Salted Caramel Cookies

These "cake like" cookies are a perfect

cookies for those who love the tangy taste of

buttermilk and the sweetness of caramel.

(*you do need to chill this dough over night)

Salted Caramel Cookies

2 C. Brown Sugar

1 C. Butter

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 Eggs

2 tsp. Baking Soda

2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 C. Buttermilk

4 C. Flour

 Frosting

1/2 C. Butter

1 C. Brown Sugar

1/4 tsp. Salt

1/4 C. Buttermilk

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 1/2 C. Powdered Sugar

*Optional Sea salt, White Chocolate

Because the dough needs to chill

for at least 8 hrs. or overnight.

I start the dough the day before.

In a mixing bowl cream together the 

brown sugar, butter and vanilla.

Beat in the eggs, baking powder and soda.

Alternate adding the flour and buttermilk

while mixing. Cover and let dough chill.

The next day, let the dough sit at room temp.

while you make the frosting.

In a sauce pan combine the butter,

brown sugar, salt and buttermilk.

Cook until butter is melted and the 

sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes.

Remove from heat. Pour into a mixing

bowl along with the vanilla and powdered sugar.

Beat until smooth~ set aside.

Preheat oven to 350

Drop cookie dough onto a parchment lined

baking sheet that has been lightly greased.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.

These are a "cake" like cookie, so make 

sure the cookie is cooked in the center.

Let cool on wire rack.

Once the cookie is cooled, you will then

spread the cooked frosting(it should still be warm)

over each cookie. I then sprinkled a pinch of

course sea salt on top. Then drizzled each with

melted white chocolate.

Store in a air tight container.

Salty sweet goodness,

Lark

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Sweet Rolls

Does that picture not make your

mouth water? And I can promise y'all

they taste as good as they look !

With a refreshing pumpkin taste,

filled with a creamy spiced cream cheese

you will not be disappointed.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Sweet Rolls

3 1/4 C. Flour

1 pkg. Dry Active Yeast~ I use Red Star Yeast

1/2 C. Pumpkin

2/3 C. Milk

4 TBSP. Sugar

4 TBSP Shortening

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 Egg

Cream Cheese Spread

1 C. Brown Sugar

1 (8oz.) Cream Cheese~softened

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie spice

Place the flour and yeast into your mixing bowl.

In a sauce pan heat together the milk,pumpkin,

sugar, shortening and salt. 

Until shortening is melted and all ingredients

are warm to the touch.

Pour mixture into the flour/yeast . 

Blend for a minute, then add in the egg.

Beat together until mixed well and dough is smooth.

Place in a warm area to rise double in size.

Roll out dough and spread with cream cheese spread.

Roll up and cut into desired sized rolls.

Place on greased baking sheet, covered

with a light towel. Let rise again to doubled in size.

 Bake in a pre-heated oven of 375 degree's

for 24-28 minutes. Or until rolls are cooked through.

HAPPY BAKING,

Lark

Cereal Cookies

Here is a recipe the kid's can make.

 Fast and easy to make, plus they are really good!

In a sauce pan combine the following:

1C. Corn Syrup

1 C. Creamy Peanut butter

1 C. Sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Cook on med heat until Sugar is dissolved and peanut butter is melted.

Then pour over:

6 c. Cereal

*(we like using Corn Chex and Corn Flakes best)

Mix until  well coated.

  Drop by Spoonful onto wax paper.

Let stand until set.

Simple is best,

Lark

Hamburger Strogenoff

It seem's that I usually have ground beef on hand, 

along with pasta in the cupboard.

So this is one of those "pantry" friendly meals.

Easy to put together and it feeds plenty.

1.5 lbs. of Lean hamburger

4 oz. Sour Cream

1 (15oz.) Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 (4oz.) Can Mushrooms~drained

1/2 pkg. Lipton Onion Soup Mix

Cooked Pasta or Rice

Season and Cook the hamburger.

Stir in the soup , sour cream,mushrooms

and dry soup mix. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Serve  over Cooked Pasta or even Rice.

Family Friendly Meals,

Lark

Jello Topiary Popcorn Trees

A perfect Centerpiece for a shower, Easter Dinner

or just to give away for a gift.

Super easy to make and fun to eat!

Jello Topiary Popcorn Tree's

1 (6oz.) Jello ~Lime, Orange, Strawberry

1 C. Sugar

1 C. Light Corn Syrup

(2) Bags of Light Microwave Popcorn~

 Popped with uncooked kernels removed

Once you have popped the popcorn and removed

 the un-popped Kernels, set aside in a large bowl. 

In a sauce pan combine the corn syrup, sugar and jello.

 Stirring continually to a rolling boil.

 Remove from heat and pour over popcorn. 

Stir well to coat the popcorn.

 Quickly form into desired size balls.

 Place onto a greased wooden skewer. 

*Continue with all one flavor or make a 

few batches with different flavored Jello gelatin.

 Arrange into a Terra Cotta Pot.

Tuscan Rosemary Bread

Lark's Tuscan Rosemary Bread

This is a recipe I had entered in a recent contest.

Now it has become my husbands 

favorite Bread. Which is saying  ALOT,

because he doesn't like rosemary at all.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

LARK'S TUSCAN ROSEMARY BREAD

1 1/2 tsp.  Fleischmann's ActiveDryYeast

1 C. Warm Water

1 TBSP. Honey

3 TBSP. Olive Oil

1 tsp. Salt

1/4 tsp. Italian Seasoning

1 TBSP. Dried Rosemary

1 TBSP. Coarse Ground Pepper

2 3/4 C. Bread Flour

Cornmeal~ optional

Sesame Seeds~ optional

Start my mixing the yeast, water and honey in a bowl.

 Let this bloom for 10 minutes. 

In your mixing bowl combine the olive oil, salt,

 seasoning, rosemary and pepper. 

When yeast mixture is ready, add to the oil 

and seasonings, whisk together.

 Add in the bread flour and mix on low until all flour is incorporated. Remove from bowl and knead 3-4 times to make smooth.

 Rub a small amount of oil over the top and sides of dough.

 Place into a well greased bread pan sprinkled 

with a small amount of corn meal, cut 2-3 slits in top of dough. 

*You can sprinkle with sesame seeds if so desired at this time.

 (you can also make these into individual sized rolls.) 

Cover and let rise until double in size. 

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 35 minutes.

Happy Baking,

Lark

Snickerdoodle Cookies

I love making Cookies...
There are so many varieties you can make.
Drop, rolled, shaped, bars....so no
matter what you are in the mood for
there is ALWAYS a perfect cookie calling your name.
I think Snickerdoodles can "fit the bill" for 
a number of taste buds. They are light, simple, not
to sweet. You can make them crisp or chewy.
Y'all see what I mean? What's NOT to like?
PERFECT SNICKERDOODLES
*This makes a BIG batch*
2 C. Shortening
4 Eggs
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Salt
4 tsp. Cream of Tartar
3 C. Sugar
4 1/2 C. Flour
2 tsp. Almond extract


Preheat oven to 350
In a mixing bowl beat together the shortening
and sugar on high until light and fluffy.
Add in the soda,salt,cream of tartar,
almond extract beat again for another minute.
While mixing add in eggs one at a time.
Last  add in the flour one cup at a time.
If dough is to sticky add 1/4 cup of flour at 
a time until the dough  is not sticky.
Roll dough into desired sized balls
and roll into cinnamon/sugar mixture.
Place onto a sprayed baking sheet
lightly press down on each ball
with your palm.
Bake for 8 minutes
*bake longer for a crisp cookie*
A cookie for every personality,
Lark

Sinful Praline Topping

I have a girlfriend who LOVE'S 

Praline Ice Cream.

So of course I had to see if I could come up

 with a Homemade Praline Ice Cream Topping...

GUESS WHAT?....I DID!!!

Shut the Front Door and call your Momma!...

You are gonna want to share this with her as well!

Lark's Sinful Praline Topping

1 1/2 C. Chopped Pecans~toasted

4 TBSP. Butter

1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar

4 TBSP. Flour

3/4 C. Karo Syrup

2/3 C. Evaporated Milk

* 1/2 C. Coconut~ optional*

Combine all ingredients into a small

sauce pan, stirring constantly.

Bring to a boil for 2 minutes.

Cool and then pour into small jar's.

Keep in the refrigerator.

This is wonderful on Ice Cream, as a topping for cake's

or even stir some into your mornings hot oatmeal.

You scream, I scream,

we ALL Scream for this!

Lark

Pecan Chews

Oh My Flipping Heck....

Is that Pecan Pie in a Cookie Form?

YUP~ it pretty much is y'all!

YOUR WELCOME!..(lol)

These are the best of both Cookie and Pie World's.

Lark's Pecan Chew Cookies

Dough:

1 C. Brown Sugar

1/2 C. Margarine~softened

1 Egg

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 C. Flour

1 tsp. Baking Powder

3 TBSP Corn Syrup

Filling:

1 C. Chopped Pecans

3/4 C. Brown Sugar

1/4 C. Flour

1/4 C. Evaporated Milk

1 tsp. Vanilla

*Optional~ Chocolate drizzle*

Preheat oven to 350 

Cream together the brown sugar and margarine,

well then add in the egg and vanilla.

Slowly add in the remaining ingredients.

Once dough is mixed smooth, wrap in

plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.

While the dough is chilling, you can start on the filing.

In a sauce pan mix all of the ingredients together

until sugar is dissolved.  Then place into 

a bowl and let it chill until the dough is ready.

 Spray lightly a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Shape dough into balls, place onto baking sheet.

Indent each cookie with your thumb.

Place a small amount of the filling into

 each of those indention's.

Bake for 9-12 minutes

Remove cookies from the pan to cool

on a wire rack.

Store in a air tight container.

Everyone will go "nuts" over them.

Lark

Your votes are needed!..Can you help?

Oh My Flipping heck...

I just received some wonderful news.

 A while back I entered a recipe contest 

for Auntie Ann's Pretzels At Home Baking Kit.

Well guess what?

I MADE THE TOP 10 !!!

This week I NEED your votes....

The recipe with the most votes will

win the "Fan Favorite" along with $250.00

WAHOOOOOO!

You can vote every day starting today 

April 10th-15th.

Just go to
Auntie Ann's Face Book Page
**Click on the Photo Album, and then go to the
Baking Kit Recipe Challenge**

Voting for MY Apple Fritter Pretzels

Thank you all so very much for

taking the time to vote for my recipe!

Lark

Cheesy Olive Bread

I don't know about your family,

but my family is "picky" when it comes to

eating "new" things.

I almost always have to NOT tell them what

is in the new recipe. 

Then once they have tasted the dish

I will "fess-up" to what is in the recipe.

Well THIS is one of those new recipe's

that I wouldn't tell them what was in it 

until after they had tasted it.

And what do you know...THEY LIKED IT!

Cheesy Olive Bread

1(5oz.) Jar of Kraft Old English Cheese Spread

1 (4oz.) Chopped Olives

1/2 C. Miracle Whip Dressing

1/8 tsp. Paprika

French Bread

Preheat the oven to Broil

Mix together the cheese, olives,

miracle whip and paprika.

Place sliced french bread onto a baking sheet.

Broil the bread for 1-2 minutes or until 

it starts to turn golden brown on the edges.

remove from oven and evenly spread the

cheesy mixture onto each slice.

Return to the oven and broil for 2-3 minutes.

Serve warm.

NEW things ARE Good!,

Lark

Shepard's Pie Stuffed Spud

How could anyone go wrong with this?

I just love making a whole meal in a

individual sized serving!

Shepard's Pie Stuffed Spud

4 Lg. Baker Potato's

1 lb. Extra Lean Ground Beef~cooked

1 (15 oz.) Cut Green Beans~drained

2 (8oz.) Tomato Sauce~ garlic,basil style

4 oz. Sour cream

2 C. Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 400

Bake potato's for 1 hour or until cooked through.

Cut tops off potato's length wise, scoop out

innards of potato's. Place in a bowl and add in the

sour cream and cheese, set aside.

In a small sauce pan heat up the meat,

tomato sauce, green beans.

Fill each potato with the meat mixture.

Heat in oven again for another 5 minutes.

Serve along side the creamy, cheese potato filling.

Now that's a HOT potato!

Lark

Lark's Best Thumb Print Cookies

One of my favorite cookies to make in the

Spring /Summer Season are these

flavor packed, fruit filled delights.

Brown Sugar Dough

2 C. Brown Sugar

1 C. Butter~ softened

2 Egglands Best Eggs

2 tsp. Almond Extract

4 C. flour

2 tsp. Baking Powder

3 TBSP Maple Syrup

*Filling of your choice: Jam, Jelly, Curd

Beat together margarine and sugar.

Add in egg, vanilla and syrup.

Beat for another 2 minutes.

Add in flour, baking powder mix until 

blended well. Chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350

Form chilled dough into 1 inch balls

and press thumb into center.

Bake for 9-12 minutes or until

golden brown. Right after removing

from oven fill the indention 

with your chosen filling. 

(I used my homemade lemon curd and jam)

I also drizzled them with melted white chocolate.

Celebrate Spring!

Lark

Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream Topping

Oh My Flipping Heck....

Once you make this DIVINE

Creamy Chocolate Topping you are

gonna want to 

"shut the front door and call your Momma!"

YUP~ it's THAT good!

Even better is how simple it is to make!

Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream Topping

1 (14 oz.) Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 C. Milk Chocolate Chips

1/4 C. Butter

2 TBSP. Cold Coffee or Vanilla

Place all ingredients into a sauce pan

and melt down till smooth.

Serve Warm over Ice Cream.

*Store in fridge for up to 4 weeks*

Sweet endings,

Lark