Friday, April 18, 2008

Simple Crispy Chocolate Bites

Recipe to follow!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Monkey Cat BBQ Pork Sandwich

No recipe but a sandwich I had at the Monkey Cat Restaurant in Auburn California. It was my birthday and I put on some lipstick, loaded up my 2 year old and went to lunch. It was nice.

BBQ Pork on a Sesame Bun with Fried Onion Straws
Slaw
French Fries

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

RH Phillips Toasted Head Chardonay



One of my favorite inexpensive wines! They make a Merlot that is also very tasty! I get this brand whenever in doubt.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Chocolate-Cherry Cookies



photo Rachel Valley
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From Better Homes and Gardens All-Time Favorites

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 egg
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
* 48 maraschino cherries (about one 10-ounce jar), undrained
* 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
* 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl combine flour and cocoa powder. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Press down center of each ball with your thumb. Drain cherries, reserving juice. Halve any large cherries. Place a cherry or cherry half in the center of each cookie.

For frosting, in a small saucepan combine chocolate pieces and the sweetened condensed milk. Heat until chocolate melts. Stir in 4 teaspoons of the reserved cherry juice.

Spoon about 1 teaspoon frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry. (If necessary, thin frosting with additional cherry juice). Bake in preheated oven about 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minutes. Transfer to wire racks, cool. Makes 48.

To store: Place in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container, cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Fat Girl Garlicky Glazed Meatloaf

Fat Girl Glazed Meatloaf
photo Rachel Valley
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meatloaf with a sticky-sweet garlicky glaze baked on top!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* 1/2 cup ketchup
* 1/3 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 cup lime juice, divided
* 1 teaspoon mustard powder
* 2 pounds ground beef
* 3 slices sour dough bread, broken up into small pieces
* 1/4 cup chopped onion
* 1 egg, beaten
* 1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
* 3 cloves of garlic minced

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon lime juice, mustard powder and garlic.
3. In a separate large bowl, combine the ground beef, sour dough bread, onion, egg, bouillon, remaining lime juice and 1/3 of the ketchup mixture from the small bowl. Mix this well and place in a 5x9 inch loaf pan.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, drain any excess fat, coat with remaining ketchup mixture and bake for 10 more minutes.