Piniy

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Lemon Poppyseed Cake




Lemon Poppyseed Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting


yield: 10 SERVINGS

prep time: 2 HOURS 5 MINUTES

cook time: 55 MINUTES

total time: 3 HOURS

INGREDIENTS:

for the cake-
1 cup sugar
zest of 2 lemons
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk + 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1/2 cup melted butter
for the frosting-
3 oz softened cream cheese
1/4 cup softened butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9 inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, stir sugar and lemon zest together to create a damp mixture that resembles damp sand. Except it tastes much much better. ANYWAYS. Stir in eggs and vanilla until smooth.
In a liquid measuring cup, stir milk, vinegar and lemon juice together. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together to combine.
Alternate stirring in wet and dry ingredients until everything is added into the cake batter. Gently stir in the poppy seeds and melted butter. Pour into prepared pan and bake 45-55 minutes or until baked thoroughly and toothpick comes out clean after being inserted. Cool 15 minutes in cake pan before removing to rack to cool completely.
For the frosting, whip all ingredients together until light and fluffy. Spread over cool cake and serve.

Frozen biscuits



I've fallen in love with these Homemade Freezer Biscuits! Never buy 

  • Jill Kellough Burnette My husband makes our biscuits from scratch very similar to this but he adds leftover bacon crumbles and chopped jalapeƱo to the mix for flavor!!
    Like · Reply · 9 · 16 August at 23:25
  • Elisha Reeder If you'd like a buttermilk biscuit recipe, here's mine...
    2 C. Flour
    3 Tablespoons baking powder

    1 teaspoon salt
    1 stick butter
    1/2 - 1 C. buttermilk
    sift dry ingredients, add butter and mix til crumbly. Add buttermilk until batter is consistency of cottage cheese. Turn out on floured surface. knead in about 1/4-1/2 c. sifted flour to make smooth. Cut with biscuit cutter (or old green bean can). Place on cookie sheet and freeze for 30-min to an hour. Cook at 450 for about 10 min.
    These puff up really well and my husband loves them. You'd never know they were frozen.

    Variation: Add 1 C. Sharp to batter right after adding buttermilk. Spoon onto pan, freeze for 1 hour. Cook at 450 for about 10 min. melt 2 T. butter, mix in about 1/4-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon of italian seasoning. Brush butter mix onto cheese biscuits for red lobster biscuit.

    I hope this was ok to post...but I just saw that someone asked about if they puffed up and someone else posted that they didn't, so I thought I'd post these knowing that these did.






Monday, August 18, 2014

Easy S'mores Bars


Easy S’mores Bars
  • 1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 3 cups milk chocolate chips (18 oz)
  • 4 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
  1. Heat oven to 375°F and line a 13×9 inch pan with foil.
  2. In large bowl, stir the cookie mix and graham cracker crumbs  together. Then stir in melted butter until soft dough forms.
  3. Press the dough evenly into your foil lined 13×9 inch pan.
  4. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until set, I made sure it passed the toothpick test. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Let stand for a few minutes until chocolate begins to melt. Spread the melted chocolate evenly over crust.
  5. Sprinkle marshmallows over melted chocolate. Broil on the center rack of your oven until marshmallows are puffed and toasted to a golden brown. Watch closely because the marshmallows will brown quickly, it can take less than a minute.   Cool a minimum of 10 minutes. Carefully remove from the pan using the foil.  Cut into bars using a knife sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.   They are best served warm but are still excellent at room temp. Store any remaining bars tightly covered.  Makes 12-16 bars.


Read more: http://realmomkitchen.com/7675/easy-smores-bars/#ixzz3AmMhy900

45 uses for vinegar

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I so do number 26 and it works like a charm !
45 Uses for Vinegar
1. Freshen up the fridge. Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.
2. Brighten coffee cups and teacups. Gently scrub stains with equal parts vinegar and salt (or baking soda).
3. Eliminate odors. Swab plastic containers with a cloth dampened with vinegar.
4. Kill bathroom germs. Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink and tub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
5. Save a garment. To remove light scorch marks on fabrics, rub gently with vinegar. Wipe with a clean cloth. This technique also works on antiperspirant stains.
6. Tidy up a toilet. Pour a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Let sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.
7. Lose the carpet stain. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the stain and let dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. (Always test an out-of-sight part of the carpet first.)
8. Renew paint brushes. To remove old paint, place brushes in a pot with vinegar. Soak for an hour, then turn on the stove and bring the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.
9. Wipe off a dirty faucet. To get rid of lime buildup, make a paste of 1 teaspoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.
10. Stop static cling. Add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash cycle. The acid reduces static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes.
11. Make old socks look new. Get the stains out of old socks and sweaty gym clothes by soaking them in a vinegar solution. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring to a boil and drop in the stained clothes. Let them soak overnight, and in the morning stained clothes are fresh and bright.
12. Restore handbags and shoes. Wipe white distilled vinegar on scuffed leather bags and shoes. It will restore their shine and help hide the marks.
13. Banish weeds. Pour white distilled vinegar on the weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway. Saturate the plant so the vinegar reaches the roots.
14. Liven droopy flowers. Don’t throw out cut flowers once they start to wilt. Instead, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to a quart of water. Pour the solution into your vase, and the flowers will perk up.
15. Put an end to itching. Dab a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar on mosquito bites and insect stings. It will stop them from itching and help disinfect the area so they heal faster.
16. Whiten your teeth. Brush your teeth once a week with white distilled vinegar. Dip your toothbrush into the vinegar and brush thoroughly. It will help prevent bad breath, too.
17. Make nail polish last longer. Before you apply your favorite polish, wipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in white distilled vinegar. The clean surface will help your manicure last.
18. Keep car windows frost-free. Prevent windows from frosting over in a storm by coating them with a solution of three parts white distilled vinegar to one part water. The acidity hinders ice, so you won’t have to wake up early to scrape off your car.
19. Let your dog shine. Spray your dog with one cup white distilled vinegar mixed with one quart water. The solution is a cheap alternative to expensive pet-care products, plus the vinegar will help repel pests like fleas and ticks.
20. Battle litter-box odor. Cat litter can leave behind an unwelcome smell. Eliminate it by pouring a half-inch of white distilled vinegar into the empty litter box. Let stand for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.
21. Kill bacteria in meat. Marinating in vinegar knocks out bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Create a marinade by adding ¼ cup balsamic vinegar for every 2 pounds of meat to your own blend of herbs and spices. Let the meat sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor, then cook it in the morning without rinsing.
22. Prevent cracked eggs. Prevent eggs from cracking as they hard-boil by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water. The eggs will stay intact, and the shells will peel off more easily when you’re ready to eat them.
23. Steam away a microwave mess. Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar, and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making clean up a breeze.
24. Repair DVDs. If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is completely dry before reinserting it into the player.
25. Get those last drops. If you can’t get that final bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, dribble in a few drops of vinegar. Put the cap on tightly and shake. The remaining condiments will slide out.
26. Rinse fruits and vegetables. Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to one pint water. Use the mixture to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills more pesticide residue than does pure water.
27. Brighter Easter eggs. Before your kids dye Easter eggs, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. The vinegar keeps the dye bright and prevents the color from streaking.
28. Loosen a rusted screw. Pour vinegar onto the screw, and it will easily unstick.
29. Remove gum. To remove gum from fabric or hair, heat a small bowl of vinegar in the microwave. Pour the warm vinegar over the gum, saturating the area. The gum will dissolve.
30. Keep cheese from molding. Wrap cheese in a vinegar-soaked cloth, then place in an airtight container and refrigerate.
31. Renew a loofah. Soak your loofah in equal parts vinegar and water for 24 hours to dissolve soap residue, then rinse in cold water.
32. Remove wax. If you get melted candle wax on your wood furniture or floors, gently wipe it away with a cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.
33. Take a relaxing bath. Add ½ cup of vinegar to warm bath water for a cheap spa session at home. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth.
34. Brighten your hair. Remove hair product buildup by rinsing a tablespoon of vinegar through your hair once a month.
35. Freshen fabrics. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz your home to neutralize odors in fabrics, carpets, shoes or any sprayable surface.
36. Erase crayon. If your kids get crayon marks on the walls or floor, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently scrub. The vinegar breaks down the wax, making for an inexpensive, nontoxic way to clean up after children.
37. Sticky stickers. Don’t scratch at the residue left by stickers or price tags. Instead, apply vinegar to the gunk, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the glue away.
38. Clean the dishwasher and coffee pot. Reduce soap buildup and food residue by pouring a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher or coffee pot once a month and letting it run a full cycle.
39. Sanitize pet accidents. You can remove the stain―and smell―of your pet’s accident by mixing ¼ cup vinegar with a quart of water and blotting the mixture onto the mess with a washcloth. Continue dabbing until the spot is gone.
40. Prep for summer grilling. To remove charcoal buildup from your grill, spray white distilled vinegar on balled up aluminum foil and scrub the grate thoroughly.
41. Restore showerhead pressure. If your showerhead gets clogged with mineral deposits, soak it for 15 minutes in a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart water.
42. Clean your scissors. When your scissor blades get sticky, wipe them down with a cloth dipped in full-strength white vinegar. Unlike soap and water, vinegar won’t ruin the blades or rust the metal.
43. Unclog drains. For a natural, nontoxic way to clean clogged pipes, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Let the products bubble and foam, then flush the pipes with a pot of boiling water.
44. Eliminate dandruff. If your scalp is feeling dry or flaky, vinegar can be a simple at-home remedy. Once a week, pour one cup of apple cider vinegar over your scalp, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
45. Soften your feet. Summer sandals leaving you with cracked heals and calluses? Soak your feet for 20 minutes a day in one part vinegar to two parts warm water. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth.

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Thursday, August 14, 2014

Lemon Brownies


If you like lemon, this is the best desert you will ever eat. Moist, tart, sweet, unbelievably good. Everyone who tastes it wants the recipe.

LEMON BROWNIES

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup flour
2 eggs, large
2 Tablespoons lemon zest
2 Teaspoons lemon juice
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

For the tart lemon glaze:

4 Tablespoons lemon juice
8 Teaspoons lemon zest
1 rounded cup powdered sugar

NOTE: I love lemon, but this glaze is a little tart for me. I cut back the lemon juice to 2-3 Tablespoons and the zest to 5 teaspoons.

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Spray an 8×8 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

3. Zest and juice two lemons and set aside
.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixture fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the flour, sugar, salt, and softened butter until combined.

5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice until combined.

6. Pour it into the flour mixture and beat for 2 mins at medium speed until smooth and creamy.

7. Pour into baking dish and bake for 23-25 mins, should turn golden around the edges. Do not over bake or bars will be dry.

8. Allow to cool completely before glazing.

9. Sift the powdered sugar and whisk with lemon zest and juice.

10. Spread 1/2 the glaze over the brownies with a rubber spatula and let glaze set.

11. Spread 1/2 the glaze over the bars, and let it set. It doesn't harden but instead stays soft.

12. Cut into bars and serve.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Butter Chicken

Butter Chicken, a simple and delicious weeknight meal!
Butter Chicken
serves 4
Ingredients
  • 1 - 1/4 pounds lean boneless chicken breasts pounded or sliced thin (approx 1/2 inch)
  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • 1 sleeve Ritz Butter round crackers (about 30), crushed
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup butter, cut into cubes ( I used Challenge Butter)
How to Make
  1. Preheat oven to 375°
  2. In medium bowl combine crushed crackers, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
  3. Rinse and pat each chicken breast dry. Dip each breast into the whisked eggs and then into the cracker mixture, coating evenly.
  4. Place chicken into a 9x13 baking dish. Scatter the cubes of butter around the chicken in the baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.
  5. Serve immediately, spooning extra butter on top of the chicken if desired.


Read more: http://cookiesandcups.com/butter-chicken/#ixzz3A8et19Pd

Breakfast casserole

Make Breakfast while you sleep in tomorrow!!!
Breakfast casserole in the crock pot! Cooks while you sleep!
Ingredients:
1 bag 26 oz. frozen hash browns
12 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon ground mustard
1 16 oz. roll sausage
maple, sage or regular sausage.
Salt and pepper
16 oz. bag shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Spray crock pot and evenly spread hash browns at the bottom.
2. Crack 12 eggs in a large bowl.
3. Mix well (and slowly) using a whisk.
4. Add the milk.
5. Go ahead and sprinkle in the ground mustard. This might sound like a weird ingredient, but I've come to love (and use) this in most of my recipes.
6. Add plenty of salt....
...and lots of fresh pepper. Mix well and set aside.
7. Cook the sausage on high heat, drain and set aside.
8. Add sausage on top of hash browns.
9. Is this enough cheese? Maybe? Probably. Throw the whole big bag in there.
10. Mix it up well. Or good, depending on where you're from.
11. Pour the egg mixture over everything in the crock pot. Using a wood spoon, even everything out so it's spread evenly.
12. Turn the crock pot on low for 6-8 hours.