Cook and Bake With Amra

Ingredients: 4 tbsp all purpose flour 2 tbsp brown sugar  1/4 tsp baking powder 3 tbsp low fat milk 1/8 tsp vanilla 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil 2 tbsp chocolate chips DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips into a microwave safe mug. This is a small cake so you can use an 8 oz mug and it should just reach the top when finished cooking.  Mix with a small, sturdy whisk until a smooth batter forms and no lumps remain. Stir in half of the chocolate chips. Sprinkle remaining half over surface.  Cook in microwave for about 1 minute. Let cool a few minutes before eating. This took like 5 minutes to put together. Enjoy!

I made my usual entrees which were: Turkey, Stuffing, Corn, Mac & Cheese , Mashed Potatoes, Baked Potatoes, Bread Rolls, and Cranberry Jelly. My sister in law helped me and made some dessert and the bread rolls! I tried to challenge myself with the desserts. I made all different cheesecakes but, minis so you didn't have to commit to a huge piece. I made Mini Cheesecake Cupcakes , Oreo Cheesecake Bites , Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownie Bites , Turkey Leg Treats , Chocolate Covered Pretzels that were used for a design made to look like a turkey, Cucumber Bites , and Caprese Salad on a stick. Clicking on each dessert name will take you to the page of the recipe. Here are some pictures of the decorations and food.                                                                            ...

Simple to make, simple to eat Ingredients you will need: 2 – Cucumbers 12 – cherry tomatoes 4 oz. – cream cheese softened 1 tbsp. – mayonnaise 3 tbsp. – light ranch 1 tbsp. – frozen or fresh dill ¼ tsp. – garlic salt Black pepper for garnish 1. Wash, peel and slice cucumber into half inch slices. 2. Remove little insides of the cucumbers using a 1/2 tsp measuring spoon 3. Combine softened cream cheese, mayo, and ranch. Mix it until smooth 4. Add dill and garlic salt and mix until combined. 5. Pat dry your cucumbers so the topping will stick easier. Place topping into a piping bag with a star attachment. Pipe into each cucumber.                                           6. Cut cherry tomatoes in half and insert into each cucumber topping. 7. Sprinkle with black pepper, serve, and enjoy. Refrigerate until ready to serve.           ...

I found this idea on pinterest as well. It is also an easy one to make.  The most challenging part in this is molding the rice krispie around the pretzel. Ingredients:  6 pretzel rods 1 bag white candy melts 1 bag mini marshmellows (set aside 24) 8 cups Cocoa Krispies cerel 1/4 cup butter Directions: 1.Break the pretzel rods in half and melt the candy according to package directions. (I usually do 15-30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring well each time.) 2.Dip the smooth end of the pretzel rod and then press two marshmallows onto the end. Repeat until 12 "bones" are dipped. Let sit for about 5 minutes.                                     3. Dip the pretzels again, covering 2/3 of the rod. Let sit.                                      4.In a saucepan, melt the butter an...

I found this idea on pinterest and it was really creative so I wanted to try it. It's really simple but, you have to do some chocolate melting and that might get messy. Ingredients:  1 cup melting chocolates 16 pretzel rods sprinkles I did 4 of these so I used way more of each but feel free to make as many as you would like. 1. Melt chocolate according to package. You can either melt the chocolate on a double boiler pan or just in the microwave. To heat up in the microwave do so in small spurts of 15 seconds. Take it out and stir completely then do once or twice more. Be careful. If you overheat it you will burn the chocolate and it will not be useful anymore. 2. Dip the pretzel rods in the chocolate. Use a spoon and pour the chocolates as high as desired. Lay on a parchment lined tray. Top with sprinkles. I used a tall glass and poured the chocolate in it for easy dipping, then over a deep bowl added the sprinkles all around. Feel free to have fun! The last step is ...

The hardest part about this recipe is the piping if you do not have experience with it. No need to worry, you can easily use a small teaspoon to fill the brownies correctly. Ingredients: 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 Tablespoon red food coloring 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar 2 large eggs, lightly whisked 3/4 cup all-purpose flour Cheesecake Filling: 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened 3 Tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 large egg yolk Mini Muffin Pan MAKE THE BROWNIE BATTER: 1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease a mini muffin pan with cooking spray. 2. In a large bowl, stir together the melted butter, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, food coloring and salt until combined and then stir in the white vinegar. 3. Add the eggs and stir until combined. Fold in the flour just until combined. Set brownie mixture aside. MAKE THE CHEESECAKE FILLING: 1. ...

Note: Prepare to make this everyday after you make it because they are addicting. I have never made cheesecake anything before this. It isn't like your traditional cheesecake where you would need the pan. Ingredients: 36 OREO Cookies, divided 1/4 cup butter or margarine, divided 4 pkg. (8 oz. each) of cream cheese, softened 1 cup sugar 1 cup sour cream 1 tsp. vanilla 4 eggs 1/2 pound (8 oz) chocolate candy coating  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. 2. Line a 13x9" baking pan with foil, with ends extending over sides. Finely crush 24 cookies (I placed them in a food processor and crushed them finely). Melt 1/4 cup butter; mix with crumbs. Press onto bottom of prepared pan. 3. Beat softened cream cheese and sugar with mixer until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each just until blended. Chop remaining 12 Oreo cookies. Gently stir into batter; pour over crust. 4. Bake for about 45 minutes or until center is almost set. Let cool (I stu...

These are really easy to make and delicious!  Ingredients:  1 cup graham cracker crumbs 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 16 ounces cream cheese, softened ½ cup sour cream ¼ cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract caramel sauce or strawberry sauce for topping ( I made the strawberry one) Mini Cheesecake Cupcakes 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 2. Line a muffin pan with paper liners. (I recommend using the paper liners over foil) 3. Combine graham cracker, butter and sugar in a small bowl. Texture should be similar to wet sand. Divide crust evenly into the bottom of the lined muffin tin. 4. Bake for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown. 5. Take out of the oven and cool completely. 6. Meanwhile assemble the cheesecake filling. Beat cream cheese in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. 7. Add in sour cream, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix until combined. Make sure to scrap the sides of the bowl. 8. Pour cheesecake mix...