Snowball Cookies

These are such a delicious treat when it gets really cold outside.  They are very easy and such a delicious cookie.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 sticks of butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar + additional powdered sugar for rolling after they are baked
2 1/2 cups of flour
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Beat together the butter and the powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.  Then add the flour 1/2 cup at a time and beat together on low power.  Once everything is combined add the vanilla and chopped walnuts. 

Form dough into small balls about an inch in diameter.  Bake in the oven until golden brown.  It should take about 10 minutes.  Allow to cool for about 3 minutes.  Then roll in powdered sugar until they are completely covered.  Enjoy!

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Sweet Potato Pie

This is a really easy recipe and it is absolutely delicious.  My mom and I make this for every Thanksgiving and everybody loves it.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
3 cup canned sweet potatoes, juice drained
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 beaten eggs
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
pinch of salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 prepared pie shell
marshmallows for top

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl put the sweet potatoes that have been drained.  Mash the sweet potatoes up until they are fairly smooth.  Now add the brown sugar and continue to mash the swete potatoes.  Now you can switch to a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.  Add the beaten eggs, butter, and lemon juice and stir until all are combined.  Now add the cinnamon and salt and stir again until everything is very creamy and smooth.  There may be a few lumps here and there or sweet potatoe and butter which is fine. 

Pour the mixture into a store bought pie crust or a homemade pie crust.  Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes.  If serving today take out after 40 minutes and put the marshmallows on top to cover the entire pie and return to the oven until marshmallows become golden brown.  If you want to serve it another day, put in the refrigerator or freezer wrapped in plastic or foil.  When ready to serve bake for about 15 minutes or until the pie is warmed, and then add your marshmallows and bake until they are golden brown.  Enjoy!

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Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

Here is a great recipe for parties.  The sauce is also very versatile and can be used on chicken, ribs, or really anything.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
3-4 pounds of chicken wings
1/4 cup butter
1 cup diced onion
1 cup ketchup
1/3 cup water
1/4 honey
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worchestershire Sauce
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

After the chicken wings have been cleaned, put on a greased baking sheet for 20-25 minutes. 

In a small saucepan, melt the butter.  Then add your diced onion and saute in the butter for 5-7 minutes, or until tender.  Stir in the ketchup, water, and honey and bring to boil.  Now add the lemon juice, Worchestershire Sauce, and black pepper.  Stir and reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 5 minutes. 

After the wings are done coat them in the sauce and place back in the oven for 5-10 minutes.  Take out of the oven and enjoy!

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Maryland Crab Dip

Ever since going to school in Baltimore, I have come to love crab.  Here is an awesome recipe for any party that is a real crowd favorite.  You can even make this ahead and then just bake it the day you are serving it .Enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 8-oz packages of cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
4 tsp mayonnaise
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp mustard
2 tbsp milk
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1 pound blue crab meat (jumbo lump is actually not the best to use here, backfin or claw are the best to use)
crackers and bread for dipping

Directions:
Always check for shells in your crab meat. 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise together with an electric beater until they r completely mixed together.  Then add the lemon juice, Worchestershire Sauce, mustard, milk, and Old Bay seasoning.  Stir this together to combine.  Now stir in 3/4 of the cheddar cheese.  Gentley fold in your crab meat.  Place into a greased baking dish and top with the reserved cheddar cheese and sprinkle with a little more Old Bay on top.  If not eating today, place in the fridge until ready to bake.  Bake for 30 to 35 minutes and serve with crackers and slices of bread.  Enjoy!

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Blueberry Struesel Muffins

If you didn't have time to make the blueberry muffins, you could always use a boxed mix and then just add the struesel on top.  This crumb topping makes these muffins extra special and a great breakfast treat.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Muffin:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

Struesel topping:
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 12 cup muffin tin.

In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder and sugar.  In another bowl combine the melted butter, egg, and milk and mix well.  Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. 

Spoon the batter into the muffin tray, filling each cup about 2/3 full. 

For the struesel topping, in a separate bowl combine the flour and brown sugar together and mix.  Then add the 3 tablespoons of butter and mix together with your hands so that you get small pea size amounts of butter running through the topping.  Then add the cinnamon and continue to mix with your hands. 

Sprinkle each muffin with the topping and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing.  Enjoy!

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Steak Fries or Roasted Potatoes

Here is an easy recipe that can be used in two different ways depending on how you cut your potatoes.  It is great for a side dish or just a snack.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 potato per person (the spice eqivalents are for 4 potatoes)
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tsp garlic powder
4 tablespoons paprika
3 tsp salt
2 tsp black pepper
3 tablespoons parsley
2 tsp rosemary

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut potatoes either into long wedges by slicing each potato in half and then slicing the half into thirds longways or cut potatoes into cubes. 

Put 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the bottom of a baking dish.  Then add the potatoes and the other 2 tablespoons of olive oil on top.  Toss the potatoes around in the oil.  Add the salt and pepper.  Then add the garlic powder, parsley, and rosemary.  Toss this around to coat every potato.  Now sprinle the paprika on top. 

Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until potatoes become tender and golden.  Enjoy!

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Caramel Nut Brownies

A shortcut to this recipe would be to use a boxed brownie mix, add nuts, chocolate chips and swirl in some caramel.  Here is a homemade version though that is pretty easy to make and also very delicious.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 jar of ice cream caramel topping
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla.  Beat in eggs one by one until the ingredients are completely combined.  In a separate bowl combined the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.  Add a little bit at a time and stir after each addition until all has been completely combined.  Stir in walnuts and chocolate chips.

Spread batter into the bottom of a 9 x 9 greased baking dish.  Now take teaspoon fulls of caramel and dollop them on top of the brownie.  Taking a knife swirl the caramel in to get a marbelized effect of caramel throughout the brownie.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.  Allow brownies to cool and enjoy!

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