Six-Layer Party Cups

Serves: 20 people

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 bottles of Herdez salsa
- 2 cups of guacamole
- 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese
- 1 1/2 cups of sour cream
- 1 cup of hot sauce
- 1 cup of assorted diced veggies (like pepper, onion, whatever you would like)
- a small bag of corn chips

Directions:
1. Take out 20 plastic cups, like the ones in the picture below the directions. Evenly distribute the salsa into the bottoms of each one.
2. Distribute the guac to each up evenly, as well.
3. Do the same to the sour cream and hot sauce layers. Then crush all the chips in the bag, save for 20.
4. Mix the crushed chips and shredded cheese together.
5. Using the crushed chips/cheese as another layer, sprinkle them on top of each cup. Stick one whole chip in the tops of each cup.
6. Finally, pour the diced veggies (I also like to add in beans to the mix) evenly into each cup. Then, presto! Your amazingly easy-to-make and delicious tray of party snacks has been served.

Contest Complete!

I have a winner . . . which I won't name right now. It will be reserved for a special occasion and then I will include the name. But, in the meantime, I need to start posting some snacking recipes! It's almost New-Years'! Time for all the parties to begin!

How to make . . . huh?!

This is a 'mystery dessert' how-to. You'll just have to watch it to see what it is! Have fun!

Just a reminder . . .

Just to remind you, some of the how-to's for Thanksgiving (like green-bean casserole and cranberry sauce) are also associated with Christmas, so check them out. Also, I have already posted some great holiday recipes in the past, such as the Pumpkin Spice Smoothie, Monster Cookies, and Pumpkin Cookies with Vanilla Glaze. Be sure to check some of those out as well!

How to make . . . Custard!

Yes, I know; two how-to's in five minutes? But, you know, I have to make up for lost time; I haven't spent enough time on my blogs in weeks! Anyways, enjoy this how-to on custard.

How to make . . . Eggnog Cookies!

This is a 'sweet' how-to on my special favorite; Eggnog cookies. Hope you have an oven . . .

French Baguettes

Since it is Christmas time, I assumed it would be fine to pull out this recipe. Obviously, it is about breads. Also, just so that you are aware, I typed this recipe up in another document unlike what I usually do, typing them up initially in Blogger itself. Anyways, here it is:

Ingredients: 

- 1 ½ tablespoons active yeast 

- 2 tablespoons honey 

- 3 ½ to 4 cups all-purpose flour

- 2 tsp salt

- 1 ½ cup warm water

- 3 to 4 ice cubes

Directions: 

1. In a large bowl, combine the yeast, honey, and ½ cup warm water. Mix them together until the yeast begins to foam. 

2. In another large mixing bowl, blend together the flour and salt with a dough hook. As you mix, slowly add in the yeast mixture from before. 

3. Add in your cup of warm water. Kneed it all together and watch the dough stick to itself (but make sure it isn’t too sticky; if it is, add in some more flour to balance it out). 

4.Work the dough on a flat, powdered surface until it is smooth. 

5. Make the dough into a ball and put in a bowl that has been ‘oiled’ with either canola or olive oil. Put the bowl in a warm area and let it rise for about 25-30 minutes. 

6. Punch the dough down again and cut it into thirds or fourths. Then make the dough pieces into separate rectangles. 

7. For each rectangle, fold the top and bottom towards the middle, like an envelope, then press it out again. Repeat this until the dough has been worked out to be around 13 inches long and 2 inches wide.

8. Flip the baguette on its back and put it on a sheet pan covered with cornmeal. Let it rise under a damp towel for another 25 minutes. 

9. Score the tops of your loaves with about ¾ inch thick diagonal slits. 

10. Heat the oven to 4500F and place a dish/pan (but not a glass one) on the bottom rack. 

11. When the bread has doubled a second time, put it on top of a cookie sheet on the top or middle rack of the oven. Pour the ice cubes in the empty dish below. Make sure that you do this quickly, so that no steam escapes. 

12. Bake the baguette for 15 minutes. Presto! Bread has been served.

It's that time of year again . . .

Happy Holidays, everyone! As you all know, this is a blog about recipes. Well, with Christmas right around the corner, I am having an entry; anybody who comments on this blog and leaves their recipe in it will have it displayed on the Imagine Works. Cool, right? As soon as this is posted, any recipe is fair game to post. I will also put in the name of the person/people who sent it in (so don't think that I will be taking credit for your recipes; I am not that type of person). Anyways, good luck, and let the games begin (also, look out for Christmas how-to's and recipes)!

Aztec Hot Chocolate

Serves: 3-4 people

Ingredients:
- 6 cups milk
- 6 ounces dark chocolate
- 4 ounces milk chocolate
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- a pinch of chili powder/pepper seasoning

Directions:
1. Take your chocolate and dice it up until it is about 1/4 inch thick and long all around.
2. In a giant pot, pour in your chocolate and milk and melt them together on low heat. Slowly mix them together as you go.
3. Stir in the cinnamon and chili powder/pepper seasoning and crank up the heat to medium heat. Blend it in completely, then turn off the heat.
4. Finally, pour the coco out into big cups, pop in a marshmallow, and dig in!

Sorry . . .

In lue of the holiday spirit, I have not been blogging nearly as much as I should be. I am SORRY about that. Really, I am. That's why, starting tomorrow, I will pick up the pace again. And, yes, just saying it one more time, sorry. I mean it. Have a great day!

How to make . . . Green Bean Casserole!

A how-to on green bean casserole. It takes on an acquired taste in my family, but then again, so do many foods in our (very picky) one.

How to make . . . Corn on the Cob!

Sorry for my 'off' sense of humor in the post I added to the blog like what, 5 minutes ago? Anyways, Happy T-day again. Here's a how-to on corn on the cob. It's more of a 'how to cook' corn on the cob, but, you know, oh well at this point. So, anyways, enjoy this video (and the holidays)!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all enjoy the holiday (and yes, I will be posting how-to's today as well) and stuff yourselves silly. But first, let me show you these:



Hahh . . . . Hahh . . . ahh. Not so funny when nobody is laughing too, I guess.



Cannibal! Cannibal! You betray your own kind!!!!!



O-kay . . . . This is kind-of a disturbing thought. It's probably true, though.



We all knew this day was coming . . .



You know, I always wondered what happened with this. Now I know. And, finally . . .



Happy Thanksgiving! Seize the day!

How to make . . . Pecan Pie!

A how-to on pecan pie. This one will jiggle your sweet tooth . . .

How to make . . . Garlic Mashed Potatoes!

A how-to on garlic mashed potatoes, for anyone who wants to know how to make them.

Cinnamon Apples

Serves: 1-2 people

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 to 2 apples
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 stick of melted butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tsp cinnamon
- 1/3 tsp salt

Directions:
1. Take your apples and cut them into slices.
2. Put your apples on a plate and pour the water over them. Then set them in the microwave for 3-5 minutes on medium heat.
3. After that time, mix the cinnamon, salt, sugar, and butter together in a bowl.
4. Pour the warm mixture over the heated apples. Make sure that they are all thoroughly lathered.
5. Microwave the drenched apples one last time for 1- 1 1/2 minutes.
6. Finally, serve them out in a bowl and eat away!

Pumpkin Cookies and Vanilla Glaze

Serves: 16-20 people

Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 1 1/4 cup of pumpkin
- 1 1/1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cloves (like the ones in pumpkin pie spice)
- 1 1/2- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 stick of butter (soft/melted, though)
- 1 1/2 eggs

Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda and powder. Do this until they are all one big powder.
3. In an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until thoroughly blended.
4. Slowly beat in the pumpkin. Let the mixture turn orange. Then let it sit for about 5 minutes.
5. After this time is up, turn on the mixer again. Add in the eggs, extract, and dry mixture into the mixer slowly.
6. When everything has been combined, roll the 'dough' into tiny balls about 1 inch thick and wide.
7. Place the balls about 4 inches apart from eachother on cookie sheets. Gently flatten them with the palm of your hand until they are each only about 1/2 inch thick.
8. Cook the cookies in the oven for about 20 minutes.
9. Once the cookies are taken out of the oven, cool them on cooling racks for about 7 minutes. Take this time to prepare the glaze below:

                                                                                                                                       

Glaze for Cookies:

Ingredients:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 5 tablespoons milk
- 1 1/2 tablespoons water
- 1/4 stick of butter
- 2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Put everything in a large bowl and mix it together until the sugars dissolve.
2. Let it sit for 3 minutes.
3. Drizzle the glaze over the cookies. Serve everything out with a flourish. Presto! Your cookies await.