Key Lime Bars

As you can see this was made a little "extra" green. Why you ask? Because this was a perfect St. Patrick's Day dessert. A light and zingy flavor profile to welcome or this year coax spring into coming..

     *For the shortbread crust

• 1 c flour
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1/4c powdered sugar
• 1 c sugar 

• For the Key Lime Filling

• 14 ounces (1 can) sweetened condensed milk
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup fresh squeezed key lime juice
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated key lime zest

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray an 8x8 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In an electric mixer, combine flour, powdered sugar, and butter until crumbly and the butter is evenly distributed throughout. Press the dough evenly into the pan with your hands, making sure to go up the sides slightly. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. 

In a large bowl, whisk together 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk and 2 large egg yolks until fully combined. Add 1/2 cup key lime juice and 1 teaspoon key lime zest and whisk until smooth. Pour filling into the cooled crust, using a rubber spatula to carefully spread evenly across the pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the custard is set. BE CAREFUL NOT TO BAKE — the outside of the custards should be firm, but the center should still be jiggly. The bars will continue to set outside the oven. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely, before chilling for at least 2 hours before serving.

Cut into 2 inch squres. Top with whip cream!! Sprinkles just for fun!!

Cinnamon Sugar Scones

Scones:

2 cups flour

4 tablespoons sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon (by hand). Pour in heavy cream. Mix or knead by hand, just until combined. Mix will be sticky. Flour surface. Divide dough into two sections and pat into two rounds, each approximately four inches. Note: Score each round first with a knife into 4ths , then 8ths. Then cut and put on a greased large cookie sheet. Bake 9 to 11 minutes. Let cool five minutes, then glaze.

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon heavy cream

1 tablespoon butter

Scald the cream and butter. (usually scalded at a roaring boil, or a min. in the microwave)

Mix together until icing consistency is like you like it. Drizzle over the warm scones. if you are not getting the consistency you want little more cream or powdered sugar depending on the thickness of the glaze you like.

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

Yields 9 x 13-inch pan

• 1.5 pounds ground beef
• 1 can sloppy Joe sauce
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 package tater tots
• half a small bag of frozen mixed vegetables
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Brown hamburger and drain off the grease.
3. Add back to the pan and pour in sloppy Joe sauce, vegetables and garlic salt. Cook until warmed.
4. Pour meat into a 9 x 13-inch pan, sprinkle with shredded cheese and top with frozen tater tots.
5. Bake for about 20-30 minutes until the tater tots are crispy and cooked.

Biscuit and Gravy Casserole

INGREDIENTS

2  cans large, flaky biscuits (such as Grands)

1  pound ground breakfast sausage and or bacon

6 Tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cracked black pepper (best if it comes from a grinder)

5 cups milk

1/4 teaspoon ground sage

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F).
2. Prepare a small casserole dish (approximately 9x13) with cooking spray. Set aside.
3. Open biscuits, and cut biscuits into quarters.
4. Layer half of the quarters in prepared pan.
5. Bake for 10 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, prepare gravy.
7. In a heavy skillet, brown the ground breakfast sausage over medium high heat until fully cooked.
8. Sprinkle the cooked sausage with 3 Tablespoons of flour.
9. Use a wooden spoon to stir flour into sausage until completely absorbed.
10. Lower heat to medium, and cook flour/sausage mixture for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently.
11. Add milk, and stir to combine.
12. Add sage, salt and black pepper.
13. Stir frequently until mixture comes to a slight boil.
14. Taste, and adjust seasonings as desired. (I usually add more black pepper)
15. Constantly stir your gravy with a wisk to keep out the globs.. If the gravy is too thick, add a bit more milk. 
16. Pour gravy over the
    cooked biscuits.
17. Layer the remaining uncooked, quartered biscuits over the gravy.
18. Place casserole dish on a baking sheet, and bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
19. Serve immediately.
20. Enjoy!

Lemon Lush

Lemon Lush

Layer 1:

-1 1/2 cups Flour

-1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) Butter, softened

-2 T of granulated sugar

-3/4 cup chopped Pecans (optional)

Smash and smush it together and put in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool.

Layer 2:

-1 (8 oz) bar Cream Cheese

-1 cup Powdered Sugar

-1 (8 oz) container Cool Whip

Beat together until combined and spread on the first layer.

Layer 3:

-2 small boxes instant Lemon Pudding (You can make this with all kinds of pudding flavors!)

-3 cups Milk

Combine until pudding is thick. Spread as the next layer.

Layer 4:

-1 pt. of lightly sweetened heavy cream , whipped until stiff

-Or one 8 oz. container of cool whip

Spread on top

Best if made early in the day or the day before.. Sets up better that way.

Pineapple Fanta Apple Dumplings

 Pineapple Fanta Apple Dumplings

 1 Granny Smith apples

1 can crescent rolls

1 stick butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoons vanilla

cinnamon

1/2 can Pineapple Fanta

Peel and core apple. Cut apple into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 8 x 8 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Pineapple Fanta around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

Caramel Apple Crisp

CARAMEL APPLE CRISP
Ingredients:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 t. Apple pie spice (yes more cinnamon)
40-50 caramels, cut up into small pieces
9 cups baking apples, peeled and sliced (granny smith works well, make sure it is a tart apple)1/4 cup lemon juice
Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon and apple pie spice; add caramels and stir to coat. In a separate bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. Stir in caramel mixture and spread into a greased 13" X 9" baking pan. Add Topping.
Topping
1/4 granola
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 T cold butter
2/3 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Combine sugar and flour in small bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Add oats, granola and walnuts; sprinkle over apples.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, or until apples are tender. Makes a bunch.