Giant Molasses Cookies

PREP:  30 Minutes  BAKE:  15 Minutes per Batch

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups Butter (softened)

2-3/4 cups Sugar (divided)

2 Eggs

1/2 cup Molasses

4-1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour

4 teaspoons Ground Ginger

2 teaspoons Baking Soda

1-1/2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon

1 teaspoon Ground Cloves

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/4 cup Chopped Pecans

Other Items Needed:

Large Bowl

Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer

Medium Bowl

Ungreased Baking Sheets

Wire Racks (optional)

Who Says Molasses Cookies Are Only Allowed When It's Cold Outside?!

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, CREAM Butter & 2 cups of Sugar until light & fluffy.
• BEAT in the Eggs & Molasses.

• In a medium bowl, COMBINE the Flour, Ginger, Baking Soda, Cinnamon, Cloves & Salt.
• GRADUALLY add the Flour Mixture ADD to Creamed Mixture & MIX well.
• FOLD in Pecans.

• SHAPE into 2-inch balls & roll in remaining Sugar.
• PLACE 2-1/2-inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

• BAKE for 13-15 minutes or until tops are cracked.
• REMOVE to wire rack to cool.

MAKES:  2 Dozen 

* Molasses is used for human consumption in baking along with the brewing of ale and distillation of rum.  Did you know there was a flood of molasses in Boston?  Yes, it's true.  Sadly, in 1919 a large tank holding molasses burst and sent molasses running through the streets at around 35 mph.  This event went down in history as the Great Boston Molasses Flood.

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Peanut Butter Cereal Treats

PREP/TOTAL TIME:  30 Minutes

Ingredients:

30 Large Marshmallows

3 tablespoons Butter

1 tablespoon Reduced Fat Peanut Butter

6 cups Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch

1-1/2 cups Milk Chocolate M&M's

Other Items Needed:

Large Saucepan

13-inch x 9-inch Baking Dish

Cooking Spray

Ditch the Diet for Today & Let Your Inner Child Out!

• In a large saucepan, COMBINE the Marshmallows, Butter & Peanut Butter.
• COOK & STIR over medium-low heat until melted.
• REMOVE from heat.
• STIR in the Cereal and M&M's.
• PAT into the baking dish coated with cooking spray.
• COOL.
• CUT into Bars.

 

MAKES:  2 Dozens

 

 

 

* Marshmallows are one of the earliest confections known to mankind which came from the root sap of the marsh mallow. (Althaea officinalis).  Marshmallows date all the way back to 2000 B.C. and is still a favorite treat to many today.

 

 

 

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Amaretto Cream Truffles

PREP:  30 Minutes  CHILLING:  1-1/2 Hours

Ingredients:

5 ounces Semisweet Chocolate Mini Morsels

4 ounces *German's Sweet Chocolate (chopped)

1/3 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

2 tablespoons Amaretto

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

2 tablespoons Sugar

2 tablespoons Baking Cocoa

Other Items Needed:

2 Small Bowls

Small Saucepan

Whisk

Press N Seal Wrap

Airtight Container 

Just One Truffle Would Satisfy Any Sweet Tooth!

• PLACE Chocolates in a small bowl.
• In a small saucepan, bring Cream just to a boil.
• POUR over Chocolates.
• WHISK until smooth.
• STIR in the Amaretto & Vanilla.

• COOL to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
• COVER & REFRIGERATE for 1-1/2 hours or until easy to handle.
• In another small bowl, COMBINE Sugar & Cocoa.

• SHAPE Chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls.
• ROLL in Cocoa Mixture.

• STORE in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

MAKES:  30 Balls

* Think of Germany when you see German's Sweet Chocolate?  Don't worry most people would, but the title of the chocolate actually came from it's creator Sam German.  A newspaper misprint left off the 's and that's where the idea the German in German Chocolate Cake came from.  German's Sweet Chocolate is similar to semisweet chocolate, but has a higher sugar content.

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Almond Cheesecake Bars

PREP:  20 Minutes   BAKE:  35 Minutes + Cooling

Ingredients:

2 cups Whole Wheat Flour

1-1/4 cup Butter (softened - divided)

2 cups of Confectioners' Sugar (divided)

1 package of Neufchatel Cheese (softened)

1/2 cup Sugar

2 teaspoons Almond Extract (divided)

2 Eggs (lightly beaten)

5 teaspoons Milk

Other Items Needed:

2 Medium Bowls

Cooking Spray

13-inch x 9-inch Glass Baking Dish

Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer

Wire Rack (optional)

Forget the Chocolate and Go For This Yummy Almond Dessert!

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• COMBINE the Flour, 1 cup of Butter & 1/2 cup Confectioners' Sugar.
• PRESS onto the bottom of a greased glass baking dish.

 

• BAKE for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
• For the filling, in a bowl, BEAT the Neufchatel Cheese, Sugar & 1 teaspoon of Almond Extract until smooth.
• ADD Eggs.
• BEAT on low speed, just until combined.

 

• POUR over crust.
• BAKE for 15-20 minutes or until center is almost set.

 

• COOL on a wire rack.
• COMBINE 1-1/2 cups Confectioners' Sugar, 1/4 cup Butter, 1 teaspoon Almond Extract & 5 teaspoons of Milk until smooth.
• SPREAD over Bars.

 

• STORE in the refrigerator.

MAKES:  35 Bars

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Basil Polenta with Ratatouille

PREP: 25 Minutes CHILLING:30 Minutes COOK: 40 Minutes

Ingredients:

4 cups Water

1 teaspoon Salt (divided)

1 cup Yellow Self-Rising Cornmeal

1/2 cup Minced Basil

1 medium Eggplant (peeled & cut into 1/2-inch cubes)

1 medium Onion (halved & sliced)

1 medium Yellow Pepper (*julienned)

5 tablespoons Olive Oil (divided)

4 tablespoons Minced Garlic

1 can diced Spicy Tomatoes (14-1/2 ounces - drained)

1 teaspoon Dried Oregano

1/4 teaspoon Pepper

Other Items Needed:

Large Heavy Saucepan

Whisk

Wooden Spoon

8-inch Square Baking Dish

Cooking Spray

Large Skillet

A Healthy Recipe That is Sure to Keep You Full!

• In a large heavy saucepan, bring Water & 1/2 teaspoon Salt to a boil.
• REDUCE heat to a gentle boil.
• Slowly, WHISK in Cornmeal.
• COOK & STIR with a wooden spoon for 15-20 minutes or until Polenta is thickened & pulls away cleanly from the sides of the pan.
• STIR in Basil.

• SPREAD into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray.

 

• REFRIGERATE for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet, SAUTE the Eggplant, Onion & Yellow Pepper in 2 tablespoons of Oil until crisp-tender.
• ADD Garlic.
• COOK 1 minute longer.

 

• STIR in the Tomatoes, Oregano, Pepper & 1/2 teaspoon of Salt.
• COOK & STIR over medium heat for 10-12 minutes or until Vegetables are tender.

 

• CUT Polenta into 4 squares.
• In a Large Skillet, COOK Polenta in 3 tablespoons of Oil in batches for 7-8 minutes on each side.
• SERVE with Ratatouille.

 

 

MAKES:  4 Servings

* To Julienne means to cut into long, thin strips.

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All-American Turkey Bacon Cheeseburgers

PREP/TOTAL TIME:  30 Minutes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons Minced Onion

2 tablespoons Ketchup

4 tablespoons Minced Garlic

1 teaspoon Sugar

1 teaspoon Reduced Sodium Worcestershire Sauce

1 teaspoon A1 Steak Sauce

1/4 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar

1 pound Extra Lean Ground Beef

4 slices Sharp Cheddar Cheese

4 Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns, split (toasted if you'd like)

8 cooked Turkey Bacon Strips

Dill Pickle Chips

Mustard

Other Items Needed:

Large Bowl

13-in. x 9-in. Glass Baking Dish

Meat Thermometer

America's Favorite Cookout Dish!

• In a large bowl, COMBINE the first 7 ingredients.

 

• CRUMBLE Beef over Mixture & MIX well.

 

• SHAPE into four patties & place in glass baking dish.

 

• *Broil 3 inches from the heat for 4-7 minutes on each side OR until a thermometer reads 160 degrees & juices run clear.
• TOP with Cheese.
• *Broil until Cheese is melted.
• SERVE on Buns with Bacon, Pickles, Mustard and any other toppings your prefer.

 

 

MAKES:  4 Servings

* If you prefer, Grill Burgers, covered, over medium heat.   

dévorer!