Vanilla Crescent Cookies

Prep: 25 minutes Bake: 10 Minutes/Batch Yields: 4 dozen

1 cup of softened butter

1 Cup of confectioners Sugar, divided

1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1/2 teaspoon of grated lemon peel

2 -1/2 cups of all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/2 cup of finely chopped walnuts (optional)

2 tablespoons of sugar

1 vanilla bean

In a large bowl, cream butter and 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and lemon peel.Combine flour and salt, gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in walnuts (optional). 

Shape tablespoonfuls of dough into crescent shapes. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375* for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. 

Place sugar in a food processor. Split the vanilla bean and scrape the seeds into food processor. Discard the rest of the vanilla bean. Pulse the mixture until combined . Transfer into a small bowl, stir in the remainder of the confectioners sugar . Coat the warm cookies with the sugar mixture. Cool completely on wire racks. Store in an airtight container!

Coffee Toffee Pie

Ingredients:

1 9-inch pie:

Press-in pastry (recipe below!)

Filling: 

1/2 cup of soft butter

3/4 cup of sugar

1 oz (one square) unsweetened  chocolate, melted

2 tablespoons of instant coffee granules 

2 eggs

Topping: 

2 cups of whipping cream

4 teaspoons of instant coffee granules

1/2 cup of powdered sugar

Grated chocolate, for garnish

Press-in pastry:

1 Cup of all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/3 cup of shortening

1/4 cup of packed brown sugar

4 tablespoons of ice water

3/4 cups of chopped walnuts (optional)

Preparation:

1. Prepare, pre-bake and cool pastry

2. In mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light; add chocolate, coffee granules, and eggs and beat until fluffy (about 2 minutes)

3. Turn into pastry and Chill over night!

4. Before serving, whip cream and add instant coffee granules and powdered sugar. Spread mixture over filling. Sprinkle with grated chocolate and chill for 2 hours. 

To Prepare Pastry:

1. In mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. 

2. Blend in the brown sugar. Add ice water. Toss until dough is evenly moist.(blend in the walnuts.)

3. Press into 9 inch pie pan.

4. Bake at 375*F for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool. 

My take on an Alfredo Cheese Sauce

When it comes to making cheese sauces for Pasta, I love making this! It's really good, and very easy! I will usually buy the Larger Block of Velveeta Cheese, 2 blocks of Cream Cheese, and 1 pint of Heavy Cream. But that is when I have a larger crowd I am cooking for. But for a simple dinner for 2 all you have to do is this! Make sure that your cheese has been brought to room temperature as well. It makes the melting process a lot easier!

Use half of the large block of Velveeta cheese
1 block of cream cheese
1/2 Pint of Heavy Cream
Salt
Pepper
Oregano
Noodles of your choice.

Now if you like to add meat such as Chicken, Shrimp, Crawfish, or Crab you are more than welcome to! It tastes amazing with any of these!

To melt the sauce:
Put your heavy cream into the saucepan and get it warm, slowly adding your cheese. The best way to get it to melt evenly is to cut your cheese into smaller blocks.It doesn't matter how you add your cheese! However, you will have to watch it and start out on a Med-High heat. Once your cheese starts to melt you might want to lower the temperature to Med or Low-Med heat! You are able to add your salt pepper and oregano whenever you want.

To cook your Noodles:
Make sure you salt your water!!! It gives the noodles flavor! :)

when it comes to adding meats to your sauce, make sure that you cook them first before you add them to your sauce!

Seafood Pasta Fun!

Being that I am pregnant and my taste is constantly changing, I love taking the "semi-home made" approach to cooking. Taking boxed pasta dishes and adding my bits of what I am wanting, of what the baby is wanting rather! Today its all about Seafood!!!! So what I have done is taken the Betty Crocker Suddenly Pasta Salad and have added Fresh Shrimp and imitation Crab to the mix! Mind you, I also tweak the seasoning to the pasta as well. Traditionally you would use 3 tablespoons of water and 2 tablespoons of Oil. Well in this case, since I am going off of taste and things that go well with Seafood, I am going to use 2 tablespoons of water and 1 tablespoon of Red Wine Vinegar with the 2 tablespoons of oil! Now as far as making this dish, I would suggest just following what the box tell you to do!
1. Pour Pasta into a 3-quart saucepan 2/3 full of BOILING WATER. Gently boil uncovered for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Stir together Seasoning, cold water, red wine vinegar, and oil in a medium bowl and set aside. (this is also when I added the shrimp and crab meat as well)
3. Drain pasta. Rinse with cold water, drain well. Stir pasta into seasoning mixture. Serve immediately or refrigerate!

Fruit Salad!

Okay, so this is my take on a classic fruit salad! 

1/2 Pint of Strawberries sliced
1/2 Pint of Blackberries
1/2 Pint of Raspberries
1 1/2 Banana's
2 Kiwi peeled & sliced
10-12 Cherries (pitted and sliced)
Fresh Coconut
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 Cup of Coconut water
1 Lime
1/2 Cup of Mango Chunks
1/2 Cup of Pineapple Chunks

In a large bowl gently mix together your fruit with the sugar.
Cut your lime in half and squeeze the juice from both pieces
Pour your coconut water over the fruit
Chill for about an hour
Serve and enjoy!

Scampi Sauce

This is my take on a fun scampi sauce!

use 2 tablespoons of Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup of Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed or store bought)
1 tablespoon of butter
Roughly Chopped up Ginger (about 2 tablespoons)
1 Clove of Garlic Chopped
Salt & Pepper to taste!

Make sure that the butter is good and melted, and bring to a nice simmer for roughly 2-3 minutes. You want your ginger and garlic somewhat crisp.

Add your shrimp or even Salmon or any other fish! Enjoy!!!