Cinnamon Streusel Cake

This is a very simple and very rich cake that is perfect if you are looking for something besides the usual cookies or brownies. I got this recipe from my mother-in-law.  My kids call it the "cinnamon roll cake" because it reminds them of cinnamon rolls.  It is super yummy!

Cinnamon Streusel Cake:

Ingredients:
CAKE:
1 box yellow cake mix
1 box instant vanilla pudding
1/4 cup flour
3 tablespoons oil
1-1/2 cups water
2 eggs
STREUSEL:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons melted butter
GLAZE:
1-1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons softened butter


Directions:
1.  Stir cake mix, pudding mix, and flour together until blended.  Add oil, water, and eggs.  Beat on slow speed for 30 seconds, then medium speed for 2 minutes.
2.  To make the streusel mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter until well blended.
3.  Pour half the batter into a greased and floured bundt pan.  Sprinkle half the streusel over the batter.  Pour in the rest of the cake batter and top with remaining streusel.
4.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until cooked through.  Remove cake from pan and drizzle the glaze over the top while still warm.

5.  To make the glaze mix the powdered sugar, milk, butter, and vanilla until smooth. 

Cream Cheese Alfredo Sauce

Publish Post

I have always made my alfredo sauce with cream or half-and-half.  Then one day I just HAD to have alfredo for dinner and I didn't have any cream and I didn't have time to go to the store.  What was a girl to do??  Then I remembered this recipe I saw a while back that uses cream cheese for the alfredo sauce and I decided to give it a try.  It was surprisingly good.  It was a very creamy sauce and it tasted great.  The trick is making sure you add enough Parmesan cheese, otherwise it just tastes like cream cheese. 

Cream Cheese Alfredo Sauce:

Ingredients:
1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened and cut in cubes
1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 tsp minced garlic
1-1/2 cups milk
6 oz grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:
1.  Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. 
2.  Add cream cheese and garlic, stirring with wire whisk until smooth. 
3.  Stir in Parmesan and pepper.  (It will be thick)
4.  Add milk, a little at a time, whisking quickly to smooth out lumps. 
5.  Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency. Toss with hot pasta to serve.  I usually toss mine with fettuccini noodles and sliced grilled chicken!  The sauce will thicken as it cools.  You can also add some oregano or parsley or whatever seasonings you prefer :)

Cookie Bouquets!

Valentine's Day is coming up soon and here is a cute, affordable, and creative gift you can make for someone.  It's really pretty simple and people always love them! It works for any holiday!

Cookie Bouquets:

Cookie Ingredients:
2 cups butter, softened
3 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tbsp vanilla (or 1 tbsp vanilla and 1 tbsp of another flavor)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
6-7 cups flour
bamboo skewers


Directions:
Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Cream butter and sugar in large mixing bowl.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.  Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing well after each addition.  Place dough in the refrigerator for about 3 hours to make it easier to handle.
Roll out dough at least 1/4 inch thick.  Cut with desired cookie-cutter shapes.  Place about 4 cookies on a cookie sheet and insert skewers, pointy end first, about halfway into the cookie.  Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until edges start to turn golden brown.  Cool on the cookie sheet!  If you try to move them before they are cool you will pull the skewer out!
When the cookies are completely cool, remove them from the cookie sheet and decorate with a powdered sugar glaze.

Glaze Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp light corn syrup
2 tsp milk
1/4 tsp vanilla or other flavoring
food coloring

Directions:
 Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.  Ice cookies with glaze to give them a polished and professional look. Decorate as desired.

To make the bouquet:
1.  Wrap each cookie in plastic wrap or use clear treat bags, tying ribbon around the bottom of each cookie.
2.  If you want to use a vase you just need to fill it with decorative rocks to weigh it down.  If you use a basket you need to put rocks in the bottom for weight, place green floral foam on top of the rocks, and then cover the green foam with decorative straw or paper so it looks nice.
3.  Arrange the cookies any way you want, cutting some skewers shorter than others to create a better bouquet look.
4.  Tie a ribbon around the vase or basket to finish it off and you're done!

Beefy Traditional Chili

For some reason cold weather and chili just seem to go together perfectly for me.  There are so many kids of chili and I have 3 different chili recipes that I make so it never gets boring!  This one is my favorite I think because it's one of those "comfort foods" that you always know will turn out great.

Beefy Traditional Chili:

Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground beef
3 cans red kidney beans
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 cans diced tomatoes
3-4 small cans tomato sauce
1 packet of your favorite chili seasoning
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2-1 can diced green chilies
1/4 cup water
grated cheese for garnish, if desired


Directions:
Brown meat in large pot; drain grease.  Add onion and bell pepper and cook until onions are clear and soft.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes or until cooked through.  Serve with grated cheese, if desired.  Goes great with Fritos chips or fresh-baked cornbread!