Copycat Recipe: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store's Carrot Cake

3/4 cup finely-chopped English walnuts
2 cups finely-shredded carrots
1 cup crushed pineapple (8 oz can) -- with juice
1/2 cup finely-shredded coconut
1/2 cup raisins -- soaked in water until plump, and then drained
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
3 cup flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
1 8 ounces cream cheese
1 stick butter -- room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powder sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans -- for garnish

Mix together flour, baking powder,baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and
cloves. Set aside. In a large bowl mix with beater oil, sugars,vanilla and eggs
until smooth and fluffy. Add pineapple, walnuts, coconut,carrots, raisins and
blend well.

Gradually add flour mixture a half at a time until blended through. Pour
batter into a greased and floured 9- by 13-inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for
about 40 to 50 minutes. Test with toothpick for doneness. When cool frost with
cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting: Blend cream cheese and butter until light and
fluffy. Add vanilla and a little powdered sugar at a time until all has been
blended well. Turn mixer on high and beat until frosting is light and fluffy.
Spread frosting over the cooled cake and sprinkle with pecans.

Herbed Potato Slices

3 medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon dried basil or oregano
2 tablespoons melted butter

Put half of the sliced potatoes and half of the sliced onions in a buttered 9-inch pie plate. Sprinkle with half of the dried herbs and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Repeat layers, ending with remaining melted butter.

Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover plate with foil. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 to 20 minutes longer, or until potatoes are tender.Serves 4

Asparagus au Gratin

1 pound trimmed asparagus spears, fresh or frozen
salt and pepper
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

PREPARATION:
Heat warming drawer or preheat oven to 225°. Put asparagus in a pan large enough to hold them lying flat. Pour enough boiling water in the pan to cover asparagus; add salt, to taste. Cover and simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender.

Lift asparagus out carefully with a spatula; transfer to paper towels to drain. Reserve 1/4 cup of cooking liquid. Arrange asparagus with tips all pointing in one direction on a warm, ovenproof serving dish; cover and keep warm in warming drawer or in a 225° degree oven. Simmer mushrooms in half of reserved asparagus liquid (2 tablespoons) for about 2 minutes, or until tender.

Drain and arrange over the bottom half of asparagus, leaving tips uncovered. Cover and continue to keep warm while making sauce.

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter; stir in flour until smooth. Continue to cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes, until golden in color. Remove from heat; gradually stir in milk, the remaining half of asparagus cooking liquid (2 tablespoons), and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Return sauce to heat; simmer for 2
minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Pour over mushrooms and sprinkle
with Parmesan cheese. Asparagus tips will remain exposed. Cover exposed
asparagus with foil; place dish under broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, or until sauce
with cheese is browned.
Serves 4

Copy Cat Recipe Cracker Barrel Cherry Chocolate Cobbler

1−1/2 cups flour
1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cups butter
1 (6 oz.) pkg. Nestle's semi−sweet chocolate morsels
1/4 cups milk
1 egg
1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling
1/2 cups nuts, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350F. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter; cut with pastry blender until crumbs are size of large peas. Melt over hot (not boiling) water, Nestle's semi−sweet chocolate morsels. Remove from heat and cool
slightly at room temperature (about 5 minutes). Add milk and egg to melted
chocolate and mix well. Blend chocolate into flour mixture.

Spread cherry pie filling in bottom of 2 quart casserole. Drop chocolate batter randomly over cherries. Sprinkle with chopped nuts.

Bake at 350 F for 40 − 45 minutes. Serve warm with heavy cream.

Amaretto Coffee

1 ½ c Warm Water
1/3 c Amaretto
1 T Instant Coffee Crystals
Dessert Topping from a pressurized can

In a 2-cup measure stir together water and instant coffee crystals. Micro-cook uncovered, on 100% power for about 4 minutes or just till steaming hot. Stir in Amaretto. Serve in mugs. Top each mug of coffee mixture with some dessert topping.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Truffles

1 c peanut butter chips
3/4 c butter
1/2 cup cocoa
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla

Coatings:
crushed graham cracker crumbs, confectioner’s sugar or crushed nuts.

In a heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chips with butter. Stir in cocoa until smooth. Add condensed milk and vanilla. Cook and stir until thickened and well blended, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Chill until firm enough to handle. Shape into 1 inch balls. Roll in desired coating. Chill until firm.

Store, covered in refrigerator. Makes about 3 dozen truffles