Samoa Cookies

1 box shortbread cookies
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups toasted coconut
1 cup chocolate chips

Place each shortbread cookie in rows on parchment paper. In 2-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, combine butter, sugar and corn syrup. Heat to a full boil, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Boil 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

Slowly pour in sweetened condensed milk, stirring constantly. Continue cooking over low heat until candy thermometer reaches 220-228 degrees. Remove from heat.

Stir in vanilla. Beat until creamy. Immediately stir in toasted coconut and mix well.

Spoon mixture by teaspoonfuls over shortbread cookies. Cool completely.

Melt chocolate chips and drizzle thinly in stripes over cookies and let chocolate harden at room temperature.

Store in airtight container.

Apple Cake

Taken from Made by Melissa

3-5 Granny Smith Apples
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour, divided
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel and finely chop apples. In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl, combine oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Beat of medium speed until well mixed, at least 3-5 minutes. Add 1 cup of flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking soda, mix well. Add second cup of flour and mix until just blended, this will make the batter very thick. Fold in apples and walnuts.

Grease and flour a bundt or tube pan. Pour batter into pan, bake 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes. Run a knife along the edges of the cake and remove from pan by flipping onto another wire rack or plate, invert onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Risotto Primavera

Taken from Paved With Good Intentions

1/2 pound asparagus
5-6 cups homemade chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon saffron strands, crumbled
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion, diced
1 smallish carrot, diced
2 small zucchini, diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup thawed frozen peas
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, plus extra for the table
Salt and pepper to taste

Cut off the tips of the asparagus and dice the top half of the stalks (discard the rest), and set the diced asparagus aside.

Bring the stock to a steady simmer in a saucepan. Add saffron to stock.

Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter with the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the onion and cook for about 6 minutes, until its golden.

Add the carrot and cook for 5 minutes more. Add the zucchini, diced asparagus, and ½ teaspoon salt, and cook for about 5 minutes more.

Add the rice and stir until it is coated with the oil. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until it has evaporated, about 3 minutes. Now slowly add enough simmering stock to cover the rice, and cook, stirring, until it has evaporated. Keep adding, stirring, and evaporating for about 20 minutes, until the rice is soft on the outside and still has a bit of a bite at the center. Remove the pan from the heat, and add the peas and cheese. Taste for salt and pepper, and serve with extra cheese for people to add to their own taste.

Serves 4.

Harvest Turkey Burgers

Taken from Cara's Cravings

1/2 lb ground turkey
2 tbsp chopped onion
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 oz crumbled goat cheese
minced fresh sage and thyme
salt and pepper

Mustard:
1.5 tbsp honey mustard
1 tbsp finely chopped pecans
minced fresh rosemary

Combine burger ingredients and mix well with hands. Form into two balls and grill over low heat, flattening after about 5 minutes on the first side. Try to cook them almost all the way through so that only one flip is required! Serve with pecan-rosemary-honey mustard.

Almond joy truffles

Taken from Canarygirl

Ingredients:

6 ounces dark chocolate
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon espresso
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup grated coconut

Preparation:

Melt chocolate in a medium sized glass bowl in the microwave (check and stir frequently, time will depend on your microwave).
Allow to cool a bit, then beat in egg yolks.
Add milk and coffee and beat until combined.
Add butter and continue to beat.
Beat in almonds.
Refrigerate truffle mixture for a minimum of 2 hours.
Form smaller sized balls and roll in coconut.

Chicken Crescent Pockets

Taken from yum.

6 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp butter, softened
3 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives (or onion)
1/2 tsp salt
fresh ground pepper to taste
1 tbsp milk
1 tbsp ranch dressing
2 (8 oz) cans refrigerated crescent rolls
2 tbsp melted margarine or butter
2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, combine cream cheese and butter; beat until smooth. Add chicken, chives, salt, pepper, milk and ranch. Mix well.
Separate dough into rectangles mound chicken mixture onto dough. For regular sized pockets, place chicken on one half of dough and fold remaining dough over top. Pinching edges to seal. For jumbo pockets, cover one rectangle with mixture and top with another, pinching edges to seal. Brush tops with melted butter, sprinkle with salt and Parmesan. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Eggplant Parmesan

Taken from Culinary Kicks

1 large eggplant, 1/4 inch slices
1 egg
1 tbsp water
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp dried basil
salt and pepper to taste
enough oil to cover bottom of frying pan 1/4 inch thick
1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
1 ball of fresh mozzarella cheese, packed in water

Lightly salt the eggplant slices and set in a large colander to rest for 30 minutes then rinse eggplant and pat dry with a paper towel.

Slice mozzarella cheese into thin slices and set aside. In a small bowl whisk together egg and water to make an egg wash and set aside.

In a shallow dish mix flour, paprika, oregano,and a dash of salt and pepper, In another shallow dish, mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, basil, and a dash of salt and pepper. Dip the eggplant into flour mixture to coat it lightly on both sides, then dip into the egg wash and let excess drip off. Then dip into breadcrumb mixture and be sure to get a thick coat on the eggplant. Fry eggplant in oil on both sides until crisp and golden. Drain on paper towels.

After all eggplant is cooked, lay slices slightly overlapping in a shallow baking pan. Pour marinara sauce over eggplant and top with slices of mozzarella cheese.

Broil 6 inches from heat until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve immediately