Cinnamon Roll Pancake Recipe

these are {high pitched voice} suh-weet!

not only cinnamon and sugar sweet.

wait till you realize how easy they are..psst…a little closer I'll share the secret.

I use my regular old pancake mix and squeeze a cinnamony, sugary swirl of happiness in the center.  Ha.  Are you surprised?  Don't be.  I'm all about baking shortcuts…especially ones that don't taste like a shortcut.  This will give you a cinnamon roll flavor that Grandma would appreciate…or my husband (who's kinda a cinnamon roll snob).  Taste and see why this is a favorite in our home.

Cinnamon Roll Filling Recipe
4 Tablespoons butter (barely softened)
1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

….yes that's all folks!
Blend them together and place in a sandwich size ziplock bag.
I learned to put mine in the fridge ahead of time to firm up, like overnight.  If the mixture is runny it will slide off the pancakes and make a sticky mess, and make a smelly burning smell.

1. Prepare your pancake mix and pour one nice sized pancake in your hot skillet, low-medium heat.  Snip off a corner of your "secret mixture".   The perfect texture is thick similar to toothpaste. Squeeze a swirl pattern on top of the pancake, just like a cinnamon roll.  Don't get too close to the edges.  Wait until it is completely cooked (golden brown) on the bottom before you turn it.  Flip it carefully. Cook another 2 or 3 minutes.
2. After each pancake I wipe the pan out carefully, very carefully with a paper towel.  The sugar in the pan will burn if you don't wipe it out.  Let the pan get back to proper heat before starting next one.

Cream Cheese Glaze Recipe
4 Tablespoons butter
2 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Heat the butter over medium heat.  Remove from heat and whisk in the cream cheese.  Add your powdered sugar and vanilla.  Drizzle it all over your pipping hot cinnamon roll pancake.  Drizzle a little more just for good measure.

Sit back and watch your family realize how awesome you are.

chocolate banana bread recipe

So the girls and I were in the kitchen and Alexis (it's always Alexis) says, "Mom lets make something chocolate."

Just a note.  Alexis didn't speak until she was over 3 years old.  Don't misunderstand, she could speak.  She just chose to not speak to anyone.  But I remember her first word as clear as day…."Chocolate".

So this fine sunshiny day we tweaked our banana bread recipe and made it chocolate.  Yes, we did.

Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips 
• 1/4 cup room temperature butter
• 3/4 cup  sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup mashed banana (about 3 large bananas)
• 1/3 cup sour cream (secret ingredient)
• 2 cups all purpose flour 
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 
  

1. Beat together 1/4 cup butter and 3/4 cup sugar till fluffy.  Add 2 eggs.  Stir in bananas and 1/3 cup sour cream.
2. Slowly add 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, salt, and 1 teaspoon baking soda.  Just stir until blended.  Don't over mix.
3.  Separate 1 cup of batter and set back.  Pour the remaining batter into a greased and floured loaf pan.
4. In a glass bowl heat the chocolate chips for 30 to 45 seconds (this varies).  Continue at little intervals until they are melted.  Careful blend with the 1 cup of batter you just set back.  Pour the now chocolate batter down the center of the regular batter and lightly swirl….if you feel like it.
5.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until a uncooked spaghetti noodle comes out not doughy.  It won't be clean like a cupcake but you don't want it to be uncooked in center.  Note: Cooking times vary on breads in different altitudes.

enjoy,

counting my blessings

7. a flour sifter

8. awesome bread pans (thank you mother-in-law)

9. a gas stove

Frosted pumpkin cookies recipe

We all have them.

  Those special recipes that are kinda like the crown jewels of the family.

Want to know one of our family's favorite recipes?

Grandma Alberta's Frosted Pumpkin cookies! 

When fall comes in the States I start dreaming about crunchy leaves, apple cider, and pumpkins.  Prince starts dreaming about fall deer season.

Even though it is still stifling hot here the princesses and I decorated the dining room and school room in fall decorations and set little scarecrows and fall leaves around to enjoy.

One special recipe in my family is my grandma's pumpkin cookies.  I love the smell of them cooking and I love the moist texture of this cookie and the sugary, crisp frosting.  Even Prince (who isn't much for sweet stuff) couldn't resist standing around in the kitchen!

Grandma Alberta's Frosted Pumpkin Cookies

grocery list

(cookies)

2 cups pumpkin

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 cups shortening

4 cups flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

dash salt

(frosting)

2 Tablespoon butter

2 cups powdered sugar

2 1/2 Tablespoon milk

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions for cookies

1. Cream together 

2 cups pumpkin

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 cups shortening

2. Add 

4 cups flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

dash salt

mix throughly and drip by spoonful onto cookie sheet.  Bake at 325 deg.  

3. Enjoy the sweet pumpkin scent drifting through the kitchen and making your house all {homey}.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Bake all cookies before making frosting.  Frosting hardens soon after cooked.

If you can keep the kids and husband from eating them all up here is the "so worth it" frosting!

Directions for frosting

1. Bring to boil

2 Tablespoon butter

2 cups powdered sugar

2 1/2 Tablespoon milk

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2.  As soon as it boils remove from heat.  Carefully dip each cookie in frostin' or drizzle cookies.  It is messy, so I recommend putting the cookies on a piece of wax paper.  The frosting will set up quick.

Try it, you'll thank me later!

Chinese Noodles

Mom's Chinese Noodles

grocery list

1 package linguine  noodles (or any type of noodles)

3 Tablespoon olive oil

4 green onions

small white onion

2 stalks diced celery

1/4 cup broccoli

1 large shredded carrot

1/4 cup shredded purple cabbage

1/4 cup soy sauce (or to taste)

1. Boil noodles as directed on package.  Cool and set aside.

2. Coat bottom of skillet withs olive oil.  Sauté vegetables.  You can use more or less of each one....depending on your family's likes or dislikes. {ahhhh.....it's broccoli!} Salt and pepper to taste. 

3. When vegetables are tender stir in noodles and add soy sauce.  Serve right away.

Coconut Pecan Icing recipe

This sweet topping might just be Prince's new favorite.  We were wanting something different yesterday and I whipped together this yummy treat.  I had it waiting on the stove when he got home.  He smelled it before he even got in the house.  Welcome home, honey.  

Coconut Pecan Icing Recipe
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 cup Sweetened Coconut Flakes, toasted
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Your coconut has to be toasted.  So I generally toast mine in the oven while it is preheating to cook the cake.  Just spread it even on a cookie sheet and bake it for 6 minutes stirring ever so often to evenly brown.
2. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.  Add your brown sugar and corn syrup and stir it constantly.  It will get thick and bubbly in about 3 or 4 minutes.
3.  Remove from heat and stir in coconut, pecans, and vanilla.  Spread warm over cake.
 

white chocolate snickerdoodle pudding cookies

it just keeps getting better and better!

My mom has been making chocolate chip pudding cookies as long as I can remember.  They are amazing and will always be a favorite in our family.  Close on the list is Snickerdoodle cookies...actually snickerdoodle anything!  So a little experimenting and I came up with this.

White Chocolate Snickerdoodle Pudding Cookies Recipe

1 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

3.4 pkg. vanilla pudding mix

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cups white chocolate chips

1 tsp. cinnamon

cinnamon and sugar for rolling the dough

1. Cream together butter, sugars, and eggs.  Add eggs 1 at a time.  Add vanilla.

2. In another bowl mix together dry ingredients.  

3. Combine and stir until dough forms.  Stir white chocolate chips in by hand.  

4.  Scoop small balls out and roll in sugar/cinnamon mixture until fully covered.  Place on baking sheet about 2 inch apart.  

5.  Bake at 350 until golden brown and just set.  I prefer to uncook mine a little and leave them on tray to firm up a little before sliding on the cooling rack.

betcha can't eat just one,

all natural mosquito spray

I live where there is seriously a lot of mosquitos...and this works great.  Honestly...helps repel those pesky little suckers and their friends the gnats.

12 ounce bottle of witch hazel
15 drops of lemon grass oil 
15 drops of citronella oil
10 drops of eucalyptus oil

I love that it doesn't feel oily at all!  Most chemical repellant sprays that you have leave a greasy slick feeling.  This dries quick and my kids love the smell.

I mix it all in the bottle of witch hazel and then shake it very good.  I pour it into my little spray bottle and carry it around with me.  Give it a good shake before you spray it each time because it separates.

Sugar coated party popcorn

this is my "go to" recipe 

when I need to make an impressive fast {cheap} snack

 for Sunday School or even just a movie night with my own little chickies!

candy popcorn looks pretty and is loved by all ages!

Candy Coated Popcorn Recipe Recipe

4 cups cooked popcorn (about 1 cup uncooked)

2 cup sugar

3 Tablespoon butter

3 Tablespoons water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

preferred color food coloring

1. cook popcorn, put in a container with extra space and a lid.  set aside 

2. in a saucepan combine sugar, water, butter until melted and bubbling.  Cook on medium heat stirring continually for 5 minutes

3. remove from heat and stir in a vanilla and food coloring.  

4.  pour hot mixture over popcorn. cover with tight lid and shake it up.  shake, shake, shake.

5.  When popcorn is completely covered you can spread it on wax paper until it dries.  return to airtight container

I sometimes add colorful sprinkles when I spread it to cool.  It doesn't stick perfectly but it is still pretty.

yummy,

 

blueberry cream cheese cobbler recipe

My mom makes an amazing strawberry cream cheese cobbler with this recipe.  Prince Charming is goo-goo about blueberries and we just happened to find some frozen ones at the store a few weeks ago.  We paid an arm and a leg for them!  But this is sooo worth it.

My Mom's Cobbler Recipe

{It's the best!}

grocery list

1/4 cup butter (soft)

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1 cup of desired fruit (peaches, strawberries, blueberries, etc.)

1. Wash and dice up your fruit. Possibly adding a teaspoon of sugar and set aside

2. cream butter and sugar together 

3. In separate bowl mix flour and baking powder well

4. Stir butter mixture and flour mixture together with milk just until blended.

5. Pour into greased 9x9 pan or {my favorite} a 9 inch pie pan.

6. The fruit should have a little syrup to it.  Gently drop it across the top of your cobbler.  Now isn't that pretty?

7. bake at 350 degree until toothpick comes at clean.

Note: to make it a cream cheese cobbler.  I take about 6 ounces of cream cheese (softened) blend it with 2 teaspoons of sugar, and drop by dollops onto the cobbler right after adding the fruit.  Don't worry about stirring it in, the cream cheese and fruit will settle in just right as it cooks.

We prefer more cobbler, so most of the time we double the cobbler part.

"yummy in my tummy" Princess Brynlee, 2

not much is better,

chocolate chip {cookie dough} cake Recipe

Come one.... come ALL cookie-dough lovers!

Happy Birthday to Moriah!

She loves cookie dough

She loves chocolate chips

She loves frosting

B-I-N-G-O!

I wanted a dense cake almost like a cookie texture but still fluffy and moist.

  This recipe was perfect.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake Recipe

CAKE

I LOVE Paula Dean's Basic 1-2-3-4 Recipe

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature 
2 cups sugar 
4 eggs 
3 cups sifted self-rising flour 
1 cup milk 
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg and spray round cake pans.  (tip: I always cut wax paper and lay it in the pan to make cake come out easily)

2.  Cream butter with electric mixer until fluffy.  Add sugar and continue beating for a few minutes. Add eggs one at a time.

3. Add flour and milk alternating back and forth between each one.  Starting and ending with flour.  Add vanilla.

4. Fill pans equally.  (tip: drop pan several times on counter to remove air bubbles in batter.)

5. Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

COOKIE DOUGH FILLING (EGGLESS)

Directions:

1/2 cup butter (soften)

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 Tablespoon milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup chocolate chips (mini ones would work best, but I just have regular ones so I crushed them a little in a plastic bag.)

Directions:

1. Cream together butter, sugars, milk, and vanilla.  Blend in flour completely.  Stir in chocolate chips.

2. Roll into circles and place in freezer until very firm.  

To assemble cake

1. place one cooled layer on your cake stand.  Smooth a nice layer of butter cream frosting and arrange cookie dough balls.....everywhere on it!  Yumm......yummm!

2.  carefully lay top layer of cake on and put the frosting on top.  You can ice the sides of leave them open with the tempting cookie dough layer peeking out.  Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top and arrange left over cookie dough.

when I made the frosting for this cake I crushed up chocolate chips and mixed them in it to really give the cake a cookie dough flavor!

have a lovely day,

humidity proof frosting recipe

This is Prince Charming's favorite frosting.
My fail proof frosting works great in our high humidity climate.
This is great for frosting a cake and taking it to church where it will be out for several hours in the heat. It doesn't soak into the cake but stays firm on top.  YUM!

Humidity Proof Frosting Recipe
1/3 cup butter, room temp (the real stuff works best)
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (or almond)

I whip it together with  my electric hand mixer.  Alternating powdered sugar and milk until it is all in the bowl.  Nothing fancy...just plain good.  I often double the recipe and store the extra in the fridge.

enjoy,

whipped chocolate frosting....2 ingredients

My Mother in Law made these chocolate cupcakes

 with this amazing frosting while I was visiting.

They were so good that I seriously couldn't stop eating them!

  Dangerous I know.

Want to impress someone or just treat yourself?  Try this.

2 ingredients...4 steps!

Whipped Chocolate Frosting Recipe

1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1 regular bag of chocolate chips

1. Bring cream to almost boiling....but don't boil it!

2.  In a large mixing bowl,

pour over the chocolate chips and stir until chips are melted and well blended.

3. Cool for 1 hour on counter and 5 minutes in fridge

4.  Whip with a mixer

Ta-daa!

Thanks, Mrs. Bonnie, for sharing!

Cadbury creme fudge recipe

{second} most popular post.

thank you... thank you for all the love.

enjoy.

Cadbury Creme Fudge Recipe

 

Cadbury Mini Egg Muddy Mix Recipe

When I was a little girl I remember having lots of wonderful memories of Easter time.

A fresh new dress, Easter hats, white shoes, Sunrise Service at Church, Easter egg hunts,

chocolate bunnies with pretty frosting eyes, Reese's Eggs... and Cadbury Mini Eggs.

Cadbury Mini Eggs are my inspiration for this festive fun snack.

Cadbury Mini Egg Muddy Mix Recipe

1. Here is the shopping list!
8 cups chex (rice or corn) cereal
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 (10 ounce) bag of cadbury mini eggs
2.  Stir together peanut butter, butter, and chocolate chips in a microwave proof bowl.
Heat in the microwave oven at 30 second intervals until smooth.
You may dip the tip of your finger in to taste the {sweet} melted goodness.
Stir in the vanilla.
3.  Measure out the chex cereal in a large bowl and drizzle the chocolate mixture all over it...down to every last drop! Stir until evenly distributed.
4. Sprinkle the powdered sugar and stir {gingerly} scooping from the bottom up.
5. Drop the mini Cadbury Eggs into the bowl. Crushing some if you like.
I'll confess.  I did a little 2 for you... 2 for me {wink}
I just love those little chocolate eggs!  Can't help myself!

Store in airtight container!

yum,

scent of cinnamon ornaments recipe

I Love the smells of Christmas...but none is so homey to me as spicy cinnamon.

A {kinda} Christmas tradition with our family is cinnamon & applesauce ornaments.

I'd forgotten how easy to make and how wonderful

 {and-down-right-cozy} they make the room smell.

this recipe is really tricky!

are you ready?

Cinnamon & Applesauce Ornaments Recipe

1. mix well together equal parts of regular applesauce and cinnamon

example: 1 1/2 cups applesauce and 1 1/2 cup cinnamon

2. I place stiff dough on metal cookie sheets

 and let the kids flatten it with their fingers.

about 1/2 inch thick is nice.

  Too thick and it takes to long to dry.  To thin and they break easy.

3. Cut shapes with cookie cutters and place all on a tray to dry.

4.  I turn my oven on about 350 and get it warm

 meanwhile I cut holes in the ornaments with a straw top.

I shut the oven off and place the tray with cut ornaments inside.

NOTE: Baking is optional, because they will dry and harden on the counter after 2 days.

I just like placing them in a nice warm oven 'cause

they make the house smell like....well, Christmas!

oh, yes!  I forgot to mention we kinda princess-y them up a little

 by sprinkling snow white glitter on them before letting them dry!

  So pretty by the twinkling lights of the tree!

what are your favorite traditions?

Crockpot white chicken chili recipe

Recently, were were with our friends Pastor Tim and Lana Stevens.  Lana served this really yummy chili and Prince and I loved it!  Even better when I found out she just put it all in the crockpot!  Lana gave me the recipe and I made it again for our family.  Same thing!  

My kids kept asking for seconds and thirds.  

Even my {nasally voice} "is that a vegetable?" eater!

This is gonna be regular on our family menu.

White Chicken Chili Recipe

from the kitchen of Mrs. Lana Stevens

(approx. 20 servings)

6 (15 1/2 oz) cans Great Northern Beans

3 (5 oz) cans chicken, drained

32 oz. container chicken broth

3 cups (12 oz) shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

2 (4 1/2 oz) cans diced green chilies

2 small onions, chopped fine

1 1/2 cup sour cream

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

DIRECTIONS:

  For Crockpot: Combine all ingredients.

Set on high for 2 hours or until cheese looks melted

 than low or warm until ready to serve. 

For Stovetop:  Combine all ingredients in a large stockpot.

Simmer 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

NOTES: I halfed the recipe to fit in my crockpot.

  But if you were doing it in a big pot on the stove it would fit wonderfully.

I used slightly less green chilies  because I was afraid it would be too spicy.

Next time I will add them all.

  I used black pepper instead of white because Prince Charming likes pepper.

enjoy,

{3 ingredients} harvest apple dessert recipe

My girls and I can't get enough American fruit.

  Like apples!  We love apples.  

This recipe is so yummy and so very easy.

Not to mention it makes the house smell very festive and inviting.

3 ingredient Harvest Apple Recipe

fresh apples (cinnamon and sugar optional)

1 yellow cake mix

1 stick of butter

1. Peel and slice up the apples and sprinkled sugar and cinnamon.  If you sit them in a bowl on the counter for a few hours they get really juicy and yummy.  Feel free to sneak a couple.

2. Pour apples in the bottom of a pan that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

3. Sprinklethe yellow cake mix over the apples.  

4. Melt butter and drizzle it all around.

5. Bake at 350 about 40 minutes or until the apples are tender when pricked.

Note:  You can use any fresh fruit for this recipe.  I'm thinking peaches or maybe strawberries.  Uh-huh.

Have a lovely day, 

Pepperoni Pizza Bread Recipe

this is from my {secret} stash of quickie meals.

very fast, easy, simple, and disappears in a flash!

at our house we call it "Eden's favorite bread" cause.....it's her favorite.

here you go!

Pepperoni Pizza Bread Recipe

1. Slice french bread

2. whip (softened) 1 1/2 cup butter and 

(dry) ranch seasoning packet  

tip: you can use margarine spread if you want.  It spreads smoother

3.  mince your garlic clove very, very fine

 and whip it into butter mixture

4. spread generously on both sides of bread

5.  arrange on pan close together

6. lay pepperoni on the top of bread (we do 3)

7.  sprinkle mozzarella cheese over bread 

(tip: if the bread is touching this is best so you keep the cheese on the bread!)

bake at 400 deg til cheese is melted

 and bread is the texture you love best....

we're soft bread people so we just melt the cheese

 but some prefer to really toast it and make bread crunchy.

enjoy,