Smores in a Jar

Shaun and I LOVE s'mores!
So naturally i made this for out mason jar picnic! 

Pictures and recipe from:

http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/04/smores-cake-in-a-jar/

S’mores Cake in a Jar

makes 4 16-ounce mason jar cakes

for crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/2 stick butter

pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt butter and mix in graham crumbs and salt. Mix until moistened. Spray 4 mason jars with non-stick spray and press graham crust into jars. I began by adding a tablespoon to each, and repeating until graham crumbs were gone. They don’t need to look perfect. I pressed the crumbs down firmly with the flat bottom of a clean screwdriver.

for cake: (from peanut butter hot fudge cupcakes)

1 1/8 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup dark cocoa powder

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon heavy cream

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons sour cream

for topping:

1 bag of large marshmallows

In a bowl, whisk egg and sugar until smooth and no lumps remain. Add milk, cream, butter and vanilla, and mix until combined. Stir in sour cream. Sift dry ingredients together and add to wet mixture. Mix until batter is smooth. Using a 1/4 cup measure, add batter to mason jars one scoop at a time. You only want to fill them up about half way, and the batter should work evenly for 4 jars. Again – don’t worry if it is perfect. Place mason jars in a baking dish and add about 1 1/2 cups of water to the bottom. Bake for 30 minutes, or until cake is set.

Remove cake from the oven and press large marshmallows down on top, being careful not to burn yourself. There is no set number of marshmallows to use, I pressed down as many as I could, about 4-5 each. Heat the broiler on your oven and watching carefully, brown marshmallows for about 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown. Do not take your eyes off them! Serve immediately.

Notes

*The recipe looks really long, but it is actually really easy! *When you put the marshmallows on top and broil, they may sink down below the edges of the chocolate cake. This is normal. The cake it still more than halfway to the top. *These are pretty rich and sweet, and make a really great dessert for two people to share with two spoons… but can still be eaten by one. *You can use other sizes of jars, just use your eye to decided how much batter to use, never going over half way. If you have too much batter, just make a few cupcakes.

Perhaps tonight’s dinner should be more… balanced? Nah.

Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberry Lemonade
from PBS food

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 ¼ cups fresh lemon juice (about 6 lemons)
1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
24-28 oz fresh cold water
ice

Directions
Bring the sugar and water to a simmer in a small saucepot. Stir so that sugar melts completely then remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Place the strawberries in a blender and process until smooth. Pour pureed strawberries in the sugar water and stir well. Add the lemon juice. Combine the strawberry lemon syrup and the cold water in a large pitcher. Stir well and add lots of ice. Serve lemonade with thin slices of lemons and strawberries.

Ecuador Brownies

Chocolate Chip Brownie Cake

Ingredients: 1/2 C. butter 3 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 1/2 C. Flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 1/2 C. Sugar 1 Tbs. vanilla 1/4 C. hot water 4 eggs Directions: Melt butter and add 2 cups chocolate chips together. In a small bowl mix flour and baking soda together. Put melted chocolate mixture in a large bowl. Add sugar and beat for about 5 minutes. With mixer on add vanilla, and gradually add water. Add eggs one at a time and beat. With mixer on low add flour mixture until blended. Fold in remaining 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips. Pour into a greased 10 inch round pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes.

Old Fashion Ice Cream

1 cup sugar
4 eggs
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 pint (2 cups) heavy whipping cream
1.5 quarts (6 cups) milk

You just mix everything together and put it in your ice cream maker. Make SURE you whisk the eggs VERY well first or you will get hunks of frozen egg.

Homemade Applesauce

Ingredients

• 6 pounds Apples, Peeled, Cored, And Cut Into 8 Slices
• 1 cup Apple Juice Or Apple Cider
•  Juice Of 1 Lemon
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, Packed
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon, More Or Less To Taste
•  Optional Ingredients: Nutmeg, Maple Syrup, Allspice, Butter

Preparation Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a large pot and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 25 minutes.

Carefully puree in a food processor or blender (don't fill too full; split into two portions if needed) until smooth.

Store in the fridge and serve by itself, over pork chops, over ice cream, over pancakes...or any place where applesauce is needed!