Mock Champagne (mom had at Dru's and loved for Christmas)

 A good baby-shower punch that looks especially good when served with an ice ring.

Prep time and total time: 1 day 15 min. 

Serves 40 (4 oz) servings

2 (2 liter) bottles ginger ale, chilled

1 (46 fluid ounce) can pineapple juice, chilled

1 (64 fluid ounce) bottle white grape juice, chilled

Step 1

To make Ice ring: Fill a ring shaped cake pan to 1/2 with ginger ale. Freeze until partially frozen. At this stage you cn place edible flowers, or peces of fruit around the ring. Fill pan wiht ginger ale and freeze until solid. Place in a punch bowl just before serving. 

Step 2

In a large punch bowl, combine 1 bottle ginger ale, pineapple juice and white grape juice. 

Floofalicious Dessert - Tilese Arrington

 Crust 

1 cup pecans

3 Tbsp sugar

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup flour

Cream Cheese Layer

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup Cool Whip (or whipped cream)

Vanilla Layer

5.1 oz instant vanilla pudding

2 cups milk

Chocolate Layer

5.9 oz instant chocolate pudding

2 cups milk

Top Layer

2 cups Cool Whip (or Whipped Cream)

Shaved Chocolate

Directions: Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Pulse pecans, sugar, melted butter and flour in food processor and press into the prepared pan. Bake for around 20 minutes. Cool completely. Prepare the vanilla and chocolate pudding in separate bowls. In another bowl, beat mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar and Cool Whip. Layer the cream cheese mixture, then the vanilla pudding, then chocolate pudding. Top with 2 cups Cool Whip and shaved chocolate.

Pumpkin Sheet Cake with Brown Butter Frosting - Paige (from Dear Crissy)

 Cake

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting

1/2 cup butter

4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Cake
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12 x 17 inch jelly roll pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and the salt; set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, beat together the pumpkin, sugar, and the oil. Add the eggs and mix well.
• Add dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and beat until well blended.
• Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Cool completely
• Frosting
• Mix together the milk and the vanilla and set aside.
• Add the powdered sugar to a mixing bowl and set aside.
• Over medium heat melt the butter stirring constantly. When the butter becomes very frothy and turns brown remove from the heat.
• Add the milk and the vanilla mixture to the powdered sugar. Add the browned butter. Mix with an electric mixer until well combined. Immediately spread on the cooled cake.

White Bean Chicken Chili (Kari Darby) Maybe Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes Difficulty: Easy Servings: 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 medium onion, chopped

2-3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 can (14 oz) chicken broth

2 cans (15 oz) great northern beans

2 cans (4oz) green chilis

1 pound roasted chicken

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

tortilla chips optional

cheese optional

DIRECTIONS

In a large sauce pan, saute onion and garlic until softened. Add seasonings and sauté until fragrant for 1-2 minutes.

Add beans, broth, chilis, and chicken into pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes.

Remove from heat; stir in sour cream and heavy whipping cream. If desired, add tortilla chips and cheese

Craisin Cookies - Mel

 1 cup soft butter

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/4 cup flour

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup toffee bits

3/4 cup craisins

350 degrees

Approx 10 minutes. Cookies are done when the edges are golden brown.

The key is to overcook them a bit so they're crunchy and chewy

Carrot Zucchini Bread - Mom

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup rolled oats

1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder

¾ teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon salt

1-3/4 ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¾ cup sugar

¾ cup packed light-brown sugar

½ cup vegetable oil

6 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

3 large eggs

1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1/2 cups finely shredded, peeled carrots

(from about 3 medium carrots)

1-1/2 cups finely shredded zucchini

(from about 2 small zucchini)

Frosting (optional)

6-tablespoon butter, softened

5 ounce cream cheese, softened

2-1/2 cups powdered sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Butter and lightly flour two 8 by 4 inch loaf pans

and set aside. (can make cup cakes and bake less time, 20 – 25 minutes)

2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt,

cinnamon and nutmeg for 30 seconds.

3. In a separate large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar and brown sugar until

well blended, then add oil, applesauce, eggs and vanilla and whisk until well

combined, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.

4. Stir in shredded carrots and zucchini, and then add flour mixture all at once.

Using a rubber spatula, fold mixture just until combined.

5. Divide mixture between two prepared loaf pans.

6. Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes then (without removing loaves from

oven) quickly tent loaves with a sheet of aluminum foil (to prevent top from

excessive browning) and continue to bake 15 – 20 minutes longer or until

toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.

7. Allow cooling in loaf pan 5 minutes, then inverting onto a wire rack and cooling

completely. Frost with cream cheese frosting if desired and top with chopped

pecans.

Store in airtight container.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

 

• 1 banana, peeled and frozen
• ▢3 fresh or frozen strawberries
• ▢1/3 cup milk, I like almond milk
• ▢1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt*
• ▢1 teaspoon honey, optional