Peppermint Martini Jello Shots

I thought this sounded worth trying, although Tablespoon where I found the recipe had very mixed reviews.

It is recommended that you use a glass loaf or 8 x 6 inch pan/baking dish.

Ingredients:

-2/3 cup water

-1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk {many people that wrote review on Tablespoon thought this may have caused a weird constancy issue; I think next time I'll try vanilla or peppermint coffee creamer in it's place!}

-2 envelopes plain gelatin

-3/4 cup vanilla vodka

-2 tbsp white creme de cacao

-3 tbsp peppermint schnapps {or up to 4 tbsp, to taste}

-crushed peppermint candies or candy canes, optional

Process:
1. Pour water into a small saucepan; sprinkle gelatin over water and allow to soak for about 2 minutes.

2. Over very low heat, stir constantly until gelatin is dissolved, about 5 minutes.

3. Stir in sweetened condensed milk or creamer.

4. Remove from heat and add vodka, creme de cocoa and schnapps.

5. Stir well to incorporate.

6. Pour into pan and refrigerate until fully set, several hours or over-night.

7. To serve, cut into 1 inch squares; garnish with crushed peppermints just before serving.
8. Enjoy!

Homemade Hamburger or Hotdog Buns

These are great and very versatile; I like to do the dough in my bread maker.

You can make these into Onion Buns by adding 2 tbsp dried onions plus 1/2 tsp onion salt (decrease regular salt to 1 tsp).

You could also brush these with a beaten egg and sprinkle them with sesame seeds, poppy seeds or whatever else you might like on the top of your burger buns!

I found the original recipe from AllRecipes.

Ingredients:

-1 cup warm milk

-1/2 cup warm water

-1/4 cup butter

-2 tbsp sugar

-1 1/2 tsp salt {or 1 tsp if making Onion Buns, see above}

-1 egg

-4 1/2 cups flour

-2 1/4 tsp yeast

Process:

1. Thinly slice butter and place in the bread maker pan.

2. Add salt and sugar.

3. Add warm water and warm milk.

4. Add egg.

5. Top with flour.

6. Lastly, add yeast.

7. Place bread pan in bread maker and set to the dough setting and let the cycle run through.

8. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.

9. Cut the dough into 12 fairly equal pieces.

10. Shape each piece into the shape of buns you want.

11. Place buns on a lightly greased baking pan or on parchment; cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow to rise for about 30 minutes.

12. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
13. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden.

This is about 10 minutes into baking...

14. Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Enjoy!

Our Blizzard 2012

This is what we woke up to yesterday and today!  

12 inches of snow and 55 mph wind gusts are not fun in so many ways!  

Wish us luck digging ourselves out today!

Gingerbread Waffles with Hot Chocolate Sauce

These are really good and a nice twist on a basic waffle.  

I found the recipe from AllRecipes.

These are also high in iron from the molasses!

Ingredients for Waffles:

-1 cup molasses

-1/2 cup butter, melted

-1 1/2 tsp baking soda

-1/2 cup milk

-1 egg

-2 cups flour

-1 1/2 tsp ground ginger

-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

-1/2 tsp salt

Ingredients for Hot Chocolate Sauce:

-2 cups water

-1 cup sugar

-2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp cold water

-1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

-1 tsp salt

-2 tsp vanilla extract

-2 tbsp butter

Process:

1. In mixing bowl, combine molasses, melted butter, baking soda, milk, egg, ginger, cinnamon and salt.

2. Add flour.

3. Beat mixture to combine; scrape sides.

4. Beat again, until smooth.

5. Pour 1/2-3/4 cup batter onto hot waffle iron, gently spread with spoon or spatula to distribute {batter will be thick}.

6. Cook waffle until cooked through; repeat with remaining batter.

7. Meanwhile, make hot chocolate sauce...
Bring water to a boil.  Stir in sugar, cocoa powder and salt.
8. Whisk in cornstarch {mixing cornstarch with the 1 tbsp cold water will help it dissolve and prevent clumps}, until smooth.

I didn't mix the cornstarch with cold water
and ended up with some cornstarch clumps
in my hot chocolate sauce.
Not cool!

9. Cook mixture over medium heat until the mixture thickens.

 10. Whisk in vanilla and butter.

 11. Enjoy waffles with hot chocolate sauce!