Chocolate Crackers

I first had these when I was in high school. One of our favorite substitute teachers shared them with my friend and I. We got the recipe and I've been making them for over 20 years. My sister and I love to make them together. I made a pan of them this week and Danny and I ate them all gone in a couple days.



Chocolate Crackers

Melt 2 sticks of butter in small saucepan. Add 1 cup sugar. Boil for 3 minutes. Cover cookie sheet with foil. Spread saltine crackers all over pan in a single layer. Pour butter/sugar mixture over crackers. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle one package of chocolate chips over the top. Let set for a few minutes then spread chocolate over the top. Refrigerate until firm and cold. Break into pieces and enjoy!! Store in fridge.

Zucchini Carrot Cake

I love cooking with zucchini from my Dad's garden in the summer. This is a yummy cake I made last week:

Zucchini Carrot Cake
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup shredded carrots

Preheat oven to 350. Combine dry ingredients. Add oil, eggs, vanilla; mix well. Fold in zucchini and carrots. Pour into greased 9x13 pan and bake for 45 minutes. when cool, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Cream butter and cream cheese. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Fold in nuts.

I love this cake. The icing is so good I could eat it with a spoon. Phoebe liked it too, minus the nuts. I think I might make it as muffins the next time.

Magic Cobbler

The kids and I have been picking blackberries. They love to fill their little buckets up with the berries. One of my favorite ways to eat them is in a cobbler. Here's the one I've been making lots of:

Magic Cobbler
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup milk
2 cups sugar, divided
1 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder (I skip this because I use self-rising flour)
2 cups fruit (blackberries, blueberries, peaches, etc.)

Preheat oven to 350. In 8x11-inch pan (I use 8x8), melt butter. In mixing bowl, combine milk, 1 cup sugar, flour, and baking powder. Pour mixture over melted butter, but do not stir. Spread fruit on top and sprinkle with remaining cup of sugar. Again, do not stir. Bake for 30-40 minutes until fruit is soft and top is golden brown.

Delicious!!!

Favorite cake recipe

This is one of our favorite cakes, especially Danny's. It's very easy and SO good. I made a couple of them over the weekend (one to take to a cookout and one for home). To make one, just bake a devil's food cake (from the box). As soon as it comes out of the oven, poke holes all over the top with a straw. Then pour over a can of condensed milk, then a jar of caramel or butterscotch ice cream topping (either works fine). Let it cool completely, then cover the top with a small container of Cool Whip. Then top with a bag of Heath milk chocolate toffee bits (found with the chocolate chips). You can also crush up Butterfinger candy bars for the topping instead. Refrigerate.

Banana Chip Muffins

These are one of my favorite muffins. Danny and the kids love them too. I've had too many of them today. I went to a Taste of Home Cooking School last night and I'm in the mood to cook (and eat).

Banana Chip Muffins

* 1 1/2 cups flour
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 egg (slightly beaten)
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1 cup chocolate chips
* 3/4 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 bananas)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Combine dry ingredients.

3. Add egg, milk, and oil and stir until blended. Then fold in chocolate chips and mashed banana.

4. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin tins about 2/3 full. Bake 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Pink Princess Smoothie

Chloe has a cookbook called Pink Princess Tea Parties. She also has a fairy cookbook and other tea party cookbooks. She had a tea party birthday one year and it was so fun. Another year she had a fairy party. She's always loved a cup of tea and a scone or a cute little drink and dainty snack. One evening this week she got out the Pink Princess Tea Parties book and wanted to make something for a snack before bed. So, we made the Pink Princess Smoothie. We both drank one and it was yummy. She had one for breakfast the next morning too. I think the next time I'll use another fruit besides the raspberries, or else double the strawberries.

1 1/2 cups orange juice
1 banana, sliced
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen raspberries
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fresh strawberries or raspberries for garnish

Combine all ingredients except fruit for garnish in a blender and mix until smooth and creamy. Pour into pretty glasses and garnish with fresh fruit as desired.

Ritz Delights

These are Danny's favorite Christmas "cookies". Everyone loves them, they are so yummy.

1 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped pecans
1 can condensed milk
Boil until thick, stirring constantly. Spread on Ritz crackers. Bake at 350 for 6 minutes. Cool.

Topping:
3 oz cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter (room temp.)
1 tsp vanilla
Blend with mixer. After cookies cool, put icing on them and top with a pecan half.

Cheese Ball

Here's a yummy, easy recipe for my favorite cheese ball. Great for holiday parties coming up.

Cheese Ball
2 (8oz each) cream cheese, softened
1 oz package of ranch dressing mix
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Mix cream cheese, dressing mix, and cheese with your hands until completely blended together. Roll into a ball, and roll ball in pecans. Serve with crackers.

(Phoebe and I made the cheese ball this morning for a party tomorrow. When I was mixing it up with my hands she said "Mommy making a mess". )