Chocolate Steamed Pudding

This is a moist, dense, chocolate cake. It is a very good, and an old-fashioned recipe. It is my dad's and brother's favorite dessert, and usually, someone will make it for them on their birthdays. It requires the use of a 4-cup mold of some sort. You can use one like is in the photos, or you can simply use a small casserole dish. You will want to cover it with a double layer of heavy-duty foil if you don't have a cover for the mold, so no steam gets inside.

Place the mold on top of a rack, inside a large stock pot. I used a metal steamer basket.

Allow cake to cool for about 10 minutes inside the mold, then remove it and allow to cool on a wire rack.

See how creamy the hard sauce gets? I don't know why it is called hard sauce, because it is actually a very thick frosting - almost tastes like the frosting on wedding cakes. At any rate, this stuff is so good!

Printable Recipe


1 egg
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp butter, softened
2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup milk

Cream the egg, sugar, butter and chocolate, until fluffy. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, soda and cream of tartar. Beat into the chocolate mixture, alternately with the milk. Beat until smooth. Pour into a greased 1 - quart mold, or casserole dish.

Cover the mold or casserole dish, very tightly, with foil, Place inside a large pot, on top of a rack. Add enough water so that it is halfway up the mold. Bring water to a quick boil, then reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and steam for 2 hours. You may have to check to make sure there is still water in the pot, during the cooking time. When done, loosen the edges with a knife, and cool in dish for at least 10 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack. Serve with Creamy Hard Sauce.


This doesn't make a whole lot, so you might want to double this

Creamy Hard Sauce

1/3 cup butter, softened
1 cup pwd sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp milk

Cream the butter, thoroughly. Slowly add the pwd sugar, and beat until it is as light as whipped cream. (Note: this will take a while, and you might think it will never fully incorporate, but it will, with time.) Beat in the vanilla and milk, drop by drop, until light and fluffy.

Peppermint Pattie Brownies

Printable Recipe


I found this recipe on How Sweet It Is.  The pictures on Jessica's site are gorgeous, and I knew mine would pale by comparison, but I was pretty sure that they would taste almost as good as hers looked ... and I was right.  The filling is downright velvety, smooth and just melts in your mouth and the ganache is scrumptious, too.

I probably over baked the brownies somewhat, so next time, I will take them out of the oven just as soon as they are set.  Otherwise, you can't really go wrong with this recipe.  Thank you Jessica, because of you, I have found a new family favorite!

This recipe is made in an 8 x 8" baking pan, but I doubled the recipe, making it in a 9 x 13" pan.

Brownie Layer
 1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup chocolate chips (I used semi sweet)

Peppermint Pattie Layer
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tbsp butter, softened
3 tbsp evaporated milk
1/4 tsp vegetable oil
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp peppermint extract

Ganache Layer
 3 1/2 oz dark chocolate, finely chpd (since I doubled the recipe, and I used a 4 oz bar of dark chocolate, I also used 3 oz of semi sweet mini chocolate chips)
2 1/2 tbsp heavy cream


To make the brownies
 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 8 x 8" baking pan. (Next time I will line the pan with parchment paper, as well.)

In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract and using a whisk, combine until almost smooth.  Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, and whisk until completely smooth.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder salt and baking soda.  I would suggest sifting it all together first.  Stir into the batter with the whisk, just until combined.  Using a rubber spatula, stir in the chocolate chips.  Spread into the prepared pan and bake 350 degrees, 25 - 30 minutes until set.  Let cool.

To make the peppermint pattie filling
Combine the powdered sugar, butter, milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract and peppermint extract and beat with an electric mixer until smooth.  Add more evaporated milk if desired. Spread evenly over the brownies.  Chill in pan in the refrigerator until set, about 30 minutes.

To make the Ganache
Place the chopped chocolate in a glass bowl.  Heat the heavy cream and pour over the chocolate, stirring for a few minutes until smooth.  Spread evenly over the peppermint pattie layer.  Refrigerate until the chocolate is set.  I stored these in the refrigerator.  These were gone in just a couple of days!

Homemade Almond Joy Candies

So, here are the Almond Joy Candies.  Sorry that this picture isn't the greatest, but it will give you a closer look.  

                            

Years ago, my aunt Dorothy made candies similar to these.  They were lovingly named Do-Do Balls, and she was quite famous for them.  She rolled them into balls, rather than forming them into logs.  I don't recall that they had almonds in them.

These candies are so good and taste much like the real thing, only better, since they are so FRESH!  I found the recipe at Cooking with K

I admit that they are time consuming, since they make a lot of candies.  The somewhat difficult part it dipping them in the chocolate.  I would advise that you keep a bowl of the chocolate over very warm, simmering water, to keep the chocolate melted so that it does not cool off so much that it begins to set up.  I found a tip on Pinterest, suggesting that when dipping candies in chocolate, that you heat up water and then put it in a crock pot and set the bowl of melted chocolate over that.  I don't know if you'd want to set it to high, or low, but that would probably be a good idea and is should keep the chocolate melted the entire time.  I will try it the next time I make these.

I suggest making them small.  When pressing the almond on top before dipping, don't press down too hard, because you want to be able to see the almond underneath the chocolate.

Printable Recipe

2 (14-oz) bags sweetened shredded coconut
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp vanilla extract

2 (24-oz) packages chocolate almond bark
1 - 1 1/2 cups whole almonds, roasted (I used Blue Diamond Roasted Salted Diamonds)

In a large bowl, blend the coconut, powdered sugar, butter, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.  You can do this with a heavy-duty spoon or you may have to actually combine it by hand.  At Cooking With K, she uses a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment and combines the ingredients a little at a time.  The mixture will be thick.  Chill it for about 30 minutes or more for easier handling.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Remove the coconut mixture from the refrigerator and form them into logs, about 2 inches long and 3/4 of an inch thick.  I actually prefer them smaller than that.  Press the coconut mixture together well, so that they don't fall apart or crack while being dipped.  Place the candies on another parchment-lined cookie sheet and continue until all the coconut mixture is gone. You will need to periodically rinse off your hands as they will get sticky from the mixture.  Press an almond in the center of each candy, but not down too far, because you want the almond to be visible underneath the chocolate.

Melt the chocolate in the microwave or in the top of a double boiler until it is completely melted and smooth.  Place a candy on a meat fork and dip the bottom into the chocolate.  Using a spoon, scoop the chocolate over the candy until covered.  Gently tap the fork onto the sides of the bowl to release the extra chocolate.  Using a toothpick, gently slide the candy off of the fork and onto another parchment-lined cookie sheet.  Chill once again until the chocolate is hardened.  If the chocolate sets up too much and hardens, place the bowl into the microwave for about 20-30 seconds.  As I suggested in my notes above, place the bowl of chocolate over a crock pot of very warm to hot water and set the crock pot to low (or high) to keep the chocolate melted during the entire process.  When I made these, I did not do this, and I had trouble keeping the chocolate melted long enough.  I will try this trick the next time.  This is the part of the process that is so time consuming, but be patient and get someone to help you if you can.  They are very worth all the work.

Store at room temperature in an airtight container with waxed paper separating the layers.  They also freeze well.

Reese's Peanut Butter White Chocolate Bark

I made all of these candies for Christmas gifts, and still had plenty left over for dessert (this doesn't even show how much I put away in the freezer).  I made Reese's Peanut Butter White Chocolate Bark, Homemade Almond Joy Candies and Nut Goodie Bars.  I will be posting the rest of the recipes over the next few days.

Let's start with the Reese's Peanut Butter White Chocolate Bark.  I found this recipe on Sally's Baking Addiction.    It's very easy to make and goes together quickly.

Printable Recipe

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

16 oz white almond bark

1/2 cup Reese's Pieces candies
1/4 cup peanut butter chips

Line a 9x13" pan with parchment paper and set aside.

In a ziplock bag, crush the Reese's Pieces and peanut butter chips with a rolling pin and set aside.

In a large bowl, stir together the peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, vanilla and salt until smooth and creamy.  Set aside.

In another bowl set over a bowl of simmering hot water, melt the white almond bark until melted and smooth.  Pour half into the parchment-lined pan and spread out evenly.  Chill for a few minutes until set.  Spoon the peanut butter mixture over the bark layer and spread evenly.  Pour the remaining white bark over on top and spread evenly.  Sprinkle with the crushed candies and peanut butter chips.  If desired, if you have any leftover melted bark, drizzle over on top of the candies.  Chill until set and cut up into pieces.

Egg Bake

This is fresh out of the oven.

Printable Recipe

My sister Sandy, made this Egg Bake for our family's breakfast on Christmas Day.  It is delicious, and the recipe is pretty versatile.  For any vegetarians, you can easily leave out the meat.  For any that don't like cheese, that can be left out, as well.

1 pkg Jimmy Dean Sausage (cooked, crumbled and drained)
green and/or red bell pepper, diced, and cooked along with the sausage
onion, diced, and cooked along with the sausage
4 cups cubed, day-old bread
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
10 eggs, slightly beaten
4 cups milk (my sister used 2 cups skim milk and 2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp salt
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 tsp onion powder (my sister did not add, since she used fresh onion)

Place bread in a well-buttered 9x13" baking dish.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Combine the eggs, milk, dry mustard, salt, pepper and onion salt, if using and pour over the bread and cheese.  Sprinkle with the sausage, pepper and onion mixture.  Cover and chill overnight.

The next morning, preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Bake, uncovered, for about 1 hour, or until cooked all the way through in the center, and the center is set.  Tent baking dish with foil, if the top browns too quickly.

Remove from the oven and allow to set up for easier cutting, about 10 minutes.  Serve.

See how deep and velvety it is?

Chow Mein Hotdish

Printable Recipe

I think everyone has had this at one time or another, at least those of my generation. This is the version my mother made.

1 lb hamburger
1 cup diced celery
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 cups water
1/2 cup long grain rice
1 can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 can Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

In a large skillet, brown the hamburger, celery and onion until hamburger is browned, drain. Add remaining ingredients and stir until completely combined and pour into a greased 9 x 13" pan.  Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour. If desired, sprinkle with chow mein noodles, peanuts or cashews.

State Fair Subs

Printable Recipe


I got this recipe from Taste of Home's "Quick Cooking" magazine in 2001. They are one of my son's favorite sandwiches.

1 (1 - lb) loaf French Bread (I use hoagie buns)
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1 lb hot Italian sausage
chopped onion, optional
2 cups (8 oz) shredded Mozzarella cheese

Cut bread in half lengthwise, and carefully hollow out top and bottom of loaf, leaving a 1" shell. Cube the removed bread. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, milk, pepper and salt. Add the bread cubes and toss to coat; set aside.

In a skillet, over medium heat, cook sausage and onion until the meat is no longer pink, drain. Add the sausage to the bread mixture. Spoon filling into the bread shells, sprinkle with cheese. Wrap each in foil and bake 400 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and lightly browned. Cut into serving-sized slices.

Hidden Valley Ranch Oyster Snack Crackers

Printable Recipe

These have been all over Pinterest, and I've been wanting to make them.  I recently had a chance to taste them at work, and they are so good!  They're pretty addictive, too.  There is some leeway in the amount of seasonings, but I will post the amounts I used.  Most recipes call for garlic powder but I don't really like garlic, though I can tolerate it in small doses if it is in garlic salt.  Some recipes call for the addition of lemon-pepper - I think I will try adding some of that, next time.


1 (16-oz) bag oyster crackers 
1 (1-oz) packet Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing Mix (dry mix)
1/4 cup Canola or Vegetable oil
1 tsp dill weed
3/8 tsp garlic salt

Pour the crackers into a large bowl.  Drizzle on the canola oil and stir the crackers to evenly coat.  You might think it won't be enough oil to coat all the crackers, but it is.  Sprinkle on the Ranch dressing mix, the dill weed and garlic salt.  Stir again to evenly coat.  Spread on a rimmed cookie sheet and bake 250° for 15 - 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool.  Store in a tightly covered container.