A lot of times when cravings hit, people think of their favorite go-to restaurant or shop. Unfortunately, places like Starbucks and Red Lobster are not affordable for many people on a frequent basis, but a quick search on the internet will provide recipes for all your copycat needs. Below are some of the favorite foods and drinks that West Bloomfield High School students wish to learn to make at home.

The first delicious snack that can be made cheaply at home is the famous Red Lobster Biscuit. The ingredients needed to make the biscuit are two cups of flour, one tablespoon of baking powder, ¾ teaspoons of salt, a ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, one tablespoon of sugar, ⅓ cup of shortening, one cup of grated cheddar cheese, and one cup of milk. To make the garlic butter glaze on top of the biscuit, gather three tablespoons of melted butter, a ½ teaspoon of dried parsley, ⅛ teaspoons of garlic salt, and ¼ teaspoons of garlic powder.

Start preheating the oven to 425 degrees. To make the biscuit, first whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, sugar, and garlic powder into a large mixing bowl. Once done, use a pastry cutter (a fork will work as well) to cut the shortening into the dry ingredients. Do this until the shortening is close to the size of peas. Next, stir in the cheddar cheese. After this, add milk and stir the mixture lightly until it is just barely combined. Make sure not to overmix the biscuits because overmixing can make dough tough. Grab a ¼ cup measuring cup or an ice cream scoop and place the balls of dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Finally, bake the biscuits at 425 degrees for 13-15 minutes. To make the glaze just combine all the ingredients and whisk well.

http://www.creationsbykara.com/2014/05/copycat-red-lobster-biscuits.html

Milkshakes are a popular dessert drink amongst the American people, and Wendy’s Frosties are a popular choice. Luckily for Frosty lovers, the drink is actually very easy to make at home. The ingredients for the drink are six cups of vanilla ice cream, a ½ cup of Nesquik drink powder, one cup of milk, a ½ cup of cool whip, and two drops of vanilla extract. To start the drink off, blend ice cream, Nesquik mixture, milk, and cool whip in a blender for 45 seconds. After this, add vanilla extract, and additionally, if a more chocolate heavy flavor is desired, add another ¼ cup of Nesquik at this time. Blend again until the preferred consistency is reached.

http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/Wendys-Chocolate-Frosty-1537267

Everybody has their own opinions about the best Girl Scout Cookie, but it seems that a very large portion of people believe that Thin Mints are the superior snack. The ingredients needed for a thin mint are ¾ cup of softened butter, one cup of sugar, ⅓ cup of milk, ¾ teaspoon of peppermint extract, ½ teaspoon of vanilla, two cups of flour, ⅓ cup of cocoa, ¼ cup of cornstarch, a ½ teaspoon of salt, one pound of semi sweet chocolate, and two to three teaspoons of vegetable oil.

To make this yummy treat, start by creaming together the butter and sugar in a large bowl until it becomes light and fluffy. Next, beat in milk and extracts. Sift together the flour, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt. Once done, slowly add the ingredients to the creamed mixture and remember to mix well. Start to shape the dough into two 1 ½ inch diameter rolls and wrap them with plastic wrap. Freeze the dough for two hours or until the dough becomes firm. Now, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line some cookie sheets with parchment paper and then unwrap the rolls of dough and cut into ¼ inch slices. Place the dough one inch apart on the cookie sheets. Bake the cookies for 10-13 minutes. Then, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool for five minutes. After this, remove the cookies from the racks so they can cool completely. Put chocolate, oil, and peppermint into a boiler on the stove, and when the mixture is melted, dip the cookies and lay them out to dry.

http://www.recipe4living.com/recipes/copycat_classic_thin_mint_cookies.htm

Macaroni and cheese is a popular lunch and dinner choice for many children and adults across the world, and one of the most beloved renditions of this dinner is Panera’s Mac n Cheese. To create this creation of culinary excellence, gather two cups of medium uncooked shell pasta, 2 ½ cups of whole milk, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of dijon mustard, one tablespoon of butter, and one cup grated extra sharp white cheddar. The only steps to make the pasta are rinse the uncooked pasta under cold water, and then, in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the milk, pasta, salt, mustard, and butter. Stir this mixture frequently and bring it to a simmer. Then, reduce the heat to low. Stir pretty much continually for 15-20 minutes while the pasta cooks and the milk is absorbed. Then remove the pasta from the heat, stir in cheese, and cover for five minutes.

http://www.rachelcooks.com/2014/02/24/copycat-panera-mac-and-cheese/