Coconut Dessert Soup

Had this at an Indian buffet recently and have never seen anything like it before so I had to try it myself! It's very warm, comforting, and extremely coconutty! It's a very easy recipe.

4 cups coconut milk (I used SoDelicious brand unflavored coconut milk - it's cheaper to buy the milk jug instead of individual cans, plus you get more! Spare the rest for other baking.)
1-2 cups shredded coconut (add a little at first then see how you feel about adding more)
Sugar to taste (I think I added about 1 cup)

Combine all ingredients. Bring to boil so the sugar dissolves. Let simmer for at least 20 minutes. The shredded coconut will not get super soft but tends to stay a little crisp, which I like. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie Muffins with Pumpkin Spice Topping

Yummy! Made these this morning.

For muffins:

1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 milk (I used coconut milk)
2 tbsp cooking oil
1/2 cup honey
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
2 cups Bisquick

For topping:
(NOTE: This topping seemed to go a little bad after a couple days - I suggest eating it quickly.)

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar (or more to taste)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease and flour the cupcake pan very well (NOTE: Do NOT use cupcake liners - I used them, and the bottom of the muffins were completely stuck to the liners!) Mix egg, milk, oil, pumpkin, and honey. Combine remaining dry ingredients and sift into wet ingredients. Fill the cupcakes about 3/4 of the way (these shouldn't bake over the side but take on more of a dome-shape as it is a biscuit like texture). Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Only add topping right before eating as it is basically just whipped cream and does not work the same way as frosting. These muffins taste best when warm with a dollop of topping to go with it. Keep any remaining topping for other desserts, such as ice cream, pie, or even coffee!

Yields 1 dozen.

Do not use liners as this was the result!!

Peach Crisp with Raspberry Sauce

Something super easy and AMAZING that I whipped up. Make sure you have vanilla ice cream on the side!

Serves 4.

4 soft peaches
2 handfuls of brown sugar
1 handful of rolled oats

Set oven to 350. Slice peaches in half, core, and peel. Lay each half side by side in an oven-safe dish. Coat each side with brown sugar, and one side with oats (doesn't matter which - I did the round side). Bake for 10-15 minutes (I did 10 minutes but a few more wouldn't hurt at all).

Raspberry Sauce:

A large bowl of raspberries
1/2 water
1 cup sugar (or to taste)
Sugar to taste

In saucepan combine raspberries and a little bit of the water at a time (the berries will have a lot of their own juice). Put heat on medium and mash berries a little bit so juice comes out. Eventually will turn into a chunky sauce, and this is when you add as much sugar as you want (about a cup or so). It's easy.

Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!!!

Mac 'n Cheese Pizza

At first my mom and aunt turned up their noses but after a taste they both gave double thumbs up. Something kids will really enjoy, and you can top it with anything else you want.

1 ready-made pizza crust (I used Deli-Catessen Focaccia crust because it's nice and thin, a good thing for this pizza)
1 8-ounce tub Philadelphia onion and chives cream cheese (I only used 1/3 of this tub but you can use as much as you want depending on taste and crust size)
1 package shredded cheddar cheese
1 package shredded mozarella cheese (although you can use any cheeses you want)
2 cups elbow macaroni (didn't keep track, but use enough to cover the crust)

Preheat oven to 350 and put the macaroni to boil in water until al dente. Spread softened (in microwave) onion and chive cream cheese over crust (as thick a layer as you want). Drain macaroni and sprinkle over cream cheese more or less evenly (really doesn't matter, just cover the cream cheese). Sprinkle cheddar and mozarella cheese over macaroni - as much as you want. Bake for 9 minutes in the oven, slice, and enjoy!

Optional add ins: 

• Sprinkle black pepper after you take the pizza out of the oven
• After you sprinkle the shredded cheese on top, add sliced tomatoes on top, and sprinkle the tomatoes with salt
• Add sliced mushrooms on top
• After macaroni, add frozen peas, beans, carrots, ham cubes, etc, then cover with cheese (called Macaroni and Cheese BAKE pizza... after my favorite dish)
• Almost anything you can think of!

Dad's Favorite Cookies

Not exactly an old family recipe but this is his favorite cookie that he always requests for every birthday, Father's day, and Christmas. These are just basic oatmeal cookies.

2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (use whole wheat for healthier option)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I usually put a little more)
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup chopped toasted walnuts (optional)
1 cup raisins (optional)
1 1/2 cups (or more) chocolate chips (optional... but this is what I usually put in :))
1 cup shredded coconut (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 2 large baking sheets. In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and vanilla together until light and fluffy. add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in flour mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, blending well after each addition. Stir in nuts/raisins/chocolate chips. Drop dough by heaping tablespoons, 1 1/2 inches apart, on prepared baking sheets.

Baking 9 to 13 minutes (I usually do 11) or until golden brown. Let stand on baking sheets 2 minutes before transferring to racks to cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature 10 days; freeze for longer storage.

Mexican Bean Salad

A delicious, cool snack for a hot summer day. Eat with tortilla chips or dig in with just a spoon and a smile.

In a large bowl, mix:

1 can black and garbonzo beans (rinse and drained).
2 ribs of sliced celery
1 medium diced red onion
1 medium diced tomato
1 cup thawed frozen corn

In a medium bowl mix:

3/4 cup thick and chunky salsa
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup lime juice
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin

Stir together and pour over beans. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.

Sooji Halwa

Also known as Kerasi Halwa. This is an Indian sweet. If you saw this in an Indian buffet, it would probably be orange in color (although I'm not sure how they make it orange since there are no orange ingredients...). I've never made it orange. The best way to describe the texture is kind of like cream of wheat, except really thick and sweet. It's good!

1 cup sooji (Asian/Indian grocery store)
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups water
1/4 cup butter, melted (melted ghee is preferred - can find this in Asian/Indian grocery stores)
Raisins and cashews (optional - I'm not a fan)
Pinch of salt

Fry sooji in butter/ghee until light brown. Add cashews and raisins. Add water slowly, then add sugar and salt. Cook until water is absorbed.

Not my pic!