Italian Roasted Chickpeas

Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Italian Roasted Chickpeas were a childhood favorite and every time I make these they bring back a flood of memories.


Growing up in a Catholic home, the churches had feasts in the summertime.


We would walk several blocks to get there but before we reach our destinations we could smell those roasted chickpeas from several blocks away.


The roasted smell was similar to chestnuts to me, that smell was just mouth-watering and I couldn't wait to taste those salty hard crunchy beans that tasted like nuts after roasting.


One of the things different in this recipe, there was never seasoning on them and honestly, they didn't need any, they tasted fine but these enhanced with a little more flavor makes them really over the top.

If you prefer to make the original style just added kosher or sea salt on them and that's it, simple and easy.


Truly Roasted chickpeas are the healthiest or at least one of the healthiest snacks on the planet.







These are chickpeas otherwise known as garbanzo beans, roasted in the oven with garlic and spice. Seasonings have coated the outside  the chickpeas with the addition of oil . They are roasted.


18

The Night Before Christmas Cookies

Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Midnight mass on Christmas Eve, wrapping gifts and frosting cookies, we make great memories in our family year after year.

Over the years we have lost lots of our loved ones but continue to instill the traditions with the new generations, hoping they fall into our footsteps of great memories someday in their futures.

Making those special moments with Mom and Dad, our Grandparents, and years of gatherings with cousins, Aunts, and Uncles have distant memories now but they molded our lives with the best holidays.

Here are just a few of our favorite things we make to celebrate the season and foods we love.





12

Mexican Meatloaf Cups

Friday, December 18, 2009
Easy to make individual cheese and beef Mexican Meatloaf cups are so much fun to eat.

Filled beef cups filled with melted cheese, and refried beans, with a delicious fork full of yumminess in every bite you take!

These are perfect for an appetizer for a fun Mexican buffet gathering with friends.

The recipe is super easy and the kids just love these flavors as you can make them spicy or mild in flavor just by the kind of salsa added.

Our super easy-to-make meatloaf cups are just perfect for Cinco De Mayo celebrations.

Setting up a garnish bar is fun plus you can add all your family and friends' favorite toppings with a little of all our suggestions below to build their own meal and perfect when hosting a party.

We will give you all those suggestions below in the recipe card as you scroll through the step-by-step recipe.




11

Chocolate Candy Clusters

Thursday, December 17, 2009
One of the last things I do before Christmas is making chocolate candy clusters and they are so easy whether done in a slow cooker, microwave or double boiler, if I don't wait until the last minute they would be gone in a New York minute.

We love all the favorite kinds, barks, toffee,caramel, peanut brittle and so many holiday candy treat this is the easiest made in a slow cooker with melted chocolate and anything you can dip into it to make a cluster of delicious candies.

I was in the market today, and the memories of mixed nuts still in the shell were looking at me which were a pain when making candy but less money and that's what mom would use.

My mom would buy all the nuts roast them in their shells in the oven then crack each one to get the meat out of them after cooling to make candy.

We just didn't have nut clusters, she used, coconut, dried figs dates, and even pretzel sticks.

I am sure you all have those Christmas traditions in your home this slow cooker easy chocolate treat was always my favorite as a child and still is

Now instead of using a double boiler, I make this in a slow cooker and it's so much easier and you can also melt this in the microwave.

Mom would put them on a cookie sheet to dry but I like to add the candy to paper liners for gift-giving, they make great gifts for candy lovers.

Scroll through all our tips, substitutions, and filling ideas, these are fun to make and everyone will rave about them!




17

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Krispie Candy Recipe

Sunday, December 13, 2009
If you like Peanut Butter these are going to be a new candy on your Christmas baking list.

These are so simple just using peanut butter, cereal, butter, and powdered sugar then dipped in melted chocolate.

They can be rolled in nuts color sprinkles and left plain to look like a no-bake peanut butter truffle.

These peanut butter balls even freeze well in a sealed tight container.

The recipe has been in the family since the early 1970s and remains a family favorite and the most asked-for candy treat that I make.

One bite and you'll be hooked on these creamy crunchy confections they are so delicious.

These are a family no-bake favorite holiday cereal-style candy.

I make them every year. He always said that dark chocolate is better than milk chocolate in flavor.

I usually make a batch of both. The milk chocolate seems to be a little sweeter but I prefer the milk chocolate.

this is a peanut butter mixed with rice krispies , rolled into balls and dipped into milk or dark chocolate



4

Mom's Italian Homemade Sausage

Mom's Italian Sausage Links Homemade Recipe In Bulk is always made for most holidays.

A festive Italian Breakfast with the family every year on Christmas morning.

The reason for the season is remembered sharing the morning Christ was born with your family and loved ones.


A glorious birthday celebration is enjoyed by many families and friends.

My very favorite day of all.


The meaning sometimes is truly forgotten of how this wonderous day came about and celebrated by Catholic families around the world.








17

Feast of 7 Fishes

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Feast of 7 Fishes is a  Traditional Italian Christmas Eve serving 7 Fishes and as long as I could remember as a child I helped clean the octopus and learned how to make baccala along with more than even 6 more.

This is a long story of my childhood and memories made celebrating the birth of Christ and the meaning behind all Italian traditions.

As the years went by, Grandma, Grandpa, my mom, and dad continued to instill their traditions from their Regions in Italy brought to America with their teachings.

Now as an adult and they have long passed on, I continue to do the feast of 7 fishes to celebrate the birthday of the lord, midnight mass, and food traditions.

The memories that were made are priceless, and although the food continues to evolve from generation to generation in taste, quality, and presentation, we still always stick to those yearly Christmas Eve special foods.

Our Italian family will always remember the reason for the season first and are very thankful no matter what our table has on it year after year we are grateful we have each other.

Although born in America and raised in Utica, New York, (also referred to as "Little Italy") our values were instilled by our parents and grandparents and several of us still carry on traditions from one generation to another.


assorted fish for Christmas eve


18

Fudge Marble Chocolate Chip Cake with Triple Chocolate Icing

Sunday, November 15, 2009
The end result to make this delicious cake is worth the trouble. A rich cake that will satisfy both the yellow and chocolate cake lovers of the world. The thick rich chocolate frosting with chocolate chips is truly perfect to finish it off...




31

Italian Cabbage Roll Casserole

Thursday, November 12, 2009
All in one pan easy meal, easier than stuffing cabbage and less messy. This casserole is full of all those flavors and topped with cheesy goodness!.

Sliced cabbage, sausage, ground beef, and tomato sauce are just a few of these delicious blends of ingredients in this super easy cabbage roll casserole.

You can even make it all vegetarian and omit the meat if you prefer, or use a healthy choice like ground chicken or turkey.

We have several substitution suggestions below and tips but if you prefer to scroll to the recipe, it's printed at the bottom of the page.




21

Curt's Loaded Potato Skins

Sunday, November 8, 2009
I want to introduce another up and coming cook in our family, Curt. His specialty is game day pick foods and loves family gatherings, picnics and large functions to cook for a crowd. These are one of his all time favorites, so I wanted to share this recipe as it is just a great crowd pleas er. He is often asked to cook for his friends, since cooking is becoming one of his favorite hobbies. He usually has the table piled high with potato skins, wings, and loves his nachos and pizza. So Sunday's nights after the big traditional pasta afternoon lunch, he starts his appetizer medleys for the big game. We usually have a houseful of hungry friends joining us, so nothing goes to waste here.
Curts favorite appetizer is potato skins and he makes them crisp and loaded with a variety of
garnishes . I was so happy he agreed to post this, as this recipe is really easy and delicious.
The skins are loaded with bacon, sour cream and a medley of cheddar blended cheeses.
After they are fried, they are baked in the oven then smoothered in cheese immediately when taken out of the oven and the heat melts the cheese perfectly.
Then he loads them up with the sour cream and bacon.
They take about ten to twelve minutes to fry till golden.



You will need about a 5lb bag of scrubbed potatoes, sliced thick, about 1/2 inch.
1 quart of oil
2 cups of fiesta blend cheese shredded
1/2 cup crumbled bacon
1 container of sour cream
Fry sliced potatoes in several batches, in heated hot oil till brown, around 10 minutes.
Put into baking dish.
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes, remove from oven top with shredded cheese and allow cheese to melt around five minutes.
Garnish with bacon crumbles and sour cream.
**Optional toppings, jalapeno peppers, black olives, chopped tomato.

Recipe developed by Curt Iffert for a guest on What's Cookin' Italian Style Cuisine
Thank you Curt for sharing your recipe with us!
28

Coconut Loaf

Saturday, November 7, 2009
This coconut loaf cake is one we love to make around the Easter holiday.

An easy homemade all made from scratch loaf cake that's decadently delicious.

The cake is rich with butter and has a wonderful coconut-thin glaze on top.

The kids often help make this loaf because it's so easy and can be adapted with mix-ins and also decorated to match a party theme or holiday.

Around Easter time, this loaf can have tinted frosting and coconut with the addition of colorful candies on top.

You may also like to try our Coconut Cream Pie recipe or our Coconut Chocolate Chip Banana Cake.

If you love coconut don't miss trying this delicious cake, everyone compliments the texture and delicious crumb this has.

Scroll down to the printable recipe and give it a try it's so simple.


coconut loaf sliced on a white plate


3

Hot Flavored Coffee Obsessions

Saturday, October 31, 2009
18 different flavored gourmet coffee recipes with or without alchohol these are perfect for National Coffee Day on September 29th and perfect for entertaining guests when hosting a dinner party.


Every recipe can be adapted to more or less of what you prefer in quanity of the ingredients.


Feel free to use sugar-free flavored syrups in place of alcohol or a small amount of extracts.


All coffee are just basic recipes and guidelines to our personal preference.


Scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the gourmet coffee recipes listed below.



24

Happy Halloween Recipes and Party Fun Idea's 2009

Sunday, October 25, 2009
It's Halloween and party time, here is a quick list of party foods, that will make your table perfect for your guests to get them in the spirit of Halloween. These are just some ideas and guidelines. I am sure you can think of many spooky foods to create! Everything here is super easy and I am sure you'll do just fine with the ideas just looking at the photo to create your own fun-filled Halloween party!


Creative and fun foods for a Halloween party Gravestone sandwiches, tangerine pumpkin fruit cups, apple peanut butter teeth, witches brew, mummy hotdogs, deviled egg eyeballs, donut eyeballs, dirt pies with worms, meatballs swimming in sauce faces, and English muffin faces



16

Death By Chocolate Cookies

Saturday, October 24, 2009
You've probably heard about Death by Chocolate cakes before but have you ever tried Death by Chocolate Cookies? Well here is my favorite recipe for chocolate lovers out there.

If you want a loaded chocolate cookie that is bursting with creamy chunks of pure delight, this cookie will be your ultimate addiction.

These are so full of amazing chocolate flavor they sure don't last long even how decadently rich they are.

The name Death by Chocolate stays true to its name without hesitation, as they are over-the-top chuck full of chocolaty goodness from start to finish in every morsel.

Easy to make and the quickest off the cookie tray first, especially during a holiday.

Scroll down to the recipe card and bake a double batch, these won't last long!





26

Pink Italian Lemon Ricotta Cookies For Cancer Benefits

Friday, October 16, 2009
Cancer has hit many people in life and taken many of our loved ones.

Through the years I have donated and made cookies for benefits to raise awareness and money for this cause.

I lost my brother to cancer to throat cancer.

My brother was a very talented singer and did a benefit for two of our nieces that also had it and thankfully have stayed in remission.

Cancer is one of the most challenging diseases to live with day after day not knowing when it will creep back into your life and no one can tell you to forget about it once you've had it.

I will always continue to support research and my prayers to all who know someone or who has gone through this personally and lost a loved one.

The fight must continue to find a cure, god bless those afflicted.








2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick margarine, softened ( any kind that's recommended by the American Heart Society) if using butter use unsalted and 1 teaspoon of salt instead of 1/4 teaspoon.

2 cups sugar

2 eggs 1 (15-ounce) container Whole Milk or Light Ricotta Cheese

1 teaspoon of lemon extract

1/4 teaspoon lemon zest

a few drops of red food coloring Beat margarine and sugar together till light. Put all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Stir Ricotta into the margarine and cheese, then add one egg at a time and blend together. Gently mix the dry ingredients in till blended adding drops of red food coloring for pink coloring.

Drop by teaspoons full on a greased cookie sheet. Bake till the edges are slightly brown, and cookies are set for about 10 to 15 minutes.


1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

2 tablespoons of shortening

1/2 teaspoon of lemon extract

3 tablespoons milk keep adding by drops until it makes a smooth stream, if too thick. Beat till spreadable.



R.I.P. to my dear brother John Colenzo in 2019 (cancer took him just 4 years after the above video he made for our nieces)
13

Fried Florida Redfish Italian Style

Thursday, October 8, 2009
Here is what we consider the perfect catch, our favorite Fried Florida Redfish.

My husband Nemo and I got up at 5am and headed over to the beach to surf fish in the ocean, around 85+ degrees, a perfect Florida day.

Using mullet as bait, my husband using a cast net, couldn't believe how plentiful they were.

He said this is the mullet run when the mullet head for South Florida for warmer water.

We both love to fish, and this is one of our favorite fish to eat, Red Fish.

I asked my husband, Nemo, to help me post on how to filet a fish, and with a name like Nemo, yes like the fish, he is definitely the expert.

Believe me, he has had many people comment on his real Italian name, and reference to the movie Finding Nemo.

He was a real partner on this meal with me, as he will give you great instructions on how to filet Red Fish, and he makes it look so easy!

Fileting the Red Fish (these are my husband's instructions below for cleaning) he cleans it, I cook it.

I have a hard time reeling these bad boys in so he is holding up mine and the one he caught.

Melbourne Beach, Florida October 8th, 2009 The Red (Drum) Fish Story

fried redfish with cracker crumbs


11

Raspberry Cream Pie

Friday, September 25, 2009
No Bake Pies are so easy and this Raspberry Cream Pie is light fluffy and bursting with the fresh taste of raspberries in the filling.

This decadent dessert is super easy to make with softened cream cheese, fresh raspberry pureed and whipped topping, or whipped heavy cream, each fork full is a heavenly delight.

The filling is poured into a regular baked pie crust or graham cracker crust either store-bought or homemade.

This pie is so pretty to serve guests and has a real refreshing light taste for a summer pie for dessert at any bbq.

Scroll down to the recipe card to print off this easy recipe and to avoid any ads hit print.



creamy raspberry filled pie


8

Mom's Italian Style Potatoes

Thursday, September 24, 2009

You can also try variations of these with ranch dressing, melted cheese and bacon on ....delicious. Also try chili cheese fries, chili and melted cheese on top.... We just love them plain as shown.

These were always a big hit with any meat for a side dish. My mom would make these so crisp, sometimes they had the taste of a potato chip on the ends of them.


10

Peanut Butter filled Chocolate Cupcakes

Sunday, September 13, 2009
















These are delicious cupcakes but if you would like to take the easy way out make a whole cake!
Here is another version making two 9 inch cakes, splitting them in half and making a four layer cake with peanut butter filling, whipped cream, hot fudge on top
































Cupcake Batter

2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp vanilla extract or almond
2 eggs
1 cup milk or half and half

Mix flour , cocoa powder and sugar together in a large bowl, add boiling water little at a time till smooth, add rest of all ingredients in. This batter is very runny. Pour into cupcake lined tins and bake till evenly cooked, use toothpick method.


When completely cool, cut out the center of each cupcake reserving tops, and fill with peanut butter filling, put tops back on off to the side.



Use 8 oz of semi sweet chocolate chips melted in the microwave for 1/2 minute stir. Top each cupcake with melted chocolate using a fork going back and forth to make line effects on top.


Options:

You can use a chocolate cake mix and canned frosting.


Filling:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 stick of butter, softened

3 tbsp. of heavy cream
Add all ingredients in mixing bowl and beat using an electric mixer add more cream if too stiff should be fluffy enough to fill not dry.


Refrigerate left overs.

To make the four layer cake. Bake two 9 inch round cakes and cool. Using a sharp knife, split cakes in half, making four halves. Spread with peanut butter filling. Slather with whipped cream and using a fork douse with hot fudge sauce.







8

Baked Baby Shell Pasta with Pork Ragu

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Baked Baby Shell Pasta with Pork Ragu is a layered baked pasta casserole with sauteed minced vegetables, seasoned pork with fennel in a rich tomato sauce simmered then layered with cheese and baked.

The tomato sauce is rich with meat and simmered slowly for a little over an hour and can be used with any pasta dish without a casserole layering.

Over the years it's been recreated several times and adapted to individual taste and added to baked lasagna, baked ziti, or other baked pasta recipes.

This sauce freezes well and can be used in so many other ways soups, stews, casseroles, and making large batches come in really handy in a pinch.

Our rich tomato sauce will bring a new love to tomato sauce with all it's robust flavors and is a hearty dish when baked together with the ricotta just like a lasagna but easier with loose pasta instead of long noodles.

Of course, if your love Italian tomato sauce you may also like to try our Traditional Sunday Sauce, it's another vintage family recipe.

Scroll down to the easy recipe card to print off and don't forget to read all our tips and suggestions.


baby shells baked in pork ragu sauce


10

Shrimp and Scallop Margarita Pizza

Thursday, August 27, 2009

If you're a seafood lover this shrimp and scallop margarita pizza is fabulous!

                

 Reminds me of a garlic pizza with seafood on it in flavor. The tomatoes accent the flavors with richness. Then with garlic shrimp and scallop and basil perfection!  

                                       





Shrimp with tails on for presentation or off if you don't care!
1 pizza shell store bought  or homemade
Bay or sea scallops small
Plum tomato slices
fresh bay leaf
dried oregano to taste
fresh garlic chopped fine.
fresh parsley
grating cheese
mozzarella cheese sliced thick
olive oil

Rise dough to around 1/2 thick, prebake... bake for 10 minutes 430 degree hot oven.

Grill, broil or pan fry the shrimp and scallops Add around 1 tablespoon each in a small bowl: melted butter, white wine, 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cook for 2 minutes on each side set aside to drain or until the shrimp turns pink in color. 


On top of the pizza dough, place slices of mozzarella,  then add  thinly sliced tomatoes, top with fresh garlic, spices, adding salt, pepper to taste and grating cheese. Drizzle olive oil all over the top. Bake on 430 until tomatoes are soft, around 10 to 15 minutes.. Take out add the seafood, top with basil, and fresh parsley.
21

World's Best Chocolate Cake

Thursday, August 20, 2009
This is one of the best chocolate cake recipes and frosting we make and because of that, the family called this World's Best Chocolate Cake.

A delicious cake that really is so simple to make with easy pantry ingredients.

If you're a chocolate cake lover, you're going to love this perfect homemade scratch cake.




10

Grandma's Italian Style Green Bean Recipe

Thursday, August 13, 2009
Grandma made everything simple back when I was growing up the foods were prepared with whatever we had in the house and she used to pick green beans in the fields, this is her recipe for the 1950s.

Olive oil, garlic, and herbs were staples to use so if you're looking for a simple side dish this would be the easiest green bean recipe you'll ever make.

Easy steamed fresh from the farmers market, homegrown, the beans are always delicious.

These do not have vinegar, just olive oil, and garlic, that's how she made them and we love these old Italian vintage recipes.






0

No Bake Godmother Cappuccino Cups

Sunday, July 12, 2009
No Baked Godmother Cappuccino Cups are an easy throw-together dessert when the family has a get-together plus we even had the Godmother Coffee Recipe to go with this dessert below.


Our dessert cups are made with whipped topping (or of course, you can use a homemade whipped cream), instant pudding, and poured into a graham cracker style crust.


I am a big fan of easy icebox-style pies and no-bake is a win-win when I am always busy making a big dinner, especially on our Sunday Traditional Italian Sauce dinners.


This crazy name for this dessert came from watching the movie The "Godfather" When they invented that famous alcoholic Godfather drink we decided to make a hot coffee beverage (shown in the recipe card below and this dessert filling) for all the women in the family.


The men enjoyed both so much it became a family favorite dessert all year long along with of course our Baked Cannoli Pie.


This dessert topped with a drizzle of our favorite Kahlua hot fudge sauce makes this over-the-top yummy.


This is one of those desserts everyone thinks it's gourmet because it's so rich and decadent but oh so easy peasy.


If you love no-bake easy pies, you may also like to try our No-Bake Pineapple Fluff Pie which is very versatile you can use any fruit you like!.


Scroll down to the recipe card to print off this easy recipe and don't forget to try our version of "The Godmother Hot Cappucino" recipe also below.




this is a cappuccino no bake dessert



12

Grandma Victoria Ferraro Colenzo's (heavy scratch cake)

Tuesday, June 23, 2009
This is a heavy almost pound cake texture. Growing up our Grandma used ingredients that were always around....the sweet smell of the the citrus peels left to dry out on top of the gas stove all day in the winter time....was absolutely wonderful......


Serve with fresh fruit, whipped cream, pudding, drizzle with powdered sugar and water frosting, or just powdered sugar.




6

Grandma's Italian Orange Pastry Cream


This is a cream pudding with orange flavor. Grandma's use to call it crem. The recipe is served every Easter for dessert. Grandma was 92 when she passed away and I still carry on her traditional pastry cream for dessert on Easter. This Italian Orange Pastry Cream has a distinctive taste, that is nothing like I ever had served before. It's a rich decadent kind creamy pudding, the texture is silky. For all you chocolate lovers, I also have the alternative recipe at the bottom.




4

Italian Style Beer Batter Fish

Saturday, June 13, 2009
This is the best recipe you'll have to make for a crispy delicious beer batter coating for fish!

With just a few ingredients this easy-to-make batter will be a delicious addition to your recipe collection when you have a fresh catch of the day!

Serve these tasty filets with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, or even top this beer-battered fish with melted cheese lettuce, and tomato for a restaurant-style sandwich!

Scroll down to our printable recipe card for complete instructions and check out our tips below to get started!




0

Easy Chocolate Whiskey Cake

Friday, June 5, 2009
Easy Chocolate Whiskey Cake is a favorite chocolate moist cake with a jolt of Irish Whiskey and perfect when partaking in celebrating the St. Patrick's Day holiday.

Although this is a favorite whiskey cake during any holiday, it gets better with sitting for a few days for a potent kick.

This is one of the first cakes to fly off the dessert tables with an adult party.

This recipe is super easy to make, just throw all the ingredients in with the cake mix and bake it, the cake is foolproof every time.

If you're a frosting lover, then frost the cake with your favorite icing instead of using the syrup.


cake mix with whiskey for st patricks day


0

Black Pepper Cookies ( White Wine Cookies)

Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Black Pepper cookies are a recipe that my mom made that her mother taught her and a recipe from her Region in Bari Italy.

The cookie has wine, oil, flour, anise seeds and black pepper with a little salt.

The recipe is simple over the years watching mom just pouring everything in a bowl, I learned to get the recipe right and measured the ingredients to finally write it down.

Scroll to the bottom of the page hit print for no ad interference and enjoy a taste of Bari with a glass of white vino.


cookies made with white wine and black pepper in stick shapes and rings


4

Almond Cake

Monday, June 1, 2009
This is an all-made-from-scratch Almond Cake my Italian grandmother made for us back in the 1960s.

The cake recipe came from her Italian mother she learned to make this in Rome, Italy.

Although the cake is revised with a little drizzle of icing just for decoration, nothing was on her original cake, and was baked on a  very plain simple pie plate pan.

Through the years we adapted her recipe just a bit for presentation, you can make the simplicity of this by just leaving it topped with sugar and sliced almonds.

This can is rich in almond flavor and the perfect snack cake any time of the day!





7

Grandma Italian Orange Juice Cookies

Sunday, May 31, 2009
If you are searching for a basic orange Italian cookie recipe that grandma made in the old fashioned way, these are it.


Simple ingredients all made from scratch and fresh ingredients.


Back in Rome, Italy, grandma's mom made these when she was a child, and coming to American at 16 in the late 1800s these became a tried and true classic cookie in our family.


The recipe is super easy to follow and you can leave them plain, rolled in sugar before baking or decorate them with icing after cooled for holiday, wedding trays, and all decorated for a special event with colorful sprinkles.


If you are looking for a sugary sweet cookie this isn't it, the cookie is lightly sweetened unless you add the frosting and to be honest grandma never frosted them.


The cookies were simply rolled in granulated white sugar and then baked.





11

Crockpot RUM Molten Chocolate Lava Cake






1 cup flour regular flour, not self rising

2 teaspoons baking powder



6 tablespoons butter

1/3 cup chocolate chips

2/3 cup sugar

3 tablespoons dutch-processed cocoa

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup milk

1 egg yolk

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup dutch-processed cocoa

1 1/2 cups hot water

1 tablespoon rum or vanilla





Garnish:
whipped cream or ice cream for topping
Step 1 Coat the inside of a 2 1/2- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.



Step 2 Blend in a small bowl the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl and set aside. In a larger bowl, melt the butter and chocolate in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water and mix well. Mixing in the flour mixture with this until smooth .



Step 3 In another bowl add 2/3 cup of sugar, 3 tablespoons of cocoa, vanilla extract, salt, milk, and the egg yolk mix well. Add that mixture to the flour mixture and stir until thoroughly mixed.



Step 4 Pour the batter into the crockpot and spread it evenly along the bottom.


In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients, white and brown sugars, cocoa, rum or vanilla and the hot water until the sugar is dissolved.



Step 5 Pour the chocolate mixture over the top of the cake batter which will be thin . Cover and cook on high for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the crock pot.



Step 6 Even when done, the cake will be very moist and floating on a layer of molten chocolate, but you'll know it's ready when nearly all of the cake is set and the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pot.



Step 7 When it's done, turn off the power and remove the lid, then serve it in bowls topped with whipped cream or ice cream. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
2