Hot Fudge Sauce

Ingredients:

4 squares unsweetened chocolate
4 tablespoons butter
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons flour
2 cans evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the chocolate and the butter. Turn the heat up to medium-high and whisk in the sugar, flour and evaporated milk. Heat and continue stirring until thick (about 20 minutes). Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Let cool and pour into decorative jars and use as gifts. Makes about 4 cups of sauce.

Pizza Dip

Ingredients:

4 ounces cream cheese-softened
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1 cup mixture of and pizza toppings you like
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, cream together the cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise, oregano and garlic powder. Spread in the bottom of a medium size baking dish (I used an 8 x 5). Spoon the pizza sauce over it, then add your toppings and cover with the mozzarella and crushed red pepper flakes. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly. Serve with baguettes, Fritos or tortilla chips.

**Adapted from Kevin at www.closetcooking.com

Hamburger Steak

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground chuck
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 onion-thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic-minced
1 (14 ounce) can reduced-sodium beef broth
1 (.75 ounce) package brown gravy mix

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine ground chuck, onion soup mix and Worcestershire sauce. SHape mixture into 6 patties.
In a large skillet, cook patties over medium heat for about 6 minutes per side or until browned. Drain skillet, reserving 1 tablespoons drippings in skillet. Add onion and garlic to skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring frequently for 8 minutes or until onions are tender.
In a small bowl, combine broth and gravy mix, whisking until smooth. Add broth mixture and patties to onion mixture in skillet. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until gravy gets thick and patties are warmed through.

Deen Bros. Family Table Magazine, Winter 2012

Almond Sheet Cake

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter
1 cup water
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup sour cream-room temperature
2 eggs-room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract

Frosting:
4 cups powdered sugar
4-6 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small saucepan add the butter and water, bring to a boil and set aside. Place the sugar and flour in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Pour the butter and water mixture into the dry ingredients and beat well. Add baking soda, almond extract and sour cream. Add the eggs in last and mix to combine.

Pour the batter into a greased jelly roll pan (13" x 9 1/2" x 1"). Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the middle is set. Let cake cool completely before icing.

For the frosting, pour the powdered sugar in a bowl and slowly add in the mil until it is to a desired consistency to spread on the cooled cake.

Lisa @ The Cutting Edge of Ordinary

Cranberry Nut Bread

Ingredients:

1 package white cake mix
1 package (3/4 ounce) Vanilla instant pudding
4 eggs
1 cup water
1/4 cup oil
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries-chopped
1/2 cup walnuts-chopped
2 tablespoons butter-melted
2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar (2 tablespoons sugar + 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon-mixed)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat first 5 ingredients in large bowl with mixer for 2 minutes or until well blended. Add cranberries and nuts; beat just until blended. Pour into 5 mini loaf pans (or 2 regular loaf pans) sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks. Brush the top with melted margarine and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar.

**Recipe from Kraft Food and Family, Holiday 2011

The hoisin sauce is what really makes this an Asian meatball, it really changes the flavor of the meatball. You could definitely make a homemade meatball, and that would be awesome, but if you are trying to get many dishes on the tables at the same time, do yourself a favor and just buy store bought, frozen meatballs…

Asian Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 package-16 ounces frozen meatballs, thawed and baked until warm and brown
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1/3 cup blackberry preserves-I used sugar free variety

Directions:

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the hoisin sauce and the blackberry preserves, stir to combine and heat through, but don't boil. Put the meatballs in a serving bowl and pour the sauce over the meatballs and stir to combine. Keep warm in a small crackpot or over low heat.