7 up Biscuits

Pin It I found these biscuits on Pinterest a while ago, but never had a reason to make them.  This week I made a point to fit them into our weekly dinner menu and boy were they delicious.  I literally had them in the oven in less than 5 minutes.  My husband was also super impressed.  They are buttery, flaky, fluffy and not at all dry or crumbly.  These will definitely be making a repeat appearance at dinner.

7 up Biscuits
Original recipe from Plain Chicken
2 cups baking/biscuit mix (like Bisquick)
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup 7 up

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Cut sour cream into biscuit mix.  Pour in 7 up and stir til moistened.
3. Sprinkle extra biscuit mix or flour on a flat surface and pat dough to about 3/4 inch thick.  Cut out biscuits. (I used a drinking glass because I don't own a biscuit cutter)
4. Pour melted butter in the bottom of a 9 x 9 pan.  Lay biscuits on top of butter.
5. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

Pin It Having grown up in St. Louis my whole life I just assumed that everyone knows about toasted ravioli, frozen custard and gooey butter cake.  Apparently I'm wrong.  If you have never experienced a gooey butter cake you are missing out.  But the good news is you don't have to travel to St. Louis to taste this delectable treat.   You also only need 5 ingredients!!!!  This is definitely going to be my go-to dessert for summer gatherings this year.

St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake
1 box yellow cake mix
3 eggs, divided
1 stick butter, melted
1 8oz. package cream cheese, softened (I used reduced fat)
2 cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Mix cake mix, butter and 1 egg.  Press mixture into the bottom of a greased  9 x 13 pan.
3. In a bowl combine cream cheese, 2 eggs and powdered sugar.  Mix with an electric mixer until smooth.
4. Pour over cake mix crust and bake 35-40 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.
5. Sprinkle with powdered sugar when cooled.

Parmesan Garlic Bread

Pin It I really don't like store bought garlic cheese bread.  I just think it is too greasy and salty.  This recipe can be whipped together in about 10 minutes, start to finish, while you are boiling pasta or preparing the rest of your meal.  This bread has a warm, crispy crust and a soft, chewy center.  Bread perfection :)

Parmesan Garlic Bread
1 loaf "take and bake"  french bread
1 stick butter, melted
3 Tbsp minced garlic
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1. Melt butter.  Stir in garlic and parmesan cheese.
2. Place bread on a sheet of foil.  Smooth butter mixture over the top of the bread. Curl up ends of foil so the butter doesn't escape, but don't cover the top of the bread.
3. Place bread under a broiler for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
4. Slice and enjoy with your favorite meal.

Pretzel Bites

Pin It More Super Bowl snacks.  These were hands down the winner for the most popular snack of the evening.  I made 100 of them and they were gobbled up by the 3rd quarter.  Very easy, but a little time consuming.  Will definitely be making these gems again.

Pretzel Bites
Rhodes dinner rolls (as many as you like, each roll makes 4 bites)
water
1/2 cup baking soda
coarse sea salt
1/4 cup butter, melted

1. Thaw rolls until soft, but still cold and not risen.  Cut each roll into 4 pieces.  I used kitchen scissors and it worked great.
2. Arrange dough on a greased cookie sheet.  Cover with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Allow to rise until double in size (about 40 minutes).
3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Add the baking soda. 
4. Drop about 10 bites at a time into the water.  Toss gently with a slotted spoon for about 45 seconds.  They will puff up slightly.  Remove and place on paper towel to drain.  Repeat until all bites have been boiled.
5. Place boiled bites on a greased baking sheet.  (They will look shriveled, they will puff up in the oven).
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Remove from oven and generously brush with butter.  Sprinkle with salt.

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls with Cinnamon Honey Butter

Pin It

I rate restaurants based on their bread.  Texas Roadhouse has one of my favorites mostly because of the awesome cinnamon butter that comes with their piping hot rolls.  I stumbled upon a recipe on Pinterest and modified it a bit to make the correct amount for us.  This was also my first attempt at making yeast rolls and they turned out perfect.  This is definitely a good beginner roll recipe.

Texas Roadhouse Rolls

*makes 10 rolls

1 1/2 cups four, divided

1/2 tsp salt

1 T sugar

1 packet (1/4 oz.) yeast

1 egg white

1/3 c warm water

1/3 cup warm milk

2 T melted butter

1. Mix 1 cup flour, salt, sugar and yeast in a bowl.
2. Combine egg white, water and milk.
3. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and pour the milk mixture into the well.  Mix by hand until well combined, paying special attention to the bottom and sides of the bowl.
4. Stir in melted butter.
5. Slowly add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour.
6. Cover bowl with saran wrap and let dough rise in a warm place for 45 minutes or until double in size.
7. Punch down dough using cooking spray coated spoons (the dough is super sticky).
8. Spray 10 muffin cups with cooking spray.  Divide dough evenly between cups.
9. Cover dough with a damp papertowel and allow dough to rise again for 30 minutes or until double in size.
10. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
11. Bake rolls for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve with cinnamon honey butter.

Cinnamon Honey Butter

*enough for 1 batch of rolls - easy to double/triple
1 stick butter, softened
2 T honey
1 tsp cinnamon

1. Combine all ingredients, stirring until smooth and well mixed.

Garlic Red Potatoes

Pin It This is a great side dish for any meal.  Another comfort food classic. Serves 3-4, can double or triple easily.

Garlic Red Potatoes
3-4 medium/large red potatoes, cubed
2 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

1. Fill a pot with water and add potatoes to the water.  Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender, about 12-15 minutes
2. Drain potatoes and return to the pot.
3. Melt butter and add both types of garlic.  Pour mixture over the potatoes.
4. Sprinkle parsley over the top and carefully stir potatoes until well coated with butter and parsley.

Lemon Baked Chicken

Pin It I had a pack of chicken leg quarters in my freezer and needed something to do with them.  So I created this recipe over my Christmas break.  It turned out quite delicious.  A good winter, comfort food item.  Delicious when served with Keep Your Man Happy Potatoes.

Lemon Baked Chicken
4 chicken leg quarters, bone in, skin on (or any cut of chicken that you prefer)
4 Tbsp butter, melted
zest of one lemon, divided
Juice of half of lemon
4 lemon slices (from the unjuiced half, it's ok that you zested it)
2 Tbsp seafood seasoning (like Old Bay or Wildtree Bayou Blend)
1 tsp dried oregano

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with foil and put a wire baking/cooling rack on top of the foil.  Spray rack with cooking spray.
2. Mix half of the lemon zest, seafood seasoning and oregano.  Spread mixture under the skin of each piece of chicken.
3. Mix lemon juice, butter and remaining zest.  Pour a little butter under the skin of each chicken on top of the spice mixture.
4. Place the chicken on the rack on the pan and cover with remaining lemon butter mixture.  Top each piece of chicken with a lemon slice.
5. Bake uncovered 50-60 minutes or until juices run clear.

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Pin It A gooey, delicious cake that can be served as a decadent breakfat or a delicious dessert or even an after school snack.  Super easy, but super impressive.  Also it fills your house with the aroma of fresh baked cinnamon rolls.  Mmmm!

Cinnamon Roll Cake
1 box butter pecan cake mix (yellow would work fine too)
oil, water and eggs to make cake according to box
Filling
1 c butter, softened
1 c packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 T cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Glaze
1 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 T water

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Make cake mix according to box direcions.  Pour into a greased 9 x13 pan.
3. Mix all ingredients for the filling together until well blended.
4.Drop spoonfuls of filling on top of the cake batter.  Use a knife to swirl the filling in the batter.
5. Bake 35-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
6. Allow cake to cool completely before glazing.
7. Mix all ingredients for glaze together in a bowl.  Add water until it is a smooth consistency good for drizzling.
8. Drizzle glaze over the top of the cake.

filling

drop filling on top of batter

swirl with a knife

gooey deliciousness :)

Heavenly Ham Sandwiches

Pin It This is a great potluck lunch item.  Ham sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls, covered in a delicious butter mixture and oven baked to perfection.  Recipe can be doubled or halved depending on the number of mouths you have to feed.  These are great even the next day as long as you reheat them.

Heavenly Ham Sandwiches
12 Hawaiian rolls
1/2 lb thin sliced ham
4 slices swiss cheese
1/2 stick butter
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp Worchestershire sauce
1/2 tsp onion powder
poppy seeds

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Slice rolls in half.  Put ham and 1/4 piece of cheese on each roll and replace top.
3. Put butter, mustard, worchestershire and onion powder in microwave safe bowl, cover and microwave until butter is melted.  Stir to mix.
4. Place sandwiches in an oven safe baking dish. 
5. Spoon butter mixture over the top.  Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
6. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown and chesse is melted.
7. Allow to cool slightly before enjoying.