Hug-in-a-Mug Brownies

This is easy enough that older kids should be able to make it themselves!

Hug-in-a-Mug Brownies 

3 Tbsp flour 

2 Tbsp sugar 

2 Tbsp baking cocoa 

2 Tbsp water 

1 1/2 Tbsp oil (I prefer coconut oil or olive oil) 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

1 tsp chocolate syrup 

1 Tbsp chocolate chips 

Thoroughly mix all ingredients except chocolate chips together in a ceramic ramekin or mug, or other microwave-safe bowl or dish. Stir in chocolate chips last. Microwave for one minute. Devour. 

Makes one brownie.

Screaming Peach Cobbler

My 13-yr-old daughter made this for us today, with minimal assistance from me.  I mostly just helped drain the peach juice.  I want to try making this with some different variations, like adding cherries or blueberries.

Screaming Peach Cobbler

1 box spice cake mix

12 oz can of lemon-lime soda

2 (24-29 oz) cans peaches -- drained OR 6 cups fresh peach slices

Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Drain canned peaches OR slice up fresh peaches and cut into chunks.  Place in a greased 9x13 baking pan.

Sprinkle spice cake mix over the peaches.  Gently press mix down over the peaches.

Pour soda over the cake mix.  Try to get the whole thing moistened, if not covered entirely.

Preheat your oven to 350.  Don't do this ahead of time!  Let the cobbler bubble and steep while the oven heats up.

Bake for one hour.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.  Serve with vanilla ice cream if desired.

Rustic Apple and Goat Cheese Tart

I took this to church for our fellowship snack time between services today, and it was a big hit!

Rustic Apple and Goat Cheese Tart

(Makes: 4 medium tarts)

1 box frozen puff pastry—thawed
1/2 cup dry sherry
1/2 cup apple cider or juice
1/4 cup honey
3-4 large, firm apples—sliced thin
4 oz crumbled goat cheese

Combine sherry, apple cider, and honey in medium saucepan.  Add apple slices and cook over medium heat until apples are slightly softened, but have not lost their shape (5-10 minutes).  Remove from heat and strain, reserving liquid.  Return liquid to stove, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until slightly thickened (about 15 minutes).

Preheat oven to 400.

Slice each sheet of puff pastry into halves and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment.  Thoroughly prick each pastry sheet with a fork, leaving a border of 1/2” all around the outside edges to allow outsides to puff out but insides to stay flat.  Sprinkle all four tarts evenly with goat cheese, then cover with cooked apple slices in a decorative pattern.

Bake for 17-20 minutes or until outer crust turns golden brown.  Allow to cool for 3 minutes, then spoon remaining juice over top.

Mediterranean Sausage and Spinach Pasta

I'm making this for a potluck tonight, and thought I should share.  It will be fall soon, and prime casserole time!

Mediterranean Sausage and Spinach Pasta

1 lb. Italian bulk sausage 

1 can garlic and onion spaghetti sauce 

1 can (2.25 oz) sliced black olives – drained 

1 package frozen spinach – thawed 

1 lb. penne rigate – cooked 

1 can mushrooms – drained 

3 cups shredded mozzarella 

Preheat oven to 350.  

Cook sausage in a large skillet; drain. Stir in sauce, olives, mushrooms, and spinach. Toss with pasta. 

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Pour half of pasta into pan; top with half of cheese and repeat layers. 

Cover with tin foil and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Muffin Mix Coffee Cake

I just made this up today.  It worked brilliantly well.  No cupcake liners, no cupcake pan, just mix and dump and go.

Muffin Mix Coffee Cake

2 small (6 muffins each) OR 1 large (12 muffins) muffin mixes of your choice

whatever the mixes call for

Preheat oven to 400.

Pour both muffin mixes into a bowl.  Mix as directed, just until moistened.  (I usually use the cheap mixes that come in bags and make 6 muffins each, but this works with the 12-muffin mixes that come in a box too.)  Batter will probably be lumpy.

Pour batter into a greased 8x8 glass or metal baking pan.  Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown on top and toothpick comes out clean.

Allow to cool a few minutes before cutting into squares.  (I did 16 squares, but 9 would be fine too if you have bigger appetites.)  Eat.

If you have a muffin mix with a streusel topping, just sprinkle that on top before baking!  If you want to make your own streusel topping, here's a quick recipe:

Streusel 

1/4 cup brown sugar -- firmly packed

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup flour

1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

2 Tbsp cold butter -- cut into chunks

Mix everything except butter in a small bowl.  Add butter and cut it into the dry mix using a pastry blender, pastry knife, or two knives until it has become a coarse and meal, like tiny gravel.  Sprinkle over coffee cake batter before baking.

Larry's Cranberry Pizza

For when you want pizza, but you also want something unusual.

Larry's Cranberry Pizza

1 tube pizza crust -- prebaked
1/2 can whole berry cranberry sauce
8 oz. turkey breakfast sausage links -- sliced
4 oz. crumbled goat cheese
1/2 cup green onions -- chopped

Fry sausage in a medium skillet until done.  Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix cranberry sauce with a hand mixer until spreadable.  Spread cranberry sauce over crust and top with cheese, sausage, and onions.  Bake for 6 minutes at 400 degrees.

Hot Dog Wraps

There's not a lot of nutritional value to these, but they sure are tasty!  And kids tend to like them.

Hot Dog Wraps

2 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls
4 slices American cheese -- halved
8 hot dogs -- uncooked

Unroll crescent rolls.  Pinch two triangles together to form a rectangle.  Place a half slice of cheese and one hot dog on top.  Roll up and place on a cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees for 14 minutes.