Red Velvet M&M Cookie Cake

A couple of weeks ago a sweet friend of mine sent me a message to tell me that Walmart had the Red Velvet M&M's.  She knew I liked the special flavors of M&M's to bake with.  She also told me she couldn't wait to see what I came up with.  That's a lot of pressure.  So just in time for Valentine's Day I have this pretty cookie cake.  You can add the icing if you like or not.  It would still be good without it. Walmart is the only store that has the Red velvet M&M's so you still have time to pick some up before they are gone. 

Not the best icing job, but it looks pretty on the cake plate.

This is what the bag looks like.

Basic ingredients for chocolate chip cookies.

Start with 3/4 cup softened butter.

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

Mix well.  Try and get that butter nice and fluffy.

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons cornstarch.  

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups plain flour.  Mix that all together well.

1/4 cup white chocolate chips.  Add these after the batter is mixed well.

Fold in the M&M's. If you do not like red velvet you could use the Valentine colored M&M's.  Save a few to decorate the top.  Fold those in well.

Spray well a 9 inch round cake pan.

Put the batter in the pan and smooth it out.

The add the extras on top.  Push them down a little.

I added some red sprinkles on top too to make it a little more festive.  Place in a preheated 350 oven.  Bake 20-25 minutes.

Don't overbake.  You want the center a little soft and the edges crisp.   Let cool a little in the pan.  Run a knife around the edge.

While the cookie is cooling you can start on the red velvet buttercream.

I turned it out onto a cake plate.

Start with a stick of softened butter.

Whip the butter a little and add 1 Tablespoon of cocoa.

4 cups powdered sugar added one at a time.

3Tablespoons water.  Add a little after each cup of sugar.

2 teaspoons red food coloring

And like magic it became red.

I used a 1M tip on the pastry/zip lock bag.

I just made stars all the way around and then in the middle.  You could probably half the recipe and there would be enough.

This is what it looks like on the inside.

Red Velvet M&M Cookie Cake Recipe

3/4 cups softened butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 bag M&M's
1/4 cup white chocolate chips

Bake in a preheated 350 oven 20-25 minutes

Icing
1/2 cup softened butter
1 Tablespoons cocoa
3 Tablespoons water
4 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons red food coloring.

National Signing Day Celebration Cookies

I have to do a little bragging today.  I have had the privilege to attend a National Signing Day signing.  Let me explain a little for those of you not familiar with college football.  Today is the first day that high school seniors can sign a letter of intent to play college football at a particular school.  I got to attend one of my former student's signing.  We have talked about this since he was in middle school.  I had told him I wanted to come to his signing, and I would make him a cake unless he signed with Auburn.  Well I didn't quite make him a cake but I did make him some special cookies.  So today I get to mark off my list one thing, seeing a former student sign to play college ball.  Then this fall I can mark something else off when I get to see him play.  Syracuse may be a long way away but you take all of us with you when you go.  Best of luck and Go Orangemen.

It's official.  Steven will be an Orangeman next year.

Use the long sprinkles instead of the little ball sprinkles.  The long ones won't run in your batter.

Start with 1 stick softened butter and 3/4 cup sugar.

Beat it a little to break up the butter.

Add an egg and beat more until smooth.

1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat well and then add 1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour.  Add a little at a time and mix well between adding flour.

Fold in 1/2 cup sprinkles.

Mix well.  You want the sprinkles to be through all the batter.  This is a soft batter too.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Roll the dough into balls and place on the sheet.

Add a few extra sprinkles on top of the cookies.  Now place in the fridge for at least 2 hours.  This will keep the cookies from spreading as much.  After their time in the fridge bake in a preheated 350 oven for 8 minutes.  Do not bake them any longer even though they do not look done.  Let them cool on the cookie sheet for about 3 minutes.

They look like a celebration on a plate.

Another picture from this morning.

NSD Celebration Cookies Recipe

1 stick softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup sprinkles
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  Preheat oven to 350.  Bake 8 minutes.

Meatloaf Panini

One of the best things about having meatloaf for dinner is the meatloaf sandwiches the next day.  We have made these sandwiches for years and they really have not changed that much.  Today I wanted to try out the panini press with the sandwich.  Your really need to try these sandwiches soon.

Actually making a meatloaf panini is better than a regular sandwich because it squishes it all together and the meat doesn't fall out as you eat it.

 We use to use Heinz 57 sauce instead of bbq sauce.  I don't keep 57 sauce so it changed to bbq sauce.

 But bbq sauce on one side and mustard on the other.

 Pickles.  Pickles are a must.  Not sure why but they are really good on this sandwich.

 Chop up the meatloaf and put it on the other side.

 Spray one side of the bread with spray butter.

 Then put that side down on the preheated press.  I put the meatloaf side down because I had not heated the meat. Then spray the top piece of bread.  Close the press.  Let cook until you start to hear it sizzle.  Check it to see how it looks.

I turned it a quarter turn so that I could have criss cross marks on the sandwich.  It was really good.  Brings back a lot of memories.

Blood Orange Brownies

Last week I found a new store in Madison, King's Olive Oil.  It is a really neat store that sells infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars.  A friend told me about this place and their blood orange brownies.  So I had the time and it was a pretty day so I ventured to the far reaches of Madison County.  I'm not really sure I was still Madison County.  They have a web site and a Facebook page so check out the different oils and vinegars that they offer.  I have my eye on several more for later.  So back to the brownies.  You remember those chocolate oranges that you use to get at Christmas?  You whacked them on the counter and they broke into segments.  The batter for these brownies smelled just like that.
You really need to give these brownies a try.

I know they look like ordinary brownies but they have been taken up a notch.

 You can make your own recipe and exchange the oil for the blood orange olive oil or you can use a box mix.  When I was in Publix the other day they had their mixes buy one get one free so it was easier to just pick up a mix.  You will need the mix and whatever ingredients as listed on the back.

 1/2 cup water

 2/3 cup blood orange olive oil.  If you notice it is a little darker than your usual olive oil.

 2eggs

 Mix it well.  This is when it starts to smell like those chocolate oranges

 This is a 9x9 baking dish.  Spray well and then pour the batter in.  Place in a preheated 350 oven. Bake for whatever it says on the box.  It was 30-34 minutes.

 Let them cool completely before cutting.

I was having company and I wanted to share these brownies with them.


Bonus Recipe

Strawberries in Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar

I know this might not sound good but it was pleasantly surprisingly good.  I bought a bottle of the strawberry balsamic vinegar as well.  I was thinking about making a dressing for salad but then I bought some strawberries and thought I would try it together.

 All you need are some fresh strawberries and a bottle of the balsamic vinegar.

 Chop the strawberries.

 Instead of adding sugar try the balsamic vinegar.  I promise you it will not taste like vinegar.

 Toss well.

 Cover and place in the fridge overnight. Have I shared these lids with you?

 I love them because they create a seal when they cover the bowl.  So tight that you can lift the bowl and all off the counter.

 Toss again when you are ready to eat.  You can just eat the strawberries or

You can have them over a bowl of ice cream.  Very good.  They had peach balsamic vinegar that was very good and I can't wait until it is peach season.

King's Olive Oil is located in the Publix shopping center on County Line Rd.  Their web site is: http://www.kingsoliveoil.com  There are recipes so you can get an idea of how to use the oils and vinegars.