Thursday, July 25, 2024

Lemon Blueberry Crumb Bars

1 box Krusteaz Meyer Lemon Pound cake mix

1 egg

10 T. butter, melted

3/4 c. water

1 c. blueberries

Crumb Topping:

5 T. butter, softened

1/2 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. flour

Lemon Drizzle:

1 c. powdered sugar

2 T. lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350. Combine cake mix, 1 egg, melted butter, and water. Add blueberries. Pour in sprayed 8x8 dish. Bake 35-40 minutes. While it's baking, prepare the crumb topping by pressing and mixing all ingredients together with your hands (I used a fork) until it forms coarse crumbs. Sprinkle on the crumb topping. Bake for additional 26-30 minutes or until edges brown. Remove from oven, allow to cool to room temperature. Make the drizzle* (a packet comes in the pound cake box) by whisking together ingredients. Drizzle over bars. (these are more cakelike) Slice and serve. Store in refrigerator.

*my daughter loves this!

1st pic: baked cake ready for crumb topping, 2nd pic: crumb topping, 3rd pic: drizzle added and ready to eat.





Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Lemon Blueberry Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

1 lemon cake mix (15.25 oz)

3 eggs, room temperature, divided

2 sticks butter, divided, very soft or melted

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 t. vanilla

1/2 t. lemon extract

2 c. powdered sugar

zest of 1 lemon, I used 1/2 t. Tru-lemon (found in spice section)

2 c. blueberries, divided

powdered sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9x13 dish. In a large bowl, combine dry cake mix, 1 egg, 1 stick melted butter. Press evenly into bottom of dish. Set aside. In another bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add remaining eggs, vanilla, lemon ext, and butter. Mix on low speed until combined. Add in powdered sugaron low speed until smooth. Fold in lemon zest (or tru-lemon) and 1 1/2 c. blueberries. Spread over crust. Sprinkle remaining blueberries on top. Bake 40-45 minutes until center is set, but stil gooey, and lightly browned. It will continue to set up while cooling. Cool completely and sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. Cut into bars. Store covered in refrigerator.

1st pic: ready for baking, 2nd pic: ready to eat, yummy!




Monday, July 15, 2024

Chicken Carbonara Baked Wraps

2-3 c. grilled chicken**, I used frozen strips, thawed and cut into chunks (Tyson, Members Mark, etc..)

6 slices bacon, cooked crispy, crumbled

1 lb. refrigerated pizza dough, cut into 3 portions (I used 2x14.1 oz dough, each cut in half=4 servings)

sauteed mushrooms, (I just used canned)

shredded mozzarella cheese

shredded provolone/Italian cheese

shredded Parmesan cheese

classic Parmesan Alfredo sauce

Oregano/Italian seasoning

Caesar/Italian dressing, optional

green onion, diced, optional

1 egg, beaten, optional

Roll each piece of dough out into a thin 12-13" wide circle. (You are going to roll them up like a long burrito) Spread sauce or dressing on top, leaving a 1" border. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Add chunks of chicken, bacon, provolone, green onion, mushrooms, seasoning, and mozzarella. Roll up, tucking in sides, and continue to roll, keeping ingredients tucked inside. Be sure it's pinch sealed. Place seam side down on parchment paper lined pan. *Brush egg on outside of dough. Sprinkle with more mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. This will make a toasty, cheesy crust. Cut in half to serve, if desired.

*can brush with dressing instead and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top before baking.

**Alternative way of making:

3 chicken breasts

1 t. salt

1 t. pepper

1 t. garlic powder

other ingredients

Place olive oil in large oven proof skillet on medium high. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on one side of breasts. Place season side down in skillet. Season other side of chicken. Cook until crusty. Do not flip or touch until crusty. Let juices release on their own. After 5 minutes, flip chicken and add 1 c. water to skillet. Cook for 1 minute. Place skillet in 350 degree oven for 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven when top side is done. Should look juicy and flavorful. Let it rest. Increase oven to 400.  Cut chicken into 1/2" chunks. Continue as above to make the wraps. 

**My daughter likes it made with rotisserie/shredded chicken

PICS: bite-size rotisserie chicken, sauce on rolled out dough, cheese & ingredients added to dough, more ingredients and cheese added before rolling up, ready for the oven, fresh out of the oven! smells so good!, ready to eat!