Double Trouble Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
2 1/2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup sour cream
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Method:
Go ahead & preheat oven to 375 F or 190 C.
In the microwave or over a double boiler, melt unsweetened chocolate and butter together, stirring occasionally until smooth. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl- beat sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light. Mix in the chocolate mixture until well blended. Stir in the sifted ingredients alternately with sour cream, then mix in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

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Libby’s Iced Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:
4 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
2 cups vegetable shortening
2 cups granulated sugar
1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
2 large eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
2 cups raisins
1 cup nuts, chopped
2/3 cup butter, softened
3 teaspoons to 4 rum extract
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk

Method:
Go ahead & preheat your oven to 350 F or 175 C.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice in medium bowl. Beat shortening and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl for 30 seconds. Add pumpkin, eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; beat until blended. Gradually add flour mixture into pumpkin mixture at low speed until combined. Stir in raisins and nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely. Spread each cookie with frosting.
For the Frosting:
Beat butter, rum extract and remaining vanilla extract in medium mixer bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar and evaporated milk until smooth (frosting will be thin).

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Banana Oatmeal Caramel Cookies

Ingredients:
1 package (18 ounces) refrigerated turtle cookie dough

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 & 1/3 cups uncooked old-fashioned oats

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Method:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease cookie sheets. Let dough stand at room temperature about 15 minutes.
Combine dough, bananas, oats and flour in large bowl; beat until well blended. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets; flatten slightly.
Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until edges are brown and centers are set. Cool on cookie sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
Place chocolate chips in small re-sealable food storage bag. Microwave on MEDIUM (50%) 1 minute; knead bag lightly. Microwave and knead at additional 30-second intervals until chocolate is completely melted. Cut off tiny corner of bag. Drizzle melted chocolate over cookies. Let stand until set.

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Chocolate Fondue

Ingredients
12 ounces good quality semi-sweet

chocolate

2/3 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

3 tablespoons Grand Marnier or Amaretto liqueur (optional)

Bite sized pieces of fruit or cake

Method:

Combine the chocolate and heavy cream in a medium heavy saucepan over medium-low heat. Stirring constantly, cook for about two minutes, or until melted and smooth. Add the vanilla and liqueur. Serve with the fruit and cake.

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Black Bean Cornbread

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup unbleached white flour
2 to 4 tablespoons evaporated cane juice sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup green onions, sliced
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
1/2 cup (cooked) black beans

Method:
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Spray a 9X9 inch baking dish with canola or olive oil spray and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and sea salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with the buttermilk, melted butter, cheese, green onions, corn and black beans. Stir in any optional ingredients desired. Add to the dry ingredients, blending until just combined.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes or until done when tested with a toothpick.
Cool on a rack for 15 minutes.

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Cheddar Apple Scones

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup flour
1 tbsp. plus 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. white sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 egg
4-tbsp. plus 1 tsp. cold butter cut into small pieces
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated on the large side of a grater
1/3 cup cheddar cheese, grated on the fine side of a grater - reserve for top of each scone
2 apples, peeled, seeded and cut into small chunks
1 beaten egg, reserve for brushing the tops of the scones

Method:
Preheat oven to 450 F 0r 230 C.
Combine dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl. Stir until well combined. Combine buttermilk and egg in a small bowl and whisk to break up egg and incorporate ingredients.
Add the cold butter into the flour mixture. Using a pastry blender, or your hands, work butter into flour until butter is broken into little pieces and the mixture is crumbly. Work quickly so butter does not soften up too much.
Toss in apples and cheddar cheese until just combined. Pour wet ingredients over dry and, using a wooden spoon, quickly mix together until mixture comes together and forms a ball. Do not over mix dough or it will become tough.
Turn dough out onto floured surface and flatten slightly. Roll dough with a rolling pin until it is about 1 inch thick. Using a 2-inch biscuit cutter, or a glass, cut dough into circles.
Place cuts close together to reduce the amount of scrap dough. Dough scraps can be gently kneaded together and reused. Arrange scones on a baking tray - it is okay if they touch. Brush the tops of the scones with the beaten egg then top each scone with the reserved finely grated.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until that golden brown stage.

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