Fat Frog Diary

  Indian Corn Rice Krispie Treats Ima I've had Thanksgiving Dinner guests try to make off with the entire platter of these, mostly in jest.  Notes: You don't need the lollipop sticks, but they do keep the fingers from getting too sticky.  Sources: I got this off the internet almost 15 years ago, so I have no idea.  ************************ Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves to cook and loves efficient cooking. Anything I post has been checked out by me, but in no way do I guarantee that my suggestions will work for you. YMMV (Your mileage may vary.) Some links may give the original poster a small commission on products sold via the link. I personally am not an affiliate, nor do I earn commissions on products. The links provided are examples of what's available online.  Lena Austin www.fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com    

Gruesome Green Toes Cookies   Intro:  Easy and no cooking! Wilton Candy Melts to the rescue again! And they already have green shades. My church family loved them. Notes: 1. The correct shape for "toes" are found in cookies like Nutter Butter. If you have a guest with a peanut allergy, use a homemade sugar cookie dough and roll out some nice thick toe-shaped cookies for them to enjoy. Just be sure to keep the peanut cookies very separate from non-peanut cookies during all stages.  2. Crows licorice candies are already in the correct shape, once you halve them. Dots also have a licorice black inside, though you may have to search a few boxes. I'm also told black gumdrops work but can be difficult to get enough black.  Sources 1. Crows licorice candies:  Amazon.com : Crows Licorice Flavored Gumdrops : Gummy Candy : Grocery & Gourmet Food Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves ...

Gooey Caramel Apple Bars Intro: For the church fellowship hour, or feeding the kids after decorating for Halloween, these are great. This recipe yields 2 dozen, so be prepared to share.  Notes: 1. This recipe hearkens back to Ye Olden Days when many desserts were served as a two-crust "pie" that literally stood on its own.  2. Cool the 15x10 baking dish thoroughly to allow all that gooey caramel apple filling to soak in and firm up a bit or you'll have a lava-hot gooey mess. This is a safety concern, since many of us have a "Sneaky Pete" who will try to abscond with a cookie without permission.  Disclaimer: I am not a chef, nor a licensed food service professional of any kind. I'm a grandmother who loves to cook and loves efficient cooking. Anything I post has been checked out by me, but in no way do I guarantee that my suggestions will work for you. YMMV (Your mileage may vary.) Some links may give the original poster a small com...

  Drop Cookies Plus Variations I'll apologize in advance for the shabbiness of the image. This is one of my stand-by recipes I used when it was 7 PM and one of my daughters "remembered" to tell me she'd volunteered me to make cookies for her class the next day. <Insert panic mode here.> Thank goodness someone gave me one of those red-checked Better Homes and Gardens Cookbooks. I've collected and used those cookbooks most of my adult life.  Notes: 1. Any meltable candy can work for the Gumdrop Variation. I've used caramels, Rollos, cut up Tootsie Rolls, and smashed Heath Bars in desperation. Save those Jolly Ranchers and Dum-dums from Halloween! They are great smashed to bits with a hammer inside a plastic bag.  2, Remember the peanut, coconut, pineapple, pecans, and even the raisins may cause allergic reactions if serving to strangers. An allergy check is always a wise move.  3. Keep a roll or two of parchment paper handy for cookie baking. You can d...

Slice and Bake Sugar Cookies  This is another "prepare for the holidays now!" recipes. By making these up and stowing them for later, you make your life easier when you get the "Mom! I forgot to tell you that I'm supposed to bring cookies to the class party tomorrow!" It happens to all of us. Save your stress and have these rolls ready in the freezer.  Note that there are thousands of ways to up the cookie game besides sprinkling colored sugar or dumping on some frosting. One of my favorites is to take the foot of a toy T-rex and other dinosaurs for cookies that have been "walked on" by dinosaurs.  10 Cookie Shaping Hacks to Impress All the Cookie Lovers!! So Yummy - YouTube I'm the surprise cookie obsessed that wraps cookie dough in caramels and other candies. Have a great time and I hope you learned a lot from this one post. Let me know what's your favorite method or trick to making cookies that wow. 

Brownie Mix- It's not just for brownies anymore.  I'm going to include just the brownie recipe, but it's possible to make cookies, sheet cakes, alaskas, and many other dishes using this mix as a starting point. Get wild with this one after you get familiar with how it bakes as a brownie.  Brownie Mix Brownies 1/4 cup butter, melted 2 eggs, beaten 1 tsp vanilla extract 2-1/4 cups brownie mix  1/2 cup nuts, coconut, marshmallows, dried fruits, crushed Wilton Candy Melts, or chocolate chips (all are optional) Frosting, Coconut, Marshmallows, and other toppings are also optional. Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Grease and flour an 8" square pan. Combine butter, eggs, vanilla, and brownie mix. Beat until smooth. Stir in nuts or optional additions. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 30-35 minutes, until edges separate from the sides of the pan. Cool completely, then frost if desired. Cut into 2-inch bars. Makes about 16 brownies.  The original recipe comes from the book, Make-A-Mix...

I don't have time to spend with complicated cookie recipes, especially when I run up on a deadline of Cookies Due Tomorrow! So here's a quickie cookie recipe to get you out of a jam.   Cake Mix (any flavor) 2 eggs ½ c. oil   Mix. Scoop on cookie sheet. Bake at 350F about 10 min. YMMV on cook time. Check and adjust.     Lee Plumb  

Creamy Lemon Squares When you have a child who loves lemons, you need a quick and easy recipe to satisfy those sourpuss cravings! And who doesn't love lemons and lemonade in the hot summertime? Hint: if you have a food processor, you can "cut in" the cold margarine by dumping the wafers, flour, and brown sugar in the processor bowl, add the margarine in bits, and pulse until it resembles coarse crumbs. Just add the margarine in a bit at a time. Lee Plumb, NCICS