Baked Beans

Hello friends! I've missed you! Sorry that it's been so long since I've written. Here's the thing: I'm 13 weeks pregnant and food is just not appealing to me right now. But, today I had a hankering for some baked beans so I whipped these up for dinner. This recipe comes from my mother-in-law Sandy. The first time she made these baked beans, I begged for the recipe, and I've never gone back. I know there are some kind of strange ingredients in this recipe, but trust me, these are delicious. Enjoy!

Baked Beans

4 small (or 2 large) cans Pork & Beans
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 pound bacon, diced
1/3 cup molasses
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 Tb yellow mustard
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. parsley flakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook bacon & onion in large skilled. Drain.
3. In large casserole dish or 9 x 13 pan combine all ingredients. Mix well. Cover with tinfoil.
4. Bake for 1 hour. Remove foil and bake for another 30 minutes.

Lemon Fruit Salad

Let's just say this. This is my very favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. I love it. Can't get enough of it. And look forward to it all year long. It's a classic from my Aunt Mary. Make it. Enjoy it. Love it. Come back for more. Sorry about the horrible pictures...just know it's amazing.

Lemon Fruit Salad

1 can lemon pie filling
1 8 oz. package cool whip
1 lb. strawberries, sliced
3 bananas, sliced
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks
2 cups miniature marshmallows

Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to serve, not more than 12 hours. Enjoy!

Philly Steak Sandwiches

It's rare that I make steak, so if I'm going to take the time to make it I want it to be good. Juicy. Delicious. And worth my time. I was craving Philly steak sandwiches the other day and decided to whip these up. They turned out fantastic. I topped mine with some homemade pickled peppers that my sister brought me and in my own humble opinion it made them even better. Yum.


Philly Steak Sandwiches
makes 4 sandwiches

1 lb. good quality steak
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. chipotle chili powder
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. onion powder

1 Tb. vegetable oil
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
2 Tb. soy sauce
1 Tb. Worcestershire sauce
1 red or green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 Anaheim pepper, seeds removed and thinly sliced (optional, if you want it spicier)

4 hoagie rolls
1 cup sliced sharp white cheddar cheese

1. Combine spices. Rub evenly into steak. Grill over medium-high heat until medium (140 degrees F on thermometer), about 8-10 minutes on each side, depending on thickness. Remove steak from grill, set aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and peppers. Saute for 5 minutes. Slice steak thinly on the bias. Add to skillet, along with barbecue sauce, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook 2-3 more minutes, until heated through.
3. Fill hoagie rolls with steak/pepper mixture. Top with cheese. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

My husband hates zucchini. I love zucchini. Just not enough to eat the 2 foot long zucchini that my parents sent home with me all by myself. In trying to figure out just how to make that big zucchini disappear, I stumbled upon a delicious sounding recipe on Our Best Bites. Below is the recipe, with a few adaptations. I have to say, it was wonderful! Corey devoured it, and that is saying something considering it has zucchini in it! It is perfectly moist and has a nice balance between the chocolate and cinnamon. If you don't like chocolate and cinnamon together, feel free to leave the cinnamon out.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Bread:
2 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
6 Tb. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 Tb. vanilla
1/2 c. sour cream
2 c. very finely shredded zucchini
1/2 cup applesauce
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecans (optional)

Topping:
2 Tb. brown sugar
2 Tb. white sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 large (8-9") loaf pans or 5 miniature (4") loaf pans with cooking spray.
2. Beat oil, sugars, and eggs for 1 - 2 minutes or until well combined and slightly fluffy. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix.
3. Stir in zucchini, making sure that it is well incorporated throughout the batter.
4. Add flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and cocoa powder. Mix until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired.
5. Divide batter evenly among pans. Combine topping ingredients in a separate bowl and sprinkle evenly over the top of the batter.
6. Bake for 40 - 45 minutes (miniature pans) or 50 - 60 minutes (large pans). Cool 2 minutes, then invert onto cooling rack to cool completely. Serve warm with a glass of cold milk!

5 Ingredient Mini Peach Cobblers

I had some fresh peaches from my parent's peach tree (the best peaches I've ever eaten in my life--no joke) a couple of days ago and wanted something quick and easy to make with them. This consists of whatever I had lying around...but it was delicious. It took less than 5 minutes to throw together, 25 minutes to bake, and that was it! Plus, it only has 5 ingredients. You can't beat that.


5 Ingredient Mini Peach Cobblers

3 fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
4 tsp. white sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup yellow cake mix (dry)
4 Tb. butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 4 small ramekins on a baking sheet.
2. Divide peaches evenly between ramekins. Sprinkle 1 tsp. sugar and 1/8 tsp. cinnamon over peaches in each ramekin. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cake mix over peaches in each ramekin. Drizzle with 1 Tb. butter over each ramekin.
3. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until top is lightly browned and peaches are bubbly. Serve warm (it is best with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream).

S'mores Brownies

I saw these brownies over on Real Mom Kitchen last month and haven't been able to stop thinking about them since. I decided to whip them up to take to some co-workers to say "thank you." I wanted something quick & easy but that looked impressive and was delicious. These definitely fit the bill.

S'mores Brownies

1 pkg. brownie mix (for 9 x 13 pan)
1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow creme
8 fun-size Hershey's milk chocolate bars (1 pkg.), coarsely chopped
5 graham crackers, coarsely chopped

1. Prepare brownies according to directions on package for cake-like brownies. Bake in 9 x 13 pan. Cool 5 - 10 minutes.
2. Spoon marshmallow creme over warm brownies. Let sit for 2 - 3 minutes and spread evenly over top of brownies. Sprinkle with chocolate and graham crackers. Cool completely and cut into 24 bars.

Peanut Butter Fingers

A perfect back-to-school snack. Did you ever have these with your school lunches? I think it's the only way the school ever got people to eat lunch on fish stick day. It worked for me! These are super quick and easy and delicious. Every time I make them they literally fly off the plate. Enjoy! And make sure you have a nice tall glass of milk on hand, and plenty of people to share these with because they are addictive!


Peanut Butter Fingers

Bars
1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
2 cups oatmeal
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Frosting
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp. vanilla
dash salt
2 - 3 Tb. water
3 - 4 cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray jelly-roll pan (half sheet, 13 x 18 inches) with cooking spray.
2. In bowl of large electric mixer cream butter, peanut butter, and sugars until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until incorporated, about 1 minute. Add dry ingredients and mix on low just until all ingredients are incorporated, 1 - 2 minutes.
3. Bake for 12 - 14 minutes, until very light golden brown (it will still look doughy, but you don't want to overcook or they will be dry). Cool completely.
4. In medium bowl, melt butter and chocolate chips in microwave on high for 1 minute, stirring every 20 seconds. Stir until completely melted. Add remaining frosting ingredients, adjusting water and powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached. Spread evenly over bars and cut into squares to serve. Serves 35 - 48.