Delicious Cinnamon Rolls

These were so good.  Make sure you do not make too many because you WILL eat the leftovers.

You will need:

Refrigerated Crescent Rolls
cinnamon
brown sugar
butter, room temperature

Unroll a crescent roll and using a small rolling pin or a glass, press it out to make it a bit bigger without loosing it's shape.

Spread a coating of butter on the dough.  Sprinkle it with cinnamon.  Then generously sprinkle it with brown sugar.  Roll up starting with the large end.  Bake according to the package directions for the rolls.

I made a simple glaze of confectioner's sugar and milk.  You can do that or used canned vanilla frosting.  Warm it in the microwave first to soften if you use a can.  That makes it easier to drizzle.

Caramel Apple Bars

These are amazing.  If you like oatmeal cookies, apple and caramel you best be ware.  You might be tempted to eat the whole pan

Here is what you need:

1/2 cup cold butter

1 pouch Betty Crocker Oatmeal Cookie Mix

1 egg

1 cup finely chopped, peeled apple

3/4 cup caramel topping

1/4 cup all purpose flour

Heat oven to 350.  Spray bottom of a 13 X 9 pan with cooking spray

In large bowl, cut butter into cookie mix using a fork. Stir in egg until mixture is crumbly.

Reserve 1 1/2 cups of cookie mixture.  Press remaining cookie mix into bottom of the pan.  Bake 15 minutes.  Sprinkle apples evenly over the crust.  In a small bowl, mix caramel topping and flour; drizzle over apples.  Sprinkle reserved cookie mixture over apples.

Bake 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown.  Let cool, about 2 hours.  Cut into bars.  

Awesome Rice Pudding

This came out fantastic.  Made it for my Dad, but turned out Mom loved it even more.  Not sure I have ever seen her like a dessert more.

Yields 2 1/2 quarts

In a large sauce pan, place the following ingredients:

1 cup long grain rice

1/2 gallon whole milk (not low fat)

1/2 tsp salt

Cook on medium heat for approximately 30 minutes or longer until rice is tender.  Stir often about every 2 minutes with a wooden spatula.  Milk will not be all absorbed.

If desired, 1 cup raisins may be added now.  Cook 5 minutes longer if you do.

While this is cooking, you will need:

4 eggs, slightly beaten

2 cups evaporated milk ( 1 1/2 13oz cans)

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Whip eggs, whisk in the remaining ingredients.  

Add to rice mixture.  Turn heat lower, stirring constantly, cook for 3 more minutes.  Pour carefully into a large pyrex container (2 1/2 qt).  Sprinkle with nutmeg.  Let cool.

Place lid on container and refrigerate.

Creamy and delicious!!   

Orange Cheesecake Squares

These were delicious and so very simple.

Here is what you need :

1 roll (16.5 oz)  refrigerated sugar cookies

2 tablespoons grated orange peel (from 2 large oranges)

2packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened

1/4cup sugar

1/2cup  Sweet Orange Marmalade

1teaspoon orange-flavored liqueur or 1/4 teaspoon orange extract

2 Eggs

3tablespoons whipping (heavy) cream

2drops orange food color (or 2 drops yellow and 1 drop red food color)

1 1/2teaspoons  Butter

1/2cup white vanilla baking chips

Heat oven to 350°F. Press cookie dough evenly on bottom and 1 inch up sides of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. (If dough is sticky, use floured fingers.) Sprinkle evenly with orange peel.

In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, marmalade and liqueur with electric mixer on medium-high speed about 1 minute or until well blended. Add eggs; beat about 2 minutes or until well blended and mixture is creamy. Spread evenly in crust.

Bake 29 to 36 minutes or until crust is golden brown and center is set. Cool 1 hour.

In small microwavable bowl, microwave whipping cream and food color uncovered on High about 30 seconds or just until boiling. Add butter and baking chips; stir until chips are melted. Spread mixture evenly over bars. Refrigerate about 1 1/2 hours or until chilled and firm.

To serve, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows, using thin, sharp knife and wiping blade occasionally. Cover and refrigerate any remaining dessert squares.

Apple Spice Cake

Made this for dessert tonight.  Came out pretty great.  I think next time I make it I will use all Macintosh.  I think the Granny Smith made it a bit dry.  But with some caramel or vanilla ice cream....YUM.  Maybe even both :)

Here is what you need :

3 Granny Smith Apples. halved and cut into 1/2 in thick wedges

2 Macintosh Apples, halved and cut into 1/2 inch thick wedges

1 Tbsp Fresh lemon juice

3 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

4 large eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup orange juice

2 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

 Confectioners' sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat a 9 X 13 inch baking pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and 1 tsp of the cinnamon.  

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, oil, orange juice and vanilla.  Add the flour mixture and whisk together just until combined.  Add half the apples and mix to combine.  Spread into prepared pan.

Arrange the remaining apples on top.  Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon and bake until a wooden pick inserted in teh center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes.  Let cool completely on a wire rack.  Dust with confectioners' sugar.  

Trip to CVS today

I love stocking up on hair color and the college kids can use more laundry detergent now they are heading back to school.  

Total cost :             $79.95

less sale savings:       20.43

less coupons:            50.27

Out of pocket:        $ 9.25    88.4% savings

Saving on hair color is always a bonus.  Though that will vanish quickly from my stockpile.  :)

Here is how I did it:

1st transaction:

(1) CoverGirl Blush $4.39

(1) CoverGirl Blush $2.19  (50% off)

(3) Nice and Easy Hair Color $5.99

total $24.55

Use $10 ECB from Beauty Club spending (really should join this if you are not a member.  For every $50 you spend on beauty products you earn $5 in ECB  Join Beauty Club )

Use (3) $3/1 Clairol Natural Instincts or Nice n Easy coupon (exp 9.30.12, SS 8.12.12 )

Use (1) $3/2 CoverGirl product coupon (exp 8.31.12, P & G 7.29.12)

Use (1) $2 off any hair color - CVS coupon from the lovely red machine.  (Make sure you run your card through the CRT every single time you go in the store.  And do it until it says no more coupons today.  Sometimes I can grab 3 bunches of them.  Today I got lucky and it spit out this $2 coupon)

Pay $0.55* 

Earn $5 ECB

Submit for a $5 rebate Rebate

2nd transaction

(1) Gillette Fusion or Venus Razor $9.99

(3) Garnier Shampoo/Conditioner  3/$10

(1) Good'n Natural Bar  $0.99

total $20.98

Use $5 ECB from trans 1

Use (3) $1/1 Garnier Shampoo, Conditioner or Treatment coupon ( exp 9.29.12, RP 7.29.12 )

Use (1) FREE Good'n Natural Bar coupon (exp 9.15.12, RP 8.12.12)

Use (1) $4/1 Gillette Fusion or Venus Refillable coupon ( exp 9.30.12, RP 8.12.12)

Pay $7.99*

Earn $4 ECB and $3 ECB

3rd transaction

(1) Poise Body Cooling Towelettes $3.99

(2) Wisk Detergent  $4.99

Total $13.97

Use $7 ECB from trans 2

Use (2) $2/1 Wisk Detergent 45 oz or larger (RP 8.12.12)

Use (1) $1/1 Poise Body Cooling Towelettes, Feminine Wash or Panty Fresheners ( exp 9.22.12, SS 8.12.12)

Use (1) $1/1 Poise CVS Coupon Poise

Pay $0.97*

Earn $1.50 ECB 

* This is before tax.  Tax is calculated on the prices BEFORE coupons.  :(

Provencal Summer Vegetable Bake

Made this for dinner last night.  Needed a bit more spicing up so I increased a few things for you to add to it.  Would even be great with some marinara sauce over some pasta....

Ingredients 2 medium sweet onions 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoon salt 3 cloves garlic chopped 1 15ounce can cannellini beans drained and rinsed 2 1/2 teaspoons herbes de Provence 1 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 large eggplant (about 1 pound), ends trimmed, halved lengthwise 3 large summer squash (combination of zucchini and yellow squash), ends trimmed 1/2 pound russet potatoes 3 plum tomatoes 4 -8 oz mozzarella cheese

Instructions1. Heat oven to 400 degrees . Peel and halve onions; cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a largesaute pan over medium heat. Add onions and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Cook 8 to 10 minutes or until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in beans, 1/2 teaspoon of the herbes de Provence and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Pour mixture into bottom of a 9 x 13 oven-safe casserole. 2. Meanwhile, cut eggplant, squash, potatoes and tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick slices. (To speed things up, use a food processor fitted with a slicing blade or a mandoline.) Toss vegetables with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons herbes de Provence and 1 teaspoon pepper. Arrange vegetables on top of onion-bean mixture in 1 layer; pack tightly. 3. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake 15 more minutes. Cool slightly and slice into 4 servings.