Butter Rolls!

I came home today and Carlton suggested we make his family's old BUTTER ROLL Recipe!
I was honored to help him make it! here goes...

OLD FASHIONED BUTTER ROLL

4 c. flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 c. butter
2 c. sugar1 c butter, melted
2 tbsp. cinnamon

Sift flour, baking powder, salt and 2 teaspoons sugar; add 1 1/2 cup butter and buttermilk. Roll dough mix on floured board, thinly. Spread remaining ingredients on dough. Roll like jelly roll in two long rolls and place in buttered or oiled cobbler pan, adding small amount of water as it bakes. Cook at 325 degrees until golden brown.

SAUCE:
2 c. sugar
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1 stick butter, melted
1 qt. whole milk
2 tbsp. vanilla

Cook in top of double boiler until thick. Pour this sauce on butter roll as you prefer. This is especially tasty if served while warm.

Makes 16 servings.

Creamy Cilantro Dressing!

This one rivals the EL TORITO CREAMY CILANTRO dressing. The one they sell in the store does NOT measure up. Sooo, here goes!

INGREDIENTS
2 medium Anaheim chiles, roasted, peeled and seeded
1/3 cup roasted pepitas
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
12 oz. canola oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup lime juice
5 tablespoons grated Cotija cheese
2 small bunches cilantro, stemmed
1 1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup water

DIRECTIONS
Place all dressing ingredients except cilantro, mayonnaise and water in a blender or food processor. Blend for about 10 seconds and then add cilantro little by little until blended smooth.

Place mayonnaise and water in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Add the blended ingredients to the mayonnaise mixture and mix thoroughly. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate. Yields 1 quart!

Creamy Surprise Cookies!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
3/4 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter

Cooking Instructions:

In a small bowl...blend flour, cocoa and baking soda. Mix until blended!

In a large bowl...beat white and brown sugar, butter and 1/4 cup of peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg, beat. Stir in flour mixture until blended. Set aside!

To make filling:

Combine powdered sugar and 3/4 cup of peanut butter. Blend well!

Roll filling into 30-1 inch balls.

For each cookie, with cloured hands, shape about 1 tablespoon of dough around 1 peanut butter ball, covering completely.

Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. (I used parchment paper!) Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar!
Bake at 375 degrees for 7-9 minutes. When cookies are done, they should be set and slightly cracked!

Enjoy the peanut buttery goodness!!!

Green Chile and Chicken Tamales!

The best things I ever put in my mouth! Well, as far as tamales go! I am NOT going to attempt to re-create it though. Tooo much work! Antoinette got them from her husband's job! Holy Moly are they good!

Sorry, I haven't posted in a while! I haven't been in the cooking experimenting mood!

Apple Slice Cookies!

Fun for the beginning of school. I'm making these for the teachers...toooo cute!!

INGREDIENTS
1 little jar of red decorator sugar
1 roll Pillsbury Create 'n Bake refrigerated sugar cookies 2 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips
Black string licorice, cut into 1-inch pieces

Heat oven to 350°F. Cut 17x12-inch piece of plastic wrap; place on work surface. Sprinkle red sugar evenly over plastic wrap. Roll cookie dough in sugar to coat. Wrap in plastic wrap; freeze 30 minutes.

Remove half of dough from wrapper; freeze remaining dough until needed. Cut dough into 1/4-inch slices. On ungreased cookie sheets, place slices 2 inches apart. Place 3 chocolate chips in center of each slice to resemble seeds. To form slice shape, make 2 indentations on 2 opposite sides with fingers. Repeat with remaining half of dough.

Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until unsugared edges are light golden brown. Insert 1 licorice piece on top of each cookie to resemble stem. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.

Baked Cavatelli!

I have been on a pasta kick lately. I dunno, don't ask...

This is like a grown-up version of my favorite PASTA BAKE that we make at school.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. mild Italian sausage
1 lb. dry Cavatelli
2 tablespoon onion powder or minced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 tsp black pepper


1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.


2. In a large skillet, cook the sausage, onion powder/minced and garlic until sausage is brown. Drain and remove from the skillet.


3. In a large bowl, mix the spaghetti sauce, 1 cup mozzarella and pepper. Add the cooked sausage and pasta to the mixture. Mix gently.


4. Spoon mixture into a casserole dish. Bake, covered in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes or until nearly heated through. Then, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella over the top of the entire casserole dish. Bake about 5 minutes more, or until the cheese is melted.

Fettuccine Alfredo!

Who is Alfredo anyway?

This week, I am going to perfect my Fettuccine Alfredo. Here is my original recipe. It may need tweeking...we shall see! Beth is going to be my official taste tester. I'll be sure to report back.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup half and half
1 tablespoon butter
6 oz. dried fettuccine
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
black pepper

1. Let your butter and half and half sit out for a half an hour.

2. Meanwhile, cook the fettuccine according to the package directions. Drain.

3. In a saucepan, over medium heat; mix half and half, butter and cheese. Stir gently until all are mixed well. Add pepper to taste.

4. Pour the sauce over the cooked fettuccine. I add some steamed broccoli and chicken breast chunks to make it a wee bit more hearty.

This recipe makes enough for 4 folks.

****UPDATE...The alfredo was super tasty. Just the consistency was a lil' bumpy. Does anyone know why this would happen?