Skor Cake

Ingredients:

1 box of Devils Food Cake (and ingredients to make the cake)

1 tub of Cool Whip

1 Can of sweetened condensed milk

14 oz of caramel sundae syrup

2-3 Skor or Heath bars

Directions:

Bake the Devils Food Cake as directed on the box in a 9 x 13 pan.  While the cake is baking combine the milk and caramel.  Right after you take the cake out of the oven use a wooden spoon to poke holes in the cake.  Only push the spoon down about a half an inch, don't push it all the way down in the cake. Then poor the milk/caramel mixture all over the cake allowing it to soak in.  Once the cake is completely cooled spread cool whip over the top.  (I usually don't use the whole tub, but you can if you like a lot of cool whip on your cake).  Crush the Skor or Heath bar into small pieces and sprinkle on top of the cake.  You can also drizzle caramel and or chocolate syrup on the top if desired.  Store in the refrigerator.  

Lemon Drop Mini Cakes

Mini Cakes:
1 Lemon Cake Mix

1 Pkg Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix

4 Eggs

1 1/4 C. Sour Cream

1/2 C. Milk

Mix all together and bake in a mini muffin tin. Use a #100 cookie scoop to fill the tins. Bake 325 F for 12 minutes.

Lemon Glaze:

3 1/3 - 4 C. Powder Sugar

Lemon Zest

2 Tbls unsalted butter (melted)

1/4 C. Fresh lemon juice

1/4 C. Warm Water

Mix all together. Add more powdered sugar if needed.  It is better to have a thicker glaze. If it is to runny it will run right off the mini cakes, take a long time to dry and be a sticky glaze.  After the glaze drys you want to be able to run your finger over the top of the cakes without any stick.

Topping:
Raspberries or other berry/fruit

Once cakes have baked flip upside down on a wire cooling rack.  Once cooled dip the bottom of the muffins in the glaze.  (Start with 3 1/2 cups but if the glaze is too thin add more powdered sugar) Let the glaze dry then top with a berry or fruit.

Yield: 8 dozen

Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Pie Recipe

Yield one 9-10 inch pie 

Total time: 3 hours

Ingredients:

Oreo Crust-

1 package of Oreos

1/4 cup butter, melted

Filling-

1 cup creamy peanut butter

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1 container cool whip (8 oz), thawed

Chocolate Ganache

1 1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Toppings

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, some cut in half, others chapped. (Can use the mini unwrapped kind)

Directions:

Oreo Crust-

Process the Oreo's in a food processor until fine crumbs remain.  In a large bowl, combine the crushed Oreo's with the melted butter.  Press this mixture evenly into a 10 inch pie pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  Place in fridge until ready to use.

Filling-

In a large mixing bowl combine the peanut butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer until well blended.  Add the cool whip and stir with a spatula until mixed.  Spread this mixture on the crust and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Chocolate Canache-

Place Chocolate chips in a medium heat proof bowl.

In a small pot over low heat, heat the heavy cream until just before boiling

Pour the heavy cream over the chocolate chips and allow the moisture to stand for 1-2 minutes.  

Use spatula to stir the mixure until smooth.

Allow the ganache to come to room temperature before adding it to the pie.

Topping-

Before the chocolate hardens, add the peanut butter cups.  Start by adding the halved peanut butter cups around the edges.  Placing them as close or as far apart as you want.  Then add the chopped peanut butter cups to the center of the pie.

Cover the pie with tin foil and return to the freezer or fridge for 1-2 hours.  Before serving remove the pie from the freezer and let it sit for a few minutes to make cutting easier.  Cover freeze/refrigerate any leftovers.

Sweet and Savory Coconut Rice

Ingredients:

2 cups of white or jasmine rice

1 (14 ounce) can of coconut milk

2 cups of water

2-3 tsp granulated sugar

1/4 cup chopped green onions

Black pepper to taste (opt)

Directions:

Combine rice, coconut milk, water, salt, vinegar and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Turn heat to low and cover for 20 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed.  Allow 5 minutes to stand.  Add chopped green onions bottoms, black pepper and additional salt.

Garnish with green tops of onions and serve immediately.

Sweet Chili Chicken with Pineapple Salsa

Chicken:

Juice from 1 large lime (2-3 Tbls)

1 1/2 Tbls Curry Powder

2 tsp veg or Olive Oil

1 lb chicken tenders (about 8)

Salt 

Black pepper

Lime wedges (opt)

Salsa:

1 1/2 Cups diced pineapple

1/4 Cup  or less of thinly sliced red onion

1 avocado, diced

1 Tbls fresh lime juice

3 Tbls cilantro, chopped

Pinch of salt

Sauce:

3 Tbls Sweet Chili Sauce

1 Tbls honey

1 1/2 tsp Soy Sauce

1 Tbls warm water

Chicken directions:

Place lime juice, curry powder and oil in a large zip top bag and shake lightly to combine.  Add chicken tenders and marinate at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.  Preheat grill to medium high heat and oil grill grates.  Remove chicken from marinade and sprinkle both sides lightly with salt and pepper. Grill chicken about 3 minutes on each side or until internal temp registers 165 degrees F.

Salsa direction:

Combine all salsa ingredients and gently toss to combine.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

Sauce directions:

Combine sweet chili sauce, honey, soy sauce and warm water and whisk with a fork until smooth.

To Serve:

Plate grilled chicken tenders, top with salsa and drizzle with sauce.  Serve with lime wedges if desired. (Can serve with rice - See Sweet and Savory Coconut Rice Recipe)

Note: sweet chili sauce can be found in the Asian food section of a grocery store (Thai Kitchen is a popular brand found in most locations)

8 Can Taco Soup

1 (15 oz) can black beans (drained and rinsed)

1 (15 oz) can pinto beans (drained and rinsed)

1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes (drained) OR 1 can or rotel

1 (15.25 oz) can sweet corn (drained)

1 (12.5 oz) white chicken breast (drained)

1 (10.75 oz) can cream of chicken soup

1 (10 oz) can green enchilada sauce

1 (14 oz) can chicken broth

1 packet taco seasoning

Mix all ingredients together in a large pot.  Heat until warm, stirring occasionally.  Season to taste with taco seasoning (I typically use about half of a packet).  Serve with tortilla chips 

Dry Beans

For Pints

2/3 cup raw beans

1/2 tsp salt (optional)

For Quarts

1 1/3 Cups raw beans

1 tsp salt (optional)

Put dry beans into bottles and add salt.  Fill with water to the neck add lids and rings.  Put in pressure cooker and bring up to 15 lbs and cook.

Pints cook for 60 minutes

Quarts cook for 1 hour 30 minutes

This is for dry beans (black, pinto, white).

You can soak your beans over night or (12-18) hours then fill you bottles with beans to the neck, add salt, water, lids and rings then pressure cook. - I have done both

A #10 can of dry beans will make approximately:

18-20 pints

8-9 Quarts

*This also depends on if you soak them or not.  If you do not soak them you will make more jars.