Bite-Size Cinnamon Twirls

Small baking is all the rage right now, and these are quick, easy, and delicious.

1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cp firmly packed light brown sugar

2 Tbsp. corn syrup

1 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided

1 (8 oz) can refrigerated crescent rolls

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

preheat oven to 375

bake nuts and butter in lightly greased 8" round cake pan for 2 minutes, or until butter is melted

swirl pan to evenly distribute butter, and bake 2 more minutes

remove from oven, stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 tsp cinnamon

spread mixture evenly over bottom of pan

rnroll cresenct roll dough, separate into 4 triangles, and press together to seal

stir together sugar and remaining 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and sprinkle over rectangles

roll up each rectangle, press edges to seal, cut each log into 5 slices

place slices, cut side down, in prepared pan, spacing equally

bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until center rolls are golden brown

remove from oven and immediately invert pan onto serving plate

spoon any topping in pan over rolls

enjoy!

recipe from Southern Living magazine

Mug Cooking! How Fun Is This!

I recently discovered mug cooking on the web.  Fun, and usually only a few ingredients.

MICROWAVE COFFEE CUP SCRAMBLE

coat a 12 oz microwave-safe mug with cooking spray

add 2 eggs and 2 tbsp milk and beat until blended

(a fork works just fine)

salt and pepper to taste

microwave on high for 45 seconds

stir, then microwave 30 to 45 seconds longer

top with 2 tbsp cheese, if desired

2 MINUTE MUG BROWNIE

combine (in mug) 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, pinch of salt

stir in 2 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp milk, coffee, or water

microwave on high for 60 seconds (but check after 30 seconds)

add whipped cream and enjoy!

I apologize for not remembering where I got the recipes for either of these.  A guick search of mug cooking will turn lots of fun stuff.



Loaded Potato Soup

This is super easy and quick

serves 2-3 people

I used a deep frying pan

It goes fast, so I assembled all the ingredients first:

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 1/4 cups chicken broth

3 Tbsp flour, stirred into 1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cups milk

1/4 cup sour cream

3 bacon slices

4 red potatoes

1/3 cup shredded cheese

3 slices of bacon

sliced green onion, 1 or 2

prick potatoes with a fork, microwave abt 13 minutes

when done, set aside to cool slightly

 while potatoes are cooking, saute chopped onion in 2 tsp olive oil (or veg oil) abt 3 min

add chicken broth

add flour and milk mixture

add 1 1/2 cups milk

 bring to a boil, and cook for abt 1 min, stirring often

take a second to arrange bacon on a paper towel and microwave for about 3 minutes

turn off heat

stir in sour cream

salt and pepper to taste

remove skins from potatoes and mash into the soup (a fork works well)

top with crumbled bacon, cheese, and green onion

enjoy!

(not sure where I originally got this recipe, I subscribe to several magazines)





Hummingbird Bundt Cake

Had to work on my Birthday, so I made this Hummingbird Cake for the office.  Everyone loved it!

The recipe is from Southern Living, February, 2012

You can toast 1 1/2 cups of chopped pecans, or I just used chopped walnuts

Stir together:

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

Stir in:

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 3/4 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 large)

1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, including juice

3/4 cup oil

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened

grease and flour bundt pan

sprinkle 1 cup of the nuts in the pan

spoon in the batter

bake at 350 for 1 hour, or until long wooden pick comes out clean

cool on wire rack (in pan) for 15 minutes

remove from pan and cool completely

Glaze:

in food processor (which I don't have, I used a mixer), process (or beat):

4 oz cream cheese

2 cups sifted powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 to 2 Tbsp milk

drizzle the glaze over cooled cake

I put the remaining 1/2 cup nuts in a sandwich bag

and used my rolling pin to crush them

then sprinkled them on top

Must Love Squash! or at least be willing to give it a try. . .

Here's something different to try instead of potatoes, and to add a little more vegetables to your meals.

This is a delicata squash.  Only around in the fall and early winter, so try one while you can.

I scrub it with my potato brush, then cut it up into small pieces, however you want.  Scoop out the seeds.  It's not as tough as, say, an acorn squash, so it's not that hard to cut up.  I like to use this sturdy cannery knife that my late mother-in-law gave me.

saute the squash in a little oil. I also add some garlic.  As the squash cooks, it kind of carmelizes.

I used garlic from a jar; I think next time, I'll use raw garlic and cut it a little bigger.

served here with roasted chicken from Fred Meyer deli.