Monkey Bread! And a Monkey!

I made some pinterest inspired Monkey bread for the first time the other day. It turned out okay. Josh liked it pretty well but I gave it about a 5. I didn't like the taste of the biscuit dough. I may try a different dough next time. The recipe is at the bottom if you're interested though. I made mine without nuts and raisins and would recommend less cloves if any at all.

Monkey bread

• 3 packages (8 Oz. Package) Pillsbury Biscuits, Country Style
• ½ cups Granulated Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon, Ground
• ½ teaspoons Nutmeg, Ground Or Freshly Gated
• ¼ teaspoons Cloves, Ground
• 1 cup Light Brown Sugar
• ¾ cups Butter, Melted
• 1 cup Raisins Or Dried Cranberries (optional)
• 1 cup Walnuts Or Pecans, Chopped (optional)

 Preparation Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare Bundt pan with or cooking spray.  In a plastic baggie, quart-sized or larger, combine granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Take biscuits and cut each in half. Depending on the size of the baking pan, up to 4 rolls may be required. Place biscuits, several at a time, into the baggie and coat in the sugar and spice mixture. Start by placing sugared biscuits into the baking pan in a single layer. Sprinkle raisins and nuts between and on top of the biscuits. Repeat the process with remaining biscuits. 

In a medium mixing bowl, combine brown sugar and remaining sugar-spice mixture. In a microwave-safe bowl or cup, melt butter. Pour butter into the bowl of sugar. Mix until well incorporated. Pour butter and sugar mixture over the top of the biscuits, covering the top layer completely. Place in the oven and bake for 28-32 minutes. When done baking, the top layer should be browned and have a crispy topping. Remove from the oven and let the monkey bread cool in the baking pan for 10 minutes.  Invert the pan onto a large plate or serving dish and allow to cool for an additional 10 minutes. Serve by pulling apart individual biscuits.

Enjoy!

The best fudge ever! The Recipe.

I must start by saying I don't particularly care for most homemade fudge I've tried, but this is the recipe I grew up with so I'm partial to it. So, since it's not a secret... Here's the recipe. It's worth the time and effort! You definitely should freeze part or give some away as it makes a lot. Do enjoy! P.S. don't scrimp on the mixing. It's what makes it so smooth and creamy good!

The best fudge ever! (Mom’s recipe)

1 cube butter

4 cups sugar

1 can evaporated milk

Mix together butter sugar and evaporated milk in large pot on stove, and bring to a boil stirring frequently. Boil for ten minutes.

Remove from heat and add the following:

16 oz. of Hershey’s milk chocolate bars

12 oz. package milk chocolate chips (I like Ghirardelli)

Stir in chocolate until melted.

Transfer to kitchen aid or mix with hand mixer about medium speed for 5 minutes.

Add 1 jar of marshmallow cream. (7 oz.)

Mix for another 5 minutes.

Add 2 tablespoons of vanilla and mix that in.

You can add chopped walnuts, or chopped pecans if desired.

Pour into a buttered glass 9x13 baking dish. Cover pan and put it in the refrigerator to set up.  Serve! You can cut the fudge into thirds and wrap in plastic wrap then foil and freeze for up to six months. Mom likes to cut it into squares and wrap them in plastic wrap to use for goodie plates and parties. YUM!!!

The best fudge ever!

I kind of missed out on some things I would normally enjoy at Christmas time for 2011 due to being horribly sick with this baby. My moms homemade chocolate fudge stood out near the top of the list so I decided to make my own. In January. It still tastes as good regardless I promise. You didn't see me licking the spatula! This is SO good I'm dying!

FOOD

German pancakes! I finally got it right thanks to a friends post about how to make them. I failed so many times trying these and am VERY happy now that I succeeded! My mom makes them like this all the time and I miss them. Now I can make them for my family too! Follow the link HERE if you want to try them. They are fabulous with powdered sugar and syrup on them. Good luck :)

Are you bored of regular sandwiches? Buy some Flat bread! I got this idea from a friend who served me lunch a while back :) Add some cheese, meat lettuce and some salad dressing and you have a new flavor combo! I used swiss cheese, honey turkey, lettuce and ranch. They're pretty good! You could add some tomatoes or whatever you want, but I think the tomatoes would help it to  be not as dry.

Holy Guacamole!

Wow, I just have to say, I made the best guacamole tonight! I LOVE everything about avocados. The shape, the dark and light green color inside, the smooth creaminess...

So here is the recipe I love.

1 avocado
1 Tbsp. Alison's Pantry guacamole seasoning
a few shakes of salt
2-3 Tbsp. salsa
2-3 strips crispy cut up bacon (adds awesome flavor)I get the dailies pre-cooked slices from Alison's Pantry. They're SO much easier, faster, and less messy.
a squirt of real lemon juice

Mash up the avocado, throw in the rest of the ingredients and mix together. Save the pit of the avocado and put it in the bowl to slow browning. If you can resist eating it right away, cover and refrigerate for 30 min. If not, EAT IT with tortilla chips. YUM!

Lasagna

I made a new lasagna recipe last night. It was awesome, but a lot of work! Check it out here.
Please, if you have any good main dish recipes let me know...

Fondue Heaven and a special date!

Ali and Howard were kind enough to watch Mckayla for Josh and I on Saturday while we went to dinner and a movie in Salt Lake. We went to see 2012 which was completely awesome and we loved it! Great special effects, plenty of story build up time and good ending! We recommend it :) Then we went to The Melting Pot for the first time ever. All I have to say is that it was a fun and unique experience and it was DELICIOUS! The chocolate fondue of course was the best part. We apparently didn't get our fill as you can see I made our own so we could enjoy fondue again! Ours was actually really good too! We invited Jesse over to help us eat it all and had a nice time. I even let Mckayla have a little taste. The recipe for the fondue is at the end if you're feeling the need to have some. It's pretty irresistible after you see the pictures.







Chocolate Chip Fondue
Ingredients
• 3 cups milk chocolate chips
• 1 c Heavy cream
• 1 1/3 c Light corn syrup
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract

Preparation
In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the corn syrup and heavy cream to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate chips and vanilla, stirring until the mixture is thick and smooth. Serve in a fondue pot or in a heatproof bowl on a warming tray, stirring occasionally. Always use caution when using a warming tray. NOTE: Chocolate fondue dippers can include chunks of pound cake and cookies, or even marshmallows and fruit slices. Whole fresh strawberries and chunks of pineapple and bananas are especially good partners. Be creative - try different combinations to come up with your own favorites.

My first homemade bread

I made bread! It turned out okay considering it was my first time with regular bread I guess. I think I let it raise a bit too long because it overflowed the pan slightly. I forgot to butter the top before baking so the top was a bit dry, but I liked it kind of crusty. It was edible to say the least. And to say the most it tasted pretty good. Especially toasted with butter and strawberry jam. The recipe is from Pantry Secrets sold at Alisons Pantry. I got all the ingredients from Alisons Pantry. Theres all kinds of other types of bread you can make with it. Anyway, it wasn't as hard as I thought. Using a kitchen aid and halving the recipe really helped. The original recipe makes 4 loaves. Do you have any tips for me next time I make bread?

Oh yes and Mckayla sat patiently in her high chair eating carrots durning the process. Isn't she sweet?

I made Banana Bread for the first time yesterday. Turned out pretty good....