Mashed Potato Pancakes

whenever i have leftover mashed potatoes, i start drooling when i think about making potato pancakes. they're so simple & good.

and i pretend they're good for me. because potato is a vegetable. right?

Mashed Potato Pancakes

You Need:

2 cups mashed potatoes

1 large egg (lightly beaten)

6-8 tblsp flour

1-2 tsp onion powder

salt & pepper (to taste)

oil/butter for frying

Directions:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mashed potatoes and egg. Add the flour and onion powder and mix all together well. Add salt and pepper to batter if desired.

In a large skillet or on a griddle, heat vegetable oil/butter (i use both- about 3 tblsp or so) over medium-high heat. Dollop batter onto the heated surface in heaping tablespoons like pancakes). Flatten each dollop slightly with the spoon to create the cakes.

Cooking time = golden brown on each side. So eyeball it- anywhere from 2-4 minutes or so.

i like to eat them straight up- or with eggs over easy & cheese. or anything for that matter- they're awesome.

Enjoy!

Corn Pudding (Corn Bake)

i adore corn pudding- which is odd for me because i'm usually not big on "pudding like texture" foods- but there's just something about this stuff. it's sweet & crunchy but smooth & silky- delish.

Corn Pudding

You Need:

2 11 oz cans of sweet corn- drained (or you can use fresh corn, cut from the cob)

1/3 c white sugar

1 tsp corse salt

1 tblsp flour

2 eggs (beaten)

1 cup milk

1 cup whipping cream

3 tblsp butter (melted)

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Directions: Pre-heat oven to 350 & butter (or spray with Pam) a 2 quart casserole dish

Put all of the ingredients (minus the corn) into a bowl & whisk together- stir in the corn.

Pour into the casserole dish & bake for 45 min - 1 hour (mine needed 1 hour)

It should be set & browned on top- test for doneness by inserting a knife into the middle of the casserole- it should come out clean.

Serve warm!

this will be soft- but should be set. it's like a custard- but better!

Three Cheese Pasta Bake

my best friends came over to exchange Christmas gifts & i needed a semi-quick lunch. i didn't want regular mac & cheese & i was craving ricotta- so this was perfect!

Three Cheese Pasta Bake

You Need:

• 1 (16-ounce) package ziti (i used Rigatoni)
• 1 batch homemade Alfredo sauce (see recipe below)
• 1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
• 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (i used 1 tblspn dried)
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
• 
  
• Directions: Pre-Heat oven to 350°

Prepare ziti (or whatever pasta you choose) according to package directions; drain and return to pot.

Stir together Alfredo sauce and sour cream; toss with ziti until evenly coated. Spoon half of mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

Stir together ricotta cheese and next 3 ingredients; spread evenly over pasta mixture in baking dish. Spoon remaining pasta mixture evenly over ricotta cheese layer; sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Homemade Alfredo Sauce (or go buy a jar!)

1 pint heavy cream

1 stick unsalted butter

1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano (or 1 cup of Kraft Parm Cheese)

fresh cracked black pepper to taste

salt to taste

1 tsp nutmeg

Directions:

Heat heavy cream over low-medium heat . Add butter and whisk gently to melt. Add the nutmeg, salt & pepper- then sprinkle in cheese and stir to incorporate.

This makes a lot- so consider splitting it into 2 pans & freezing one! Enjoy!

Elvis Presley's Favorite Pound Cake (Pound Cake)

i wanted a nice, sweet, moist & fluffy pound cake. this was PERFECTION. seriously- don't let the 7 eggs scare you. this cake is epic.

Elvis Presley's Favorite Pound Cake (Pound Cake)

You Need:

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened, plus additional for buttering pan

3 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising; sift before measuring) plus additional for dusting

3/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups sugar

7 large eggs, at room temperature 30 minutes

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup heavy cream

Directions:

Put oven rack in middle position, but do not preheat oven.

Generously butter pan (10in Tube or Bundt Pan) and dust with flour, knocking out excess flour.

Sift together sifted flour (3 cups) and salt into a bowl. Repeat sifting into another bowl (flour will have been sifted 3 times total).

Beat together butter (2 sticks) and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes in a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment or 6 to 8 minutes with a handheld mixer.

Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add half of flour, then all of cream, then remaining flour, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down side of bowl, then beat at medium-high speed 5 minutes. Batter will become creamier and satiny.

Spoon batter into pan and rap pan against work surface once or twice to eliminate air bubbles. Place pan in (cold) oven and turn oven temperature to 350°F.

Bake until golden and a wooden pick or skewer inserted in middle of cake comes out with a few crumbs adhering, 1 to 1 1/4 hours (mine was PERFECTLY cooked after 55 min)

Cool cake in pan on a rack 30 minutes. Run a thin knife around inner and outer edges of cake, then invert rack over pan and invert cake onto rack to cool completely.

try not to eat it all. or half of it....like i might have.

Flat & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (Christmas Edition)

Flat & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

i made several dozens of these for Christmas gifts- but this time i used Peppermint & Dark Chocolate Chips (thank you Toll House Limited Edition Chips!!!)

Delicious!

Peppermint Truffle Pie

um- omg, right? the above picture should have you wiping your mouth. if it doesn't- you're not human. simple as that.

i found this recipe courtesy of Cheeky Kitchen & i simply HAD to try it. so i did- and it was awesome. it was rich enough that i nixed the chocolate ganache that the recipe calls for- but feel free to indulge- i think i just might next time. sinful.

Peppermint Truffle Pie

For the Pie:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
¼ cup crushed candy canes
1 deep dish pie crust
7 eggs
1 cup high-quality cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 ½ teaspoons peppermint extract

Directions:
Use a basting brush to spread a thin layer of butter around the edge of the pie crust. Sprinkle crushed candy canes on the buttered edge. Set aside.

Crack the eggs into a large bowl. With an electric mixer, beat in the cocoa powder, sugar, and peppermint extract until well mixed. Pour into pie crust.

Bake in an oven preheated to 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes, or until the center of the pie is set.

Cool before serving with easy ganache drizzle, fresh whipped cream, and crushed peppermint candy.

For the Ganache Drizzle:
1 cups heavy whipping cream
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
Pour cream and chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 60-90 seconds, then whisk together the mixture until smooth.

For the Fresh Whipped Cream & Garnish
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup powdered sugar
¼ cup crushed candy canes
In a large bowl, beat the cream with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and beat just until incorporated. Serve atop cooled pie, sprinkle with crushed candy canes before serving.

Chocolate & Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

everyone loves Pillsbury Crescent Rolls- right? it's just the way it is.

i love them enough to doctor them up as often as i can.

this is one of my new favs- simple, yummy & good for breakfast or dessert.

Chocolate & Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls

You Need:

- 1 roll of Pillsbury Crescents

- mini chocolate chips

- cinnamon & sugar mix (i eyeball- but probably about 1/4 cup sugar + 1 tblsp cinnamon)

- cream cheese

Directions:

roll out the crescent rolls. spread some cinnamon & sugar mix on each one. place about 1 tblsp cream cheese on each crescent. sprinkle with mini chocolate chips:

carefully roll up & pinch (as you go) the crescent:

sprinkle the tops with a little cinnamon & sugar mix & pop on a few mini chips.

bake @ 375 for about 12 minutes (or as your oven goes)

let them cool for about 5 minutes & then try not to eat them all. that'd be gluttonous.

Easy Peasy & Delish!

i like to make these with cream cheese only or chocolate only or cinnamon & sugar only or even use different types of chips (milk, semi sweet, mint, cinnamon, peanut butter- etc etc)

there are way to many things you can do with crescent rolls & your imagination.