bbq desserts: October 2011

Recipe: Cinnamon Biscuit Balls

With three busy girls and a busy family life, I am always looking for quick recipes that I can make to change up our snacks and breakfasts. My girls love to eat muffins and biscuits so I when I came across this recipe on Karly's blog, Buns in My Oven, I thought it would be a great alternative...and it was! Not only was it delicious but it was super easy to make because it is made with a baking mix and only required a few ingredients. My girls loved them and I was happy to have a homemade treat to put in their lunches. Next time I make them, I will try dipping them in caramel sauce as Karly suggests.

Enjoy!

Cinnamon Biscuit Balls
(original recipe by Karly/Buns in My Oven)
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Ingredients
2 1/3 cups baking mix (ie Biquick)
1/2 cup milk
3 tbsp melted butter
4 tbsp sugar, divided
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix half of the sugar and the cinnamon in a small bowl. Mix remaining ingredients together until a soft dough forms. Scoop dough by tablespoons and roll into a ball. Roll each ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

NOTE: You can mix the dough with a mixer, but I mixed mine by hand and found the dough to be really easy to mix.

Linked To:
*Talking Dollar and Cents: Muffin Monday
*Nifty Thrifty Things: Nifty Thrifty Sunday
*A Well Seasoned Life: Sweet Indulgences Sunday
*Flamingo Toes: Think Pink Sundays
*Everyday Mom's Meals: Church Supper
*Petite Hermine: Sunday Linky Party
*The DIY Home Sweet Home Project: More the Merrier
*Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms: Melt in Your Mouth Monday
*Delightfully Dowling: Mangia Mondays
*Marvelously Messy: A Marvelous Mess
*Sumo's Sweet Stuff: Market Yourself Monday
*33 Shades of Green: Tasty Tuesdays
*Reasons To Skip the Housework: Tuesday Time Out
*Mandy's Recipe Box: Totally Tasty Tuesday
*Permanent Posies: Tuesday Tasty Tidbits
*It's A Blog Party: Delicious Dishes
*Blessed With Grace: Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
*Balancing Beauty &; Bedlam: Tasty Tuesday
*My Sweet and Savory: Let's Do Brunch
*Not So Homemade: What's Cookin' Wednesday
*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table Thursday
*Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff
*Something Swanky: Sweet Treats Thursday
*Talking Dollar and Cents: Sweet Temptations
*Alli n Son: Sweet Tooth Friday
*Sweet As Sugar Cookies: Sweets for a Saturday
*The Sweet Details: Savory Sunday

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Menu Plan: Week of October 30, 2011

It is a super busy week with science fairs, church, Halloween and a special birthday! It is finally feeling like fall here in Texas and the cooler temperatures have been so nice. If it weren't so busy, I would be in the kitchen cooking and baking every day...maybe next week.

Have a great week!

Meal 1
Trunk or Treat at Church

Meal 2

Pancakes for Dinner

Meal 3

Lasagna Soups
Garlic Bread
Salad

Meal 4

Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potato Top

Salad

Meal 5
Leftovers

Meal 6
Crock Pot Ham and Potatoes
Cornbread

Meal 7
Aunt Mary's 70th Birthday Party

BAKING

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
~~~~
Apple Toffee Blondies
~~~~

Cinnamon Biscuit Balls

Linked To:

*Org Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

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Recipe: Navajo Tacos

In our house, we love most things Tex-Mex. Okay, the truth is, I love most things Tex-Mex and since I do all the cooking around here, we eat a lot of it. It's one of the perks of being the cook! I have been trying to add more vegetarian dishes to our weekly menu and I have to say this was a huge hit with the family...especially since my girls don't love traditional tacos. I made these a couple of weeks ago, but was reminded of them when The Pioneer Woman posted her fry bread recipe. While I didn't use her recipe for the bread, I might give it a try the next time I make these. I have a recipe that I have been using for awhile now. It is super simple, doesn't use milk and taste delicious (especially when covered with beans, lettuce, cheese, etc.) I don't usually make our tacos with meat. I make mine with my Crock Pot Pintos, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and lots of salsa verde (as seen in the above picture...lol.) but it would be just as delicious with beef or chicken as well.

Navajo Tacos

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Ingredients

1 cup AP flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon powdered milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup water
Vegetable oil for frying

pinto beans
taco meat
lettuce
tomatoes
shredded cheese
salsa
sour cream

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, powdered milk and baking powder. Pour the water over the flour mixture all at once and stir the dough with a fork until it starts to form one big clump. Flour your hands and begin to mix the dough, trying to get all the flour into the mixture to form a ball. Don't knead the dough, just mix it well. Cut the dough into four pieces. Using your floured hands, shape, stretch, pat, and form a disk of about 5 to 7 inches in diameter. They don't need to be perfectly round by any means.

Heat the vegetable oil to about 350 degrees. Your oil should be about an inch deep in a large cast-iron skillet or other large frying pan.

Take the formed dough and gently place it into the oil, being careful not to splatter the hot oil. Press down on the dough as it fries so the top is submersed into the hot oil. Fry until brown, and then flip to fry the other side. Each side will take about 3 to 4 minutes.

To assemble the tacos, start with a fry bread then layer on your toppings; pinto beans, meat, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream...whatever you would like.

Enjoy!

Linked To:
*It's A Keeper: It's A Keeper Thursday
*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table Thursday
*Momnivore's Dilemma: Creative Juice
*Miz Helen's Country Cottage: Full Plate Thursday
*Frugal Follies: Frugal Food Thursday
*Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff Thursday
*What's Allie Making: Making It With Allie
*Bacon Time With The Hungry Hungry Hippo: Anything Goes
*Six Sister's Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday
*EKat's Kitchen: Friday Potluck
*Simply Sweet Home: Friday Favorites
*Stuff and Nonsense: Fridays Unfolded
*Run DMT: Friday Food Fights
*Amy's Finer Things: Finer Things Friday
*Food Renegade: Fight Back Friday
*The Sweet Details: Savory Sunday
*Lamb Around: Not Baad Sundays
*My Sweet and Savory: Meatless Mondays
*Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
*All the Small Stuff: Tuesdays At The Table
*Chef in Traning: Tuesday Talent Show

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Must Try Tuesday: October 25, 2011

I must have been cravings sweets this week, because all of my finds are sweet related and they are look sooo good! I can't wait to give these a try and with the holidays right around the corner, I will be making some of these as gifts for teachers, friends and neighbors.

Have a great week! Enjoy!

Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

Cook Lisa Cook

~~~~

We love kolaches and this one

looks especially good!

Caramel Apple Kolaches

At Home with Haley

~~~~

I love blackberries and this cupcake looks divine!

Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes

The Farm Girl Recipes

~~~~

I love this twist on gingerbread!

Gingerbread Rolls

Flour Me With Love

~~~~

I think these would be great gifts...

Caramel Apples

Glorious Treats

~~~~

We love pancakes and here is a new one to try...

Pumpkin Pecan Buttermilk Pancakes

Armstrong Family Fare

~~~~

This bread looks heavenly...

Apple Fritter Bread
Flour Me With Love

Linked To:

*Finding Joy in My Kitchen: Friday Favorite Finds

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Menu Plan: Week of October 23, 2011

The cooler temps that we had this past week were so refreshing. It was so nice to feel a slight chill in the air. I can't believe how busy this month has been and it is not slowing down. Before you know it, Thanksgiving will be upon us.

Have a great week!

Meal 1

Swiss Steak with Peppers & Onions

Mashed Potatoes

Butter Beans

Fried Cabbage

Rolls

Birthday Cake

Meal 2

Chick Pea Pasta
Garlic Bread

Meal 3

Crockpot Soup

Cornbread

Meal 4

Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potato Top

Salad

Meal 5
Leftovers

Meal 6
Pancake Night!

Meal 7
Lasagna Soup

Breadsticks

BAKING

Mandarin Orange Muffins
~~~
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
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Apple Toffee Blondies
~~~~
Cinnamon Biscuit Balls

Linked To:

*Org Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

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Recipe: Mandarin Orange Muffins

My family loves muffins of all kinds. One of our favorites is Monkey Muffins. They are so good and nutritious when made with whole wheat flour. As much as I love them, I was looking for something new and exciting to try. I came across this recipe and was intrigued because my kids love mandarin oranges. These muffins are super easy because they are made with a baking mix. They are so soft and tender and the cinnamon sugar topping is a nice compliment to the oranges. My kids and their friends devoured them in no time flat, especially my Abby. She has asked me to make them again almost every day now. They are her new favorite. While they are not quite as healthy as our Monkey Muffins, they are very good and I might try to make them with a whole grain baking mix next time.

Enjoy!

Mandarin Orange Muffins
(original recipe by Talking Dollar and Cents)
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Muffin

11/2 cups baking mix

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

1 egg, beaten

1/3 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup milk

1 11-oz can of mandarin oranges, drained and diced

Topping

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat muffin tins with non-stick spray. To make the batter: Combine baking mix, sugar, nutmeg and allspice in a large bowl. In another smaller bowl, stir egg, butter, milk and mandarin oranges together. Stir the liquid ingredients into dry ingredients until just mixed. Over mixing the batter will result in a tougher muffin. Spoon batter into muffin tins filling each tin 3/4 full and making sure orange bits are evenly distributed. Bake for 20-25 minutes. To make the topping: Combine sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. While muffins are still warm, brush the tops with the melted butter butter and sprinkle the sugar-cinnamon mixture across the top of the muffins.

Makes 10-12 muffins.

Linked To:
*Mangoes and Chutney: Fat Camp Friday
*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table Thursday
*Don't Waste Your Homemaking: Unwasted Homemaking
*Talking Dollar and Cents: Muffin Monday
*Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker: Your Recipe, My Kitchen
*A Well-Seasoned Life: Sweet Indulgences Sunday
*11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven: Homemaker Monday
*Sumos Sweet Stuff: Market Yourself Monday
*Allie-n-Son: Sweet Tooth Friday

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Recipe: Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Don't you just love this time of year? The cooler nights, the changing colors of the leaves, apples, cinnamon, sweaters and soups. Fall just cannot be beat! I was so excited to be invited to join other bloggers by Sheryl at Lady Behind the Curtain for her Improv Challenge. This month's challenge is caramel and apples and I knew the recipe that I wanted to make.

When I came across this recipe on Amanda's blog, Fake Ginger. All I have to say about these delightfully good rolls is....YUM! I loved the caramel apple filling. You have to give these a try they are worth the extra effort of cooking the apples and sugar. I also made these easier by making the dough in my bread maker. I frosted my cinnamon rolls with a thicker more gooey frosting because I figure if you are going to be sinful you might as well go all out but the next time that I make these, I will use the glaze.

Enjoy!

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls
(adapted from the original recipe by Amanda/Fake Ginger)
{print}

Ingredients

For the cinnamon rolls:
6 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
5 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 large egg, slightly beaten

3 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tsp instant (rapid rise) yeast
1 cup plus 2-4 tablespoon whole milk or buttermilk, at room temperature

For the filling:
1 tbsp unsalted butter

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼" slices

1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch ground nutmeg
pinch salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 tbsp plus 1 teaspoon sugar

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

For the frosting:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
6 tbsp caramel sauce
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 to 2 cup confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

Add the roll ingredients in your bread maker pan as directed by your manufacturer. Set up dough cycle and start. Meanwhile, make the filling. To make the caramelized apples, melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the apple slices, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Mix until the apples are evenly coated. Cook about 18 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Set aside to cool.

In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon to blend; set aside.

Lightly flour a work surface and roll the dough out into a rectangle with a rolling pin, lightly dusting the dough with flour if needed to keep it from sticking (about 12 x 14 inches for larger rolls or 9 x 18 inches for smaller rolls). Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the surface of the dough. Evenly distribute the caramelized apples over the top of the dough. Starting with the wide edge, roll up the dough into a cigar-shaped log. Pinch the seam shut, and with the seam side down, slice the log into your desired number of rolls. Transfer them to a baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray, spacing them about 1/2" apart. Place in the oven and let rise about 75-90 minutes, until the rolls have grown into each other and have nearly doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool in the baking about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

To make the frosting, cream together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in the caramel sauce and vanilla extract. Add confectioners’ sugar starting with 1 1/2 cups. Add more if needed to reach a thicker frosting and until smooth. Gently frost the rolls. Let cool at least 15-20 minutes before serving.

NOTE: These rolls can be made a couple of days in advance and kept in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake them off. Just follow the instructions upon until they have been sliced and put in the pan. Cover them loosely with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Pull the pan out of the refrigerator 3-4 hours before baking to let the dough proof. Once the dough has proofed and has doubled in size, follow the baking and glazing directions.

Linked To:
*Simply Sweet Home: Friday Favorites
*Six Sister's Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday
*Sweet As Sugar Cookies: Sweets for a Saturday
*EKat's Kitchen: Friday Potluck
*It's A Keeper: It's A Keeper Thursday
*Miz Helen's Country Cottage: Full Plate Thursday
*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table Thursday
*Talking Dollar and Center: Sweet Temptations
*Mangoes and Chutney: Fat Camp Friday
*A Well-Seasoned Life: Sweet Indulgences Sunday
*My Sweet and Savory: Meatless Mondays
*A Southern Fairytale: Mouthwatering Monday
*Sumos Sweet Stuff: Market Yourself Monday
*Something Swanky: Sweet Treats Thursday
*A Glimpse Inside: Catch a Glimpse
*Mangoes and Chutney: Fat Camp Friday
*Lamb Around: Not Baad Sunday
*I Heart Naptime: Sunday Scoop
*J&M's Eye Candy: Strut Your Stuff Sunday
*It's A Blog Party: Delicious Dishes

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Must Try Tuesday: October 18, 2011

I cannot believe how fast time is flying. Before long it will be Halloween, then Thanksgiving and then Christmas! I know...right? It seems like last week we were still sweating from the heat here in Texas. Today, it is downright chilly and in the 60's. Just maybe we will get to experience a little bit of fall weather here.

There were some great recipes on the blogs this week and here are a few of my favorites to try. Enjoy!

My family love wings so I bet they would love this pizza...

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Fake Ginger

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Another great PB and chocolate recipe....

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Bites
Simply Southern Baking

~~~~

My family loves chicken pot pie
so I can't wait to try this version with
a mashed potato topping...

Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potato Top
Monster Mama

~~~~

Two great recipes for chicken wrapped in bacon....

Bacon Wrapped Chicken
A Turtle's Life for Me

~~~~

Cheese soup is a favorite at our house...
this version looks YUMMY!

Dutch Cheese Soup
A Spoonful of Thyme

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Linked To:

*Finding Joy in My Kitchen: Friday Favorite Finds

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Menu Plan: Week of October 16, 2011

We are supposed to have cooler temps and it's a super busy week for us, so here is what we will be having.

Have a great week!

Meal 1
Crock Pot Chicken and Corn Casserole

Salad

Meal 2

Chick Pea Pasta
Garlic Bread

Meal 3

Best Baked Ziti
Breadsticks

Meal 4
Taco Soup with fixings

Meal 5
Lasagna Soup

Meal 6
Eat @ Mom's

Meal 7
Dining Out

BAKING

Mandarin Orange Muffins
~~~
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
~~~~
Dutch Apple Cake
~~~~
Cinnamon Biscuit Balls

Linked To:
* Org Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

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Recipe: Monkey Muffins

I have been slowly replacing pictures in my older recipes with better pictures. I am not a professional photographer by any means, but I am learning to take better pictures.

So, I have updated pictures of my kid's most favorite muffins....Monkey Muffins. If you haven't made these before, you are missing out. They are so good and healthy!

Enjoy!

Linked To:
* Talking Dollar and Cents: Muffin Monday
* My Sweet and Savory: My Meatless Monday
* Bizzy Bakes: Bake with Bizzy
* Frugal Antics of a Harried Housewife: Your Recipe, My Kitchen

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Sunday Inspiration

The path of the righteous

is like the light of dawn,

shining brighter and

brighter until midday.

Proverbs 4:18

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Family: Cheerleading Camp, Pep Rally and Football Game

I gotta tell you...small town life is awesome! My girls attend school in our small southern town where high school football is a community event...we're talking Friday Night Lights here.

The girls get to go to the weekly pep rallies during football season because our school combines elementary, junior high and high school all on one property. Of course our boys in the school grow up playing football and all our girls grow up cheer leading. That's just the way it it is and it's a big deal!

(The girls after camp posing with our mascot statue.)

Every year our varsity high school cheerleaders have a cheer leading day camp for our elementary girls. They get a t-shirt, a picture with the cheerleaders and for three and half hours they get to learn cheers and a dance routine. After camp, they get to perform during the pep rally and during the first quarter of the football game. This is little girl cheer leading heaven!

Go Cougars!

Cheering at the Pep Rally

Cheering at the Game

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Must Try Tuesday: October 11, 2011

It was a super busy last week so I am glad that this week, it has slowed down. This is our second week of cooler temperatures so I am really starting to bake and enjoy it! No more overheated kitchen and no more putting off cooking and baking.

There were so super recipes around the blogs this week. These are some of my favorites that I can't wait to try.

Enjoy!

PB and chocolate...a perfect match...