Butter Pecan Fudge

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup pecan halves, toasted and coarsely chopped


Directions:

1. In a large heavy saucepan, combine butter, sugars, cream and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; stir in the vanilla. Stir in the powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in pecans.

2. Spread into a buttered 8-inch square dish. Cool to room temperature. Cut into 1-inch squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.


Tip:

When making fudge, you can simply butter or grease the pan with cooking spray to prevent the candy from sticking. But many recipes suggest first lining the pan with foil. This allows the fudge to be lifted out of the pan in one piece. Cutting the fudge outside of the pan prevents the pan from being scratched by the knife and also allows for more evenly cut pieces. To prepare a foil-lined pan, line the pan with foil extending over the sides of the pan. Grease the foil with butter or coat with cooking spray.


Source: Taste of Home Holiday, December 2009 Christmas Cookies & Candies

Rich Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (9 ounces) yellow cake mix
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 egg


For The Topping:

1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 egg



Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, butter, and the egg
until well blended.

Spread into a greased 9 inch square baking pan.

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, the confectioners' sugar,
and the egg until smooth. Spread evenly over the batter.

Bake at 350 F for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted
near the center comes out clean.

Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator.

Makes 2 dozen

Recipe Source: Taste Of Home - Tammy Helle

Popeye's Cajun Gravy

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 chicken gizzard
2 tablespoons minced green bell pepper
1/4 cup ground beef
1/4 cup ground pork
2 cups water
1 (14 ounce) can beef broth
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
Dash dried parsley flakes

Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Saute chicken gizzard in the oil for 4 to 5 minutes until cooked.

Remove gizzard from the pan and let cool.

Finely mince the gizzard after it has cooled.

Combine ground beef and ground pork.
Mix with your hands until well mixed.

Add bell pepper to the saucepan and saute it for 1 minute.

Add ground beef and pork to the pan and cook brown.

Mash meat into tiny pieces as it browns.

Add water and beef broth to the saucepan, then
immediately whisk in cornstarch and flour.

Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer gravy until thick - about 30 to
35 minutes.

Source:  My personal recipe collection ~ original origin not known

French Silk Chocolate Pie

CRUST:
1 Pillsbury Refrigerated pie crust (from 15-oz. pkg.)

FILLING:
3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, cut into pieces
1 cup butter, softened (do not use margarine)
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 pasteurized eggs or 1 cup refrigerated or frozen fat-free egg product, thawed

TOPPING:
1/2 cup sweetened whipped cream
Chocolate curls, if desired

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 450. Prepare pie crust as directed on package for one-crust baked shell using 9-inch pie pan. Bake at 450 for 9 to 11 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 30 minutes or until completely cooled.

2. Melt chocolate in small saucepan over low heat; cool. In small bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add cooled chocolate and vanilla; blend well.

3. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating at high speed for 2 minutes after each addition. Beat until mixture is smooth and fluffy. Pour into cooled baked shell. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Top with whipped cream and chocolate curls.

Store in refrigerator.





Recipe Fact
Mrs. Kendall E. Cooper of Silver Spring, Maryland, brought this ultra-rich chocolate pie to the 3rd Bake-Off Contest. Her original recipe included raw eggs, but this updated, safer version calls for pasteurized eggs or egg product.

Source: Pillsbury Classic Cookbooks (#219)
The Best From 50 Years of Bake-Off Contests, May 1999