Nanaimo Bars

This is a classic Nanaimo Bar recipe. Best Canadian treat ever. I'm including some instructions on how to make them without Bird's Custard Powder, since I've never been able to find it in the states. They aren't as good, but they still taste yummy, especially if you are really craving a nanaimo bar.

Nanaimo Bars

Bottom Layer:                           
   -1/2 C Butter                                
   -1/2 C Sugar                                
   -1/3 C Cocoa                                
   -1 Egg, slightly beaten                  
   -2 C Graham Cracker Crumbs
   -1 C Coconut

 Middle Layer:
   -1/2 C Butter
   - 1/4 C Cream
   -2 Tbsp Custard Powder
   -2 to 4 C Icing Sugar

Top Layer:
    -1 1/2 or 2 C Chocolate Chips

Bottom Layer:
-in a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with the sugar and cocoa until the sugar is dissolved.
-add the egg and cook until the mixture has thickened slightly
-mix in the graham crackers and coconut and press into a 9 x 13 pan. let cool.

Middle Layer:
-Mix the cream with the custard powder until smooth. Whip it in with the butter and icing sugar. Add more cream if it's too dry or more icing sugar if the mixture is too soft.
-You'll want the end result to be fairly thick in consistency. Thick enough to be able to spread melted chocolate over.

Top Layer:
-melt the chocolate chips and spread on top. Chill and then cut into squares.

Making Nanaimo Bars without custard powder:
Substitute the custard powder with 2 Tbsp of instant vanilla pudding + 1 tsp vanilla extract. Mix the pudding with the cream until the sugar has dissolved completely (or else your middle layer will be gritty instead of smooth.)

Taco Soup

I didn't really know what Taco Soup was, since I'd only had it maybe 2 times ever in my life. One day I decided to give it a try and make some and this is what I came up with.

Taco Soup

-1 lb ground beef             
-1 onion, diced
-1 pkg taco seasoning      
-2 cloves garlic, minced              
-2 C beef broth
-1 can tomato sauce        
-1 can diced tomatoes
-1 green pepper, diced
-1 red pepper, diced
-2 C frozen corn
-1 can pinto beans           
-1 can kidney beans
-chili powder, to taste
-cumin, to taste
-cilantro, to taste (fresh or dried)
-salt & pepper, to taste    

-Brown the beef. Add the taco seasoning.
-combing everything else into a soup pot
-Add the spices to your personal taste. (usually 1/8- 1/4 tsp)
-Simmer over medium-low heat until the vegetables are tender.
-Serve with tortilla chips, cheese and sour cream

Puffed Wheat Squares

I got this recipe from my mom and I loved it when she made these when I was a kid.

Puffed Wheat Squares

   -1/3 C Butter           
   -1/2 C Corn Syrup (dark corn syrup works best)
   -1 C Brown Sugar   
   -2 Tbsp Cocoa 
   -1 tsp Vanilla          
   -8 C Puffed Wheat Cereal (plain, not Smacks or Sugar Crisp)

-Mix everything together except cereal in a sauce pan over medium heat and bring to a boil for 2 1/2  to 3 minutes.
-remove from heat and pour over cereal
-press into a greased 9 x 13 pan and let cool.

Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is one of my favorite creations. My family seriously cannot get enough of these cookies, they are SO good! Slightly crisp on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside!

Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies

-1 C Butter                
-1 C White Sugar      
-1 C Brown Sugar    
-1 tsp Salt                
-2 tsp Vanilla            
-2 Eggs   
-1 tsp Baking Powder
-1 tsp Baking Soda
-1 1/2 C Flour
-1 3/4 C Cocoa
-1 C semi sweet chocolate chips
-1 C white chocolate chips

-Cream butter, sugars, salt and vanilla.
-Add eggs one at a time, mixing each time until combined.
-mix in baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and flour
-stir in chocolate chips.
-chill dough for 1/2 hr in the fridge and then form into balls.
-place on a cookie sheet layered with parchment paper

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes

Chocolate Chip Cookies

A lot of people say that they have the "perfect" chocolate chip cookie recipe. Since everyone has different tastes, I suppose they are all right. So this is my idea of the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Crispy on the edges, soft and chewy in the middle.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

-1 C butter            
-1 C white sugar    
-1 C brown sugar  
-1/2 tsp salt            
-2 tsp vanilla
-2 eggs
-1 tsp baking powder
-1 tsp baking soda
-3 1/4 C flour
-Bag of your favorite chocolate chips

-Cream butter, sugars, salt and vanilla.
-Add eggs one at a time, mixing each time until combined.
-mix in baking powder, baking soda and flour
-stir in chocolate chips.
-chill dough for 1/2 hr in the fridge and then form into balls.
-place on a cookie sheet layered with parchment paper

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes

Bagels

Homemade bagels are really quite easy to make, and they taste delicious!

Bagels

-1 Tbsp honey        
-1 tsp yeast            
-1 C warm water 
-1 tsp molasses
-1 tsp salt
-about 3 1/2 C flour

-Mix the honey with the warm water and add the yeast. Let stand for 5-10 minutes.
-Add the molasses, salt, and flour and knead to form a soft dough.
-Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover and let stand for about 40 minutes.
-When your dough is just about done raising, ready a large pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil. (I add a little honey, molasses and baking soda to my water to give it extra flavor)
-Knead the dough and form into little balls, about the size you would like your bagels to be. Pinch a hole in the center and expand your hole until the dough resembles a bagel.
-Gently drop your bagel into the water and boil it for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. (you don't need to let the bagels rise first, as they will do this in the water)
-Place the boiled bagel on a cooling rack to drain off excess water
-Create an egg wash by beating an egg white. Put bagels on a greased cookie sheet and brush each boiled bagel with the egg wash.
-Place Bagels in the oven 

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown