Busy Brunette Bakerista

Overnight No-Coffee Cake A variation of sorts, this is more of a cake than a breakfast food. I adapted it from one of my favorite Junior League cookbooks (a must for any baker). It tastes better than any restaurant bakery version and your guests and family will love the texture!   Stop what you are doing, buy these ingredients, make this cake! 2 cups of flour 1 cup of granulated white sugar 1 cup of buttermilk (do not substitute) 2 / 3 cup butter, softened ½ cup brown sugar 1 T. cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon of salt Yummy Topping ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 – 3 T. butter, melted Spray and coat a 9” x 13” baking dish with cooking spray. Using an electric mixer, combine all cake ingredients in the mixing bowl and mix at low speed until well-blended for about 4 minutes.  Pour into prepared dish using a spatula. Mix the dry topping ingredients in a medium bowl and sprinkle evenly over the t

beef stroganoff [stro-ge-nof] noun {cookery} 1. a dish of thinly sliced meat sautéed with onion and cooked in a sauce of sour cream, seasonings, and, usually, mushrooms, often served on a bed of noodles or rice. Created by chef Charles Briere who cooked for Count Paul Stroganoff, a 19 th -century Russian diplomat, in St. Petersburg, Russia. My mom would make beef stroganoff from scratch sautéing and stirring at the electric stove from the 1970’s. I don’t have as much time to prepare dinner, so I made up this creamy shortcut version which my children love! You can double the recipe and always freeze half to defrost later. Meatball Stroganoff 1 bag of frozen turkey or beef meatballs 2 (10.75 oz.) cans of cream of chicken soup 2   (14.5 oz.) cans of beef broth 1 pint of sour cream {regular, not non-fat} ½ yellow onion 2 T. butter 1 lb. bowtie pasta {I find it holds the sauce well} Defrost meatballs by taking them out of the freezer bag, and place in a

There is no story behind this recipe. It’s yummy, easy, and my entire family loves this salad. Tasty Taco Salad ½ pound to 1 pound ground turkey (depending on how much you want to add) 1 medium head of ice-berg lettuce or 2 bags of pre-shredded lettuce 2 tomatoes, chopped   ½ cup sliced olives (optional) 2 cups grated cheddar cheese 3 green onions, chopped 1 package of taco-flavored tortilla chips (such as Doritos Nacho Cheese) , about 1 cup, crushed up 1 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper Slice up iceberg lettuce, and place in large bowl. Chop up tomatoes and green onions and add to bowl (olives are optional). Set aside. Cook ground turkey in sauté pan until brown and crumbly.  Remove from pan with slotted spoon and add to salad bowl along with crushed tortilla chips.  For dressing, blend sour cream, salt and pepper in small bowl.  Add dressing to salad bowl in ¼ cup portions, slowly tos

"Surprise your friends with a circus parade of jaunty animal cookies," - Better Homes and Gardens  Junior Cook Book for the Hostess & Host of tomorrow (c. 1955) What I love more than vintage cookbooks are the recipes inside them that reveal a culinary history of baking and cooking. Trends may come and go, but a good old-fashioned party dessert will always be a favorite. I searched through some recent cookbooks and saw this one for a children's birthday party. My inner Betty Draper  was immediately excited and I had to make them. But would anyone dare to eat so much sugar in one cookie?  Three-Ring Animal Cookies 2 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar 2 T. milk dash of salt ½  teaspoon vanilla 1 box of vanilla wafer cookies 1 box or bag of Circus Animal Cookies Sift confectioners sugar onto waxed paper or parchment paper. Pick up ends of paper and pour into mixing bowl. Add milk, salt, and vanilla and beat well. If f