The Orange Dream - Dreamsicle Fudge

Who didn't love an Orange Creamsicle as a child?  More importantly, who still doesn't love an Orange Creamsicle as an adult?  Well, I have a recipe that brings the orange flavored, super creamy Orange Creamsicle together with wonderfully rich white chocolate fudge.  I call it The Orange Dream because it is absolutely amazing and when you have your first taste you will believe it is a dream come true.  It consists of marbled orange and white dreaminess that tastes just like a Orange Creamsicle! 

After you make this fudge, you will not want to make generic boring, fudge again!  Ok, ok, so maybe putting the words fudge and boring in the same sentence, should be against the law; because if you love chocolate even 1/2 as much as my husband, fudge is NOT boring!  This recipe is is like a fudge on steroids ... just the aroma and smell of this fudge is going to literally make you drool!  I mean, what more could you ask for ... A Dreamy, Fabulous Unique Fudge recipe!

Prep Time:  Approximately 15 minutes

Ingredients:
6 ounces (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 package (12 ounces) white chocolate chips
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow cream
1 Tbsp orange extract
2-3 drops red food coloring (add more or less depending on preference)
6-8 drops of yellow food coloring (add more or less depending on preference)

Directions:

Prepare a 13x9 pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with a nonstick cooking spray.  

In a large heavy saucepan, combine the 2 cups of sugar, 3/4 cup of heavy whipping cream, and 1.5 sticks of butter over medium heat.  Continually stir the mixture until the butter melts and sugar dissolves completely.  Once the mixture begin boiling, stir continuously for approximately 4 minutes.

After 4 minutes of boiling, remove the pan from the heat and immediately stir in the marshmallow cream and package of white chocolate chips.  Continue stirring the mixture until the white chocolate has melted and the fudge is completely smooth.  
 * NOTE:  To get the marshmallow cream out of the container easier, spray a spatula with non-stick cooking spray.

Once the fudge is completely smooth, working quickly, pour about 1/3 of the white fudge into a separate bowl and set aside.

To the remaining 2/3 of white fudge, add the 1 Tbsp of orange extract and red and yellow food coloring, stirring until it is a smooth, even orange color of your choice.  It is very important to perform these steps quickly, because the fudge will start to set if you take too long, and the end result will not be smooth.

Pour the orange fudge into the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer.  Take the bowl of white fudge that was separated and set aside, and drop one spoonful at a time onto the orange fudge mixture.  Then drag a table knife or toothpick through the fudge to create orange-white swirls.  If need be, you can spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray and gently press them into the top to smooth out the swirls.

Before serving, allow the fudge to set at room temperature for 2 hours or in the refrigerator for 1 hour.  To cut, pull the fudge out of the pan using the foil as handles.  Using a large sharp knife to cut the fudge into small 1-inch squares.  

You can store the Orange Dreamsicle Fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.  To serve be sure and bring it to room temperature to serve.

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Lemon-Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

If you are anything like me, you always end up with things left over that you purchased from the grocery store.  Well, blueberries is what was left over this week.  Blueberries certainly are not cheap and when you thrown them away it is like throwing money away.  


So, in a effort to save a little $$, I decided to visit Pinterest and check out some of the recipe pins that I pinned for blueberries.  I came across Lemon-Blueberry Cheesecake Bars by the Epicurean Mom blog.  They looked scrumptious!  So, I thought I would give it a try even though my previous attempts at cheesecake have been...well, lets just say not great...

After I tried this recipe, it made me think of cheesecake in a whole new light!  It was super simple, so simple in fact, you can't really even mess it up.  Plus, these cheesecake bars have a wonderful, light flavor...you will keep going back for more until all the bars are gone! 

Now without further adieu'...

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars


Ingredients


For Base:

Cooking spray, for dish/pan (or butter if you prefer)

2 tablespoon sugar
1/8 tablespoon ground cinnamon
9 graham crackers
1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted


For the Filling:
16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 eggs
2 lemons, zested and juiced
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup fresh blueberries



Directions


For the Base:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Grease the bottom of a 9 by 9-inch baking pan/dish with cooking spray (or butter if you choose).  Then place parchment paper over the top, pressing down at the corners.  In a food processor, process the sugar, cinnamon and graham crackers until you have the consistency of breadcrumbs.  Add the melted butter and pulse a couple of times to fully incorporate.  Pour into the lined baking pan and firmly pat down with the bottom of a glass.  Bake for about 10 minutes, or until set.

For the filling:
Add cream cheese, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar to the food processor and pulse until well combined.  It should have a smooth consistency.  Pour onto the cooked graham cracker base and smooth out and then sprinkle with blueberries.  They will sink slightly but should be half exposed.

Bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes (depending on oven), or until the center only slightly jiggles.  Remove from the oven and cool completely before Refrigerating for at least 3 hours.  Once set, remove from pan using the parchment lining and slice into 10 rectangular bars.

I think it is safe to say that these bars were fabulous... :o)  

Enjoy and keep making it Crazy Good!!

Recipe adapted from Epicurean Mom & Tyler Florence.

Tag Pic Pac Pasta...Just Like Carrabba's Italian Grill Recipe!!

I LOVE Italian food and the best Italian place to eat in my opinion is Carrabba's!!  I especially like their Tagliarini with Picchi Pacchiu Sauce, otherwise known as "Tag Pic Pac"!  

With a name like that, it has to be good!  I was so curious about the name, I did some research to figure out where it came from.  In Sicily, picchi pacchiu is what cooks make for a quick tomato sauce when minimal cooking is necessary.  

So on to the important stuff...the recipe for "Tag Pic Pac"! :)

INGREDIENTS:  
Picchi Pacchiu Sauce
    1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil (Colivita recommended)
    4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
    1 can (28 ounce) whole roma tomatoes in juice
    1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
    Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pasta
    1 pound fresh tagliarini or fettuccini


DIRECTIONS:

1. To make the sauce, heat the oil and garlic together in a small skillet over medium-low heat just enough so the garlic is soften and fragrant and the oil is very warm (about 5 minutes).  Remove from heat and let stand to infuse the oil, about 30 minutes.
2. Pour the tomatoes and their juices into a bowl.  Squeeze the tomatoes through your fingers until they are coarsely crushed.  Stir in the garlic in its oil and the chopped basil.  Season with Kosher salt and pepper.  Let stand for 1 - 2 hours for the flavors to marry.
3. Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat.  Add salt to taste.  Add the tagliarini and stir well to separate the strands.  Cook according to the manufacturer's directions until al dente.  Drain well.
4. Return the tagliarini to it's cooking pot.  Add the sauce and mix well.  Cover and let stand for 1 minute.  Divide among 4 serving bowls and serve hot.

Sugar Cookie Cups with Pink Champagne & Vanilla Buttercream

I am always looking for that new, unique dessert that I can make and let my husband taste test.  (NOTE:  My husband is sweet treat freak!) :) I recently ran across a great recipe that I just had to try because the name was just too cute and catchy for it to not be good!  I mean who wouldn't want to try Sugar Cookie Cups with Pink Champagne Buttercream Icing?  I can assure you after the taste test, these little cuties are definitely as good as the name is catchy and super easy to make!!

Blogger Arlene Cummings of Cooking with Sugar created this fabulous recipe that turns Pillsbury Ready to Bake! refrigerated sugar cookies into a simply elegant dessert that is perfect for weddings, parties, or just because!

Below recipe adapted slightly from:  http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/pink-champagne-buttercream-cookie-cups/ba0e5a8b-224f-4e5a-94ba-b81a1a7b2ac9


INGREDIENTS:
Cookie Cups:
1 package (16 oz) Pillsbury Ready to Bake! refrigerated sugar cookies

Champagne Buttercream Icing:
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1/2 shortening
4 cups of powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 tsp of salt
1 Tbsp Vanilla extract
1/4 cup pink champagne (I prefer Pink Moscato wine)
1 Tbsp of milk or heavy cream
1-2 drops red food coloring (until desired pink color is reached)


DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Spray 24 mini muffin cups with cooking spray.

Remove cookie dough rounds from tray.  Place 2 cookie dough round in each muffin cup.  Bake 12-15 minutes or until light golden brown.

Directly after taking the muffin tin out of the oven, take a wooden spoon and using the end, carefully press into the center of each baked cookie to make a 1-inch wide indentation.  Allow cookies to cool for a about 5 minutes, remove them from the muffin tin and place then on a cooling rack.  

While the cookie cups are cooling on the cooling rack, in a medium bowl, beat butter and shortening with a stand mixer on high speed until soft peaks form.  Turn the speed down to low and gradually add the sifted powered sugar while beating 1-2 minutes.  After powered sugar has mixed in well, add the 1/4 tsp of sale, 1 Tbsp vanilla extract, 1/4 cup of pink champagne, and 1 Tbsp of milk or heavy cream.  Add 1-2 drops or more red food coloring to create the pink color that you are looking for.  Continue to mix and beat ingredients until stiff peaks form.  

Put the prepared buttercream icing into a piping bag with your favorite end attachment and pipe the icing into the sugar cookie cups (about 1 Tablespoon of icing per cookie cup).  Decorate cookie cups with candy sprinkles!  Enjoy!

German Chocolate Pecan Pie

So, who doesn't love sweets at least sometimes?  And more importantly, who doesn't love decadent cake like German Chocolate?  Well, this pie recipe mixes the decadence of German Chocolate Cake with the sweet crunch of Pecan Pie.  This recipe is so simple, it should be illegal!!  After you make it, everyone who tastes it will want the recipe, trust me!  Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

3 eggs

1 cup of sugar

3 Tbsp flour

1 cup dark corn syrup

1 cup chopped pecans

3 Tbsp softened butter

1 Tbsp vanilla

1 cup (plus a handful) milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup coconut

2 deep dish unbaked pie shells

DIRECTIONS: 

Mix all ingredients together for the pie filling.  

After ingredients are mixed well, pour 1/2 of mixture into one unbaked pie shell and the the other 1/2 into the other pie shell.  Sprinkle the handful of milk chocolate chips over the top of each pie.  

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Once pie has baked for 1 hour, remove from oven and allow to cool for 1/2 an hour.  A scoop of vanilla ice cream is the perfect accompaniment to a slice of warm pie!! 

 Enjoy and keep making it Crazy Good!

The Zucchini Cake Experiment...no lab coat required

Zucchini, I just love that word...so unique and just simple great food!  Zucchini is a fabulously tasting summer squash that is also full of some great vitamins and super healthily!  So, I decided to make zucchini cakes...I mean when I get to experiment with one of my favorite vegetables and turn it into something like a crab cake...can you really go wrong?  :)  I think not!

These zucchini cakes turned out light and fresh tasting and had a wonderfully crunchy outside and a creamy melt in your mouth inside.  Pure perfection in my opinion!

INGREDIENTS:
2 zucchinis (graded into shreds)
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
1 cup of bread crumbs (fresh works best, but store bought are fine)
1 egg
1/2 shallot, finely diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced (usually the equivalent of 1/2 a whole pepper)
1/4 cup of green bell pepper, diced
1 1/2 tsp of Old Bay seasoning
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp of mayonnaise or plain yogurt
1/2 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup of panko bread crumbs
2 Tbsp of vegetable oil for frying

DIRECTIONS:
Cut both ends off of zucchinis and grade into a strainer.  Place the strainer in a larger bowl and sprinkle the 1/2 tsp of Kosher salt over the shredded zucchini.  The salt helps to start the process of releasing moisture from the shredded zucchini and it will drip through the strainer into the outside bowl. After you have sprinkled the zucchini with the salt, let it stand for approximately 30 minutes.  While you are waiting on the salt to penetrate the zucchini, get the remaining ingredients out and dice the shallot and red bell pepper.  After 30 minutes, take a folder paper towel and lay over top of the zucchini and press down to further eliminate any excess moisture.  Continue to do this until the zucchini is fairly dry and you have about a tablespoon of liquid in the outside bowl.

Once the zucchini from the strainer and place into another bowl.  Continue preparation by adding all the other ingredients, except for the vegetable oil and panko bread crumbs.    Mix the ingredients well.  After mixing the ingredients, if the consistency is too wet, continue to add more breadcrumbs until the consistency is perfect for molding into patties.  When you have reached the right consistency (damp and thick), form into about 8 patties (usually a heaping Tbsp makes a good size patty).  

Sprinkle the panko bread crumbs into another plate.  Roll the patties in the panko bread crumbs until well coated.  This coating of panko will help create that crunchy outside on the patties. 

Place the patties onto some wax paper in a pan and place in the refrigerator to chill (approximately 30 minutes).  After your patties have been chilled and are firm, remove them from the fridge and heat the 2 Tbsp of vegetable oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat.  Add the zucchini cakes to the pan and cook on both sides until browned (approximately 3-5 minutes each side).  Drain the cooked patties on a paper towel on a plate and serve immediately.  For a quick sauce, mix some chopped fresh herbs (such as chives and dill) and lemon juice and mayonnaise or just dip it in some simple ranch dressing.  Enjoy and remember to always make everything crazy good!! :)

"Always making it crazy good!" ~ Jodanna, the Crazy Good Cook

Brownies with Expression...I mean Espresso!

This past Saturday night, the hubby and I were sitting at home.  I know what you are thinking, at home on a Saturday night, what madness is this!?!?  Well, we were especially tired from a long work week and a day of house work and yard work...we were basically too tired and lazy to go anywhere.  I decided that I wanted to make some brownies for us, since we both were just in one of those "blah" moods.  Plus, my husband LOVES brownies and I thought that they just might perk us up.  But after I started, regular brownies just didn't seem like enough.  So, I decided to add a little "expression" to those regular 'ole brownies.  The expression consisted of some super perky and flavorful espresso!

INGREDIENTS:
1 box (19.8 oz.) of prepackaged brownie mix (Ghiradelli mix is what I prefer)
Nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray
1/3 cup plus 2 Tbs of hot water (separate)
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp espresso*
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powered sugar
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

*NOTE:  If you are not a huge coffee fan, you can drop the amounts down to 1 Tbsp and 1 tsp, respectively.

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 9x13" baking pan with nonstick spray.

Whisk 1/3 cup of water, oil, eggs, and 2 Tbsp espresso  in a large bowl to blend.  After ingredients have been combined, add the brownie mix.  Stir until well blended.  Stir in the 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Once everything is mixed, transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan.  Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out clean, about 35 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

While brownies are cooling, dissolve the remaining 2 tsp of espresso in the 2 Tbsp of hot water in a small bowl.  Strain the espresso granules off and put the liquid espresso in a medium bowl.  Save the espresso granules for later.  In the bowl that contains the liquid espresso, whisk in the 1 tsp of vanilla extract.  Add the 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and the 1 Tbsp melted butter and continue whisking until smooth.  From the saved espresso granules, take 1/2 tsp of the granules and add them to the glaze.  Mix well.  After the brownies have completely cooled, pour the glaze over the brownies and smooth.  Refrigerate until the glaze is set (about 15-30 minutes).  Cut into bite size pieces.  Arrange the brownies on a platter and serve.