Costco Hot Chocolate

Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 cups whole milk
• 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60%), roughly chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of kosher salt

Combine the cocoa powder and confectioners' sugar in a small bowl and whisk to combine.

In a medium saucepan, bring the milk to a simmer over medium-low heat. Whisk in the chocolate and the cocoa powder mixture; whisk vigorously to combine. Bring to a boil and gently boil for 30 seconds while continuing to whisk. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Pour this through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any small lumps.

Serve warm with a side of cold whipped cream, unsweetened or lightly sweetened. Pour into small bowls or mugs to serve. Makes 4 servings.

Note: This will keep, covered, in the fridge for up to 1 week. Reheat slowly on the stove over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, before serving.

Kirsten's Brownies

1/2 cup melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
 1/2 cup flour

 Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes


 Gluten-free version

 1/2 cup melted butter
 1 tsp vanilla
 2 eggs
 1 cup sugar
 1/3 cup cocoa
 1/2 cup Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix
 dash salt

 Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes

Stuffing

1/2 cup chopped onion
2 Tbsp butter
4 cups dry bread crumbs (about 7 slices cut into cubes)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp ground sage
1/4-1/2 cup chicken broth (you can leave out the salt and dissolve bullion cubes to make chicken broth--if the bread is very dry you need more liquid.)

Cook onion in butter. Stir seasonings into bread, then stir in onions and butter. Toss with enough liquid to moisten.

Bake at 350 degrees for half an hour, covered.

Chewy Noels

2 tbsp butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped nuts
1/3 cup flour
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Powdered sugar

In a 9x9x2 inch pan, melt butter.

Slightly beat the eggs, then add the vanilla.

Stir together the brown sugar, nuts, flour, baking soda and salt and
add all of that to the eggs.

Carefully pour mixture over butter in pan; do not stir.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Sift powdered sugar over
top. Let cool. Dust again with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.

Microwave Mochi

Mochi is a Japanese sweet made with glutinous rice flour. I don't know how close to the actual thing this recipe is, but it's ridiculously tasty, and causes much glee in the creation process (it's highly reminiscent of slightly melted gummi bears in texture).

Ingredients:

• 1 lb glutinous rice flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3 cups
• Food coloring, if desired
• Potato starch
  

Directions:

• Butter a large, microwave safe dish.
• Mix rice flour, water, and sugar together in dish with wire whisk until smooth.
• Add food coloring (if desired).
• Cook in microwave on high for 14 minutes.
• Let cool. Use rubber scraper to loosen edges.
• Sprinkle potato starch in another pan. Dump cooked mochi into pan. Sprinkle more potato starch on top (to prevent stickiness).
• Cut into pieces with a plastic knife.

Easy & Delicious Chocolate Pudding

Yes--it's a from-scratch, homemade pudding that is really, really good! I made it for the first time yesterday and was delighted with the results :)

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

• In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. gradually add milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Spoon into individual serving dishes. Chill until serving.
• Yield: 6-8 servings.

Best Fruit Salad

Cut into bite-size pieces:

Kiwis
Bananas

Add:

Frozen raspberries
Whole grapes (we like red or purple)

Mix it all together and let it sit for a few minutes. The frozen raspberries will thaw while cooling the other fruits to a pleasant temperature. The salad will be delicious.

Peck of Pickled Peppers

1. Buy a jar of pickles (I think Claussen works best)
2. Eat them
3. Cut fresh cucumbers and other vegetables (like peppers) and put them in the brine
4. refrigerate overnight
5. enjoy!

The brine is usually good for about two batches of pickles, more if you add salt and vinegar. They're incredibly crisp and tasty.

Houmus mac and cheese

Another mac and cheese-type dish. We use a box of the small shell pasta and this sauce (measurements are approximate since we just make it to taste in true Neinerschts fashion):

1/4 cup houmus
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 cup cold water
1/3 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Put cold water and flour in a sealed jar and shake until smooth. Warm milk on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add 1/4 cup houmus. Continue to stir. when mixture is close to boiling, add water and flour combination; simmer for one minute. Stir in cheese and lemon juice and pour over pasta.

We usually add frozen baby peas too - at the very end so they don't get overcooked. any type of vegetable would work. I also like to add about 1/4 cup of pureed carrots (I'm lazy and buy the baby food version) - the sweetness of the carrots goes nicely with the houmus.

Pasta, Cheese, and Vegetables

I picked this easy recipe up from James while I was out in Maryland. It’s like Macaroni and Cheese, except quicker than the homemade version, cheaper than the boxed version, and healthier than either.

Cook pasta

Cook mixed vegetables

I use about equal amounts of vegetables and pasta, and as my father’s daughter I cook them all at once in the same pot (I add the vegetables a few minutes after the pasta so they don’t overcook) but James cooks the veggies in the microwave while boiling pasta on the stove.

While these are cooking, grate some sharp cheddar cheese.

Strain pasta and vegetables and mix them together with the cheese while they are still hot. Add salt and seasoning to taste—I like Mrs. Dash original seasoning, but James had some delicious ones as well.

Add ins:

A little buttermilk or sour cream will make it creamier, a dash of maple syrup is delicious (don’t ask me how I know), and while I’m not eager to try it myself I’m sure some chopped up ham or other meat would be just fine in this as well.

I am eating this meal as I type and it is delicious.

Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:

2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. pumpkin
2 c. chocolate chips

Beat butter, sugar and eggs till fluffy. Beat in pumpkin. Then beat in dry ingredients just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoonfuls, two inches apart, onto greased cookie sheets.
Bake at 350 F, 12-15 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 3-1/2 dozen.

German Apple Pancake

Ingredients:

½ cup milk
½ cup flour
3 eggs
1 tsp sugar
Dash salt

Slice a large (peeled) apple and saute in a cast-iron skillet. Swirl the butter around the sides and bottom of the pan. Pour the batter over the apples and bake in a pre-heated oven at 500°. When pancake raises and is nearly done, powder with cinnamon sugar and dot with butter. Return to oven until brown. Remove and sprinkle with juice of lemon and confectioner’s sugar. Serves 4-6 for main course; 6-8 for dessert.

Whole Wheat Angel Food Cake

Ingredients:

1 cup sifted whole wheat flour
½ cup raw sugar
1 ¼ cups (10-12) egg whites
¼ tsp salt
1 ¼ tsp cream of tartar
1 cup raw sugar (sifted)
1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp almond extract

Sift flour and ½ cup sugar 4 times. Beat egg whites and salt with wire whisk (not mixer) until foamy. Sprinkle in cream of tartar and beat until egg whites are stiff enough to hold up in soft peaks, but are still moist and glossy.
Add remaining cup of sugar in 4 additions, sprinkle over egg whites, beating 25 strokes or turns of beater each time. After last addition use 10-20 additional fold-over strokes.

Turn batter into ungreased angel food pan. Bake 30-35 minutes at 350°-375°. Invert pan and cool thoroughly before removing.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

½ cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp ground nutmeg if desired
1 egg
2 Tbsp milk
½ tsp vanilla
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

Soften butter, cream with sugar, baking powder, and nutmeg. Add egg, milk, and vanilla followed by flour. Divide dough in half and roll out to ¼-inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters or knife, re-rolling dough as necessary. Place dough in refrigerator to chill if it begins to soften. Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet; bake 8-10 minutes at 375°.

Congo Squares

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups brown sugar
¾ cups butter (melted)
3 eggs
2 ½ tsp baking powder (Catherine puts in 2 tsp instead)
½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla (optional)
3 cups flour
12 oz. package chocolate chips

Mix everything together, flatten on a cookie sheet, bake at 350° 25-30 minutes. Cut and remove from pan while hot.

Upside-down Chocolate Pudding Cake

This cake inspired the younger half of the family so much that they even composed an anthem in its honor, titled “Upside-down chocolate pudding cake for breakfast”:
Upside-down chocolate pudding cake for breakfast,
Upside-down chocolate pudding cake for lunch,
Upside-down chocolate pudding cake for dinner,
Upside-down chocolate pudding cake for brunch!
Upside-down chocolate pudding cake
It tastes so good, it really does!
Upside-down chocolate pudding cake
For breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch,
It tastes so good, oh yes, it really does!

Consider increasing the cocoa in this recipe.

Ingredients:

½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
¾ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ cup milk
2 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
¾ cup boiling water

Turn on oven to 350°. Put flour, the ¼ cup sugar, the 1 Tbsp cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt into a mixing bowl; stir until well mixed.

Add milk, butter, and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Pour batter into ungreased 1-qt casserole dish.

Put ½ cup sugar and 2 Tbsp cocoa powder in a small mixing bowl; gradually stir in boiling water. Pour evenly over batter in casserole dish.

Put casserole dish in oven. Bake ~30 minutes (until toothpick comes clean). Cool 20-30 minutes before serving.

Hot Fudge Sauce

from the Better than Store-Bought cookbook

¾ stick (6 Tbsp) unsalted butter
6 oz. (6 squares) unsweetened baking chocolate
1 cup boiling water
2 cups sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
¼ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

Combine the butter and chocolate in a heavy saucepan and stir over low heat until melted. Stir in the water, sugar, corn syrup, and salt.

Turn the heat to medium and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring. Boil the sauce gently, without stirring, for about 8 to 9 minutes, or until it is thickened and smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract and serve hot. (Or you may store it in the refrigerator for months) (as if it would last that long).

TO REHEAT: Set the jar in a saucepan of cold water. Bring water slowly to a simmer, stirring the sauce until it is hot enough.

Wagon Wheels

Beat:
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

Blend in:
½ cup butter
6 Tbsp cocoa

Sift in:
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 cups flour

Add ½ cup chopped nuts if desired

Refrigerate for 2 hours. Shape into balls. Roll in powdered sugar and bake at 350° for 10 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet

Christmas Punch

Ingredients:

6 quarts water
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp. whole cloves
Boil 10 minutes
Add:
1 pint lemon juice
1 large can frozen orange juice
3 cups sugar

Simmer.
Makes 8 quarts

Cinnamon Rolls and Glaze

Cinnamon Rolls

Bread dough
Cinnamon
Brown sugar (white sugar also works)
Butter
Raisins (optional)
Nuts (optional)

Roll out bread dough, spread butter over. Sprinkle on cinnamon and sugar along with raisins and nuts if desired. Roll dough and slice into 1-2 inch pieces; place on greased cookie sheet.

Cinnamon Roll Glaze

Butter
Milk
Vanilla
Powdered sugar

Start with a little butter (1-2Tbsp.), mix with powdered sugar and a little vanilla. Add milk and keep alternating milk and powdered sugar until desired amount has been made