Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Guacamole


Mash as many ripe avocados as you want (I just use a fork or spoon)
add some finely diced onion (I usually use white onion)
and finely diced tomato
Squeeze in some fresh lime juice
add a little bit of salt
shake in a little bit of Tapatio (or whatever hot sauce you want...Tabasco, etc.)

You can add or delete anything depending on what you have on hand. The above is how I usually make it.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Cranberry Bliss Bars (Starbucks Copycat Recipe)

3/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries
6 oz. white chocolate, chopped

FROSTING:
8 oz. softened cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 T. grated orange peel
6 oz. white baking chocolate, melted
1/2 cup dried cranberries chopped

To make the bars:
In a large bowl, melt butter in microwave, then stir in brown sugar. Cool to room temperature. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet. Stir in cranberries and white chocolate. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray and add a think layer of mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 
For the frosting:
Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and orange peel until smooth. Add 3 oz. of melted white chocolate and stir well. Frost the cooled bars and sprinkle with chopped cranberries. Add the remaining 3 oz. of melted white chocolate to a pastry bag or Ziploc bag and drizzle over top.

Notes: White chocolate chips can be used. White chocolate bar will give a chunky crunch. 
If you use a thin layer of dough for the bars, you can make a 9 x 13 pan and a 9 x 9 pan.
You can use melted Almond Bark for the frosting.