Easy Powdered Sugar Buttercream Frosting

Easy Powdered Sugar Buttercream Frosting

2 sticks butter
3-4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. almond extract, optional
a little milk, for thinning out the frosting
Food color, optional

Beat the butter at high speed with an electric mixer. Add 1 cup of the powdered sugar and the extracts (if using). Beat until light and fluffy. Add the remaining powdered sugar alternating with a little bit of milk (no more than 1-2 tsp. at a time), until you reach the desired texture. Create different colored frosting by mixing in food color.

Fudge Icing

Fudge Icing

1 stick butter (melted)
4 heaping Tbsp. cocoa powder
2-3 cups powdered sugar (may not need all of it)
1/2 cup heavy cream

Stir butter with the cocoa powder. Beat in part of the powdered sugar and a few tablespoons of the heavy cream. Slowly add more powdered sugar and cream until icing is at a spreadable consistency.

Peanut Butter Mousse for cake

Peanut Butter Mousse For Cake

2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup heavy cream, chilled

Using an electric mixer, beat the peanut butter and cream cheese. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Continuous beating will create thickness in mousse. In a separate bowl, beat heavy cream with clean beaters to make soft peaks.

Fold the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture in two additions. This creates lightening of the mousse instead of deflating it.

Store in container and chill until ready to assemble into a cake.

Easy Cheaters Chocolate Cake

Easy Cheaters Chocolate Cake

1 German Chocolate Cake mix
3 heaping T cocoa powder
1 stick butter
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk

Melt stick of butter. Combine all ingredients. Bake at 350 until center of cake is no longer wet.

Vegetarian Peanut Noodles

Vegetarian Peanut Noodles

1 (8 oz.) linguine, cooked and hot (really, any type of long noodle will do)
1/2 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter
1/3 cup reserved pasta water (more or less to thin out the sauce)
1-2 T brown sugar
1-2 T soy sauce
1 tsp. fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 red pepper, thinly sliced
2-3 green onions, thinly sliced, white and tender green parts only
cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Whisk together the peanut butter, brown sugar, soy sauce, and ginger. Add the water a little at a time until the sauce reaches desired consistency. Pour over the noodles and toss to coat. Add the veggies and toss again. Garnish and serve.

Teriyaki Sauce

Teriyaki Sauce

1 cup Soy Sauce
1 cup white sugar
1 cup water
fresh ginger and garlic, minced (to your taste)

Mix well to dissolve sugar. Store in the fridge.

Applesauce Cookies:

Applesauce Cookies

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups flour
• chocolate chips, nuts, raisins

Mix the first 5 ingredients together. Then add in the rest of the dry ingredients to it, combining well. Now add your chocolate chips, nuts, or raisins. Scoop onto a baking sheet. The dough will be very soft. It gets plopped on the baking sheet, but will cook up nicely. Bake for 8-11 minutes at 400* or until lightly brown. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Recipe from Marie

Chocolate Velvet Ice Cream Sauce

Chocolate Velvet Ice Cream Sauce

1 bag (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 C firmly packed powdered sugar

4 TB butter

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. almond extract

dash of salt

1/2 C milk, any kind

Place all ingredients except milk into a large glass bowl and microwave on high until boiling, stirring after 30 second intervals. Immediately pour chocolate mixture into a blender and add milk. Blend for 1 minute and add more milk if needed slowly until sauce is smooth and thick. Keep refrigerated.

Yields 3 small 8 oz. jars. To serve, warm in microwave for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds. Spoon over ice cream, brownies or fresh fruit!