Moistest Cake

Ingredients

1 box cake mix (flavor of your choice)
1 package pudding mix (that matches your cake mix ex. chocolate cake with chocolate pudding)
3 eggs
1 cup mayonaise- Trust me on this one
1 cup water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all the ingredients together, it will be thick!
3. Bake for about 30 minutes for a 13 x 9 pan or just follow the box baking times.
4. Many variations can be made with this recipe like Dump cake and Red Velvet Cheesecake.

No one has to know that you put a sandwich topping in their dessert!

Dutch Apple Pie

The dutch sure knew their pies. It has a gooey, sweet apple filling with a crumbly oat cookie topping. This makes the BEST apple pie ala mode... Drooling yet? 

Pie and ice cream make the cutest couple!

 Flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon help to give the apples a nice sweet sauce

A big blanket of crumble on green apples

Makes a 13" x 9" pan or 2 9" round pies

Ingredients

Pie Filling
6 peeled and sliced granny smith apples (other varieties work as well)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Crumble Topping
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup oats
1 1/2 sticks cold butter
3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a big bowl combine pie filling ingredients.
3. Pour apple mixture into pan.
4. Cut up butter into thin slices then mix with sugar and flour. Stir in nuts and oats.
5. Use your hands to get the crumble crumbly.
6. Sprinkle the crumble onto the apples
7. Bake for 45 minutes.
8. Eat hot with caramel and vanilla ice cream for an ala mode!!!
   
   

My Grandma's Banana Bread

No other banana bread compares... Thanks grandma

Makes 3 loaves

Ingredients

2 blocks butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
7 very ripe bananas
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream butter and sugar really good.
3. Add bananas and eggs.
4. In a seperate bowl mix dry ingredients.
5. Combine dry and wet mixtures just until combined.
6. Pour in pans sprayed with Pam.
7. Bake for 43-48 minutes.
8. Melt in your mouth!!!!!

Beef Stew

I will never be able to make this the exact way my grandma did. Hers was mind blowing.

Life is stew good to be unhappy > <

                                                      U

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

3-5 pounds beef chopped into chunks (sorry I have no idea what cut of meat to use: use your best judgement)
3-4 carrots chopped into thick chunks
2-3 potatoes peeled and cubed
1 onion cut into quarters
1 small can tomato paste
ketchup (grandma's secret ingredient)
water
salt and pepper to taste
optional- 4 stalks celery chopped big

Directions

1. Brown meat in pot then cover with water and bring to boil. Simmer for 1 1/2-2 hours.. yes I know long time..but that's what makes it tender.

2. Add in about 3/4 of the can of tomato paste and a squirt of ketchup for a little sweetness.

3. Add in onions then let simmer for 5 minutes then add in carrots.

4. After 5 more minutes add in potatoes.

5. When all vegetables are tender yet firm, remove from heat.

6. Season with salt and pepper then serve with rice. This stew warms my heart.

Mini Cheesecakes

Adapted from my mom. This is her go to dessert for potlucks! I have played with the recipe to make variations to fit your taste!


Makes 18 cheesecakes

Here are 3 Cheesecake variations to try.. Classic fruit, Oreo Lovers, or Matcha Green Tea

Cherry/ Bluebbery topping with a Nilla wafer crust

Chocolate pudding and oreo crumble topping with an oreo crust

 Matcha powder added to cheesecake and shortbread cookie crust

Ingredients

Cheesecake Base:
2 packages cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
1 teasppon vanilla
2 eggs

Toppings/crusts

For fruity Cheesecake:

Nilla wafers for crust
1 can blueberry or cherry filling

For chocoholic Cheesecake:

Oreos for crust and to crumble on top
Chocolate Pudding/milk for topping

For Matcha Cheesecake:

1 1/2 Tablespoons Match Green Tea Powder (Sold online)
1/2 recipe of Shortbread cookie for crust

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Beat cream cheese, eggs, vanilla, and sugar with mixer.
3. Place 1 vanilla wafer/oreo/cookie (if doing shortbread crust pre-bake for 10 minutes) on the bottom of each cupcake liner (make 18).
4. Pour batter on top of cookie.
5. Bake for 15 minutes.
6. Chill then top with filling/pudding and oreo crumbs/whipped cream! YUM

Butter Mochi

What are the most important parts of a good butter mochi? I think a crackly, crispy top with a soft center are crucial. I got this recipe so kindly from Aunty Joni and my friend Jason Cabot and it's perfection. I absolutely love your mochi, it's legend wait for it...

Ingredients

2 cups mochiko
2 cups sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/2 stick butter, melted
1 can evaporated milk
1 can coconut milk
2 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl combine dry ingredients.
3. Add remaining ingredients.
4. Bake in a 13 x 9 for 1 hour or until top is golden.
5. Let cool for about as long as you can be patient then dig in!
6. ...Dary.... Legendary! ;-)

Arugula Pear Salad

Adapted from Aunty Tammy. Thank you so much for being my family away from home over the holidays. I was treated like  Ramolete's Thanksgiving dinner.

Ingredients

1 Pear, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Margarine
3 handfuls Arugula
1/4 cup Craisins
1/4 cup crumbled Goat Cheese
1/4 cup toasted and chopped Pecans
Dried apricots (optional)
Vinagrette dressing

Directions

1. In a sauce pan over medium heat melt margarine and cinnamon then cook pears and apricots till tender but still firm.
2. Toss everything together and serve with dressing.

Haupia Chocolate Pie

Yum coconut and chocolate :-)
Adapted by Jean Hee

Ingredients

Crust:
2 cups graham crackers, crushed (24 crackers)
2 blocks butter, melted

Haupia:
3 cans frozen cocont milk
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups cornstarch

Chocolate Topping:
3 boxes chocolate pudding
4 1/2 cups milk

Directions

1. Mix crumbs and butter and press into 13 x 9 pan. Refrigerate.
2. In a pot mix the haupia ingredients  until smooth. Cook on medium heat, stiring continuously, until mixture thickens. Spread over crust. Refrigerate.
3. Combine pudding mix and milk and cook on medium heat, stirring continuously until thick with bubbles. Cool slightly and continuely mix. Spread over haupia, refrigerate.

Peach Cobbler

Adapted from http://www.asweetpeachef.com/sweets/fresh-peach-cobbler/
Pie and ice cream in love forever...

Ingredients

Peach Filling

4 cups (about 4 large) fresh/frozen peaches, cut into slices

1/2 cup sugar 

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

Cobbler

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cups sugar

1 tbsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

1 cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix peaches, sugar, lemon, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3. Pour into 9 x 9 pan.
4. Combine melted butter, flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder and kosher salt in a medium bowl. Add milk and stir just until dry ingredients are incorporated. Pour batter over peaches
5. Bake cobbler for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Serve cobbler along with vanilla ice cream...BOMB!

Banana Cream Pie

Adapted from Jean Hee and Megan Liufau's grandma.

Makes a 13x9 pan, serves about 12

Ingredients

Crust:
2 cups flour
2 sticks butter
1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped

Middle Layer:
1 package cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 container cool whip
4-5 bananas, sliced

Top Layer:
2 packages pudding (2 vanilla or 2 chocolate)
3 cups milk
remaining Cool Whip

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut together the butter and flour then mix in nuts (save some nuts for sprinkling on top). Press into 9 x 13 pan and bake for 25 minutes. Cool.
3. Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in 1/2 container of cool whip. Spread over cooled crust.
4. Slice bananas and spread over top.
5. Whip pudding with milk and spread on top.
6. Spread remaining cool whip on top then sprinkle with reserved mac nuts, chocolate shavings, and of course, sliced banana.
7. Dig In!