Cupcake Fun

I got a stocking stuffer that is a device that hollows out the middle of a cupcake so that you can put a filling inside. I had never heard of this, but I think I did it right. I also discovered, that when you eat a cupcake like this that if you can eat and control your desired frosting level you eat.

Also with the hollowed out pieces of cake, you can make a layered cake dessert (my daughter saw the jarred ones on pintrest) in a cup that is also fun and yummy.

EASY No Boil Lasagna

1 package Deallo No boil whole wheat organic lasagna noodles
1 bottle De Cecco marinara sauce
1 pound italian sausage
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups mozarella
1/2 cup parmasean
1 cup ricotta
1 tsp olive oil

Oven 350

1. Brown sausage, when almost done, add garlic and mix.
1.5. Brush olive oil in pan
2. Layer - sauce, noodles, sausage, cheeses x 3 and top with sauce
3. Bake covered with foil 55 min, uncovered 10 min
4. Rest 15 minutes before serving

I made a 9x9 and loaf pan for freezing. I used about 2/3 of the noodles total

Homemade Baked Donuts

Christmas morning - Donuts and bacon on the menu!



I got to finally visit a Sur la Tabe store recently (have shopped in the catalog for many years) and bought a donut pan. It's by Wilton and it's a little darker than I like for my over (more chance of overbrowning), but it's been great fun. the picture shows the darker donuts are actually the underside - need to figure that out - probably the dark pan.

I had initially bought the "gourmet" donut mix with at the store just to try it out and it turned out lovely but dense donuts. Since I have played with my own mix of it and like mine even more as they are lighter in texture. I almost can't screw it up unlike other types of baked goods. I know this year cake pop makers are all the rage, but I like donuts!

The recipe reminds me of muffin ones and people (like my kids and husband) seem to just love the donut shape even though it is not the usual deep fried ones from the store. I have always been a fan of the cake donut, esp blueberry and cinnamon ones.

Oven 400
1 donut pan
1/3 stick butter, melted + 1 pat melted in a small dish
pastry brush
1 egg
1 cup prepared baking mix (Bisquick/ Jiffy)
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk
1 t cinnamon + 2T sugar

1. Whisk egg in bowl
2. Add melted butter, sugar, mix
3. Add baking mix and milk on top and mix
4. Pour into pan and bake 11-12 minutes (golden brown)
5. Brush with melted butter and dip both sides in cinnamon sugar mix

Makes about 9 donuts

For blueberry lemon - add 1/2 cup blueberries and squeeze 1 wedge lemon

Bread Pudding with pears and walnuts

1/3 stick unsalted butter
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 T vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
6 Hawaiian dinner rolls, cubed
2 cups milk
1/2 cup walnuts
2 pears, peeled & diced

Oven 325, 70-90 minutes

Melt butter in 9 inch glass pie pan
mix in eggs, sugar, vanilla, milk, cinnamon
Add bread, walnuts, and pears, making sure bread is soaked on all sides

Bake covered with foil x 1 hour then uncover
Ready when it is not too jiggly. It will puff up and then deflate after you take it out.

Beef au jus

2.5 lb chuck roast
1 can beef broth
1 packet onion soup mix
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 c red wine

Brown roast and combined with rest of ingredients in slow cooker
Cook low 6-8 hours
serve sliced/ broken up with rolls and sauce for dipping