Saturday, December 26, 2009

grape salad

this is one of my favorite recipes. I get asked for the recipe almost every time i make it. my mom got this recipe years ago and i make it all the time. it can be used as a side, or a dessert. it is great at potlucks.
Grape Salad
3 Lbs. red seedless grapes, washed, plucked from stems and dried
8 oz. cream cheese softened
8 oz. sour cream
1/4- 1/2 C. sifted powdered sugar, i like somewhere in between
2 tsp. vanilla
with a hand mixer cream together all ingredients except grapes until smooth.
fold the cream mixture over the dry grapes. serve. refrigerate.
i am often asked if you can make it the night before. i always eat it the next day but i just think it is better fresh.
my friend calls them frosting grapes, they are so yummy! and as usual my picture does not do it justice!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

7 layer bars

So i wanted to start new in the new year but i just couldn't wait for this one. 7 layer bars. everyone makes these but it is an altered GF version. i found almond meal at trader joes and it worked perfectly for the crust, i have people bring it to me from st. louis but you can put almonds in a food processor and pulse until you get a coarse meal.

7 Layer Bars (well really 5 layers)
2 C. (or more) of almond meal
1/2C. butter, melted
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 C. chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1/2 C. shredded coconut
pour the almond meal into a bowl (i think i would add a few tsp. of sugar to make it a little sweeter) and pour melted butter over it, i mix with fingers until it is like a graham cracker crust moist but not wet, you might need to add a little almond meal until you get the right texture to pat into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
press down the almond meal mixture, then pour one can of sweetened condensed milk over the top. sprinkly on the 1 C. or desired amount of chocolate chips, ( i think i use a little more) then shredded coconut and last the chopped pecans.
bake at 350 for 20 min. but watch it when it is really bubbly you don't want it to brown too much.
the traditional recipe calls for butterscotch chips, these have wheat in them. do not use.
otherwise you can add anything you like, there are many versions of chocolate chips, cinnamon, peanut butter, i like it pretty simple with chocolate, coconut and pecans but make it your own.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

New Years resolution

i still have no recipes to post , i have neglected this blog but really want to get back up and running in Jan. hopefully improved.
stay tuned...