Orange Punch

This may be the best punch you will ever taste- seriously. The almond extract just adds something special.

Orange Punch

6 c. water

4 c. sugar

1 small package of orange jello

1 large can frozen orange juice

1 small can frozen lemonade

2 (46 oz.) cans pineapple juice

1 oz. almond extract

2 bottles ginger ale

Boil water and sugar until clear. Remove from heat and add next 6 ingredients. Pour into separate container- leaving room for mixture to expand. Freeze. When ready to serve, remove from freezer 14-20 minutes ahead of time. Add ginger all and stir.

Macaroni Meat Pie

Didn't get a picture of this meal- we ate it too fast!

Macaroni Meat Pie

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 tsp. salt

12 oz. thick spaghetti sauce

2 cups elbow macaroni

1/4 c. butter

1/4 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1 c. grated parmesan cheese

bread crumbs

Cook beef, onion, garlic, and the 1 1/2 tsp. salt in a large skillet until beef is well browned. Drain fat and stir in spaghetti sauce. Continue to cook and stir until mixture is thickened.

Cook macaroni following the instructions on the box. Drain. Melt butter in pan, stir in flour and salt. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, continuing to stir until mixture thickens and bubbles. (about 1 minute.)

Butter a 9 inch pie plate. Sprinkle sides and bottom with bread crumbs. Spoon 2/3 of the macaroni mixture into pan. Spread into even layer, covering the bottom and the sides to form a "crust." Spoon meat mixture into center. I had some extra meat, so I spooned it into several ramekins. Sprinkle remaining macaroni mixture over top of the meat mixture and sprinkle with bread crumbs.

Bake @ 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until brown on top. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Carrot Cake Cups

I saw a recipe for mini carrot cake cups in a Pampered Chef cookbook. I thought that they looked wonderful, but was disappointed when I read through the recipe. Why does Pampered Chef always suggest that cooking can be made easier by using cake mixes and canned soups? Sometimes, that would be the best way to do things. But I felt like baking completely from scratch- so this is my attempt at creating my own version of the recipe. And I have to say- I'm pretty proud of them.

Carrot Cake Cups

2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup grated carrots (about two medium carrots)

2 eggs

3/4 c. oil You might have to add more oil- this is the only part of the recipe that I'm stuck with! Just add more oil slowly after the 3/4 c. and when the batter looks all mixed up and wet (it will still be very thick) it should be fine.

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. cloves

Mix dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients. It will be very thick. More like a banana bread consistency than a cake mix consistency.

Spoon into greased mini muffin pans until 2/3 full. Do not overfill. Bake @ 350 degrees for approx. 11 min. or until tops are firm to touch. Once out of oven, use floured tart shaper* to push down cake cups. Let cool for 3 minutes in pan, then transfer from pan to cooling rack.

Filling-

8 oz. softened cream cheese

3/4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 c. heavy whipping cream

Add powdered sugar to whipping cream. Beat until thick. Beat in cream cheese.

Fill either a pastry bag, or a Ziploc bag with filling (then cut corner off of Ziploc bag.)

Fill cups with filling and garnish with grated carrots and/or chopped walnuts.

Enjoy!

*Pampered Chef makes awesome kitchen gadgets, and I would recommend their tart shaper if you don't already have one.