Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies

I don't know of anyone who doesn't like Thin Mint cookies! Here's a great CopyCat recipe for them!

Chocolate Cookie Wafers
1 18 ounce package chocolate fudge cake mix
3 tablespoons shortening, softened
1/2 cup cake flour, measured then sifted
1 egg
3 tablespoons water
Non-stick cooking spray

Chocolate Coating
3 12-ounce bags semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
6 tablespoons shortening

Put the first 3 ingredients for the cookie wafers in a large bowl. Mix together while adding the water a little bit at a time until the dough forms. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. On a floured surface, roll out some of the dough until it is about 1/16 of an inch thick. Use a 1 1/2″ cookie cutter or the lid from a spice container with a 1 1/2-inch diameter to cut the dough. Arrange the cut dough rounds on a cookie sheet that is sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the wafers from the oven and let them cool completely.
For the chocolate coating, combine chocolate chips with peppermint extract and shortening in a large microwave safe bowl. Heat for about 2 minutes on low power, stir, then heat for an another minute or until smooth.
Use a fork or tongs to dip each wafer in the chocolate, allow the excess chocolate to run off. Place the cookies side-by-side on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm.

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Copycat TGI Friday’s Soy Dressing Recipe

1/3 Cup Peanut Oil
1/3 Cup Cider Vinegar
1/3 Cup Water
2 Tbsp. Soy sauce
2 Tbsp. Green Onion stems
1 Tbsp. Honey
1/2 Tsp. Prepared hot mustard

Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake the jar vigorously to combine ingredients thoroughly.
Keep dressing refrigerated and covered to use within a few weeks.
Shake before using.

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CopyCat Little Debbie Bars

1 box devil’s food cake mix with pudding

Filling:
5 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting:
1/2 cup sugar
6 tablespoons milk
6 tablespoons butter/margarine

1. Open 1 box devil’s food cake mix with pudding in mix. Mix as directed.
2. Grease two jellyroll pans. Divide batter, half in each pan. Bake 12 minutes.
3. For filling, blend flour, salt and milk.
4. Heat until thickened, then cool.
5. Cream sugar, shortening and butter at high speed, gradually adding cooled mixture. Beat at high speed 7-8 minutes.
6. Spread on one pan of cooled cake. Invert other jellyroll pan with cake on top.
7. For the frosting, boil 3 minutes and then add 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Beat until chips melt. Spread on bars.

Serves 6-8

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Copycat Macaroni Grill’s Penne Rustica

Gratinata Sauce:
2 teaspoon Butter
2 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chopped rosemary
1 cup marsala wine
1/4 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 cups heavy cream

Saute butter, garlic , and rosemary until garlic begins to brown but do not burn the garlic.
Add marsala wine and then reduce by one-third. Add remaining ingredients and reduce by half of original volume.
Set aside.

Penne Rustica:
1 oz. pancetta or bacon
18 shrimp peeled and deveined
12 oz. grilled chicken breast, sliced
4 1/2 cups of granita sauce
3 lbs. cooked Penne Pasta
3 teaspoons pimentos, minced
6 oz. butter
1 teaspoon chopped shallots
1 pinch of salt and pepper
1 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon paprika
6 sprigs of fresh rosemary

Saute pancetta until it begins to brown. Add butter, shallots, and shrimp. Cook until shrimp are evenly pick but still translucent, you do not want to overcook the shrimp or else it will be rubbery. Add chicken, salt, pepper, and mix thoroughly. Add granita sauce and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese and simmer until the sauce thickens.
In a large bowl, combine shrimp and chicken mixture with precooked pasta. Place this mixture into single serving dishes or one large casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese and pimentos and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 475 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. Remove and garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs.

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The Cheesecake Factory Bang-Bang Chicken & Shrimp

Description: A spicy Thai dish flavored with curry, peanut, chile
and coconut, sauteed with vegetables and served on a bed of rice.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound chicken breast tenders
1 tablespoon chicken broth
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoon dried cilantro
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
pinch of ground turmeric
1 cup coconut milk
2 tablespoons macadamia nuts, finely ground
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
2 cups fully cooked shrimp
1 tablespoon tamarind paste
2 teaspoons water
Chopped scallion for garnish
Cooked rice

Directions
Using a large skillet, heat oil and cook chicken - about 5 minutes
per side or until browned and no longer pink in the center. Remove
to platter and set aside.

2. Using same pan, heat broth; add onion, garlic, cilantro, ginger,
lemon peel, cumin and turmeric and cook for 5 minutes or until the
onion is tender but not browned; stir in coconut milk, nuts, sugar,
red pepper and shrimp.

3. Return the chicken to skillet, cover and simmer for 10 minutes
or until the chicken is heated through; remove to platter and keep
warm.

4. Using same pan (do not discard sauce) add tamarind paste and
water previously mixed in small bowl. Bring to a gentle boil until
thickened and mixture measure about 1 cup.

5. Cook and divide rice; evenly divide the chicken and shrimp among
4 plates. Top with sauce and garnish with scallion.

Serves 4

tip: Tamarind paste is available in Indian and
specialty stores.

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Red Velvet Cupcakes

I found this recipe on Recipezaar, compliments of Lorraine of AZ.

SERVES 24 , 24 cupcakes

Change to: cupcakes US Metric

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Ingredients

2 1/2 cps. flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cps sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 ounces water
2 ounces red food coloring
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

cream cheese frosting

1(8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cp. unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cps. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease 12 cupcake cups or line with paper liners.
2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add eggs and blend well.
4. Make a paste of cocoa and food coloring and add to the butter mixture.
5. Sift flour and salt togethr into this mixture.
6. One at a time, add the following ingredients: buttermilk, vanilla, and water.
7. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar and the baking soda. Fold it into the cake batter. Make sure it's incorporated, but don't beat it.
8. Pour the batter into the cupcake cups. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cake springs back when touched.
9. Remove from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes, then turn out of pan and onto a rack to finish cooling completely.
10. Cream Cheese Frosting: Blend together the following: 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend until smooth.

Baileys Chocolate Pots de Creme

Mmmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmmmm, yummmy!!!!!

Chocolate is my downfall! The only thing I would do different to this recipe is take out the Bailey's...I don't like Irish Cream (shhh, don't tell my mom!!! I'm 1/2 Irish!)


Pot de creme (pronounced poh duh KREHM) is a traditional French
dessert that consists of a rich, creamy custard cooked and served
in small pots. The classic flavoring is vanilla but here we will be
adding chocolate and Baileys for an Irish twist.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups Heavy Cream
1/2 Cup Baileys Irish Cream
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla
6 Ounces Bittersweet Chocolate, chopped into small pieces
6 Large Egg Yolks
1 Tablespoon Sugar
Pinch of Salt
Whipped Cream (optional), to garnish

Preparation:

Special equipment: 8 (4- to 5-ounce) Ramekins or Pots de Creme
Cups.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Add chopped chocolate to a large bowl. Heat cream and a pinch of
salt in a small pot until it just comes to a boil. Pour the hot
cream over the chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Let
cool slightly, then stir in the Baileys Irish Cream and vanilla.

In another bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. Slowly
drizzle the warm chocolate into the egg mixture while stirring.
Strain the mixture through a sieve into another container and let
cool completely (15 - 20 minutes).

Pour the custard mixture evenly into custard pots, baking dishes,
or ramekins. Place the dishes into a deep pan and fill pan with hot
water until half way up the sides of the ramekins. Tightly cover
with pots de creme lids or aluminum foil poked with a few holes.

Bake until custard is set around edges but still slightly liquid in
center (about 35 - 45 minutes). Custard will become firmer as it
cools.

Remove pots de creme from water bath, remove lids or foil, and let
cool at room temperature for about an hour. Transfer to
refrigerator and cool completely (at least 3 hours). You can make
these up to two days ahead of time.

Serve cold with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Source: Brett Moore, About.com

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