Alien Cookie Surprise Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 24 cupcakes. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, line 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper. In large bowl, place cereal.
• In 4-quart saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows; stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in orange food color. Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal in bowl, stirring until well coated.
• For feet, place 2 gummy candies on cookie sheet. Spray inside of 1/4-cup measuring cup with cooking spray. For body, fill measuring cup with warm cereal mixture; place over feet, releasing cereal mixture and covering back half of feet. Repeat with remaining gummy candies and cereal mixture to make 24 aliens. Use 2 candy-coated chocolate candies for eyes and black decorating gel to make centers of eyes. Insert 2 pretzels for antennae.
• Stir green food color into frosting container; frost cupcakes with frosting. Place 1 alien on top of each cupcake; press gently to secure. Store uncovered.

Steps:

• Fill a pot with water, add 2 teaspoons salt and set it to boil over medium-high heat. To make the spice mixture, in a small bowl, stir to combine the garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, dried parsley and bouillon. Set aside.
• Add the penne to the boiling water and cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot off of the heat. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of the olive oil, 2 teaspoons of the spice mixture and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
• In a large pan over medium to medium-high heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and once shimmering, add the meat to the pan with 1 tablespoon of the spice mixture. Stir in the onions and garlic and saute until the meat is browned and the onions are translucent, about 8 minutes.
• Add the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes to the meat mixture. Stir in the remaining seasoning mixture, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Season with 1 tablespoon of the fresh thyme, sage and rosemary. Cover and cook until the tomatoes have fully broken down, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, whisk to combine the ricotta, egg and some salt and pepper. Season with the remaining 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, sage and rosemary. Mix until combined.
• In a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish, begin by adding one spoonful of meat sauce on the bottom. Next add some of the pasta, then some of the mozzarella and dollops of the ricotta mixture. Continue this pattern until the dish is full. Then dollop the remaining ricotta mixture on the top sporadically all over. Finish by adding the remaining mozzarella to the top.
• Bake until the cheese is melted and slightly browned on top, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with garlic bread.

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, using your hand, combine butter, peanut butter, sugar, rice cereal and mini chocolate morsels. Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place onto a parchment lined sheet pan in the freezer. In a double boiler, over simmering water, melt semisweet morsels. Stir constantly until melted and smooth. With a fork, dip the frozen balls in melted chocolate. Place on a cool cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in freezer for 5 to10 minutes until the chocolate has set. Store the balls in an airtight container at room temperature.

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Carefully insert a 4-inch lollipop stick into the creme center of each sandwich cookie and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
• Add the white chocolate chips and coconut oil to a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 45 seconds, then stir with a rubber spatula. Continue to microwave on high in 15-second intervals, stirring in between each, until just melted and the mixture is smooth. Vigorously stir in the food coloring until the desired color is achieved.
• Working carefully but quickly, hold a cookie by the lollipop stick, place over the bowl and use a small spoon or offset spatula to cover the cookie with the neon green chocolate. Transfer back to the baking sheet and immediately decorate with eyeballs. Repeat with the remaining cookies and neon green chocolate. Let the lollipops set for 30 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8-inch cake pan.
• Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl on the pan (without touching the water). Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Alternatively, put the chocolate in microwave safe bowl. Microwave on half power until soft, about 1 minute depending upon the power of your machine. Cool.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in chocolate, orange peel, and vanilla and mix until fully combined. Add in flour, salt, and baking powder in 3 parts alternating with the milk to make a thick batter.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the middle of the oven until a tester comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Cool cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack to cool completely.
• Serve dusted with confectioners' sugar and with whipped cream or ice cream, if desired.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the shortening, peanut butter, 1-1/2 cups sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Chill for at least 1 hour. , Shape 4 teaspoons of dough around each Milk Dud so it is completely covered. Roll balls in remaining sugar. , Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks.