Homemade Caramel Dip ~ New Pampered Chef Product

I am so excited for you all to see

this Brand New Product from

Pampered Chef!

I was offered a New Product

from their Fall Catalog  to choose from.

I choose this *Mini Round Cocotte.

It is the perfect size for dips, gravy's

baked brie or even to  roast garlic in.

*It has a 3 Cup capacity.

*Microwavable

*Freezer Safe

*Oven safe ~to 400 degree's

*Glazed interior of dish~cute yellow mustard color

If you are wondering were you could 

order one of the Mini Round Cocotte's 

for yourself, all you need to do is contact

my good Friend Carol who just

happens to be a Pampered chef Consultant.

You can do that by visiting her 

Pampered Chef Web Site.

Let me share with you a wonderful

yet simple recipe for Homemade Caramel Dip.

*This is not the kind of caramel you would use

for Caramel Apples. It doesn't ever "set" hard

enough. Which is why it is perfect for dipping!

Or to use as an Ice Cream Topping.

 Homemade Caramel Dip

1 C. Brown Sugar

1 Stick Butter

1/2 C. Light Corn Syrup

1 (12oz.) Sweetened Condensed Milk

*1 tsp. Cinnamon~Optional

Now I made this in the Microwave in my

New Mini Round Cocotte. However until you get 

one for your own, you can make this on the stove top

in a saucepan as well. Very Simple, add all

the ingredients into pan, stirring constantly.

Med.-High heat until all the butter has melted

and the brown sugar has dissolved. 

Bring this to a boil for 2 minutes.

Serve with sliced Fruit, or as an

Ice Cream topping. 

Store in refrigerator up to 4 weeks.

This Dip is so Soft and Smooth.

It was hard to just have a few bite's!

Thank you again Carol for sending me such a

Fabulous piece from the New Fall

Products of Pampered Chef!

Please go take a few minutes to look at

ALL the New Fall Products, available NOW!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Lark

3 Ingredient Brownie's (healthier option)

Now if you are thinking you will be
able to pass these off to your
kids (as well as yourself),
as tasting just like those
fully loaded calorie
brownies...think again.
Sorry, just being honest with you.
They are good, just not the same .
My family described them as
having a "rubbery' texture.
Not really chewy, and not cakey either.
I know,...very informative! (lol)

3 Ingredient Brownie's
1 (19.5oz.) Boxed Brownie Mix
1 C. Applesauce
1/2 C. Pumpkin Puree

Preheat oven to 350
Combine all 3 ingredient's together
in a mixing bowl until well blended
and smooth. Pour into a lightly sprayed
9x9 pan, spread evenly. 
Bake for 25-28 Minutes.
Let  cool completely before frosting 
if desired. 
Pretty simple wouldn't you say?
Next time I am going to try another
batch with adding my homemade 
Apple Butter instead, see if it will
change the texture?
Like I said they aren't the 
chewy gooey brownies your use to
however they aren't loaded with
all the fat and calories either.
What do you think? Are the calories worth it?
Lark

Country Apple Dumplings

My Momma always said....

"If you're going to do something right....,

do it right the first time!"

 You be the judge if these

are of the "right" stuff.

Country Apple Dumplings

2 Lg. Granny Smith Apples~ peeled, sliced

2 (10oz.) Cans Crescent Roll's

1 Stick Butter~ melted

1 1/2 C. Sugar

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1 (12oz.) Can Mountain Dew Soda

Preheat oven to 350

Mix together the sugar, melted butter

and cinnamon. this will make a thick sugar "paste".

Separate the crescent rolls, spread the sugar

onto each triangle, along with 2-3 slices

Apple.

Roll each apple up starting with the

smallest end. Pinch end's to seal.

After all the crescent's have been filled

and rolled, place them in a baking dish

seam side down. Sprinkle the remaining sugar

 over top on the rolls.

Next you will pour the can of

soda over the top.

Place into the oven to bake for 38-45 minutes.

I recommend serving them right out of the oven,

along side a big scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream.

Happy Baking!,

Lark

Pasta with Sausage and Fresh Tomato's

This is one of those meals that you

think, why didn't I think of making this

years ago? It's simple, quick and

everyone likes it. A Win - Win kind of meal!

I will say I am not a huge fan of store

bought Alfredo sauce, yet when you add

in the fresh garden tomato's it really

does seem to add a TON more flavor.

Pasta w/ Sausage and Fresh Tomato's

1 lb. Italian Sausage~ cut into pieces

1 (16 oz.) Radiatore Pasta

2 (15oz.) Bertolli Garlic Alfredo w/ Parmesan Cheese

4 Lg. Fresh Garden Tomato's~ diced

1 C. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

In skillet Cook sausage until no longer pink.

Drain on paper towel, set aside.

Cook pasta according to box directions.

Pour sauce into skillet that you cooked

the sausage in to warm. Add the sausage

into the sauce, along with the diced tomato's.

Once the pasta is cooked and drained.

 Add the  hot pasta to the sauce.

Stir to coat well. Last stir in the shredded

mozzarella cheese until melted.

Serve warm.

Ham, Potato, Bacon & Corn Chowder

I could eat soup year around!

Unfortunately my family does not

feel the same way.

So when September roll's around

I start getting in my soup "fix".

This is packed full of chucks of potato's

ham pieces and sweet corn, then add

in all the cream and bacon it is sure to make

everyone in the family happy!

Ham, Potato, Bacon and Corn Chowder

6 slices Crisp Bacon~ I use Turkey Bacon

1 White Onion~ diced

2 (14oz.) Chicken Broth

4 Med. Red Potato~ cooked/cubed

2 C. Corn

1 C. Heavy Cream

1/2 C. Ham~ diced

1/4 C. Flour

* 1/2 C. Cheddar Cheese~ optional

Salt/Pepper to taste

Cook Bacon to crisp. Add Onion to the bacon

grease and cook til tender.

Cook over med heat. Stir in flour,

salt and pepper. Slowly stir in heavy cream

to make your roux. Cook for 2 minutes.

Stir in broth, ham, cooked potato's

and corn. Reduce heat and simmer 

stirring often for 20 minutes.

I like to remove 2 C. of the soup

and blend in the blender, then

stir it back into the soup.

this just makes is a bit thicker.

You you choose to add in the cheese, 

you can do so the last 5 minutes

of cooking time.

Serve with Warm Bread.

Lark 

Applesauce Pancakes

With cooler weather coming on I

get in the mood to wake up early in

the morning, throw open the windows

and start cooking in the kitchen.

Of course all of this is to the 

approval of my family...ha, ha. 

With all the apples I had on

hand this past week, I wanted to 

make a special breakfast for them

to wake up to Sunday morning.

These are so smooth, super moist,

with just a hint of apple spice.

They loved them!

Applesauce Pancakes

2 C. Flour

2/3 C. Brown Sugar

1 TBSP. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Apple Pie Spice

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 1/4 C. Milk

2 Eggland's Best Egg's

3/4 C. Applesauce

2 tsp. Oil

Sift together first 5 ingredients.

Add remaining ingredients to dry and mix well.

Pour onto a sprayed hot griddle.

Cook for 2 minutes or until bubbles form

then flip. Serve warm with syrup.

To Cooler Mornings,

Lark

Ham Roll Sandwiches

You know those easy to prepare
appetizer's where you take deli
ham slice's and spread some
softened Cream cheese over,
then chop up some chives
and perhaps add a few 
shakes of Franks hot sauce
then roll up?
Well that is all there is to these
Ham Roll Sandwiches!
I figured WHY NOT?
I created these one night when 
had NO idea what to fix and 
NO time in which to fix anything.
It seemed that I was headed
out the door, my daughter was already
gone at practice and my husband was 
calling my cell phone asking
 what time to be home from his shop
for dinner. So I knew it had to happen FAST!
They were a HIT! EVERYONE loved them!
Go ahead and try them for yourself.
FAST NIGHT FIXED!,
LARK 

Spoon Rolls

The one thing my Mom never 

liked to make was homemade

Breads or Rolls. I think it might

have had something to do with her

 having (7) children running around

all the time, working a part time job

away from the home plus being

a dance teacher the other half 

of the day! (Lol) I dont think she 

wanted to spend the time tending the 

dough and making sure she punched

it down or let it rise to just the perfect

amount of time. Well I am pretty sure

if she would have found this recipe

she would have made them

as often as she could.

With all the taste of  homemade

yeast rolls  in half the time.

Easy Spoon Rolls

1 Envelope Active Dry Yeast~(I use Red Star)

2 C. Warm Water

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/4 C. Sugar

3/4 C. Butter~ melted

1 Egg

4 C. Self Rising Flour

Preheat oven to 400

In a large bowl combine the warm water

salt and yeast. Let bloom for 5 minutes.

Combine the melted butter, sugar

and egg together until smooth.

Add this then to the yeast mixture.

Stir in the flour, mix well with

just a spoon. No need to knead dough.

Just "spoon" dough into sprayed

cupcake tin with your finger

and of course a spoon. 

* I use a Texas sized muffin pan

so it made 1 dozen. However

if you choose to use a standard

size muffin pan you should be

able to get 2 dozen rolls

out of this recipe.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Flip hot rolls onto a wire rack.

Serve warm with butter/ jam.

Home baked goodness,

Lark

Lark's Banana Whoopie Pie's

While working as the Baker

for a local bakery I created this recipe

due to the fact that there seemed

to always be over ripe banana's

left over. Not wanting to waste them

and tired of making the same

muffins and breads I came up

with these little gems.

Lark's Banana Whoopie Pie's 

6 C. Flour

1 1/2 tsp. Balking Powder

1 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 1/2 tsp. Salt

6 Lg. Ripe Banana's~ mashed

1 1/2 C. Sour Cream

1 1/2 C. Butter~ softened

1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar

1 1/2 C. Sugar

3 Egg's

3 tsp. Vanilla

1 tsp. Cinnamon

 Preheat Oven to 350
In a mixing bowl cream together
 margarine, sugar and brown sugar,
until light and fluffy.
Add eggs and vanilla. 
Sift all dry ingredients together and set aside. 
Mash the bananas using a fork.  
Add the sour cream to the mashed bananas.
Stir together. 
Fold sour cream mixture in with the creamed 
sugar and beat together on low for 2 minutes. 
(The mixture will be very thin)
Add half of the dry ingredients, mix well. 
Place in the  last of the dry ingredients. 
Beat until well combined. 
The batter should resemble a muffin batter.
Using a cookie scoop, place 9 cookies  per pan
onto a parchment lined sheet pan.
Bake for 14 minutes. 
When done, the edges should be golden brown.
Let the cookies cool for about a minute,
 then remove to a wire rack to cool. 
*This will make it so the cookies wont “tear” 
off the paper, this is a very moist cookie.
Make a sandwich by filling with a
your favorite Cream cheese frosting.
I wrap them in individual pieces of plastic wrap,
 to keep them soft. These Cookies are VERY
Freezer Friendly Too!
But either way they.....
 never stay around long enough to matter.
HAPPY BAKING,
LARK

Lemon Cream Filled Sandwich Cookies

What do you do when you feel 

a little over whelmed, or a little stressed?

Some people choose to go to a movie,

or perhaps listen to some soothing music.

You can find my husband in his

wood working shop. My daughter

would be surfing the net.

Me....Well you can find me

doing one of 2 things.

Either I head out for a long run.

Or find me in the kitchen cooking or baking.

NO REALLY... My friends think I am Crazy.

Many times they've told me that cooking

IS what GIVES them stress. (lol)

For myself it is my little get-away.

The time I get to create something with my 

mind, hands and heart.  I challenge myself to 

think outside the box, come up with

something new. Put a new twist on a

an old favorite. Believe me not

every "creation" is a winner!

But I still enjoy the process. 

These cookies came about in a time I

was feeling a  bit overwhelmed.

I have shared with you all about my 

Little Sister Niki before. Well she is still

really struggling. It is so hard for me to see

her go through this. I want to be angry with

someone....anyone!  When there is NOTHING

I can do to help her, it makes me ....UGH!

Anyway, it just so happens this particular

week I was "told" I needed to donated

a few dozen goodies For a Bake Sale.

(I Love to Volunteer! So my husband had told a coworker

that I would for sure want to do this! Then he forgot

to inform me until the night before. I am

ashamed to say that I was NOT feeling very

"giving"...I didnt even ask what the 

proceed's went to, I just huffed and puffed and

stormed into the kitchen.)  

*more on the "story" after the recipe.

Lemon Cream Filled Sandwich Cookies

1 C. Butter~ softened

2 C. Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 Egglands Best Egg's

1 tsp. Lemon extract

2 tsp. Lemon Juice

2 tsp. Fresh Lemon Zest

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

3 C. All Purpose Flour

1 C. Powdered Sugar

Filling:

8 oz. Cream Cheese~ softened

2 TBSP. Lemon Juice

1 tsp. Lemon Zest

3 C. Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven to 375

In mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar

for 3 minutes. Add in vanilla, eggs, extract, juice

and zest, beat for 1 minute. Next place the 

remaining ingredients into mixing bowl

and blend well. If dough is slightly "sticky"

 you may want to add in a 1/4 C. more flour.

Let dough chill while you mix the filling.

For the filling beat the cream cheese

until smooth. Add in remaining

ingredients and beat well.

Place filling in covered

container, chill for 1 hour.

Roll dough into balls and 

slightly flatten. Bake for 9-11 minutes.

Cool on wire rack completely

before filling with and sandwiching.

Back to the "story".... As I storm into the kitchen,

my hubby following, telling me to just make a box of 

brownies~ "they wont care, what you make!".

NOT what I wanted to hear. I mean if they 

didnt care what I make then why make it?...

My attitude was NOT good.

Then the phone rings... I answer it...

It is my Mom wondering if I will talk to NIKI

because she wasnt having a good day.

Of course I want to! I try my hardest to make 

her laugh and tell me how she is feeling.

I tell her I can come visit and would she 

like me to bring her a treat? Knowing

Niki's Favorite dessert is Lemon Meringue Pie

I knew what was coming....and sure enough

that's what she wanted.  I  told her I was making

some cookies for a bake sale. She asked

if they were Lemon Cookies? Hmmmm?

Why Not? Sure Niki I will make Lemon Cookies!

*The MORAL of this "story" is ATTITUDE!*

After the phone call I changed my attitude.

Gone was the irritation, gone was my stress.

Replaced with "You Can Do it!" ~ Niki Attitude.  :)

Day's Later My hubby came home from work

with a  thank you card from the family

who held the Bake sale. Telling me that the 

Cookies where a hit! They also wanted to 

say thank you for helping them raise money

for the Special Olympics.

~Wow...it's as if Niki  had a part in it

herself!  No Matter what your

"stress reliever" is...do it with a 

GREAT ATTITUDE!

Lark

Bammin' Bacon -Cheese Dip

This is a fast and  easy dip to serve up for all those

Football games you're gonna be watching!.

You can also take this along to

the next tailgate party you attend.

It is Sure to be a "Touchdown"!

Bammin' Bacon Cheese Dip

1 lb. Crispy cooked Bacon

(2) 8 oz. pkgs. Shredded Sharp Cheddar cheese

1/4 C. Fresh Chives~chopped

1 C. Sour Cream

1 C. Mayo

1 (8oz.) Cream Cheese~ softened

Mix together and chill for at least 1 hour

before serving. Serve with chips or crackers.

*I have even used this as a burger condiment*

GO COWBOYS!

Lark

Apple Pie Jam

I usually don't start my Canning

of Jam, Jellies and flavored Butter's

until September. However when a 

neighbor said he had Apples

falling to the ground,...

Well heck I couldn't allow them to

go to waste right?!

I love canning...I know I am a little "odd"

ha, ha... I wanted to see if I could come

up with a jam that was part

apple pie filling/ part jam.

This is my creation!

This makes a small batch of 4 pints.

I wanted to make sure I liked it

well enough to make it into a large quantity.

*You can double this recipe*

Apple Pie Jam

8 Med. Apples~ peeled/ shredded

1 C. Water

5 C. Sugar

3 TBSP Instant Tapioca

1 TBSP Butter

1(3oz.) Powder Pectin

1 tsp. Apple Pie Spice

1 tsp. Lemon Juice

In a large sauce pan combine the

shredded apples and water, cover

and cook for 5 minutes or until apples 

are tender. Stir in sugar, spice,

 butter, lemon juice and tapioca.

Bring to a rolling boil,

cook for 2 minutes. Stir in pectin then

bring back to a boil for another minute.

Ladle into hot jars, then process

in a hot water bath for 10 minutes.

How I like to serve them is

along side some baked Pie Crust

strips that have been coated

in cinnamon/ sugar.

If you don't have time for that..

it is great spread on toast too!  ;)

Lip Smackin' Good!

Lark