Recipe: Upside Down Apple Cake

This dessert is to die for.  Make sure to use a baking dish that is at least 9x13" so you don't have a mess in the oven... :)

Ingredients:

Cake:

¾ cup butter, softened

1½ cup sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup milk

1½ cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon cinnamon

2-3 apples, peeled and cut into ¼-inch slices (recommended: Granny Smith or pink lady)

Sauce:

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C and grease a 9x13” or larger cake pan.
2. In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.
3. Whisk in 3 eggs and milk until fully incorporated.
4. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Whisk until combined.
5. For the sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, and stir in the brown sugar. Bring to a boil and continue to stir for 30 seconds, or until vigorously bubbling.
6. Pour the sauce into the greased cake pan.
7. Arrange the apples on top of the sauce in a circular pattern.
8. Pour cake batter on top of apples and smooth the top of the batter.
9. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the cake is done (the top will spring back when gently poked).
10. Cool for 10-15 minutes and loosen the sides of the cake by running a butter knife around the edge.
11. Place a plate upside down on top of the pan, then invert the pan, flipping the cake onto the plate. 

This is a modified version of a recipe from Buzzfeed.

Recipe: Sausage Rigatoni Bake

Everyone in my family LOVES this dinner. The white cream sauce is the secret weapon.  It's easy to make and sooo yummy.

Ingredients:
1 pound rigatoni noodles
1 pound ground beef
Salt & pepper  to taste
Garlic powder to taste
2 eggs
12 oz marinara sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

White Sauce:
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups of milk (whole milk is best)


Directions:

1. Cook noodles.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
3. In a skillet, brown the ground beef with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.  Remove from pan and drain.  Set aside in small bowl
4. In the same skillet, melt the butter and mix with the flour to form a paste. 
5. Add the milk gradually, bring to a boil, and thicken into a creamy sauce.  Once done, take off the heat.
6. Beat the eggs.
7. Once the noodles are cooked, strain the water.  Add in a small amount of butter and mix.  Then pour in the eggs.  Mix well.
8. Pour the noodles into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
9. Add the following layers:  marinara sauce, ground beef, mozzarella, white sauce, and Parmesan.  
10. Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden brown.

This is a modified version of a recipe from Buzzfeed.

Recipe: Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce

This is a recipe we make on weekend mornings when we want a fancy breakfast.  The whole family loves it! 

Ingredients:

1 hash brown patty/person eating (8)

Breakfast Sandwiches:

2 eggs/person eating 

1 E

nglish muffin/person eating

1 package ground sausage (1 LB) or Canadian Bacon or sliced ham

Hollandaise Sauce:

3 large egg YOLKS (remove from egg whites)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 stick butter – cut in half, firm

1 teaspoon vinegar

Directions:

1. Brown sausage, Canadian bacon, or ham in a frying pan on medium heat.
2. Brown hash brown patties in a frying pan with a little bit of oil on medium heat.
3. Fill a medium saucepan with 3 inches of water and set on medium heat.  You want this to get to a simmering boil.
4. In small bowl, whisk together the 3 large egg yolks (having removed from the egg whites) and lemon juice.
5. Pour the egg yolk mixture into a small saucepan and heat on the lowest heat possible.  Add half of the stick of butter in and continue to whisk this mixture so that the butter is slowly melted into the Hollandaise mixture.  
1. If it ever starts to curdle, remove from heat and add 1 tablespoon of water or two and whisk quickly.  This has to be continuously stirred until serving as to keep the appropriate texture and temperature.
2. Add the other half of the butter in once the first half has melted.  
6. When there are 4 minutes remaining, add the vinegar into the boiling water.  Then add the eggs.  Only allow them to boil for up to 3 minutes and then scoop them out with a slotted spoon onto a warm plate.  They need to remain slightly undercooked to end up perfectly poached.  They will continue to cook after removed from the pan.   The goal is that they pour out when cut open.
7. Toast English muffins (just once, light toast only).  

Each person should have two English muffin halves on their plate, each topped with a spoon full of Hollandaise sauce, then sausage, Canadian bacon, or ham, then a poached egg, and topped with Hollandaise sauce.  The hash brown patty can be served on the side.  

Goes awesome with mimosas!