Awesome Recipes 101

Breakfast Apple Casserole

Serves 4-6

This is a rich dish but if you like apples you will like this recipe.

Ingredients

8 ounces of bread, cubed

3-4 baking apples (depending on their size), peeled and chopped

3 large eggs, beaten

1 cup milk

½ cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup white granulated sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

Caramel syrup (optional)

½ cup apple caramel dip

1 cup maple syrup

Directions:

Peel and core the apples. You can also use an apple cutter utensil which cores and slices the apples. Slice thinly.

Cube the bread.

In an 8-inch pan that has been sprayed with a nonstick spray place the apples and bread.

Heat the oven to 300°

In a bowl place the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.  Blend well and pour over the bread and apples.  Cook covered until done or a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.  It will take about an hour to bake.

You can use the caramel syrup if you choose.  In a small saucepan combine the caramel dip and the maple syrup.  Cook over low heat until combined and heated through.

Note:

Chocolate Banana Nice Cream

2-4 servings

If you love chocolate and bananas then you will love this nice cream.

Ingredients:

3 bananas, frozen and cut in coin shapes

1 tablespoon unsweetened cacao powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons Stevia

Directions:

In a food processor add the bananas, cacao powder, vanilla extract, and stevia. Allow enough time to turn into nice cream.  This should take about 10 minutes or more depending on the speed of your blender or food processor.  This will result in a texture that resembles soft-serve ice cream.

If you want firmer nice cream put it in the freezer for about 2 hours in a shallow pan (I used a loaf pan) with parchment paper on the bottom.  Use a scooper to put the nice cream into serving bowls. Then serve. 

You can add berries, nuts or chocolate chips before serving.

Note:

Sweeten the nice cream to your taste.

Pineapple Rum Punch

10-12 servings

This punch is easy to make.  It only requires a few ingredients.  You can serve this at any gathering but because it has alcohol it is an adult drink.

Ingredients

4 cups of pineapple juice

2 ounces of pineapple tidbits

1 cup of white grape juice

1/2 cup rum

1 cup lemon-lime soda (to be added just before serving)

Garnish: pineapple slices, maraschino cherries (optional)

Directions:

Wassail

5 servings

Wassail is a warm, spiced punch that’s traditionally served when celebrating the ancient English Yuletide tradition of the same name. Historically, gatherers would sing and hand out mugs of cider, ale, or wine in exchange for gifts. While different recipes use varying types of alcohol, fruit, and spices, most modern batches of wassail use apple cider as the base.

Simmering Wassail also makes the aroma of your house smell great.

Ingredients:

4 cups apple cider

1 cup orange juice

¼ cup lemon juice

2 cinnamon sticks

6 whole cloves

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ tablespoon brown sugar (optional)

Directions:

Red Party Punch

15 servings

This punch is easy to make and is perfect for serving at any kind of gathering.

Ingredients:

1 (1.5 liters) (or more) of strawberry or raspberry sherbet

1-gallon fruit punch, chilled

6 cups lemon-lime soda, chilled

Directions:

Chocolate Frosty

1 serving

This chocolatey frosty is thick and is very filling.

Ingredients

1/3 cup chocolate milk frozen into ice cubes

½ cup chocolate milk, chilled

2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

8 ounces frozen Cool Whip

Directions

In a blender add the chocolate milk, the chocolate milk ice cubes, the condensed milk and the cool whip.  Blend until smooth and creamy which should take a few minutes.

Note

Cherry Chocolate Chip Fruitcake

12 Servings

This is a cake full of cherries and chocolate chips and your family and friends will love it and you will too.

Ingredients:

1 cup dried cherries

¼ cup rum

6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

¾ cup granulated sugar

¾ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon almond extract

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup candied red cherries

1 cup chocolate chips, semi-sweet

Topping

1/3 cup rum to brush on top

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°.  Prepare a loaf baking pan by spraying it with nonstick spray. 

In a small, microwave-safe bowl place the 1 cup of dried cherries and 1/4 cup of rum and stir.  Cover and microwave for one or two minutes.  Stir again.  Set aside to let the cherries cool.

Put the butter in a microwave so it melts.  Put the butter, sugar, baking powder, salt, and extracts into a large bowl and stir.  Beat in the eggs one at a time. 

Add the flour and milk to the fruitcake mixture and alternate adding them.  Stir 

Add and stir the dried cherries (including any liquid that has not been absorbed), candied cherries, and chocolate chips.  Mix well.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes.  Check for doneness with a toothpick inserted into the cake to see if it comes out clean.  The time for the cake to complete baking may vary depending on your oven and the cake pan used.

Allow the cake to cool for several minutes and then place it on a cooling rack.  When the cake is completely cool you can brush some rum on the cake, or use another spirit, to help preserve the cake.  Wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap so it will be ready to be eaten.  You can use a bread knife to cut it.

Note:

Add whatever fruit and/or nuts that you prefer.

Dried cherries are in the same grocery aisle as raisins.

Creamy Chicken and Biscuits

8 servings

This is a comfort food and will keep you full for hours.

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked chicken, chopped (about 2 large chicken breasts)

½ large onion, chopped

1 ½ teaspoons butter

1 (10.75 ounces) can of cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

½ cup whole milk

½ cup pimento, chopped (Pimentos are red, sweet, chili peppers that are usually already chopped)

1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

8 frozen biscuits, thawed

1 tablespoon melted butter, optional

1 tablespoon honey, optional

Directions:

Spray a 9” x 13” baking pan with a non-stick spray.

Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat.  Then add the chopped onion and cook for several minutes until it is translucent.

Preheat the oven to 350°.

Add the cooked onions, soup, sour cream, milk, and pimentos to a bowl and mix.  Add the chicken and stir.  Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan.  Put in the oven for about 15 minutes. 

Then add the cheese and biscuits and return to the oven for about 20 minutes.

If you want, melt the tablespoon of butter and then stir in the honey.  Brush the tops of the biscuits before the casserole is returned to the oven.

Italian Ricotta Cookies

About 40 cookies

This recipe makes soft cookies with ricotta cheese (which can’t be tasted).  They are then frosted and sprinkles are added.

Ingredients

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

Frosting

2 cups Confectioner’s sugar

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 tablespoons milk (or more depending on how thin or thick you want the frosting to be)

Sprinkles

Directions

In a mixing bowl put in the butter and sugar and mix until the combination becomes light.  Add the ricotta cheese, egg, and the extracts and mix well.

Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt until they are combined.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°.  Place parchment paper on a large baking sheet.

Use a cookie scoop about 1 inch across to get cookies of a uniform size.   

Place the cookie dough about 1” apart on the baking sheet.  Bake for around 13 minutes.  After they come out of the oven and sit for a few minutes put them on wire racks to finish cooling off.  Once the cookies are cool you can frost them.

Apple Cider Drink

1 serving

Apple cider drinks are the perfect thing to keep in mind for holiday parties and for any gathering, especially on warm days.

Ingredients:

¼ cup heavy whipping cream

½ tablespoon of sugar

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ cup of caramel ice cream

¾ cups apple cider

¼ cup lemon-lime soda

Garnish: apple slices (optional)

Directions:

Pour the cream, sugar, and cinnamon into a mixing bowl and use a mixer to beat the cream until it has soft peaks.  

Put the ice cream into a tall glass and then add the apple cider and soda.  Top with the whipped cream.  Garnish with an apple slice if you so choose.

Put in a straw and serve with a spoon.  Enjoy.

Notes:

Apple Cider is usually sold year-round and is found in the produce section or in the juice section.

Frosted Lemonade

1 serving

This drink is very popular and suited for all ages.  It is great for celebrating any occasion and is especially appreciated on warm days.

Ingredients

½ cup lemonade, chilled

1 cup vanilla ice cream

Garnish: whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

Pour the lemonade into a blender and add the ice cream.  Blend for a couple of minutes then pour the contents into a glass.  Add whipped cream if you want.  Serve with a straw and a spoon.

Mountain Dew Drink

1 serving

The Mountain Dew Drink reminds one of drinking a glass of punch.  It is very refreshing and has some ingredients that are healthy.

Ingredients:

1 cup ice cubes

¾ cup Mountain Dew

2 tablespoons pineapple juice

2 tablespoons orange juice

½ tablespoon grenadine syrup

Garnish: lemon slice (optional)

Directions:

After filling a tall glass with ice, add the Mountain Dew, juices, and syrup. 

Fudge Brownie Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes about 36 cookies

These cookies are brownie like with chocolate chips and they are easy to make and very easy to eat.

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted

1 box fudge brownie mix (over 16 ounces)

1 egg, room temperature, beaten

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or use any chips you want)

Directions

Heat oven to 350° and line cookie baking sheets with parchment paper which makes cleanup easier and prevents the cookies from sticking. 

In a large bowl mix the melted butter, brownie mix, egg and chips until blended. 

Using a 1 ½” cookie scoop put the cookie mix onto the baking sheets that have been prepared.  A cookie scoop can help dispense and measure out the cookies.  Space them about 2 inches apart. 

Bake about 10 minutes.  Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.  Store the cookies in an air tight container.

Note:

Whisked Lemonade

1 serving

The whisked lemonade drink is sweet, cool, and refreshing.  It is a drink to sit on the porch or patio all afternoon and drink this lemonade to cool off.

Ingredients:

½ cup lemonade, chilled

¼ cup sweetened condensed milk

1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice

2 cups of ice cubes

Directions:

In a blender pour in the lemonade, sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, and ice cubes.  Blend for a few minutes until mixed.  Pour into a tall glass and serve with a straw and spoon. Then enjoy the drink.

Note:

Sweet Tea

1 serving

You only need a few ingredients to make this.  Everyone will enjoy this drink.

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1 teabag

¼ cup of sugar

ice

Lemon and mint (optional)

Directions:

Pour the water into a pan and heat it to boiling.  Then turn off the heat and add the teabag.  Leave the tea bag to steep for a few minutes depending on how you like your tea.  Remove the tea bag and add the sugar. Stir the sugar until it dissolves in the water.  Pour the tea into a large glass and add water to fill the glass.  Add lemon and mint at this time if you prefer this for added flavor.

Refrigerate the glass until ready to drink.  Add some ice cubes to the glass.

Serve to anyone not drinking alcoholic drinks like kids, pregnant women, or designated drivers. This is a great drink to serve at baby showers or any kind of gathering.

Note:

Pink Flamingo Drink

1 serving

The color of the drink is similar to pink flamingoes, hence its name.  It is a tasty drink and one you wouldn’t mind having a second.

Ingredients:

½ cup of chipped Ice

1 cup Lemon-Lime Soda

1 tablespoon Grenadine

1 tablespoon Half and Half Cream

Directions: 

Put some chipped ice in a tall glass.  Put in the soda and add the grenadine and the half-and-half cream.  Stir it all together to make your creamy pink Flamingo Drink. 

Enjoy!

Note:

Halloween Party Punch

10+ servings

This is a punch that is sure to be a hit with kids of all ages especially around Halloween.

Ingredients

1 gallon of green Berry Rush Punch, chilled

1.5 quarts of Lime Sherbet

1 small bag of candy gummy worms

1 small bag of candy bloodshot eyeballs (or other body parts)

Directions:

Pour the green punch (which has a taste of kiwi-strawberry) into a large punch bowl along with some gummy worms and eyeballs. When your guests are ready immediately scoop lime sherbet into the punch bowl.  In each cup put some green punch along with a scoop of lime sherbet.  Garnish with a gummy worm draped over the side and include an eyeball in the cup.

Serve to anyone not drinking alcoholic drinks like kids, pregnant women, designated drivers or anyone not drinking for any reason. This is a drink to serve at parties and gatherings.

Note: