Monkey Muffins

Prep: 5-10 minutes
Bake : 15 minutes @375 degrees

Ingredients:
Leftover bread dough (or refrigerated  biscuit dough)
cinnamon
sugar
butter
sweetened condensed milk
vanilla (optional)






Directions:  In the bottom of the muffin tin put 1/2 teaspoon butter, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon.  Form dough into walnut size balls (if using store bought biscuits cut each biscuit into fourths) and place 3-4 in each tin.  Sprinkle with 1/3 teaspoon of sugar, some cinnamon, and another 1/2  teaspoon of butter.  Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees.  Once they are golden brown and butter/sugar is bubbly take out of the oven and immediately spoon a rounded teaspoon of sweetened condensed milk on each one.  Allow them to sit to soak up the milk.
 

Homemade Oreos

Yields: 12 sandwich cookies
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Bake at 350 degrees

Ingredients

Cookie:
1 box devils food cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Filling:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2-2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Mix cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil together.  The batter will be very thick so don't use a whisk.   Roll dough into balls smaller than a golf ball.  Place cookies on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Pat down with fingers so the balls form round disk shapes.  There will be 12 cookies per cookie sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes (I did full 10) then take out of the oven and leave on the cookie sheet for 3 minutes.  Then remove cookies and place on a wire rack to finish cooling.  Once cooled make the frosting.  Then frost the bottoms of the cookies and sandwich them with the remainder.  Serve chilled.

Snack Attack Part 3: Crispy Chickpeas

Ingredients:
1 can garbanzo (chickpeas) beans, drained
desired seasonings (I used Johnny's seasoning)
1 tablespoon olive oil



Directions:  Rinse the drained chickpeas and pat dry.  Toss with oil and seasoning.  Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until golden brown.

Snack Attack Part 2: Homemade Gummy Strawberry Fruit Snacks

Ingredients:
1 cup mixed berries (I only had strawberries on hand)
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup fruit juice (I used apple)
2 envelopes of gelatin



Directions:
In a medium sauce pan (I used a small sauce pan and it was fine) heat water and berries over medium heat.  Bring it to a boil and cook until the berries are soft, about 5 minutes.  Transfer to a blender or use an immersion blender and puree until smooth.  Return to sauce pan.  Add the applesauce and return to boil, then remove from heat and cover.
In a medium bowl add fruit juice and sprinkle with gelatin.  Let stand for one minute and then add fruit puree mixture.  Stir until gelatine is dissolved (3-5 minutes).  Pour into an 8x8 glass/ceramic dish or desired molds.  Refrigerate until firm.

Snack Attack Part 1: Yogurt Dots

Frozen strawberry yogurt dots

Items needed:
Yogurt of choice (without fruit chunks)
Piping bag or ziploc bag
small piping tip
cookie sheet
silicone mat, optional

Directions:  Put silicone mat on cookie sheet if desired (I have also used parchment paper before).  Use a piping bag or a ziploc bag and fill half way with yogurt.  Pip desired size onto cookie sheet.  Put in freezer until frozen (about 30 minutes or so).  Store in freezer in air tight container.

Prep

Yummy yogurt dots

Chocolate Chip Cookies & Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae

Yields: 3 dozen, pending how much cookie dough is consumed.  ;)

Perfectly baked.  

Prep: 5 minutes
Bake: 9-12 minutes at 375 degrees





Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour (I use all-purpose)
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter (1 stick, unsalted)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon  pure vanilla extract
2 eggs

Mmmm...trying to resist eating it.

1 pkg (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:  Cream shortening, sugars, and butter together.  Add eggs; mix.  Add salt, baking soda, and vanilla; mix.  Add flour; mix.  Add chocolate chips; mix.  Place about tablespoon size scoops on a cookie sheet leaving 2-2.5 inches between spoonfuls.  Bake at 375 degrees for 9-12 minutes


For Sundaes:
all ingredients for Chocolate Chip cookie dough
vanilla ice cream (or ice cream of your choice)
chocolate or caramel sauce (optional)

Directions:  Press cookie dough into a small ceramic bakeware dish and fill about 1/2-2/3 full.  Cook for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees (because it is thicker it needs to bake slower).  Let cool for a few minutes and top with a scoop of ice cream.  Drizzle with chocolate/caramel sauce if desired.

Fried Rice

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20-30 minutes


Ingredients:
3 cups cooked white rice (can be left over rice from another meal)
3 tablespoons sesame oil
1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup soy sauce
diced ham (optional)
green onion (optional)
dash or two of teriyaki sauce (optional)

Directions:
Over medium-high heat, heat the oil in a large skillet or wok.  Add peas/carrots, onions, and garlic.  Cook until tender.  Lower heat to medium and push mixture to onside.  Add the eggs on the other side.  Scramble the eggs until cooked.  Add rice, soy sauce, and any other optional ingredients.  Mix together thoroughly.  Cook until heated through.