Sunday, December 29, 2013

Ham 'n Noodles

Generic Picture of Ham N Noodles
It's Ham 'n Noodles day!! I haven't had this in ages, at least not made the way we used to make it at home with Mom. This was one of the dishes she had me make for dinner and time it to be ready when she and my dad got home from work. Do you think I could remember that recipe? ... No. So I have been searching the internet for a recipe that looks familiar... and found one today that I'm going to try. I actually found 2 recipes, and was thinking of merging the 2 together, although that doesn't always work for me... We'll have to wait 'n see.  I'll post a pic here after it comes out of the oven and IF it tastes good, I'll even come back and post the recipe!  Check back in a while!
-- Ruth

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

OH Fudge!!

Yup, it's Fudge Season! What? You didn't know there was a "Fudge Season"? Oh, come now... where have you been hiding? Seriously, when Christmas is close, it becomes cookies and candy season and my specialty is Fudge! Lots of varieties too, not JUST chocolate!

I love to experiment with different flavors. So far this year, I have made Chocolate, Peanut butter, Toasted Coconut, Cranberry/White Chocolate, Peppermint, Coffee, and Pumpkin.

Favorite? Well my favorites are the 1st 3 listed above. Toasted coconut is such a nice change from the typical chocolate and peanut butter and I toast the coconut myself. I had a batch I made for sending off to family, and I kept only 3 pieces for myself; ends really. Knowing my resident family doesn't like coconut I figured that was enough for me. However, last night, I found out my husband "accidentally" ate a piece of the coconut, thinking they were nuts of some kind. Apparently he LIKED it, because when I went to the kitchen to snag a piece for myself, it was ALL GONE! Wow... He knows I like coconut and yet he made a trip back to the plate to finish off the last piece. I'd say that's just rude.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

...and then she said....


Check out the awesome cookies I made! That's not very humble, I know, but they just sort of evolved, it's not like I planned them... well, OK, I sort of planned them, but not the way you think. I saw some similar on Pinterest, but when I 'clicked through' on the picture, it never led to a recipe! I think that is fairly rude, if you ask me. So I decided I could figure it out on my own. Thankyouverymuch!! And I guess I did! First, an old recipe I have used for years, to make the cookie part. I made these yummy peanut butter cookies which you could make with your eyes closed. And as it happens, they are also Gluten Free too! Totally unintentional, but it works! (My Gluten intolerant neighbor loved them!)
The recipe is so easy you'll say, "What??" Ok, here it is:

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg

That's IT! See ... I told you! And.. You don't even use a mixer! Just measure out the 1 cup peanut butter, then add 1 cup sugar & the egg. Then stir with a fork til it's all blended.

Then, I used a cookie dough scooper to make sure the balls are evenly sized. Place on the cookie sheet ( I use a silicone baking sheet, but parchment will work nicely also). Using a fork dipped in sugar, I do the criss-cross press into the peanut butter balls for the 'typical' look of peanut butter cookies.

Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes and cool. Makes about 18 cookies, more if you go small. If you make them smaller, you may want to check their progress a bit sooner.

Now for the filling!! This was amazing. In a glass measuring cup, I poured 1 cup chocolate chips and melted them in the microwave, on high for 1 minute.

When it comes out, using a fork, stir like crazy until they are melted. Then add a drizzle, (maybe 2 Tbl) of Sweetened Condensed Milk and about the same of Heavy Whipping Cream plus 1/2 capful of vanilla. All of this should give you quite a fudgy consistency of chocolate. Drop a spoonful onto the top of one cookie and smash it down with another, making the sandwich. Eat. Enjoy!