Weekend Cooking: Best darn chocolate sauce ever!

Weekend Cooking, hosted by Beth Fish Reads, is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more info, see the welcome post.

Hot and steamy in Florida, so what could be an easier more delectable treat than ice cream. Of course, a little scrumptious home made chocolate sauce on it never hurts! I got this recipe from a friend years ago and it is supposedly the recipe from Bailey's in Boston. A sundae enjoyed at Bailey's Ice Cream Parlor was the highlight of a trip intown for me as a kid. Those silver bowls of ice cream with creamy hot sauce poured over it was a little bit of heaven. Since July is officially National ice cream month, I thought this would be an appropriate recipe for my first weekend cooking post.


Bailey's chocolate sauce:

2 squares of unsweetened chocolate
1/2 c. ( 1 stick) of butter
2 c. of confectioner's sugar
1 small can of evaporated milk

Slowly melt chocolate and butter together.
Remove from heat and add sugar and milk alternately.
Stir until smooth.
Return to hear and simmer for 8-10 minutes stirring frequently.


The aroma will be enough to have you running to the freezer for your favorite flavor of ice cream. I've also used a little of this over cream puffs instead of making a glaze. I think my cooking skills are better than my photographic skills. Enjoy!

3/14 = Pi day

Not too long ago we went to some friends' house for dinner and for dessert my friend Phyllis served Key Lime Pie which The Big Guy and I thought was so delicious; ever so light, full of flavor, very fluffy and needless to say made a nice presentation.

I thought she had been slaving for hours squeezing those tiny key limes but she said it only took 5 minutes. Really? Huh? Homemade key lime pie. . . . in five minutes? Was I surprised when she handed me the paper insert from a Keebler pie crust. Who pays attention to those recipes? Certainly not moi. But this one looked too easy for words!

So, the next week I had to try it for myself but since I didn't have lime yogurt but I did have strawberry and a mixed berry, it's was time to experiment. I used a strawberry gelatin with these yogurts. Ooh, la la ~ was it ever so pretty! And tasty, if I do say so myself.

Since I just read today that tomorrow (Sunday which is today for you readers) is pi day, it goes without saying I don't have my own pie pic to show you. The photo above is purloined borrowed from the Keebler site. I'm sure they won't mind since you will be using their crust. You will be using their crust, right? Just nod and say emphatically, yes of course!

Anyway, it seems you can use any combo of yogurt and gelatin you would like. Just be sure to use the sugar free gelatin. If you come up with any better combos, let's hear them. Here's what you need.

5 Minute Key Lime Pie

1/4 c. boiling water
1 pkg. (4 serving size) sugar free lime flavor gelatin
2 containers ( 6 oz each) fat free key lime pie yogurt
1 tub (8 oz) frozen low fat non dairy whipped topping, thawed
1 Keebler graham cracker ready crust.

1. Dissolve gelatin in the boiling water.


2. In large bowl whisk together gelatin mixture and yogurt. Fold in whipped topping carefully. Spread in crust. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or until set.


3. Garnish as desired. Store in refrigerator.

Voila, now wasn't that easy ~ yield: 8 servings

A tribute to Barbara . . . I miss you already

Thursday was an extremely sad day. One of my best friends, Barbara, passed away from cancer. The only consolation is she did not suffer too long. We are all going to miss her immensely. Barbara was one of those people others just naturally gravitated to. She was one of the most generous, kind, warmhearted, welcoming and fun loving people I have ever met. When we moved to FL 10 years ago, we met her and her husband. They lived just a few houses up the street. When ever any one new moved in, Barbara had a neighborhood party to introduce them to the neighbors. She made every occasion special and a lot of fun. I am sure you all have neighborhood get togethers and everyone seems to have their own "specialty". Well, Barbara's was a cheesy potato dish that everyone loved so much, we dubbed it "Barbara's Party Potatoes". I know everytime I make this recipe, I will remember all of the fun and laughter we had together over this ten year span. I just wanted to share her recipe with you.

G
Barbara's Party Potatoes


1 pkg. of Ore-Ida frozen southern hash brown potatoes (thawed)
1 minced onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. sour cream
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 c. melted butter
2 c. crushed corn flakes

Defrost hash browns. Put in greased 9 x 13 pan. Mix in onion. Sprinkle with the cheddar cheese. Mix together soup, sour cream and 1/2 c. of the butter together and spoon over potatoes and cheese. Sprinkle the corn flakes on the top and then drizzle the remaining melted butter over the top.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until heated through. If you have ever had the hashbrown casserole at Cracker Barrel restaurant, this is similar to that. Now, don't even think of adding up the calories - these are party potatoes, although sometimes I make up a pan of them and freeze them in 6 indivudual packages. To re -heat, I sprinkle a little milk on them, cover, and put in the microwave for a minute or just until hot. They are great to have on hand in the freezer.
So, my dear friend, Godspeed on your journey, we will always remember you with much love!

Apple Cereal Bars

Yet another great easy recipe with apples! C'mon, you know what they say about an apple a day.

1 1/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. crisco shortening

1/4 c. milk

1 egg

2 c. Total cereal, crushed

1 3/4 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 c. raisins

1 1/2 c. chopped apples

Cream sugar and shortening. Add egg, sifted dry ingredients,milk, the cereal and lastly fold in chopped apples and raisins.

Bake at 350 degrees in a greased 13 x 9 x 2 pan for about 30 minutes.

Makes 36 2 x 1 1/2" bars. If cut this way each bar is approximately 100 calories with 3 grams of fat.

Apple Squares

3 c. chopped apples

2 c. sugar

2 tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

3 c. sifted flour

1 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

1 c. vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla

1 c. raisins (optional)

Toss cut up apples , sugar and spices together.

Add sifted flour and soda. Combine oil, vanilla and eggs. Add to dry mix. Fold in raisins. Spread in 9 x 13 pan

Bake 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Yummy and moist.

Enjoy!

Recipe : O Henry Bars

4 c. quick oats
2/3 c. butter
1/2 c. karo syrup
1 c. brown sugar
3 tsp. vanilla
...............
6 oz. pkg chocolate chips
2/3 c. peanut butter

Cream butter and sugar. Add oats, syrup and vanilla. Pat dough into a 13x9x3/4 cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.Melt chocolate and peanut butter together and spread on dough after it has cooled slightly.

Easiest Microwave Fudge Ever!

1/2 C. butter
1 lb. confectioners sugar
1/2 C. Hershey's (great for baking) cocoa
1/4 C. milk
1 1/2 C. mini marshmallows
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 C. chopped walnuts if desired

Place butter in a 2QT casserole dish and microwave on high 1-2 minutes
Add confectioners sugar, cocoa and milk blending well. Microwave at high 2 minutes. Stir to blend again.
Add marshmallows, nuts and vanilla stirring until marshmallows are melted and blended in. Pour into 8" buttered pan. Cover and chill
Makes about 1 1/2 lbs. Smoothest, creamiest, easiest fudge ever!

Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe

1 cup of premium peanuts cracked in half
1/2 cup of lite corn syrup
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda

Mix corn syrup & sugar in large glass bowl or 8c.pryex measuring cup
microwave 3 minutes on high
mix in peanuts microwave 2 1/2 minutes on high
mix in butter and vanilla microwave 2 minutes on high
mix in baking soda quickly stir until frothy and quickly spread on cookie sheet.
caveat: disappears rapidly Ha ha Enjoy!