Granola Bars

2 1/2 c. oats
1/2 c. rice krispies
1/4 c. coconut
1/2c. mini chocolate chips
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. honey
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 c. ground flax seed

Mix ingredients together.
Push into 9x13.
Bake at 350 for 20mins.
Cool 10 mins.
Cut into granola bars shapes.

Super Moist Banana Bread

1/2c. butter
1c. sugar
2 eggs
4 ripe bananas
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
4 ripe bananas

Mix butter, sugar and eggs.
Then add bananas and vanilla.
Then the dry ingredients.
Mix well.
Pour into 2 greased loaf pans
Bake 350 for 50 mins or so.

Fast and Easy Breadsticks

1 tbs. yeast
1 1/2c. warm water
3-4c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbs. sugar

Mix all together until ball is formed.
Rise once and punch down
then roll all the dough on a cookie sheet.

Mix in a bowl:
1/4c. butter
1/4c. mayo
1/4c. parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic
some parsley

Spread on top of dough
and cut with a pizza cutter
down the middle and then into
breadsticks.
Bake 350 for 20-25 mins.
Makes about 20!
So Easy!

Sweet Potatoe Chessecake

Crust

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (1 package)

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter, melted

Cheesecake
3 (8 ounces each) packages cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1 3/4 cups sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed

2 eggs

2/3 cup evaporated milk

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Topping
1 cup sour cream, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Crust: Combine crumbs, sugar, and butter in bowl. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up on sides of 9 inch spring form pan. Bake at 350 for 6 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.
Cheesecake: Beat cream cheese, sugar and brown sugar in large bowl. Beat in sweet potatoes, eggs, and milk. Add cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg. Beat well. Pour into crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes or until edge is set. Check center for with a knife.
Topping: Combine sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Spread over warm cheesecake. Return to 350 oven and bake 5 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Remove side of pan and chill. This cheesecake needs to chill for at least 24 hours.

Praline sauce
1 cube butter
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Combine all in a small saucepan and cook over medium high heat until mixed well and slightly thick. Spoon over individual slices of cheesecake and top with toasted pecans!

Easy Mexican Layered Casserole

In a bowl mix:

1 can cream of chicken
1 can black beans-rinsed
1 can green chilies
1/2 c. water
3 tbs. tomato paste
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp garlic salt
pepper
shredded chicken-optional

Mix well together.

In a casserole dish:
Put mixture on bottom then
Layer with corn tortillas until full.
Top with cheese and olives.
Bake 350 for 25 min.

Top with lettuce, sour cream and salsa!

Wedding Chicken

This recipe had meaning to me.
The night I went through the temple
Grandma had everyone over for dinner after
and this is what she made.
It is really called "church chicken"
because it bakes for 3 hours
but I call it wedding chicken.


Place 4-6 chicken breasts in greased 9x13

Mix:
2c. brown sugar
1 15oz. can tomato sauce
2 tbs. oil
2 tbs. lemon juice
2 tbs. vinegar
2 tbs. dried onions

Salt and pepper the chicken and pour mixture over. Bake at 300 for 3 hours.

Rasta Pasta

In a sauce pan saute:
1/2 onion
1/2 red pepper
1/2 yellow pepper
3 big handfuls of spinach cut up
2 cloves garlic
1 tomatoe
mushrooms (optional)

Add:
1 jar of Alfredo Sauce - I prefer Classico
1/4c. half and half, or milk
1/4c. Pesto (you can buy if you don't have made, Classico)
Sun dried tomatoes (optional)

Pour and stir together over 1 box cooked hot pasta. Any type. I like penna or bow tie.

Top with grilled chicken (optional)

This recipe is great because you can mix it up with the veggies. You can add chicken or not.
I have never had it turn out not good.

Moist Pumpkin Bread

Mix:

4 egg yolks

1 cup oil

2/3c. water

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree

Add:

3 c. sugar

1 1/2 t. salt

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. nutmeg
1 t. pumpkin pie spice

2 t. baking soda

3 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips (optional)

*Mix egg yolks, water, oil, and pumpkin puree.

*Add sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and flour. Mix well.

*Pour into 3 sprayed bread pans. Bake at 350 for about 50 minutes.
May vary on bread pan size. Don't overcook.
The trick to moist bread: Wrap in saran wrap while warm.

Double Kissed Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are a lot like
pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
but better because of
the added kisses.

2 sticks softened butter

1 Cup granulated sugar

3/4 Cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 Tablespoon pure vanilla

1 Cup pumpkin, from can

3 1/4 Cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg

12 oz bag chocolate chips

35 or so unwrapped Pumpkin Spice Kisses, quartered

1. Preheat oven to 350. In a mixer, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well combined then add pumpkin.

2. Place flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg into large bowl; mix to combine then slowly add to wet ingredients then chocolate and kisses. Mix only until just combined.

3. Scoop medium cookie scoop of dough onto a cookie sheet, about an inch apart. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Let cool on pan for 5 minutes before removing. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Dinner In A Dish

In a plastic bag combine:
1 pkg. Lipton dry onion soup mix
1/2 tsp. salt and pepper
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 pound lean beef stew meat cut into small pieces.

Place seasoned meat in a 9x13 baking dish. Arrange on top of meat:
Some worcestershire sauce
3-4 potatoes cut into quarters
1 onion cut into quarters
Several carrots cut into 1-inch pieces, or 3 big handfuls of baby carrots.

Combine and pour over meat and vegetables:
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 c. ketchup

Cover and bake for 2 hours @ 325 degrees.

Top with frozen peas recover and cook 30 more minutes.

This is such an easy dish and cooks fast. It is really good to! The kids love it!

Perfect Lemon Blueberry Muffins

2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

zest of one lemon
1 egg

1 cup milk

1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup frozen blueberries

Topping
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 T lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar

Mix dry ingredients and set aside. Beat eggs, milk and butter. Add dry ingredients and stir to combine. Stir in blueberries gently. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Combine butter and lemon juice for the topping. While the muffins are still warm, dip the tops in the butter and lemon juice, then dip in sugar. Makes 12 muffins. I like to double it and make 24.

*You can leave out the lemon zest and lemon on the topping for normal blueberry muffins. I did here because I didn't have a lemon and they were perfect!

Chocolate "Carter Cake"

Our neighbor brought this cake
to me after we lost Carter.
She knows my love for chocolate!
We made it this year on
his birthday day and
want to make it a tradition
for every year!
It is super moist and SO good!

In a large bowl mix:
2c. flour
2c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Melt in a pan:
2 sticks butter
4 tbs. cocoa
1c. water
Bring to a boil and pour over the dry ingredients.
Stir together well.
Then mix:

2 eggs beaten
1/2c. buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
Add to mixture.
Pour in a greased cookie sheet
and bake at 350 for 20-25 mins.
Icing
In a pan melt:
1 stick butter
4 tbs. cocoa
1/4 c. buttermilk
Bring to a boil and remove from heat
Add:
3c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Nuts are optional.
Pour over HOT cake and spread evenly!
Enjoy this bad boy.
Holy 3 sticks of butter!