Raspberry Lemonade Cookies

It's not often when I make a cookie recipe but I'm usually happy with the results and this one screams summer.  The tangy smell that emerges from the oven is heavenly as well as the slightly tart icing blends together.  

Raspberry Lemonade Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup raspberry lemonade concentrate, thawed

Cream together butter and sugar.  Beat in the egg.  Alternate adding in dry ingredients and raspberry lemonade concentrate.  Bake for 12 minutes at 325°.  Allow to cool completely before icing.

Icing ~

2 tbsp butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

3 tbsp raspberry lemonade concentrate

Mix together until completely blended.  

Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Dorito Chicken Fingers

I found another new use for sour cream.  I thawed chicken breast strips and was looking for a different way to make them.  I happened to have some snack size Dorito packages so I used them with the sour cream to make these moist chicken fingers.

Dorito Chicken Fingers

2 cups crushed nacho cheese Doritos
1# chicken breast strips
1/2 cup sour cream
salt to taste

Place the sour cream in a dish that is easy for dipping.  I placed the Dorito bits in a plastic bag and rolled the chicken finger into the sour cream and then  placed it in the bag and shook it.  Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.  Salt slightly and then bake for 30 minutes at 350°.

Grape Salad

I'm getting lots of lettuce from my CSA for salads but I wanted a nice fruit salad with the hot weather that we're having.  Plus I have an over abundance of sour cream in my refrigerator so you might be seeing a few recipes using it in the next few days.

Grape Salad

1 # green grapes
1 # red grapes
4 oz Neufchatel cheese (or regular cream cheese)
1/3 cup sour cream
3 tbsp honey
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup toffee bits

Wash and drain grapes.  In a small bowl, combine Neufchatel cheese, sour cream, honey and vanilla.  Stir into grapes.  Sprinkle the mixture with toffee bits.  Cover and chill for 4 hours before serving.

Cinnamon Apple Crunch Mix

It's been some time since I made a snack mix and I found lots of ingredients in my pantry to throw one together today.

Cinnamon Apple Crunch Mix

6 cups popped popcorn
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
2 cups dehydrated apples
2 cups chow mein noodles
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla


In a small saucepan, melt butter and then add the sugar, cinnamon, salt and vanilla.  Cook until thick and pour over the popped popcorn, peanuts, apples and chow mein noodles in a large roaster. Stir well and bake for 15 minutes at 250°.  Turn off oven after 15 minutes, stir and put back in cooling oven for an additional 15 minutes.  Store in an airtight container.

Ham & Parmesan Linguine

My comfort food always seems to have a little heat in it.  This time it came from red pepper flakes which balanced out well with the hint of garlic.

Ham & Parmesan Linguine

8 oz linguine
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup Half and Half
1 cup ham, diced
1/2 cup peas (I used frozen)
1/2 cup Parmesan (shredded plus extra shaved for top)
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Cook linguine in salted water.  As that is cooking, heat olive oil in a large frying pan.  Toss in minced garlic and cook for a minute before adding in Half and Half.  When that is heated, add in ham, peas, Parmesan and spices.  When pasta is cooked, lift out of saucepan and toss right into the cream sauce.  Toss lightly and add shaved Parmesan to top before serving.

What-Cha-Ma-Call-It Ice Cream

Whatchamacallit candy bars are one of my favorites even though they are hard to find some days.  I wanted to create an ice cream to taste similar and without all the heaviness adding in egg yolks.  Naturally you need a crunch factor and I picked one of my favorite cereals to nibble on to provide it ~ Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch.

What-Cha-Ma-Call-It Ice Cream

In a large bowl combine ~

1/2 cup dark cocoa
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 1/2 cups half and half
2 tsp vanilla


Mix together and pour into your ice cream machine. 

When it's thickened, add in ~

2 cups crushed Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch
1/2 caramel sauce ~ see below

Put in your freezer until it's firmly set.


Caramel Sauce 

15 caramels
2 tbsp whipping cream

Melt caramels with whipping cream and stir until smooth.  Allow to cool before adding to ice cream.  Gently mix in last so you leave ribbons of caramel in the ice cream. 

Grilled Mozzarella & Pepperoni Sandwich

It's Monday and that deserves an easy meal on your first day back at work after a nice weekend.  And this one doesn't get much easier but still gives you a feeling of comfort which Mondays usually have you wanting.  Plus who can resist ooey gooey mozzarella falling down the toasted edges of the bread?  I already had my pizza sauce for dipping made and just had to thaw it and heat it.

Grilled Mozzarella & Pepperoni Sandwich

2 slices of bread, your choice ~ my choice was sourdough
softened butter
sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
1/8 tsp oregano
pepperoni slices


Butter outsides of the slices of your bread.  Place one butter side down and top with mozzarella, oregano and pepperoni.  Grill until a golden brown on both sides. Serve with pizza sauce.



Pizza Sauce

1 - 6 oz tomato paste
6 oz water
3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp honey
1/4 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp Italian Seasonings
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
salt to taste

Mix together tomato paste and water in a medium sized pan.  Add in honey, garlic and spices and let simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.