Alba's Mango Cheesecake

Click Here For Mango Cheesecake Recipe

Amanda's Low Calorie Brownie Muffins

Using a box of devils food cake mix, replace all the wet ingredients with pumpkin puree.  Here is the recipe http://www.hungry-girl.com/show/surprises-shockers-and-swaps-yum-yum-brownie-muffins-recipe.
By Amanda

Miniature Blueberry Crumb Muffins

These were the first batch of muffins I ever attempted.  After craving blueberry muffins, I decided to make my own from scratch.  I started with large organic blueberries bursting with flavor, and folded them into the batter to keep from mashing them.  Of course, no muffin would be complete without a crumb topping!  They turned out great, and a little heavy, so they were quite filling as an afternoon snack.  With only 15 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes in the oven, these make a simple sweet treat for any occasion, and the aroma makes the house smell wonderful!

Ingredients:

Batter:
1 1/3 cup of flour
1/3 cup of white sugar
1/3 cup of brown sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 a teaspoon + a pinch of salt
1/2 cup of milk
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 cup of blueberries
1 teaspoon vanilla

Crumb Topping:
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup softened butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.  Mix dry batter ingredients (flour, white sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt).

3.  Add the milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to the batter.

4.  Gently fold the blueberries into the batter.

5.  In a separate bowl, mix the crumb topping ingredients (flour, brown sugar, softened butter, and ground cinnamon).  The mixture should make small clumps after a while.

6.  Fill greased or lined muffin pans with batter 3/4 full.

7.  Top each muffin batter with crumb topping.

8.  Bake for 15-25 minutes.

9.  Most important step of all: ENJOY!

Best of luck in your baking adventures.
-Jonathan A. Neary

Jonathans Christmas Cookies

     As Sam's Christmas cookies are carefully counted out for presents, Jonathan decided to make his own batch of Peanut Butter Blossoms.  He did an excellent job!

Sams Christmas Cookies

 Sugar Cookie

 Peanut Butter Blossoms

 Sugar Cookie

 Sugar Cookie

 Gingerbread Cookie

 Sugar Cookie

 Swedish Spritz Cookies

     Sam has been very busy the past two days baking her famous Christmas cookies. 

Nutella Brownie Cupcakes

     My sister showed me a similar photo of these wee cupcakes and I thought they were fake, until she told me they were real cake in a cup and you put the cake filling into the cups and put them in the oven, wow, fantastic I thought, I have to have them. Sure enough my sister (Betty) mailed me a set of 4 and I made some brownies with extra chocolate chips, popped them in the oven for about 15minutes.  When they cooled I covered them with Nutella yum, yum and sprinkles and I put them on their saucer and gave the children I take care of one each. They loved them.
Thank you Betty.

By Christine Neary

Bettys Tea Cakes

Sams Halloween Cupcakes

Using a chocolate cake mix, a container of white frosting colored orange and some festive sprinkles, Sam made these delicious Halloween cupcakes.

Fruit Crumble

Custard, cream or vanilla bean ice cream? The ice cream won the vote! I haven't made a crumble in years so I was more than a little nervous about making one for a Father's Day meal. A family favorite was rhubarb (just rhubarb...no strawberries to soften the tartness). But this crumble was made up of apples, raspberries, blackberries and one little peach.

What I did:
Skinned and cut up the apples and little peach (bite sized pieces or larger). Put in a baking dish with the berries and a couple of tablespoons of sugar and a tablespoon of flour.

I preheated the oven to 375 Fahrenheit.

The recipe I followed for the crumble (this we have always eyed, but I didn't want it too sweet or too floury) was from a 1977 edition of "The Dairy Book Of Home Cookery".

6 oz of flour.
3 oz of cold butter (I used salted).
2 to 3 oz of sugar.

Everything is up for interpretation or whatever is in the cupboard for a crumble so I used my last spoonful of brown sugar. In a bowl I put the flour, sugar and butter together. I then cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a knife. But that doesn't last long the best way to get it crumbly is to use your fingers. Scooping up handfuls at a time and rubbing the mixture gently between your fingers then scooping up more until it's all crumbly (it doesn't take long). Put on top of the fruit gently, no patting down. (I doubled the recipe for my crumble).

Into the oven until golden brown, put a pan or tin foil under you baking dish in case of fruit juice bubbling over.

Crumble always tastes even better the next day, cold or warmed up.

The Daddy says "The crumble was delicious, it reminded me of the old days"

Christmas Cookies

For the past two days Sam has been cookie baking up a storm, the result, a kitchen full of delicious temptations.

Itty Bitty Fun

Kellys Valentine Fish Pie

Poach some fish in milk. I use smoked haddock, cod, salmon and king prawns (the prawns don't need poaching, just add them when you add the fish to the white sauce, they will cook in the oven). Drain the fish when cooked and reserve the milk. Make a white sauce using the fishy milk. Chop up six hard boiled eggs. Add the fish and eggs to the white sauce, stir really gently. Squeeze two lemons and add the juice to the sauce. Season really well. Top with mashed potato. Put in the oven til hot and crispy on top. Done!

By Kelly Willows

My First Pie

This is a recipe from Neenies nephew (Jonathan) I thought I would try it. I loved using the rolling pin to roll it out and make it a pretty big square then I put it on the baking sheet and poured in the ingredients. There was one thing missing which I love and that was BACON, but I am afraid to say there was no bacon left, I must have ate it all or my brothers ate it, anyway I put it in the oven to bake and when it came out it looked yummy and cheesy. Neenie had a piece of it and I tried some but I didn't really like it, there was too much cheese. I think it would have been better if we had bacon, but it was my first pie and Neenie said I did a great job, I just hope she remembers to buy bacon next time!

By Logan Richman

Jeo's Breakfast Pizza

This delicious and easy recipe is made for a 13x9 inch baking dish, adjust accordingly.

You will need:

2 containers of crescent rolls (any flavor and brand).
10 eggs.
Enough cheese to cover the top (any favorite cheese).
1/2 to 1 pound of bacon (cook before adding).
2 tablespoons of milk.
Salt and pepper (add as if flavoring your scrambled eggs).

Spread crescent roll dough on dish like a pie crust, going up the sides, leaving no holes. Whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper together and pour into dish. Drop in cooked broken bacon. Top with grated cheese. Bake following the crescent roll directions. Crust should be golden brown, if eggs are not set cover the crust with tin foil and continue baking. This recipe is so easy to customize to your favorite things like using ham or vegitables or different spices.

By Jonathan Neary

Haunted Brownies

This is a cardboard haunted house that you put together. It holds about 16 cupcakes. For Halloween I made brownies topped with chocolate frosting and traditional Halloween colored sprinkles like purple and orange. And there you go "Haunted Brownies".

By Christine Neary

Christine's Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS
2 Cups all purpose flour.

3/4 Teaspoon baking soda.

1 Half teaspoon baking powder.

1 Half teaspoon salt.

1 Stick unsalted butter (room temp).

1 1/2 Cups of sugar.

2 Large eggs.

1 1/4 Cup vanilla yogurt.

1 1/3 Cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3lrg).

2 Tablespoons lemon juice.

PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 350.

Lightly butter and flour your baking tin.

In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

Using electric mixer (or by hand) beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until blended.

Add eggs and beat until fluffy.

Mix in yogurt, bananas and lemon juice.

Add dry ingredients and beat until well blended.

Bake until top is golden, insert tester into middle until it comes out clean.

Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead, or cover and freeze until needed.

TOPPING (OPTIONAL)
Bread can be topped with cream cheese frosting.

In a bowl, beat together 1/4 cup vanilla yogurt, 2/3 cup powered sugar and 1 8oz package of cream cheese.

Spread frosting over cooled bread.

Enjoy with a cuppa.