Coconut Lime Popsicles

 www.lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup coconut milk

1/2 cup cream of coconut

1/2 cup milk (whole or lowfat)

grated zest of one lime

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

1/4 cup shredded coconut

Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. (I cooled mine in a bowl set in a water bath to speed up the process. The simple syrup (sugar and water) can be made ahead of time, though.)

Combine the remaining ingredients with the simple syrup in a blender and process until well blended and smooth. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 4-6 hours, or until firm.

Makes 3 cups of liquid or 8-10 pops

Mom's Famous Marshmallow Brownies

I have a new favorite blog: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/  It's full of not only recipes, but lots of fun ideas.  I tried these once last week and took them to work.  Everybody really loved them.  I made them again this weekend and increased the amount of cocoa used to make them chocolatier and loved them even more.


1 c. margarine (I used butter)
2 c. sugar
1/3 c. cocoa (I used 2/3 c.)
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. flour (I decreased this by a bit to account for the added cocoa)
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla


Soften margarine and blend in 2 cups sugar and cocoa.  Beat together and add 4 eggs, one at a time.  Add flour, salt and vanilla.

Spread on large (10x15x1 inch) greased cookie sheet.  Bake 25 minutes at 350.  Remove from oven and cover entire top with 1 package of miniature marshmallows.  Return to oven for 3 minutes, until soft and puffy.  Cool and frost with chocolate frosting.

Chocolate Frosting:
1 stick margarine (1/2 c.), softened (used butter)
1/4 cup milk
1-2 tsp vanilla
3 tablespoons of cocoa (I doubled this)
2-3 cups of powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients with a hand mixer until smooth.  Add more powdered sugar or milk until you reach desired consistency and spread on top of bars.

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

I have used the same recipe for cinnamon rolls for a long time because they were fine and I was comfortable with the recipe.  I was hesitant to try a new bread recipe because it's so disappointing when it doesn't turn out because it was a lot of time, effort and anticipation---especially when it's a bread recipe.  But a few weeks ago I bought the Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls at Costco and everyone loved them and I knew that my recipe wasn't cutting the mustard!  So I ventured out and came upon this recipe and it was really good!  It's a cinnamon roll recipe, not a roll recipe turned into cinnamon rolls.  I didn't let them sit overnight, just out for a couple hours on the counter and they were great after dinner! (The photo is not with the frosting recipe I included.  The frosting I included makes them look way more irresistible!)

• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs

Filling:

generously cover dough with cinnamon, brown sugar, white sugar and raisins. (Don't skimp on the cinnamon, especially!) 

1. Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Add the butter and stir until melted; let cool until lukewarm.
2. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the milk mixture. Add the sugar, 3 cups of flour, salt and eggs; stir well to combine. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
3. Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
4. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 10x 14 inch rectangle. Lightly brush the far edge with water. In a small bowl combine the cinnamon and 3/4 cup brown sugar and sprinkle over the rectangles. Then sprinkle the raisins and chopped nuts over the dough. Roll up the dough into a log and seal the seam.
5. Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces; place the pieces in a greased 9x13 inch baking pan, or 12 inch deep dish pizza pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to rise overnight.
6. The next morning, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Take the rolls out of the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
7. Bake the rolls for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. 

Ms. Humble's Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting16oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup heavy cream, cold. Higher the fat content, the better (I'm using 40% Ultra)

Beat the cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. In a separate bowl, beat the heavy cream to nearly stiff peaks, then add the whipped cream into the cheese mixture and quickly and briefly beat to combine. Do not over beat.

Fudge Bars

To me, these bars are lethal. I love the taste, but I really love the texture. They are soft and chewy and irresistable. I promise that you will like them- how can you not like a combo of cookie and fudge! Enjoy!

Fudge Bars

1 pkg semi sweet cc (or milk choc if you like that better)
3 T butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 t vanilla

1 C butter
2 C brown sugar
2 eggs
2 ½ C flour
1 t baking powder
¾ t salt
¾ C oatmeal

Grease 10 x 15 x 1 in cookie sheet. Melt choc chips, 3 T butter and sweetened cond milk together in medium saucepan. Add vanilla and cool. In large bowl cream together 1 C butter and brown sugar; beat en eggs. Add flour, baking powder and salt that have been mixed together. Stir in oatmeal. Spread ¾ dough in bottom of pan to make crust. Spread fudge mixture over crust. Dot remaining dough over top. Bake 20 to 25 min. Cool and cut into bars.

Ham & Cheese Sliders

Ham and Cheese Sliders

adapted slightly from the Recipe Club

24 good white dinner rolls

24 pieces good honey ham
24 small slices Swiss cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup miracle whip

Poppy seed sauce (you probably could half this...I had plenty extra)
1 Tablespoon poppyseeds
1 1/2 Tablespoons yellow mustard
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 Tablespoon minced onion
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and miracle whip. Spread onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet. Place very close together.

In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all of the sandwiches. You do not have to use all of the sauce! Just use enough to cover the tops. Let sit 10 minutes or until butter sets slightly. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for 2 additional minutes or until tops are slightly brown and crispy. Serve warm.

** sandwiches can be assembled a day ahead and kept in the fridge ready to bake.