Apple Dumplings

This is seriously the best thing that has ever happened to apples. Ever. If you are a health nut, please stop reading this now. I know a lot of people who take recipes and try to make them healthy by cutting stuff out of it. PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT HERE! This recipe will never be the same if you cut back. Just skip it. But I suggest you at least try it before you banish it.

The ingredients:
2 granny smith apples, peeled
2 cans crescent rolls
2 sticks of butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon
1 can MOUNTAIN DEW not diet!!!!

thats right, I said it, Mountain Dew. Who would have thought???

First, cut each apple into 8 slices (that makes 16)
Roll each slice in a crescent roll
Place in a greased 9x13 pan

In a small sauce pan, melt butter.
Add vanilla
Stir in sugar, no need to dissolve, just stir it in quickly
Pour this majically calorie free mixture over the apples
Now pour the DEW all around the sides and in between the apples. It will look like a lot of liquid, but it all soaks up, leaving a little sauce after it cooks.
Sprinkle cinnamon on top
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes
Divine if served with vanilla ice cream

Now, go step on your treadmill for a few hours.

Mississippi Mud Cookies

I am in need of a real camera intervention. Seems like every time I bake or cook and then post about it, I have forgotten to take a picture. And what fun is it to get a recipe with no picture? I apologize. For real. But, you have to believe me on this one....this cookie is a must.

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chocolate chips
miniature marshmallows

In a bowl, melt the 1 cup chocolate chips in microwave for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, or until melted. Set aside.
Beat butter and sugar till creamy with an electric mixer.
Add eggs, one at a time.
Beat in vanilla and melted chocolate.
Combine flour, salt, and baking powder; gradually add to chocolate mixture till well blended. Add pecans and chocolate chips.
Drop spoonfulls of batter on a cookie sheet. Place 3 marshmallows on top of batter.
Bake at 350 for 9 minutes, or until set.
Let cool on wire rack.

Blueberry French Toast Bake

Years ago my father gave me a recipe book that I love. This recipe in particular he had highlighted as one that we may like to try. And, it took me this long to finally get around to it. I wish I had not waited so long. I am not a blueberry person, but this is delish. I cut a few things out of the recipe, like the 16oz of cream cheese. We have made a french toast bake before, but never with blueberries. And, I am sure you can add whatever berries you want to it. But, I have to say, the syrup is what makes it. The best part, if you have leftover syrup, it goes wonderfully on ice cream....so I've heard.

Blueberry French Toast
1 large french baguette
1 cup blueberries
12 eggs
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 cups milk

Cut bread into cubes and arrange in greased 9x13 pan. Pour blueberries on top. Beat eggs, add maple syrup and milk. Pour over bread and cover tightly with foil. Refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours. To bake, preheat oven to 350. Bake for 30 minutes covered, uncover and bake for and additional 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Blueberry Syrup
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp corn starch
1 cup water
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup blueberries

Stir sugar, corn starch, and water over high heat in a saucepan. Add butter and blueberries and cook until the blueberries pop. Serve warm over french toast. (or ice cream!)