We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Ok, recently I was talking to a friend of mine who said her boyfriend's favorite dessert was ice cream. While I do like ice cream, I find that I like my ice cream all doctored up. I have the perfect recipe to spice up an ordinary bowl of creamy heaven!

Ice Cream Pie with Homemade Chocolate Sauce:

Crust:
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
3 cups corn flakes (uncrushed for measuring)
1 cup flaky coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
2 qts of vanilla ice cream (you can use any flavor you want but I think it is best with vanilla)

Mix butter, brown sugar, coconut, pecans and crushed cornflake crumbs together and press into 10" pie plate (reserve 1/4 mixture for top of pie)
Spoon softened ice cream into shell.
Place reserve topping on ice cream (freeze covered)

Chocolate Sauce:

12 oz. package of semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup heavy cream

Melt chocolate with butter; add sugar, vanilla and cream. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes or until dissolved.

Put chocolate in gravy boat or spoon on to each slice of ice cream pie.

ENJOY!

Lemon Heaven

Ok so yesterday I did not post a recipe because I was dealing with ants in the kitchen. I am not just talking a few, but thousands. Where do they all come from? I could have sworn, to date, I have killed a million on my own. Anyway, the weather is better today and it makes me think more like summertime so I have a refreshing lemon pie that is to die for (not really!)

Two Crust Lemon Pie:

You can either prepare a crust (for the top and bottom) uncooked; or buy one (homemade is better).

Place uncooked pie crust in 10" pie plate

Ingredients:
1 medium lemon
1 1/4 cups of granulated sugar
2 tbsp. flour
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 cups of butter
3 eggs (beaten)
1 tsp. lemon rind
1/2 cup water

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Mix together the following:
One and a quarter cups of sugar
2 tbsp. flour
1/8 tsp. salt
Blend in 1/4 cup of soft butter
Add three eggs well beaten (reserve 1 tsp for top of crust)

In a mixer:
Grate 1 tsp. lemon rind from lemon
All lemon meat
1/2 cup of water
Blend well.
Add blended mixture to sugar/butter mixture and beat well so smooth

Fill pie crust and top with remaining uncooked crust
Vent pie and brush with reserved egg wash and sprinkle with granulated sugar

Bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

This pie will be the hit of your next party....

It's Raining Cats and Dogs!

Today is a rainy day here in SoCal! I am not used to this weather. It is days like this that make me want to curl up at home with a good book and a big, hot bowl of chili! Yes, chili!

I have a pretty good and simple recipe that most enjoy - unless you are only an herbivore!

I start with fresh ground chuck (my husband likes to grind his own cuts of meat to make ground beef so I don't usually buy ground beef from the store anymore!)

Chili:
1-1.5 pounds of ground beef
One chopped onion
Two large cans of chili beans
One 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
One large can of whole tomatoes - chopped
1 tsp. salt; 2 tsp. pepper; 1 tsp. season salt (does not have to be exact)
2 Tbsp. chili powder
Half tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. sugar (granulated)

Brown seasoned meat and onion. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili beans, sugar, garlic and chili powder (if you like it spicier, add more chili powder).
Mix and simmer on low for a few hours or all day (best in crock pot!)

My husband likes very spicy foods so I also add some dried chili peppers (broken open with seeds - depending how many you put in, it will be more or less spicy!)

Serve in a bowl with shredded cheddar cheese on top and fresh chopped onions. I also serve it with sliced bread for dipping. It is scrumdiliumptious!

Enjoy....

Artichokes!

Aaah artichokes. When I think of artichokes, I think of Autumn. It is such a wonderous creation. I have a great artichoke dip that will be sure to please even the most picky of pallets.

Hot Artichoke Dip:
One Cup Mayonnaise
One Cup Sour Cream
One Large Can of Artichoke Bottoms (yes, bottoms - drained and copped)
2/3 Cup of shredded parmesan cheese (this is the best part!)
Stir all ingredients together and put in oven-safe dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes (uncovered) until golden brown and bubbly.
*Do not overcook or the dairy will begin to curdle....

Take out of oven and let sit for 10 minutes before digging in. Serve with slices of baguette or crackers. (Baguette is better!!!)

ENJOY. I look forward to your feedback on this dish...

A Baker's Dream

It is a baker's dream to have his/her recipes made and enjoyed by all. I love to bake and especially to know that people are enjoying the "fruits of my labor." I am going to start getting creative and making some baked goods that are not just tasty, but aesthetically pleasing as well! It is now fall so look out for those Autumn goodies!