Recipes I Can't Wait to Try! #15

It's Wednesday!  It's Wednesday!  I don't know about y'all, but Wednesday is becoming one of my favorite days of the week!  Every week I look forward to seeing what yummy things you have been working on.  This weeks recipe I can't wait to try is the Bacon Cheese Dip over at Mrs Happy Homemaker.  I mean how could I not choose it?  It's bacon & cheese!  Need I say more?  I know you are all going to Super Bowl parties this weekend.  Look no further, here is the dish you're going to want to bring.  Although, if I were you, I'd serve it with scoop Fritos.  Just saying...  ;-)

Photo is property of Mrs Happy Homemaker

Bacon Cheese Dip at Mrs Happy Homemaker

Don't forget to take advantage of the 10% off of the Valentines tablecloth at Home A La Mode!  This offer is exclusively for At Home With Haley readers!  To take advantage of the discount, add the tablecloth to your cart and at checkout enter the coupon code "HALEY10" and click apply.  It's that simple!  Now what are you waiting on?!  The discount is only good until Sunday, February 6!

Now let's see some Recipes I Can't Wait to Try!  Link up your yummy recipes & fun crafts!  My request is that you please link back to me in some way and say, "Hi!" to another party goer!  Everyone loves getting a new comment, so show some love!  =)  Also, this week I've made it a blog hop, so feel free to add it to your own blog.  Enjoy!

If you were featured, feel free (but not pressured) [=)] to grab my button!

  
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Recipes I Can't Wait to Try!

It's a baking sort of day...

Yes, I said "It's a baking sort of day.", in my best Pooh Bear voice. =)  All week I have been hearing that we were supposed to get sleet on Tuesday.  I believed that it was coming, but I had no idea that we were going to get sleet.

This is a picture of my driveway...it is straight ice.  It was so strange waking up in the middle of the night, hearing thunder, seeing lightening, and hearing sleet hit my window.  James stayed home from work and Joseph's school was cancelled, we are all iced in.  So what's a girl to do on a day like this?  Bake, of course!  ;-)  I have a whole list of things I am working on today:

• Klobasnek
• Whole Wheat Bread
• Banana Nut Bread
• Perfect Dinner Rolls
• French Bread (Recipe to come)  :-)

Also for dinner tonight we are going to have a La Madeleine tomato basil soup copycat.  Are you snow/iced in?  What are you making?

By the way, don't forget to take advantage of your 10% discount at Home A La Mode on this cutsie Valentines day tablecloth!  At checkout, just enter in the coupon code HALEY10 and click "apply".  You have until Sunday, February 6.  

Turtle Brownies

Plate is from Home A La Mode (Be sure to see below for a special offer from Home A La Mode!)

The other night, my husband requested some kind of a chocolate dessert.  Then he said, "Mmmmm make those dark chocolate brownies!"  Just a side note, there aren't many things sexier than a man who loves and appreciates chocolate!  ;-)  Unfortunately, I went to my pantry and realized that I was out of powdered sugar to make the icing. :-( Then I started thinking about what else I could top the brownies with and thought, "Duh!  Turtles!" So I got online and found a recipe for caramel topping on cdkitchen.  I couldn't wait for my chewy gooey brownies!  Turns out, they were a huge success.  James and I ate them until we were grossed out with ourselves.  The recipe makes a ton (OK, not a ton...but 3 cups) of caramel so I was able to save some of it and make more turtle brownies for the Bible study that meets at our house.  Trust me on this, you will NOT be disappointed.      

Turtle Brownies

Prep Time: 25 Minutes; Cook Time: 25 Minutes; Ready in 50 minutes; Serves 16

1/2 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup unsweetened dark chocolate cocoa powder

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Topping:

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).  Grease and flour and 8 inch square pan.
• In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter.  Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder.  Spread batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.  Do not overcook.
• While brownies are baking, prepare the caramel topping. (recipe below)
• Pour 1 - 1 1/2 cups of caramel over the brownies.  
• Sprinkle with chocolate chips (I used minis) & chopped pecans.
• Allow to cool about 5-10 minutes and serve!  (A scoop of ice cream wouldn't hurt.) ;-)

Caramel Topping

Cook time <30 minutes Makes 3 cups

2 cups brown sugar
1 cup Karo syrup (It doesn't have high fructose corn syrup any more!)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

• Combine sugar and syrup. Cook until soft ball stage (220-225°), stirring until it begins to boil. Remove from heat. 
• Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.

Wouldn't these brownies (or anything for that matter) look so cute sitting on this tablecloth?!  What a fun Valentines treat!  Until Sunday, Feb. 6, Home A La Mode is offering 10% off of this tablecloth exclusively to At Home With Haley readers!!!  Could you just scream?!  Just add the tablecloth to your cart and at check out, add the coupon code HALEY10 in the space provided and click on the "apply" button.  Thanks to Home A La Mode for offering such a great deal to my readers.  ♥ 

Linking up at these fun parties:

Making the World Cuter: Making the World Cuter Monday
The Girl Creative: Just Something I Whipped Up

33 Shades of Green: Tasty Tuesdays

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam: Tasty Tuesday

It's a Blog Party: Delicious Dishes 

Giggles, Glitz, & Glam: Glam Party

A Moderate Life: Hearth and Soul Hop

All Thingz Related: Anything Related Tuesday

Creations by Kara: Look What I Made Day

The King's Court IV: What's Cooking Wednesday

Frugal Follies: Frugal Food Thursday

House of Hepworths: Hooking Up With HOH

Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom: Commercial Break Thursday

Whistlestop Cafe Cooking: Friday's Favorites

ceo a's draiocht: Decidedly Healthy or Horridly Decadent
Sweet as Sugar Cookies: Sweets for Saturday 

Chocolate Oatmeal Pecan Cookies

Get these pretty plates at Home A La Mode!

Yay!!!!  It's the first week of the official Month of Cookies on At Home With Haley!!!  I'm so excited!  You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."?  I have that theory about some cookies.  My favorite cookie recipe in the whole wide world is one you probably already have.  That's right...the one on the back of the Nestle Tollhouse Semi-Sweet Morsels package.  *Gasp!*  Except the one I really REALLY like is the one on the back of the 24oz package.  It is Nestle's Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies.  I'm pretty sure my mouth is watering right now just thinking about them.  The only thing that could make them better (those of you that have been reading all of my recipes since the beginning will not be surprised that I say this) would be pecans.  OK.  I admit it.  I'm a pecan nut.  But I'm a southern girl and let's face it, in the south we like our pecans.  This time I had some extra helpers in the kitchen.  =)  I love that kids can easily help you bake cookies.  It may add a few more minutes onto the amount of time that it takes to make them, but they love it!  Not to mention memories for a lifetime!  

Their favorite part!

For those of you that don't have the 24oz package, here's the recipe!

Nestle Tollhouse Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 c. (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. packed light brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 c. (12 oz) Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
2 c. quick oats
I add 1 c. chopped pecans =)

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl.  Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large mixer bowl until creamy.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in morsels and oats.  Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 8 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.  Let stand for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to coll completely.  Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Enjoy!!!

Linked up at these fun parties:

The Girl Creative: Just Something I Whipped Up

Making the World Cuter Mondays

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam: Tasty Tuesdays

A Beautiful Mess: Tasty Tuesdays

Delicious Dishes It's a Blog Party

Look What I Made Day! : Creations by Kara

Hooking up with HOH : House of Hepworths

Yay for our Home A La Mode giveaway winner!!!

We have a winner!  We have a winner!

Comment #123 AKA Amanda from Farmgirl Writes & Chicken Scratch Designs!!!  Comment #123 said, "I love the "Nana's Bib Apron"!"

A big huge congratulations to you Amanda!!!


I hope you enjoy your fancy new Kay Dee Designs gingham apron from Home A La Mode!  I can't wait to see what color you pick out.  (My vote is the green one!)  

Thank you to Home A La Mode for such a fun prize to giveaway!  Be sure to check out Home A La Mode for all of your household needs.  They are the cutest online boutique EVER!  They have kitchen items, Moda fabrics, crafts, patterns (including the new patterns by my lovely sister-in-law, Angela the Moda Home Mom),  laundry room needs, and even something for your pet!  As if Home A La Mode couldn't get any more fun, they also have a whole line of kid's toys and games.  Check out this uber cute sock monkey:

OMGSH!  I just think he's adorable!

Oh my, I almost forgot!  They have purses and bags by Amy Butler!  The best part about them is that right now they are 50% off!!  Check them all out here.

Thank you so much for participating in my first giveaway!  Be sure to congratulate Amanda on her awesome win!  It's so nice to meet you all!  Happy Saturday to you!

[None of these pictures are mine.  They were taken from the Home A La Mode website.]

Kolaches

If you're digging my plate, there is still a very limited supply available at Home A La Mode in 8" and 12"

Being a native Texan, it's hard to imagine life without kolaches!  For those of you that need to be educated, a kolache is a Czech sweet bun made from yeasted dough and usually having a fruit or poppy seed filling.  They are such a yummy little piece of heaven.  There are some people that will try to give you a "kolache" with sausage inside.  My friends, please hear me when I say, "THAT IS NOT A KOLACHE!!!  IT IS A PIG IN A BLANKET!!!"  There.  I got that out of my system. *Panting*  If you want the actual Tex-Czech name for a 'Pig In A Blanket' it is "klobasnek"  If you want to join my anal-retentive kolache world, here's a pretty good read on the differences.

Anyway, the best place to buy these little goodies is in a small town called West, TX at The Czech Stop.  It is halfway between Dallas and Austin.  It's just a little far for me to drive there to go get one.  =(  But, I have found a recipe that is just about as close as you can get to the ones at The Czech Stop.  *High pitched squeal!*  I found the recipe at The Homesick Texan.  She has such pretty pictures of the finished product too!  Thanks Homesick Texan for sharing! 


The following is the word for word recipe with my pics added in.  I will post a few of my tips at the end.

Kolaches 

(adapted from recipes found in Texas Monthly and the HoustonChronicle as found on The Homesick Texan)

Makes 18 rolls


Ingredients:
1 package of active dry yeast
1 cup of warm milk
1/4 cup sugar
3 cups of all-purpose flour
2 eggs
3/4 cup of melted butter
1 teaspoon of salt

Method:
In a large bowl, combine yeast, warm milk, sugar and one cup of flour. Cover and let it rise until doubled in size.
Beat together eggs, 1/2 cup of melted butter (reserve 1/4 cup for brushing on the pastry) and salt.
Add egg mixture to yeast mixture and blend.
Stir in about two more cups of flour, 1/2 cup at a time. The dough should be soft and moist.
Knead dough for about 10 minutes on floured surface. Don't worry, it’s a joy to knead as the dough is smooth and highly malleable.
Put dough in a greased bowl and let rise covered until doubled in size—about an hour.
After dough has risen, punch it down and pull off egg-sized pieces. In your hands, roll pieces into balls and then flatten to about three inches in diameter. Brush with melted butter.
Place flattened pieces on a greased cookie sheet, cover and let rise again for another half-hour.
After second rising, with your finger gently make an indention in the center of the dough (be careful not to flatten it too much)

and fill with one tablespoon of fruit filling (recipe to follow) 

and sprinkle with posypka (recipe to follow).

Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Brush with melted butter when you take them out of the oven and serve warm.












Kolache filling
Ingredients:
1 pound of dried fruit such as apricots or prunes.
Sugar to taste
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
Lemon zest

Method:
Soak the dried fruit in water for a few hours or overnight.
When fruit is re-hydrated, cook on low for 15 minutes, adding sugar to taste (I find the fruit sweet enough so I don’t add sugar, but you may prefer it sweeter), cinnamon and lemon zest. Mash with a potato masher until you have a puree.


Posypka

Ingredients:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Method:
Mix all ingredients until crumbly.




My tips for this recipe:

• Dough: I needed closer to 4 cups of flour vs. 3.  Start with 3 cups and if the dough is too sticky to knead, add  flour 1/4 cup at a time.
• Filling: I did not try the recipe.  I used a cherry fruit spread instead.
• Posypka: I found that it made way more than needed.  Feel free to cut it in half.  You will still have plenty to spare.  You also may need to add a little bit of butter.

Home A La Mode Giveaway!!!!

When you think of wearing an apron do you think of these women?

Sigh.  Yes, it's June Cleaver

Not sure who this lady is...

It's not easy to find a cute AND functioning apron!  It seems so many of them are either cute OR functioning.  When I say cute, I don't mean bunnies and teddy bears.  Don't get me wrong...bunnies and teddy bears have their place.  But in my opinion, that place is not on my apron. =)  When I say "cute", I mean pretty, stylish, flirty, girly, etc.  I think you get the picture.  


Good news! You can find ultra "cute" aprons at Home A La Mode!!!  This is the one that I have:

I also have the matching towel.  It is so nice and big and perfect for covering my doughs to let them rise.

OK, OK!  I'm a  last minute person and no matter how hard I try...LATE!

How many ways can I say CUTE?!  Home A La Mode has over 55 aprons to choose from by many designers including, Kay Dee Designs, Kate Spain, Moda Home, Vanilla House, Cindy Taylor Oates, Sew Liberated, and Nana's.  While you're visiting Home A La Mode, be sure to check out all of their other kitchen items as well.  They have napkins, tablecloths, tableware, pot holders, towels, and other accessories. 

Now....for the giveaway.  Home A La Mode has offered to let you choose your favorite color of one of these super cute aprons by Kay Dee Designs!!!  I'm in love with the green one.  As if that isn't cool enough, they are doing the exact same giveaway on Home A La Mode's blog!  Could you just scream?

HOW TO ENTER...  


MANDATORY ENTRY:

• Visit Home A La Mode then leave a comment telling me which apron is your favorite other than the one I reviewed or the one that is being given away! (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES:  (LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY)

• Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect. (1 entry)
• Follow Home A La Mode's blog and enter their giveaway for another apron! (1 entry)
• Subscribe to this blog via email. (1 entry)
• FOR 3 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway, with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post THREE separate comments that you've blogged about this. 
• FOR 10 EXTRA ENTRIES - Purchase something from Home A La Mode and leave me a comment with the last 3 digits of your order number that you receive in your confirmation email from Home A La Mode.  Be sure to tell Home A La Mode you heard about them from me! P.S. Share what you couldn't live without!  We're all dying to know!

HURRY and ENTER by midnight Friday, August 13, 2010!  The winner will be chosen at random by Random.org and announced on Saturday, August 14th.


Good luck!


[Pictures of aprons and towel used in this post are property and copyrighted by Kay Dee Designs] 

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