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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Fried Oreos

Here is a great recipe that is really fun to make and eat.  You can even use pancake batter and just dip the oreos in it and fry if you are pressed for time, but here is my recipe for the batter.  You can use the batter on absolutely anything. Oreos, funnel cakes, deep fried candy bar! Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 package of oreos
1 1/3 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup milk
vegetable oil for frying
powdered sugar

Fill a deep fryer, or a fairly deep pan with oil.  Leave a few inches from the top so there is no spillage of hot oil.  Begin to heat the oil up.  In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder together.  In a separate bowl mix the beaten egg and the milk together until it is light and fluffy.  Add this to your bowl of dry ingredients.  Mix until smooth.  Dip each oreo in the batter until it is completely covered.  Drop it into the oil and fry until golden brown.  Put onto a plate with a paper towel and sprinkle with lots of powdered sugar. Enjoy this carnival treat!

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Baked Rigatoni

Here is a really easy recipe that is also very delicious. It is almost like baked ziti except I use rigatoni because I like the way the sauce binds to this shape of pasta.  Most of the ingredients can be found in your kitchen right now and it is very quick to make and also great for a crowd.  Enjoy this delicious pasta dish!

Ingredients:
1 jar of store-bought tomato sauce or homemade sauce (my mom's recipe for tomato sauce will be up soon, obviously it is WAY better than the store-bought)
1 lb rigatoni pasta (ziti or any other short pasta will work too
1 8 oz bag or block of mozzarella cheese (don't use fresh here because there is too much moisture and will make pasta wattery)
1 lb ricotta cheese
5 tablespoons parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons fresh parsley
2 teaspoons garlic powder
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Bring pot of boiling water to boil.  Put a handful of salt into the water, then add your pasta.  Stir pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes.  Drain the pasta and pour into a 13 x 9 greased baking dish. 

To the baking dish add the ricotta cheese until every noodle has been covered with the sauce.  Then add your parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.  Stir to incorporate.  Next add the sauce to the pasta and ricotta mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated.  Now add 3/4 of the shredded mozzarella cheese and all of the parmesan cheese.  Stir until everything is evenly mixed.  Add the additional mozzarella cheese on top and bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.  Enjoy!

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Pasta con Aglio e Olio (Pasta with garlic and oil)

Here is an easy, easy recipe that you can make using things you probably have around.  Ease doesn't always mean not very delicious, and here is a perfect example of this.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

5 cloves of garlic

1/2 cup olive oil

pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

1 lb long pasta (linguine or spaghetti work best)

1/2 cup parmesan cheese (about 2 handfuls)

salt

pepper

1 cup reserved pasta water

2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley

1 whole fresh mozzarella (optional)

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  This will be for the pasta to cook in.

In a very large skillet, heat 1/2 cup of olive oil.  Chop garlic very fine.  The finer it is the more flavorful it will become.  Once oil is hot pinch in the red pepper flakes.  Be careful, these are very hot.  Then add the garlic.  Stir constantly so the garlic does not burn.  Once he begins to turn light brown lower the heat to low.  Burnt garlic is bitter and will ruin your dish. 

After water begins to boil, add a handful of salt to the water.  Add your pasta and stir.  Pasta will take about 8-10 minutes.  One minute before pasta is done, take out one cup of pasta water and reserve.  This water is a great thickening agent because of its high starch content.  Drain the pasta and pour into the garlic and oil.  Make sure the heat it still on low.  Using tongs, toss the pasta around while adding parmesan cheese and then pasta water.  Continue adding a little bit at a time of each until it is all gone and you see a thicker sauce.  Now you can add the parsley and 1/2 inch cubes of mozzarella cheese.  Continue tossing for about 1-2 minutes or until cheese slightly melts.  Finish with ground pepper.  Serve immediately and enjoy!

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Cheesecake Factory Pumpkin Cheesecake

It took me a long time to figure out the best recipe to mock the Cheesecake Factory's.  I tried a lot of fancy techniques that people say make a best cheesecake.  I searched all over the internet and I found the best recipe was actually the simplest and most like my Mom's recipe for cheesecake.  I made this recipe on Thanksgiving and it was a crowd favorite! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon of sugar

Filling:
1 cup sugar
3-8 ounce packages of cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
Whipped cream for top if desired

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the graham cracker crumbs and sugar together.  Then add the melted butter and stir until a slightly moist mixture forms.  Press the crust into the bottom and 2/3 of the sides of a springform pan.  I use a metal measuring cup to press the crumbs in, but your hand will work just fine.  Bake for 5 minutes and then put into fridge to chill. 

Combine the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add the pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg and beat again until very creamy and there are no lumps.  Pour into the graham cracker crust.  Bake in the oven for 60-70 minutes.  Many professionals recommend to use a water bath which is just a roasting an full of hot water that the springform pan is immersed in for even cooking and to prevent cracking.  I personally don't do this step because I like the crack on my cheesecake.  It makes it look homemade.  After it is finished baking, chill in the fridge.  Preferably let chill for 24 hours, but 6-8 hours will do if you can't wait that long.  You can decorate with whipped cream if you want like they do at the cheesecake factory, but I prefer to leave mine plain.  Cut and Enjoy!

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