Mint Julep Kisses

These are required by my two besties (Heather and Shannon) for all occasions. They both put them as their favorite cookie I make - so clearly it must be. Mint Julep Kisses From Kentucky Derby Museum Cookbook Yields 6 dozen Ingredients: 4 Each egg white stiffly beaten 1 1/2 Cup sugar, white 1 Teaspoon extract, peppermint 6 Drops food coloring, green or another color if...

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Chipotle & Rosemary Roasted Nuts

I always need to have something savory in the baskets - usually a spicy nut mixture. This year I went to Ina Garten for inspiration. Chipotle & Rosemary Roasted Nuts From Ina Garten, Food Network Yields 3.5 pounds Ingredients: 28 Ounce(wt)s cashews whole unroasted unsalted 14 Ounce(wt)s walnuts, English whole 14 Ounce(wt)s pecans whole 6 Ounce(wt)s almonds, whole 0.66...

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Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal Cookies

My nephew loves 3 things, cranberries, cookies and icing...honestly the only things these are missing are being dipping in icing to give him the perfect cookie ever...not that he minds 2 out of 3! Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal Cookies From Crisco Yields 3 dozen Ingredients: 3/4 Cups Crisco, butter-flavored sticks 3/4 Cups sugar, white 3/4 Cups sugar, light brown, packed 2...

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Orange Brownies

More chocolate...I don't get tired of it, do you? Orange Brownies Yields 24 Ingredients: 8 Ounce(wt)s chocolate, baking, unsweetened 8 Large egg, whole 16 Ounce(wt)s butter, unsalted 2 Cups flour, all-purpose sifted 1 Teaspoon salt, table 2 Cups marmalade, orange 2 Teaspoons extract, vanilla 4 Cups sugar, white Optional Ingredients: 4 Cups pecans broken in pieces Directions: Melt...

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Kentucky Bourbon Balls

There is no sour mash when it comes to TRUE Kentucky Bourbon...keep your Jack away from my Evan. This Kentucky Colonel does not mess around with fake bourbons...I would lose my commission. Kentucky Bourbon Balls The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY Yields 50 Ingredients: 3 Cups NILLA wafers finely crushed 1 Cup sugar, powdered plus extra for rolling 1 1/2 Tablespoon cocoa...

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Chocolate Crackled Cookies

Nothing but chocolate does the holidays justice, so when I make my holiday baskets, chocolate is the star. This time, there were 5 or 6 different chocolate options... First up: Chocolate Crackled Cookies From Crisco Yields 3 dozen Ingredients: 1 1/4 Cup sugar, light brown, packed 1 Cup Crisco, butter-flavored sticks 1 tsp extract, vanilla 2 Large egg, whole 2 Cups flour,...

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Gingerbread Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Cupcakes: Ingredients: 1 1/4 Cup flour, all-purpose 1 1/2 Teaspoon ginger, ground 1 Teaspoon cinnamon, ground 1/4 Teaspoon cloves, ground 1/2 Teaspoon allspice, ground 1/4 Teaspoon salt, table 1/4 Cup butter, unsalted 1/2 Cup sugar, white 1/2 Cup molasses unsulfured 1 Large egg, whole lightly beaten 1 Teaspoon baking soda 1/2 Cup water boiling 1 Tablespoon ginger, crystallized...

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Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Red Velvet Cupcakes Ingredients: 2 1/2 Cups flour, all-purpose 1 1/2 Cup sugar, white 1 Teaspoon baking soda 1 Teaspoon salt, table 1 Teaspoon cocoa powder (unsweetened) 1 1/2 Cup oil, vegetable 1 Cup buttermilk, full-fat at room temperature 2 Large egg, whole at room temperature 2 Tablespoons food coloring, red 1 Teaspoon vinegar, white 1 Teaspoon extract, vanilla Directions: Preheat...

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Snickerdoodle Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting Yields 18 cupcakes Ingredients: 3/4 Cups flour, all-purpose 3/4 Cups flour, cake sifted 1/2 Tbls baking powder 1/4 tsp salt, table 1/2 Tbls cinnamon, ground 1/2 tsp cinnamon, ground for dusting 1/2 Cup butter, unsalted at room temperature 1 Cup sugar, white 2 Tbls sugar, white for dusting 2 Large egg, whole at room...

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Caramel Apple Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting

Caramel Apple Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting Yields 24 cupcakes Ingredients: 2 cups granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 2 tsp pure vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 2 medium Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled, and chopped 2 medium Fuji apples, cored,...

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Buttercream Frosting

Always up for a new challenge from my team, and needing to top my previous endeavor, Ames found me the following recipe to try. So much for going with something summery and fruity... Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Buttercream Frosting Yields 30 cupcakes For the cookie dough: 2 sticks butter, softened* (I prefer using Butter-flavored Crisco) 3/4 cup...

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Strawberry Shortcake - More Than a TV Cartoon From the 80's

A true Southern delight, made delicious by my great grandmother, Frances (aka, FaFa). All you need is some fresh berries and Cool Whip (or homemade whipped cream) and my FaFa's short cakes. Macerated Strawberries 2 pints fresh strawberries, quartered and diced 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar, white Mix the berries and the sugar and let sit. When left to sit the berries with...

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Grilled Zucchini Courtesy of Chez Pink (aka Big Ass Zucchini, Part III)

There is nothing better than fresh zucchini grilled up with a little seasoning at the height of summer. So in case you missed it - here is the original "beast." It's so simple, you don't really need a recipe. Grilled Zucchini Thick slices of zucchini Greek Seasoning to taste 2 tablespoons olive oil Toss zucchini with oil and seasoning. Grill over a medium-hot fire...

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3-Day Weekends are for Barbecuing

Not that I ever need an excuse to BBQ, but a 3-day weekend certainly makes it feel like a requirement...a least when you are related to my Dad. So Barbecue Chicken it is. First, you need the right sauce, my Mom's. Bumpy Barbecue Sauce Yields 1 cup Ingredients: 1/2 Cup butter 1 Each lemon, juiced 1 Cup ketchup 1/4 Cup worcestershire sauce 2 Teaspoons garlic powder 1/4...

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Who Needs Cake...?

...when you can make Red Velvet Pancakes? Happy 3-day weekend everyone. First, I have to start out by explaining that this recipe came from The Breakfast Cook by way of way of the fabulous Gemma, who cooks breakfast for my brother's company. So I cannot take credit for the idea or the recipe. However, you all know me and you know I make changes. So... Let's start with...

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A Whole Mess-o-Potato Salad

Fourth of July weekend means barbecues and picnics - which also means pulled pork, barbecue chicken, burgers, coleslaw, baked beans and, you guessed it, potato salad. so I have 3 potato salad recipes I make. One with a Dijon mustard vinaigrette, my Granny's which has a sweet and sour marinade, green onions, hard-boiled eggs and mayonnaise and Miracle Whip (quite Southern...

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Zucchini Muffins Courtesy of Chez Pink (aka Big Ass Zucchini, Part II)

Read my previous post if you want to know about the BAZ. But in case you didn't see it... So I didn't make enough soup, so recipe two was my Zucchini Bread...but I didn't want a bunch of zucchini loaves around my house (because I would eat them all), so I decided I would take them to work...so muffins seemed a better idea. Bring on the cupcake papers... Zucchini Quick...

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Cool Zucchini Soup Courtesy of Chez Pink (aka Big Ass Zucchini, Part I)

My best friend, Chez Pink, has her first vegetable garden. Lucky for me, I get to benefit from her spoils. First up, world's (or Hapeville's) biggest zucchini ever! After weighing in at 4 1/2 pounds, I knew I had to come up with multiple applications for this puppy! I decided to start with Some Cool Zucchini Soup...unfortunately, it only used about 1/6 of the zuke. ...

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Peanut Butter Blondies for Camp Sunshine

This week was Camp Sunshine week at work. One of my employees, Jessie, is a long-time survivor of leukemia and attended Camp Sunshine as a kid. Ever since, she has been a camp counselor and goes back every summer for a week for the Keencheefoonee Road Race. Prior to her trip, she hosts a mini-bake sale at work and since my arrival 15 months ago, I started to contribute....

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Mocha Cupcakes from Ms. Paula Deen

So I have become the cupcake queen at work...I'll try anything once. But after one try, I have to change it and mold it and make it my own. So while I took inspiration from Ms. Deen, the Southern Belle herself, these have been edited from her original. Now hers included a Kahlúa cream center. The problem was it was to be made with Chocolate Cool Whip - this is the holy...

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