Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Fruit Slush

4c. sugar
7c. water
Boil together to melt sugar and then cool.
Add:
2 cans frozen orange juice
2 cans frozen lemonade
1 large can pineapple juice
6 mashed bananas
frozen berries-optional

*Instead of sugar water you can do sprite or 7 up

Peanut Butter Bars

1c. sugar
1c. brown sugar
1c. butter
2 eggs
2/3c. peanut butter
1 tbs. soda
1/2 tbs. salt
1/2 tbs. vanilla
2c. flour
2c. oatmeal

Mix all together until well blended.
Pour into a greased 9x13 pan
and bake 350 for 20-25 min.
Will look a little runny, it's ok!
DON'T OVER BAKE!!

When done put frosting on top
and cool until set up.
Cut into bars and serve.

Frosting:
1 box powdered sugar
1/2c. peanut butter
1/2c. milk

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 lb. powdered sugar
1 8oz. pkg cream cheese
1 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Cream together add milk
if needed to thin.

Grandma Ann's Oatmeal Cake

In a bowl mix together until soft
1/2c. boiling water
1c. quick oats

Or can use cooked leftover
oatmeal from breakfast.
1 1/2 c.

In another bowl mix:
1/2c. butter
1c. sugar
1c. brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 c. buttermilk
oatmeal

Add dry ingredients

1 1/3c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix all together and pour in a 9x13 pan
Bake 350 for 35-40 min.
Frost when cooled.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 lb. powdered sugar
1 8oz. pkg cream cheese
1 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Cream together add milk
if needed.



Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

1c. butter
1c. sugar
1c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2c. flour
1/2c. cocoa
2c. chocolate chips

Cream butter, sugar and eggs together. Add vanilla and extract.
Then the dry ingredients and chocolate chips.

Bake 350 for 8 mins.
Put a kiss on top after they are baked!

Mexican Chicken and Rice Bowl

4 chicken breasts
2c. favorite salsa
1 can black beans
1 can corn-drained
8 oz. cream cheese

*Put first four ingredients in crock pot on low for 4-6 hours and then add cream cheese about an hour before serving. Shred chicken, mix and serve over rice.
Top with fresh cilantro and avocado.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Colossal Cookies

1 cube butter softened
3/4c. sugar
3/4c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1c. peanut butter
1 tsp. baking soda
3c. oatmeal
1c. chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugars
add eggs, vanilla and PB.
Add baking soda, oatmeal
and chocolate chips.
Mix together.

Bake 350 for 10 min.
After you take out push cookies
down with a fork.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Grandma Sue's Rum Cake

Cake:
1 pkg cake mix-yellow, white or lemon
1 pkg vanilla pudding-dry
4 eggs
1/2c. oil
1/2c. water
1/2c. nuts-optional

Mix all together and pour into
a greased bunt pan.

Bake 350 for 45 min.

Glaze for the top:
1/2c. butter
1c. sugar
1/4c. rum
1/8c. water

Boil all together and then pour over the hot cake.
Hint: boiling it takes the alcohol out, just leaves the best flavor.
Pour over the hot cake right out of the oven.
Allow to cool and absorb and dump onto plate.

Caramel Corn

Pop 1c. of kernel
popcorn popped.

Caramel:
1 cube of butter
1c. brown sugar
1/2c. Karo
1 can sweetened condensed milk
pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla

In a saucepan. Melt all ingredients together
and bring to a boil. Boil about 3-5 min.
Hint: take a glass of cold water and drop a bit
of the caramel mixture in. If it sets up, it's ready!
Add vanilla and pour over the popped popcorn and stir.

As a child growing up my Dad would make caramel corn a lot!
It was always on a Sunday and we loved it!
I have fond memories of my dad making it and all of us eating it!
Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1c. sugar
1c. brown sugar
1c. butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3c. flour
2c. chocolate chips

Cream together sugars and butter.
Add vanilla and eggs.
Mix in dry ingredients
and add chocolate chips.

Bake 350 for 10 mins.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1c. sugar
1c. brown sugar
1c. butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3c. oatmeal
1 1/2c. flour
2 c. chocolate chips

Mix:
Sugars, butter, eggs and vanilla.
Add all the dry ingredients
and then the chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 for 10 mins.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Yummy Stuff

1c. Butter
1c. Karo
1c. sugar
Bring to boil for 5 min.

Remove from heat and add:

1 tsp. vanilla
12c. rice chex
1c. coconut
1c. slivered almonds, pecans, or walnuts
m&ms

Pour out on a cookie sheet to cool!
We love this stuff.
You can omit the coconut and nuts also
and add whatever.
It's still to die for!

Homemade Brownies

1c. butter
1/4 c. cocoa
2c. sugar

Mix together, then add

1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
1 1/4c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking powder
2 c. chocolate chips
1 c. nuts (optional)

Pour into 9x13 pan

Put chocolate chips and nuts
all over the top.

Bake 350 for 30-40 min.
Don't overbake!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Chicken Cordon Bleu

6 whole chicken breasts- boneless and skinless

1 lb thinly sliced ham

1 pkg. of swiss cheese

1 8oz pkg. cream cheese-can use light

2 c. hot water or chicken broth

3 tbs. chicken bouillon (if using broth omit this)

1/2 cup white cooking wine

salt and pepper

1 cube butter melted-can use less if you want

2-3 c. seasoned dry bread crumbs

toothpicks

Slice each chicken breast in half, cutting down the middle. Divide each half cutting through diagonally from side to side into 2 pieces. Between two sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap tenderize and thin out the pieces using a meat mallet. Lay the chicken flat, place a slice of ham and cheese on the chicken. Roll it up with ham and cheese, pierce with a toothpick through the middle to hold its shape. Place each chicken roll side by side in a 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the chicken.

In blender combine cream cheese, water, bouillon and cooking wine, puree. Pour the sauce over the chicken rolls. Toss bread crumbs in melted butter and spread over chicken and sauce Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 55 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sour Cream Waffles

1 3/4 c. all purpose flour
1 tbs. sugar
1 tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cube butter, melted
1 c. milk-add more if needed
1/2 c. sour cream
3 eggs

Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl to combine and make a well in the center. Whisk the melted butter, milk and sour cream, and eggs in a medium bowl until well combined and pour into well. Whisk until smooth, do not over mix. *Honestly I usually use my hand held electric mixer. It works fast and turns out great.
Pour on your waffle griddle, cook and enjoy!

Blender Whole Wheat Waffles Or Pancakes

1 c. plus 1 tbs. wheat-whole not ground
1 c. milk
2 eggs
4 tbs oil
2 tbs honey or sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Blend wheat and milk on high for 4-5 minutes, until batter is smooth.

Add remaining ingredients and blend on low for a minute, or until incorporated. Cook on hot waffle iron.

Hint: Stir batter before pouring into waffle iron, because the heavier wheat particles will settle at the bottom. Makes about 10 waffles.


To make pancakes instead of waffles, use 1 c. wheat and 2 Tb oil.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Ham and Cheese Sliders

12 Hawiian dinner rolls- 1 pkg.
12 pieces good honey ham
12 small slices Swiss cheese
Good Dijon mustard-if you don't like mustard just use mayo or miracle whip.

Poppy seed sauce for top:
1/2 Tbs poppy-seeds
1/4 c. melted butter
1 Tbs minced onion
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp garlic salt

Spread mustard onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or cookie sheet, very close together.

Whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all of the sandwiches. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for 2 additional minutes or until tops are slightly brown and crispy. Serve warm.

*Sandwiches can be assembled a day ahead and kept in the fridge until ready to bake.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Chocolate Fudge Sauce

3/4 cup whipping cream
2 Tb butter
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 t vanilla

Put butter and cream in a saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until cream is hot. DO NOT BOIL. Remove from heat and add chocolate. Let it melt then whisk until smooth and add vanilla. You may also make this in microwave. Just don't over cook.

Creamy Sausage and Tomato Pasta


4-5 spicy turkey italian sausage

1 c. chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (16 ounce) can Italian style diced tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 c. heavy cream
5-6 big leaves of fresh basil, chopped
12 ounces penne pasta (get a 16 ounce box and use 3/4 of it)
grated parmesan for topping

Directions:
1) Cook the pasta in salted water al dente, according to package directions.
2) While pasta is cooking, brown the sausages and cut them into slices - little circles (I actually removed the casings and then browned and crumbled the sausages like you would ground beef).
3) Add the onions and garlic to the sausage and saute for a couple of minutes.
4) Pour in the entire can of diced tomatoes and the tomato sauce and heat through.
5) Pour in the cream and heat through. The longer you cook the sauce the thicker it will get so simmer it until it is the consistency you want.
6) Add the fresh basil and let it simmer for a few minutes.
7) Finally, mix the sausage sauce with the pasta and serve. Top each serving with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

1/3 c. (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 c. green salsa
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
2 sliced green onions
2 c. shredded cooked chicken
1 c. grated pepperjack cheese
about 12 small corn or flour tortillas (we liked flour better)
kosher salt
cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.


Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it's soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and garlic powder and mix well. Add cilantro, green onions, chicken and pepper jack cheese and combine well.


Place 3 Tbs of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges.


Roll, place seam side down and spray with cooking oil and sprinkle some salt on top.


Bake 10-15 mins. Makes about 12.


White Chicken Chili

1 onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/4 c. flour
3 tbs. butter
1 c. half and half

2 c. milk

2 c. of chicken broth
3 cans white beans (navy, great northern) drained and rinsed
2 (4 oz) cans chopped green chilies
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked and sliced into small pieces
1 c. grated Monterrey Jack cheese
2 tsp. Tabasco sauce or El pato
1-2 tsp. of chili powder (depending how spicy you want it)
1 tsp. cumin
1 cup sour cream

Cook onion and garlic in olive oil. Make a roux by adding butter and whisking the 1/4 cup of flour in.

Add the liquid ingredients. Simmer 3 minutes or until thick.

Pour mixture into a crockpot or leave in your big pot then add the white beans, chilies, chicken, el pato sauce, chili powder, and cumin.

Simmer 20 minutes. Right before serving add salt and pepper to taste, cheese and sour cream. Garnish with cilantro.

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Bars

1 Devils food cake mix
1 egg
1 stick softened butter

8 oz softened cream cheese
1 egg
1/3 c. sugar
10 regular size Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, cut into little pieces

1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips
4 Tablespoons heavy cream


1. Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with tin foil. Spray with non stick cooking spray. Mix cake mix, egg and butter together then press into baking dish.


2. Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Stir in egg until well combined then stir in peanut butter cups. Pour over cake layer and bake for 30-40 minutes or until cheesecake is cooked through (it only took 30 minutes in my oven). Remove and let cool completely.


3. Carefully lift bars out of dish using ends of foil. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals until melted through. Stir in heavy cream and stir until glossy smooth. Spread chocolate over cheesecake layer, cut into squares and serve.