Turtle Layered Cheesecake

First off I am SO sorry I haven't updated I've been super busy with a one year old and working full time.
Second; when I get depressed I bake. Well; this week has been very depressing for me.
So.. I've known my next post had to be pretty epic right?

I hope this works.

( I realize it's on a cookie sheet but well.. it was to big for a cake pan and made in a spring form pan which is bigger then all my plates.)

You'll need:
springform pan
aluminum foil
 cooking spray

Crust:   (You can get a pre-made one but... everything is better homemade)

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
• 6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed

Filling:

• 4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour, divided
• 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips, melted and cooled
• 1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans

Ganache: (you can just use regular chocolate ice cream topping if you want)

• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecan
• Additional caramel ice cream topping, optional 



1. Grease or  spray the spring form pan. Then line wrap it in aluminum foil. Double it. 
 
2.In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar and pecans; cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto the bottom of prepared pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 325° for 12-15 minutes or until set. To let cool.
 
3.In a larger bowl,  beat cream cheese and sugars until smooth. Beat in 1/4 cup flour, cream and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Remove 1 cup batter to a small bowl; stir in melted chocolate. Spread over crust when it's cool.
 
4. In another bowl (doesn't have to be big.)  bowl, mix caramel topping and remaining flour; stir in pecans. Drop by tablespoonfuls over chocolate batter. Top with remaining batter. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. ( I added more caramel then it called for just to make it more... caramely?)
 
5.Bake at 325° for 1-1/2 hours or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath; remove foil. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight
 
6. Take it out of the fridge and start the ganache topping. Place chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chips; whisk until smooth. Cool slightly, stirring occasionally. The chocolate chips will melt really fast.
 
7. Lift the sides of the springform pan.. Spread ganache over cheesecake. Refrigerate until set. If desired, drizzle with additional caramel topping before. 
 

 

Egg In a Hamburger Basket

So I realize I haven't updated in a while. I'm sorry. Hopefully this update of awesomeness will make up for that.

I don't know what to call these so I'm making this part fist and hoping it'll come to me.

These are hamburgers or cheeseburgers (I made cheeseburgers) stuffed with an egg.
GENIUS?! yes I Think so.


You'll need:
hamburger
egg

Now I don't know how you mix up your hamburger meat for hamburgers I add some random seasonings in the cupboard and some Worcestershire sauce. Mix that ALL up with your hands. mmm yum.

Get a ball of meat and make it into a patty.

Take a cup I used this one:

it's just a normal size glass. I tried a mason jar but the hole was to small for the egg.

The hardest part is cutting the circle out of the burger patty. Because trying to pick up a circle burger with the middle missing and have it all stick together is close to impossible.

I sprayed my pan before I put the burger patty in. Just to make sure the egg doesn't stick.
Once the patty is in the pan ( I used medium heat) crack the egg and drop it in the middle.

Then comes flipping. You think this would be the hard part. I promise it's not at all.

When the side down is done cooking how you like it. It's time to flip the burger. Get the spatula as far as you can under. Then I used a wooden spoon to push it all the way on the spatula without breaking the yolk.
I turned the pan sideways so the egg didn't have a harder landing. (I know lame and sounds stupid but it's how I did it).

Let it cook all the way through but not long enough so the egg is overcooked. (Which I didn't master until burger five)
Then ta da! done. top with cheese and whatever you want. 

I promise... you'll probably never make burgers the same.

Alice Springs Chicken

Well; Yesterday was the first day of Cody and my low carb diet. The first two weeks are 20 carbs a day. So trying to find recipe's that aren't a lot of carbs. Actually easier then it seems.

Last night I made Alice Springs Chicken from Outback Steakhouse. But a low carb version. We had some people over and they thought it was awesome too. They aren't even on the diet.

4 chicken breasts (I trim the fat off just because I'm picky)
1/2 cup dijon mustard
1/2 simple syrup (sugar free)
1 tablespoon canola oil
8 strips of bacon
Mushrooms (optional)
Butter
Mexican style shredded cheese about 1 cup

Mix the mustard, simple syrup and oil in a mixer.
Marinade the chicken for 4 hours. (I only marinated for about 5 minutes because I was in a hurry)
Preheat the oven to 350.
Spray a casserole dish and set aside.
Sear the chicken in a pan on the stove. Pretty much until it's about all cooked through.
Saute the mushrooms in the butter until cooked. 
Cook the bacon and place two strips on each chicken. If you're adding the mushrooms add on top of bacon then top it all off with the cheese. (I topped with a lot of cheese)
Put in the oven for 7-10 minutes. Just until the cheese is bubbly.

                                                                ENJOY!

Without mushrooms only 1 carb per chicken breast
with mushrooms only 3 -3.5 carbs per chicken

Ranch Slow Cooker Potatoes

This... is also simple and delicious.
And you can cut in half. I made it for six people and it was perfect. 

Warning: Your first bite may make your eyes cross because they're so good.

1 1/2 cups sour cream
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
2 packet of ranch dressing mix
3 large russet potaotes

Mix sour cream, soup and ranch in bowl.
Cut up your potatoes into about one inch pieces.

Throw ALL into crock pot and let go for 4-5 hours on high.

Tip* Spray your crock pot with pam for easy clean up if you don't have the liners.

Cadbury Cupcakes

I made these last night. It makes 24 and well... I have 3 left.

Now; you could make this A LOT easier then I did and get a store bought chocolate cake mix. (Which is what I planned on doing but then decided these were to EPIC for cake mix) You could actually get an already frosting too.
This is my food blog. Therefore.. this is what I used.

FIRST: GET FOUR THINGS OF CADBURY EGGS. THE MINI ONES. 12 IN A CONTAINER. FREEZE TWO CONTAINERS OVER NIGHT.

NEXT: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

You will also need cupcake liners (obviously).


Then for the cake mix:
2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup oil
2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup boiling water

This recipe seems kind of odd to most with the boiling water. But I PROMISE these are moist and delicious.

Add all the dry ingredients together. Then add everything EXCEPT the boiling water. I usually bring the water to boil while I'm adding everything together. Now this right here without the water looks like a great cake mix (and taste like it too). Add the water and mix more. Don't worry it's supposed to be thin, it's okay

Next like every other recipe pour the batter in the cupcakes. 2/3 full.
Drop in a frozen cadbury egg into each batter and make sure it's covered by batter. (I usually just use my spatula and swirl it around.
(Frozen cadbury eggs don't melt into your cupcakes.)
Cook for 22 minutes. 

While they cook start the frosting. (Unless you using premade then just... let them cool)

I used a simple buttercream.

Take a bit of the frosting out in a different bowl and dye it yellow.
Pipe the white buttercream on then yellow in the center. (to look like an egg)
Then top with a cadbury egg.

Yum Yum Suace

Some people call it 'seafood sauce'
It's the sauce you get at the hibachi grill. The addictive delicious sauce you poor over your rice and meat and just say "can you just keep the container of the sauce here"

1 cup mayo
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Mix all these ingredients together. Refridgerate for at least an hour OR overnight.

POUR OVER EVERYTHING!

Cookie dough topped brownies.

Before you say no; keep in mind this is an EGG LESS cookie dough. So as it may not be healthy it's okay to eat.

BROWNIE:
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups light brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour

COOKIE DOUGH (EGG FREE!):
3/4 cup butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
3 Tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

Before you begin as every recipe starts preheat your oven to 325. 
Spray a 9x13 pan really good (helps get the brownies out later.)

Now melting the chocolate for the brownies you can either put it in a glass bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time. BUT if it burns like Paula Deen says it's "trashcan". I put a saucepan with water in it and the glass bowl on top. It works as a double boiler and you can melt the chocolate evenly. Just keep stirring. 
Once it's all melted set it aside it has to cool a little. 
Start mixing or whisking together the brown sugar and butter. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix or whisk those in too.Then your chocolate is cool enough to go ahead and mix that in too. 
Mix in the flour and whisk/mix together just until combined. (You don't want to over-mix)
 Go ahead and pour the batter in your pan. 
Bake 25-30 minutes. (check with toothpick should come out clean)
Set the brownies aside so they can cool. (The last thing you want to do is spread your dough on top of warm brownies.) 

Now we can start the cookie dough!
Just as any other cookie dough starts mix in mixer all the wet ingredients. 
Once all combined go ahead and start your dry ingredients. (Chocolate chips last.)

Once the brownies are cooled enough go ahead and spread on top just like frosting.

Place in fridge until the dough is set. (or freezer for speedy set up)
 

Bacon Caramel Brownies.

Now this one is a TAD more complicated. It took me twice to make the caramel. But I'll tell you what I learned so you can only make it once. :) That's how nice I am.

First preheat your oven to 350. (it takes a while to heat up)
Get a square 8 inch pan and line with aluminum foil and spray the foil.
Cook up 4 slices of bacon. (I usually cook 5 because I have to eat a piece)
Crumble the bacon up into little pieces.
KEEP THE GREASE IN THE PAN


For the caramel sauce:
1/2 cup of heavy cream
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter

Add cream to your bacon grease while the pan is hot. Then set aside and let come to room temperature.
In a medium saucepan on high cook up your sugar. It will get liquified and an amber color. Now this is where it gets a little difficult. (I had my boyfriend help me) You NEED to keep stirring while you mix in the butter. It will bubble up and then once that is melted mix in the heavy cream. Remember KEEP STIRRING.
Add in half of the crumbled bacon.
Set aside and let come to room temperature.

Now comes the brownies. This part is easy peasy.

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter cut into pieces
6 oz (half bag) of semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
bacon
bacon caramel

Melt your butter and chocolate chips. (I did it in microwave for 30 seconds and stir and then for 10 seconds after) You can do it whatever way you want.
Mix in the cocoa powder until smooth
Add eggs one at a time
Then add your sugar, vanilla and flour.
Mix in the rest of the bacon.

In you're lined pan mix 1/3 of the brownie batter and top with the caramel. Swirl the sauce into the batter with a knife and repeat until your batter and caramel is gone.

Place in the oven for 30-45 minutes.

Note* you want them moist so take them out a TAD early.

I know it's been a while. But I hope this makes up.

I'm not sure what to call these? But it's a salty but sweet treat. Great for a snack.
Very tedious though.

1 package hugs (or kisses)
1 package m&ms (I use the valentine ones you can use whatever you want)
1 bag of square 'waffle' pretzels.

OR

1 bag of rolo's
1 bag of pecan halfs
bag of waffle pretzels

Preheat your oven to 200. You can spray the pan if you want too. (Lightly)
Line the pan with your pretzels and then put the kisses or rolo's on top in the center.
Let them cook about 2-4 minutes and then take them out and place an  m&m or pecan in the center.
Let them cool ( I put them in the fridge)
and enjoy. :)

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

My boyfriend and I got banana's at the store and they were starting to turn brown. I immediately thought banana bread. But I didn't have a loaf pan. Then I thought... banana bars! I didn't have cream cheese; and honestly was to lazy to go anywhere. It's kind of cold outside.

So I decided on chocolate chip banana muffins.

It's obviously way healthier then everything else I've made but still delicious. 

 

2 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cups chocolate chips (or nuts or fruit)

1/3 cup oil

3 bananas mashed

Preheat your oven to 375 and mash up your banana. I use a mixer and add 1 tablespoon water but if you want to you can mash it with a fork or potato masher. 

Add the sugar and oil and mix together.

In a separate bowl combine the flour, oats, baking soda and powder, and salt until combined. 

Mix in the chocolate chips or whatever your  using.

In a cupcake/muffin tin line it with liners and spray them but not a lot. It just makes it easier to get off the paper.

Fill them 3/4 full with the batter.

Cook for about 18-20 minutes. Leave in the pan for 5 minutes but no longer or the liners will get oily. 

Cool or enjoy warm.

Chocolate Chip Heath Cookies

I make these cookies all the time. They're a big hit with everyone.

2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup heath bits
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 stick butter (room temperature)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350.
When I make this I mix together the salt, sugar, vanilla, baking soda, butter and eggs.
Then I slowly mix in the flour. Then the chips.

Grease or spray you're cookie sheets and cook for 8-10 minutes.
ENJOY

Beef Sherry

Tonight I made Beef Sherry.
I didn't get a picture. I'm sorry. And now it's gone so I can't.
This is delicious and makes a lot. I made it for my boyfriends game night and it was a hit. This is one of those recipe's you put in the crock pot and just let it go all day. I got this recipe from my mom who got it from hers.

It consists of very few ingredients.


2 packages of stew meat (or one big package)
1/3 to 1/2 bottle of red fruity wine
2 large cans of cream of chicken soup
1 envelope of Lipton onion soup mix

Put everything in crock pot and turn on high for two hours. (The meat has to cook down) then turn it on low and let it go all day.

Put it on potatoes, rice bread or whatever.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip

So I saw this on tumblr and have decided it looked SUPER amazing. So... I made it.
Super simple and goes over GREAT with people. Believe me there's four people here devouring it while I type this.

 

8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup MINI chocolate chips

Cream together the cheese and the butter.
Add the sugars and the vanilla.
Mix in the chocolate chips.

Refrigerate until you want to serve...or serve immediately and let it be eaten.

Stuffed Shells

Tonight I made stuffed shells for dinner. It's a fairly simple recipe and doesn't take THAT much time to make.

For this recipe you'll need:
3 teaspoons of minced garlic or about 6 garlic cloves and mince them
1 box of Jumbo Shells
2 chicken breasts
1 30oz tub of ricotta cheese
1/3 cup of bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
6 basil leaves (chopped)
1/3 cup half and half
1/4 cup parmesean cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 can of chicken broth
1 can of sauce (spaghetti or anything)
1 casserole dish or deep dish pan
Slow cooker

Now I know looking at all the ingredients are kind of overwhelming. But don't be; like I said VERY simple.

First you're going to take the slow cooker and dump the can of chicken brother in and place you're chicken breasts in and set to high. Leave them in for two hours. After the two hours is over they're cooked.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Start cooking your shells. Just like the box says. While you're cooking those start to pull apart or cut up your chicken and place in a bowl.
Once your shells are done cooking strain them and set them aside while you make the mixture.
In your bowl with the chicken add all your ingredients except the mozzarella cheese and the sauce and stir together and until all combined. (You can use a food processor if you have one)
Once that is all combined grab your dish and place some of the sauce of your choice (I used roasted garlic marinara) in the bottom of the pan with a little olive oil. Make sure the bottom of the pan is covered.
Next take a shell and spoon in the chicken mixture and set the shell in the pan. Repeat until the pan is full. (I had tons of extra so feel free to make more then one pan)
Once your pan is full top with some more sauce. However much you prefer. Then top with mozzarella cheese.
Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
Finished. See... SIMPLE

Magic Bars!

This is my first post! I made this a long time ago but always forget to use it. Well why not start now?

 The first thing I'll put on here is my Magic Bars. picture/recipe:

 For this recipe you'll need:
9x13 pan
cooking spray
3 cups crushed graham crackers (two packages)
2 sticks of butter
pinch of salt (optional)
1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
1 package chocolate chips (any kind)
1 package butterscotch chips
and 1 cup of chopped pecans

Remember with this recipe you can substitute or add in anything you'd like. When I first saw the recipe it had coconut but my boyfriend doesn't like it so I switched it for butterscotch chips.

Preheat you're oven to 350.
Spray you're 9x13 inch pan with spray and set aside.
Put you're two sticks of butter in a pan and melt. You could also melt them in the microwave it's whatever you prefer as long as it's melted.
Crush you're graham crackers and put in a bowl; you're going to be adding the butter so make it a decent size bowl. I use a mixing bowl. 
Pour in you're melted butter and stir until combined. Add you're salt if you want it then.
Spread in the bottom of the pan, this will be you're crust. (I find that using my hand and pressing down is easier)
Open and pour you're canned milk over the graham cracker crust mixture. Spread evenly on top. (I find if I move the pan around and get it covering everything.
Then take you're toppings and just sprinkle on top.

Place in oven for 25-30 minutes.
Cool and enjoy.