Lemon Meringue Pie

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 lemons, juiced and zested
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 egg yolks, beaten
• 1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked
• 4 egg whites
• 6 tablespoons white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. To Make Lemon Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.
3. To Make Meringue: In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown.

Glazed Apple Cream Pie

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tart apples - peeled, cored and sliced
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (15 ounce) package pastry for double-crust pie
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup cream, and 1/4 cup butter. Heat until butter is melted, stirring occasionally. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, 2 tablespoons milk, and vanilla; stir into saucepan. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and set aside to cool slightly.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a medium bowl, combine the apples, flour, and cinnamon. Mix well.
3. Line a 9 inch pie pan with pie dough. Pour thickened filling mixture into pastry-lined pie pan. Arrange apple mixture evenly over filling. Top with second crust, seal and flute the edges. Cut slits in top crust.
4. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and apples are tender. Cool for at least 30 minutes.
5. In small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 tablespoon softened butter. Blend until smooth; pour evenly over warm pie. Refrigerate for AT LEAST 1 1/2 hours before serving (longer is better).

Pizza Rolls

I am going to have to take a picture of these rolls the next time I make them...they always turn out so pretty.  We LOVE these!
I was given the recipe from a friend after I had them at a baby shower and I fell in love with them.

2C warm water
1/2 C sugar
1 1/2 T yeast
2 T gluten
1/2 C oil
2 t salt
5-6 C flour

Combine the water, sugar and yeast and let sit for 20 minutes (give or take)...add gluten, oil, salt and 2C flour and beat for about 2 minutes...change to bread hook and mix in the remaining flour, until dough is soft and not sticky.  Knead with bread hook for about 5 minutes after you get the dough to the right stage. Let rise in the cold oven with a pan of hot water underneath for about 45-60 minutes.

Roll dough onto a floured surface into a large circle and cut with a pizza wheel into slices about 2-3" wide...skinny pizza slices.  Lay 3-4 pepperoni and 1/3 piece of string cheese on each slice and then roll into a crescent.  Bake for 10-12 minutes on 375F.  When the come out of the oven brush with butter and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.                                                                             Found on Allrecipes

Best Big, Fat Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

My friend  Rebecca made these cookies when her family had us over for a Sunday dessert.  We all fell in love with them and they are now the only chocolate chip cookies I make.  Found on Allrecipes.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Parmesan Twists

My kids loved these...quick and easy to make. I found them in Real Simple magazine which I love.

Ingredients

• 1 17.25-ounce package thawed puff pastry
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) grated Parmesan
• 1 tablespoon poppy or sesame seeds (optional)

Preparation

Heat oven to 400° F.

Cut the puff pastry lengthwise into 24 strips. Brush with egg. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and seeds (if using) and twist.

Place on 2 baking sheets. Bake until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

I actually liked them cooled down also. MMMMMMM

Baked Chicken Parmesan

Another Real Simple recipe...again...soooo good!
Season chicken with salt and pepper; dip in beaten egg, then bread crumbs. In batches, cook in olive oil over medium heat until golden. Pour 1-24 ounce jar marinara sauce in a large, shallow baking dish; top with the chicken, then one pound of fresh mozzarella. Bake at 400 degrees until golden, 25-30 minutes.