Soup Lady, "Cooking from the Heart"

Snicker Daddy

Jamie and I have had a rough week. My back is hurting.  Jamie is feeling his age...

     Well...and just other stuff...

Today was better.  We got back to our routines.  Gym. Laundry.  Saturday bed.  Grocery shopping. The familiarity of it all acting like a blanket...softly shielding from the outside. Just us  in the safety of ...our home...

We are practicing budgeting for retirement.  One of our biggest expenses in groceries.  We like to EAT!

So, today we both went to Winnie Winco.  Our budget - $100.  We got everything we needed...

     And then some....

And the total, drummmmmmmmmmm rolllllllllllllllllll PLEASE!!!!!

$80, thank you very much.

Once we settled in...

Jamie playing video,

Me on the computer...

I went to my favorite place in the house...

The kitchen...

Looking in the cupboards..

What to make? What to make?

Jamie loves Snicker Doodles.  So I made some for the daddy.  These are the Snicker Daddy's made for my guy...

Love ya~

Carmels, an Experiment

I decided to try to make carmels.  During the cooking process I realized my candy thermometer was not working.  So, I tried to salvage the concunction and decided to make a carmel/brittle concoction.  More candy to come in future posts.  Once I get a reliable thermometer...

Pudding with a Twist

I had some Trader Joes Ginger Snap Cookies around.  A box of banana pudding.  A container of Cool Whip.  It became...Pudding with a Twist...

If you like cookies dunked in milk, the sweetness of the milk as it disolves the texture of the cookie into a semi-hard mush.  Put it in your mouth.  Let your tongue push the cookie mess up into the roof of your mouth and enjoy the sensation of it moving through your entire mouth...yum!!! That is what pudding with a twist tastes like.  Only richer and creamier!

A layer of cookies, a layer of pudding, a layer of cookies, a layer of pudding.  Top with cool whip and a cookie.  This is an easy recipe for kids to try.  No baking required.  Use your favorite cookies and pudding.   If I make this again I would be sure to use a sturdier cookie.  The Ginger Snap was very thin and did not give me a more distinct layer.  However, it was still good - but can be improved on...

 

Kahlua Tiramisu

The first time I had Tiramisu was with my friend Heather at a restaurant in Long Beach called L'Opera.  Do you remember the first time you tasted Tiramisu.  You almost can't believe how great it tastes.  This is a quick and easy version of a sometimes more labor intensive dessert.  I literally put this together in 15 or so minutes. 

Ingredients:

· 1 pound mascarpone, softened (2 ~ 8 ounce cartons)

· 2 cups sugar

· 1/4 cup milk

· 1 Tbsp vanilla

· 1/4 cup brandy

· 2 Tbsp instant coffee

· 1/2 cup room temperature water

· 1/2 cup Kahlua

·  1 quart heavy whipping cream (4 cups)

· 14 ounce package of ladyfingers, bakery fresh or store-bought

· 1/2 cup cocoa powder

How to:

1.   Lightly spray 10 X 15 inch glass Pyrex baking dish with vegetable spray.

2.   Count the ladyfingers and divide in half.

3.   Spoon cocoa powder into a sugar shaker, or when ready, use a small strainer or sieve.

4.   Using beater attachment of a high-speed mixer beat mascarpone cheese and sugar on medium to high speed until smooth and creamy. Add milk, vanilla and brandy. Beat again until fluffy. Transfer to large mixing bowl and set aside.

5.   In a small bowl, dissolve instant coffee in room temperature water. Add Kahlua, stir and set aside.

6.   Whip heavy whipping cream on high speed until stiff. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture with spatula and blend well.

7.   Set up your workspace like an assembly line. Ladyfingers, Kahlua & coffee, 10 X 15 inch pan, cream cheese mixture and cocoa.

8.   One at a time, quickly dip only the bottoms of the ladyfingers into Kahlua. Place the soaked side down and line the entire bottom of the pan with ladyfingers. The ladyfingers soak up the Kahlua very quickly, so be careful not to dip them too long. Just the bottom half should be dipped in Kahlua.

9.   Spread half the cream cheese over the ladyfingers using an off-set spatula or plastic spatula.

10.  Sprinkle or dust with 1/4 cup cocoa.

11.  Repeat with the rest of the ladyfingers in Kahlua and place on top of the cream.

12.  Spread the remaining cream cheese mix evenly on top.

13.  Sprinkle remaining cocoa over the tiramisu.

14.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill for 6 hours or overnight. You may need to use a few toothpicks to keep the plastic from sticking to the tiramisu.

15.  Use a sharp, thin knife to cut into pieces.

 

16.  Note:  I topped this with some fresh raspberries and drizzled on some chocolate syrup to dress it up.

 

17.  Credit: Baking Desserts

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Sometimes, you can find packaged foods that still have the look, feel and taste of home made.  Betty Crocker makes a pre-packaged peanut butter cookie mix that is AWESOME!  However, I really like to make the bar recipe.  These tasty delights remind me of Reese's peanut butter cups.

Ingredients:

1 package of Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix

1 egg

1 tablespoon water

3 tablespoons oil

1 package chocolate chips

Directions:

Follow the directions on the package. 

Note: I like a thicker bar so I use an 8 x 8 pan instead of the 13 x 9 pan and cook for 15 minutes.  Check the bar at the end of the 15 minutes to see if more time is needed.  Use a tooth pick inserted into the bar - if it comes out clean it is done.

Apple Crisp

Yesterday, when Jamie and I were at Trader Joe's I saw him "eyeballing" the apple pie.  He LOVES apple pie.  I don't, so he did not get one since he would have to eat it all.  But, today when I was at WINCO I found a package of Apple Crisp mix in the produce section.  So, I bought a bag of apples and the mix.  I have not tried this before so I was not sure what to expect.  However, after Jamie took the shot he ate the apple crisp.  All I could hear him saying as he was eating it was mmm...mmm..mmm...

I guess it passed the test ;-).

Ingredients:

One package Concord Apple Crisp Mix

5 tablespoons of butter

6 - 8 apples

Directions:

Just follow the directions on the box.  Basically, add butter to the mix.  Slice apples and bake.  Easy, breezy, tasty!

Note:  Add a little ice cream to the top.  Sprinkle the ice cream with a little cinnamon sugar.

Applesauce

I am picky about apples.  I don't like them fresh, and I don't like them in pie.  I do like them in applesauce and juice.  So...today I tried to make applesauce.  If I make this recipe again I would cook them a little longer and add a little less sugar.  These would be really good on top of vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons water

4 Macintosh apples, cored, peeled and sliced

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 cup sugar

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and cook over medium heat until apples become very soft and tender.  Applesauce may be left lumpy or mashed with a fork to your desired consistency.

Note: I bought a whole bag of apples since this was the best price point.  Instead of just letting them go bad I made two desserts with the one bag (see Apple Crisp).

Credit:  Food Network

Sugar Cookies

 

If I find quality pre-packaged foods I like to use them when I can.  By adding my own ingredients and personal touch I can whip up something that looks homemade, smells homemade in a fraction of the time. 

 

These sugar cookies are one of my favorite recipes.  Since 4^th of July is right around the corner I added red, white and blue sprinkles.  God Bless America!!!!

 

Ingredients:

 

·         1 package Betty Crocker Sugar Cookies (1 egg, 1 stick of butter)

·         1 can white frosting

·         1 bottle of sprinkle

 

Directions:

 

·         Make cookies according to package directions.  Cool.

·         Frost cookies with canned frosting.

·         Shake, shake, shake the sprinkles on top of the frosting.

Lemon Bars

 

Who doesn't love a tangy, tasty lemon bar?  These delights are light and luscious.  I love the comination of creamy filling on top of crunchy bar.  And, who hasn't coughed a little from eating them so fast the powdered sugar chokes you???  That is the best part - smile!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 cup flour
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.

Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.

For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature.

Cut into triangles and dust with confectioners' sugar.

Credit:  Food Network

Almond Joy Coconut Cake

I know you are supposed to be precise with baking.  I just have a hard time with that.  I am more of a pinch of this pinch of that kind of a girl.  This recipe is a compilation of different recipes, some experimentation and a little luck.

Once again, my goal is to use the food in our house in an effort to be be better stewards of our resources.  I have had a bag of coconut in the cupboard for a while.  Also some sour cream, cream cheese, chocolate chips and white cake mix. So I just think about this for a while until I am hit with an inspirational thought.  WHACK - it hit me alright.  What about a coconut cake with chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting so it tastes like a Almond Joy candy bar????  Here is the recipe...

Ingredients:

• White cake mix according to package directions
• 1 bag of chocolate chips
• 12 ounce container of Cool Whip
• 8 ounce package of cream cheese
• 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar
• 1 package flaked coconut
• Slivered almonds

Directions:

Make cake according to package directions and bake according to directions. Add one bag of chocolate chips. Cool.

For frosting mix together Cool Whip, cream cheese and powdered sugar. Frost cooled cake.

Top with coconut, chocolate chips and almonds to taste.

Chef Modification:  I added one small box of coconut cream pudding and about 1/2 cup of sour cream to the cake mix.