PEACH PUDDING WITH CANNED PEACHES

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk
1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 large can sliced peaches

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt butter in a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Mix sugar, flour, and baking powder together. Stir in the milk with a wire whisk. Pour the flour mixture over the butter in the pan. Do Not Stir! Place the peach slices overall. Pour the peach juice over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

file photo for reference

MINTY CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CANDY CANES

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

ICING:

4-oz semi-sweet and/or white chocolate chips

1/4 tsp pure peppermint extract

red, white, pink, green, etc nonpareils

To make cookies:

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and then the vanilla.

Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Make 4 equal disks and roll each between 2 sheets of wax paper to 1/8-inch thick. Chill until firm - 30 minutes in the refrigerator or 15 minutes in the freezer.

Heat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using floured candy cane cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Place on the parchment-lined baking sheets. Reroll, chill, and cut the scraps.

Bake, rotating pans around halfway through, Bake until cookies are lightly brown around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool on cookie sheets 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

To decorate:

Place cooling racks over parchment paper. Melt chocolate in microwave, stirring in 20 second intervals until melted; stir in peppermint extract. Dip top half of each cookie in the chocolate, replace on rack and sprinkle with the nonpareils.

Recipe and photo HGTV 2018

BASIC WALNUT FUDGE BROWNIES WITH ADD INS

This recipe is a favorite on this blog.

4 squares (1-oz each) unsweetened chocolate

3/4 cup butter
2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts (may substitute pecans, if desired)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees for a metal baking pan or 325 for a glass baking dish.
Grease a 13 x 9-inch pan and set aside.

In a large glass mixing bowl melt the chocolate and butter together in the microwave on high for 2 minutes or until butter is completely melted when stirred.  Stir until the chocolate is totally melted.

Stir the sugar into the chocolate mixer until completely blended.  Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract.  Stir in the flour and the walnuts until well blended.  Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out with fudgy crumbs attached.  Be careful not to overbake!  Cool in the pan on a wire rack then cut into 24 squares.

Add ins to make CREAM CHEESE BROWNIES
1 pkg (8-oz) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp all-purpose flour

Prepare the above recipe as directed above but use 4 eggs instead of 3!  Spread in 13 x 9-inch greased pan as above.

Beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg, and flour in the bowl you just mixed the brownies in.  Beat until well blended.  Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the brownie mixture in pan and swirl with a knife to marbleize.  Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Add ins to make WALNUT CRUNCH BROWNIES
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups chopped walnuts

Prepare brownies as directed above in original recipe but use 4 eggs instead of three and omit the walnuts.  Spread the batter in greased 9 x 13-inch pan.

Microwave the brown sugar and butter together in a small to medium glass mixing bowl.  Microwave on high for 1 minute or until the butter is melted.  Stir in the eggs, flour, and vanilla extract until well blended.  Stir in the chopped nuts and spread the mixture evenly over the brownie batter in the pan.  Bake for 45 minutes. 

PEANUT BUTTER MARSHMALLOW CREME FUDGE #1

4 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 sticks butter
1 tall can evaporated milk
1 pkg peanut butter chips
1 tsp vanilla
1 small jar marshmallow creme

In a heavy saucepan combine the sugar, butter, and milk; bring to a boil.  Boil the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes; remove from heat and add the chips, vanilla, and marshmallow creme.  Beat well by stirring pour into a buttered 8-inch square pan.

File photo