Truly Simple Cookies

Truly Simple Cookies

This is another non-original recipe but the variation is all mine. When I first read this, I didn't believe that anything this simple would work. It does. Yes, there are only THREE ingredients in each of these recipes! The Nutella version is very crispy, sugary, chocolaty. The peanut butter version is going to be a good one to have with ice cream or a glass of ice cold milk.

TRULY SIMPLE COOKIES

1 cup Nutella

1 cup sugar

1 egg

(Yes, that's ALL there is to it!)

Mix the three ingredients, dip in one ounce balls onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 325º for 12-15 minutes. This will make two dozen 3" cookies so leave room for them to spread as they bake. Remove from the oven, cool a few minutes on the cookie sheet and carefully transfer to a cooling rack. These are very fragile until they cool.

Variation: 

Substitute 1 cup peanut butter for the Nutella. These will NOT spread so use the back of a spatula or the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar to flatten them before baking. These will need to bake for a few minutes more--15-20 minutes.  

Chocolate Hazelnut Pretzels

Chocolate Hazelnut Pretzels

Tomorrow is December 1st so it's time to start making Christmas goodies! One of the easiest and tastiest recipes is not an original, but I've adapted it to make it my own. I've seen these treats done with M&M's instead of nuts but I like the crunch. The other thing I like about this recipe is that it takes about 20 minutes to make five dozen treats! The hardest part is unwrapping the Kisses! Make these and you'll hit the bull's eye!

Chocolate Hazelnut Pretzels

60 round pretzels

60 Hershey's Kisses, unwrapped. (I used some milk chocolate and some dark.)

60 whole Hazelnuts.

Put a sheet of parchment paper on a rimmed cookie sheet. Place the Kisses on the paper and drop a pretzel over each Kiss. Keep the pretzels flat on the cookie sheet. Put them in a warm (200º) oven for a few minutes, just to soften the chocolate. 

When the chocolate is soft, remove from the oven and place a nut in the middle of each Kiss. Press down to push the chocolate out to fill the ring. Chill for a few minutes and remove from the parchment paper. Store in an airtight container.

Southwestern Chili

Southwestern Chili

Chili is another one of my standard comfort foods. It's always best the day after it was made, but it's an easy, quick supper to put together after work, too. This one is an adaptation because I didn't have any kidney beans and I didn't have enough black beans to make it with just beans. The corn gives a nice, subtle sweetness to balance the spiciness of the bloody mary mix.

SOUTHWESTERN CHILI

1 lb lean ground beef

2 T minced dried onion or 1 medium onion, minced. 

1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 15 oz can whole kernel corn, drained

1 15 oz can diced tomatoes. (I used fire roasted tomatoes with garlic)

1 32 oz bottle spicy Bloody Mary mix. I recommend Irish Dog if you can get it in your area.

Brown the beef in your soup pot and crumble it as it cooks. When the pink is gone from the burger, add the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer. The longer you simmer it, the more the flavors will marry. Stir occasionally. Serve with fresh veggies and crusty bread. This would also be very good with some shredded cheddar chees on top.

Bacon Cheeseburger Soup in the Crockpot

Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Yesterday it was 70º outside and felt like spring. Today the wind is blowing from the northwest and the weatherman says it could snow tonight! So, cold weather makes me think of soup. I found this today and it's worth sharing. When you're choosing your herbs and spices, make this recipe your own--find the flavors you like and go with them!

BACON CHEESEBURGER SOUP IN THE CROCKPOT

1 pound hamburger

1 pound bacon

1 medium onion, chopped

1 8 ounce package Philadelphia Cooking Cream (I like the Santa Fe Blend for this recipe)

2 pounds shredded frozen hash browns

2 pounds Velveeta Cheese, cubed.

32 ounces Chicken stock

Herbs to your taste. About 3-4 teaspoons total. I like basil and oregano or southwest spices.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Brown the hamburger and bacon. Drain, reserving 2 Tablespoons of the bacon grease. Use the reserved bacon grease to brown the onion

Reserve some bacon for garnish. Put the meat and onion in the crockpot. Add the other ingredients. Choose the herbs according to your taste. Remember that there are a lot of potatoes in this so don't be stingy with the herbs, salt, and pepper. 

Heat on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Garnish with reserved bacon crumbles.

Drunken Bears

Drunken Bears

This is less a recipe and more a "how to" but several people have asked how I do these, so here it is. Disclaimer: These are ONLY for adults and you should partake with caution because they will sneak up behind you and KICK you!

Drunken Bears

Good quality Gummi Bears (Don't use the Swedish Fish or any other Gummi that has a coating.)

Vodka to cover them in a dish.

Use a glass dish, not too big. I used a shot glass the first time I made these. Put as many Gummis as you want to soak into the dish. Cover with Vodka. Cover the dish with plastic wrap--make sure it doesn't touch the vodka. Place in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Drain but keep moist. Enjoy RESPONSIBLY!