Chocolate Chip Date Cake

This cake has been a Dunn family favorite for many years. When I was little, I thought it was called "Chocolate Chip Date Cake" because it was something to eat when you went out on a date. As I got older, I realized that there are actually dates in the batter, and they are the secret to its moist consistency and good taste. It is a great chocolate cake that is delicious, and not super-sweet. I've added pictures to my recipe (a la "Pioneer Woman Cooks") because I had made this cake wrong for so many years, and then finally, after talking to my mom one day after another failed attempt, I realized what I was doing that was making it not quite as I remembered it growing up. So, forgive my feeble attempts to be creative or funny with my pictures, but I didn't want the same mistake to happen to anyone else! Ok, so let's get started!

The "cast of characters": sugar, flour, vanilla, chopped pecans, chopped dates (found by the raisins in the grocery store), chocolate chips, cocoa, eggs, butter, baking soda, and boiling water (not pictured.)

Start by taking 1 cup chopped dates and putting it in a bowl

then add 1 tsp. baking soda

and 1 cup boiling water

and let stand for 40 minutes. Go for a walk, go play with your kids, watch some "Oprah", whatever.

In the meantime, add 1 Tbsp. cocoa to 1 cup sugar.

Mix well.

Then cream the sugar/cocoa mixture with 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter. Don't even think about substituting it with something else, and heaven forbid, lower in fat.

Add 2 eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

Then add 1 & 3/4 cups flour, gradually.

Your batter should be pretty thick after you've added the flour.

Now, here comes the key part (and the thing I had been doing wrong for so long): Add the dates, with the liquid, to the batter. For so long I had been just adding the dates, sometimes straining it, and wondering why my cake was so dry and didn't ever taste like my mom's. The liquid and the plump dates make your cake so moist and good. Oh, and don't worry if you're not a big date fan; you can't even taste them in the cake, they just help with the consistency of the cake.
Now add 1 tsp. real vanilla

and 1/2 cup chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup chopped pecans to the batter. Mix gently.

Now grease and flour an oblong cake pan, this one is 13x9.


Spread the gooey yummy batter in the pan evenly.

Now add another 1/2 cup chocolate chips to the top,

and 1/2 cup chopped pecans to the top.

Bake at 325 for 30 minutes until a toothpick or knife comes out clean.

Let cool and cut into pieces and serve. This cake is really good warm with some vanilla ice cream, and needs no icing! Enjoy!

Easter Story Cookie

While Easter has since past, I thought I would share this cute idea I found a few years ago to do with your kids around Easter time. It's also a perfect FHE idea.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
I cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape and Bible

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with a wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him.
Read John 19: 1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life for us.
Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed the egg white mixture for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a wax-paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven. Close the door and turn the oven to OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they must feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were also in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 & 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matt. 28:1-9. HE IS RISEN!

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Again, from Stephanie at www.nieniedialogues.com

ingredients:
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup hershey's cocoa powder
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
powdered sugar

directions:
in a large mixing bowl, combine sugar & oil. add cocoa; blend well. beat in eggs and vanilla. combine flour, baking powder & salt; add to cocoa mixture blending well. cover; chill at least 6 hours. heat oven to 350. shape dough into 1 inch balls. roll in powdered sugar. place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. bake 12 to 14 minutes or until almost no indentation remains when touched. remove from cookie sheet; cool on wire rack. makes 4 dozen.

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

• This recipe is from Nie Nie.  I make it all the time.
• 
  
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chocolate chips (if desired)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees;. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in chocolate chips and pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

Embassy Brownies

I got this recipe from a cookbook in the International Ward when I was serving in Brussels, Belgium on my mission.  I LOVE brownies that use real melted chocolate, whether it be unsweetened or semisweet, because unlike cocoa, I think it just makes it more rich and chocolatey and decadent.  This one also has a little bit of Hershey's syrup in it to send it over the top.  Joleen Jardine, I've never met you, but thank you for this wonderful recipe!

6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 cup chocolate syrup
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 cup granulated sugar
Pinch (about 1/8 tsp) salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350.  Butter and flour an 8" square baking pan.  Melt chocolate in a small, heavy saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly.  Stir in the syrup.  Remove the pan from heat and add the butter.  Make sure the butter is really room temperature, because if it's slightly cold it will have lumps and it won't mix very well into the melted chocolate.  Beat until the mixture is smooth.  Stir in the eggs and vanilla and mix thoroughly (it's also better if your eggs are room temperature too, otherwise you can temper them with some warm chocolate so you don't end up with scrambled eggs.)  Sift together the sugar, flour and salt.  Add this to the chocolate mixture and blend thoroughly.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven until just cooked, about 30 min (adjust according to your oven.)  Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan; cut into squares and transfer to a serving plate.

my hubbys favorite cookies ever

these cookies are kinda a spin off of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, they are sooo yummy and easy!!



oreo cookies and cream cookies...

1cup softened butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 lg package oreo pudding
2 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups chocolate chips
4 cookies and cream candy bars crushed

mix butter and sugars until well combined, then add eggs one at a time beating well after each. then add pudding.

mix flour soda salt in a separate bowl and then add to creamed mixture.
add chocolate chips and candy bars.

bake 350* for 8-10 mins.

oatmeal cake

this is my favorite cake in the world. and this recipe is mainly for me because i didnt bring my "cookbook" out to illinios with me... i hope you all enjoy it. honestly i cant think of anything better....

i like it warm, and i ice it while warm too...

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups boiling water
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 
  TOPPING:
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

• In a bowl, pour boiling water over oats; let stand for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with the oat mixture until combined.
• Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, in a saucepan, bring the brown sugar, butter and milk to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat; stir in coconut, nuts and vanilla. Pour over warm cake. Cool completely. Yield: 12-16 servings.

Amazing Coconut Refrigerator Cake

This is for a couple of friends who requested the recipe. We made it for Easter dinner this year and joked that it was a "true" Easter cake because it's best if you leave it in the fridge up to 3 days. But the longer the better!

Cake:
1 package white cake mix
1 1/3 cups water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 large eggs

Coconut frosting:
2 cups sugar
2 cups sour cream (16-oz. container)
3 1/2 cups grated coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease and flour two 9-in. round cake pans. Place the cake mix, water, oil and eggs in mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low for 1 minute; stop and scrape the bowl and then mix on medium speed 2 minutes more. The batter should look well-blended. Divide the batter between the two pans. Bake the cakes until they are golden brown, about 27 to 29 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the frosting by combining the sugar, sour cream and coconut in a bowl, and let the mixture rest in the refrigerator until the sugar dissolves, about 1 hour. Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool 10 minutes. Run a dinner knife around the edges and invert onto a rack and let cool another 30 minutes. When the cake is cooled, carefully slice the cake layers in half horizontally using a long serrated bread knife or a long piece of unflavored dental floss. You will have four layers. Assemble the cake by spreading some frosting on the bottom half, topping with another half, and so on until the four layers are assembled. Frost the top and sides with remaining frosting. Chill the cake, uncovered, until the frosting is firm, about 1 hour.

You can store the cake, covered with wax paper in the fridge for up to one week. The whole eggs in the batter and the sour cream frosting soaks down into the cake, making it improve as the cake chills. The coconut flavor also increases daily.

Soft and Chewy Caramel Popcorn

This caramel popcorn is my new obsession! It took me a few tries to get it down right, but now that I can make it as well as my friend who introduced it to me, I'm probably going to put on a few pounds. This makes a ton so be prepared to share it, or spend the next 3 days eating caramel popcorn (that's what I do!).

1 cube butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup corn syrup
2 2/3 cup brown sugar
4-5 bags microwave popcorn (I like to use plain, or light butter) popped with kernals removed

Put popped popcorn in a LARGE bowl and set aside
Combine all other ingredients in a large pot and melt together. Once melted bring to a full boil, stirring constantly and let boil for about 1 minute. You should see the texture and color change a little bit. Turn off heat a pour over popcorn. Mix well, scraping the bottom of the bowl to evenly coat your popcorn. Store in tupperware, or in ziplock bags. YUMMY!

Gingery Apple Crumb Pie

From November's issue of "Real Simple." Very easy and very good!

1 piecrust, store-bought or homemade fitted into a 9-inch pie plate
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour, spooned and leveled
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 lbs. apples (about 5; such as Granny Smith, Braeburn or Empire) peeled and thinly sliced
1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Set an oven rack in the lowest position and heat oven to 375. Place the pie plate on a foil-lined baking sheet. In a food processor, pulse the butter, 3/4 cup of the flour, and 1/4 cup of the sugar until large clumps appear. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use. In a large bowl, toss the apples, ginger, cinnamon, salt and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp. of flour. Transfer the apple mixture to the crust, sprinkle with the crumb topping, and bake until the top is golden and the apples are tender, about 55 to 60 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Note: I used Granny Smith apples, and I didn't have fresh ginger, so I substituted 1/4 tsp. ground ginger, but you can add more if you want it more gingery. I also heard that adding Apple Pie Spice is good, but my store was out of it, so I didn't add it. I also made it the day ahead and covered it loosely with foil and stored it on the counter.

Mississippi Mud Cake

This is one of my favorite cakes. It is not for the faint of heart. It is a gooey, sweet, sticky mess but you will lick it up and beg for more. And please, share it. With all the butter and sugar in it your thighs will thank you. Here it is:

1 package (18.25 ounces) plain devil's food cake mix
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 cups buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk, just add 3 tsp. white vinegar to 1 1/2 cups milk)
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmellow creme or 1 1/2 cups mini marshmellows
Chocolate Pan Frosting (recipe below)
1 cup chopped toasted pecans

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly mist a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with vegetable oil spray. Set aside.
2. Place the cake mix, melted butter, buttermilk, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and blend on low speed for 1 minute. Stop and scrape down pan. Then blend on medium about 2 minutes more until the batter is blended and light and fluffy. Pour it into prepared pan.
3. Bake the cake until it springs back when lightly pressed with your finger, about 40 to 42 min. Remove the pan from oven and place on wire rack to cool. Spread the warm cake with the marshellow creme or mini marshmellows.
4. Prepare the chocolate pan frosting.
5. Pour the hot frosting on top of the marshellow creme and spread it out with a spatula so the frosting reaches the edges of the cake. Scatter the top with toasted pecans. Cool the cake for 20 minutes before serving.
Note: To toast pecans, preheat oven to about 325. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet in an even layer, and place in oven for about 5 minutes or so, just until you can smell them and they're not burnt.
This cake can also be stored, covered at room temp. for up to 1 week. Or freeze it, wrapped in foil, for up to 6 months. Thaw the cake on the counter overnight before serving.

Chocolate Pan Frosting:
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) butter
4 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup whole milk
4 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
1. Place the butter in a medium saucepan and melt over low heat, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cocoa powder and milk. Let the mixture come just to a boil, stirring, and then remove the pan from the heat. Stir in confectioner's sugar until the frosting is thickened and smooth.
2. Pour the warm frosting over the top of a cooled cake of your choice, spreading it with a spatula so that it reaches all the sides of the cake. Work quickly because this frosting goes on best while still warm.

PUMPKIN CAKE

PUMPKIN CAKE *(THIS IS YUMMY)
29 OZ. CAN LIBBY BRAND PUMPKIN
4 EGGS
1 CUP OIL
1 2/3 CUP SUGAR MIX TOGETHER
SIFT IN
2 CUPS FLOUR
1 TEAS. BAKING SODA
T TEAS. SALT
2 TEAS. CINNIMIN
2 TEAS BAKING POWDER
MIX WELL POUR INTO BUTTERED SHEET CAKE PAN FOR 30 MINUTES ON 350’

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
8 OZ. Soft Cream Cheese
1 Cube Butter
1 lb. powdered sugar
2 teas. Vanilla
mix well and spread

COLLEEN'S BROWNIES

COLLEEN’S BROWNIES (These are yummy)

3 SQUARES BLUE BONNET MARGERINE OR BUTTER
3/4 CUP COCOA
MELT TOGETHER
MIX:
5 EGGS
3 CUPS SUGAR
ADD:
2 CUPS FLOUR
3/4 TEAS. SALT
1/2 TEAS. BAKING POWDER
1 1/2 TEAS. VANILLA
ADD MELTED MIXTURE AND
1 CUP CHOCOLATE CHIPS
GREESE AND FLOUR PAN
COOK AT 350’ FOR 30 MINUTES OR TILL DONE
WHILE STILL HOT SPREAD MARSHMALLOW CREAM AND LET COOL BEFORE ADDING FROSTING


FROSTING
MELT 3/4 CUP MARGARINE
2 TBLS. COCOA
2 1/2 CUP POWDERED SUGAR
ADD CANNED MILK
ADD 1 TEAS. VANILLASPREAD OVER MARSHMALLOW CREAM

AUNT COLLEEN'S MARSHMELLOW CAKE

AUNT COLLEEN’S MARSHMELLOW CAKE
2 CUBES MARGERINE
2 CUPS SUGAR
2 CUPS FLOUR
1 TEAS. BAKING POWDER
4 EGGS BEATEN
2 TEAS VANILLA
1/2 TEAS SALT
1 CUP NUTS
1 LARGE BOTTLE OF MARSHMELLOW CREME
MIX TOGETHER BAKE AT 350’ FOR 25 TO 30 MIN.
TAKE CAKE OUT OF THE OVEN AND SPREAD THE MARSHMELLOW CREME ON THE CAKE. AFTER THIS COOLS THEN ADD THE CHOCOLATE FROSTING.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1 CUP MARGERINE
2 1/2 TEAS. COCOA (MELT TOGETHER)
5 TBSP. MILK
ADD POWDERED SUGAR

easy easy cobbler for 1, 2...

1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup quick oats
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup walnuts (optional)

[mix all together (at this point i put in a Ziploc and put what i don't use in the fridge then when i want some cobbler i just take out what i need) take out 1/2 cup of mixture and put in microwave safe bowl cook for 1 minute (bubbly) stir. then get out some fresh or canned peaches (or any fruit you like) and put in bowl microwave for 30 seconds then add topping and micro for 30 more...
voila! yum yum!

Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I got this fabulous recipe out of "Cooking Light." Originally it is for a banana layer cake, but I decided to make cupcakes because I think they're easier, and also, I love the portion control. Plus, they're a lot easier to share and little kids love them! So I will give you the original recipe, but also add that when I made these, I cooked them for about 10-11 minutes (depending on your oven) and I used canned cream cheese frosting, not homemade.

Also, a few tips: if you don't have buttermilk on hand (which I never do) you can fill your measuring cup with normal milk a little less than the 1/2 cup line, and then pour a couple of tsp. or so of vinegar in it til it reaches the 1/2 cup measurement. This will curdle it and voila! Buttermilk. Also, I toast my nuts on a baking sheet in an oven set to about 300-325; toast until brown and you can smell them. To easily toast coconut, spread the coconut on a microwave-safe plate in an even layer, and microwave on high 30 sec. Stop and stir it, then microwave again another 30 seconds. Keep stirring and doing this until your coconut is brown and crunchy, but not burnt.

Cake:
Cooking spray
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1 & 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 & 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
1 large egg
1 cup mashed ripe banana
1/2 cup lowfat buttermilk

Frosting:
2/3 cup (about 5 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar

Remaining ingredients:
2 tbsp. finely chopped pecans, toasted
2 tbsp. flaked sweet coconut, toasted

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. To prepare cake, coat 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray, line the bottoms with wax paper. Coat wax paper with cooking spray.
3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Place granulated sugar, oil, 1 & 1/4 tsp. vanilla, egg whites, and egg in large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until blended. Add banana; beat well. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
4. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on wire racks; remove from pans. Peel off wax paper; cool completely on wire racks.
5. To prepare frosting: place cream cheese, and 1 tsp. vanilla in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Add powdered sugar; beat at low speed until smooth.
6. Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1/2 cup icing, and top with other cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle pecans and coconut over top layer of cake. Store cake loosely in refrigerator. Yield: 16 servings.

Old Fashioned Gingerbread Cake

For Enrichment tonight, I signed up to bring some gingerbread cake. I didn't have a recipe, so I just looked this one up online. And it was pretty good so I thought I'd share! I like it because it's moist and not too sweet, and everyone should already have the ingredients ready to whip up in their pantry (no shopping required.) I sprinkled some powdered sugar on the top, and voila! Nothing says Christmas like Gingerbread.

1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup hot water

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-inch square pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the egg and mix in the molasses.
3. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Blend into the creamed mixture and add the hot water. Pour into prepared pan.
4. Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan before serving.

Yummy Chocolate Truffles

My sister-in-law made these for my family a year or so ago, and I recently tried making them myself. They are easy, but time consuming. I think they're a great treat to bring to your friends for the holidays!

1 pkg. Oreo's (you can also use mint creme oreo's for a chocolate mint flavored truffle)
1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese, softened
1-2 bags chocolate chips. You can use regular, white chocolate, or both!
spinkles-optional

Put all of oreos in a gallon zip lock bag. Crush in to crumbs with a rolling pin, or potato masher.
Combine oreos and soft cream cheese in a large bowl. Mix well (this will take some muscle!)
Refridgerate for atleast 1 hr.
Form into ping pong sized balls and put back in the fridge to become firm
Melt bag of choc chips over the stove using a double broiler
Dip the balls into the chocolate, completly coating them, then transfer to a cookie sheet
Decorate using sprinkles, or melt alternate chocolate chips and drizzle over the top.
Put back in the fridge until ready to eat.

sit and stay awhile apple crisp

{via joy the baker}

bake in an 8×8 baking dish or double the recipe and bake in a 9×13 dish

Filling:


5 to 6 medium-size apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices. (About 7.5 cups)


3 tbsp granulated sugar


1.5 tsp cinnamon



Topping:


1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour


1 1/3 cups lightly packed brown sugar


1/2 tsp ground cinnamon1 stick unsalted butter, well-softened


2/3 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)


1/3 cup quick oats

Preheat the oven to 350. Generously grease an 8×8 baking pan with butter.

Place a layer of apple slices in the bottom of the pan and dust with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Continue layering apples and dusting with cinnamon/sugar until done. Toss the apple mixture until evenly coated in cinnamon sugar. The apples should be just about to the top of the pan (they will cook down).

For the topping, place the flour, brown sugar, nuts, cinnamon and oats in a large bowl and stir well with a wooden spoon. Work the butter into the mixture with your fingertips until evenly distributed. Take one full handful of the topping and toss it into the sugared apple mixture. Spread the rest of the topping evenly over the apples. (I usually end up with a dough-like topping that I just lay on top of the apples).

Bake the crisp in the dish on a baking sheet on the center oven rack until the topping is crunchy and the apples are bubbling, 55-60 minutes.

Serve hot; it’s excellent with vanilla ice cream.

Individual Chocolate Souffle's

Honestly, no joking, these are DELICIOUS! I love to make them when I want a nice, chocolaty, guilty, treat. You will make yourself sick eating these because you won't be able to eat just one.

1/2 cup (1 stick)butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon powdered instant coffee (I used french vanilla and loved it!)
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa1
1/2 teaspoons baking powder

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Grease and sugar eight 6-ounce ramekins. (My friend didn't have ramekins, and used small glass tupperware bowls instead)
In large mixer bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Scald milk. Remove from heat and add powdered coffee, stirring until dissolved.
Stir together flour, cocoa and baking powder. Add alternately with milk mixture to butter mixture. Beat 1 minute on medium.
Divide batter evenly among ramekins.
Place ramekins in 2 8-inch square pans. Pour hot water in bottom of pans to 1/8 inch deep and place pans in oven. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Remove pans from oven and let ramekins stand in water for 5 minutes.
Remove ramekins from water and let cool slightly.
You can serve in dish or invert onto dessert plates.