baked fontina

I love cheesy dips.  I have had this one pinned for awhile now and finally got around to making it.  It did not disappoint. 

I followed the directions but used less olive oil.  There was still oil left in the pan that had such great flavor ad was perfect to dip bread in just like at a restaraunt.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds Italian Fontina Val d'Aosta cheese, rind removed and 1-inch-diced
1/4 cup good olive oil
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 crusty French baguette

Directions

Preheat the broiler and position the oven rack 5 inches from the heat.

Distribute the cubes of Fontina evenly in a 12-inch cast-iron pan. Drizzle on the olive oil. Combine the garlic, thyme, and rosemary and sprinkle it over the cheese and olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and place the pan under the broiler for 6 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling and starts to brown.

Serve the baked Fontina family-style-right out of the oven in the cast-iron pan with crusty chunks of bread for everyone to dip

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/baked-fontina-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Million Dollar Candy Recipe

I found this recipe on pinterest and decided to give it a try.  I have never made nougat before and it was pretty easy and very yummy.

The entire candy bar was delicious but got soft quickly and was messy.  But it was so good.

Here is recipe:

Bottom  Chocolate Layer

1 cup milk chocolate chips (or half semi-sweet)
1/3 cup butterscotch chips
1/3 cup peanut butter
Melt milk chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and peanut butter in a pan over low heat; stirring constantly. Pour mixture into a 9 x 13″ baking pan lightly coated with nonstick spray or lined with plastic wrap which is long enough to drape over sides of the pan. Spread mixture and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Nougat Layer

4 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1-1/2 cups marshmallow creme
1/3 cup peanut butter
1-1/2 cups chopped salted peanuts (optional)
Melt butter over medium heat in pan; add sugars and evaporated milk; bring to a boil, and cook additional 5 minutes while stirring. Remove from the heat and add marshmallow creme and peanut butter. Pour over the bottom layer and gently spread mixture. If you use peanuts, scatter across the top. Place in the refrigerator for 15 - 30 minutes.

Caramel Layer

1 (14-ounce package) caramel candy
1/4 cup cream
1 tablespoon butter
Place the unwrapped caramel candy, butter, and cream in a medium saucepan. Place over low heat and stir until the mixture has completely melted and is smooth. Pour in the pan and quickly spread over nougat layer.  Place in the refrigerator for 15 - 30 minutes.

Top Chocolate Layer

1 cup milk chocolate chips (or half semi-sweet)
1/3 cup butterscotch chips
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
Melt milk chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and peanut butter in a pan over low heat, stirring consistently. Pour over the caramel layer and spread. Place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before cutting into squares. Store in an air-tight container.



http://www.twirlandtaste.com/2012/12/take-bite-of-candy-mans-billion-dollar.html?m=1

Easy pepperoni rolls

We make pepperoni buns from scratch. I will have to post the recipe one day.
When we drive to west virginia we stop and get a bag of fresh pepperoni rolls. 

Here is a quick version that we made for Amelia's birthday party. Quick, simple, and yummy.

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 4 cheese sticks, halved
• 1 (3.5 ounce) package sliced pepperoni
• optional - marinara or ranch sauce for dipping 
•  
Garlic Butter Glaze:
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasonings
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Take each triangle of crencent roll dough and place about 6 pepperoni on the bottom of the triangle. Place half of a cheese stick on top and roll up. Place seam side down on a cookie sheet and bake for 10-14 minutes or until golden brown.
3. While rolls are cooking, combine the melted butter, Italian seasonings, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
4. When rolls are done remove from the oven and brush with the garlic butter glaze.

White almond cake

Amelia turned 2 this month and we had party. I saw cute cake on pinterest using peeps and egg m&ms.  I wanted a yummy cake to make.  We like Kribels cake in our family but the closest Kribels bakery closed.  So I decided to make my own white almond cake with almond butter cream icing.  I searched the internet and chose these 2 recipes.

For the cake I used a recipe I found on all recipes and have made before.  The cake is delicious and moist.  The recipe is one that doctors a boxed cake mix so it is easy.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/white-almond-wedding-cake/Detail.aspx

I hate making  butter cream icing at home.  It never turns out the way I want.  This recipe is the best I have made so far. We enjoyed it. 

Ingredients

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup of softened butter
• 1 teaspoon almond extra (or vanilla for traditional butter cream frosting)
• 1 – 2 Tablespoons whipping cream

Instructions

1. In large bowl, cream sugar and butter together on a low speed.
2. Mix until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for an additional three minutes.
3. Add whipping cream and almond extract and continuing mixing for an additional minute, adding more cream, if necessary until you reach desired consistency.

Brownie pudding

This another Ina Garten recipe. It is a perfect dessert for any get together. Serve it with ice cream. It's delicious.


Brownie Pudding
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Ingredients:
½ lb. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing the dish
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
¾ cup cocoa powder
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325˚ F.  Lightly butter a 2-quart oval baking dish.  Melt the 2 sticks of butter and set aside to cool.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the eggs and sugar.  Beat together on medium-high speed until thick and light yellow in color.  Meanwhile, combine the flour and cocoa powder in a medium bowl and whisk together until blended.
When the eggs and sugar are finished mixing, scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the mixing bowl.  Add the flour-cocoa powder mixture to the bowl as well.  Mix on low speed just until combined.  With the mixer still on low, slowly pour the melted butter and mix again just until combined.
Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.  Place the baking dish in a larger baking pan.  Add very hot tap water to the outer baking pan to create a water bath, coming halfway up the side of the baking dish.  Bake for 60 minutes.  The center will appear very under-baked, that is the way the dessert should be.  Allow to cool slightly before serving with ice cream.

Oatmeal pancakes

Mike has been trying to make perfect pancakes forever.  They never turn out too great.  I decided to give these a try.  They are not like greasy diner pancakes (which are delicious) but they are still extremely good just in a different way.  The oatmeal makes them thicker which I like.  They are more filling.  These are our new go to pancakes. 

Just a tip:  we grinded the oats in the food processor.  It makes the pancakes have a smoother texture.  

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups rolled (quick) oats
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 cup vegetable or canola oil

Directions

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a mixer with a paddle (or by hand). If desired, grind the oats in a blender or food processor before adding to the other dry ingredients for a smoother mix. With mixer on slow speed (or gently by hand), drizzle the vegetable oil into the bowl slowly while the mixer is running. When all the oil has been added, stop the mixer and squeeze a clump of mix in your hand. If it stays together, it is just right. If it is still crumbly, add another tablespoon of oil at a time until the consistency is correct. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks at room temperature or indefinitely in the refrigerator or freezer.
2. To make the pancakes: whisk together 1 cup of mix, 1/2 to 1 cup buttermilk* (depending on how thick you want your batter), and 1 egg. The mixture may seem thin at first but the oats will soak up the milk as it stands while the griddle preheats. Heat a griddle and drop the batter onto it. When the edges look dry and bubbles come to the surface and don’t break, turn the pancake over to finish cooking on the second side. 

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2009/09/oatmeal-pancake-mix.html

Easy cheese bread.

My mom gets the best breads to go with her meals. I go to the same stores and buy the same breads and they are never as good. Maybe it's because she shops so early in the morning...I don't know.

This bread reminds me of the cheese bread she gets often. It was super easy to make. It looked so professional when it was done and my bread making husband was jealous of my accomplishment.

Recipe:
No-Knead Cheddar Bread

3 cups all purpose flour, unbleached
1/2 teaspoon instant or dry active yeast
1 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
1 1/2 cups water (cool tap water works well)
1 cups shredded cheddar cheese for topping

In a large mixing bowl mix flour, yeast, salt and cheese. Stir to combine. Add water all at once. Stir until most of the flour is absorbed. The dough will not be smooth and some of the flour will still be visible. DO NOT OVER MIX. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 12-18 hours or overnight.

Place the dough onto a heavily floured surface. Flour hands and top of dough. Shape into an oval or round loaf. Transfer to a sheet of parchment paper. Cover with plastic wrap. Let sit while oven and pan heat.

Place a 5 quart or larger cast iron pot or enamel covered cast iron pot with a lid into a cold oven and turn oven on to 450 degrees. When the oven has heated to 450, remove lid and drop in dough that is on the parchment paper into the hot pan. Leaving the dough on the parchment paper. The paper will brown, but won't burn. Replace the lid. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove lid from the pan, sprinkle with 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes with the lid completely removed.

Lift bread out of pan using the sides of the parchment paper. Let cool on a wire cooling rack. Makes 1 loaf bread.



http://www.simplysogood.com/2013/01/creamy-tomato-thyme-soup-cheddar-cheese.html?m=1