Danish Almond Puff

When I take a bite of this my insides smile. It is one of the most delectable, delicious, treats I have ever had. Do you ever go to special events like a bridal shower or luncheon and wonder how they make such wonderful delicious pastries? When ever I see Danish Almond Puff I think that very thing. It looks like something I could never make in a million years, plus it tastes like heaven. I won't kid you, it is a little complicated but not so much that you can't make it. It isn't something you will make all the time like cookies but it is perfect for those special occasions.

I assumed this recipe would be to complicated for me so I always skipped over it, until my mom suggested that I make it for a baby shower we were hosting. It was for my cousin and so I figured if it flopped she would forgive me. I made it and it turned out great. This just shows that it is not to complicated of a recipe.

My mom made these for my daughters baptism so I can't claim these ones
but hey, I needed a picture. Thanks MOM!

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup flour
2 T. water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
1 tsp almond extract
3 large eggs
Powdered sugar icing
sliced almonds

Cut 1/2 cup butter into 1 cup flour as for pastry. Add 2 T. water. Mix with a fork until ball forms. Divide. On ungreased baking sheet (12x16 inches) pat each portion of dough with hands into strip 12x3 inches spacing strips about 3 inches apart.

In saucepan bring 1 cup water to boil. Add butter. Cook until butter is melted. Add 1 cup flour all at once cooking and stirring with a wooden spoon until mixture pulls away from sides of pan to gather into a smooth ball. Remove pan from heat. Stir in Almond extract. Add egg one at a time beating after each until smooth. Divide dough in half. Spread each half evenly over on pastry strip. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until golden brown.

While still warm frost with powdered sugar icing. Sprinkle generously with sliced almonds. Cool. Slice diagonally to serve. Serves about 12. Enjoy!

Powdered Sugar Icing

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 T butter
1/2 tsp almond extract
1-2 T water

Texas Sheet Cake

Okay, so I have a confession to make. I don't just love Texas Sheet Cake. I am more a brownie out of the Betty Crocker Box kind of gal. But there is one thing I do love. The batter to Texas Sheet Cake. I know, there are some of you that are going to call the Salmonella police on me, but it is a fact. I LOVE almost any kind of batter, dough, or uncooked sweet thing there is. Texas Sheet Cake takes the cake though. (Pun intended.) I could eat the entire amount of batter in one sitting. No, I haven't done this but I could.

This is a staple at any big event. "Why?", you ask, because it makes a ton. Plus it is pretty tasty. (Even if I don't prefer it) My friend Joy gave me her Grandma's recipe. It is a pretty good one. I have never even seen if my grandma has one. I should look into that. Anyway, people love this one.
2 cups butter
1 cup water
4 T cocoa

In a small pan on medium low heat melt the butter, water, and cocoa. Set aside once melted and mixed well.

In a large mixing bowl add:

2 cups sugar
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
Stir, then add:

2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
Stir then add:

Melted cocoa mixture. make sure it has cooled a little.
Mix all ingredents then pour in a large greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Frosting:

4 T cocoa
1 cube butter
6 T Milk
Melt the cocoa, butter, and milk together over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low for 3 min.
Remove from heat and add:
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Pour this over the sheet cake after the cake has cooled. Enjoy!

Thia Peanut Chicken Salad

I went to a local restaurant the other day and had a pretty great salad. I thought hey, I bet I can recreate this at home. So I attempted and my sweet hubby likes mine more. Wahoo! I will have to say my chicken was much better.
3 chicken Breast cooked and diced.
1 head of iceberg lettuce broken up
1/4 cup Red onion diced
1/2 cup green peppers diced
1/2 cup red peppers diced
1/2 cup yellow peppers diced
1/2 cup peanuts blended
BRIANNAS Ginger Mandarin Salad dressing

In a large fry pan cook the chicken on medium heat drizzle with BRIANNAS Ginger Mandarin dressing. Salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle on garlic powder. Cook until meat is cooked through. I like to brown mine a little. It gives it more flavor.

Once you are done cooking serve it buffet style. This way everything is fresh and ready to serve. This served 6-8 people just fine. Enjoy.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

I love Chicken salad sandwiches. On the day we got married we served these at our reception. When we left the reception the lady that owned the reception center gave us a plate to take with us. Jeron and I didn't realize how starving we were until after we left. We really hadn't eaten all day. When we got to the Bed and Breakfast we were famished. We pulled out or sandwiches and ate them all. It was so yummy. The perfect dinner to start off our honeymoon.

These are perfect for summer dinners, brunches, and showers. My favorite thing is to make these after Easter. The eggs are already made for it. Perfect.


Mayonnaise to your liking.
2 T. Mustard
1 tsp. Garlic powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
6 Green onions thinly sliced
1/2 cup mushrooms chopped
3 stalks celery diced
2 cups grapes halved
6 boiled eggs diced
3 Chicken breasts fried and dice.
1/2 cup Cashews or almonds (optional)
Croissants
Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Serve on croissants. I like to get my croissants at Sam's Club it is cheaper and you get more bang for your buck. Enjoy.

14 Carrot Cake

So the first time I made this cake a friend and me were making it for my neighbor for her birthday. We messed up and didn't drain the pineapple. We renamed our cake to be upside down carrot cake. It was SO yummy but looked horrible. Not the prettiest cake but definitely the best taste. My mom made this cake for Easter. The picture is actually from her cake. It was very tasty. This is one of her recipes from her awesome cook book. Her cookbook gets used more than any other cookbook I have. It is full of all the yummy things I grew up with.


Sift in a small bowl:
2 cups flour
2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 t cinnamon

In a mixing bowl add:
8 1/2 can crushed pineapple (DRAINED)
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix the ingredients well and then add the sifted ingredients. Mix well. Pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. Enjoy.