Pecan Cake Bars

Marsha Withrow Wilson

Pecan Cake Bars

For crust:

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt

For topping:

1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 cups chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9x13-inch pan with foil, leaving enough for a 2-inch overhang on all sides.

First make the crust by creaming together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add in the flour and salt and mix until crumbly.

Press the crust into the foil-lined pan and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.

While the crust bakes, prepare the filling by combining the butter, brown sugar, honey and heavy cream in a saucepan and stirring it over medium heat. Simmer the mixture for 1 minute, then stir in the chopped pecans.

Remove the crust from the oven and immediately pour the pecan filling over the hot crust spreading it to cover the entire surface.

Return the pan to the oven and bake an additional 20 minutes.

Remove the pan and allow the bars to fully cool in the pan.

Use the foil overhang to lift out the bars and transfer them to a cutting board. Peel off the foil, slice into bars and serve.

PF Chang's Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Jasmine Pace

Holy! I think I found PF Chang's lettuce wraps!! Check it out and Share!!

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

2 tsp canola oil
8 oz white mushrooms, chopped
1 lb lean ground chicken
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp fresh ginger, minced
1 cup green onions, sliced
1 (8 oz) can sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped
8 large lettuce leaves
1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
1/2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
3/4 tsp lower-sodium soy sauce
1/2 tsp honey
crushed red pepper flakes, to taste

Directions:

Heat canola oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Place mushrooms in a large bowl, set aside.

Add chicken, garlic and ginger to skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes or until chicken is brown, breaking the meat up as it cooks. Combine the chicken mixture with the bowl of mushrooms; add green onions and water chestnuts; toss together. Combine sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, lower-sodium soy sauce, honey and crushed red pepper flakes in a small bowl; whisk to mix well. Divide chicken mixture evenly between each lettuce leaf and top with sesame oil mixture. Optional: Garnish with fun, bright extras, like the red peppers and scallions seen above.

Serves 4

Carrot and Zucchini Bars with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Bendi Cowan

Carrot and Zucchini Bars with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting -

•2 eggs, slightly beaten
•3/4 cup packed brown sugar
•1/2 cup canola oil
•1/4 cup honey
•1 tsp vanilla
•1 1/2 cups shredded carrot
•1 cup shredded zucchini
•1/2 cup chopped walnuts
•1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
•1 tsp baking powder
•1/2 tsp ground ginger
•1/4 tsp baking soda

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

•1 (8 oz) pkg reduced fat cream cheese
•1 cup powdered sugar
•1 1/2 tsp lemon zest
1.Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, oil, honey, and vanilla. Don’t worry about clumps of the brown sugar, those will dissolve as it sits while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Then fold in the carrot, zucchini, and walnuts
2.In another bowl combine add the flour, baking powder, ginger, and baking soda. Whisk to blend together.
3.Add to flour mixture to the wet mixture. Stir just until combined. Spread batter into an ungreased 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
4.Bake about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
5.Once the cake is cooled prepare the frosting. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the fosting ingredients with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Spread or pipe the frosting over the cooled bars. Makes 36 bars.

Banana Bread with Honey and Applesauce

Yummy Recipes

Banana Bread with honey and applesauce instead of sugar & oil. Delicious & Healthy.
Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar free applesauce
3/4 cup honey
2 eggs, beaten
3 mashed overripe bananas
Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together applesauce and honey. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Grilled Corn Avocado and Tomato

Le Cookery of Charlotte

Recipe of the day from Le Cookery of Charlotte:

•1 pint grape tomatoes
•1 ripe avocado
•2 ears of fresh sweet corn
•2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

HONEY LIME DRESSING
•Juice of 1 lime
•3 tbsp. vegetable oil
•1 tbsp. honey
•Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
•1 clove garlic, minced
• Dash of cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS
Remove husks from corn and grill over medium heat for 10 minutes. The corn should have some brown spots and be tender and not mushy. Cut the corn off the cob then scrape the cob with the back of your knife to get the juices. Set aside and let cool. Slice the tomatoes in half. Dice the avocado and chop the cilantro.

•1 Add all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

•2 Combine the sliced tomatoes, avocado, cilantro and grilled corn and honey lime dressing and mix gently so everything is evenly coated. Be careful not to mash the avocados. Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes to let flavors mingle. Enjoy.

No Bake Energy Bites

FB Source: Tula Rainwater

Ingredients:
1 cup (dry) oatmeal
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Roll into bite size balls.
3. Refrigerate to set. Enjoy!!

Based on 6 servings:

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 82 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  373 Calories from Fat  179

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  19.9g 31%

Saturated Fat  5.7g 29%

Cholesterol  3mg 1%

Sodium  115mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates  37.4g 12%

Dietary Fiber  8.2g 33%

Sugars  24.9g

Protein  12.0g

Vitamin A 1% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 7% • Iron 20%

Nutrition Grade C

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• Very low in cholesterol
• Low in sodium
• High in manganese
• Very high in vitamin B6

Bad points

• High in sugar
• Contains alcohol

Slow-Cooker Sesame Chicken

The Recipe Graveyard

CROCK POT SESAME CHICKEN
On busy crazy days, it is soooo nice to come home to this  

 April
Sesame Chicken for slow cooker

1 1/2 pound boneless/skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons dried onion
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 3 Tablespoons water
Sesame seeds

Put chicken into crock pot.
Combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, and garlic. Pour over chicken.
Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through.
Remove chicken from crock pot, leave sauce.
Dissolve 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in 3 tablespoons of water and pour into crock pot. Stir to combine with sauce. Replace lid and cook sauce on high for ten more minutes or until slightly thickened.
Cut chicken into bite size pieces and return to crock pot - can leave chicken in and simmer on low or serve.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve over rice.