Tried and True Tuesday

I already know I'll be gone tomorrow, so I'm getting this up now. I've missed a few weeks, but last weekend I tried a new recipe and it got rave reviews!

Dove Chocolate Molten Cakes
4 oz Dove Dark Chocolate or Dove Milk Chocolate (I can hook you up with that here)
3/4 of a stick (6 Tablespoons) of unsalted butter
1/4 Cup of granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 Cup of flour

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a double boiler or microwave, combine Dove chocolate, butter and sugar until just melted. Add eggs and whisk until combined; add flour and mix until just combined. Lightly grease mini muffin pan with baking spray or butter and distribute batter evenly.

Place muffin pan onto baking sheet; bake for 6 - 8 minutes. (Cakes will appear to e undercooked - this is normal, DO NOT OVERBAKE. Sides will be set but centers should still be soft.) Carefully invert pans onto serving platter. Serve immediately. Makes 18 - 24 cakes.

Yumness!! We had them with ice cream. And I actually used regular salted butter (because it was all I had) and they were fine. Well, a lot better than fine, but you get my point.

Enjoy!

Tried and True Tuesday

Today? The best and easiest recipe ever!! My mom makes a lot of these Peanut Butter Cups around the holidays and they're always a big hit. I think she's tried doing them in shapes other than cups, but the peanut butter makes the chocolate not mold very well.

1 C peanut butter
1 lb milk chocolate

Line cookie sheet with mini paper cups (like cupcake papers, but the little ones). Melt peanut butter and chocolate in top of double boiler. When smooth, put in a 2 C measuring cup with a spout. Pour into paper cups and let set up.

It doesn't get easier! To make them fancier, you could also put a sugar decoration on the top, or maybe a peanut butter chip. Have fun!

Tried and True Tuesday

I think this recipe might actually be from the big red and white checked cookbook that everyone gets at their bridal shower, but my mom also put it in the little binders of special family recipes that she gave to my brother and me a few years ago at Christmas.

Fudge Brownies
1/2 C butter or margarine
1 C granulated sugar
1 t vanilla
2 eggs
2 1-ounce squares unsweetened chocolate
3/4 C sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 C chopped walnuts (if you go in for that sort of thing - I don't)
Secret Ingredient: A handful of milk chocolate chips

In medium saucepan melt butter and chocolate. Remove from heat; stir in sugar. Blend in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Stir in flour and nuts; mix well. Spread in greased 8x8x2-inch pan (or I use a non-metal pie plate). Here's the secret ingredient part: right before you put them in the oven, sprinkle the milk chocolate chips in - YUM!! Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Be careful not to overbake. Cool. Cut into 16 squares.

Enjoy!

Tried and True Tuesday

If my husband sees this post, he'll worry ;)
Today, I'm posting the recipe for my very favorite chocolate sweet treat - Cocoa Fudge. That's not the scary part. The problem is that it's quite tricky to get the recipe just right, so you have super crunchy fudge instead of fudge sauce (which still tastes good, but isn't what I'm generally craving). When it doesn't work a couple times? Hubby dons the tactical gear cuz he knows I'm getting cranky quickly! I'm usually able to get it done right on the first or second try :)

2/3 C cocoa
3 C sugar
1/8 t salt
1 1/2 C milk
1/4 C butter
1 t vanilla

Combine cocoa, sugar and salt in a large saucepan. Add milk gradually; mix thoroughly. Bring to a 'bubbly' boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium and continue to boil without stirring, until it reaches a temperature of 232 or until a small amount forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water (I don't use a thermometer, just the ball method...). Add butter and vanilla. Do not stir. Allow fudge to cool at room temperature 110 (I've never known if that meant to 110 or by 110). Beat by hand or mixer until fudge thickens and loses gloss. Quickly pour and spread fudge in a lightly buttered pan, 8 x 8 x 2" (the pouring and spreading? Much easier with two people).

Good luck! Hope you enjoy this as much as I do :)

Tried and True Tuesday

Today? Blueberry Buckle. This is a given at my mom's house for Christmas morning. We all love it!

1/2 C shortening
3/4 C sugar
1 egg
2 C sifted all-purpose flour
2 1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/2 C milk
2 C fresh blueberries
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 C butter or margarine

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Thoroughly cream shortening and 3/4 cup sugar. Add egg and beat til light and fluffy. Sift together 2 cups flour, baking powder and salt - add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Spread in greased 11 x 17 x 1/2 inch pan. Top with berries. Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter til crumbly, then sprinkle mixture over berries. Bake at 350 F for 45 minutes. Cut in squares. Serve warm.

Tried and True Tuesday

Today's recipe from me is Chicken Divan. I love it!! And this is one of those meals where the leftovers are at least as good as the original meal. :)

2 packages frozen borccoli (thawed)
2 cups cooked chicken (I usually use chicken breasts, but I think it can be made with canned chicken in a pinch..)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup real mayonnaise (must be mayonnaise, not salad dressing)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter

Arrange broccoli in a greased 11 X 17 pan. Add chicken. Combine soup, mayonnaise and lemon juice and pour over chicken. Sprinkle cheese on top. Melt butter and add bread crumbs. Sprinkle on top of cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour (or covered for 45 minutes).

Serve over rice (that's just my suggestion).

Tried and True Tuesday!!

Jen has initiated a new meme that's GREAT for finding good, 'tried and true,' recipes! It's Tried and True Tuesday.

I've got a super easy and yummy one today with no baking, for as hot as it's been around here lately. It's the Chocolate Eclair Dessert that my mom talked about bringing to a potluck lately where it was gone before she got any! That's a sign of a successful potluck dish :)

Filling:
2 pkg (3 3/4 oz) instant French vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
1 tub (9 oz) Cool Whip

Glaze:
2 sq unsweetened chocolate
3 tablespoons corn syrup
3 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 box graham crackers
Milk (just enough to make a spreading consistency)

Line the bottom of a 13 X 9 pan with whole graham crackers. Mix pudding with 3 cups milk at low speed for 2 minutes. Fold in the Cool Whip. Spread 1/2 of this filling over the crackers. Top with another layer of crackers. Put the remaining filling over the crackers and then top with the final layer of crackers. Melt the chocolate and margarine over low heat. Add corn syrup, milk and vanilla and blend. Add the powdered sugar and milk until it's a spreading consistency. Pour over the crackers and spread evenly. Refrigerate for at least six hours (overnight works well).