Delicious Desserts of Rhubarb and Pumpkin

About this time of year, I start wondering-"What am I going to do with all that rhubarb?".  I've managed to get mine down to a manageable level in the last couple years, but you just can't make that stuff slow down.  If you'd like to try something different than rhubarb pie or rhubarb cake, try this yummy rhubarb dessert.

Rhubarb Dessert
Prepare graham cracker crust in a 9x13 pan.
Crust: 
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup melted butter or margarine
Bake crust for 10 minutes at 350.  Cool.  In saucepan, combine:
3 cups cut rhubarb
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Cook until thick.  Add 1 package dry strawberry jello.  Bring back to a boil, mixing well.  Cool and pour over crust.  Combine 2 cups miniature marshmallows with 8 oz. Cool Whip and spread over rhubarb mixture.  Mix 1 package instant vanilla pudding according to directions.  Pour over top and refrigerate.  Sprinkle a few graham cracker crumbs on top.


I know it's not the traditional "Pumpkin Pie time of year", but I'm going to include a Pumpkin Pie recipe also.  The rhubarb dessert and pumpkin pie recipes were given to me by my grandmothers, who both passed away last year.  I can't think about one without thinking about the other, so I feel they both need to be included here.  They were both beautiful, awesome women and good cooks, too!

Mother's Pumpkin Pie
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 1/2 cups milk
Beat eggs; add suger, pumpkin, and spices.  Beat well and add milk.  Beat thoroughly and bake in raw crust about 1 hour 15 or 1 hour 30 minutes at 350.

Have you stopped by the Recipe Moms website?  You can find lots of great recipes there in several different categories.  It's fun to mix & match recipes from different categories to create a delicious meal.  Check it out at Recipe Moms and see for yourself!  While you're there, visit the CafePress shop for Recipe Moms t-shirts, totes, hats, etc.

Coffee Toffee Bars

I can't wait to try these!  I love coffee, and what goes better with coffee than bars?

Coffee Toffee Bars
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 cup quick rolled oats
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup finely chopped nuts
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons instant coffee crystals
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup (6 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350. Coat 9x13 inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
2. Combine 1/2 cup melted butter, oats, brown sugar, flour, nuts, and baking soda in large bowl.  Press firmly onto bottom of prepared pan.
3. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until surface is bubbly. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in medium saucepan, over medium heat.  Add sweetened condensed milk, coffee, and vanilla. Cook and stir until mixture thickens, about 15 minutes.  Pour over crust.
4. Bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from oven.  Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips on top.  Let stand one minute.  Spread chocolate while warm.  Cool thoroughly.  Refrigerate 30 minutes if chocolate is still soft.  Cut into bars.

For more great recipes, or to share your cooking/baking tips & tricks, visit http://www.recipemoms.com/.

Red Lobster Cheese Bisquits

This recipe is from my friend Andrew  :)

Red Lobster Cheese Bisquits 
Dough:
1 1/4 lbs Bisquick
3 oz freshly shredded cheddar cheese
11 oz cold water

Garlic Spread;
1/2 cup melted butter
1 teas. garlic powder
1/4 teas. salt
1/8 teas. onion powder
1/8 teas. dried parsley

To cold water , add Bisquick and cheese, blending in a mixing bowl.
Mix until dough is firm.

Using a small scoop, place the dough on a baking pan lined with baking paper.  Bake in 375 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. 

While biscuits bake, combine spread ingredients.

Brush baked biscuits with the garlic topping and enjoy.

Send in your recipes, cooking tips and tricks!  Just drop me an e-mail and then look for your recipes both here and on my website.

The Whole Enchilada

Here's another great recipe from Lyz!  If you like spicy food, here you go......

Enchiladas

Sauce: This makes a TON of sauce, but that is how I like my enchiladas (it also makes about two pans of enchiladas). You could easily half it if that is not how you roll. 3 Tablespoons oil 1 Large onion ,chopped fine 4-5 medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon) 6 tablespoons chili powder 4 teaspoons ground coriander 4 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon table salt 2 teaspoons granulated sugar 3 cans tomato sauce (8 ounces each) 1 cup water 2 pounds ground beef 2 cups sharp cheddar 20 6-8" flour tortillas Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering but not smoking, about 2 minutes; add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, coriander, cumin, salt, and sugar; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomato sauce and 1 cup water. Bring to simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until flavors have melded, about 8 minutes. While sauce is simmering, brown 2 pounds of ground beef. Pour sauce mixture through medium-mesh strainer into medium bowl, pressing on onions to extract as much sauce as possible; set sauce aside. Mix onions and a little of the sauce with ground beef - fill desired amount of tortillas and top with sharp cheddar cheese. Roll up and place in 9x13 baking pan. Cover with sauce. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Cover with remainder of sharp cheddar cheese and bake for an additional 5 minutes to melt.

Mama Mia, That's Italian!

The recipes keep coming in!  This one is from Lyz of Minnesota.  Lasagna is another one of my favorites. (Recipe Mom is part Italian!) I'm going to have to be sure and try this one....Yum!

Creamy Lasagna
2 pounds ground beef
1 can (29 ounces) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon salt (I used Crazy Janes mixed salt cuz that's all I had)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 package (8ounce) cream cheese, softened
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
4 green onions, chopped
1 package oven ready lasagna noodles


1-cook meat over med heat until no longer pink, drain.  Add tomato sauce, salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 15 min.  In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.  Add sour cream, 1 cup cheddar cheese and onions; mix well

2-Spread about 1/2 cup meat sauce into9x13 baking dish.  place 3 noodles on top.  Top with 1/2 cup cream cheese mixture and about 2/3 cup meat sauce.  repeat layers twice.  Sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese over each.

3- bake at 350 for 25-30 mins or until bubbly and heated through.  Let stand 15 min before cutting.

See my website for more delicious recipes!  If you'd like to share a recipe, please feel free to e-mail me and yours could be the next recipe posted here!  I'd also be interested in receiving your cooking and/or baking tricks and tips.

Unbelievable Peanut Butter Cookies

This is a recipe given to me by my grandmother several years ago.  She gave me a cookie first, and after I tasted it she asked how I liked it.  "It's good", I said.  "It's made without flour", she said. "That's unbelieveable!" was my response.  Strangely enough, the recipe was actually called Unbelieveable Peanut Butter Cookies.  So easy, so little mess, and very tasty!  Enjoy  :)

Unbelievable Peanut Butter Cookies

1 egg, slightly beaten
1 cup white sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1/8 teaspoon salt

Mix ingredients and roll into balls the size of walnuts.  Place on cookie sheet and press down with a fork.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

That's all there is to it!  Please comment and let me know how you liked them if you decide to try this recipe!

Tasty Taco Bake

We love trying new recipes!  Here's one sent in by Tracy of Minnesota.  It sounds easy, fast, and delicious-can't wait to try it.  Don't forget, you can send in your favorite recipe to RecipeMoms and we'll share it for you!

Taco Bake
1 & 1/2 pounds ground beef
taco seasoning
soft tortilla shells
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 (16oz) container sour cream
shredded cheese
Make taco meat.  Fill tortillas and roll.  Line up in an 8x10 pan.  Mix soup and sour cream; pour over top and put shredded cheese over top.  Bake 1/2 hour at 350.  Top with lettuce, tomato, taco sauce.

You Can Have Your Cheesecake AND Save 10%

If you know me, you know I think cheesecake is one of the best foods ever invented.  Well if you didn't know before, you know now!  Anyway, I came across a special that cheesecake.com is having for January and thought I'd share it with you!

Cheesecake.com is offering website visitors 10% off on their order from the cheesecake.com website.

January Promo Code: SAVE10 - this code provides 10% off of all products in the cart (excludes taxes and shipping).

Restrictions: Valid only once per customer. No other promotions valid with this offer.

 

Sounds good to me!  The hardest part is deciding which kind to get.  Maybe brownie swirl cheesecake?  Pumpkin cheesecake?  Strawberry cheesecake?  Hmmmm......

 

Aw Shucks, I Got An Award!

I'm very grateful to Tracy at Having Fun Saving for presenting me with my first ever Bloggy Award!  Thanks so much!  It's great to be noticed-and the best part is, now I get to pass it along :)



How It Works:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers.

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

Seven things about me:

1. I live in Minnesota, but hate the cold! (go figure!)
2. By day, I work in an accounting office.
3. I LOVE road trips!
4. I used to sing in a band, and played bass guitar for part of that time.
5. I have 2 very spoiled dogs.
6. I'm very much a morning person-I hardly ever stay up late.
7. Summer is definitely my favorite season-I love getting outdoors, but hate the cold. (See #1)

My nominations:

1. My Organised Life

2. Make Dinner Easy

3. Savin "IT" up

4. Crystal Jigsaw

5. In The Land Of Mom

6. My Grass Is Purple

7. Alex's World

8. The Days Go On

9. 1 Funky Woman

10. Tawna's Plan

Try Something New! It's A New Year, So Why Not?

I love getting recipes sent to me-you get set on eating the same thing, kind of, over and over-and this shakes things up!  I'm realizing I should be trying new foods more often, as I see more and more suggestions of what else is out there.  I usually can't think of anything exciting to do with vegetables, and then I happened across this recipe~

 Cauliflower Casserole 
1 medium head cauliflower, broken into florets
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crushed corn flakes
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
paprika
Place cauliflower and a small amount of water in a saucepan; cover and cook for 5 minutes, or until crisp-tender.  Drain.  Combine cauliflower, sour cream, cheddar cheese, corn flakes, peppers, and salt; transfer to a 2 quart baking dish.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and paprika.  Bake, uncovered, at 325 for 30-35 minutes or until heated through.
Yield 6-8 servings

If you don't eat meat, Cauliflower Casserole could be a good main dish for you.  I can't wait to try it-it really sounds good!


Here's a chicken recipe I got in an e-mail:

Apricot-Glazed Chicken

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons apricot preserves
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
1 clove garlic, minced
5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmmed of fat
sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Method:
1. Combine the apricot preserves, red wine vinegar, 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil, and the minced garlic.
2. Mix with a whisk until well combined.  Set aside.
3. Preheat the oven to 350. Season both sides of the chicken thighs with sea salt and freshly crackd pepper to taste.
4. Heat the remaining half a tablespoon of olive oil in an OVEN PROOF skillet over medium high heat.  Add the seasoned chicken thighs when the pan is hot and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes.
5. Turn the chcken over and pour the apricot sauce evenly over the top of the chicken.  Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
6. Serve the chicken with the sauce drizzled over the top.

Thank you to @nowcook from Twitter for this one!

If you'd like to see more recipes, check out Recipe Moms. They're split up into categories that you can pick & choose from to create a unique and delicious meal!

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