Monkey Coffee

Someone shared this in my newsfeed on Facebook. I love coffee and I'll take any excuse to spruce up my mornings on the weekend :P

1 1/2 oz (45 ml) Cake Vodka3/4 oz (25 ml) Baileys3/4 oz (25 ml) AmarettoCreamCoffee ice cubesRim the glass with Chocolate Syrup

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Bake

I loooove grilled cheese and tomato soup and what better way to change up this classic than by making a bake. When I came across this recipe on Taste of Home, I had to make it!

Ingredients

• 3 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried basil, divided
• 12 slices Italian, sourdough or rye bread (1/2 inch thick)
• 6 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1-3/4 cups 2% milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Italian cheese blend or part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix cream cheese and 1 teaspoon basil until blended; spread onto six bread slices. Top with mozzarella cheese and remaining bread. Spread outsides of sandwiches with butter. Arrange in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish.
2. In a small saucepan, combine tomato paste, garlic, salt, pepper and remaining basil; cook and stir over medium heat 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 4-5 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
3. Whisk eggs in a large bowl; gradually whisk in a third of the milk mixture. Stir in remaining milk mixture; pour over sandwiches. Sprinkle with Italian cheese blend.
4. Bake, uncovered, 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Yield: 6 servings.

Boozy Chocolate Pudding

Came across this on Facebook and it looked too good not to share! Can't wait to try this one out!

Skillet Cake

Ingredients for Skillet Cake:

• 1 Box of cake mix of your choosing. We used Devils Food Cake.
• One can of frosting of your choice. We chose chocolate.
• 1/2 cup of pecans cut up into pieces.

Directions for Skillet Cake:
Mix your cake batter according to box directions, spray Pam or use butter to grease the skillet. We use a 10 inch cast iron skillet. Pre heat oven according to box directions. Pour mixed batter into skillet and bake according to box directions.
While cake is baking you can put your frosting into a bowl and add Pecans. Stir in Pecans. Set aside until the cake is ot of the oven and cooled off some. We left out a few to garnish the top with!
Add your frosting and scatter the Pecans over the top! Now my favorite part! Go get you some Ice Cream out and put 2-3 big scoops on your Cake and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

• ice cream (for serving)
• caramel sauce (for serving)
• whipped cream (for serving) 

Source - Backroads Living

Homemade Bagels

This past weekend I attempted to make homemade bagels. I have to say, for my first try, they taste great! I was expecting them to be a lot harder to make. I stuck with plain to make sure the actual bagel tasted good before I ventured off and started messing with flavors and toppings. But, next time I will definitely be experimenting with cinnamon raisin! Anyway, here is the recipe!

Ingredients:

For the Bagels:

1 1/4 c. Water
4 1/2 c. Bread Flour
3 TBS White Sugar
1 tsp Salt
2 TBS Vegetable Oil
1 TBS Instant Yeast
4 Quarts Water
1 c. Honey (optional)

For the Toppings:

2 TBS Poppy Seeds (optional)
2 TBS Sesame Seeds (optional)
1 TBS Coarse Salt (optional)
2 TBS Dried Onion Flakes (optional)


Directions:

1. Combine 1 1/4 cup water, flour, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, vegetable oil, and yeast in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low speed using the dough hook until well-developed, about 8 minutes. To ensure the gluten has developed fully, cut off a walnut-sized piece of dough. Flour your fingers, and then stretch the dough: if it tears immediately, the dough needs more kneading. Fully developed dough should form a thin translucent "windowpane."
2. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel, and let rise for 2 hours.
3. Punch the dough down, place it on a lightly floured work surface, and use a knife or dough scraper to divide the dough into 6 pieces (or more, for smaller bagels). Roll each piece of dough into a sausage shape about 6 inches long. Join the ends to form a circle. Repeat with the remaining dough, and let the bagels rest for 15 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange small plates with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and onion flakes next to the baking sheet.
5. Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Add honey, if desired (see Editor's Note). Boil the bagels, three at a time, until they rise to the surface of the pot, about 1 minute per side. Remove the bagels with a slotted spoon and place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Dip the tops of the wet bagels into the toppings and arrange them, seeds up, on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt, if desired. Bake in the preheated oven until the bagels begin to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
7. Source - All Recipes

Seven Layer Salad

Seven Layer Salad with Creamy Salsa Vinaigrette

 

Ingredients:
- For the Dressing
1/2 cup Greek yogurt or coconut milk
1/2 cup your favorite mild or medium Salsa
2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil (unrefined, cold-pressed, extra-virgin)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 heaping tablespoon chopped green onions
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

- For the Salad
1 to 2 heads romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed 

1 medium red onion, sliced or chopped, your choice
1/2 cup green olives, sliced
3/4 cup corn kernels (thawed from frozen or fresh from the cob - no need to cook) OR you could always substitute with fresh mango.
1 avocado, pit removed, peeled and chopped
1 orange bell pepper, chopped
3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered (about 2 cups after slicing)
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, dill, and/or basil, chopped

 

Instructions:

To Make The Dressing

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth. Taste, and add more salt as needed. Set aside (refrigerate if making ahead).

To Assemble The Salad

1. General note: if your bowl is wide, ring your ingredients against the glass and fill the center with romaine lettuce as you build the layers. This creates a nice balance of greens to veggies when you spoon down into the bowl.
2. In a medium glass salad bowl (about 90 ounces), spread a thin layer of romaine lettuce. Spoon black beans over the lettuce. Add red onions over the black beans, followed by a layer of olives, then corn, avocados, bell peppers, and top with cherry tomatoes.
3. Sprinkle herbs over the cherry tomatoes.
4. If you're not using romaine lettuce to fill the center of the bowl, serve lettuce in a separate bowl tossed lightly with extra virgin olive oil.
5. Serve the creamy salsa vinaigrette dressing on the side.

 

 

Source - SoupAddict

S'mores Cookie Cake

This has been a hit at all of our summer parties and I'm definitely glad I got the recipe from my friend! It is the perfect way to serve s'mores to the masses and it is so simple to make!

Ingredients
1 pouch (1lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 cups milk chocolate chips (18oz)
4 1/2 cup mini marshmallows

Directions
1. Heat the oven to 375F. In a large bowl, stir together the cookie mix and graham cracker crumbs. Stir in the melted butter until a soft dough forms. Press into an ungreased 13x9-inch pan.
2. Bake 18-20 minutes or until set. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips on. Allow to melt and spread the chocolate as evenly as possible across the cookie. Top with the marshmallows and broil in the oven for 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are "toasted".