Homemade Samoas

You will need:

Cookie base

-1/2 cup sugar

-3/4 cup unsalted butter

-1 egg

-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

-2 cups flour

-1/4 tsp salt

Topping

-3 cups shredded unsweetened coconut

-12 oz chewy caramels (I used Kraft, individually wrapped)

-1/4 tsp salt

-3 tbsp milk

-10 oz chocolate (I used semi-sweet chips, though milk chocolate would be fine too)

Directions:

Cookie Base

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees

-Grease 9x13 inch baking pan

-In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy

-Beat in egg and vanilla extract

-Gradually beat in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly (dough does not need to come together)

-Pour dough into pan and press into an even layer - dough will be about a 1/2 inch thick

-Bake 20-25 minutes until edges are slightly browned

Topping

-Preheat oven to 300 degrees

-Spread coconut on parchment paper-lines baking sheet

-Toast for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes until coconut is golden brown 

-Unwrap caramels and put in microwave safe bowl - add milk and salt

-Microwave for 3-4 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds or so to help caramel melt

-Once caramel is smooth, fold in toasted coconut with spatula

-Place dollops of caramel/coconut on cookie base, and spread into an even layer

-Let the cookies sit until topping is cooled - about 1 hour

-Once cooled, cut evenly into squares

-Melt your chocolate in a microwave safe dish, and drizzle over pan of cookies

-Dip squares into the rest of the melted chocolate if desired

**Adapted from BakingBites

Maple Salmon

**Super simple to make and unbelievably delicious!

You will need:
-1/4 cup maple syrup
-2 tbsp soy sauce
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1/8 tsp ground black pepper
-1 lb salmon

Directions:
-In a small bowl mix together the maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic, and black pepper
-Place salmon is shallow glass baking dish, and coat with maple syrup mixture
-Cover salmon and allow it to marinate for 30 minutes, flipping after 15
-Preheat oven to 400 degrees
-Bake salmon uncovered for 20 minutes, or until it flakes with a fork

Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

**Recipe adapted from RealSimple

You will need:
-1 stick unsalted butter
-3/4 cup all purpose flour
-1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
-1/2 tsp baking powder
-1/2 tsp salt
-3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
-1 cup sugar
-2 large eggs
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-20 mini Reeses cups chopped coarsely

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
-Butter 8x8 baking pan to prevent sticking
-In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
-In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter and chocolate chips until smooth.
-Whisk in eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract
-Combine dry mix (flour, cocoa powder, etc.) with wet mix (eggs, butter, sugar, etc.)
-Once smooth, fold in peanut butter cups
-Pour batter into baking pan
-Bake for 30-35 minutes until tooth pick comes out clean

The Most Amazing Mac N Cheese EVER

I have made this recipe a few times, with slight variations each time. It is ALWAYS a crowd pleaser, and multiple people have claimed it is "The most amazing macaroni and cheese EVER".

You will need:
-16 oz mini pasta shells or macaroni
-3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
-1 cup grated parmesan cheese
-6 tbsp unsalted butter
-1/2 tsp paprika
-1/4 cup flour
-1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
-3 cups whole milk
-1.25 cups grated cheddar cheese
-1 cup grated gruyere
-1 cup grated Fontina
-1/2 cup blue cheese or goat cheese (depending on your palate)
-salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees
-Cook pasta according to directions, drain, and set aside
-In a small sauce pan, combine 3 tbsp butter, 1 cup parmesan cheese, and 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs over medium heat.
-Stir constantly until bread crumbs are toasted (stir often or the cheese will stick to the sauce pan and the crumbs won't toast). Set bread crumbs aside.
-In a large sauce pan, melt remaining butter, paprika, flour, and cayenne. Once thickened, whisk in milk.
-Continue to stir until sauce is thickened and coats the back of a spoon - about 10 minutes.
-Remove pan from heat and stir in cheddar cheese, gruyere, fontina, and blue cheese until smooth (reserve a 1/2 cup of the mixture for the topping).
-Pour pasta into 13x9 baking dish, and stir in cheese mixture until all pasta is coated.
-Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, and then top with bread crumb mixture.
-Bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbly on the sides, and bread crumbs are toasted on top.

Baked French Toast

You will need:
-1 cup unpacked brown sugar
-1/4 cup water
-10 oz challah bread, thinly sliced
-2 large eggs
-1 cup egg beaters
-1.5 cups 1% milk
-1.5 tsp vanilla extract
-1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
-In a small sauce pan, melt brown sugar and water over medium heat until smooth
-Pour brown sugar into 13x9 inch baking dish
-Arrange bread slices in bottom of baking dish, squishing them slightly to fit - layer twice.
-In a large bowl combine eggs, egg beaters, milk, cinnamon and vanilla extract
-Pour egg mixture over bread
-Cover and refrigerate over night

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
-Bake uncovered in middle rack of oven for 40 minutes, or until puffed up and edges are golden
-Top with cinnamon, powdered sugar, fruit, and syrup!

7 Layer Bars

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter

- 1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 8 graham crackers, pulsed in food processor)

- 1.5 cups milk chocolate chips 

- 1 cup white chocolate chips

- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

- 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

- 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees

-Melt butter in small bowl- then add graham cracker crumbs

-After mixing butter and graham crackers together, press evenly into the bottom of an 8x8 pan

-Layer coconut, pecans, chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips on graham base in 2 layers

-Pour sweetened condensed milk over whole mixture to help "glue" it all together

-Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until coconut starts to brown on top

-Allow pan to cool for an hour or so, then cut into squares

*Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Basic Granola

**adapted from Epicurious

You will need:
-3 cups old-fashioned oats
-1 cup coarsely chopped almonds (I used slivered, though any type would be fine.)
-1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
-3 tablespoons (packed) light brown sugar
-3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
-1/4 teaspoon (generous) salt
-1/3 cup maple syrup
-2 tablespoons vegetable oil


Directions:
-Preheat oven to 300°F. 
-Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
-Mix first 7 ingredients in large bowl. 
-Stir maple syrup and oil in saucepan over medium-low heat until smooth. Pour mixture over oat mixture and toss.
-Spread on prepared sheet and bake until golden, stirring every 10 minutes, about 40 minutes. 
-Remove sheet from oven and allow granola to cool. 
-Add to yogurt, oatmeal, cereal, or just eat plain!