Busy Brunette Bakerista

There are enchilada recipes that require dipping tortillas in oil or sauce, frying, layering, and making a mess…this is not one of those recipes. My enchilada recipe can be mixed in one bowl. You can even freeze half of the cooked enchiladas for later when you are in a rush for dinner. Olé! Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas 1 cooked whole rotisserie chicken de-boned and chopped up (deli department) ½ yellow onion 1 to 2 T. butter salt and pepper to season (2) 14 oz. cans  or  (1) 28 oz. can mild enchilada sauce  4.5 oz. can of diced/chopped green chiles ¼ cup salsa ¼ cup sour cream 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese or mix of cheese 10 to 12 flour tortillas Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Open can of enchilada sauce and pour just enough to barely cover the bottom of   a large 9” x 13” casserole pan. Set aside.  Pick all chicken meat off the bones and place on a large cutting board. With a large knife, chop up chicken into 1-inch size pieces. Set aside.

The perfect dessert for summer! This cake is so fresh, sweet, and tastes just like a banana split with ice cream. It is worth every minute of preparation. This is my  “go-to” cake for birthday parties and neighborhood pot-luck gatherings. My former  co-worker Amanda tasted it and said, “oh yes, this cake rocks!”  So of course I had to rename it after her.   Amanda’s Banana Split Cake 3 cups of graham cracker crumbs (you can either buy them in a box or chop them up a food processor. See steps in instructions below). 1 ½ butter, melted 2 (8oz.) packages of cream cheese, at room temperature 1 ½ cups of sugar 5 bananas, sliced (1 large can of crushed pineapple, drained – optional) 1 – 2 large cartons of strawberries, sliced 1 large container of Cool Whip topping Chocolate syrup Caramel syrup - optional Chopped peanuts or ice cream nut toppings - optional Measure out 3 cups of graham cracker crumbs. If you are using whole crackers, brea

This is no written recipe for this so it's been a secret until now. It was handed down to me when my kids where in Kindergarten from another mom. I made it for my daughter’s birthday when she was little and it was such a big hit I make it every summer!   Secret Ice Cream Cake 24 ice cream sandwiches 1 container of regular Cool Whip chocolate syrup caramel syrup chopped up chocolate candies such as Butterfingers, Snickers, Kit Kats, or Skor or Heath toffee bars strawberry for garnish Unwrap candies and chop up into bite-size pieces and set aside.  Unwrap ice cream sandwiches as you layer…place the first layer of   ice cream sandwiches on the bottom of a large casserole or baking dish (9” x 13” size).   Cut up sandwiches to fill in narrow spaces.  Spread a layer of Cool Whip topping to cover entire layer of sandwiches.  Next, drizzle chocolate syrup in one direction over whipped topping, and drizzle caramel syrup in other direc

After reading the entire New York Times Cookbook , I decided to try the most requested and published recipe from the Times archives. Initially a Purple Plum Torte, I made this instead with peaches and it was easy, sweet, and moist. I can see why it is so popular! Great for fancy parties or casual sleepovers.  Peach Times Tart 1 cup all-puporse flour 1 teaspoon baking powder large pinch of salt 1 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 Tablespoon depending on the tartness of the fruit 8 Tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 2 large eggs 12 peaches (sliced and pitted) 2 teaspoons fresh lemon nice 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon Heat oven to 350 degrees. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside. Cream 1 cup sugar and softened butter into a large bowl with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add sifted dry ingredients and then the eggs.  Spoon the batter into an ungreased 9-inch springform pan (the kind you use for making cheesecake). Cover

I’ve baked lots of cakes since I first got married, over twenty years ago, and this one is by far the easiest recipe and literally three steps. The pudding-meets-cake texture makes it so moist and sticky you can eat it with your fingers. Enjoy! Quick-to-Make Chocolate Cake 1 ¾ cup flour 1 ¾ cup brown sugar (lightly packed into cup) ¾ cup cocoa 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 1 ¼ cup buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 4 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cup boiling water (boil on the stove, do not microwave) Confectioners/powdered sugar for dusting Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients (flour, brown sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt) in large mixing bowl and stir with a spoon until well combined. Slowly whisk in buttermilk, vanilla, eggs, vegetable oil, and boiling water.  The batter will bubble a bit and look like then pudding.  Pour batter into