Peanut clusters

Believe it or not, but I actually got this recipe from a bathroom stall. Let me explain ... at the university where I work, a student organization posts health tips called "toilet talk" on the backs of the bathroom doors. The winter posting featured this recipe as a healthy alternative to cookies. They are so tasty it's hard to believe they are healthier than cookies - and so much easier! Corey and his junk food loving friends even like them – bonus!

stuff:

10 oz peanut butter chips

1/2 cup dry roasted, unsalted peanuts

1/2 cup regular oats, uncooked

1/2 cup raisins

1 tsp cinnamon

what to do with the stuff:

Microwave chips in bowl until melted, stir a few times while melting every 30 seconds or so ... or they will burn ... not good. Add remaining ingredients, mix thoroughly. Wash your hands. Firmly roll into 1 inch balls. Let cool on wax paper (makes about 20 clusters). Eat. Write me a comment and let me know how you like them :)

Apple Cake

This is Corey’s favorite dessert.

Short funny story about the famous apple cake: Last fall I had just refilled the plug-in air freshener in our living room with a new “autumn” scent of apples and cinnamon. Corey arrived home a shot while later and said something like “Oh, you made my mom’s apple cake, my favorite” ... I must have had the strangest look in my face “um, no, I didn’t cook at all ...” Well as it turns out, this apple cake smells just like the apple and cinnamon air freshener, but tastes a lot better than air freshener!

Apple Cake & Caramel Topping

What you need for the cake:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp basking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped nuts
5 cups apple (peeled, cored and diced)

Combine and mix all ingredients except apples and nuts. Add apples and nuts and mix. Batter will be stiff. Spread in 9x13 pan and bake for 40-50 minutes at 350*

What you'll need for the caramel:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
splash of vanilla

I double this recipe because you can never have too much caramel :)
Combine and heat on stove on low until mixed well, thickened, and sugar is dissolved.
Scoop apple cake and top with caramel.

Thanks to Andrea for the recipe!

Raspberry Kuchen Bars

When you’ve got raspberries coming out your ears ... or even if you don’t ... these are delicious!

Bars:
1.5 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold butter or margarine
2 Tbsp whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups fresh raspberries

Topping:
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla

What to do: in a bowl, combine 1 cup flour and salt; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cream; pat into a greased 13x9x2” pan. Combine the sugar and remaining flour; sprinkle over curst. Arrange the raspberries over crust. For topping, combine sugar and flour. Stir in eggs, cream and vanilla; pour over berries. Bake at 375* for 40-45 mins or until lightly browned. Serve warm or chilled. Store in refrigerator. Makes 10-12 servings.

Thanks to Andrea for the recipe!

Peanut Butter Cookies

What you’ll need:
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda

Here’ what you do with the stuff:
Combine peanut butter, shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer (my Kitchen Aid stand mixer was a champ for this) until well blended. Add egg and beat just until blended. In separate bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda. Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended. Roll cookies and place on un-greased cookie sheet. Using a fork, make criss-cross patterns on cookies, pressing slightly. Bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes. Cook for two minutes before removing from baking sheet. Enjoy :)

Snickerdoodle Cookies

These are so good that we gobbled them up before I had a chance to take a photo.

What you need:
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream or tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
cinnamon/sugar mixture
...
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In large bowl, cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs, one at a time. In small bowl, combine (using wire wisk) four, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Gradually add dry mix to shortening mix. Blend well. Roll dough and dip into cinnamon sugar mix. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
enjoy!