Show-stoppin S'MORES!

S’MORES (aka a little piece of heaven)

¾ C butter
2/3 C sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
18 whole graham crackers crushed, about 3 cups
½ C flour
½ tsp salt
8 milk chocolate bars, 1 ½ oz. each
3 ½ C. miniature marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in crushed graham crackers, flour, and salt. Reserve 2 ½ C of the graham cracker mixture, and press remaining mixture over bottom of a greased 9x13-inch pan. Arrange chocolate bars, in a single layer, over graham cracker mixture in the pan. Sprinkle with marshmallows. Crumble reserved 2 ½ C of graham mixture over the marshmallows. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack for about 10 minutes. Cut into bars and cool completely.

**I will post a pic when I make them. Got this recipe from my sister in law and it will not let you down if you are a smore lover!

Buttermilk Waffles

Buttermilk Waffles

(Sorry no picture for this one. But these waffles are TDF! and very easy)

2 C flour

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 C buttermilk

4 eggs

1 C vegetable oil

Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Combine buttermilk, eggs and oil. Stir into dry ingredients. Pour batter onto center of waffle iron until it spreads to about 1 inch from edges. Close lid. Bake until steaming almost stops.

BBQ Pork Ribs

It has taken me two months to post these pictures of the most amazing bbq pork ribs ever. Jen made them for our whole family on Father's Day and I've been dreaming about them ever since. She got the recipe from her friend, Amber. I had the camera out that day so I told her I would post the pictures and then she could put the recipe. I will call her tomorrow and tell her the pictures are finally on here...so stay tuned for the to-die-for (and surprisingly easy) recipe.

Cake Mix Cookies

These are super fun and easy to make with kids. My sister-in-law, Stephanie, makes these all the time with her two boys. She brought some to Sunday dinner, made with a cherry-chip cake mix, and I think they are my favorite so far.
1 cake mix, any flavor
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil

*Mix all together and shape into balls. Bake at 375 for 8-9 minutes.
*You can also add nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, or frosting.

Chocolate Truffle Cake

Last week we went up to Utah for a reunion and got to stay with our fabulous Aunt Annette. She is the ultimate hostess and loves to cook and bake for company. This amazing cake was waiting on the kitchen counter for us when we came in late one night.
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 small box chocolate pudding
5 eggs
1 cube butter, melted
16 oz. sour cream
1 bag chocolate chips
*Combine cake mix and pudding mix, then make a well in the middle. Dump in eggs, sour cream and melted butter. Stir really well with a big spoon. Batter is thick. Mix in chocolate chips and stir again. Spray bundt pan with Pam and pour in batter. Bake for 50-55 minutes at 350.
*If you can wait until the next day to eat it (be strong), it is even more moist and delicious.

Quick-n-Easy Pizza

I love this pizza dough recipe because you don't have to let the dough rise. It's quick, easy and tastes great!

Dough:
1 Tbs. or 1 pkg. instant yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. honey
2 Tbs. oil
2 1/2 cups flour (wheat or white)

Mix flour and salt. Dissolve yeast in cup of warm water. Add to flour mixture. Then add rest of ingredients and mix well. Knead 5 to 10 times. Roll out on floured surface. Place on greased pizza pan or cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and top with sauce(I use spaghetti sauce), cheese and desired toppings. Bake another 10 minutes.

Turkey pesto sandwiches

1 loaf cibatta bread

deli-sliced turkey

tomatoes, sliced

pepper jack cheese, sliced

pesto

mayo

*Slice cibatta loaf in half and then into wedges. Mix mayo and pesto until you like the way it tastes. Spread on bread and then layer with turkey, tomato and pepper jack cheese.

Broil in oven until cheese is melted.

Strawberry Cupcakes

Another not-so-great picture of a delightful treat. I blame the pictures on the lighting in my parents' kitchen. Not enough windows near the table. Like I really know. Anyway, this recipe came from this fun blog.

If you are a fan of cjane or NieNie, then you have probably seen this fun blog before.

Cupcake:

16 oz. strawberries, destemmed

4 eggs

1 3/4 cups sugar

1/2 butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

3 cups flour

*Place first four ingredients in blender. Blend until fully pureed. Pour into a large bowl and mix in remaining ingredients. Spoon into cupcake wrappers. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Allow to cool before frosting.

Frosting:

3/4 cups fresh strawberries

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

2 lb. powdered sugar

*Mash up the strawberries in a bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well with hand mixer.