Blueberry Cream Muffins

Blueberry Cream Muffins

INGREDIENTS

4 eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups sour cream
2 cups blueberries

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease 24 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
In large bowl beat eggs, gradually add sugar while beating. Continue beating while slowly pouring in oil. Stir in vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, salt and baking soda.
Stir dry ingredients into egg mixture alternately with sour cream. Gently fold in blueberries. Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Sorry for the lazy picture. These were REALLY good.

Barefoot Contessa's Fourth of July Cake

Barefoot Contessa's Fourth of July Cake

Cake:
18 tablespoons (2 ¼ sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 cups sugar
6 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Icing:
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 ½ pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
1 pound confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 half-pints blueberries
4 half-pints raspberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour (or spray with baking spray) an 18 x 12 x 1 ½
sheet cake pan.
Cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy. On medium speed, add eggs, 2
at a time, then add sour cream and vanilla. Scrape down the sides and stir until smooth.
Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda in a bow. With the mixer on low speed,
add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan. Smooth
the top with a spatula. Bake in the center of the oven for 20-30 minutes, until a toothpick comes
out clean. Cool to room temperature.
For the icing, combine the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric
mixer. Mix just until smooth.
Spread ½ of the icing on top of the cooled sheet cake. Outline the star section of the flag with a
toothpick. Pipe two rows of icing, then place 2 rows of raspberries, alternately, to form the stripes
of the cake. Fill the upper left corner with blueberries. Pipe stars on top of the blueberries.
Serve at your Fourth of July celebration and send everyone home with a piece!
Recipe courtesy of Barefoot Contessa, www.barefootcontessa.com.
From the cookbook, “Barefoot Contessa Family Style”

** I made this with strawberries instead of rasberries since I am not fond of rasberries. It came out SO good and everyone at my in-laws house was impressed by the decoration AND the taste.

Too Much Chocolate Cake

Too Much Chocolate Cake

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix
1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan.
Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate If desired, dust the cake with powdered sugar.

Mrs. Field Banana Bread

Mrs. Fields Banana Bread

1 1/4 Cup Flour

3/4 Tsp baking soda

Pinch of salt

1/2 Cup butter softened

3/4 Cup brown sugar

1 egg

3 ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 Tsp vanilla

Chopped nuts/chocolate chips (optional)

Combine wet and dry ingredients seperately, then slowly fold dry into wet, being careful not to over mix. Stir in chips or chopped nuts if using. Bake in greased loaf pan at 325 for 1 hour. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then on wire rack.

Beef BBQ Cups

Beef BBQ Cups

3/4 lb. ground beef

1 can flake type biscuits

1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (I tend to use more)

1/2 c. bbq sauce (again, I use more to taste)

1/2 tsp. instant minced onion

Brown and drain hamburger. Add BBQ sauce and onions. Stir well. Shape biscuits into muffin pan with fingers (basically line the little hole with the biscuit, kind of like a pie crust). Put the hamburger mixture into the wells of the biscuits and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake about 8-10 minutes at 400degrees F or until brown.

Barefoot Contessa's Chicken Piccata

Lemon Juice:

Barefoot Contessa's Chicken Piccata

2 split (1 whole) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 extra-large egg

1/2 tablespoon water

3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

Good olive oil

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, divided

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons), lemon halves reserved

1/2 cup dry white wine

Sliced lemon, for serving

Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for serving

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound out to 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
Mix the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a shallow plate. In a second plate, beat the egg and 1/2 tablespoon of water together. Place the bread crumbs on a third plate. Dip each chicken breast first in the flour, shake off the excess, and then dip in the egg and bread crumb mixtures.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium to medium-low heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place them on the sheet pan and allow them to bake for 5 to 10 minutes while you make the sauce.
For the sauce, wipe out the saute pan with a dry paper towel. Over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and then add the lemon juice, wine, the reserved lemon halves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Boil over high heat until reduced in half, about 2 minutes. Off the heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and swirl to combine. Discard the lemon halves and serve 1 chicken breast on each plate. Spoon on the sauce and serve with a slice of lemon and a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

To Die For Roast

To Die For Roast

1 beef roast, any kind

1 package dried brown gravy mix

1 package dried Italian salad dressing mix

1 package dried ranch dressing mix

1/2 cup water

Place beef roast in Crock-Pot. Mix together the dried mixes in a bowl and sprinkle over roast. Pour the water around the roast. Cook on low for 7-9 hours.