Valentines Treat Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Prep time: 5 minutes Chill time: 30 minutes

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (about 6 oz)

1/4 cup Shedd's Spread Country Crock

24 strawberries

In medium microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate on HIGH for 1-1/2 minutes
or until chocolate is melted; add Shedd's Spread Country Crock and stir until
smooth. Use to dip strawberries. Let stand on waxed-paper-lined baking sheets
until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.

Makes 24 servings.

Bonnie Langan, Baldwin Boettcher Library

HOT TURKEY PASTRAMI SANDWICH

1 LB - TURKEY PASTRAMI SLICED
4 SLICES- CHEDDAR CHEESE
4 SLICES- SMOKED PROVOLONI CHEESE
BUTTER OR MARGARINE
4- 6 INCH HOAGIE OR SUB ROLLS

Cut rolls in half. Butter inside of each sliced roll. Place under
broiler until slightly toasted. Remove and place quarter pound of
Turkey pastrami on one side of a roll. Place one slice of each cheese
on top of pastrami. Place back under boiler until cheese melts. Remove
On other side of roll you can place mustard, mayo, salad dressing of choice
If you prefer you can place any goodies you want into sandwich, black olives,
onions, tomatoes etc. Place both side of buns together and enjoy.
Serve with choice of chips and kosher dill slices. MMM-MMM good!

Submitted by Pat Fancher, Crosby Branch

Whole Wheat Walnut Crumb Cake

Strusel

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Cake

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup 2% milk
1/3 cup margarine or butter softened

Glaze

3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 or 2 Tb water


1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans.* In small bowl mix, all streusel ingredients until well blended; set aside.

2. In large bowl, combine all cake ingredients. Beat at low speed until moistened; beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Spread about 3/4 cup of batter in each greased and floured pan. Carefully spread remaining batter over streusel in each pan; sprinkle with remaining streusel mixture.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly. In small bowl, combine powdered sugar and enough water for desired consistency; blend until smooth. Drizzle over ward cakes.

2 cakes; 6 to 8 servings each.


TIP:

* Cake can be baked in 13x9 inch pan. Spread half of batter in greased and floured pan; sprinkle half of streusel mixture evenly over batter. Carefully spread remaining batter over streusel; sprinkle with remaining streusel mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.


Diane Barker, Crosby Branch

Tex-Mex Brownies

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup chocolate chips
3 Tb sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon



1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13" x 9" pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. In large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in cocoa powder until smooth. Add 1 3/4 cups sugar and mix thoroughly. Remove pan from heat and stir in eggs and vanilla, beating until smooth. Add flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and baking powder and mix well.

2. Stir in chocolate chips and pour into prepared pan. In small bowl, combine 3 Tb sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon and mix well. sprinkle evenly over brownie batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until brownies are just set. Cool completely and cut into bars.


Brownies Frosting

If you'd rather frost these brownies, omit the cinnamon sugar. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips with 1/3 cup peanut butter and heat for 2 minutes at 50% power until chips are almost melted. Mix well with wire whisk until blended and smooth, pour over brownies.



Diane Barker, Crosby Branch

Sunshine Cake

Ingredients:

Cake
18 1/2 ounces (1 Box) Yellow Cake Mix, Light
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
4 eggs
1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges

Frosting
8 ounces Cool Whip Lite®
1 small container (1 ounce) fat-free vanilla instant pudding mix
15 1/2 ounces (1 can) crushed pineapple in juice

Preheat oven to 350*.
Stir together all ingredients by hand for 2 minutes.
Spray 9x13" pan w/ cooking spray.
Pour batter into pan.
Bake 30-40 minutes.
Mix all frosting ingredients when cake is cool.
Spread icing on cake & refrigerate.

Carina Arredondo, Barbara Bush Library

Albama (Texas) Caviar

ALABAMA CAVIAR
(Recipe from Ross Bridge Sous Chef Joshua Toey)
Birmingham News, 12/24/2008, p. 8G

1 cup cooked black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1/8 cup chopped red onion
1 tbsp. chopped green bell peppers (or jalapenos for Texas version)
1 tbsp. chopped red bell peppers
1 tbsp. chopped yellow bell peppers
¼ cup quartered cherry tomatoes
1 tbsp. chopped parsley
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together and chill at least two hours.

This is said to bring good luck if eaten on New Year's Eve. It's healthy enough to bring good luck if eaten year-round.

-- Nancy A., Barbara Bush Branch