Chocolate Bliss Cookies

We all know about peanut butter blossoms, the simply delish cookie with the Hershey kiss smack in the middle of it. But, alas, there are many people and kiddies that are allergic to peanut butter and cannot enjoy this cookie. I found an alternative, and a really,really good one herehttp://www.thedragonskitchen.com/2008/12/chocolate-bliss-kisses.html. The idea is the same but the cookie is shortbread based, so VOILA, no allergy problems. These are so good. I love anything shortbread. My kids love them and they are quick enough to throw together as a last minute something to bring to someones house.

Chocolate Bliss Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups flour

36 hershey kisses, unwrapped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 3225.

Cream butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.

Sift flour and salt together. Add to butter mixture. Mix until dough forms.

Scoop dough and shape into 1 inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on your parchmant lined baking sheet.

Bake for 12-14 minutes, just until set and bottoms begin to turn a light golden brown. Remove baking tray from the oven and IMMEDIATELY top each cookie with a Hershey kiss, pressing down lightly.

Cool cookies on the tray for 2 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Try and keep yourself from eating them. No can do here.

I have to tell you that I undercook these by a minute or so, I like soft cookies and these are really delicious when they are soft. I believe in the original post, these were referred to as nipple cookies, by her friends. lol. I can see why. But I will just call then awesome and something I love to serve when we are gathered around the table. Try them for Easter, you will love them, and no allergy worries.

Fastest,Yummiest Chocolate Chip Banana Cake ever

This cake is a lifesaver. As long as you happen to have bananas around, you can make this and be a rockstar in your house. So fast and easy to throw together and that does not mean it doesn't taste good. It is super delish and has great banana flavor, which I was worried it wouldn't. This recipe comes from herehttp://http//www.food.com/recipe/cake-mix-banana-bread-340915 I made this because my daughter loves bananas and chocolate chips and I had the ingredients, so what the hell, let's make it. The original recipe calls this a bread but it is not, it is more cake like and that is the way it should be.

Chocolate Chip Banana Cake

1 box yellow cake mix

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

3-5 mashed bananas, I used 4

1 cup chocolate chips, dusted with flour to keep from sinking

Preheat oven to 350.

Grease 9x13 pan or you can use a Bundt, whatever works for you.

Mix all ingredients until well blended and pour into pan.

Bake 30-35 minutes for 9x13 and 45 minutes for Bundt.

Place on cooling rack for 10 minutes before removing from the pan and cooling completely.

Maybe dust with a little powdered sugar, just to be fancy, if fancy is what you like.

This picture stinks.

This one is a little better. You will have to forgive me, I got a fancy new camera for xmas and am still trying to figure it out. This is a great cake to turn to when you are in a hurry or if you have those extra bananas that are turning black on your counter. It really does not taste like it came out of a box. It will be our secret. Pinky swear??

Chocolate Chip Coffe Cake

I know, I know, everyone has that go to coffe cake. The one where you don't know what to bring and end up inevitably bringing the same old coffee cake. Well, cheer up, I have a new one. One that is soo good. I found it at :

http://http//danatreat.com/2009/03/crowd-pleasing-cake/. It is very easy to make and I made mine in a bundt pan and it was so pretty. See:

What makes this cake special is the streusel topping. It has a little bit of a different twist to it and that is what makes it so good. I brought this to work and it was inhaled. So I want to share.

Yum! Check out the streusel topping, up close. Just add milk.

Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

Cake:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, room temp

1 cup sour cream

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup choc chips, dusted with flour, to keep them from sinking

Preheat oven to 350.

Grease your bundt pan or tube pan.

Beat sugar and butter at medium speed until lightened in color and well combined.

Add eggs,vanilla and sour cream.

Beat until well mixed.

Add flour,baking soda,baking powder and salt.

Mix until just combined.

Stir in Chocolate chips.

Scrape batter into your pan.

Streusel topping

ingredients:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup butter,chilled and cut into small pieces

1 1/2 tsp cocoa

1/2 cup choc chips

Combine flour,brown sugar,cinnamon and cocoa.

Using 2 knives,pastry cutter, or your fingers(which I did), cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

stir in choc chips.

Sprinkle on top of batter. Use ALL of it. Trust me, you will regret it if you don't.

Bake 50-60 minutes. Place on a rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.

Then watch and listen as everyone ooh's and ahh's your new coffee cake. I think the cocoa in the topping makes this cake stand out from all others. It is very moist and just really,really good.

With Easter right around the corner, this would be perfect for brunch or to bring as a hostess gift to whoever's house you are going to. Just be prepared to say "your welcome" alot. There will be plenty of thank you's.

stewed sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is a staple in a Polish home. Being half Polish, myself, I love sauerkraut. My mom used to make it in the frying pan with onions and lots of butter and that was good. My cousin Bobby has just shared his recipe for stewed sauerkraut and it is out of this world. Most anything that starts with bacon and ends with beer has to be good. So let's get started.









Stewed Sauerkraut



1 28oz can sauerkraut,drained well

1 onion,chopped

3 slices of bacon, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces

1/4 cup canola oil

1 can beer

1/4 tsp paprika

1 tsp caraway seeds ( I did not use)

salt and pepper



Directions:



Drain sauerkraut.

Fry bacon until crispy, remove from the pan and discard fat.

Add 1/3 cup canola oil ,onion ,paprika , caraway seeds, if using them, salt and pepper.

Mix and saute for 10 minutes.

Add bacon and 1 bottle/can of beer.

Let simmer for 1/2 hour with the lid off, then cover and simmer 15 more minutes.

The flavor is really amazing and tastes so good on hot dogs. Or add cut up kielbasa to the sauerkraut and serve with Rye bread.

Authentic Polish stewed sauerkraut, try it, you will love it!

Welcome to my new Blog and enjoy my Irish Soda Bread

Some of you may remember me, some of you don't know me, but I am formerly of http://http//keeperworthyrecipes.blogspot.com/. I blogged for awhile and then, honestly, life just got in the way. Instead of going back to that blog I have started a fresh, new one. It is still a work in progress but I am going to do my best to keep up with this one.



My first post up is my Irish Soda Bread. I figured about this time some of you may be searching for a foolproof and delish recipe for it, with St Patty's day fast approaching. This a a combo of many different recipes, so now it is my own..lol. It is so good warm with butter or just plain .






Irish Soda Bread:

Preheat oven to 350.

MIX DRY INGREDIENTS


3 1/2 cups flour

4 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

8 oz rasins, soak in hot water and drain

1/2 tsp salt

MIX WET INGREDIENTS


2 eggs,beaten

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup buttermilk

3 tbsps melted margarine


COMBINE wet and dry ingredients, knead together


Add to greased,floured 9 inch pan. Cut an "X" in the top.

Bake 55-60 minutes at 350.

Enjoy!!!!



The top is nice and crunchy.



The inside is very moist!!!

Just yummy and will definately fit in with your corned beef and cabbage.

Hope you will follow along on my new journey to see what we will be eating when we are gathered around the table.