Amish Friendship Bread

This friendship bread is fun to do with friends, and tastes wonderful!

Starter kit:
-In a gallon size zip lock bag mix together 1/3 cup milk, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup flour
-Leave on counter top at room temp
Day 1- Mush the bag (Day 1 is the day you make the starter or are given the bag)
Day 2- Mush the bag
Day 3- Mush the bag
Day 4- Mush the bag
Day 5- Mush the bag
Day 6- Add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk and 1 cup flour to the bag and mush
Day 7- Mush the bag
Day 8- Mush the bag
Day 9- Mush the bag
Day 10- Pour entire contents of the bag into a non-metal bowl and add 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1 1/2 cups milk. Stir until smooth. Measure out four seperate batters of 1 cup each into four gallon size zip lock bags. You can keep or give away as many of them as you want. Be sure to give them away with a copy of the recipe. If you keep them, just freeze the bags until you are ready to bake, just remember what day you froze the bag so you know when it is ready.

*Baking Directions

Preheat oven to 325
to the remaining batter in the non-metal bowl, add:
4 eggs
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
1 large box or two small boxes of instant pudding mix (any flavor works, I use vanilla)

-Grease 2 large loaf pans
-Mix an additional 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon for topping
-Dust bottom and all sides of the greased pans with half of the cinnamon sugar mix
-Pour batter evenly into the two pans and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon and sugar mix over the top
-Bake one hour
-Cool until bread loosens from pan (about 10 minutes)
-Turn onto a serving dish

Mini Cheesecakes

These were a hit at my Christmas party this year!

2 8 ounce packages cream cheese
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
24 vanilla wafers
canned pie filling (raspberry, strawberry, cherry, anything will work)

-Beat together cream cheese, sugar and eggs
-Line muffin tins with cupcake liners and place one vanilla wafer in each one
-Fill each liner 2/3 of the way full with the cream cheese mixture
-Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean
-Top each one with canned pie filling

Super Chunky Christmas Cookies

I gave these out as Christmas gifts this year! These are so fun to do and make....even the cookie dough is delicious!

In the jar (1 1/2 liter jar) layer:

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cocoa

3/4 cup red & green m&m's

1 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 chopped cashews

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks

1 cup coconut

Baking Instructions:

-Beat 1 1/4 cups sugar and 1 stick melted butter with a mixer until fluffy. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add the super chunky christmas cookie mix and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 until set, about 12 minutes. Cool on a rack. Makes about 2 dozen.

Everybody Loves Fudge

This is so quick and delicious!

2/3 cups evaporated milk
1 2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup nuts
1 teaspoon vanilla

-mix milk, sugar and salt in a pan over medium heat
-bring to a boil, boil five minutes, stirring constantly
-remove from heat
-add marshmallows, chocolate chips, nuts and vanilla
-stir until melted
-pour into lightly greased 8x8 pan
-cool, cut and serve

breakfast brie crescents

I got this recipe from my mother in law Lou. This can be served for breakfast, an appetizer or dessert. I like it best for breakfast.
This is very quick, easy and tasty!

1 triangle Brie cheese, softened (at room temp for about 30 minutes)
1 can Crescent rolls (I used pillsbury big and buttery)
Honey

Unroll the crescents together on a baking sheet
Slice the Brie cheese and put in the middle of the rolls (I only use 3/4 of the traingle)
Wrap crescents over the cheese (like one big stuffed crescent)
Bake according to the directions on the rolls can
Drizzle with honey and serve

Strawberry Glazed Cheesecake

This cheesecake is super easy and delicious! It is time consuming, but simple to throw together. I made this for my husbands birthday and could not believe how well it turned out for my first time!

3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup original bisquick mix
2 8oz packages cream cheese, softened

topping:
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

glaze:
1 cup strawberries, blended
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch


--preheat oven to 350
--grease 9-inch glass pie plate
--combine milk, vanilla, eggs, sugar and bisquick in blender
--cover and blend on high for 15-30 seconds
--add cream cheese, cover and blend until smooth
--pour into pie plate
--bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean
--cool at room temp for 1 hour
--chill in refrigerator for 2 hours

--to prepare topping; combine sour cream, sugar and vanilla in small bowl and stir well until blended. Spread on top of cheesecake once cooled.

--to prepare glaze; after strawberries are blended transfer to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar and cornstarch, stir constantly until it thickens into a glaze. Cool and drizzle over the topping.

*Enjoy*

Cherry Cheese Pie

1 gram cracker pie crust
1 8oz package cream cheese
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 can pie filling (cherry, raspberry, strawberry)

-cut cream cheese in one inch pieces, let sit until softened.
-mix all ingredients in blender
-pour into pie crust
-cool for one hour in fridge
-smother with pie filling
-serve chilled

This is a great dessert for the Holidays!