Chocolate Chip Cookie Dip

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened 
• 1/2 C. butter, softened
• 3/4 C. confectioners' sugar
• 2 Tbls. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 C. (6 oz) miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• Graham cracker sticks

Directions:

1.  In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy.
2. Add the sugars and vanilla; beat until smooth.
3. Stir in chocolate chips.
4. Serve with graham cracker sticks.

Chewy Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies

So I usually have a go to recipe for chocolate chip cookies however I was looking for a more "chewy" version and these came out amazing. My new go to recipe for chocolate chip cookies, enjoy!!!

Chewy Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C. shortening
• 1/2 C. salted butter, room temp.
• 1/2 C. sugar
• 1 C. packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
• 1-12 ounce package (2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl beat the shortening and butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. 
2. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and baking soda. Beat mixture until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. 
3. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until combined. 
4. Beat in flour, if needed stir the last remaining amount.
5. Stir in chocolate pieces.
6. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake in a 375 degree F oven 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. 
8. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool. Makes about 30 two inch cookies.

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Banana Cake

Ingredients:

•     3 fresh bananas, mashed
•     2 tsp. lemon juice
•     3 C. all-purpose flour
•     1.5 tsp. baking soda
•     1/4 tsp. salt
•     3/4 C. butter, at room temperature
•     2 C. sugar
•     3 eggs
•     2 tsp. vanilla
•     1 1/2 C. low fat buttermilk

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 275º F, and grease and flour (or spray), a bundt cake pan.
2. Mash banana and mix with lemon juice, set aside.
3. In a med bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt, set aside.
4. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar.
5. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla.
6. Beat in flour mixture and alternate mixing with buttermilk.
7. Stir in bananas.
8. Pour into pan and bake at 275º F for 1 hour and 20 minutes, until fork comes out clean.
9. Immediately place in freezer for 45 minutes.

    

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C. butter, room temperature
• 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 1/2 C. powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Cream butter and cream cheese.
2. Beat in vanilla and sugar on low until combined, then high until smooth.
3. Apply to cake when cake is completely cooled.

Turkey Mushroom Meatloaf

Turkey Mushroom Meatloaf

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb (or 8 ounces) mushrooms, trimmed (about 15 mushrooms)
• 1 C. finely chopped onion
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 Tbls. olive oil
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 Tbls. Worcestershire sauce
• 7 Tbls. ketchup, divided
• 1 C. panko bread crumbs
• 1/3 C. milk
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/4 lb. ground turkey (92% lean)

Directions:

• Heat oven to 400º F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil then lightly oil the bottom.
• You can chop the mushrooms one of two ways: by hand or in a food processor. The mushrooms need to be very finely chopped, about 1/8-inch pieces. Set aside.
• Cook onion, in oil, in a large skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add garlic then cook 1 minute.
• Add chopped mushrooms, a 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally about 10 minutes or until liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated and they are tender.

 

• Transfer onions and mushrooms to a large bowl then stir in 3 tablespoons of ketchup and 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce. Cool 5 minutes.
• In the meantime, stir together the breadcrumbs and milk and let stand 5 minutes.
• Add breadcrumbs and beaten eggs to onions and mushrooms then mix well. Next, add turkey along with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Mix well with hands (or a fork). (The mixture will be very wet).
• Form mixture into a 9-inch by 5-inch oval loaf in the middle of prepared baking sheet. Then, use the back of a spoon to spread the remaining 4 tablespoons of ketchup on top of the meatloaf.

 

• Bake until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meatloaf registers 170 degrees F (77 degrees C), 45 to 50 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing.

**Adapted from http://www.inspiredtaste.net/21535/unbelievably-moist-turkey-meatloaf-recipe/

Chuys Jalapeño Ranch Dip

Inspired by an awesome dip at one of my favorite Texas restaurants, Chuy's, I set out to find a copycat recipe I could make at home. This one pretty much takes the cake! Serve with tortilla chips, salsa or as a sauce for your favorite grilled meat. Enjoy!

Chuy's Jalapeño Ranch Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 ¹⁄₃ C. light mayo
• ¹⁄₃ C. lowfat buttermilk
• ¹⁄₃ C. pickled sliced jalapeños
• ¹⁄₃ C. green chili, chopped
• ¹⁄₃ C. cilantro leaf
• 1 (1 oz.) packet dry ranch dressing mix
• 1/4 tsp chopped garlic
• Juice of half a lime

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients in food processor or blender until smooth.
2. Let mixture sit in refrigerator for 1-2 hours prior to serving.
3. If mixture is too thick, thin with additional buttermilk.

Black Bean Turkey Taco Soup

Creamy Black Bean Turkey Taco Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. lean ground turkey
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. dried oregano 
• 1/2 tsp. ground chipotle
• 2 Tbls. butter
• 2 Tbls. flour
• 2 C. milk, divided
• 1 C. shredded Monterey Jack cheese, plus extra for garnish 
• 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 4 oz. can diced green hatch chiles
• Chopped, fresh cilantro for garnish
• Favorite tortilla chips, for garnish

Directions:

1. In a 4 or 5 quart pot, cook the ground turkey over medium to medium-high heat with the salt and pepper, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Once it is cooked through, drain any excess grease.
2. Add the onion powder, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano and chipotle to the meat and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring often. Scrape the meat to a plate and set aside.
3. Return the pot to medium heat and melt the butter, scraping up any browned bits from the meat. 
4. Whisk in the flour and cook for a minute or so, whisking constantly, letting the mixture brown and bubble. 
5. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of the milk. Continue stirring while heating the mixture to a gentle simmer. Moderate the heat on the stove so the soup just bubbles but doesn't boil vigorously. Cook for 1-2 minutes to let it thicken slightly.
6. Stir in the Monterey Jack cheese and let it melt completely.
7. Add the black beans, diced tomatoes, green chiles, remaining 1 cup milk, and reserved cooked ground meat. Simmer gently for 5-10 minutes.
8. Serve with fresh cilantro, shredded Monterey Jack cheese and tortilla chips!

*Serve with cornbread.
**Adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe recipe.

Brownie in a Mug

This is my first attempt at a "brownie in a mug" and while most of the recipes I found were made without an egg, I felt it deserved one... this recipe has more of a cake like consistency but it's amazing served with chocolate syrup and ice cream. Prefect for a quick 5 minute make chocolate fix! Enjoy!

Brownie in a Mug

Ingredients:

• 1/4 C. sugar
• 1/4 C. flour
• 2 Tbls. cocoa powder*
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbls. canola or vegetable oil
• 3 drops of vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 Tbls. water
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Sift together sugar, flour, cocoa and salt in mug. 
2. Stir in oil, vanilla, water and egg until mixed thouroughly.
3. Microwave for 2 minutes, do not open microwave during cooking.
4. Flip out of mug if desired and serve with ice cream and chocolate syrup.

*I recommend using a better quality brand than Hershey's cocoa for a richer taste. I used Guittard's.

Turkey Meatloaf

Turkey Meatloaf

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lb lean ground turkey
• 1/2 C. italian bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/4 sweet onion, minced
• salt and black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
• BBQ sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Mix turkey, bread crumbs, egg, onion and garlic together in bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Press into greased loaf pan and top with favorite BBQ sauce. I use Trader Joe's Kansas City BBQ Sauce.
4. Bake for 35 minutes or until meat reaches 165 degrees.