Is there anything better for a cold tummy than hot cocoa?

Ingredients
* 4 cups milk (preferably whole or 2%)
* 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar
* 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

*Place the milk of your choice in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Using milk instead of water, makes this hot chocolate extra creamy and flavorful.
*Whisk in cocoa powder and sugar, and heat until warm.
*Once the milk is warm, add chocolate chips, whisking until they melt into the milk.
*Add a splash of vanilla extract.

Serve immediately, topped with your favorite garnishes: marshmallows, whipped cream, chopped chocolate, crushed candy canes or more.

Want it extra rich? Add some half and half.
Want it less sweet? Use bittersweet/dark chocolate chips.
Want it healthier? Use skim milk or almond milk, and reduce the sugar a touch.
Want flavored hot chocolate? Add cinnamon, peppermint extract, a shot of espresso, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.

The options are endless!

One Pot Beef Stroganoff

INGREDIENTS:

*2 tablespoons unsalted butter
*12 ounces cremini mushrooms, thickly sliced
*1/2 medium sweet onion, diced
*Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
*1 pound lean ground beef
*2 cloves garlic, minced
*1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
*3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
*1/4 cup dry white wine
*4 cups beef stock
*2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
*1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
*8 ounces egg noodles, uncooked
*1/2 cup sour cream
*2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

*Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender and browned, about 3-5 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
*Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef as it cooks.
*Stir in garlic and thyme until fragrant, about 1 minute.
*Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
*Stir in wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. You can skip the wine adding in more stock.
*Stir in beef stock, Worcestershire, Dijon and egg noodles; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
*Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until pasta is cooked through, about 9-10 minutes.
*Stir in sour cream until heated through, about 1-2 minutes.

Yummy!

Cheesie Beef Ghoulash

Ingredients

*2 lbs ground beef
*3 tsp minced garlic
*3 c water
*2 cans tomato sauce 15 oz cans
*2 cans diced tomatoes 15 oz cans
*3 bay leaves
*3 TB soy sauce
*1 TB seasoned salt
*2 TB Italian seasoning
*2 c elbow macaroni uncooked
*1 c shredded cheddar cheese

*Saute ground beef in skillet over medium-high heat until cooked. Drain. *Add garlic and saute for about 5 minutes. *Add water, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, soy sauce, and seasoned salt. Stir well. Cover and allow to cook for 15-20 minutes.

*Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to skillet, stir well, return the lid and simmer for about 30 minutes. Turn off heat, remove the bay leaves, and add 1 cup of cheddar cheese right before serving

Yummy!

Pecan Pie Bread Pudding

Ingredients
*16oz loaf of day-old French bread
*2 and ½ cup milk
*1 cup half & half. You can substitute whole milk or heavy cream
*4 large eggs lightly beaten
*1 cup granulated sugar
*1 Tablespoon vanilla
*1/8 teaspoon salt
*1/2 cup butter softened
*1 and ½ cup packed brown sugar
*1 cup pecan chopped

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
*Cube bread then place in a large bowl.
*In another bowl, beat eggs, milk, half & half, sugar, salt, and vanilla.
*Pour over the bread and allow to sit 5 to 10 minutes
*In another small bowl, combine with a fork, softened butter, brown sugar, and pecans. This mixture will have the consistency of wet sand.
*Pour half of the bread mixture into a greased 8x8 inch pan. (Yes, 8x8-inch pan.)
*Top with half of the pecan mixture.
*Spoon remaining bread mixture over and top with remaining pecan mixture. Press down into pan slightly. Pan will be really full.
*Top with remaining pecan mixture.
*Place pan on a cookie sheet with a 1-inch edge to catch any mixture that may boil over.
*Bake at 350 degrees F 45 to 55 minutes.
The center will be slightly jiggly but will set when cool.
*Allow to cool 20 to 30 minutes before serving so that the slices will hold together.

It is a thick bread pudding.!

Pecan Cheesecake Squares

INGREDIENTS
For the shortbread layer
*1½ cups all-purpose flour
*¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
*½ cup butter, softened
*½ cup finely chopped pecans

For the cheesecake layer
*2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
*½ cup sugar
*½ cup milk
*2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the pecan pie layer

*¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
*½ cup light corn syrup
*⅓ cup butter, melted and cooled slightly
*3 large eggs, lightly beaten
*¼ teaspoon salt
*½ teaspoon vanilla extract
*1½ cups pecans

INSTRUCTIONS
*Preheat oven to 350.

*For the shortbread layer: In a medium bowl, combine flour and ¾ cup brown sugar.
*Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
*Stir in ½ cup pecans.
*Press mixture evenly into bottom of a greased 9×13″ baking pan.
*Bake for 10 minutes; remove from oven, and cool slightly, about 10 minutes.

For the cheesecake layer:
*Place the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer outfitted with a paddle attachment and beat at medium speed until smooth.
*Beat in sugar.
*Add milk and 2 teaspoons vanilla, and beat until combined.
*Pour the cream cheese mixture over the cooled shortbread layer.
*Bake for 15 minutes; remove from oven and cool slightly, about 10 minutes.

For the pecan pie layer
*In a medium bowl, combine the remaining ¾ cup brown sugar, corn syrup, and melted butter.
*Gently stir in the eggs, salt, and remaining ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
*Stir in 1½ cups pecans.
*Pour pecan mixture over cooled cheesecake layer.
*Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until center is set and pecan pie layer is a rich brown color

Baked Pumpkin Donut Holes

Ingredients
For the donuts:
*1¾ cups all-purpose flour
*2 teaspoons baking powder
*½ teaspoon salt
*1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
*½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
*¾ cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
*½ cup brown sugar
*⅓ cup vegetable oil
*1 egg
*1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*½ cup milk

For the cinnamon sugar coating:
*1 stick of unsalted butter, melted
*⅔ cup granulated sugar
*1 tablespoon cinnamon

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Generously grease a 24-cup mini muffin pan with nonstick spray.
*Sift flour into medium mixing bowl, add in baking powder, salt, nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice.
*In a separate large bowl, scoop in the pumpkin puree and mix in brown sugar.
*Mix in the vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and add an egg.
*Pour in milk, and mix until smooth.
*Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. [Be careful not to overmix the batter.]
*Scoop the batter into a 24-cup mini muffin pan, about ¾ full each cup, and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
*Remove the donuts from the oven and allow to cool just enough to handle.
*Place melted butter in one bowl and the sugar and cinnamon in another.
*Dip the donuts into the melted butter, and coat, coat, coat in cinnamon sugar.

***Serve warm, and enjoy***

Pumpkin Pie Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients
* 1 batch Soft Breadstick Dough
Filling
* 3/4 cup Pumpkin
* 1/3 cup Sugar
* 1.5 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
* 1 tablespoon Melted Butter
Frosting
* 4 oz Cream Cheese softened
* 4 tablespoons Butter softened
* 3 cups Powdered Sugar
* 3/4 teaspoons Maple Extract
* 1/4 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
* up to 1 tablespoon Milk

Instructions
* Recipe for breadstick dough found here: http://wp.me/p405LX-1gW/
* Mix dough as directed. After the first rise, roll out dough on a floured surface to form a 12x18 inch rectangle.
* Stir filling ingredients together and spread on dough. Roll dough into a log, pinching together to seal.
* Use thread to divide dough into 12 rolls, and place in greased 9x13 inch baking sheet.
* Allow to rise about 30 minutes until rolls are puffed and touching one another.
* Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes until golden brown.
* In the meantime, beat together first five frosting ingredients, adding up to 1 tablespoon of milk if needed.
* Spread frosting over warm rolls and serve immediately.

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Have you ever laughed so much that your jaw starts to hurt and your eyes tear up? I love to laugh that completely. Life is meant to be lived, fully and enjoyably.