Andes Mint Chocolate Poke Cake

I decided to update my last post. I didn't like the name of the recipe, so I decided to rename it. I decided to rename because the ingredient central to this cake that is really featured are the Andes Creme de Menthe Chocolate Mint Baking Chips. I love the Andes Creme de Menthe chocolate mints. Sometimes the best part of going to Olive Garden or some other restaurant is when they give you the  Ande Mints after paying the check. I think they do that so you aren't so irritable about the amount on the bill. It's their incentive for you to come back. They taunt us with those wonderful little chocolate mints. It's both wonderful and sad at the same time. What I am trying to say is that because of the greatness that is Andes mints, I believe they deserve a cake of their own. It's really only fair to them and the world. 
I must also say that even though, I named this cake with Andes Mints in mind, it does taste like thin mints.
When I first saw the original recipes, it called for different ingredients. I made this recipe into my own by just using Andes Creme de Menthe Chocolate Mint Baking Chips. Ultimately it gave the flavor and texture I wanted. Beyond that, it also made the recipe simpler; instead of having to find buy several ingredients for the minty flavored ingredients, I simply had to find Andes Creme de Menthe Chocolate Mint Baking Chips and mint extract. 
When you add your mint extract to the cool whip, I'd recommend that you on the smaller amount and then add more. When I made this recipe the first time, I almost doubled the amount of mint extract. 

*****Warning: If you do not like cake with rich chocolate and mint then you will not like this cake. But that just means more for me. :)

Double Mint Chocolate Cake a.k.a. Grasshopper Cake

adapted from Something Swanky

Ingredients: 

1 chocolate cake mix(& water, oil, and eggs as listed on box)

1- 14.5 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1- 12.8 oz. jar Hershey's Special Hot Fudge Sauce 

2 cups crushed Andes mints 

1- 16 oz. container Cool whip

1/4-1/2 tsp. mint extract 

Green food color (optional)

Directions: 

1. Prepare and bake the cake mix according to directions on box and bake in a 9x13 baking dish for the amount of time labeled on box. Allow to cool completely.
2. Use the bottom of a wooden spoon to poke holes evenly across the entire cake (about 20-30 holes). Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk over the cake, trying to fill the holes.
3. Heat the hot fudge sauce in a small bowl in the microwave. 30-40 seconds should do the trick, you jut want it to soften a little.
4. Crumble half of crushed Andes mints into the hot fudge sauce and mix. Spread the fudge sauce mixture over the cake.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together mint extract, green food coloring, and the cool whip. Spread the whipped topping over the fudge layer.
6. Sprinkle the Andes Mint chips on top. Refrigerate and chill for at least 4 hours (overnight is best).
7. Serve up and enjoy!

If you like thin mints, you'll love this cake. My family does! There is never any left, and when there is a slice left, it isn't for long. The last slice or two is always fought over. 

Enjoy and let us eat cake!

Peace, Love, Bake on.

                                             Andrea 

Polish Reuben Casserole {my favorite casserole in the whole wide world}

Polish Reuben Casserole is one of my very favorite foods. I could eat it all day, everyday. I really can't get enough of it. Although, it wasn't always like that. The first time my dad made it, I hated it. But after several years, I grew to like it. But not just like it, I loved it. 

So, what exactly is Polish Reuben Casserole? Polish Reuben Casserole has layers of sauerkraut, noodles, and polish sausage topped with a creamy mushroom mixture, bread crumbs, and Swiss cheese. If you like Reuben sandwiches, you'll love this casserole. 

My dad first found this recipe in a big cookbook. However I can't remember which cookbook. Through the years we have made small changes to suit our family. It originally called for only 8 oz. of wide egg noodles, but we wanted more noodles on it. So, I doubled the noodle amount, and in doing so, I have doubled the amount of milk called for in the recipe. 
Everyone always asks me if I'm Irish simply because of my red hair. When I tell them "no", they go onto ask if my parents have any Irish blood in them. I then answer "no" and that I am actually very German. On St. Patrick's Day, however, I become an adopted Irishmen with my friends very Irish family. Polish Reuben casserole may not be  corned beef and cabbage, but it would make a great substitute if you are in a time crunch. As St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, Polish Reuben casserole would make a festive sauerkraut dish for St. Patrick's Day. 

Polish Reuben Casserole

Ingredients:

2-3 cans (10.75 ounces each) condensed cream of mushroom soup

3-4 cups milk (I do 3.5 cups)

1 onion, chopped

1-2 Tbsp. prepared mustard

1 can (16 oz.) sauerkraut, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. (16 oz) wide egg noodles (uncooked)

1 1/2 lb. Polish Sausage, cut into 1/4 - 1/2 inch pieces

8 oz. shredded Swiss cheese

1/2 cup bread crumbs

 2 tsp. butter, melted

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 
2. Combine soup, milk, onion and mustard in a medium bowl and blend together well.
3. Spread sauerkraut on the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Top with uncooked noodles.
4. Spoon soup mixture evenly over the top. Top sausage.
5. Combine butter and bread crumbs in a small bowl. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture over top. Then sprinkle the cheese on top. 
6. Cover tightly with foil. Bake in oven for 40 minutes- 1 hour or until noodles are tender. 
7. Serve up and enjoy!

This casserole is so easy to make. I hope you find to love this recipe like I did. The great thing about cooking at home is that you can make the way your family likes it. So if your family wants more sauerkraut, add another can of sauerkraut. Want less noodle, but the same amount of sauerkraut? Then halve the noodle amount and milk amount. This recipe is simple a blueprint. And with that I shall I say goodbye and have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 Peace, Love, Bake on... & the luck of the Irish.

                                                  Andrea 

How to Make a Heart-Shaped Valentine's Day Cake (without a heart-shaped pan)

Any occasion that I can bake up something festive is right up my alley. Valentine's Day is one of those holidays where it's easy to bake up something special.
There's something out there for everyone when it comes to festive bakery treats. The best place to find festive treats to make for Valentine's Day (or really any holiday) is on Pinterest. I love Pinterest. I could talk all day about my love for Pinterest. Anyway, I saw a pin that I thought was really ingenious. It was directions on how to make a heart cake without having to use a cake pan shaped like a heart (those can be difficult to find). So, I thought I was share it with ya'll because something so cute and easy must be shared.

Valentine's Heart Shaped Cake
adapted from BetterRecipes.com

1 cake mix (2- layered or 9x13 size)
Eggs, oil, water (as directed on cake mix)
Frosting
Red food coloring
Sprinkles or other decorations

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix up cake mix according to directions on the package. Divide the batter evenly into an 8 inch greased round and 8x8 greased square pan. Bake for the labeled amount of times on cake mix (or until when a tooth pick comes out clean).
Remove from oven when baked. Cool in pan for ten minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack. Once cake has cooled, cut the round cake in half. Assemble to cake on a serving tray of some sorts. Use a little bit of frosting to "glue" to pieces together (Follow the picture guide below from BetterRecipe.com) Frost cake and decorate with sprinkles or other candy decorations.
Take pictures at your amazing creation and enjoy!

BetterRecipes.com

I hope my directions don't confuse, but in the likely chance that they do please go to BetterRecipes.com for beautiful photographs and detailed instructions. I hope you have a very happy and LOVELY Valentine's Day!

Peace, Love, Bake on.

                          Andrea 

Blueberry Cobbler {updated}

I thought I would update my one of my old posts, Blueberry cobbler. This recipe has become a staple in my house for couple years now. My old post didn't really do this recipe justice. Really the picture on this post does not do this recipe justice either. I found this recipe several years ago just when I was starting up my blog almost 2 years ago. 
This dessert is always a hit where ever I take it. Everyone always asks for the recipe. I could eat this whole thing by myself. There's not just eat one serving. It's so scrumptious. Words or pictures really can't describe it loveliness. It's even better served warm with a scoop of French vanilla ice cream. Consider yourself warned. 
This recipe does call for blueberry pie filling, but you do not have to use blueberry filling. I use this recipe as the basis for all my cobblers. I sometimes use canned peaches instead. You can use any fruit, but you would might need to put a little water over the fruit and sugar or make compote with the fruit. Also, I don't always have 2 or 2.5 quart dish so I use a 9x13 dish. This way it can easily be double for a larger crowd or for hungrier appetites. If you don't have an hour to bake it, you can do 40-45 minutes at 375 degrees, which is what I do sometimes. 

Blueberry Cobbler

adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients: 

• 6 tbs. butter
• 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup self-rising flour (or 1 cup flour, 1 1/3 tsp. baking powder, & 1/3 tsp. salt)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 (21 oz.) can blueberry pie filling or other fruit(You don't have to use pie filling)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Melt butter and pour into a 2 or 2.5 quart casserole or baking pan. Mix sugar, flour, and milk together.
3. Pour mixture into pan over butter, but do NOT mix. Pour blueberry pie filling over mixture, but do NOT mix. 
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. 
5. Serve warm with ice cream, if you desire to do so.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family and I do. Have a happy Sunday! I will enjoy mine inside since its snowing out.

Peace, Love, Bake on.

                                                          Andrea  

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

I love finding new soup recipes to try. It's winter, and so, it's pretty chilly outside. Because of this, I have been in a soup making mood. I have been trying to make a new soup once a week. A great thing about having soup is that it goes great with sandwiches like paninis. My amazing boyfriend got me a panini grill for Christmas, and it's amazing. I have been using it daily. Soup is also easy to make for large families, which I have. 

I purchased some tortellini from the store and decided that I wanted to incorporate into a creamy tomato soup. I found a ton of great recipes. 

This creamy tomato tortellini soup is amazing. I could eat the whole bowl, but I restrained my self. It's really delicious. My family loved it especially with grilled cheese that I made with my panini grill (yummy). I'm drooling just thinking about it.  

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

adapted from The Recipe Critic

Ingredients: 

• 1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini (also the tortellini found in the pasta isle works)
• 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed tomato soup
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups 2% milk
• 2 cups half-and-half cream
• (or 3 cups milk & 1 cup heavy cream)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (I used the Italian blend cheese, use what ever is on hand)
• Additional shredded parmesan cheese for topping, optional
• Oyster Crackers, optional

Directions: 

1. Cook the tortellini according to package directions. In a large pot, add the tomato soup, broth, milk, cream, tomatoes, onion powder, garlic powder, dried basil, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium high heat and reduce soup to a simmer.
2. Drain tortellini and add to the soup. Add parmesan cheese. Serve and sprinkle with additional cheese on top and/or crackers if desired.
3. Enjoy! 

I hope you enjoy this recipe. Oh, and I hope everyone had a safe and joyous holiday season. 

Peace, love, bake on.

                            Andrea 

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies {my favorite cookie EVER}

Hello world! I hope everyone had a very joyous Christmas and a happy New Year. During the Christmas season I made Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. To me the holiday equals baking season. I made several batches of these delicious Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. A few times I added both chocolate chips and crushed Andes Mints. I love them. I love going to Olive Garden and getting them when they give you your receipt after paying the check. These cookies came out soft and chewy every time. They are my go oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. 

These cookies are hands down my favorite cookie. I could eat a whole batch by myself. So let that be your warning, they are addicting. Bake and eat at your own risk. Don't let my poor photography shy you away from such a life changing, yummy cookie. 

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

adapted from Radiant Dust 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (or some other chip)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats, and chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets.
3. Bake for 11-12 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. 
4. Eat up and enjoy. (My favorite is to eat them while they are still slightly warm. I also love to dip them in almond milk.)

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. Until next time.

Peace, love, bake on.

                                    Andrea  

Christmas Cupcakes.

It has been a very busy Christmas season. I meant to put up a new post several days ago, but time got away from me. 

Let me first say, Merry Christmas! I hope you and your family have a very blessed Christmas. 

Now, its the day before Christmas, aka Christmas Eve, and you are thinking to yourself, "What can I make for dessert that's festive, creative, and easy to make?" Well, I believe I have the answer for you. Cupcakes. 

Make any cupcake you like and any frosting you like. After piping the frosting on, decorate like this (below). 

You may be wondering what "this" is. All I did was melt some almond bark, put in a sandwich baggie with a small corner tip cut off, and then wrote words with it.  It's really that simple. 

Everyone who saw these cupcakes were amazed. They couldn't figure out how I did it. I basked in the glory of stumping some people. Not only, these cupcakes are festive, and it looks as though I put immense work into them but in all reality, it was pretty simple. 

To make these you will need:

• Frosted cupcakes
• Chocolate to melt (almond bark, chocolate chip, Wilton melties)
• Sandwich baggie, with a small tip cut off in one corner.
• Wax paper

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate in a bowl in the microwave. Place a sheet of wax paper on cookie sheet (That's what I do so that it can easily be moved).
2. After chocolate has melted, spoon some chocolate in the sandwich baggie. 
3. Now carefully, with the baggie like you were piping frosting, write words on the wax paper. 
4. Allow to cool (you may put it in the freezer or the fridge so that it will harden quicker or to store)
5. Carefully remove from wax paper, and place gently on top of frosted cupcake.
6. Enjoy and be amazed. 
   
   
   
   

           

Have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to comment or email me. 

Peace, love, bake on.

               Andrea 

Thanksgiving Oreo Turkeys

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It's so festive, and little pressure is placed upon the holiday. I could go on my soap box and talk about how Black Friday is no longer on Black Friday, but has instead intruded on a holiday where we reflect on the blessings that have been bestowed upon us and are thankful for what we have and the people that surround us. But I won't go take that step onto my soap box, I will, however,  talk about about turkeys.

Thanksgiving has long centered around the family table that is topped with a roasted turkey, a side of stuffing, and a slice of pumpkin pie. That's the way it is, and that's the way I like it. Because of this magnificent fact it is so easy to be festive on Thanksgiving. I can put pumpkin in anything, and everyone's cool with that. I can make food to look like turkeys, and that makes everyone more festive. And that is exactly what I did. 

I try to do this every year. Last year, I made cupcakes, and I made them into a big turkey shape.

One of my brothers and one of my sisters wanted a pic with the cupcake turkey. 

This year I decided to use OREOS as my medium for creating my turkey. 

These Oreo turkeys are fairly easy to make. I put each Oreo on a sucker stick (which can be found at Walmart or other craft stores). I used candy corn as the feathers, and M&Ms as the eyes. For the beak, I used frosting that I dyed orange.

Thanksgiving OREO Turkeys:

Ingredients:

Oreos

Sucker sticks

White almond bark or white chocolate

Chocolate chips (semi sweet or you can use almond bark)

Frosting

Frosting dyes (red and orange)

M & Ms

Candy corn

Directions: 

1. Melt some white almond bark in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl (about 2 squares).
2. Gently twist each of the Oreos apart, so that the cream stays on part of the cookie and the other is clean. 
3. Put melted melted chocolate in a baggie with a small tip clipped at one end. Squeeze a small amount of chocolate onto the cream side of the Oreo. 
4. Next, place a sucker stick on the small amount of the chocolate that is on the cream side of the Oreo. Add the top back onto the Oreo. Repeat until all of Oreos have been done. 
5. Next, melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave. 
6. Dip the pointy end of the candy corn in to the chocolate. Then put in between the two cookie halves of the Oreo. I put 4-5 pieces of candy corn on each Oreo.
7. After all of the Oreos have candy corn on them, place in the freezer or fridge so that the chocolate can harden up (In the freezer for about 15-20 minutes).
8. For the eyes, you will need more white chocolate or just remelt the leftovers the  from previous steps. Using the same bag as before, pipe two small circle dollops on the Oreo (This makes the white of the eye). Then place an M&M on each of the dollops. Repeat for rest of Oreos.
9. Next, dye half of the frosting orange, place in a sandwich baggie with tip cut off. Pipe the beaks on the Oreos. (I basically did a squiggle; I started the squiggle bigger at one end and then taper off; refer to picture).
10. To make the snood (the red thing that hangs off a turkey's beak), dye the other half of the frosting red. Using a sandwich baggie with the tip cut of, pipe the snood on the larger side of the beak (I made a little line on the larger side of the beak).
11. Place in freezer or fridge to allow the chocolate to solidify if it hasn't already. 
12. Share with the family and friends!

I'm sorry if the directions are thoroughly confusing. It was sometimes hard ot explain what I was doing. If you have any questions please feel free to email me or contact me. Have a Happy & Blessed Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving,

                              Andrea

Halloween Cupcakes

I hope everyone is having happy fall. Halloween is upon us. I was busy tonight making treats for my brothers and sisters to take to school for their Halloween parties. I had a lot of fun. They were fairly easy to make, just time consuming to do. They ended up looking pretty great. 

I found a lot of ideas off Pinterest. I love Pinterest. Pinterest has everything a person could ever need know(well, at least about cupcakes). 

    

1. The first cupcake I made was a mummy cupcake. I just made my own version of grease frosting (I call it Crisco frosting). It makes really white frosting because there isn't any butter in it. I then cut a small tip off the end of a sandwich baggie. I piped frosting on the cupcake, and then added Reese's Pieces for the eyes (or M&Ms). This was really easy to do. 

2. The second cupcake I made was the ghosts. I made these ghosts on mini cupcakes for my little brother's class. He has a fairly large class, so it made it easier. I made Crisco frosting again. I cut a tip off of a sandwich baggie again, but this time I made a slightly larger cut. A tip when doing this, make sure to make a clean, straight cut. If you have the 1A or 2A frosting tip then you could also use that. I then colored some left over frosting black, and then piped little dotted eyes on each ghost. 

3. The last cupcake I made were green monster cupcakes. I made more frosting, which I then dyed green. I pipped the cupcakes in a swirl using a baggie; you could again use the 1A or 2A tip here. I couldn't find mine. I melted some white melties (white almond bark). I put the melted chocolate in a baggie with a small tip cut off. I piped enough to make eyes for my cupcakes. After, I placed a M&M on each of the dots I just made with the white chocolate. Now you have your eyes.

While those cool, I cut up Airheads in different shapes. I did triangles and rectangles. After the eyes cool and harden, place on frosted cupcake, and then add eyes. I then added Mike and Ikes on the side for ears. I let the kids help decorate these. It was a fun activity to do with them. 

I hope ya'll have a happy Halloween. Keep warm, and trick or treat to your hearts content. Eat as much candy as you can get, I know I will. 

Happy Halloween.

                         Peace, love, bake on.

                                  Andrea 

           

Baked Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

Allow me to first start off with that my dad hates macaroni and cheese, and he also happens to dislike cream cheese. But does that stop me from making dishes with my first love, cream cheese, and making gooey comforting macaroni and cheese? No.

That does, however, make me stop and think of a macaroni and cheese recipe that I hope everyone will like. You see, I had been using a mac and cheese recipe for a year so that was just mediocre. My dad wasn't a big fan nor was the rest of my family; it was truly just meh-- not bad tasting just meh. I wanted something extraordinary that was creamy, filled with flavor, and extra cheesy (of course). 

What I found and created, I believe is truly yummy and extremely comforting. The secret ingredient is cream cheese. I had never really thought of cream cheese in mac and cheese. I never thought of combining the two, but I'm glad I did. 

When I ever use cream cheese in any dish, it's always treat and oh-so-delicious. So, enjoy the dish (and the calories). 

Baked Macaroni and Cheese
adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:
8 oz. macaroni
1/4 cup butter
3 Tbs. flour
1 1/2 milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
(or just do 2 cups of milk instead 1 1/2 milk and 1/2 cream)
1 pkg. cream cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dijon mustard
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup Italian bread crumbs
2 Tbs. butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Cook noodles according to directions. Cook to al dente.
3. In 3 quart sauce pan, melt butter and then stir in flour over medium-high heat. Cook for a minute or less, or until smooth & bubbly. Stir constantly. 
4. Mix in cream cheese, milk, salt & pepper, and dijon mustard. Cook sauce until it has thicken. Mix together thoroughly so that the cream cheese softens and mixes in throughout. 
5. Before adding noodle, add cheese. After adding cheese, mix in the noodles. 
6. Pour in a greased greased 2-3 quart casserole dish. 
7. Melt butter (I melt mine in the microwave). Mix butter and bread crumbs together. Sprinkle on top of macaroni and cheese. 
8. Bake for 15-25 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
9. Serve and enjoy!

Please enjoy and savor this recipe like my family and I do. Please comment or email me with your questions or comments. Have a happy fall!

Peace, love, bake on.

                                The Fiery Redhead