Butter Yakki

a couple of months ago for recipe club, Kristin did this & it was such a fun thing.  we have done it a couple of time since with my family & it is so yummy & a total blast.  it would be so fun & easy to make assignments for you guest & have a fun little buttayakki party for New Years.  Make sure you say it right... Buttayakki!

• Butter!
• Thinly sliced chicken, pork, beef
• Shrimp
• Shredded cabbage
• Bean sprouts
• Mushrooms (sliced)
• Onions (sliced)
• Other veggis: zucchini, yellow squash, green peppers, etc.

Each person gets a small bowl.  You place the items that you want into your bowl, then cook as you please on small hibachi grills (you can also just use pancake griddles).  Just melt the butter on the griddle & pile on & cook the items each person chooses.  Basically just keep cooking, eating, and talking - Fun!

Sauce: (This is what makes Butter Yakki so delicious!) 

• 3/4 cup soy sauce
• 3/4 cup water
• 3 tsp sesame oil
• 3 tsp crushed sesame seeds
• 3 garlic cloves (crushed)
• 3 slices ginger (smashed)
• 4 drops Tabasco

Bring ingredients to a boil and then place in small bowls around the grill.  Dip vegetable and meat in sauce and enjoy with sticky rice!

cranberry cheesecake bars...

i love this dessert so much... do i say that about all of them?  i feel like i do, because i DO!  but these are so yummy & really quite easy!  they have a nice oatmeal crust paired with creamy filling & tangy fruit topping... perfect!  you could sub with something like cherry, but why mess with a good thing:)  make these babies this week!

{cranberry cheesecake bars}

2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups quick cooking oatmeal (I used oldfashioned this time and no problem)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter

12 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla

16 oz can of whole cranberry sauce
2 tsp corn starch

In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, oatmeal and brown sugar. Using a pastry blender cut in the butter until resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the crumbs. Press remaining crumbs into greased 13X9 pan. Bake @350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile in the same bowl beat cream cheese and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla. Spread over crust. Stir together corn starch and cranberry sauce; spoon carefully over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake 40 minutes. Chill at least 3 hours. Cut into bars and enjoy.

Store in the fridge.

Christmas Morning Gorilla Bread...

This bread kicks traditional monkey bread's butt! It's the BEST!

{kesley's gorilla bread}

1/2 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 stick of butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 8 ounce package of cream cheese
2 12 ounce cans refrigerated biscuits (10 count)
1 1/2 c coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

*Preheat oven 350 degrees- *Spray a bundt pan. *Mix sugar & cinnamon together (or you can buy it all ready mixed in the spice isle) *in a saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar on LOW heat, stirring well, set aside. *cut the cream cheese in 20 equal cubes. *Press the biscuits out with your fingers and *sprinkle each with cinnamon & sugar. *Place a cube of cream cheese into center of biscuit, *wrapping and sealing the dough around the cream cheese. *Sprinkle 1/2 the nuts into the bottom of the pan- *place 1/2 the biscuits in pan *sprinkle with cinnamon sugar *sprinkle on nuts. *Layer the remaining biscuits on top, *sprinkle with remaining cinnamon & sugar, * pour butter mixture over the biscuits. *Cover with foil and *Bake for 30 minutes- *let cool for 5 minutes- *place a plate on top and invert! *I make this Christmas Eve and I just don't bake it- so it is ready first thing Christmas morning!
Merry Christmas!

fire & ice biscotti...

~ 1/3 cup butter (softened)
~ 1 cup sugar
~ 1 tsp. baking powder
~ 1 tsp. cinnamon
~ 1/2 tsp. salt
~ 2 eggs
~ 1 tsp. vanilla
~ 2 1/4 cups flour
~ 1 3/4 cups slivered almond(toasted and ground)
~ 6 oz. White chocolate chips
~ 1 Tbs. Shortening
~ 1/3 cup red hots(crushed)
~ 1/3 cup course decorating sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl beat butter on high for 30 seconds. Beat in baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
3. In a medium bowl combine flour and almonds. Mix well. Beat (or stir) flour mixture into the butter mixture. Mix well.
4. On a lightly floured surface roll out dough into a rectangle and cut dough into long, thin strips. Transfer to cookie sheets, and bake for 8min, or until lightly brownish.
5. In a sauce pan melt chocolate, and shortening on low heat. In a shallow bowl combine red hots and decorating sugar.
6. Once cookies have cooled, dip cookie into chocolate then in candy mixture. Place on wax paper to set. Then enjoy!!!!!

Peppermint Dessert

• 1 package Oreo sandwich cookies, crushed (about 3 cups)
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 gallon peppermint stick ice cream, softened
• 2 cups of frozen whipped topping, thawed

Mix crushed Oreo cookies and melted butter.  Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 pan.  Stir together slightly softened ice cream and 2 cups of whipped topping.  Spoon mixture evenly onto cookie crust.  Freeze about 3 hours until firm.

• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 can (12 ounce) evaporated milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Melt butter and chocolate over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Stir in sugar.  Gradually stir in milk.  Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Cook and stir 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Then stir in vanilla.  Cool completely, about 2 hours.  pour cooled chocolate sauce over ice cream.  Freeze at least 8 hours, but no longer than 2 weeks.

When ready to serve, drizzle each piece with chocolate sauce, drop a dollop of whip cream in the center of piece and sprinkle with crushed peppermint pieces.  Yummy, YUMMY!

Nakole's Russian Creams...

Nakole brought these last month & they would be so perfect for your holiday party.  they are great individual servings & i love the creaminess of the "cream", with the tartness of the berries.  thanks Nakole for such a lovely treat!

{nakole's russian creams}

Heat 3 cups heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup brown sugar till dissolved

Empty 1 package 1 oz. gelatine in 1 cup boiling water. 

Cool until warm 

When warm mix with cream mixture

Cool until warm

Fold in 1/3 cup Sour Cream

3 tsp. vanilla

Blend well

Refrigerate up to 6 hours or over night. 

Serve with raspberries or chocolate sauce or whatever fruit your heart desires. 

Great for the Holidays!

Makes about ten 9 oz. cups

and the winner is...

comment #5... Jami.  thanks to everyone who played along this time.  Jami email me your address & i will get this sent off to you.  britfullmer@mac.com.  

Also about the recipe cards.  if you click on the image of the card, it will enlarge the card so you can actually read it.  i don't think you have bionic vision, but that would be awesome if you did!  if you have any other questions always let me know!  that's what i'm here for:) 

last of the Christmas giveaways...

this is the last of the giveaways before Christmas.  perfect for you holiday parties, this cute chip & dip bowl with my very favorite Anne Made Jelly & some pita chips.  just leave me a comment of what you want for Christmas.  the giveaway will end Wednesday at 12 noon.  just in time to get it to you for Christmas.  Happy Cooking & Merry Wishes!

non-traditional linzer cookies...

this is a recipe from Ina Garten that i love!!!  i have making them for about 8 years or so & they are a total must during the holidays.  they are crisp & buttery as well as tart & berr-i-licious!  the trick is chilling them on the cookie sheet between cutting them out & baking.   i will post my cookie gift box idea for these tomorrow or the next day.  but here is the recipe card. 

{click image to enlarge}

**to save to your computer... right click & "save as"  print from there.

cookie gift boxes part 1...

no secret that i LOVE food.  i think it is great gift especially this time of year!  here is the first of my 3 different cookie gift boxes with recipe cards.  again, get creative- use neat containers that you already have or nice plates that they would love to keep.  baskets work great!  wrapped in cellophane or just open with tissue.  cute family keepsake ornaments are always pretty on the ribbon too.  have fun with it, they don't have to all be the same.  Click HERE for this recipe card.

{peanut butter s'mores gift box}

{peanut butter cookies: 2 per sandwich}

{marshmallows:  make sure you have enough}

{Hershey's chocolate bars:  i say 1/2 a bar per sandwich}

{add the recipe card in the box or whatever container you choose:)}

Merry Gifting!!

pretty pistachio bundt...

i love this bundt cake, especially for this time of year!  it is the most beautiful color & is so moist & delicious!  not to mention super easy!!!!  it would be a great neighbor gift on a pretty plate, wrapped in a little cellophane & tied with a nice ribbon.  if you wanted to add a little something extra, you could add some pine cones, ornaments or some glittered pine bowes.  get creative with it!

{pistachio bundt cake}

1 yellow cake mix

3 boxes pistachio pudding

1 cup water

4 eggs

1 cup oil

In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients until smooth.  Pour into a greased bundt cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool completely & top with glaze.

{Glaze Recipe}

1 cup powdered sugar

1 TBSP butter, melted

3 TBSP milk

Whisk ingredients together until smooth.  Drizzle over cooled cake.

& the winner is...

Comment # 11.  Natalie!!!!  Thanks to everyone who entered.  I loved reading your traditions.  & i am so grateful for random.org for picking the winner for me, i could not have picked one on my own!!!  Natalie- send me your address so i can send you this:)

& yet another giveaway...

when i was growing up my dad worked for the airlines.  he traveled a lot & always brought us back "treats".  he took a trip to New Orleans & from then on we were hooked.  on these... beignets.  they are a little french doughnut, kind of like a scone, but not.  wow!-  i am so crappy at this descriptive stuff!  anyway, they became a Sunday tradition at our house & i think that they would be a perfect Christmas morning treat.  they are super easy!  all you do is add water to the mix made by Cafe Du Monde.  roll them out, cut & fry them up.  cover them in powder sugar & enjoy.  okay, okay... the giveaway.  you get 2 boxes of Beignet mix, a cute little aluminium sugar shaker & this darling rectangular milk glass platter.  perfect for serving these little babies.

just leave a comment with one of your Christmas traditions.  we will end it Tuesday at 10 am.  This whole midnight thing is way too late for me!  Good luck & happy cooking! 

a gift that keeps giving...

everyone loves the gifts of food!  i love making treats for all of my neighbors & friends & they usually ask me for the recipes.  that is exactly how i came to this theme for the Christmas season.  each of the treat items that i post until Christmas will have a printable recipe card in a 5 x 7 inch format that you can attach to your treat gifts for you lovies!  i will also be posting packaging ideas & other gift giving ideas throughout the month.  if there are any specific recipes i have already posted that you would like made into cards leave me a comment letting me know.  hope your holidays are happy & delicious!

{click image to enlarge}

**to print this card- right click on the image.  click on "save as..."  save to your files (pay attention to where you are saving it!)  print on your printer, or at any photo lab.  i use costco, but you will have to have it printed at 98% to account for their 2% crop.  let me know if you have any questions.

and the winner is...

comment # 26,  Marleepatts.  Yay Marlee!!!  email me your address @ britfullmer@mac.com & i will get this out to you.  Thanks to everyone who entered, it was so fun reading all of your favorite cookies & traditions!  keep checking back for fun new Christmas ideas and recipes-- oh yeah, & more giveaways!!!!  

1st Christmas give-away...

{polka dot cake plate}

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is cookies.  Lots & lots of cookies!  i love cookies on Christmas eve for santa.  & i love cookies on cake pedestals!  so our first christmas giveaway is for a cute new cake pedestal for you to set out with your cookies & milk for santa.  just leave a comment telling with your favorite kind of cookie.  the contest will end tomorrow at midnight.  happy cookies!!!