awesome-recipes101

[awesome-recipes101]

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Icing for one cake or about 4 cups

Ingredients

4 ounces fresh strawberries, quartered

1 tablespoon water

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) softened

4 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or use another flavor)

¼ teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons heavy cream

Directions

In a little saucepan place the cut-up strawberries and water and cook them over medium heat. Cook them until they soften and then use a masher to bring the strawberries into a pulp.  Continue cooking until the strawberries are reduced in volume and resemble tomato paste.  Cool the mixture so you can continue to make the frosting.  You may put them in the refrigerator so they can cool faster.

Cream the butter, 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and ¼ teaspoon of salt using an electric mixer.  Gradually add the rest of the powdered sugar and beat until the mixture is creamy.

Add the strawberry mixture and mix till blended.  Scrape the sides of the bowl often.

Add cream and beat until light and fluffy.  Add more cream if you need to thin the frosting.

Keep icing in the refrigerator in an airtight container when not being used.

Notes

This frosting can be used on cookies or cupcakes as well as cakes

#food #cakes #frosting #strawberries #butter #vanilla extract #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Mountain Dew Baja Blast

1 serving

The Mountain Dew Baja Blast reminds one of drinking in the tropics.  It is very refreshing.

Ingredients:

½ cup Mountain Dew, Chilled

½ cup Ginger Ale, Chilled

½ cup Mountain Berry Blast Powerade, Chilled

Directions:

After filling a tall glass with Mountain Dew, Ginger Ale, and Mountain Berry Blast Powerade put a couple of ice cubes in the drink. 

Stir to blend and then enjoy the drink.

#food #beverage #mountain dew #ginger ale #Mountain Berry Blast Powerade #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Fake Pink Champagne Punch

11-12 servings

Enjoy some Pink Champagne Punch.  If you want more feel free to double it.

Ingredients

4 cups ginger ale, chilled

4 cups club soda, chilled

2 ½ cups white grape juice, chilled

1/8 cup grenadine (two tablespoons)

Directions:

A few minutes before the guests arrive pour the ingredients into a large pitcher. Then dispense the punch into champagne flutes..

Serve to anyone not drinking alcoholic drinks like kids, pregnant women, or designated drivers. This is a great drink to serve at baby showers or any kind of gathering.

Note:

Sweeten to your taste

To make the drink a darker pink add more grenadine.

#food #beverage #punch #ginger ale #club soda #white grape juice #grenadine #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Mini Peanut Butter Cup Banana Nice Cream

2-4 servings

This peanut butter cup is a dessert you will be sure to enjoy..

Ingredients

3 frozen sliced bananas

1/8 cup (or 2 tablespoons) creamy peanut butter

5 mini peanut butter cups cut in half

Directions:

In a food processor add the frozen bananas and peanut butter and blend until smooth and creamy. You will then need to use the pulse button several times to add in the peanut butter cups.

Serve immediately for a soft serve consistency or freeze for three hours for a firmer consistency. 

Note:

Add in ¼ cup of coconut milk for a more ice cream like consistency if desired.

#food #nice cream #banana #creamy peanut butter #mini peanut butter cups #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Southwestern Chicken Soup

4-6 servings

This soup has a flavorful tomato and cream cheese broth.  It has healthy vegetables and lean protein.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ medium onion, chopped

3 cups chicken broth or bouillon

20 ounces of diced tomatoes

14-ounce can of black beans drained and rinsed

12-ounce can of corn, drained

½ red bell pepper, chopped, or a small jar of pimentos

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

8 ounces cream cheese in small cubes and softened

1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed (should result in 2 cups)

Toppings are optional such as salted crackers, avocado slices, shredded cheese

Directions:

In a large soup pot heat the oil.  Add the onion and sauté for a few minutes.  Add the broth, tomatoes, beans, corn and chopped pepper.  In a small bowl add the spices and stir well.  Add them to the pot.

Increase the heat and bring the soup to a boil.  Then turn down the heat and simmer for several minutes.

Add the cubed cream cheese to the soup.  Let if begin melting and then stir until the cream cheese is incorporated in the soup.

Finally add the chicken and heat for several minutes until it is warm.. 

Serve with the toppings of your choice

Notes:

To make the soup spicier add some Sriracha sauce or cayenne pepper.

#food #beans #corn #tomatoes #chicken #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Watermelon Banana Nice Cream

2-4 servings

This is a sweet nice cream and a refreshing dessert.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups seedless watermelon (frozen, cut into 1/2-inch thin chunks)

3 frozen bananas cut into coin shapes

1 teaspoon granulated stevia (optional) Sweeten to your taste depending on how sweet the ingredients are.

Directions:

Cut the seedless watermelon into thin, small chunks and freeze overnight.  You can store the watermelon in a plastic freezer bag until ready to use.  Same with the bananas.

Place the frozen watermelon chunks in a food processor followed by the frozen bananas and stevia if using.  Blend until smooth and the ingredients are all combined. 

If you don’t have a high-speed food processor you may need to stop a few times and stir or scape down the contents until they are smooth.  Depending on how powerful your food processor is this may take some time.

You can serve immediately if you want soft serve nice cream or freeze for 3 hours for a firmer texture.  Freeze in a non-stick pan or place some parchment paper on the bottom so the nice cream doesn’t stick.

Serve in chilled bowls.

Note:

Even seedless watermelon has seeds in it.  The best way to eliminate the seeds is by cutting the watermelon into thin chunks and then using a pointy knife to remove the seeds.

Bananas with brown spots are sweeter than green ones.

A watermelon is ripe if you can see a yellow spot underneath the melon.  Or use the already cut-up pieces in the produce section.

#food #watermelon #banana #nice cream #stevia #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Breakfast Apple Casserole

Serves 4-6

This is a rich dish but if you like apples you will like this recipe.

Ingredients

8 ounces of bread, cubed

3-4 baking apples (depending on their size), peeled and chopped

3 large eggs, beaten

1 cup milk

½ cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup white granulated sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

Caramel syrup (optional)

½ cup apple caramel dip

1 cup maple syrup

Directions:

Peel and core the apples. You can also use an apple cutter utensil which cores and slices the apples. Slice thinly.

Cube the bread.

In an 8-inch pan that has been sprayed with a nonstick spray place the apples and bread.

Heat the oven to 300°

In a bowl place the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.  Blend well and pour over the bread and apples.  Cook covered until done or a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.  It will take about an hour to bake.

You can use the caramel syrup if you choose.  In a small saucepan combine the caramel dip and the maple syrup.  Cook over low heat until combined and heated through.

Note:

There are many kinds of baking apples to choose from.  They range from Mcintosh apples which are very tender to other apples which are firmer and may take longer to cook.

#food #breakfast #apples #bread #caramel #vanilla extract #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Chocolate Banana Nice Cream

2-4 servings

If you love chocolate and bananas then you will love this nice cream.

Ingredients:

3 bananas, frozen and cut in coin shapes

1 tablespoon unsweetened cacao powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons Stevia

Directions:

In a food processor add the bananas, cacao powder, vanilla extract, and stevia. Allow enough time to turn into nice cream.  This should take about 10 minutes or more depending on the speed of your blender or food processor.  This will result in a texture that resembles soft-serve ice cream.

If you want firmer nice cream put it in the freezer for about 2 hours in a shallow pan (I used a loaf pan) with parchment paper on the bottom.  Use a scooper to put the nice cream into serving bowls. Then serve. 

You can add berries, nuts or chocolate chips before serving.

Note:

Sweeten the nice cream to your taste.

Use whatever sweetener that you prefer.

#food #nice cream #bananas #chocolate #vanilla extract #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Pineapple Rum Punch

10-12 servings

This punch is easy to make.  It only requires a few ingredients.  You can serve this at any gathering but because it has alcohol it is an adult drink.

Ingredients

4 cups of pineapple juice

2 ounces of pineapple tidbits

1 cup of white grape juice

1/2 cup rum

1 cup lemon-lime soda (to be added just before serving)

Garnish: pineapple slices, maraschino cherries (optional)

Directions:

Place the ingredients in a pitcher.  Stir and chill until serving.  Add the soda.  Garnish if so choosing.  Serve and enjoy.

#food #beverage #pineapple juice #grape juice #rum #lemon lime soda #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Wassail

5 servings

Wassail is a warm, spiced punch that’s traditionally served when celebrating the ancient English Yuletide tradition of the same name. Historically, gatherers would sing and hand out mugs of cider, ale, or wine in exchange for gifts. While different recipes use varying types of alcohol, fruit, and spices, most modern batches of wassail use apple cider as the base.

Simmering Wassail also makes the aroma of your house smell great.

Ingredients:

4 cups apple cider

1 cup orange juice

¼ cup lemon juice

2 cinnamon sticks

6 whole cloves

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ tablespoon brown sugar (optional)

Directions:

Add all the ingredients to a pot.  Bring the ingredients to a simmer using medium-low heat.  Continue to simmer for 45 minutes, lowering the heat if necessary.  Then pour the warm wassail into cups or mugs and serve.

#food #beverage #wassail #apple cider #orange juice #cinnamon stick #nutmeg #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Red Party Punch

15 servings

This punch is easy to make and is perfect for serving at any kind of gathering.

Ingredients:

1 (1.5 liters) (or more) of strawberry or raspberry sherbet

1-gallon fruit punch, chilled

6 cups lemon-lime soda, chilled

Directions:

In a very large punch bowl place about half of the sherbet and allow it to melt somewhat.  Then add the fruit punch and lemon-lime soda.  Serve to the partygoers and serve with a dollop of sherbet on top of the cup. 

#food #beverage #hawaiian punch #sherbet #lemon lime soda #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Chocolate Frosty

1 serving

This chocolatey frosty is thick and is very filling.

Ingredients

1/3 cup chocolate milk frozen into ice cubes

½ cup chocolate milk, chilled

2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

8 ounces frozen Cool Whip

Directions

In a blender add the chocolate milk, the chocolate milk ice cubes, the condensed milk and the cool whip.  Blend until smooth and creamy which should take a few minutes.

Note

If you need or want to avoid dairy products use milk like almond milk. 

#food #beverage #chocolate #cool whip #sweetened condensed milk #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Cherry Chocolate Chip Fruitcake

12 Servings

This is a cake full of cherries and chocolate chips and your family and friends will love it and you will too.

Ingredients:

1 cup dried cherries

¼ cup rum

6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

¾ cup granulated sugar

¾ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon almond extract

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup milk

1 cup candied red cherries

1 cup chocolate chips, semi-sweet

Topping

1/3 cup rum to brush on top

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°.  Prepare a loaf baking pan by spraying it with nonstick spray. 

In a small, microwave-safe bowl place the 1 cup of dried cherries and 1/4 cup of rum and stir.  Cover and microwave for one or two minutes.  Stir again.  Set aside to let the cherries cool.

Put the butter in a microwave so it melts.  Put the butter, sugar, baking powder, salt, and extracts into a large bowl and stir.  Beat in the eggs one at a time. 

Add the flour and milk to the fruitcake mixture and alternate adding them.  Stir 

Add and stir the dried cherries (including any liquid that has not been absorbed), candied cherries, and chocolate chips.  Mix well.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes.  Check for doneness with a toothpick inserted into the cake to see if it comes out clean.  The time for the cake to complete baking may vary depending on your oven and the cake pan used.

Allow the cake to cool for several minutes and then place it on a cooling rack.  When the cake is completely cool you can brush some rum on the cake, or use another spirit, to help preserve the cake.  Wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap so it will be ready to be eaten.  You can use a bread knife to cut it.

Note:

Add whatever fruit and/or nuts that you prefer.

Dried cherries are in the same grocery aisle as raisins.

Instead of using rum, you can use brandy or even cherry wine.

#food #cake #cherry #chocolate chips #rum #vanilla extract #almond extract #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Creamy Chicken and Biscuits

8 servings

This is a comfort food and will keep you full for hours.

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked chicken, chopped (about 2 large chicken breasts)

½ large onion, chopped

1 ½ teaspoons butter

1 (10.75 ounces) can of cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

½ cup whole milk

½ cup pimento, chopped (Pimentos are red, sweet, chili peppers that are usually already chopped)

1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

8 frozen biscuits, thawed

1 tablespoon melted butter, optional

1 tablespoon honey, optional

Directions:

Spray a 9” x 13” baking pan with a non-stick spray.

Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat.  Then add the chopped onion and cook for several minutes until it is translucent.

Preheat the oven to 350°.

Add the cooked onions, soup, sour cream, milk, and pimentos to a bowl and mix.  Add the chicken and stir.  Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan.  Put in the oven for about 15 minutes. 

Then add the cheese and biscuits and return to the oven for about 20 minutes.

If you want, melt the tablespoon of butter and then stir in the honey.  Brush the tops of the biscuits before the casserole is returned to the oven.

The mixture is done when the sauce is bubbling and the biscuits are brown.

#food #chicken #biscuits #cream of chicken #sour cream #pimento #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Italian Ricotta Cookies

About 40 cookies

This recipe makes soft cookies with ricotta cheese (which can’t be tasted).  They are then frosted and sprinkles are added.

Ingredients

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

Frosting

2 cups Confectioner’s sugar

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 tablespoons milk (or more depending on how thin or thick you want the frosting to be)

Sprinkles

Directions

In a mixing bowl put in the butter and sugar and mix until the combination becomes light.  Add the ricotta cheese, egg, and the extracts and mix well.

Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt until they are combined.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°.  Place parchment paper on a large baking sheet.

Use a cookie scoop about 1 inch across to get cookies of a uniform size.   

Place the cookie dough about 1” apart on the baking sheet.  Bake for around 13 minutes.  After they come out of the oven and sit for a few minutes put them on wire racks to finish cooling off.  Once the cookies are cool you can frost them.

To make the frosting put all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.  Stir until the frosting is smooth.  Spread the icing on top of the cookies and then add the sprinkles.  Store the cookies in an airtight container.

#food #cookies #butter #vanilla extract #almond extract #ricotta #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Apple Cider Drink

1 serving

Apple cider drinks are the perfect thing to keep in mind for holiday parties and for any gathering, especially on warm days.

Ingredients:

¼ cup heavy whipping cream

½ tablespoon of sugar

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ cup of caramel ice cream

¾ cups apple cider

¼ cup lemon-lime soda

Garnish: apple slices (optional)

Directions:

Pour the cream, sugar, and cinnamon into a mixing bowl and use a mixer to beat the cream until it has soft peaks.  

Put the ice cream into a tall glass and then add the apple cider and soda.  Top with the whipped cream.  Garnish with an apple slice if you so choose.

Put in a straw and serve with a spoon.  Enjoy.

Notes:

Apple Cider is usually sold year-round and is found in the produce section or in the juice section.

Sweeten to your taste.

#food #beverage #apple cider #salted caramel #heavy whipping cream #sugar #lemon lime #awesome recipes

[awesome-recipes101]

Frosted Lemonade

1 serving

This drink is very popular and suited for all ages.  It is great for celebrating any occasion and is especially appreciated on warm days.

Ingredients

½ cup lemonade, chilled

1 cup vanilla ice cream

Garnish: whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

Pour the lemonade into a blender and add the ice cream.  Blend for a couple of minutes then pour the contents into a glass.  Add whipped cream if you want.  Serve with a straw and a spoon.

Serve to anyone not drinking alcoholic drinks like kids, pregnant women, or designated drivers. This is a great drink to serve at bridal showers or any kind of gathering.

#food #beverage #lemonade #vanilla ice cream #awesome recipes