Corn Chowder

It is a cool, dark and rainy day here in TX. I have a pretty empty fridge and no ideas for dinner. It feels like a soup kind of day, so after perusing various recipe sites online, I found this recipe. It met my criteria: 1. I was NOT going to the store for any ingredients and 2. It had to be fairly simple

The recipe can be found HERE.

Due to my "no going to the store" criteria, I had to make a few changes to the recipe. Besides cutting the recipe in half, I also did not add turmeric, I used whole milk instead of half-n-half and used shredded parmesan cheese instead of cheddar. I also added chunks of ham to make it a full meal.

It's delicious!

Snickerdoodles

I have already posted a great Snickerdoodle recipe, but this one may just top the last one. This recipe was generously shared by my old roommate on her design/entertaining blog, Blonde Designs.

I love that the recipe does not call for shortening and the cookies are so, so moist! I made them for "Cookie Friday" last month. I, of course, tripled the batch and froze a few dozen--they were just as moist after thawing as they were fresh out of the oven. I love that!

Here is the recipe!

Chocolate Overdose Cake

Marc's all-time favorite dessert is this mousse cake. However, I only make it once or twice a year, due to the time and amount of chocolate involved. When I came upon this recipe, I knew it would rival the mousse cake. It does. WOW!

Chocolate Overdose Cake

(Annie's Eats found HERE)

Christmas Salad

While we were in Destin, FL for Thanksgiving, my friend Joy made this salad for our Thanksgiving meal. It was so colorful, festive and a great change to the more traditional salads I am used to. It brought a fresh & tangy flavor to an otherwise savory meal.

I am calling it a "Christmas Salad" due to the red & green colors, and the fact that I made it this year for our Christmas dinner.

Christmas Salad

(thanks Joy!)

proportions are as follows:

(but adjust according to total amount needed)

1 pomegranate, seeded

1 granny smith apple, diced

2-3 kiwi, sliced and cut into small pieces

Chicken Chili Cheese Cups

For the past few years, we have gone to a friends house for a Christmas Eve nativity program, and appetizers/munchies. Everyone brings something to share, but the spread is usually heavy on the desserts/sweets. Therefore, I always try to bring something a little "heartier". Last year, I tried THIS recipe. This year, I made these:

Chicken Chili Cheese Cups

(familyfun.com found HERE)

My only change was done out of necessity. I couldn't find the pre-made phyllo shells anywhere! So I bought the phyllo pastry sheets, and just used a pizza cutter to cut squares. I then took about 3-4 sheets and tucked them into a mini-muffin pan and filled them. The shells came out crispier (which I preferred) if I did NOT use cooking spray.

Carrot Cake

It had been a long time since I made this cake. How in the world could I forget just how good it is? BEST carrot cake I've ever had!

(I also just realized this is the 3rd post for this cake--guess I really, really like it! :) )

Oreo Cookie Bars

A family in our ward brought these to us a while back and I immediately fell in love. They are basically just crushed up Oreos with homemade fudge. Who can argue with that combination?!

Oreo Cookie Bars

(thanks Rachelle!)

24-30 Oreo cookies (depending on desired crust thickness)

6 Tbs. butter, melted

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Set aside 6 cookies and grind the rest in a food processor or blender. In a small bowl, stir together the cookie crumbs and butter until well blended. Press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan.

Over a double boiler or in the microwave, melt 1 cup chocolate chips together with the condensed milk and vanilla. Stir frequently until smooth. Spread evenly over the crumb crust. Sprinkle the remaining cup of chocolate chips over the top. Break remaining cookies into pieces by hand and sprinkle over the top.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Chill completely (up to 1-2 hours) before cutting into bars or it will make a big mess.