Red Velvet Pancakes

2 cups  all-purpose flour  
1 cup  powdered sugar
1/2 cup  granulated sugar 
1/2 cup  unsweetened cocoa  
1 1/2 teaspoons  baking powder  
1/2 teaspoon  baking soda  
1/2 teaspoon  salt  

1 1/2 cups  buttermilk  
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons red liquid food coloring
mini chocolate chips (optional but I think it would be a great addition--can sprinkle them once the pancake is already poured)

Cook on 300-325 degree griddle and use butter to grease it each time. I burned my first pancake, so I lowered the griddle temp and thinned the batter a bit. Then it wouldn't stay together as well, so I added another egg. Basically, they cook differently than regular pancakes but they're fun. Serve with whipped cream!

Carrot Cake

This original recipe calls for 2 cups sugar (as much sugar as flour) and it wouldn't come out of the cake pans even after I double oiled them. So I'm reducing the sugar next time I try it. We put extra cream cheese in the frosting without adding extra sugar and it was yummy. This is how I'll do it next time. 2 rounds take about 40 mins to bake.

Preheat oven to 350.

Cake:

2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 cups oil

4 eggs

3 cups grated carrots

1 cup chopped walnuts (yum yum)

Frosting:

1 1/2 sticks butter
8 oz cream cheese
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar (or more to taste)
1 tsp vanilla

BBQ Pork Chops in the Crockpot

Super easy and satisfying. I did about 6 pork chops. Poured barbeque sauce over the first layer and then the second layer. Most recipes say cook them on low for 6-7 hours, but I didn't have that long so I did the first hour on high and then 4-5 hours on low.

Chicken, Veggie, and Noodle Stir Fry (Lo Mein)

This is an easy stir-fry dish that my family can handle--not too weird and you can even just use plain spaghetti noodles. My kids like broccoli and peppers (and most will eat zucchini), so this is a good fit. I think only one kid didn't like it. I'll make it this way next time:

Whisk together these ingredients for the marinade/sauce. Use 1/2 cup of it with the raw chicken to marinate in the fridge. Save the rest of the marinade for the sauce. Use low-sodium chicken broth and soy sauce if available.
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 TB brown sugar
1 1/2 TB cornstarch
3 TB each rice vinegar and soy sauce (4 was too salty because I didn't have low-sodium chicken broth or soy sauce)
1 TB sesame or olive oil

Cook according to package directions, then drain and rinse in cold water:
10 ounces spaghetti, broken in half 

Stir Fry:
1-1 1/2 pound(s) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces (marinated as stated above) until cooked through

Add these to the chicken with the rest of the marinade/sauce:
1-2 cups (or more) broccoli florets, cut into bite-size pieces
2 red, orange or yellow bell peppers, diced
5 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
pepper to taste

When broccoli is desired tenderness, add drained noodles, then add:
1 tsp sesame seeds
cashews

Once thoroughly heated through, serve and enjoy!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

We had these for breakfast yesterday--but the couple times I've made them I've omitted the crumb topping. I figure they have enough sugar (and mess) without it. They are totally like cake and frosting, so more of a dessert. They are probably better after sitting for a while or even out of the fridge. Yummy either way, though. The log of cream cheese mixture is kind of a pain to get out of the plastic wrap. Maybe just try foil next time.

Chicken Taquitos

These are awesome. So simple. I used half mozarella and half cheddar cheese--I probably added more than it called for too. I sprayed them with cooking oil before putting them in the oven, and I broiled them the last couple minutes for a nice crispness.

Donuts

Elizabeth's donuts that she made us for Halloween!!!

 

1 package active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water

3/4 cup lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled)

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

1 egg

1/4 cup shortening

3 1/2 to 3 1/4 cups flour

Activate yeast in warm water, and add the rest of the ingredients as other breads

Beat together the other ingredients and enough flour until dough is smooth and elastic

Let dough rise until double

Roll dough 3/8" thick and cut dough into doughnut shape. Let doughnuts rise until double on greased cookie sheet. 

Heat oil to 375* and drop doughnuts into hot fat; cook until they are golden on both sides. Remove from fat and drain.

Maple frosting:

1 tsp Maple flavoring

2 Tbsp Butter

2 Tbsp Milk

Powdered sugar

 

I kinda threw the ingredients together, so those measurements are guesses. I put in enough milk and powdered sugar to be the desired consistency.