Sugar Cookie Bars

1 cup butter-soft
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
5 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. almond extract (optional)

Cream butter and sugar until mixed.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each egg.  Add vanilla, then all the dry ingredients and mix well.  Spread onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes until light brown or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool before frosting.

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter-soft
4 ounces cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
dash of salt
4 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. milk
Food coloring of your choice!

Cream butter and cream cheese until smooth.  Add vanilla and salt.  Add powdered sugar slowly while mixing until combined.  Add milk a little at a time until you like the consistency.  You might not need all the milk.  Spread over cooled bars.

Ham Bone Soup

l pound navy beans-soaked overnight

1 meaty ham bone

1 small onion chopped

3 carrots chopped

1 c. cream

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/8 tsp ginger powder

Place navy beans and ham bone in crock pot and fill with enough water to cover beans and most of ham bone. Cook on low for 3-4 hours. Add remaining ingredients and cook for another 2-4 hours. Take bone out and shred remaining meat off the bone and add to soup.

Key Lime Pie

Crust:

2 packages of graham crackers

1/3 c. butter

1/3 c. butter

pinch of salt

Blend in a food processor and push into pie pan.

Bake at 350 for 5 minutes

Filling:

1 tbs. lime zest

1/2 c. lime juice

2 egg yolks

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Mix zest, juice and yolks then slowly add

condensed milk until well blended.

Pour into pie crust and bake for 15 mins at 350.

Chill and serve with whipped cream.

Banana Bread Muffins

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

4-6 bananas

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

2 c. flour

1/2 c. buttermilk

Optional:

1/2 c. chopped nuts 

1 c. chocolate chips

Cream together butter and sugar. 

Add bananas and mix together.

Mix in vanilla and eggs.

Add the dry ingredients. 

Stir in nuts/chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 mins. 

Healthier version:

*I made these today with whole wheat flour

and substituted the butter with coconut oil. 

I also added 2 tbs of wheat germ.

They were awesome!

White Balsamic Honey Dressing

In blender, put 1/2 small sweet onion and blend well.

Add:

1 c. white balsamic vinegar

1 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp.  salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. honey

Blend well adn while blending, slowly add 1/2 c. oil.

This dressing is awesome with any number of salad combinations. 

It's really good with the fruit ones. 

Greens, red onion, strawberries, apples, mandarin oranges, sugared nuts, craisins ect.

German Chocolate Frosting

In a saucepan stir together:

1 c. evaporated milk

1 c. sugar

3 beaten egg yolks

1/2 c. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

Cook over medium heat, stirring until thick. Remove from heat and add 11/3c, coconut and 1 c. chopped pecans. Cool and spread over cake.

Pecan Pie

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1 c, sugar

1 c. karo syrup

2 tbs. butter melted

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/4 c. pecans

In a bowl with a fork beat eggs slightly. Add remaining ingredients except pecans. 

Stir until blended. Pour into pie crust. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until knife

comes out clean. Cool and serve.