Hugs and Kisses Quilt Tutorial

I'm a big fan of Moda fabrics and *especially* of their Bake Shop. It has inspired me to write my own little tutorial for this Hugs and Kisses Quilt that I made from a Moda charm pack. So here goes my very first tutorial! Please forgive my crumby camera skills.

You will need:

Kahlua Whoopie Pies

Prep. Time: 10 min.
Bake Time: 10 min. per batch

1 c. butter, chilled, cut into smallish slices
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c. Kahlua
2 1/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
4 oz. box instant chocolate pudding mix
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
jar of marshmallow cream

Preheat oven to 350. Really cream the butter and sugars together. Add egg and kahlua. Add everything else except marshmallow cream. Drop onto cookie stone/sheet and bake 10-12 minutes. When cool, dollop marshmallow cream on one cookie and smoosh into a sandwich with another cookie. Serve immediately or keep in a fairly cool place.

Mrs. Callihan's Molasses Cookies

Prep. Time: 10 min.

Bake Time: 10 min. each batch

Cream together: 

1 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. shortening

Mix in:

1/4 c. molasses

1 egg

Pile on top and mix in:

2 1/4 c. flour

2 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. ginger

1/2 t. cloves

1/4 t. salt

Roll balls in sugar and bake 8-10 minutes (err on the side of too doughy rather than overdone; when they're looking cracked on top, they're done) at 375. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen if you don't eat dough along the way. 

Guinness and Bailey's Cupcakes

Serves 24

1 cup Guinness

1 c. butter
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

2 c. flour

2 c. sugar

1 1/2 t. baking soda

3/4 t. salt

2 eggs

2/3 c. sour cream

For the buttercream frosting:

1/2 c. butter, room temperature

3 c. confectioners' sugar

6 T. Bailey's Irish cream

Preheat oven to 350. Line two muffin pans with cupcake liners. Combine Guinness and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When butter is melted, whisk in coca powder. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. In large bowl, combine remaining dry ingredients. In mixer bowl, blend eggs and sour cream. Add chocolate mixture and then dry ingredients, just until moist. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake 17 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Cool completely before piping on the yummy frosting. 

Chocolate Pudding Peanut Butter Cookies

This is from an awesome blog: picky-palate.com.

1 c. butter, chilled, cut into smallish slices
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 T. vanilla
2 1/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
4 oz. box instant chocolate pudding mix
7 oz. peanut butter chips
1 1/2 c. mini marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350. Really cream the butter and sugars together. Add egg and vanilla. Add everything else except marshmallows. Drop onto cookie stone/sheet and smash marshmallows on top as if they were m&ms in a monster cookie. Bake 10-12 minutes.

White Chocolate Macedamia Nut Cookies

1 c. butter, chilled and cut into small slices
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
3/4 t. vanilla
1/4 t. almond extract
2 1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 c. coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
1 c. coarsely chopped white chocolate or chips

Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugars together. Really cream them. Beat in eggs, vanilla and almond. Add flour, soda and salt. Stir in nuts and chocolate. Bake 10 min., until golden brown. Refrigerate dough in between preparing cookie sheets to keep cookies from spreading too much in the oven.

Broccoli, Ham and Pasta Salad

Serves 6
Prep. Time: 20 min.
Refrig. Time: 30 min.

Dressing:
1/2 c. low fat mayo
1/3 c. plain yogurt
1/4 c. sour cream
3 T. rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 T. Dijon mustard
1 T. honey
1 1/2 t. dried minced onion
1 1/4 t. dried tarragon or dill
1/2 t. onion salt
pepper to taste

Salad:
3 c. cooked whole wheat fusilli (6 oz. dry)
4 c. chopped broccoli (1 1/2 heads)
1 1/2 c. diced ham (8 oz.)
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1/4 c. red onion, diced
1/3 c. raisins
5 c. spinach leaves

Combine and blend dressing ingredients. Combine all salad ingredients except spinach and toss with dressing. Refrigerate at least 30 min. or up to 2 days. Serve on bed of spinach.