blender, stir the mixture well, and then turn the heat to high, to bring it to a boil.
6. Cover the pan, turn the heat to very low and cook for 20 minutes.
7. After 20 minutes, stir the rice very carefully to avoid crushing it, cover, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
8. Take the pan off the heat and let the rice steam inside the pot for 10 more minutes.

Serve hot.

This recipe makes 6-8 servings.

This was great to use in really big flour tortillas. Wrap as for burritos and add some shredded beef, and pinto or black beans. Add some cheese and salsa and sour cream if you choose. Fold it over, tuck in the sides and continue to wrap to achieve a large, fully enclosed burrito.

Use two hands to hold this huge burrito as you try to eat it- otherwise you will have a bit of a mess- but that is what makes it all good!

Monday, July 4, 2011

Fourth of July Rice Krispy Treats


I mixed in a bottle of red, white, and blue sprinkles.
Sprinkles make everything more fun!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Congo Squares

My Grandma GG always had these ready for us kids when we would come visit.  Making them reminds me of all the summers we'd go to Utah to see grandma.

2 1/4 c brown sugar
2/3 c softened butter
3 eggs
2 3/4 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
1 pk chocolate chips
1 c nuts (optional)

Add butter to sugar and cream well. Add eggs and beat. Add rest of ingredients. Mix well and spread in pan 3/4 inch thick. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool and cut.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Banana Bread


Source:  Cindy Twohy

My friend Cindy makes amazingly yummy banana bread!  Here is her delicious recipe!

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups banana (approx 3 medium bananas)
1/3 cup milk

Combine dry ingredients.  Set aside.  Cream butter, sugar, add eggs and bananas.  Combine milk and slowly add dry ingredients.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

Note:  I always add a handful of chocolate chips when I make this yummy bread.
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