Black Bottom Cupcakes

I first tried these at a stake relief society social in our BYU married student ward. The wife of one of our high counselors made these. Many years later, I finally decided to give this recipe a try. They were just as good as I remembered and easy too!

Black Bottom Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla

Mix dry ingredients together. Add remaining ingredients and using a mixer, blend well. Fill lined muffin cups 1/3 full with batter.

Filling:
1 - 8oz. package cream cheese
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
chopped almonds (I omit.)

Combine cream cheese, egg, sugar and salt. Beat well. Stir in chocolate chips. Place heaping spoonful of mixture on top of batter in each muffin cup. Sprinkle with additional sugar and chopped almonds (I omit both.) Bake at 350. I bake one muffin tin at a time (so 12 muffins) and it takes between 18-20 minutes to cook. Makes 24 cupcakes.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Candies

These are a tasty, if fattening, treat. They're pretty much homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. This time we gave most of them away. That was a good thing because I could have eaten the whole pan myself.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Candies

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 lb package powdered sugar
1-12 oz. package chocolate chips
1-2 teaspoons creamy peanut butter

Melt butter. Add graham cracker crumbs (I crush mine in a blender), peanut butter and powdered sugar. Using a mixer, blend well. Pat into a 9X13 pan. Melt chocolate chips and 1-2 teaspoons of peanut butter (makes the chocolate spread easier) and spread evenly over top. Refrigerate 10-20 minutes. Cut into squares.

Pumpkin Waffles

If you're wondering why the syrup doesn't cover the entire waffle, it's because Tyler didn't want syrup on his section. He wanted ketchup. :) These waffles are seriously good! This is the time of year when I always seem to have pumpkin leftover in my fridge so I'm always looking for ways to use it. I love just about anything pumpkin. I got this recipe from my friend Sheia and my friend Melanie has a recipe for apple cider syrup that goes great with these too.

Pumpkin Waffles

2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
4 Tbsp butter, melted
2/3 cup canned pumpkin

In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, melted butter and pumpkin. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until just combined. Coat waffles iron with non-stick spray and cook.

Apple Cider Syrup

Mix in sauce pan

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 tsp corn starch
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Add

• 1 cup apple cider or apple juice
• 1 TBS lemon juice
• 2 TBS butter

Cook all ingredients except butter over medium heat. Heat until thick and bubbly. Cook 2 more minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in butter.
Makes 1 1/3 cups syrup.

Maggie's Slow Cooker Taco Soup

It's that time of year for soups and chilis. Our friend Kelly made this soup while we were staying at a cabin in Yellowstone a few years ago. It was delicious so I asked her for the recipe. It's super easy because you just throw everything in a crock pot in the morning and let it cook all day.

Maggie's Slow Cooker Taco Soup

1 chopped onion
1 can chili beans
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can corn
12 oz. water
1 can tomato sauce
2 cans diced tomatoes (1 w/ green chilis)
1 package taco seasoning
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast (can use frozen)

Add everything to slow cooker and cook on low for 7-8 hours. Just before serving, remove chicken and shred. Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese and tortilla chips.

Chicken Lasagna

This is a great recipe when you're feeling like pasta with a white sauce. It's very flavorful and pretty easy to make.

Chicken Lasagna

6 Tbsp butter, divided
1 1/2 lbs. boneless chicken breast, cut into 1" cubes
3/4 tsp dried thyme (Next time I'm going to try basil or oregano - or a combination of the two.)
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 c chicken broth
1 c whipping cream
8 oz. lasagna noodles, cooked and drained (I usually use more.)
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese (I always use Mozarella.)
Minced fresh parsley, optional

In large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 T butter. Add chicken, garlic and thyme. Cook until chicken is done, about 10 minutes. Remove and set aside. Add remaining butter to skillet. Stir in flour and salt until smooth. Cook and stir until golden brown. Gradually add broth and cream. Bring to boil. Cook and stir every 2 minutes until thickened.

In a greased 9X13 baking dish, layer half of the noodles, chicken, white sauce and cheese. Repeat layers. (I like to do 3 layers.) Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes longer or until cheese is bubbly. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.

Sweet Potato Muffins

I am so excited. I finally found a way to use the sweet potatoes I get occasionally from the co-op....Use them to make delicious muffins! I am not a fan of Thanksgiving-style sweet potatoes. I know they are one of the healthiest foods on earth but I just can't swallow the regular sweet poato. But these muffins are fabulous. This recipe comes from http://sisterscafe.blogspot.com.

Sweet Potato Muffins

1 1/4 c uncooked oats

1 c flour

1/3 c chopped pecans (I omitted due to nut allergies in our home.)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 c mashed sweet potato (You can also use canned pumpkin.)

3/4 c brown sugar

1/2 c oil

1/4 c milk

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

Topping:

1/4 c oats

1/4 c flour

1/4 c brown sugar

3 Tb chopped pecans (omitted)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 c butter

Stir together dry ingredients of topping then cut butter in using pastry cutter. (Or you can rub together using your fingers.)

Combine dry ingredients, add moist ingredients. Stir until just moistened; do not overmix. Fill greased muffin tins 3/4 full. Sprinkle liberally with topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes. Makes 12-15 muffins.

Aunt Ila's Minestrone Soup

Another good soup recipe. Great on a cold night. I got this recipe from my friend Cami. It's a recipe that's been passed down in her family. And since Cami is my third cousin, well maybe I can claim it as a family recipe too. ;) Cami uses beef boullion cubes instead of canned broth and she also adds 1-2 cans of tomato sauce. She also uses fresh or frozen green beans instead of canned. I've tried all her changes and think they are great so I've stuck with them.

Aunt Ila's Minestrone Soup

1 lb. Italian Sausage, browned and drained
4 cups water
3 stalks celery, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 14 oz. cans diced tomatoes (I've used fresh tomatoes, diced.)
2 cans beef broth
2 tsp dried oregano
2 Tbsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp pepper

Simmer soup on low for 4-6 hours or use a crock pot.

During the last hour add:
1 can string beans
1 can kidney or garbanzo beans (I've always used kidney.)
1 cup noodles, cooked al dente