Macaroon Ice Cream Torte

I made this dessert for Hubby's 35th birthday. However, I had trouble finding macaroon cookies in the store, so I used the substitutions indicated. It was still really good!

24 macaroon cookies (I used 1 pkg crushed coconut cookies and about 1 c shredded coconut.)
1 qt coffee ice cream, softened
1 qt chocolate ice cream, softened
1 1/2 c Heath candy bits or 2 Heath candy bars, coarsely chopped (1.4 oz each)
hot fudge topping, warmed

For crust, mix half of the cookies (and coconut) with about 1 - 1 1/2 c of the coffee ice cream. Spread into the bottom of an ungreased 9" springform pan. Repeat with cookies (and coconut) using 1 - 1 1/2 c of the chocolate ice cream. Sprinkle with half of the Heath bits. Spread remaining softened coffee ice cream on top of crust. Repeat with remaining chocolate ice cream. Sprinkle with remaining Heath bits. Freeze til firm.

Remove from freezer atleast 10 min before serving. Remove sides of pan. Cut dessert into wedges and drizzle with hot fudge. Makes 12-16 servings.

Monkey Bread

1 pkg (3 1/2 oz) cook and serve butterscotch pudding mix
3/4 c sugar
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 c finely chopped pecans, optional
1/2 c butter or margarine
3 tubes (10 oz each) refrigerated biscuits

In a bowl with a tight-fitting lid or in a gallon-sized ziploc bag, combine pudding mix, sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Melt butter in a shallow bowl. Cut the biscuits into quarters. Dip several biscuit pieces in butter and put in bowl with pudding mix. Cover (or seal baggie) and shake, then put biscuit pieces in a greased 10" tube pan. Repeat with remaining biscuit pieces. If any butter or pudding mixture is left over, mix together and pour on top of biscuit pieces in pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 45-60 min. Cool in pan 30 min before inverting onto serving plate. Makes 10-12 servings.

Molasses Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

This is the BEST oatmeal raisin cookie I've ever had! It would be wonderful without the raisins, too.

3/4 - 1 c raisins
1/2 c shortening
1 1/4 c sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c molasses
1 3/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 c oatmeal

Place raisins in a bowl. Cover with boiling water; let stand for 5 min. Drain and set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs; beat very well. Beat in molasses. Add flour, baking soda, and salt; mix well. Stir in oatmeal. Stir in drained raisins. Drop by Tbsp 2" apart on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 min. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet to wire racks to cool. Makes about 4 dozen.

Marshmallow Graham Bars

This recipe is from Hubby's grandma. I think she makes these bars every Easter. It seems she always has them when we visit her and Grandpa in spring. :)

1 c sugar
2 beaten eggs
3/4 c butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs
2 1/2 c mini marshmallows (Grandma always uses the mulit-colored ones.)
1/2 c coconut
1/2 c chopped nuts

Place first 3 ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. Watch closely til butter is melted. Cook slowly for 3 min. Add vanilla. Cool slightly.

While mixture is cooling, mix together remaining ingredients. Pour sugar mixture over graham cracker mixture. Mix well.

Pour into buttered 9x13 pan. Refrigerate. Cut into bars. Makes 2-3 dozen.

Maple Sandwich Cookies

1 c butter or margarine, softened
3/4 c packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp maple flavoring
2 c flour
sugar

Filling:
1 1/4 c powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk
2 Tbsp butter or margarine, softened
1/2 tsp maple flavoring

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Beat in the egg, maple flavoring, and flour; mix well. Shape into 1" balls. Roll in sugar. Place up 2" apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with smooth bottom of a glass. Bake at 325 degrees for 10-12 min or til golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Combine filling ingredients in a small mixing bowl; beat til smooth. Spread on the bottom half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies. Makes about 3 dozen.

Monster Cookies

When I was in college, some weekends my friends and I went home with a friend who lived much closer to school than we did. We often baked these cookies at her house and took them back to school with us.

Mix together:
6 eggs
2 c brown sugar
2 c sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp corn syrup
4 tsp baking soda
1 c butter

Stir in:
1 1/2 lbs peanut butter
9 c oatmeal
1 bag chocolate chips or M&M's (I like to substitute peanut butter chips or Reese's pieces sometimes.)

Drop on cookie sheet with Tbsp and flatten. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 min. Makes 90-100 cookies.

Mozzarella Beef Roll-Ups

(This recipe is from the Quick Cooking 2006 cookbook.)

1 lb ground beef
1 med green pepper, chopped
1/3 c chopped onion
1 can (8 oz) pizza sauce
28 slices pepperoni
1/2 tsp dried oregano
6 flour tortillas (10 in), warmed
6 pieces (1 oz each) string cheese

In a lg skillet, cook the beef, green pepper, and onion over med heat til the meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the pizza sauce, pepperoni, and oregano.

Spoon about 1/2 c beef mixture off-center on each tortilla; top with a piece of string cheese. Fold one side of each tortilla over filling and roll up from the opposite side. Place seam side down on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 min or til heated through and cheese is melted. Makes 6 servings.

Meatball Lasagna

2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 c water
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
1 med onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Tbsp dried basil
4 tsp dried parsley flakes
2 tsp sugar
8 uncooked lasagna noodles
24 cooked meatballs
1 egg
1 c ricotta cheese
2 c (8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 c grated Parmesan cheese

In a lg saucepan, combine the first 10 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 min. Meanwhile, cook lasagna noodles according to pkg directions; drain. Cut meatballs into quarters. Stir into sauce.

In a small bowl, combine egg and ricotta cheese. Spoon 1 c of the meat sauce into a greased 13x9" baking dish. Layer with half of the noodles, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 min. Uncover and bake 5-10 min longer or til golden brown. Let stand 15 min before cutting. Makes 8-10 servings.

Mustard Pork Medallions

20 saltine crackers, crushed
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp onion powder
1-2 lbs pork tenderloin
1/4 c Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted

Combine crumbs, thyme, garlic salt, and onion powder in a shallow bowl. Set aside. Cut tenderloin crosswise into 12 pieces and pound each to 1/4" thickness. Combine mustard and butter; brush on each side of pork, then coat with crumbs. Place in baking dish. Bake uncovered at 425 degrees for 10 min; turn and bake 5 min more or til no longer pink. Makes about 6 servings.