Pound Cake

With eggs from our chickens and butter bought on sale months agao, from the freezer, I talked myself into believing this was a frugal thing to do today :)

I'm SO gullible! 

More amazing than my conversations with myself are how many slices of pound cake that teenage boys can eat - at one time! 

Kemmie ate 2 like the one below and the third piece was 2 1/2 times the size of the one below.

I finally said, "Don't touch the cake and stay out of the kitchen! ...Except to do the dishes...you may go do that now." :)

Perfect topped with my old-fashioned, home-canned blueberries in sugar-syrup.

Homemade Pound Cake

6 large eggs
1 cup of softened butter
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 t vanilla
1 cup heavy cream
3 cups plain flour
1/4 t baking powder

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and blend until smooth. Sprinkle in the baking powder. Alternate the cream and flour, adding gradually until well-blended and smooth.

Bake in greased tube pan at 325 for 1 hour and 10 to 20 minutes or until it passes the toothpick test.


Luke 11:11-13  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Baking in Picture, Today....

Brownie Bites

Sour Cream Poppy Seed Muffins (I usually use yogurt.)

My All-Time-Favorite Banana Nut Muffins

In addition:

Pumpkin Breads

Mock Maple-Nut Poppycock

The first time I heard the word 'poppycock', was out of the mouth of my boys' great-grandmother. She used it as a slang word for- "you're full of it". (And she just might have said that too!) If she thought someone was giving her an incredulous story, no matter how serious they might have seemed, she would turn around while waving her hand at them and say with a scowl; 

"Oh poppycock!" 

Well, come to find out, the word means; nonsense or senseless chatter.

How on earth the word became associated with candied popcorn is a mystery to me ...but I would love to hear her say that again and she probably would if I told her you could MAKE homemade poppycock!

She was spunky.

 Mock Maple-Nut Poppycock

9 quarts of plain popped corn (sift our kernels)

3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed

1/3 cup real maple syrup

1/2 t vanilla

1/2 t maple flavoring

dash of salt

2/3 cup pecan pieces (or more)

3/4 t baking soda

Preheat oven to 250.

Pour popcorn and pecans in buttered, lipped baking  pan.

In saucepan, melt butter and stir in; brown sugar, syrup, flavorings, and salt.

Stir until butter is melted and mixture reaches 250 degrees.

Remove from heat, whisk in soda.

Pour over popcorn and toss.

Bake for 25 minutes, tossing a couple of times.

You will want to remove from pan quickly, once baked, to avoid sticking.

Cool and store in air-tight containers.

Luke 6:1  And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

Caramel Popcorn (without HFCS)

This is a yummy treat that works well as a pack-n-go.

It has a rich flavor but a light and crisp texture.

And- it's hard to stop eating :)

Caramel Popcorn

4 quarts popped corn

1 cup butter

2 cups brown sugar

1/3 cup honey

1/2 t vanilla

dash of salt

1/2 t baking soda

Heat oven to 250.

Place popcorn on buttered pan (with sides).

Melt butter in pot, medium heat, and add sugar, honey, vanilla, and salt.

Whisk and heat to boiling. (250 degrees)

(When the sugar syrup is close, stick your pan of popcorn in the oven to warm it so the sugar won't cool too quickly when you pour it over it.)

Remove sugar syrup from heat and whisk in the baking soda.

Pour over popcorn and gently stir until corn is well coated.

Bake for 25 minutes, stirring 2 or 3 times to coat well.

Cool and store in air tight containers.

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Psa 65:13  The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

Peanut Butter Candy Bars

Got basic pantry items?

Then you can make-your-own candy bar and have a super sweet treat!

These should have been cut in half-of-what-you-see size (and perhaps a larger pan so they wouldn't be quite as thick)...but....

Kemmie cut them, and teenage boys see things -differently.

You know- sorta like when he looks at his hair and thinks "cool" and I look at his hair and think "h a i r c u t!"

I looked and tasted these bars and thought "bite size" and he looked at them and thought "man size!"

Oh well- at least we see eye to eye on how yummy they are! :)

Peanut Butter Candy Bars

1 2/3 graham cracker crumbs*

3 cups powdered sugar 

1 cup peanut butter

3/4 cup melted butter

1 cup chocolate chips

Mix crumbs, sugar, and peanut putter. Pour melted butter over mixture and stir well. 

Press into sprayed or buttered baking pan.**

Melt chocolate chips and spread over peanut butter mixture. 

Cool completely before slicing.

*Keep it more frugal and make your own crumbs from graham crackers!

**I used an 8x8 but should have used an 9x9 or 9x10.

You can also cool them in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes.

Gen 43:11  ... take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds...

Quick "Mock" Eggnog

For a treat tonight, I mixed up a quick batch of one of my kids' favorite treats this time of year. 

 

Quick "Mock" Eggnog

-1/2 gallon of milk

-1 box instant vanilla pudding

-1/3 cup sugar

-2 t vanilla

-1/2 t cinnamon

-3/4 t nutmeg

-1/2 t rum flavoring (opt)

Mix 1 cup of milk with remaining ingredients with a whisk. 

Blend in remaining milk. 

Easy-peasy!

I'm sure they'll be asking for Eggnog Pudding soon too!

Heb 13:5 ... be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Cocoa Powder Brownies/Recipe for Pantry Brownie Mix

 I've been pretty good about keeping my sweet tooth (uhm, that would be teeth, certainly plural) in check but sometimes chocolate, in the form of brownies, is ...well....healing therapy!

This recipe makes a 9x13 or 12 muffin-sized brownies.

You can also premix all of the dry ingredients and store in jars or bags in your pantry for your own, frugal brownie mix!

Great convenience food! 

(Isn't anytime a convenient time to eat brownies?.. Is it a little too late to try to convince you that I really made these for the kids?)

1 cup of all purpose flour

2/3 cup cocoa powder

1/2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

4 eggs

1 t vanilla

*opt: 1/2 cup walnuts + 1/2 cup chocolate chips 

(the more chocolate the merrier!)

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Make a well in the center for wet ingredients and gradually blend into the flour mixture. (If using the nuts and choc chips, add them to the dry ingredients first.)

Spread in sprayed 9x13 or muffin tins. 

Bake at 350 for 22 to 25 minutes.

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Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Crispy Triple Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles

These are a great snack, with a good serving of protein, no added sugar, and lightly sweetened with honey.

You can also make them in minutes, as they're no-bake!

(My gluten-free friends, this might even be something you could use!)

1 cup natural crunchy peanut butter

1/3 cup honey

2 cups crisp rice cereal (like rice crispies)

1/3 cup cocoa

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Separate 2T of cocoa and sprinkle across a small plate.

Mix honey, peanut butter, and remaining cocoa.

Gently stir in crisp rice.

Roll into balls, then in the cocoa on the plate.

Place on tray or cookie sheet.

Place chocolate chips in small sandwich bag and microwave for 10 seconds at a time until all are melted.

 Drizzle over truffles.

Chill, if you like, to set the chocolate.

Makes about 3 dozen.
*Note: These are NOT a super sweet treat. They are mildly sweet, so you may wish to add more sugar or even honey.

This post is linked to:Natural Mother's Network

Apple-Cinnamon-Raisin Baked Pancake

Baked Pancakes are great for breakfast, but they also make a great snack for starving teen boys who need more protein and less sugar :)

This recipe has very little sugar and can be eaten plain or with syrup, honey, powdered sugar, fruit sauces, jams, or just about anything. 

These puff up similar to popovers, then deflate slightly, as you can see by the bottom picture. This recipe is similar in taste to French Toast.

Apple-Cinnamon-Raisin Baked Pancake

1 large apple, cored and sliced thinly

1/3 cup raisins (can omit)

2 1/2 T brown sugar

1/2 t cinnamon

4 eggs

2/3 cup milk

2/3 cup wheat flour (can use spelt or all-purpose or other)

2 T melted butter

Preheat oven to 350. 

Spray a glass pie plate.

Place sliced apples in plate. Sprinkle on the raisins, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Bake 15 minutes until apples are tender.

Increase oven temp to 450.

Whisk eggs, milk, flour, and melted butter together.

Pour batter over apples and bake for 15 minutes.

The sides will puff up and deflate slightly as the pancake cools.

Look at those pretty sides! So cool and rustic looking :)

Notice the sides deflate slightly as it cools.

The children ate this for a snack with just a drizzle of maple syrup.Yum!

Quick Pretzels:

We didn't make Santa cookies today, but we did make him some pretzels! :)

If you need a good snack and don't have time for a yeast dough, these may do the trick.

The dough isn't quite as easy to shape as yeast dough but they are quite tasty.

You can also use the flour of your choice. I used spelt.

2 cups flour

2 t baking powder

1 t sugar

1/ 2 t salt

2/3 cup milk

2 T melted butter

2 eggs (one for the wash)

coarse sea salt (or other)

(extra flour for rolling and shaping)

Mix dry ingredients. Make a well in the center and beat one egg into the milk. Stir dough, gradually pouring in the melted butter.

Knead dough (lightly) on floured surface. Divide into 16 pieces.

 Shape and place on lightly greased baking sheet.

Brush pretzels with beaten egg. Sprinkle with salt.

Bake at 400 for approx 17 minutes.

Serve with mustard!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Bar Cookies

Cream together:

2 sticks of butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 t vanilla

Blend in:

1/2 t salt

2 t baking soda

3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

Lastly, work in:

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Spread on buttered, lipped 12x17 cookie sheet.

Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown.

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This post is linked to -Show and Tell Saturday
Young and Crafty

Easy Ice Cream Sandwiches

Using leftover homemade vanilla pudding and a few graham crackers, I was able to make these for dessert in just a few seconds today.

Place your graham crackers on a pan, top with a dollop of chilled pudding, top with another graham cracker, and freeze for a couple of hours. 

Yummy!
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This post is linked to Frugal Fridays

Whole Wheat Double Chocolate Muffins

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup cocoa
2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 1/2 cup buttermilk or kefir
1/4 cup oil
1 egg
1/2 cup cane sugar*

1/3 cup chocolate chips (or more)

Mix dry ingredients. Then wet, just until blended. Fold in chocolate chips last.

Bake at 375 15  minutes.

*These are mildly sweet, like plain cake. You may want to add 1/4 cup more sugar or so. 

 Isa 40:8  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Chocolate Granola

5 cups quick oats

1/2 cup cocoa

3/4 cup honey

1/2 cup butter 

1 t vanilla 

1/4 brown sugar

1/2 t salt

Mix oats, salt, and cocoa in large bowl. At low temp, melt butter. Remove from heat and stir in; honey, vanilla, and brown sugar. Pour over oat mixture and stir until coated. Spread on buttered baking sheet. Bake at 350 for approx. 25 minutes. Stir occasionally so the edges do not get too dark. Cool and store in an airtight container. 

Great with milk! 

It even turns your milk chocolatey :)

Also a great snack or topping for yogurt, ice cream, and even muffins!

Psa 34:8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

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This post is linked to: Tiny Tip Tuesday, 
Chef in Training,
Tip Junkie ,
NaturalMothersNetwork 
We Are That Family 
Somewhat Simple 
Thrifty 101

Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Rolls with Hot Fudge Sauce

You know a gal has serious chocolate-sugar addiction issues when she bakes things like this, don't you? Could I offer an excuse? See- I normally make homemade pizza on Friday nights- and I was out of cheese- so this was really an attempt (Scout's honor, and fingers crossed ;-) to appease my family! ...Perhaps you would have believed me if I hadn't used DARK cocoa in this recipe? ...But there is SOME truth to my 'excuse' for this recipe :-) Honest!

Dough:

2 cups lukewarm water

1 cup cane sugar

1/2 cup melted butter, 1 stick

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 T yeast

2 eggs, well beaten

1/4 cup dark cocoa (can use regular)

8 cup soft whole wheat flour (approx)**

1 cup unbleached flour (approx)

Filling:

1/4 cup melted butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar (approx)

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

(*opt. chopped nuts)

Mix water, yeast, salt, sugar, and butter. Mix in half of the wheat flour, cocoa, and the eggs. Continue to add wheat flour gradually. 

Use the unbleached flour to knead dough by hand until it is pliable. 

Roll out half of the dough at a time in a large rectangle.

Spread melted butter over the dough, along with the brown sugar and chocolate chips. Roll up, longways. Slice. (I prefer to slice with dental floss for a nice clean cut.)

Place in 9x13 sprayed dish.

(This will make 2 to 2 1/2 pans of rolls.)

Allow to rise until doubled.

Bake at 350 for approx.  24 minutes.

Dh asked for a nut on his :)

Hot Fudge Sauce

1 cup sugar

2 T plain flour

1/3 cup (dark) cocoa

1 cup milk

3 T butter

2t vanilla

Pour milk, butter, and vanilla into a small pot and heat until the butter is melted.

In a bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together and add to milk mixture. Whisk until smooth.

Heat to a boil, whisking constantly. Boil for 3 minutes until thickened. 

Drizzle over baked rolls.

*Can double and store in the refrigerator to use later for ice cream!

*You can freeze these and thaw for single serve. I think I'll hide myself a few in the freezer :) 

**If you use regular whole wheat, I recommend using 1/2 unbleached or plain white flour to keep them from being too heavy.

Chess Cake

These are exactly like Quick Cream Cheese Bars, except for one ingredient that makes them totally sophisticated!

Pecans!

This is another recipe that was handed down to me years ago and I bet many of you have had them that are like the other recipe, but I wonder if any of you have had them this way...

1 box yellow cake mix

1 stick melted butter

1 cup chopped pecans

1 egg

Mix together and press into sprayed 9X13.

1 8oz pkg cream cheese

2 eggs 

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Mix together and pour on top of the cake mixture.

Bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes.

Mississippi Mud Pie

If you're looking for chocolate, richness, and lots of sugar- this is your lucky day!

This dessert is super-sweet and perfect for a special occasion.

Even though it's called "pie", it is really more like a brownie-cake.

The texture of the cake itself will remind you of a Little Debbie Brownie. The icing is like the chocolate glaze on a doughnut. And- there's the hidden pecans and the marshmallows!

I'm not the biggest marshmallow fan, but I must admit, when they are gooey and covered in chocolate, I can more than tolerate them ;-)

(This recipe is not an original, it was passed down to me years ago and is quite popular here in the south.)

MISSISSIPPI MUD PIE

2 sticks of butter*

1/2 cup cocoa

2 cups sugar

4 eggs 

1 1/2 cups plain flour

pinch of salt

1 t vanilla

1 cup chopped nuts

Melt butter and cocoa over low heat (or in microwave). Add well-beaten eggs and sugar. Stir in flour, salt, vanilla, and nuts. Bake in sprayed 9X13 for 25 to 30 minutes at 325.

TOPPINGS

1/2 stick of butter

1/3 cup cocoa

4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup milk

2 cups miniature marshmallows

Mix ingredients for the topping (except for marshmallows) and cook over low heat until the powdered sugar and butter are melted. Immediately upon removing pie from oven, cover with marshmallows. The pour on the topping.

I recommend allowing this to cool and 'set-up' before slicing.

*I used 1 1/2 sticks of butter.
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This post is linked to 20BelowThursdays 
Catch a Glimpse Thursdays 
Somewhat Simple 
Thrifty 101

Gooey Cappuccino Bars with Cinnamon Glaze

Bar Mix:

1 1/2 cups mock Bisquick*

1 cup of brown sugar

1/4 cup sliced almonds

3 T melted butter

1/2 cup cooled, brewed coffee

2 1/2 T instant coffee

1 egg

Glaze:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 t cinnamon

approx. 2 T milk

Dissolve instant coffee in the cooled coffee. Mix all bar ingredients and spread in sprayed 9X13. Bake for 20 minutes until set and edges are golden.

Mix glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over bars while still warm.

*mock Bisquick at bottom of this post

Candied Maple Pecans

To me, pecans are sweet and great, all on their own! But for a nice treat or an addition to granola, cereal, porridge, cookies, breads, and even ice cream- these rock!

They're also really quick and easy to make!

2 1/2 cups pecans

2 T butter

1/2 (or more)* real maple syrup

Melt butter in a cast iron skillet. Toss in pecans. Stir until coated well with butter. Pour in maple syrup and continue to heat and stir until syrup has made a glaze on the nuts and is no longer puddled in the pan.

Spread out on light colored cookie sheet. Bake at 300 until the glaze is dry and set, stirring every 4 or 5 minutes; about 15 to 20 minutes total.

Allow to cool before storing.

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Tips:

Use different nuts-almonds are cheaper.

Use about 3/4 cup syrup for a sweeter nut. 

Kick up with cinnamon or other spices.

Longer toasted will make a more crispy glaze.

***

I used these in Homemade Butter Pecan Ice Cream.

This post is linked to: Raising Homemakers

                                   Things I Love Thursdays 

Somewhat Simple 
Delightful Order 
Nature's Nurture Blog

Chocolate Cheesecake Balls

 I love to come up with recipes for quick-fix desserts that I can prepare while supper is cooking, even if I only have minutes to spare.

1 8 oz package cream cheese at room temp

5 T butter at room temp

1/3 cup cane sugar (or white)

1/4 cup cocoa powder

5 large graham crackers, crumbed

Cream butter, cream cheese, and cane sugar until very smooth. Blend in cocoa powder. Drop by spoonfuls into the graham cracker crumbs and roll around until coated. Chill until set and thoroughly cold.

Linked to:
Chef In Training 
A Bowl Full of Lemons 
Today's Creative Blog 
What's Cooking Love