Cinnamon Bun Popcorn

Ingredients:

• 12 C popped popcorn (about 2 bags of microwave popcorn)
• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 oz almond bark

Preparations:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees
2. Place popcorn in a large bowl, a bigger bowl than you think you need. Top with pecans and do not stir. Let the pecans sit on top of the popcorn. Set aside.
3. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a 2 liter capacity microwave safe bowl. Mix well. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup over the top of everything. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine. Return to microwave and heat for 90 seconds. Remove, stir, and then microwave for 90 seconds more. If you microwave it too much your popcorn will turn out really hard.
4. Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. Mixture will foam and rise. 
5. Drizzle half of the caramel mixture over popcorn and pecans and stir well. Repeat with the other half of the caramel. Stir more than you think you need to.
6. Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined rimmed pan. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and stir. Melt almond bark according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn mixture. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!

S'mores Cookies

Ingredients:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 extra large egg whites
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (or chopped teddy grahams)
• 1 cup mini marshmallows

Preparations:

1. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Whisk in salt, egg whites, and vanilla and whisk until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans.
3. Scoop out small mounds, roughly 2 Tbsps, on to the parchment paper then top each cookie with 4-5 marshmallows. Pop into the freezer for 5 minutes to chill slightly (this prevents them from spreading too much in the oven).
4. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 
5. Bake for 12-13 minutes, rotating the trays 180 degrees midway through. You'll know they're done while the entire surface of the cookie is lighter in color. Let the cookies sit on the paper for a few minutes to set, before moving them to a wire rack to cool.

Savory Pecans

Ingredients:

• 4 cups (1 pound) pecans halves
• 1/3 cup (5 1/3 Tbsp) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Preparations:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. 
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder, ground mustard, Sriracha, and cayenne. 
3. Pour in the pecans and stir until well combined. 
4. Arrange the pecans on a large parchment paper covered sheet pan and bake for 20-22 minutes until toasted and lightly browned, stirring halfway cooking time to prevent burning. 
5. Remove from the oven and cool completely before transferring to an airtight container and storing in the refrigerator.

Apple Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 finely chopped green apples, peeled
• 1/2 cup pecans

Preparations:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square pan.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Stir with a whisk.
3. In a large bowl, mix the eggs with a hand mixer til light in color and foamy. Add the oil and vanilla and beat well.
4. Stir in the flour mixture with a spoon and continue stirring the batter til the flour disappears. Add the apples and pecans and stir to mix them into the batter.
5. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Serve cold with buttercream frosting or warm with ice cream.  

Turtle Brownies

Ingredients:
Brownie Layer:

• .75 cup unsalted butter (1.5 sticks)
• 3 oz unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• .5 cup packed brown sugar
• 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
• .25 tsp salt
• .5 cup + 2 tbsp flour

Filling:

• 36 caramels, unwrapped
• .5 cup heavy cream
• 2.5 cup pecans (1 cup chopped)

Chocolate Topping:

• 3 oz semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 2.5 tbsp heavy cream
• 1 tsp light corn syrup

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 13x9 inch baking pan
2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring. Remove from heat and let cool for about 10 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs and both sugars with a spoon until well blended. Stir in the vanilla, then gradually beat in the chocolate mixture and the salt. Add the flour, stirring until smooth.
4. Scrape batter into the baking pan, spreading it into the corners. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until the top is firm to the top. Transfer the pan to a wire rack.
5. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt the caramels with the cream over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Add the pecans and stir until they are well coated with the caramel.
6. Scrape the caramel filling onto the hot brownie layer, spreading it evenly. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until the filling is set.
7. In a small saucepan, melt the chocolate with the cream and corn syrup, stirring until smooth. Using a fork, drizzle the chocolate topping over the brownies.

Cook Time: 1.5 hours
Serves: 12 bars