Pepperoni Puffs

I really liked these. I saw them in our school fundraiser cookbook and adapted it some. They are to be served as an appetizer, but we ate them as our regular meal, served with a tossed salad, some watermelon and some cottage cheese.

1 c flour
1 c milk
1 c shredded cheddar cheese
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
1 c mini pepperoni (they are soooo cute, have you seen these?)
heated pizza sauce/marinara for dipping

Combine flour, milk, cheese, egg and baking powder. Stir in mini pepperoni. Grease mini muffin tins. Fill each 3/4 full. Bake at 275 for 25 minutes or until golden. Serve warm, dipped in marinara. Made 24.

Filled Cupcakes

Every now and then, I'll post a "not so simple" recipe IF I feel it is worth the time & effort. This is one such recipe. My mom has been making these for as long as I can remember. Not sure where the recipe originated. (Caution: This recipe makes 36 cupcakes...so be ready to have THAT MANY cupcakes to devour!)

Cake:
3 c flour
2 c sugar
1/2 c cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 c water
1 c oil (I used canola)
2 T vinegar
2 tsp vanilla

Filling:
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 egg
1/3 c sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)

Topping:
1/2 tsp sugar (per each)
1 tsp chopped walnuts (per each)

For cupcakes, sift dry ingredients. Add water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. (Batter will be runny) Fill cupcake papers about 1/2 full.

For filling, beat cream cheese, egg, sugar and salt. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop round teaspoonful of filling on each cupcake.

For topping, top EACH cupcake with 1/2 tsp sugar and 1 tsp chopped walnuts. (I always do half without nuts to please my husband and kiddos)

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

*NOTE: You can make this as a 9 X 13 cake too. Adjust cooking time accordingly.

Breakfast Sausage Casserole

(modified from Mr. Breakfast)

This seriously is the yummiest breakfast casserole I've ever had. I NEEDED to have this recipe the first time I tasted it.

16 oz day old bread, cubed or torn into bite sized pieces
16 oz sausage (cooked, drained & crumbled)
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
10 eggs, slightly beaten
3 cups half & half
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard

Grease 9 X 13 pan well. Place bread in pan. Sprinkle with cheese and sausage. Combine rest of ingredients together and mix well. Pour over bread and refrigerate overnight.

Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees or until golden brown.

Fruit & Yogurt Parfaits

My in-laws were here for the weekend putting up the enormous custom playhouse they built the girls for Christmas...anyways...

So, we wanted quick breakfasts so that we could eat and get to work. But, I wanted something a little more exciting than cereal. So, I opted to "copy" McDonald's "Fruit and Yogurt Parfait".

Tub of Low-fat vanilla yogurt
Strawberries
Blueberries
(I think I would use raspberries too next time)
sugar to sweeten (optional)
Granola (I bought a box in the cereal aisle, but you could make your own)
Fun see thru dishes

I took stems off the strawberries and sliced them. Tossed them with the blueberries and added a little bit of sugar to sweeten.

In dish, I layered yogurt, fruit, granola.

They were a hit with EVERYONE (even my husband who reluctantly fixed himself one and LOVED it)

Dark Chocolate Cake w/Whipped Cream & Berries

This was soooooo yummy, looked so FANCY, and was pretty simple.

1 box mix cake (dark chocolate)& egg, oil & water per instructions
chocolate chips
whipping cream (I used two of the small cartons, but had some leftover)
powdered sugar
strawberries (stems removed and sliced)
chocolate syrup

Prepare batter as directed. Add a handful of chocolate chips to batter. Bake in two 8 or 9 inch rounds as directed. (I sprinkled a few more chips on top before baking)
*tip: for BEAUTIFUL, non-sticking bottoms, trace your pans on parchment/wax paper and line your pans. When you invert/cool, the paper will just peel right off leaving you with such a nice surface to frost.

Let cool completely.

I suggest waiting until the last minute possible to frost with whipping cream so that your cream is fresh/fluffy. Prepare whipping cream, adding powdered sugar to sweeten. (*tip: put metal bowl/beaters in freezer prior to beating. The chilled beaters/bowl make for wonderful whipped cream)

Spread a layer of whipping cream on your first cake top, add strawberries. Top with second cake. Spread whipping cream on top layer. Add strawberries. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and drizzle with syrup. So delicious. Everyone had seconds (and some had thirds...) I think I would LOVE this cake with raspberries.