Fruit Pizza

This is the epitome of summer desserts for me.  It is light and sweet and just plain delicious.

Crust:

1/4 cup sugar

1 stick butter, soft but not melted

1 cup flour

Filling:

8 oz cream cheese softened

1 jar marshmallow cream

8 oz cool whip

Topping:

Your choice of fresh fruit.  Berries, bananas, grapes and kiwis work well.

1-11oz can mandarin oranges

1tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 Tbsp water

Preheat oven to 350*F.  In a 9X13" pan mix together the butter, sugar and flour with a fork until all combined.  Using fingers pat into an even layer over bottom of pan.  Bake for 15-20 min or until lightly golden brown.  Remove and cool completely.

In medium bowl beat together the cream cheese and marshmallow cream until smooth.  Stir in the cool whip.  Spread over cooled crust.

Drain mandarin oranges reserving juice.  In small saucepan heat reserved juice, 1-2 Tbsp sugar and 3 Tbsp water; bring to a boil.  Stir in dissolved cornstarch until thickened.  Cool completely.

Wash and prepare fruit cutting into pieces if needed.  Top cream cheese filling with fruit.  Spoon thickened juice over top of fruit.  Chill until ready to eat.

Beef and Broccoli

We love Asian food.  Something about it just calls to us.  It is probably the only way I truely eat my full serving of veggies.  This recipe was at mybakingaddiction.com and was delicious.  I added a little extra garlic and cut out the Sriracha sauce and wine.

3/4 lb steak thinly sliced

3/4 lb broccoli florets

2 Tbsp high heat cooking oil

3 cloves garlic finely minced

1 tsp cornstarch dissolved in 1 Tbsp water

Marinade:

1 tsp soy sauce

1tsp water

1/2 tsp cornstarch

1/8 tsp black pepper

1 dash hot sauce

Sauce:

2 Tbsp oyster sauce

1 tsp water

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1/4 cup beef broth

Mix marinade and pour over the sliced beef.  A zip lock type bag works great for this.  Set aside and marinate for at least 10 min or up to 2 hours.  When ready to cook prepare the sauce ingredients and set aside.  Blanch the broccoli and drain thoroughly.  Set aside.  Heat oil in wok or large frying pan.  Fry steak in single layer undisturbed for 1 min.  Flip over and add garlic; frying for 30 sec or 1 min until steak is done.  Pour in the sauce and add the broccoli.  Bring to a boil and stir in dissolved cornstarch.

Banana Muffins

Doug found this amazing banana muffin recipe online awhile back and it has become a favorite.  They are moist and sweet and the best part is the streusel type topping they have.  I wish I knew where he got it so I could give them credit but I don't.  This is a keeper especially if you have overripe bananas.

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 bananas, mashed

3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp flour

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1 Tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 375*F.  Grease 12 muffin tins or line with paper.  In large bowl beat bananas, egg, white sugar, and butter.  Stir in 1 1/2 cup flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until moist.  Spoon into prepared muffin tins.  In small bowl mix brown sugar, 2 Tbsp flour and cinnamon.  Cut in 1 Tbsp butter until it resembles coarse cornmeal.  Sprinkle over top of muffins.  Bake for 18-20 min or until toothpick comes out clean.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

These bars are so rich and delicious.  It's like having a PB&J in dessert form.  The original recipe was found at mybakingaddiction.com.  Don't forget the milk when you eat these bars.

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 cup peanut butter (*see note)

3 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2-2 cup jam or jelly

1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used almonds the recipe calls for peanuts)

Cream the butter and sugar together.  Add the vanilla, eggs, and peanut butter; mix well.  Add flour, baking powder, and salt until just mixed.  Spread the 2/3 of mixture in bottom of greased and floured 9X13" pan.  Spread the jam or jelly on top.  Drop globs of dough mix on top of jam and then sprinkle with nuts.  Bake at 350* for 45 minutes.  Enjoy!

*Note:  I used all creamy, but you can do half creamy and half chunky if that is what you like.

Lime Coconut Bars

I love citrus flavored food.  I'm especially fond of Lemon Bars.  Recently I found an exceptional recipe at mybakingaddiction.com.  Today I modified it to make Lime Bars.  All I can say is Yummmmmmm!

1 1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup cold butter cut up

4 eggs

1 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 lime juice or lemon juice for lemon bars

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup coconut

Blue food coloring optional to make green color

Preheat oven to 350*.  Grease a 9x13" pan.  In a bowl cut together the flour, powdered sugar and butter.  A food processor makes quick work of this.  Press into the bottom of the pan.  Bake for 15 min.  While it cooks mix together the eggs, sugar, baking powder, juice, and food coloring if desired.  Pour over crust and sprinkle top with coconut.  Bake for 20-25 min or until lightly browned.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut into bars.  Enjoy!

Spanish Rice

Spanish rice.  Sounds kind of exotic and hard to make doesn't it?  Well if not to you then it did to me.  Until today I had only made the Rice A Roni type of spanish rice.  I love the stuff, but really didn't think it would be easy to make from scratch.  Boy was I wrong!  I received this recipe from the county extension office and fell in love.  Easy to do and very tasty.  I love that I can control the heat and the salt content too.  Of course it also tastes fresh and I love the bright colors.  So if your in a spanish mood give this a try.

1 cup chopped onion

1 chopped green pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp oil

16 oz can tomatoes

8 oz can tomato sauce

2 Tbsp worcestershire sauce

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 cup uncooked rice

In saucepan, saute onions, peppers, and garlic in oil.  When tender add rest of ingredients except rice.  Bring to a boil.  Add rice, cover, and turn to low.  Cook 20-30 min or until rice is done.  Enjoy!

Sweet Crescents Rolls

What do you do when you have cans of crescent rolls in your fridge and you want to jazz them up?  Well, I add candy and dried fruit.  At least I did this time for a sweet breakfast roll.

Open 1 can of crescent rolls and separate into triangles.  Brush with melted butter.  Top with mini chocolate chips and heath toffee bits or mini chocolate chips and dried craisins.  Roll up to make crescents, brush with more butter, and cook according to package.  When out of oven and cooled some top with chocolate or caramel syrup.