Honey Apple-Pear Peanut Butter Tart

• 1 puff pastry sheet
• 3 fruits (any combo of apples and pears)
• 2 Tbsp honey (and extra for drizzling as a topping)
• 1/2 heaping cup peanut butter
• 2 Tbsp sugar

Head peanut butter in microwave until soft and liquidy. Add honey. Spread mixture over puff pastry sheet. Layer with apples and pears. Drizzle with extra honey and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for ~35 minutes.

Original recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Spread

Too hungry to take pictures before I ate. But this is a quick and yummy recipe:

• 2 lbs chicken breast
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup hot sauce (I used Frank's Red)
• 4 Tbsp honey (I used Trader Joe's desert mesquite honey)
• 2 Tbsp vinegar
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt

Cube chicken and boil for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let it cool, then chop/shred into small pieces. Melt butter in a saucepan, add the hot sauce, honey, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add shredded chicken, and heat till the chicken is warm again. Makes really good sandwiches.

Original recipe is here.

Shepherd's Pie

...or maybe it's called Cottage Pie? Serves 15.

Potato layer:

• 10-12 medium small to medium sized potatoes
• 3 Tbsp butter butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 small onion, VERY finely diced
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used the Mexican 4 cheese mix)
  
• salt and pepper to taste

Vegetable layer:

• 1.5 to 2 bags (12 oz.) of mixed veggies (diced carrots, peas, corn)
• 2 Tbsp oil

Meat layer:

• 3 medium sized onions, chopped
• 2 and 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2-3 Tbsp chili sauce
• 1 can (14 oz.) vegetable broth
• cumin, coriander, cajun seasoning, salt, pepper -- to taste

Steps 1-3 can be going on at the same time in 3 different pots/pans.

1. Potato layer: Boil whole potatoes with the skin on for about 20-25 minutes until cooked and soft. Mash. Add diced onions, butter, milk, salt, pepper. Set aside.
2. Vegetable layer: Cook vegetables in a oil. Add some salt if needed.
3. Meat layer: Brown onions in oil. Add beef and season with spices. Once browned, drain out excess fat. Add flour, chili sauce, vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer.
4. Layer meat in a large casserole dish, then the vegetables, then the potatoes. Garnish with another half cup of shredded cheese if you'd like.
5. Bake at 375 deg for 20 minutes.

Recipe modified from the one here.

Oatmeal Cookies

One of the best oatmeal cookie recipes I've found.

• 1 cup butter, melted
  
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
  
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 cups oats

Mix butter, sugar, and brown sugar until creamy. Beat in eggs, add vanilla. Mix flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon separately. Then mix in with the other mixture. Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes. Makes ~3 dozen cookies.

Original recipe was found here.

Red Velvet Cake II

I used this recipe for my friend's bridal shower (I used it for cake and cupcakes). But among all the chaos during the last minute bridal shower preps, I forgot to take pictures.

Enjoy.

• 2.5 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1.5 cups oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 oz. red food coloring
• 1 Tbsp vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Cream cheese frosting:

• 1 package 8oz. cream cheese
• 1 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4-6 cups powdered sugar (depending on how you like the consistency)
  

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all dry cake ingredients. Mix all wet ingredients. Slowly add the dry mixture to wet mixture until all the lumps are out. Split into two 9 inch cake pans and bake for 30-35 (check with toothpick). For cupcakes, bake about 20-25 minutes, but check with toothpick. For cream cheese mixture, beat all ingredients. Frost cake after completely cooled.

Brown Sugar Pecan Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2-1 cup pecans, crushed/chopped

Cream butter and brown sugar. Add egg, vanilla, beat. Mix all dry ingredients except pecans. Slowly add to wet ingredients. Mix in chopped pecans. Drop spoonfuls on cookie baking tray. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Recipe from this link.

Apple Walnut Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 2/3 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oi
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1-2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 4 cups chopped, peeled apples
• 1 cup crushed/chopped walnuts
  

Mix sugar and eggs. Add oil, vanilla, mix. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg. Slowly add to sugar mixture. Stir in chopped apples and walnuts. Pour into greased and floured baking pan (13x9). Bake at 350 for ~55 minutes (check with a toothpick). Cool on a wire rack. Cut into small sized bars. Recipe from this website.