Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Submitted by Kendall

1 cup butter, unsalted at room temp
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 large pkg vanilla instant pudding mix (or 2 small)
2 11oz packages of chocolate chunks

Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla with mixer. Add eggs one at a time. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Add pudding mix. Stir in chocolate chunks.

Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes.

I ususally use two small pudding packages which is actually more than one large. If I don't have chocolate chunks I just use regular semi-sweet chocolate chips. I have also made with chocolate fudge pudding and white chocolate chips. I think I even used banana cream pudding with chocolate chips one time and it was pretty good. Butterscotch pudding and chips sounds good too!

Texas Sheet Cake

Submitted by Kendall

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
**I've used dark cocoa powder and it is very yummy
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla (the REAL stuff!)

Chocolate Buttermik Frosting below

Grease a 15x10x1 baking pan.

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt - set aside.

In a medium saucepan combine butter, cocoa powder, and 1 cup water. Bring mixture just to boiling, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add the chocolate mixture to dry mixture and beat with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until thoroughly combined. Add eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Beat for 1 minute (batter will be thin). Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake. Pour warm Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting over the warm cake, spreading evenly. Place cake in pan on a wire rack to cool before cutting. Makes 24 servings (or 4 depending on how you cut). :-)

Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting
In a medium saucepan combine 1/4 cup butter, 3 T unsweetened cocoa powder, and 3 T buttermilk. bring to boiling. Remove from heat. Add 2 1/4 cups sifted powder sugar and 1/2 teaspon vanilla. Beat util smooth. If desired, stir in 3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans.

Caramel Apple Dip

Submitted by Heather

18 oz of caramel apple dip (usually in produce section of grocery store)
½ cup vanilla yogurt
1/8 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted (350 degrees for 7-15 minutes)

Mix all BUT pecans, chill. Add pecans just before serving with sliced fruit or shortbread cookies.

***Sounds like a good ice cream topping ?!?!

Dutch Babies

Submitted by Laurie

like German pancakes

1/2 c. butter
5 eggs
1 1/4 c. milk
1 1/4 c. flour

Place butter in 4-quart pan or glass casserole and set in 425 degree oven. Mix batter quickly while butter melts. Put eggs in blender and whirl at high speed for a minute. Gradually add milk, then slowly add flour, with motor operating. Continue whirling for 30 seconds. Remove pan from oven and pur batter into hot melted butter. Return to oven and bake 20-25 minutes until puffy and well-browned. Dust with powdered sugar and squeeze lemon juice over it.

***Sounds like this would be yummy with fresh fruit and whipped topping as well!

Bread Pudding

Submitted by Laurie

2 eggs
3/4 c. granulated sugar
3 c. lowfat milk
1 c. heavy whipping cream
1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 c. dried raisins
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
8 oz. stale french bread, sliced 1/2" thick
powdered sugar

Pudding - combine eggs, sugar, milk, cream, butter, vanilla, raisins and nutmeg in bowl. Whisk to blend. Pour mixture over bread slices in large bowl and let stand 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange bread slices in lightly greased 4-quart baking dish & pour custard mixture over bread. Bake, uncovered, about 45 minutes. Dust top w/powdered sugar.

Frozen Ice Cream Krispies

Submitted by Aunt Janice (My Dad's sister, this was their Mom's recipe - aka Nanny)

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups rice krispies
1 qt. ice cream (any flavor)
Chopped nuts if desired

Combine brown sugar, coconut, rice krispies and nuts. Melt butter and pour over combined ingredients, stir. Press one layer of mixture in small, shallow pan, top with ice cream and sprinkle with remaining mixture. Freeze.

Caramel Dumplings

Submitted by Aunt Janice (My Dad's sister, this was their Mom's recipe - aka Nanny)

Caramel Sauce
2 T butter
1 1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cup brown sugar

Dumplings
1 1/2 cup Bisquick
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk

Combine ingredients for caramel sauce. Heat to boiling. Stir sugar and Bisquick together, add milk all at once, stirring 30 strokes. Drop by tablespoons (yield 6) on top of boiling caramel sauce. Cover and boil gently for 20 minutes without removing cover. Great, but I've been known to burn the caramel sauce.

Buttermilk Salad

Submitted by Aunt Bonnie

1 box Vanilla pudding (instant)
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 carton Whipped Topping
1 can Crushed Pineapple (drained)
Fudge Striped Cookies (4 or 5)

Mix buttermilk and pudding. Add whipped topping and mix. Add pineapple. Crush cookies and add just before serving.