Saturday, December 20, 2008

Cut-out Sugar Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
3 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs
1 Cup milk
2 tsp. vinegar (trust me!)
6 cups flour

Mix ingredients together. Roll onto a floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes. Frost with Butter cream Frosting. (recipe follows)


Butter cream Frosting:
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup shortening
4 2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup water


In a large bowl combine butter, shortening, and sugar and beat until creamy. Add lemon juice and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Add water and mix until very light.

Chocolate Krispies

1 cup karo syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
2-2 1/2 cups Rice Krispy cereal
1/2 bag butterscotch morsels
1/2 bag chocolate morsels


Melt syrup, sugar and peanut butter over medium heat. Then stir in cereal. Place in a buttered 9x13 inch pan. Cool in the fridge for half an hour. Melt butterscotch and chocolate morsels together in a microwave safe bowl for approximately 1-1 1/2 minutes, or until melted through. Pour over cereal and put back into the fridge for another half hour. Serve and Enjoy!

Italian-Style Pork Chops



4-6 boneless pork chops
1 packet Lipton Golden Onion soup mix
Italian Style breadcrumbs
seasonings (Italian seasoning, poultry seasoning, s & p, etc..)
2 eggs, well beaten
Parmesan cheese
Mix soup packet, breadcrumbs and seasonings in a shallow bowl. Dip pork chops in eggs then dip in crumb mixture. Place on a greased baking dish and cook at 400* for 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.

Monday, December 15, 2008

The Best Homemade Rolls- EVER!

This is Stephanie Waite's recipe that I got off of her blog.
These rolls were so good and pretty simple to make.
This will be a recipe to go in the "favorites" recipe box!
1 large carton of sour cream (2 Cups)
1/4 Cup shortening
Heat them together in a little pan, but don't boil.
Place in mixing bowl and stir in:
1 Cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs, well beaten
Take 2 pkgs. dry, fast rising yeast and dissolve in 1 cup of lukewarm water. Then mix with other ingredients in large bowl. Add 7 1/2 cups flour (i had to use almost 8 cups), and knead.
Cover the bowl with aluminum foil and place a dishtowel over it. Place bowl and contents, well covered, in a refrigerator overnight and until the dough has doubled in bulk. Make rolls and place in roll pans, cover with dishtowel and let raise for about 3-4 hours.
I made them into knots and into crescents.
How to make knots: roll a small handful of dough out 12 inches, then tie once into a knot.
crescents: cut the dough into 4 equal parts and then roll it out into a 16 inch circle. Then use the pizza cutter to cut the circle into 16 even triangles. Roll them up like crescent rolls.
-Butter the rolls with melted butter and a pastry brush after they have cooked in the oven.

Cheesecake Apple Streusel

Mmmm.... this was DELICIOUS! Sorry I don't have a picture of this wonderful dessert. It was all gone before I got a chance. Is this a healthy recipe? No. But, was it worth it? YES!!
-Paula Deen included the apple recipe for on top of the cheesecake, but for those who don't like fruit filled things, you could omit the apple recipe and just do the rest and it still would taste great. This is a perfect dessert for the holidays.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 (8-ounce) packages
cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Streusel topping, recipe follows
1/2 cup
caramel topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.
In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Streusel topping. Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping.



Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Kick A*# steak in a crock pot

Haha! I didn't know the name of this recipe so I made up one!! This is the EASIEST and YUMMIEST recipe.

Steaks, any kind, I used New york, cut into strips and put into the crock pot.
1 can campbells french onion soup
1 can creme of mushroom

Let cook on low from noon until dinner time. So tender, flavorful, tasty and easy!!
By:MEG

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Crescent Chicken Rolls

(The picture really doesn't do it justice.)
Cream together:
1 large pkg. cream cheese; softened
1/4 cup butter; softened
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
Add:
2 cups diced, cooked chicken
1 small can mushrooms or 6-7 fresh mushrooms; chopped
2 cans crescent rolls
Put one heaping tbsp. of the creamed mixture in the middle of each roll; pinch sides together.
Roll the filled crescent roll in butter, then a mixture of dried bread crumbs and walnuts (opt.)
Bake at 375* for 20 minutes; then top with gravy.
Gravy:
Mix together 1 can cream of chicken soup and 1 can chicken broth. Heat in saucepan.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Stuffed Beef Tenderloin

I went to buy a beef tenderloin and it was $10.99 per pound. ( I could've just gone to Outback Steakhouse for that price) So I bought a Beef flank steak instead, and it tasted really good. Since the flank steak is a tougher meat, this done in the crock pot would probably make it a little bit more tender. But even still, this meat and recipe has lots of flavor!

2 tbsp. butter
1/4 cup chopped shallots or yellow onion (I used a white onion)
1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1 (1 1/2-pound) beef tenderloin
Salt and pepper
Soy sauce to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400* F.

2. In a medium skillet, melt the butter and cook the onion over low heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook over low heat about 5 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half. Let cool. Butterfly the beef tenderloin by cutting the beef lengthwise down the center to within 1/2 inch of the other side. (or if you use the flank steak, you don't need too!)
Set the beef aside.
3. To stuff the tenderloin, open the beef and rub with soy sauce and sprinkle with pepper and a little bit of salt. Spoon the mushroom mixture down the center of the tenderloin. Roll up the tenderloin and tie it closed. (I used nylon twine, or you can use butcher string) Place beef in roasting pan. I also poured a can of beef broth over and sprinkled again with pepper and Season-All.
4. Roast for 50-60 minutes to get a medium rare to almost medium done-ness. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing. Slice about 1 1/2 inches thick.

My family devoured this. My four year old was requesting seconds! There was no left-overs with this meal. Thanks again, Paula Deen!
*If you do this in a crock pot, cook as directed and use 2-3 cans of beef broth and slow cook for approx. 8 hours on low!

Creamy Shrimp Bisque

2 celery stalks, chopped
1 green onion, chopped
4 tbsp. butter
1 clove garlic, minced (I used 1/2 tsp. store-bought minced garlic)
1/3 cup flour
2 cups half and half
3 1/2 cups fish stock
3 tbsp. chopped parsley
8 oz. cooked shrimp, chopped


-In a medium saucepan add celery, onions, and butter, stirring occasionally. When tender add garlic and mix together. Stir in flour and half and half. Let simmer for 5 min.
-Stir in fish stock and parsley. Cook for 10 minutes until it thickens. Add shrimp and let simmer for 10 min or until heated through. Stir occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.
-When ready, serve with croutons
*A few things I would do differently:
I went to two different stores and neither had fish stock, so I used chicken stock.
I probably would add a 1/2 Cup more half n' half and 1/3 cup more flour, so it's more of a thicker soup. It was really easy to make and tasted great.
Thanks Paula Deen!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Cherry cream cake


1 box of white cake mix
1 pint whipping cream
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 can cherry pie filling
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1. Bake cake according to package directions in a 9x13 inch pan.
2. Pour whipping cream into a bowl and start whipping it just until it begins to be fluffy.
3. Add cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar; mix until smooth.
4. When cake is completely cooled, add cream cheese topping, then spread cherry pie filling on top.
Keep cool, and enjoy!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Easy crockpot chicken

1 bottle catalina dressing
1 small jar apricot preserves
1 envelope Lipton Onion soup mix
chicken
put chicken in crockpot and pour all ingridients over chicken. cook on low all day. serve with rice.
by:MEG

Friday, November 14, 2008

French Dip Sandwiches

2-3 pound beef roast
1 onion,sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
Au jus gravy packet
French rolls

Place your roast in a crock pot. Sprinkle your au jus in and add 3 cups of water. I added extra seasonings such as Season-All and salt and pepper. Slow cook for 8-10 hours. One hour before removing roast, slice and shred it and add your peppers and onion.
Put your roast and veggies on your bread and use the left over au jus to dip in. Very delicious.
*This whole meal cost me less than $5 to make. (Okay, we did already have an elk roast on hand... but still. Very inexpensive. -Also, you would never even know I used venison.
The onions and peppers kick things up a notch!)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Taco Soup

2 cans campbells vegatable beef chunky soup
1 jar of salsa
1 can kidney beans
1 can stewed tomatoes

simmer on stove until hot. add sour creme, cheese and fritos. Yummy and easy!
posted by:MEG

Cream Cheese Chicken



3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8 oz. cream cheese
flour
2 eggs, beaten
club crackers, crushed
Italian Seasoning
Rosemary
Thyme
Sage
Take your chicken breasts and slice in half down the side. (Kind of like your butterflying it, but cut all the way through; this will give you six chicken breasts) Then thin your chicken with a meat mallet or rolling pin. Cut half inch slices of your cream cheese. Roll up a half inch slice of cream cheese in your chicken. Dip rolled-up chicken in flour, then eggs, then in crackers. Place in baking dish. When you have done this to all of your chicken breasts, sprinkle with seasonings and then drizzle melted butter over top. Bake at 350* for one hour- one and a half hours.
Tip: to make this a lower fat meal, I did reduced fat crackers and reduced fat cream cheese and did margarine instead of butter. I thought it tasted just as good!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Rainbow Chicken Roll-Ups


This was a recipe from Sandra Lee off of the Food Network.
It is FABULOUS!
4 chicken breast halves
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
8 to 10 string beans
1 small carrot, julienned or 1 cup shredded carrots
1 red pepper, julienned
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
2 cups jarred marinara sauce
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Using a knife, carefully butterfly each chicken breast 3/4 of the way through. Place chicken breast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and using a meat mallet, rolling pin or heavy bottomed pan pound each breast to 1/4-inch thickness. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.
Lay chicken breasts flat on a cutting board and sprinkle with seasoned salt and Italian seasoning. Place 3 to 4 strips each of the string beans, carrots and red pepper leaving 1/2-inch on the side furthest from you. Sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons cheese. Roll chicken breast up and place seam side down in a baking dish.
Pour marinara sauce over chicken and place in oven. Bake 30 minutes basting with the marinara sauce halfway through cooking.
Remove breasts from pan. To serve slice each breast into 4 or 5 slices and fan on the plate with additional marinara sauce on the side.
(I ended up needing to cook this longer and at a higher temperature. So, you may want to try cooking it at 375* for 25 minutes.)
submitted by Jamie

Funeral Potatoes


1 (32 oz.) bag frozen southern style hash browns
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 pt. sour cream
2 C. shredded cheese (reserving 1 cup)
1/2 C. chopped green onions
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
3/4 C. melted butter
2 C. cornflakes
-Mix all ingredients except for butter and cornflakes. Spread in a 9x13 in. dish. Sprinkle reserved cheese on top. Mix butter and cornflakes and spread over potatoes. Cook in a 350* oven for 45 minutes- one hour.
(I half this recipe and put in a 2 qt. casserole dish and bake for 40 minutes.)
submitted by Jamie

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Tight Budget? Quick, Easy, Yummy & Cheap Meals!

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

makes 4 servings

Pre-heat oven to 400

  • Take two thawed chicken breast, using Shake and Bake, coat chicken. Put in a dish and cook in the oven for 20 to 30 min. or until no longer pink, obviously.

Boil a pot of water, cook Fettuccine

Alfredo:

  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • 4 Tbsp. flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 4 Tbsp. parmesan cheese
  • parsley flakes

Melt butter. Stir in flour until you have a nice paste. Slowly stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thick and bubbly. Stir in garlic salt and salt cook one more minuet. Remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese. Divide pasta into four plates, pour Alfredo over pasta, cut up chicken and put over pasta and Alfredo. Sprinkle parsley on top. Easy as making mac and cheese but 100X better!

* if you have some rolls and want a quick way to take them to the next level, melt some butter and add the garlic powder. Spread lightly on top of your rolls. If you want to take them to the next NEXT level, put some cheese on top of that and bake in the oven with your chicken for 5 min. Works with homemade( put butter and cheese on before baking) and store bought rolls. Your family will appreciate the twist to regular dinner rolls!

Teriyaki Chicken and Yummy Rice

makes 4 servings

Pre-heat oven 400

Take four chicken breast and marinade in a teriyaki sauce (I like the honey teriyaki) for at least one hour up to eight. (great to do before running around all day) Put in dish after marinading and put in the oven for 20 to 30 min. or until chicken is not pink.

  • 1/2 package of Frozen stir fry veggies
  • 1 1/2 cups of water
  • 2 cups of uncle bens minuet brown rice
  • 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce (the one you used for the marinade)

Put water and sauce in a pan until bubbling. Add rice and veggies. Cook 5 min. Let cool then serve.

*I also used a little soy sauce in my marinade/water mix for a kick but that's just up to you!:)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Semi Homemade Way; A meal that is easy and to die for!

I found these recipes off the the food network Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee: Italian Topiary Garden
I made it for Brandon for our anniversary, He loved it!
If you go on there web page they have coupons for certain ingredients.

Fried Cheese Ravioli and Artichoke Caper Dip (appetizer)
For Ravioli:
Ingredients
Vegetable oil, for frying
1 (9-ounce) package 4 cheese ravioli
For Artichoke Caper Dip:
1 (6-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and finely chopped
2 teaspoons capers
2 teaspoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan
1 teaspoon lemon juice
In a straight-sided skillet, heat 2-inches of oil, over medium-high heat. Oil is ready when the tip of a wooden skewer is inserted and the oil bubbles around it.
When oil is ready, carefully fry ravioli until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate
For Artichoke Caper Dip:
In small bowl, combine artichoke hearts, capers, mayonnaise, sour cream, parmesan cheese, and lemon juice; set aside.
Serve ravioli hot with Tomato Pepper Relish and Artichoke Caper Dip.
Penne with Asparagus and Peppers (side)
Ingredients
1 (9-ounce) package frozen cut asparagus
3/4 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup frozen chopped onion
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
1/2 cup roasted red pepper, cut into 1/2-inch strips
1/2 cup roasted yellow pepper, cut into 1/2-inch strips
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
12 ounces penne pasta, cooked per package directions
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
In a large skillet, combine asparagus, stock, onions, garlic, peppers, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil and reduce liquid to 1/4 cup, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Stir in remaining ingredients, except cheese. Toss with hot, cooked pasta. Top with cheese and serve hot.

Italian Beef (main)
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds flank steak
1/2 cup light Italian salad dressing
1 1/2 cups tomato basil pasta sauce
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/4 cup Chianti red wine
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Directions
Rinse steak under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place in large resealable bag. Add salad dressing, 1/2 cup pasta sauce, and garlic to bag. Gently massage to mix marinade. Marinate in refrigerator for 1 to 8 hours.
In a small saucepan combine remaining pasta sauce, wine, and seasoning. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and keep warm.
Remove steak from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking and bring to room temperature. Preheat grill to medium-high. Just before cooking, clean and oil grate.
Remove steak from bag and discard marinade. Place steak on grill. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes per side. Serve hot with warm sauce.
Vanilla-Almond Panna Cotta (dessert)
Ingredients
1 cup almond milk, divided
1 (1/4-ounce) package unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon plus 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chocolate fudge syrup , for garnish
Directions
Pour 1/3 cup almond milk into a small bowl and stir in gelatin; set aside.
In a medium saucepan, stir together heavy cream, remaining almond milk, and sugar. Bring to boil over medium heat, watching carefully as the cream will quickly rise to the top of the pan.
Pour gelatin and almond milk into cream mixture and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Add 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and vanilla extract and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and pour into 6 (4-ounce) individual ramekins.
Leave ramekins uncovered at room temperature to cool. When cool, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (can be left overnight.)
To remove, run a knife around the sides of each ramekin and invert over a serving plate.
In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup chocolate fudge syrup with 1/4 teaspoon almond extract. Drizzle over the top of the panna cottas to decorate top, as desired.
TIP: If panna cotta do not drop freely from ramekins, carefully dip the bottom of the ramekin in hot water. Be careful not to get water in the ramekin

Monday, October 20, 2008

Sweet and Sour Chicken


This is delicious and easy!



Items needed:



2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into cubes)

1 pkg. liption onion soup mix (dry pkg.)

1 bottle of catalina island salad dressing. (fat free is just as good)

1 can pineapple with juice

1 spoonful of apricot jam

salt and pepper to taste

rice



So here it is...



Brown the chicken and season it with salt and pepper, dump in the catalina island dressing, the pineapple with juice, the pkg of liption onion soup mix, and a scoup of apricot jam. Mix it all together and let it simmer while you make the rice. It is quick and easy and very delicious. Serve over brown or white rice and whatever side dish you would like.

Enjoy!!!



Submitted by: Valarie

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Chicken Marsala

1/4 C. Flour
1/2 tsp. dried marjoram, crushed
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 C. sliced fresh mushrooms
1/4 C. sliced green onions
3 tbsp. butter or margarine
1/2 C. chicken broth
1/2 C. dry Marsala wine
4 chicken breast halves, thinned
hot cooked pasta (angel hair or linguine)

1. In a shallow bowl stir together; flour, marjoram, salt, and pepper. Place each breast half between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Using flat side of meat mallet, pound chicken lightly to about 1/4 in. thick. Remove plastic wrap. Lightly coat each chicken breast on both sides w/ flour mixture; shake off excess.
2. In a large skillet cook mushrooms and green onions in 1 tbsp. hot butter over med-high heat until tender; remove from skillet. In the same skillet cook chicken in remaining 2 tbsp. hot butter for 5-6 minutes, turning to brown evenly.
3. Remove skillet from heat. Return mushrooms and green onion to skillet. Carefully add broth and Marsala to skillet. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered for 2 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Season sauce to taste with additional s & p. To serve, spoon mushroom mixture over chicken. If desired, serve over pasta.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

A Yummy Fruit Cream Pie


In a saucepan over medium heat combine:
  • 1/2 C. Chopped Peaches (peeled)
  • 3/4 C. Sugar
  • 2 T. Lemon Juice
  • 2 T. Corn Starch (mixed in 1/2 C. Water)
Cook until translucent. Take off heat and let completely cool (I put it in the refrigerator).

In a bowl cream together:

  • 4 oz. cream cheese
  • 1/2 C. Powder Sugar
  • 1/2 T. vanilla

Fold in small cool whip (12 0z.?). Pour this mixture into a Graham cracker pie crust (I buy them pre-made from the store). Top off with the first mixture. Then add some fresh sliced peaches to the top for fun. And you have a YUMMY, easy pie!

Pumpkin Pie Pancakes




2 c. pancake mix
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1 12oz. evaporated milk
1 cup pumpkin
3 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs

Mix first 3 ingredients in bowl, then add the rest. Cook over medium heat. These take a little longer to cook than normal pancakes, make sure the middle is cooked. Yummy for fall!!
Posted by:MEG!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Layered Pasta Salad


3 Cups medium shell pasta, cooked and drained
1 lg. red onion, sliced
1 pkg. frozen peas, thawed, drained
1 pkg. ham, chopped
1/2 Cup mayonnaise
1/2 Cup Ranch dressing
1 cup Kraft Three Cheese Crumbles
1 Cup halved grape tomatoes

Layer pasta, onions, peas and ham in 3 qt. clear serving bowl; set aside.
Mix mayo and dressing; spread over salad to seal. Top with cheese and tomatoes; cover.
Refrigerate several hours or until chilled. Toss gently before serving.

submitted by Jamie

Friday, September 26, 2008

Magnificent Manicotti

I borrowed this recipe from my friend, Brooke. It's so delicious and very easy to make; well easy for it being manicotti. My family loves this recipe! It's definitely one to make when there is company coming over! 1 lg. container Ricotta cheese
1/2 lb. shredded mozzarella cheese
3 oz. grated Romano cheese (or buy prepared grated Italian Cheese Blend)
1 1/2 tsp. chopped parsley (optional)
2 eggs
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 box long manicotti shells, prepared according to package directions
1 (26 oz) jar Ragu traditional spaghetti sauce
Italian Cheese Blend, sprinkled on top

~Place all ingredients, except shells and spaghetti sauce in a bowl to combine. Season well and place in a Ziploc bag. Cut off corner and squeeze to fill cooked shells. Place some spaghetti sauce in a bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place filled shells on top of sauce. Pour the rest of the spaghetti sauce on top of the shells. Sprinkle Italian cheese on top. Cover and bake 350* for 35 minutes.

Pumpkin bars

This is another one from my friend Brooke. This is a delicious recipe for this time of year. My family devoured these in record time!

Bars:

2 Cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Cups sugar
2 Cups pumpkin
1 Cup oil
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
4 eggs
1 Cup chopped nuts (opt.)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
3 1/2 Cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 stick butter
Bake at 350* for 30 minutes in a jelly roll pan. Frost with cream cheese frosting when cool. (If you like a thicker frosting, double recipe.)

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

German Pancakes: A breakfast food that is great for dinner!




9x13 baking pan, put 1/2 cube butter in. put pan in oven and preheat to 400 degrees.
Mix 6 eggs
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
when butter is all melted, pour mixture into pan.
Cook for 15 min.
top with jam and powder sugar
My favorite!!
BY: Meg

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Crazy Cupcakes!

I was watching "Semi- Homemade cooking" the other day on the Food Network, and Sandra Lee made these way cool cupcakes. I thought, Hey, I could do that. So, I gave it a shot and it turns out these are pretty easy to do!
Step #1: Frost your cupcakes with white frosting.


Step #2: Choose any three gel colors.

(can be found in the baking isle at the grocery store)

Step #3: Make even stripes across the cupcakes with the gel tubes.

Keep the lines evenly spaced.

Step #4: Take a toothpick and drag along the cupcake the opposite direction of the gel colors.
Be sure to wipe the toothpick clean after every swipe.

Step #5: After you've made the stripes, turn the cupcake and do the same going the opposite direction.

Ta Da!! You've got your cupcake!

Now you give it a try!!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Creamy Artichoke Chicken

I wish I could say this was one of my recipes, but it's not. I stole it off someone else's blog. So, thank you to whomever recipe this is. It was FABULOUS!! Even for those who don't care for mushrooms or artichokes, the sauce is reason enough to try this recipe!



4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can chicken broth
1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 Tbsp. butter
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 Cup flour
1/4 Cup butter
1/2 tsp. ground rosemary
2 Tbsp. apple juice
1 (14 oz.) can marinated artichoke hearts
1/2 Cup Parmesan cheese
3/4 Cup half and half
Saute mushrooms in 2 Tbsp. butter until golden brown. Set aside. Slice chicken breasts in two. Simmer in chicken broth for 15-20 minutes. Remove from broth, reserving 3/4 Cup broth. Arrange chicken in a large casserole dish. Top with artichokes and mushrooms; set aside. Melt 1/4 Cup butter in saucepan and stir in flour, salt, pepper, broth and half and half. Cook until thick. Remove from heat and blend in cheese, apple juice, and rosemary. Pour over chicken. Cover and bake at 325 for 30 minutes.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Imitation Cafe Rio Salad Dressing (pretty darn close)

1 packet ranch seasoning
1 cup mayo
1 cup milk
a couple garlic cloves
a couple cilantra sprigs (is that a word?)
1/8-1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper
3 tomatillos

blend ingredients in blender then add

1 cup sour cream

(I usually add a ton of garlic and cilantro because I love those flavors. I also use the olive oil mayo and fat-free milk so it is healthier and I think it tastes just as good).

Posted by Brianne Larsen

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Fudge Kiss Krinkles

Calling all you chocolate lovers; this one's for you!!
1 box Devils' Food cake mix
1/2 Cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
powdered sugar
24 Hershey kisses
Preheat oven to 350*. Mix together cake mix, oil, eggs, and vanilla. When it's all mixed together, shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll each ball in powdered sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet 1-2 inches apart. (or 12 per cookie sheet) Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Add 1 Hershey kiss in the center of each cookie immediately after removing from oven.
Cool completely and enjoy!

submitted by Jamie

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Melt-in-your-mouth Pancakes

Whoever knew that Bisquick could have such a delectable recipe on the back of their box?
Your family will devour these, they are so delicious!
2 Cups pancake mix
1 Cup Milk
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
chocolate chips (optional)
Mix ingredients all together, except for the choc. chips. Pour onto a preheated 350 degree griddle. Flip pancakes over when edges start to go dry.
I add the chocolate chips right after I pour the batter onto the griddle.

The Finished Product


I use up all my batter and freeze the leftover pancakes in individual sandwich bags.

They taste great reheated, too.

submitted by Jamie