Buttermilk Caramel Syrup

We had this on our waffles this morning and it was so good!

1 1/2 cups buttermilk **
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter

1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

In a large saucepan, bring buttermilk, sugars, and butter to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and whisk  in soda and vanilla. It will bubble up a lot. Hopefully you used a large saucepan like I told you. As it cools, the bubbles will go away.  This stuff is incredible!  I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to plain ol' maple syrup again!

**Just a tip.  I never buy buttermilk.  I just make my own using regular milk and apple cider vinegar.  Stir in one Tablespoon of vinegar per cup of milk and let it sit for 5 minutes.  You can also use lemon juice or any kind of vinegar instead of the apple cider vinegar.

CoCola Cake

So today I was bored, having cravings, had time on my hands and couldn't decide what to do.  I thought about getting on my treadmill and burning a few calories.  Instead, I got on Pinterest and found this little delight.....and it spoke to me! :)

Some people call this Coca Cola cake, but if you've read The Help then you know to be truly southern this has to be called CoCola Cake.  It just sounds right.  This cake is so moist and delicious!  I should probably mention that even though it calls for Coke I used rootbeer since it was all I had in the house.  It seems so strange to say that!  Less than 6 months ago I was a raging Cherry Cokeaholic, drinking at least two cans a day.  But through sheer force of will and determination (and caffeine pills!) I can now honestly say I'm clean and sober (except for the can I drink after church on Sundays.  You try taking 4 rambunctious kids to church by yourself on Sunday and then tell me you don't need a strong drink afterwards!)  Anyways, back to the cake....you have to try this!  I got the recipe from HERE, but I did change it just a tiny bit.  I used baking soda instead of baking powder and I put in a bit more because I wanted it to be more cakey.

 Now I'm off to the basement to hit the treadmill and run like I'm Forrest Gump!

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9×13 pan.
Mix:
2cups flour
2cups sugar
1/2tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2tsp cinnamon

In a saucepan over medium high heat until it boils, stirring consistently:
1 cup butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup coca-cola
 1/2 cup buttermilk

Take this off the stove and add to the flour mix & whisk until combined.

Then add:
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla extract
Mix, put in pan, bake it for about 30minutes. Yes, it’s a quick bake. Don’t over-bake it!  I actually only cooked mine for 28 minutes.  A toothpick in the center should come out clean.

When cake is nearly done make the glaze by mixing in a saucepan:
1/2cup butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup coca cola
Once that boils, remove and slowly stir in 4cups of confectioners’ sugar until nice and smooth. Then add in about a cup of chopped pecans, and give it a stir.

Pour this warm glaze right over the top of the hot cake!

Let it sit for at least 10 minutes.  The glaze will solidify some as it cools.  Then enjoy!  Or be like me and make the kids clean the entire basement before they can have any! Muahahahaha!

No-Bake Energy Bites

My latest attempt at providing my kids with a healthier after school snack.  I actually ate several of these myself before they got home.  They were very tasty!  I didn't have flax seed so I substituted wheat germ, which worked great too.  You could probably make lots of substitutions.

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup ground flax seed

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

(makes 18-20 bites)

Recipe from HERE.

Mayo Parmesan Chicken

I made this chicken for dinner tonight.  It was so incredibly easy and tastes amazing.  I will be adding this one to the rotation for sure!  And this coming from someone who HATES mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip or any other similar ghastly concoction!)

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 ½ teaspoons seasoning salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

1. Mix mayonnaise, cheese and seasonings.
2. Spread mixture over chicken breast and place in baking dish.
3. Bake at 375°F for 45 minutes.

Whole Wheat Bread

Makes 4 loaves.

7 c. whole wheat flour
2/3 c. vital wheat gluten
2 1/2 T. instant yeast

5 c. very warm water (120-130 F)

2 T. salt
2/3 c. oil
2/3 c. honey or 1 c. sugar
2 1/2 T. bottled lemon juice
1 egg
5 c. whole wheat flour

Mix together the first three ingredients in your mixer with a dough hook. Add water all at once and mix for 1 minute; cover and let rest for 10 minutes (this is called sponging). Add salt, oil, honey or sugar,lemon juice, and the egg and beat for 1 minute. Add last flour, 1 cup at a time, beating between each cup. Beat for about 6-10 minutes until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Pre-heat oven to 175 and turn off. Turn dough onto oiled counter top; divide, shape into loaves, place in oiled bread pans. Let rise in warm oven until dough reaches top of pan. Do not remove bread from oven; turn oven to 350 F and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on racks.

I found this recipe HERE.

Mini Cheesecakes

I made these this past week for a cub scout banquet.  They turned out really cute and tasted great!  Plus, they were really simple.  I've got to make these for my own family soon because everyone loved them!

INGREDIENTS:
2 packages cream cheese (8 oz), softened
3/4 C. Sugar
2 T. Flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
2 Eggs
1 T. Lemon Juice
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
12 Nilla Wafers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  With an electric mixer beat cream cheese and sugar.  Add in flour and baking powder.  Then add eggs and mix, one at a time.  Add lemon juice and vanilla.  Fill a muffin tin with foil liners and place one Nilla Wafer (whole, not crushed) in the bottom of each liner.  Divide cream cheese mixture between the 12 cups (they will be filled almost to the top).  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out almost clean.  They will be a little sunken in the middle when they are done.  Cool on a rack and then chill for 4-6 hours or overnight.  Put your favorite topping on and serve. 


Makes 12 individual cheesecakes