Fruit Pizza

Fruit pizza is one of our family's favorite desserts and I like to use it as my go-to dessert when we have company. There isn't any specific measurements I use, but after eye-balling it this past weekend this is what I came up with:

1 1/2 rolls sugar cookie dough (yes, you can make the dough, this is just WAY faster)
2 lbs strawberries
2 bananas
3 kiwis
1/2 package cream cheese (4 oz)
1/2 tub whipped cream
1 yoplait yogurt (I prefer peach or lemon)

First, set out your cream cheese and cookie dough for about 30 min so that they are soft enough to work with.
Roll out your cookie dough onto a cookie sheet until it covers the entire thing. Bake as directed BUT keep an eye on it. You may have to adjust to cooking time but it takes about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool.
In a medium sized bowl combine your cream cheese, whipped cream, and yogurt. Once the cookie has cooled, spread it evenly across the entire cookie.
I like to wait until the end to cut my fruit so that it all stays nice looking. Cut your strawberries horizontally (so they make circles) and layer those first. Then cut and layer on your bananas, followed by your cut up kiwis. I personally like to add berries on top, but most of my family doesn't like that. It does add nice coloring to add raspberries and blueberries.
Slice and enjoy!

Alton Brown's Macaroni and Cheese

I'm not really sure when My mom came across this recipe, but it has been a family favorite since the first time she made it! It is quite possible that this is my most frequently made recipe in my box. It's easy to add things to it, or to modify.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese: Serves 6-8 people
1/2 lb elbow macaroni (I use all kinds of different noodles...)
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 c yellow onion, finely diced
1 bay leaf (mom makes it with this, I don't have them, so I never do)
1/2 tsp paprika
1 egg
12 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (12 oz is a lot, especially on a college budget, so I usually just grate a whole big pile but I'm certain it's never this much..)
1 tsp salt
Pepper

*Cook pasta in large pot of salted boiling water to al dente
*While pasta is cooking, melt butter in separate pan over low, whisk in flour and mustard powder and keep it moving till the mixture bubbles.
*Stir in milk, onion, bay leaf and paprika. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove bay leaf.
*Temper the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into mix and pour into a 2 qt casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
* Use 1 c bread crumbs to top (I had some stuffing mix that I needed to use today that I used instead and it was delicious!)
Bake for 30 minutes at 350*. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

You can see that the right half is a little bit red-- it's because I added salsa to that half! I also sprinkled the other half with Italian seasoning. Let me tell you: delicious!

Braided Coffee Cake

Here it is! The very very very best breakfast pastry ever!


Start with

1/4 c Butter
3 oz Cream Cheese
2 Cups of  Bisquick
 Cut the butter and cream cheese into the Bisquick. 

Stir in:
1/3 c Milk
Knead 10 times (and check out this super cute apron of Amy's)

Roll it out onto a cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment

Mix the filling next:
5 oz Cream cheese
1/3 c sugar
1 tsp almond extract

Then: here's the fun part! Choose your fruity filling!
I used these:

but I have also used jam, pie filling, or nothing at all (just the cream cheese)
Then set it up like this: Cut 1" strips on the outside thirds of the pastry, put the cream cheese stuff in the middle then top with your choice of filling.

Next you start braiding:

Till it looks like this:

Put it in an oven that's at 425 for 15 or so minutes. Don't over bake it... but make sure it's all the way brown, or you'll have doughy stuff in the middle (which I don't like).
And when it comes out, it might look something like this:

Then you've got to make a glaze:
1 c powdered sugar
1 tsp Almond extract
1 1/2 Tbsp water/milk
drizzle it on your slightly cooled coffee cake and it should look like this:

and as soon as you cut into it, it's likely to look a little more like this:



Seriously though, this is the best. It has even won awards!