Indoor S'mores

I am posting this from Debra, she made this delicious treat the other night so I quickly took a picture of my piece that we hadn't devoured yet. Really yummy treat if you can't be outdoors to make the real s'mores.

Indoor S'mores

Golden Grahams

8 cups Golden Grahams cereal

5 cups miniature marshmallows

1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

1/4 cup light corn syrup

5 T butter

1 t vanilla

1 cup miniature marshmallows, if desired

Into a large bowl, measure cereal. Butter 13x9-inch pan. In a large microwavable bowl, microwave 5 cups marshmallows, chocolate chips, corn syrup and butter uncovered on High 2 minutes to 3 minutes 30 seconds, stirring after every minute, until melted and smooth when stirred. Stir in vanilla.

Pour over cereal; quickly toss until completely coated. Stir in 1 cup marshmallows.

Press mixture evenly in pan, using buttered back of spoon. Let stand uncovered for at least 1 hour, or refrigerate if you prefer a firmer bar.

*This can be done on the stove-top as well

Giant cupcake

I fell in love with this cake idea when I saw it last year in a magazine. I had to have it, so I thought making it for Claire's birthday cake would be a great time to try it out. I read lots of reviews about it, some people loved it and others hated it! I had no problems with it.

I got mine from Target, here's a picture of what the pan looks like. In this cake I used 1 1/2 boxes of a cake mix and it took about 50+ minutes to bake. And if you are really good at cake decorating there are lots of cute ideas I have seen to decorate this cake.

Skookies

One of our favorite restaurants in S. California is BJ's, they have the best dessert called a Pizookie. Last year a company invented a similar item called a Skookie pan so you can make them yourself at home. Our awesome friend Katie got us it for Christmas, and we are just now getting around to using it. Basically it is just a cast iron skillet, and you add your favorite cookie dough and bake.

Tonight, Debra just used a Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookie mix, popped them in a 350º oven for about 10 minutes. After taking them out of the oven while they are still hot, you top them with some good vanilla bean ice cream.... delicious!

Tortellini with Sun-dried Tomato Cream Sauce

I am so in love with this recipe find! It was very easy to make and tastes wonderful!!
The recipe calls for ravioli, however I only had tortellini... it still tasted amazing.

Original recipe can be found HERE.

Ravioli with Sun-dried Tomato Cream Sauce

"This one also came from a ward cookbook. I altered it a bit (the changes have an * by them)
2 Tbsp. butter
1 garlic clove, minced (more if you want)
1 c. chicken stock or broth
1/2 c. dry packed sun-dried tomatoes (I used from the jar with oil and they were fine)
1 c. whipping cream or 1/2 & 1/2 (*I used 2 c.)
*I also used 2 tsp. cornstarch (not in the original recipe)
8-12 oz. fresh or frozen ravioli, agnolotti or tortellini (I used 4 cheese ravioli- there wasn't a meat brand available- next time I will try the meat kind; but this was still super good)

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil or 2 tsp. dried
2 T. chopped fresh parsley (only if using dried basil)
salt & fresh ground pepper

Melt butter in med. saucepan over low heat. Add garlic and cook 30 secs. Add stock and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Simmer uncovered over medium heat about 10 mins. or until tomatoes are tender. Remove tomatoes with slotted spoon. Cut into smaller pieces. Return tomatoes to saucepan. Add cream/half & half and bring to boil, stirring. Simmer over medium heat until sauce is thick enough (about 5 mins). ***At this point, it wasn't thick enough for me- I added another 1 c. of cream and about 2 tsp. of cornstarch to thicken it up. It was a better, thicker consistency. I stirred it until it was how I wanted it.
Cook ravioli according to directions. Drain well. Add basil and/or parsley to sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix sauce with ravioli. And you're ready to go."

**I also added the extra cream - I like more sauce with my pasta. It was heavenly!