Pecan Brittle in the microwave

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

Homemade Pecan Brittle in the microwave…so easy.

I am posting the recipe for you. Keep in mind you really must adjust to your microwave, as some microwaves cook faster than others. Mine tended to cook a little faster as I have my setting at 100%.

This is my copy of the recipe…

If you find that copy hard to read, I added it below! Try this recipe! It really is easy once you know your microwave temps. I adjusted mine a bit over the years. I usually make 2 batches as the first one comes out a little dark.

PECAN BRITTLE
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup of lite Karo syrup
1 cup pecan pieces or halves
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions:
Microwave the 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup of Karo on high for 4 minutes using a clear medium glass bowl (I did it for 3 in my microwave)

Take out then stir in pecans. Put back in microwave for 5-7 minutes or until lightly brown. My microwave took about 4 minutes to get light brown.

Remove and stir in butter, vanilla and microwave for 1 more minute.

Remove and add in the baking soda. Stir together then quickly put on baking sheet. I let the brittle slide from side to side until it evens out. In a few minutes you will have pecan brittle that is easy to break and serve to your friends!

Enjoy!

6Dec2018

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

Yummy Christmas treats.

I grew up on these at Christmas time as I am sure you did as well. Who can resist peanut butter and chocolate, right? I love this combo and I love that these are so easy to make as well. ENJOY!

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PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS

Sift together in small bowl:
1 3/4 cup of flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream together until smooth in mixer or large bowl: (I use my stand up mixer)
1/2 cup of butter (room temp)
1/2 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of brown sugar
Add 1 egg (room temp)
Add 1 teaspoon vanilla

Then blend in the dry ingredients and mix well

Shape into 1″ balls
Roll in sugar (or colored sugar or sprinkles)
Place on greased cookie sheet or on parchment paper
Bake at 375 for 8 minutes each
Remove and top each cookie with candy kiss, press until cookie cracks

Cook for 2-4 more minutes, depending on oven

3Dec2018

Gingerbread Loaf

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

My daughter came home this weekend from Dallas and we decided to try making a Gingerbread Loaf. I found this recipe which was fairly easy and quick and I had all the ingredients so it was the winner!

I may have baked it a bit too long, (as it was a bit dry) but other than that, it turned out tasty and it made the house smell amazing.

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir well.
In a small bowl, add molasses and boiling water. Stir until combined. Add to wet ingredients.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add wet ingredients. Stir.
Pour batter into loaf pan. Cover loaf pan lightly with foil (remove foil halfway through baking. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
My oven tends to cook fast, so I only baked for about 40 minutes. Check it often after 40 minutes.
Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar.

30Nov2018

White chocolate chip molasses cookies

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

I love Sallys Baking Addiction and her seasonal cookie palooza. Every day she posts new cookies and I come home ready to start baking! I would love to try them all.

Since I can’t do that, I choose my favorites and try to at least make a few each holiday season. She had these cookies on her blog a few years ago and I tried them for a cookie exchange. I absolutely fell in love with these and so did everyone who tried them.

I am attaching her link to the recipe for you to try yourself. I also have it listed under cookies on this blog. I think you will enjoy these as much as I do. And by the way…my house smells amazing today!

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/soft-baked-white-chocolate-chip-molasses-cookies/

30Nov2018

M&M Cookies and Milk

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

M&M Cookies and Milk

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M&M Cookies

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cup flour
3/4 cup + 2 tsp of light brown sugar
3/4 cup + 2 tsp of sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup shortening (or butter flavor shortening) I use Crisco.
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup M&Ms

Mix together the dry ingredients in a bowl

Beat the shortening, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla together in mixer. Add the eggs, then slowly pour in the dry ingredients.

Stir in the M&Ms by hand and drop on cookie sheet. I add extra M&Ms on top!

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes (depending on your oven) or until just golden brown. Cool then place on wire rack.

29Nov2018

Sweet Potato Casserole

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen, Inspirations in Life and in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

Inspirations in life and in the kitchen…“Sweet Potato Casserole and Carla”

Sweet Potato Casserole and Carla

I first tried this recipe 28 years ago when I lived in Shreveport, Louisiana. I moved there with my husband the first year of our marriage. We visited a church one Sunday and that is where I met Carla. We became instant friends and she is still a dear friend to me today.

We took turns each week eating together. There I learned the value of friendship over sharing a table, laughter and recipes. I was not a great cook and reluctant to try new things. In fact, I had always stated that I did not like sweet potatoes and certainly not a casserole made with them. Then Carla invited us over for dinner one evening. I could not believe what I had been missing out on all those years.

Needless to say, this recipe has been a favorite of mine during the holidays ever since. It is not for the faint of heart…lots of butter and brown sugar in this one!

Even though we have not lived in the same city for over 24 years, I think of her often and miss her dearly. Carla inspired me in the kitchen by encouraging me to try ALL the ingredients in a recipe first and not leave out the ones I don’t like. She is the ultimate hostess with the mostest and always inspired love and conversation in others around her table.

She inspires me in life to be “all ears”. She never interrupts, listens as if she truly cares (and she does) and has a heart for others. This is something I never forgot and I think of her often when listening skills are required.

God blessed me with a friendship like hers and I also have this wonderful recipe and many others to share around my own table. Make this and I think you will fall in love with it also!

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SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes (can)
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1/2 cup milk

INSTRUCTIONS:
Beat eggs well then add milk and mix.
Add to this sweet potatoes, sugar, salt and butter or margarine
Mix and put in greased baking dish

TOPPING:
Mix 1 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup flour
Pour over potatoes, then cover with 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Melt 1 stick of butter and pour over all.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes, or until brown on top

11Jul2017

Cilantro Lime Chicken

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

My daughter is home for the summer from College..WHOOP! As we are trying to eat better and cook at home, we have discovered many recipes from other bloggers, TV personalities and our own recipes here at home.

We found this delightful recipe and it looked like the perfect summer dish. Here is the recipe…give it a try and let me know what you think! Cilantro Lime Avocado Chicken

11Jul2016

Lemon Loaf

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

What do you do when a sweet friend, who happens to be expecting a baby in August, asks for something made with lemons? You find a lemon loaf recipe of course! I love this sweet treat and I think you will also! Give it a try. You can find recipe here.

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This was delicious!

24Jun2016

Easy as Pie.

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen, Books I Love by Kristy Rhine

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I smile as I look at this Cherry Pie. We made this pie for Father’s Day…we were so ready to get it in the oven that our rows of crust did not turn out quite like we had planned. But it was still a sweet and delicious treat and was worth every calorie.

I thought of our family and how things don’t always turn out perfect. Sometimes we don’t look like a family that has it all together but in the end there is laughter, love and a bond that we wouldn’t trade for anything! Our family is worth every calorie!! 🙂

IMG_4414[1] IMG_4413[1] IMG_4430[1] IMG_4438[1] Thank you Sally’s Baking Addition for this recipe! I love all your pies and cookies!!! They always turn out so tasty!

Just a “sweet” extra for you, I am learning the more we do for ourselves, the more we can offer our family. I am going through an amazing book and study with friends called Emotionally Spiritually Healthy. Here is what the book looks like and the day to day reading. If you are looking for something to know yourself better and grow, give this book a try. I think you will really enjoy it and learn a little along the way!