Cinnamon Rolls

Makes 12 rolls

Rolls

• 1 C warm milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 C butter, melted
• 4 1/2 C flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 white sugar
• 2 1/2 tsp yeast

Place ingredients in the pan of a bread machine. Select dough cycle; press start.

After dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare filling...

Filling

• 1 C brown sugar
• 2 1/2  TBS cinnamon
• 1/3 C butter, softened

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.

After dough has set for about 10 minutes, roll into a 16x21 inch rectangle.

Spread butter evenly over the dough.

Sprinkle sugar/cinnamon mixture evenly over the butter.

Roll up dough; cut into 12 rolls [cut approximately every 1 1/2 inches].

Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan.

Cover; let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes.

Bake rolls in preheated oven at 400 degrees until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.

While rolls are baking, prepare frosting...

Frosting

• 1 3 oz. package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 C butter, softened
• 1 1/2 C powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp salt

Beat all ingredients together in a small bowl.

Once rolls are finished baking, remove from oven and cover with frosting before serving.

Fancy Chocolate Strawberries

As much as I desperately hated my 2 years working at Cafe Zupas, it's a job that I have definitely benefited from in many ways.

If you're familiar with Zupas, you know that they are kind of famous for their chocolate strawberries.

I got to observe the workers in the back make all kinds of treats every single day, including chocolate strawberries.

And because of that, I have finally mastered the chocolate strawberry.

You will need:

•  wax paper
• 1 package of milk chocolate bricks
• 1 package of white chocolate bricks
• strawberries

[*I recommend getting strawberries at Costco- you 

can get so much more for your buck, and they

are always so more fresh than the grocery store.]

Lay out a couple of large piece of wax paper, covering most of the counter.

[It's going to get reeeeal messy.]

Chop the chocolate bricks into 1-inch cubes.

[Keeping the milk chocolate separated from the

white chocolate.] Rinse, then dry the strawberries.

In a small glass bowl, add 4-5 milk [or white] chocolate cubes.

Microwave for 1 minute; whisk with a fork; microwave for additional time if needed.

Gently grab a strawberry by the stem, and dip into the choclate.

Lay it out to dry on the wax paper.

Repeat until you have your desired amount of milk [or white] chocolate strawberries.

Once the melted chocolate is gone, continue to add more bricks and microwave until you have your desired amount. 

Using a separate glass bowl, use the same steps above, when switching to the white [or milk chocolate].

[Be sure to leave yourself a little bit of leftover milk and white chocolate for decorating.]

Once you have your desired amount of chocolate dipped strawberries, [takes approximately 15 minutes to dry] 

use your leftover chocolate, or melt a couple more cubes; then take a fork or spoon, 

dip it in the melted chocolate, and fling it on the strawberries. 

There is no right or wrong way, just have fun with it!

Rolo Brownies/Mini Trifles

Rolo Brownies

Makes 16 brownies

• 1/2 C (1 stick) butter
• 1/4 C cocoa powder
• 1 C sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 C flour
• 1 package of Rolos, chopped

Preheat oven to 350.

Melt butter in the microwave.

With an electric mixer, mix melted butter and cocoa in a medium bowl.

Beat in sugar, eggs, then vanilla. Mix well with a mixer.

Add flour and stir well.

Pour mixture in an 8x8, greased baking pan.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Sprinkle chopped Rolos on top.

Bake for 10-15 more minutes, until brownies are cooked through.

Rolo Trifle

• 1-2 Rolo Brownies
• 2 C vanilla ice cream
• whipped cream or cool whip
• chopped Rolos to garnish

Renee's Brownies

About two years ago my wonderful sister Jess threw me a beautiful bridal shower. My wonderful and awesome sister contacted the guests ahead of time, asking them to send her one of their favorite recipes so that she could put together a recipe book. She then gave me the book at my bridal shower. That binder full of recipes is such a treasured gift.

This is one of the recipes given to me that day- a brownie recipe from my lovely mother in law, Renee.

I can't believe I've waited so long to try it out, nonetheless, thank you Renee for this DELICIOUS recipe!

Makes 16 brownies

• 1/2 C (1 stick) butter
• 1/4 C cocoa powder
• 1 C sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 C flour

Melt butter in the microwave. With an electric mixer, mix melted butter and cocoa in a medium bowl. Beat in sugar, eggs, then vanilla. Mix well with a mixer. Add flour and stir well.

Pour mixture in an 8x8, greased baking pan.

Bake at 350 for 15-25 minutes.

My favorite: serve with vanilla ice cream and nuts.

Cheesecake-filled Strawberries

Makes approximately 12 strawberries

• 1 lb large strawberries
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 3-4 TBS powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• graham cracker crumbs

Rinse strawberries and cut around the top. Remove the top and clean out with a small knife or spoon if necessary (some may already be hollow inside). Prep all strawberries and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add cheesecake mixture to a ziploc bag with the corner snipped off. Fill strawberries with mixture. Once strawberries are filled, sprinkle graham cracker crumbs on top. 
*Best if served right away or within a few hours.

Cookies n Cream Pudding Pops

Makes 6 popsicles

• 1 (3.5 oz) vanilla instant pudding mix
• 2 C cold milk
• 12 oreo cookies
• 1/2 C whipped topping, thawed
• 6 9 oz plastic cups
• 6 popsicle sticks

In a medium bowl, whisk pudding and milk. Add whipped topping, then set aside.

Crush 6 cookies and spoon into bottoms of cups.

Crush remaining cookies. 
Spoon pudding mixture into cups and top with crushed cookies. 
Insert popsicle sticks in each cup for handle. 
Freeze 5 hours or until firm.

S'mores on a Stick

You will need:
Large marsh mellows, melted chocolate bricks, crushed Graham Crackers, tooth picks, and mini cupcake wrappers.

Toffe Popcorn

8 C cooked popcorn

1/2 C butter

1 C brown sugar

1/4 C corn syrup

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 C pecans (desired nuts)

Place cooked popcorn in a large mixing bowl. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Cover a 9x13 baking dish with foil and set aside.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt, stirring constantly. Once the mixture starts boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 3 minutes. Take the pot off the heat then stir in the vanilla and baking soda. Pour mixture over the popcorn and add nuts. Mix until the popcorn is well coated, but be careful not to break apart the popcorn while mixing.

Pour the popcorn into the 9x13 dish. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool the popcorn to room temperature. Store in an airtight container.

*Makes 8 cups of popcorn (2 quarts)

Holiday Graham Crackers

You will need:

Broken up graham crackers, chocolate bricks, and crushed candy canes.

Put chocolate brick in a bowl, then in microwave for 30 seconds at a time, until melted.

Place the graham crackers in melted chocolate one at a time, rotating the cracker with a fork or spoon to coat well.

Lay the chocolate graham crackers on a piece of foil or wax paper. Sprinkle candy cane on top.

White chocolate is also sooo good.

Let chocolate set for about 20 minutes. Store at room temperature.

Pumpkin Tartlets

I love making tiny treats. I could see myself working in a pastry shop.

*Makes 24 Tartlets
Preheat oven 375

Crust

1 tsp salt

½ C water

2 C flour

1 C shortening

Mix ingredients in a medium sized bowl.

Roll out the dough and cut out 24 circles (to fit into a 24 mini cupcake pan). Place dough cupcake pan and make filling.

Filling
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/4 C canned pumpkin puree

2 TBS brown sugar

1 egg

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Whisk together ingredients in medium bowl. Pour evenly into the cupcake pan.

Bake for 15 minutes or until center is just set and pastry is golden.

Cool and garnish with whipped cream. Stored leftovers covered in refrigerator.

Rasperry-Chocolate Wafers

I had these at a friend's baby shower and they were to DIE for. Finally I got around to making them and I'm DYING all over again.

Not only are they delicious but they are the cutest looking things!

You will need: Raspberries, vanilla wafer cookies and chocolate bricks.

Melt chocolate bricks in microwave and scoop a spoon full of chocolate on the vanilla wafers. Place a raspberries on top!