Macadamia Berry Dessert

The title of this dessert makes me want to prepare this dessert again! If you love raspberries and macadamia nuts - you must try this dessert!

Ingredients:
1 cup crushed vanilla wafers (about 32)
1/2 cup finely chopped macadamia nuts
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 tablespoons orange juice
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 package frozen, sweetened raspberries, thawed
1 carton frozen whipped topping, thawed (8 ounces)
fresh raspberries and additional whipped topping, optional

Directions:
1) Combine wafer crumbs, nuts, and butter. Press to bottom of greased 9-in springform pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
2) In a large mixing bowl, beat the milk, OJ, and lemon juice on a low speed until well blended. Add raspberries; beat on low until blended. Fold in whipped topping. Pour over crust. Cover and freeze for 3 hours or until firm.
3) Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen. Remove sides of pan. Garnish with fresh berries and whipped topping.

Husband Rating: A-
The filling was great - light and refreshing...but the crust was a bit too much. The nut flavor was pretty strong with the wafers.

Wife Rating: A-
I agree with Jared....the crust was a bit too much flavor for me. I am also not a big dessert fan, so I can only eat sweets in small doses! The raspberry flavor was great though!

January JKnottie Baked Goods Exchange

During the month of January, I received Raspberry Ribbons and homemade bread from Dawn, a wonderful JKnottie. Both of the baked goods were awesome, and Jared and I could not wait to eat the both. We made garlic bread with cheese, which turned out awesome! The cookies lasted for such a long time -- I just finished them the other day.

Raspberry Ribbons (Taste of Home Recipe)
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raspberry jam

GLAZE:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well.
3) Divide dough into four portions, shape each into a 10-in.x2 1/2-in log. Place 4 in. apart on a greased or foil lined baking sheet.
4) Make a 1/2-in depression down the center of each log. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Fill depressions with jam. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until lightly browned.
5) Cool for 2 minutes. Remove to a cutting board; cut into 3/4-in slices. Place on wire racks.
6) In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over warm cookies. Cool completely.

Yield: 5 dozen

French Bread Recipe
Ingredients:
1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups flour (all purpose or bread flour)
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 package yeast (or 1 1/8 tsp)
1/2 cup very warm water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375. Roll dough into a 12 x 8 rectangle. Starting at the longer edge, roll dough up tightly and seal the seam. Roll gently back & forth to round off the ends.
2) Place on ungreased cookie sheet & bake for 25-30 minutes or until tops are golden brown. This is amazing served warm with olive oil and italian spices for dipping. It also works well if cut into cubes and served with cheese fondue.

Husband Rating: A
Jared LOVED both the bread and the ribbons. He enjoyed the fresh bed, and said that the ribbons were fantastic.

Wife Rating: A
I loved both as well. It was a nice treat that we have never had before, and the bread was so fresh!

Thanks DAWN!!!!!

Oreo Pudding

Taking a picture of the oreo pudding was difficult because of the light color to the pudding. Jared makes this pudding for family and friend get-togethers, and it is always a big hit. He came home with an empty bowl! I am glad that I asked for a little bit before he went to work.

Ingredients:
2 packages of vanilla pudding
2 cups of milk (we use skim, otherwise it is too heavy)
1-16 oz tub of cool whip
1 package of Oreos (half crushed in pudding, other half used for topping or to dip)

Directions:
1) Empty pudding packages into a big bowl, and add the milk. Stir until well blended.
2) Fold in the cool whip (best if thawed, and at room temperature).
3) Mix in crushed oreos.
4) Add remaining oreos as topping when ready to serve.

Husband & Wife Rating: A+
A party favorite! Also goes well with bananas -- yummy!

Monkey Bread - November BGEX Gift

I did not get a chance to take a picture of the Monkey Bread before I sent it to Sarah, so I have borrowed the picture from her kitchen -- after her sister grabbed the first bite! Jared's mom makes this recipe often, and before meeting Jared, I had never heard of it before. If you have not tried Monkey Bread yet, you are missing out!

Ingredients:
3 packages of buttermilk biscuit tubes
1 cup sugar (divided)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar

Directions:
1) Take 3 packages of buttermilk biscuit tubes (10 per roll) and cut each roll into 4 pieces. Drop roll pieces into 1 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Drop sugar-coated pieces into a well buttered Bundt pan (don't squish roll pieces when placing them in the Bundt pan).

2) Put 1/2 cup of the left-over sugar/cinnamon mix and 1/2 cup packed brown sugar and 1 cup of butter (2 sticks) into a small saucepan.

3) Bring this mixture just to a boil; remove from heat immediately. Carefully drizzle over the roll pieces.

4) Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

5) Cool slightly in an upright position, then tip pan over onto a plate to remove from pan.

Recipe from www.cooks.com

Husband & Wife Rating: Although Jared and I did not get to sample our own Monkey
Bread, Jared walked into the house as it was cooling and was practically drooling over the smell. It looked so fresh and fluffy...and ready to eat! We can only judge the smell -- A+

We'll make this again...very soon.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nuts Cookies

After coming home from our honeymoon in Hawaii, Jared and I were going through a Macadamia Nut phase. We decided we wanted to make these cookies since white chocolate chips are one of my favorite cookie ingredients.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup coarsely chopped white chocolate chips

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
3) Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.
4) Cool and serve!

Servings: 4 dozen


Husband Rating: A
Jared loved them! We made them at his parent's house and left the extras with his mom....needless to say, he was sad when we did not have any at home.

Wife Rating: A
Yummy! I can't wait to make them again!

My baked goods have arrived!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies!

I am so excited because my baked goods arrived in the mail today! As soon as I saw Jared bring in the priority box, I knew it was them. To go along with the upcoming holidays, my secret baker sent me Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies! Of course, after taking the picture, Jared and I had to try one.

And the verdict is.....DELICIOUS!

Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup shortening
7.5 oz. pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1) Preheat over to 375 degrees.
2) Cream the sugar, shortening, pumpkin, and vanilla together. Mix until light and well combined.
3) Mix the flour, baking soda, and ground cinnamon. Stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. Mix until well combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
4) Drop by teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until set. Let cookies cool on a rack.

Can substitute pumpkin pie filling instead of the puree.


Thanks secret baker! (Secret Bride)