HERSHEY CLASSIC CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Submitted by Dorothy Breinholt

¼ cup + 2 tbsp. Hershey’s baking cocoa
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. light cream or evaporated milk
¼ cup butter (melted)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Combine cocoa and sugar in a small saucepan. Whisk in evaporated milk. Stir in melted butter and
salt; blend well. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly with a wire whisk, until mixture just
begins to boil. Mixture will be smooth and hot. Take off the heat. Stir in vanilla. Serve warm.
Makes about 1 1/2 cups

I double this recipe and use the whole can of evaporated milk.  When I double the batch, I get 2 pint jars filled and just enough for my family to have some extra.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

SO.... my oldest loves pancakes.  Not just, "mmmmmm, Mom, these are delicious pancakes." But "Mom, I know we've had pancakes for every meal for the past week, but can we please have them for dinner tonight, again?"  She would eat them at every opportunity she can get!  So, to give me a break from cooking and a little girls night out, we go over to IHop.  Now, because of how many pancakes I make at home, I really don't want to eat them at IHop either.  BUT!  Have you tried their soup??!  When I tasted this the first time, it was unbelievable.  I knew I was going to have to try and make it.  But to that follow up, thought it was going to be hard and complicated.  When I finally found a recipe that I could agree with (I like them simple, 8 ingredients or less PLEASE!), I gave it a try.  Wonderful and Easy!  Now we can have pancakes and soup at home!

I know it is starting to warm up outside, but this thick hearty soup is delicious enough, I think I just might be ever so daring to make it throughout the entire year.

Ingredients

• 6 Large Potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 Large Onion, diced
• 1 Quart Chicken Broth
• 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 1/4 Cup Butter
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 Cup Cream (Half and Half Okay)
• 1 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Directions

1. Step One

   Combine all ingredients except for cream/ half and half, and cheese.
   (in the crock pot)

2. Step Two

   Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours (potatoes should be tender).

3. Step Three

   Then you will need to mash potatoes until coarsely chopped and soup is slightly thickened.
   (I got one of those hand mixers and just completely pureed it, or just using a potato masher would work well too.)

4. Step Four

   Stir in cream and cheese. Garnish with toppings (bacon, chives, sour cream, cheese).
   
   Source:  Crockin Girls Blog

A Little Valentine's Day Fun!

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

 

Happy Valentine’s Day.  I hope you enjoy your time today with whomever the sweethearts are in your life…….your significant other or your children or your puppies.    I hope you get a little extra love from whatever your love sources are!

  

Additionally, if you are wanting to make a sweet dinner for your loved ones, or a romantic with you and your spouse, fondue is a great way to go!  If you don't have a fondue pot, don't worry, you can still swing it with a saucepan, just heat and cook on medium-medium low heat as you don't want to burn the dipping sauce.

 

Thank you Stacey Hutchings for the recipe! 

 

 

 

Cheese Fondue

8 oz Muenster cheese, coarsely grated
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
3/4 cup apple juice
1/4 cup apple cider
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

In a bowl or large plastic bag, combine the cheeses and and toss with the cornstarch to coat.

In a large, heavy skillet, bring the apple juice/cider and garlic to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add the cheese a little at a time, stirring well (to prevent clumping) until melted. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Continue stirring until smooth (about 3-5 minutes). Set the pot over a candle and serve with the following:

boiled potatoes (canned will do in a hurry)
steamed broccoli florets
steamed cauliflower florets
toasted sourdough bread
pepperoni/Genoa salami

sliced apple



Cheeseball

Submitted by Amanda Olsen

This recipe was at our November RS activity.

1 pound grated sharp cheddar cheese
8 oz. softened cream cheese
1/2 Cup-1 Cup mayonnaise
onion salt
garlic salt
1/2 cup -1 1/2 cup chopped nuts ( I used walnuts)

Mix all ingredients together, except for enough nuts to roll the cheese balls in. Divide mixture in half. Form into a ball. Roll in chopped nuts. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Makes 2 cheese balls.

Printable Version

Sugar Cookies on a Stick

Submitted by Angela Davis

1 Cup butter
2 tsp. baking powder
1 Cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. clear vanilla
3 Cup flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add baking powder and flour 1 cup at a time.

After rolling dough out to desired shapes, bake 10-15 minutes on greased cookie sheet. Cool 5 minutes. Take cookies off pan, put on wire rack to completely cool off.

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