Day 201: Coconut Bread with Spicy Chocolate Sauce

Yield: 3 small loaves
Time (Start to Finish): 1 hour

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
½ cup veggie oil
2 eggs
1 tsp coconut extract
1 ½ cups flour
pinch salt
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup shredded coconut

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 2/3 cup sugar
1 cup water
¼ cup whipping cream
1 Tbsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375F
2. In a bowl, mix the sugar, veggie oil and eggs until smooth
3. Add the coconut extract
4. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt b. powder, b. soda
5. Alternate the dry ingredients with the buttermilk until it is all mixed together and smooth
6. Add the coconut
7. Take 3 small loaf pans and spread the batter evenly between the pans
8. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, and try to catch it early so its not dry, about 20 min
9. To make the sauce, in a saucepan, mix the chocolate, sugar and water on med heat until it comes to a boil
10. Let boil about 2 min and then add the cream, vanilla and cayenne pepper
11. Boil another minute or so until it thickens
12. Strain through a strainer and let cool
13. Pour over slices and add raspberries as a garnish

Rating: 4.5 strawberries
Notes: All of these together with raspberries is a killer dish! The bread itself is a little dry, and I might make the sauce a little more spicy, but it is so coconuty and good. You have to try it. This is actually a nice cake base too. I might use it again for some other desserts. I made this after a long day of sitting in the sun, and buying a new bike!!! I ate no carbs all day oddly enough, and so I thought making a bread would be a good idea. I have a list of recipe ideas in case I get stumped, and I found this idea on there. I am so glad I made that list! I hope you guys like this.

Day 200: Apple Cider Cocktail

Yield: 1 glass
Time (Start to Finish): 5 min

Ingredients:
½ cup sparkling apple cider
1 cup white wine
1 squeeze lime juice
few raspberries

Directions:
1. In a glass, combine the cider and the white wine
2. Add just a squeeze of lime juice and throw in a couple raspberries
3. Serve on a hot day

Rating: 4.5 strawberries
Notes: Happy day 200! Only 165 left! I can do that…I cleaned the fridge today and found a bottle of apple cider I bought a few days ago…never go to the grocery store hungry. I was trying to think of something to make with it, and this cocktail jumped out at us ladies. I think it is a perfect girly drink, and tastes just lovely. I used a chardonnay, but you can use any white wine you like, or leave it out if you aren’t drinking right now. The sun is finally coming out again and I feel myself getting happier by the hour, so this really added a smile to my face. Drink it up girls! (and guy too…but just keep those pinkys down!)

Day 199: Peanut Butter Fudge

Yield: 10 servings
Time (Start to Finish): 30 min

Ingredients:
¼ cup butter
1 ½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup half and half
½ cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1. In a sauce pot, combine the butter and the sugar and cook on med heat until bubbly. then cook for 1 min
2. Add the vanilla and peanut butter and stir until smooth
3. Sift the powdered sugar into a big bowl
4. Add the milk to the hot peanut butter mixture and then pour into the powdered sugar and stir until smooth. Do NOT put your hand into the bowl. The hot sugar will burn you
5. Once combined, press into a greased pan or bowl and let cool. Slice and serve

Rating: 4 strawberries
Notes: It is so sweet it hurts your teeth! Maybe dip this in chocolate or put a layer of chocolate fudge on top. I mean, it is good and a small piece satisfies a sweet tooth, but man, it is sweet! I made this during one of my breaks of a nice long Lost marathon. It was a good thing to eat to keep me going to finish season 1. Its also a great present, or just something to serve sliced up at a party. People love nibbling on little things like this…I need to throw more parties I think…

Day 198: Banana Bread Pudding

Yield: 1 serving
Time (Start to Finish): 45 min

Ingredients:
2 slices banana bread
1 egg
½ cup whipping cream
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp vanilla

1/8 cup peanut butter
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp whipping cream
maple syrup, optional

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375F
2. In a bowl, mix the egg, cream, cinnamon, vanilla until smooth
3. Cut up the banana bread into big pieces and toss into the mixture. Stir until evenly coated
4. Take a muffin tin, greased, and fill with the mixture
5. Bake until cooked all the way through, about 20 min
6. Take the peanut butter, cream, and sugar and combine until smooth. You can add maple syrup to thin it if you need to
7. Turn banana bread out onto a plate and serve with the sauce. Enjoy guys!

Rating: 4 strawberries
Notes: My loving mother gave me a loaf of banana bread after going to a college basketball game, and it was SO GOOD, but I had to do something with it. Banana bread pudding is something I have been wanting to try for awhile, and let me tell you, it worked great. I was super rushed when I made this, and normally I would have made a better internal sauce than just eggs and milk, but I think it worked ok. The bread had nuts in top, but you can throw some in if you like. It also made the house smell like magic.

Day 197: Maple Bacon Cookies

Yield: 12 cookies
Time (Start to Finish): 1 ½ hours

Ingredients:
1/8 cup sugar
¼ cup butter
1 egg yolk
pinch salt
1 cup flour
vanilla (till is right consistency)

3 strips bacon

1 cup powdered sugar
maple syrup

Directions:
1. Cook the bacon until it is crispy and perfect cooked the way you like it. Make sure to pre cut it into 12 pieces
2. In a mixer, combine the sugar and the butter until smooth
3. Add the egg, salt and mix
4. Add the flour and mix.
5. Add vanilla until it comes together into a rollable ball, not too gooey, not too dry. Wrap and put in the fridge for 20 min
6. Preheat oven to 350
7. Roll dough out into any thickness you like and cut into 12 cookies, any shape you like
8. Bake cookies until they begin to brown in the edges, about 12 min and let cool
9. Take the powdered sugar and sift it
10. Add maple syrup until it becomes a thick frosting. If it gets too thin, add more powdered sugar, if its too thick add more syrup.
11. Spread it onto each cookie and place a slice of bacon on top. Serve to those willing to try something new.

Rating: 4.5 strawberries
Notes: I think these were KILLER. The only difference I would do would be to chop the bacon up and sprinkle it on top, I didn’t like biting into the big piece. You have to try this, it is tasty, sweet, and interesting. Something to start a conversation about that’s for sure. I got this idea after playing with bacon and chocolate truffles at a super bowl party. How fun to put bacon in sweet things. I love putting apples in savory things, and bacon in sweet. Watch yourself around me, im crazy!! And try these out, they are fun.

Day 196: Potato Salad, a Classic Take

Yield: 1 cup
Time (Start to Finish): 45 min

Ingredients:
1 russet potato
½ cup mayo
2 eggs
2 Tbsp mustard
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper
3 sprigs parsley
1 green onion

Directions:
1. Peel and cut the potato into cubes and boil in salted water until soft, but still with a little firm give
2. In another pot, boil the eggs until they are hard boiled, peel them, and slice them into thick pieces
3. In a bowl, mix the mayo, mustard, vinegar, parsley, and onion until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste
4. In a bowl, take the potatoes and egg, both slightly cooled, and mix with the mixture.
5. Put in the fridge until cool and enjoy!

Rating: 4 strawberries
Notes: This is just a quick and classic potato salad. There is nothing better than potato salad. Finally we have a warm day and it is the first thing I can think of that I want to eat. It doesn’t take too long to cook if you are cut your time by cooking the eggs and potatoes around the same time and getting everything ready in the meantime. I hope you like it. You can add more mayo or mustard if it is not creamy enough. I think I added a little more mayo

Day 195: Devils on Horseback 2.0

Yield: 12 devils
Time (Start to Finish): 45 min

Ingredients:
12 dates, hollowed
½ cup soft Goat cheese
2 sprigs rosemary
4 strips thick bacon
balsamic vinegar
pepper
1 garlic clove

Directions:
1. Chop the garlic and the rosemary fine
2. Mix with the goat cheese and season with pepper, NO SALT
3. Take each date and slice down one side
4. Fill with the goat cheese mixture and close back up
5. Take the bacon and cut each piece into 3
6. Preheat oven to 375F
7. Wrap each date in the bacon and place on a cookie sheet so the ends of the bacon are under the date
8. Bake until the bacon is brown and crispy, about 10 min
9. Take the balsamic vinegar and put over med heat and cook down until it becomes a thick syrup, about 15-20 min
10. Drizzle over the top of the dates when serving and enjoy!

Rating: 4.5 strawberries
Notes: So I made almost the same thing before, but I wanted to make it even better. I used thicker bacon than before which added a lot, and I also added flavoring to the cheese. I did not add a nut this time, which I think made the texture better…more mouth appeal. These are such a great little snack, and also super impressive at a dinner party. Always make more than you think though, these are easy to pop in your mouth by the handful, and they go fast. Enjoy this version!

Day 194: Strawberry Shortbreads

Yield: 3 dozen cookies
Time (Start to Finish): 1-2 hours

Ingredients:
¼ cup sugar
½ cup butter
1 egg yolk
pinch salt
1 Tbsp almond extract
¾ cup flour

strawberry jam

water

powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Take sugar and butter and mix until smooth
3. Add the egg yolk, salt and almond extract
4. Add the flour and mix until comes together in a ball
5. If the dough is too soft, add flour, if it is too dry, add some cream or almond extract
6. Form dough into 2 balls and put in the fridge for 30 min
7. Roll dough out to about ¼ of an inch thick, maybe a little thinner
8. Use a cookie cutter and cut round cookies. Half will be the tops and half will be the bottoms, so separate them into two.
9. The bottoms place on the cookie sheet. Rub water around the edges and place a dollop of jam in the center of each cookie. Not too much
10. With the tops, cut a hole in the top with a smaller cookie cutter and place on the top of each cookie. Press lightly around the edges and make sure the jam is exposed
11. Bake until they are light brown and dust with powdered sugar

Rating: 4.5 strawberries
Notes: I made these for a nice little dinner party. They are small and bite size, but you can make them any size you want. I wanted them to be something you could pop a couple in your mouth and still want more. I make these every year for valentines day. Usually I make them heart shaped, but this year they are just cute doily like. They lasted about 10 min at the party and then were gone. Enjoy them while they are hot!! They last well and taste perfect.

Day 193: Chocolate Cheesecake

Yield: 1 9 inch cake
Time (Start to Finish): 4 hours

Ingredients:
1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
4 oz melted butter
2 tbsp sugar

1 ½ pounds cream cheese
1 cup sugar
5 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
1 ½ cup chocolate chips
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream

powdered sugar
almond extract
red food coloring

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450F
2. Combine cookie crumbs, butter and sugar to make a crumbly mixture
3. Press into the bottom of a 9 inch pan and bake for about 2 min only. Remove and cool
4. In a mixer place the sour cream
5. Over a pan of hot water in a bowl, melt the chocolate chips
6. Pour chocolate into the sour cream and turn the mixer on to blend. Add the sugar and scrape the bowl down
7. Add the cream cheese a little at a time and mix until smooth, again scraping the bowl
8. Add the eggs and vanilla at this time and mix again until smooth
9. Pour into the pan and bang the pan down to remove any air bubbles
10. Bake in a cookie sheet of hot water until the cake is shaky like jello not runny like water. It takes about an hour
11. Cool in the fridge or freezer until cool or frozen and depan
12. Take the powdered sugar, about ¼ cup and sift it
13. Add a drop of food coloring and almond extract and blend until smooth enough to pipe with but not runny enough to not stay in place.
14. Fill a plastic ziplock bag and cut a corner off. Pipe hearts onto the cake and let cool. Enjoy!

Rating: 5 strawberries
Notes: The best cheesecake in the world, besides my other 2. I don’t know why, but cheesecakes seem to be my thing. I made this one for some people at work, a sale! Haven’t done that in awhile. Dark chocolate. I suggest serving this in small slices with a dollop of whipped cream and maybe a little strawberry sauce. Too big a slice will lead to not finishing. It stays well in the freezer, and tastes great late at night. Make it for valentines day, that’s what I did!

Day 192: Butternut Squash Soup

Yield: 3 servings
Time (Start to Finish): 1 hour

Ingredients:
1 butternut squash
olive oil
fresh or ground sage
chicken stock (1 quart)
sour cream
salt and pepper
1 yellow onion

crunchy bread

Directions:
1. Cut the butternut squash in half and seed it
2. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with sage
3. Bake in a 350F oven until soft. Halfway through baste with more olive oil
4. While it is baking, in a pan on med heat, cook the chopped onion with a little olive oil and salt until it caramelizes
5. Scrape the squash out of the skin into a blender with the onion and chicken stock and blend until smooth
6. Pour through a strainer into a pot, and add more chicken stock to thin out. Add here more sage, salt and pepper to taste
7. When serving, but a dollop of sour cream on top

Rating: 4.5 strawberries
Notes: Another rainy day, and this was perfect to enjoy with the lady roomies and some lost episodes. Straining is key to remove weird chunks of the squash and onion. The sour cream is perfect, but feel free to add a drip of whipping cream if you need to instead. You can also sub veggie stock if you prefer. I hope you like it guys!

Day 191: 10 Layer Dip

Yield: 1 9 inch rectangle pan
Time (Start to Finish): 25 min

Ingredients:
1 can refried beans
½ pound ground beef
1 yellow onion
salt and pepper
2 avocados
1 lime
sour cream
jack cheese
1 can black beans
1 jar spicy salsa
cheddar cheese
1 can olives
2 small tomatoes

Directions:
1. Cook the ground beef and the onion in a skillet and let the juices drain. You can add spice here if you want to, and let cool.
2. Take the avocados and mix with the juice of the lime and some salt to make a guacamole.
3. Shred both the cheddar and the jack cheese and let aside
4. In the rectangle pan, spread the refried beans on the bottom
5. Next place the ground beef, and then the jack cheese
6. Add the guacamole, then black beans, then sour cream
7. Add the salsa, then cheddar cheese, and sprinkle olives and tomatoes on top.
8. Let sit in the fridge, but not overnight, and serve with tortilla chips. Make sure they are strong ones.

Rating: 5 strawberries
Notes: The only thing to make this better would be to add a layer of jalapeños. But who wants 11 layer dip. Happy Super Bowl Sunday! This dip is a tradition I make every year. It started as 7 layer and every year I seem to try and top myself. This is always a hit at the party, it has everything. You can take out the beef, you can add more layers, you can do so many things with this! Thanks all you lovely people who ate it!! The game was good, and the food was better. Enjoy this dip. It really takes no time and is always a crowd pleasure.

Day 190: Raspberry Cream Cheese Pillows

Yield: 6 pillows
Time (Start to Finish): 45 min

Ingredients:
1 sheet puff pastry, defrosted
melted butter
raspberry jam
cream cheese
sugar

Directions:
1. Take the puff pastry and cut into 12 equal squares
2. Take the cream cheese and mix with 1 Tbsp of sugar
3. Take the melted butter and butter the sides of the pastry
4. Fill the center of 6 with a dollop of cream cheese, and a dollop of raspberry jam
5. Take the other 6 and place on top and press the sides so they are sealed
6. Put evenly on the cookie sheet and butter the top
7. Sprinkle with sugar and bake until they poof, about 20 min

Rating: 4.5 strawberries
Notes: These poofed up more than I expected, but the taste makes up for the look! There is nothing better than jam and cream cheese. They are light, flakey, and a nice way to wake people up. Nothing like hot pastries in the morning. Try these out if you have company and you are guaranteed success. They are easier to make than they look. Enjoy!

Day 189: Caramel Coconut Cookies

Yield: 12 cookies
Time (Start to Finish): 30 min

Ingredients:
¼ cup butter
¼ cup half and half
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup sugar
pinch salt
20 caramels
1 ½ cup quick oats
½ cup shredded coconut
12 chocolate wafer cookies

Directions:
1. Lay out all the wafer cookies flat side up so you can spoon the mixture on them.
2. In a saucepan, mix the butter, half and half and sugar to a boil
3. Add the vanilla and salt and cook for about a minute.
4. Add the caramels and stir until they are melted and let cook for a minute
5. Add the oats and the coconut and stir
6. Remove from the heat and stir
7. Let cool a little but until it becomes dough like
8. Spoon mixture onto chocolate wafer cookies and serve warm or cool

Rating: 4 strawberries
Notes: These were really good! I made them in a guest kitchen, thanks Mac. They are sweet and rich, so one is almost too much, and let me tell you, I ate WAY too many of those caramels before I made the cookies, so be sure to either buy extra or just enough. I think you could add a touch f cayenne to make them a little spicy, or pour melted chocolate on top. I think these remind me of the girl scout cookies samoas. YUMMY! Sorry for the blurry photo, I was having a sugar high.

Day 188: Cornmeal Chicken Dumplings

Yield: 5 dumplings
Time (Start to Finish): 25 min

Ingredients:
½ cup cornmeal
salt and pepper
1 egg
4 cups chicken stock (until it comes together)
cooked chicken pieces

Directions:
1. Mix cornmeal, salt pepper, egg together
2. Add a little chicken stock until it holds together
3. Heat up the rest of the chicken stock on a pot
4. Make balls with the corn meal and stuff a piece of the chicken in the center
5. Drop dumplings in the broth and try not to stir until they are cooked and enjoy! About 3 min.

Rating: 3 strawberries
Notes: These were tasty, but they didn’t hold together very well. I would still make them again though. They taste good, and try to get a roasted chicken, I think it adds more flavor. I made this in the morning and saved it till lunch, but I think it would be better fresh. Since it doesn’t take very long, it makes for a good lunch at home or dinner in on a rainy day.