Barb's Energy Balls

See above for recipe and directions. 

Hot Mama Grade: C

Hot Mama Notes: I didn't love these. They are very sticky and hard to roll into balls. I ended up using a rounded tablespoon to mold and place them. I don't love the taste or texture, either. Very sweet. And sticky. And I don't like uncooked oats as they are very chewy. I didn't have any flax, chia, or vanilla chips, but I used the remaining ingredients. I used sweetened coconut flakes. In fairness, the kids think they are okay and will eat them. 

Amish Sugar Cookies

Originally posted by:

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/amish-sugar-cookies/

 

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened (unsalted) 

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

1 cup confectioners' sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (sub 2t Almond) 

4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions:

In a large bowl, beat the butter, oil and sugars. Beat in eggs until well blended. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; gradually add to creamed mixture.

Drop by small tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° until lightly browned, 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Other comments:  I also add a box of instant pudding. It adds a little depth and chew.

Hot Mama Grade: A

Hot Mama Notes: I added the salt as I used unsalted butter. And I substituted double Almond extract instead of the vanilla extract. Bake for 10 minutes. 4.75 dozen. Yum! I will definitely make these again. So easy and super tasty. Great texture - melt in your mouth deliciousness! So soft and light. 

Holly Mini Cake Cookies

I made a double batch.

4 boxes of Nabisco brand Famous Chocolate Wafers
4 c Heavy Whipping cream
1/2 c  real maple syrup
Red & green icing colors

Whip whipping cream.  Add maple syrup.  Split whipped cream into two batches & add icing color.

Put whipped cream into pastry bags with star tip or use other cake decorating tool (I like the pampered chef one.  The wilton brand one is okay, too). Lay down one wafer.  Ice it with green whipped cream. Put another wafer on top.  Ice with red whipped cream.

Whiskey/Bourbon Pecan Pie

Hot Mama Grade: B+

Hot Mama Notes: We liked this pie, but Hubby and I decided we like the regular ol' pecan pie recipe (from the same book) better than the whiskey one.  :)  Still, it's a tasty pie!!! :D

Bowl Sangria

Sangria Punch

1 magnum bottle 

1 cup vodka

½ cup triple sec

2-8oz cans of 7up

1 big can of pineapple juice

1 can concentrated orange juice (frozen)

I can concentrated grape juice

I can fruit cocktail

Splash of lemon juice

For this one, if the sangria is white, I use white wine and white grape juice concentrate. If it's a red sangria, I use red wine and purple grape juice concentrate. 

Mason Jar Sangria

Sangria 

1 magnum bottle (Sara used Chardonnay) - one magnum is 2 regular 750 mL wine bottles. 

1 cup vodka

½ cup triple sec

2-7UP or Sprite cans (Sara uses Diet) - 1 can is 12 oz, so 24 oz total, or 3 cups. 

6 oz Pineapple juice

6 oz Orange juice (I used peach nectar) 

Splash of lemon juice

1 can of fruit cocktail (or add your fruits of choice, diced)

This makes about 8-16oz mason jars. Mix all alcohol and juice in a bowl with fruit and put in the frig to soak fruit overnight. Add the sprite right before serving. 

Did you put the whole can of fruit cocktail in the sangria with the syrup? Or did you drain it?  If it's light syrup or fruit juice, I use it all. I think heavy syrup is too sweet. 

Hot Mama Grade: B+

Hot Mama Notes: I would add more fruit (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, maybe watermelon) and/or fruit cocktail, use non-diet pop (sprite or 7 up), and use a sweeter wine (prosecco, reisling, gerwertgiminer, Moscato). :). I would also try peach nectar instead of orange juice. :). This was a fun treat that I took camping. :)

Update - I made 2 batches with reisling and Chardonnay plus a splash of ice wine. I doubled the fruit cocktail and also added fresh blackberries, raspberries, and pineapple. I used sprite.

Tiramisu

Easy Pound Cake Tiramisu

Ingredients

• 1 cup brewed coffee

• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

• 2-8 ounce packages mascarpone cheese

• 2 tablespoons almond liqueur or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

• 12 ounces heavy whipping cream 

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• (Or substitute whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla for 20 oz cool Whip)

• 16 ounce pound cake, cut into 30 slices (use ladyfingers if you have them)

• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder

Instructions

• In a small bowl mix the coffee and 1 tablespoon sugar. Set aside. 


• In a medium bowl beat the mascarpone cheese, remaining sugar, and almond extract or liqueur. Which ever you are using. 


• In a stand mixer, combine whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Whisk on high until stiff peaks form. Fold in the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture and set aside. 


• In an ungreased 9x13 baking dish, place one layer of pound cake slices on the bottom, cutting pieces to make them fit as needed (10 pieces per layer). Brush or spoon over 1/3 of the coffee on to the cake slices as evenly as possible. 


• Top with 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture. Repeat layers two more times, ending with a cream cheese layer on top. Use a sifter to dust the top with the cocoa powder. Cover with plastic wrap and chill 24 hours before serving. 


Notes

Chill your tiramisu overnight before serving.

Salmon Marinade

Marinade

1/3 c Soy Sauce 

1/3 c Water 

1/3 c Brown Sugar 

Add fish to marinade in zip lock bag. Let sit minimum of 30 minutes.

Heat grill to medium. Cook fish face down, 3 minutes then turn 90 degrees and cook 3 minutes more. Then flip so the skin is next to the fire, and cook for 6 more minutes. The fat will render, so scoop fish off the skin. Let rest in plate for 3 minutes.