Categories
Cookies Desserts Recipes with Pictures

Gingerbread Cookies

Long lost bbuffet contributor, Ellen, here.  A friend gave me the greatest gingerbread cookie recipe.  Rolls and cuts like a charm and tastes fantastic.

3 C. flour
1 C. light brown sugar
1/4 C. corn starch
1 1/2 T. orange rind
1 T. ginger
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 T. molasses
1 T. water
1 egg
1 C.  cold butter, cup into 1 inch pieces

Icing
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2tsp. vanilla
2 T.  milk (add additional milk to reach desired consistency)

  1. Mix flour, sugar, cornstarch, orange rind, ginger, pumpkin pie spice, soda and salt in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Whisk molasses, water and egg in a small bowl; set aside.
  3. Cut butter into flour mixture using a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.
  4. Pour molasses mixture over flour; beat with mixer until dough forms a ball.
  5. Knead 2-3 times until smooth.
  6. Divide in half; wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
  7. Roll dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness.
  8. Cut with cookie cutters, place on baking sheets.
  9. Bake 11-13 minutes in 350 degree oven-cool on wire racks.
  10. Decorate with icing.
Categories
Desserts Recipes with Pictures

Brownie Delight

Got this recipe from my co-worker Steve Milbrandt.  He’s a regular contributor to our work potlucks and has a number of recipes in this blog.   It’s a favorite of mine and many others on the floor.   Thanks Steve!

1 box fudge brownie mix
1 box instant chocolate pudding
16 oz. Cool Whip
1 pk. cream cheese
2 C. powder sugar

  1. Bake and cool fudge brownies per package instructions in a 9×13″ pan
  2. Mix softened cream cheese and powdered sugar
  3. Fold in 8 oz. of Cool Whip to cream cheese and powdered sugar mixture
  4. Spread over cooled brownies
  5. Mix chocolate pudding per package instructions
  6. Spread chocolate pudding over cream cheese/Cool Whip  layer
  7. Spread remaining 8 oz. of Cool Whip over the chocolate pudding layer
  8. OPTIONAL:  Top with nuts, shaved chocolate or any other desirable toppings

Refrigerator a couple hours before serving.

Categories
Candy Desserts Recipes with Pictures

Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge

4 cups white sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
1 (16 ounce) jar peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  1. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, brown sugar, butter and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil for 7 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat; stir in marshmallow creme until well incorporated and melted.
  4. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth; spread in prepared pan.
  5. Let cool before cutting into squares.
Categories
Bars Desserts Pies Recipes with Pictures

Pecan Pie Bars

Got this recipe from my co-worker Carol Robson.   Here are her comments:

This is a really easy recipe to make.  Be sure to use real butter (no substitutes). Debi Fasig (co-worker and contributor to Bartholomew Buffet) said that she likes my pecan pie bars better than hers!!  That’s a HUGE compliment.  As you know, Debi brings in some of the most delectable treats.

3 C. flour
1/2 C. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. (2 sticks butter) – cold

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease bottom and sides of 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pan.  In large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt.  With pastry blender, cut in 1 cup of butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Press firmly and evenly into pan.  Bake 20 minutes.

While crust is baking, mix up the topping:

3 T. butter – melted
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 C. light corn syrup
1 1/2 C. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (Watkins)

2 1/2 C. chopped pecans

In a large bowl, stir (by hand) eggs, corn syrup, sugar, melted butter and vanilla until blended.  Stir in pecan pieces.  Spread evenly over hot crust.  Bake 25 minutes or until set.  Cool slightly before cutting.  Use a plastic knife to cut the bars and they won’t stick to the knife.  Makes 48 servings.

Categories
Chicken Main Dishes Recipes with Pictures

Cheddar Chicken

I tore this recipe out of Real Simple magazine, since I am always looking for something good and easy for dinner. (The fact that I then actually made it is quite impressive, if I do say so myself.) Though it’s not exactly a healthy chicken dish, my kids gave it a 9 out of 10 and a “one hundred HUNDRED” out of 10. Which means they ate it. Which means it’s a winner! The adults loved it, too.

16 buttery crackers (such as Ritz), crushed (about 3/4 C.)
6 oz. sharp Cheddar, grated
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
Kosher salt and pepper
4 – 6 ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 T. unsalted butter, melted

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine the crackers, cheese, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
  • Dip the chicken in the butter, then in the cracker mixture, pressing gently to help it adhere, and place on a foil-lined backing sheet.
  • Sprinkle any remaining cracker mixture on the chicken and drizzle with any remaining butter. Bake until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes.
Categories
Desserts Pastries Recipes with Pictures

Apple Slices

Another recipe from the kitchen of Debi Fasig.  Debi brings some of the most delectable treats into work.  This one, like the others, was simply scrumptious.  Thanks Debi and keep’em coming.

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup butter
2 beaten egg yolks
4 cups slices apples
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 slightly beaten egg white

Combine 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter until crumbs are the size of small peas. Stir in egg yolks.  Divide mixture in half.  Press half over bottom of 10×15” pan.  Combine apples, remaining sugar, flour, and cinnamon.  Arrange over bottom crust.  Crumble remaining dough over apples.  Brush egg white over all.  Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.  Frost with powdered sugar glaze.

Categories
Chicken Pasta Recipes with Pictures

Ellen’s Summer Bruschetta Pasta

My cousin Ellen — an amazing cook and baker — came up with this great recipe this summer. Everyone who had already tried it swore that I would love it and my kids would eat it, and they were right. It really is the perfect summer dish. Fresh basil and garlic are a must (but canned tomatoes make it so easy).

1 12 oz. box bow-tie pasta
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
1/3 C. olive oil
1 6 oz. package Parmesan cheese
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/3 to 1/2 C. basil, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
3-4 Chicken Breasts, cooked and sliced (optional)

Cook pasta according to directions on the box. In a medium bowl, mix together tomatoes, olive oil, cheese, garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Drain pasta and return noodles to pot. Add tomato mixture to pasta and stir over low heat (only takes a minute or two to warm tomatoes). Add sliced grilled or baked chicken breasts and stir.

Categories
Desserts Recipes with Pictures

Caramel Nut Chews

I got this recipe from my co-worker Debi Fasig.  She has supplied our work area with some fabulous food over the years.  Many of which have been added to this recipe blog.   She changed up a portion of the recipe and added some mini M&M’s on a few, but she didn’t like those as much.  So, if you got a sweet tooth these certainly won’t disappoint.  Thanks Debi, I think I’ll go grab another before they’re gone.

1 (14 to 16 oz.) bag caramels
5 T. butter
2 T. water
6 oz. pkg. chow mein noodles
1-1/2 C. dry roasted peanuts
1/2 C. chocolate chips
1/2 C. milk chocolate chips

Melt together caramels and butter and add water.  Stir in chow mein noodles and peanuts. Drop onto well-buttered wax paper.  Melt chocolate chips and drizzle over the top.

NOTE:  When you store these, make sure they are not placed on paper doilies–the cookie will stick to the paper.  I usually store them on greased wax paper in a Tupperware container.

Categories
Cookies Desserts Recipes with Pictures

Chocolate Peanut Buttercup Cookies

Recipe from the kitchen of Heather Czarny.  During the summer of 2010, my sister Chelsey kept telling my friend Heather not to come over unless she brought these cookies. We had them for the first time at my softball banquet freshman year (2004). Finally, with less than a week of summer left, Heather came over and we made Chelsey the cookies she has been waiting for. They were worth the wait.

1 C. Hershey’s semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 squares unsweetened baking chocolate
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. Crisco
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 C. + 2 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
36 Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
1 C. Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips

  • Heat oven: 350 Degrees
  • Combine semi-sweet chocolate chips and unsweetened baking squares in bowl. Melt in microwave.
  • Combine sugar and Crisco in another bowl. Beat in eggs, salt, and vanilla. Add chocolate
  • Stir in flour and baking soda
  • Roll into balls
  • Cook 8-10 minutes
  • Take out and immediately put in Reese’s cups in center of cookie.

Drizzle:
Put the Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips in freezer zip-lock bag and keep in one corner of the bag. Melt in microwave. Cut off part of corner and drizzle over cookies once cookies have cooled. Let dry.

Categories
Bars Desserts Recipes with Pictures

Amish Peanut Butter Swirl Bars

I got this recipe from Jean my co-worker.  She said she found the recipe in the Amish column in the Post Bulletin (Rochester, MN newspaper).   These bars are thicker than your standard bars and each bite is packed with a fantastic peanut butter flavor.   They will not disappoint.

1 C. creamy peanut butter
2/3 C. butter, softened
1 1/2 C. sugar
1 1/2 C. brown sugar
4 eggs
4 tsp. vanilla
2 C. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
12 oz. chocolate chips
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees  and grease 9 x 13″ pan.  Cream peanut butter, butter, and sugars until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Mix til smooth.   Add flour, baking powder, salt. Spoon into greased pan.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake 5 minutes.  Using a butter knife, swirl melted chips through the dough.  Bake 40 more minutes until knife inserted in center comes out clean (some chocolate may stick to the knife).  Cool one hour.  Cut.