Fun in the Kitchen

Yummy Chicken Pockets

2009-11-05T13:42:00.001-08:00

Ingredients Needed:

2 cups cooked chicken - diced
4 oz onion chive flavored cream cheese
~1 tbsp milk
salt and pepper to taste
seasoned bread crumbs
melted butter
1 container of 8 crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix chicken, cream cheese, milk, salt and pepper.
Unroll your crescent rolls and lay them into squares - two rolls = one square.
Spoon mixture into the middle of each square, then take the corners up and fold over the mixture.
Brush each pocket with melted butter and sprinkle the seasoned breadcrumbs over each one.
Bake for 20 minutes on cookie sheet.

Enjoy!!

Cleaning out the Microwave

2009-11-05T13:40:00.000-08:00

Kitchen Tip:

I hate this chore - cannot stand it. I scrub and scrub and yet it takes forever. But my wonderful wise sister gave me the greatest tip - place a bowl (microwaveable safe) filled with water in the microwave and turn the microwave on for about 10 minutes. Then simply remove the bowl and wipe the microwave clean. The steam from the water makes wiping it clean oh so simple.

Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Dip

2009-04-03T11:51:00.001-07:00

Ingredients Needed:

1 8oz pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1 med. tomato diced - or you can substitute ~ 1/4 cup of canned diced tomato
1/4 cup real bacon bits (the soft kind, not the hard crunchy ones)
1/2 cup chopped celery (chopped really fine)
2 tbs. chopped onion
1 tsp sugar

Blend and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. Can be served in lettuce like a lettuce wrap or with pita chips, pretzels or crackers of your choice.

Best Mexican Chicken Dish EVER

2009-04-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

And so EASY!!!

Ingredients Needed:

4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (frozen, no need to thaw ladies - I said it was EASY)
1 15oz can of black beans, drained
1 15oz can of corn, drained
1 15oz jar salsa of your choice
8oz pkg. cream cheese

Place chicken, black beans, corn and salsa in crockpot. Allow to cook 4-5 hours on HIGH. Then add 8oz cream cheese and allow to cook for another 30-45min.

Great served in flour tortilla with a side of mexican rice, or on top of white rice or with tortilla chips. This stuff is WONDERFULLY ADDICTIVE.

My biggest Food Critic

2009-03-23T13:04:00.000-07:00

Bun in the Oven

2009-02-25T11:24:00.000-08:00

Sorry, I've lapsed in posting new recipes....been just a little busy over here with a "bun in the oven" if ya know what I mean :)

Chinese Chicken Salad

2009-01-30T12:35:00.000-08:00

I got this one from a fellow mom here in B-ham and it is delish - I couldn't help but share it with you.

Ingredients Needed:

1 bag angel hair shredded slaw
2 pkgs. ramen noodles, oriental flavor, uncooked and crushed
1/2 cup sunflower seeds or slivered almonds (I made mine with almonds)
1/2 rotisserie chicken breast (the kind you can buy daily at your local deli)
2 1/2 T. sugar
6 T. vinegar
pepper to taste
1/4 cup e.v.o. oil
1/4. tsp salt (if using almonds)
2 pkgs of spice from oriental noodles

Combine slaw, crushed noodles, almonds and chicken and toss in big bowl.

Mix sugar, vinegar, pepper, oil, salt and spice packages to create dressing. Pour over salad and mix well.

Serve!

Strawberry Salad

2009-01-22T12:28:00.001-08:00

Ingredients Needed:

1 large box of strawberry jello
1 large container of frozen strawberries (thawed, but not drained)
4 oz cream cheese
8 oz cool whip
1/2 c. confect. sugar

Disolve jello in 2 cups boiling water, add the whole container of strawberries.

Chill half in a big bowl (the one you plan on using while serving this dish) until jelled.

Mix cream cheese, cool whip and confect. sugar. Spread evenly on top of jelled mixture. Let stand for about 1 minute. Carefully pour remaining jello/strawberry mixture on top and allow to jell thoroughly. Best to make this dish the night before serving.
Enjoy!

Meatloaf My Way

2009-01-19T11:46:00.000-08:00

The great (and sometimes not so great) thing about meatloaf is that everyone makes it a little different. Here's my simple meatloaf:

Ingredients Needed:

1 egg
1/4 c. milk
1/3 c. crushed saltine crackers
3 tbsp. chopped onion
1/4 tsp salt
dash pepper
~ 2 lbs. hamburger
1/4 c. ketchup
4 tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. worstechirer sauce

*note: I never actually measure my meatloaf ingredients so these are all approximations.

Preheat oven to 350.

Beat egg, then add milk, crackers, salt, pepper and onion. Then mix in your uncooked hamburger. Shape into two loaves and place in greased baking dish.

Combine ketchup, brown sugar and wors. sauce and sppon over the two loaves.

Bake for 75 minutes.

Coffee Talk

2009-01-19T11:33:00.000-08:00

I've decided to name my "fun in the kitchen" posts (the one's where I'm rambling about a kitchen related topic) - Coffee Talk. So pull up a chair and a cup of coffee cause here I go -

Some of my most favorite and treasured gifts are my family recipes.

As a wedding gift my husband's aunt gave us the Favorite recipe book, in which she bought an empty notebook with the cute little design on the cover and took the time to write out some of my husband's family's favorite recipes, along with a picture of the individual to which the recipe began and sometimes even the actual recipe card with that person's handwriting on it. I LOVE it!! Then as a gift from my father, we received the recipe card box - but not empty. He took the time to copy all of his, my mother's and grandparents recipes onto notecards and filled the box with many family favorites.

These two gifts mean so much to me and they are the kind that keep on giving :) I love to go into these recipes to find something old or something new and try it out. What are some of your favorite gifts??

Menu Planning

2009-01-14T12:56:00.000-08:00

I found the following Menu Planner at http://www.homemadesimple.com/. (If you haven't checked out this site you need to - I love it). You can print the following menu planner and fill out week by week. Creating your family's meals in advance can save you money at the grocery store as well as save you from making those "last minute" trips every other day :)
http://www.homemadesimple.com/en_US/tvshow/frag/jspincludes/menu_planner.pdf

Sneaky Spinach

2009-01-10T12:39:00.000-08:00

My Little Man (LM) loves cheese quesadillas - He would eat them everyday if I let him. But I wanted to make them a tad bit more healthy soo...I just added spinach. This is kid tested and approved and so easy to make. I just cut the stems off fresh baby spinach and chopped the leaves up very finely, then mixed it in with the shredded cheddar cheese before placing it between the tortillas.

Chicken Croquettes

2008-10-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

Similar to Salmon Patties - but a chicken version.

Ingredients Needed:

1 chicken cooked and chopped
1 pkg. crackers
salt and pepper
1 c celery
2 eggs

Place chicken , celery and crackers in blender. Blend until mixture is very fine. Add eggs, salt and pepper. Roll into balls. Coat with one egg and cracker crumbs. Fry until golden brown.

Little Man's Oatmeal Cookies

2008-10-16T18:16:00.000-07:00

A favorite of my little guy!

Ingredients Needed:
1 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 cups oats

In bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla

Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon - stir into creamed mixture

Mix in Oats

Cover and let chill in fridge for at least 1 hour

Preheat oven to 35.

Grease cookie sheet. Roll dough into small balls and flatten with fork. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes.

Enjoy!!!

Gran's Tamali Pie

2008-07-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

YUMMY!!

Ingredients Needed:

2lb. lean ground beef
1 med. green pepper
1/2 chopped onion
1 can of condensed nacho cheese soup (can be found with the other campbells soups)
1 2 1/4 oz can of sliced pitted ripe olives, drained
1 jar mild chunky salsa
1/4 cup water
2 8oz pkgs jiffy corn muffin mix
shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese

In a deep skillet (or pot) cook ground beef, peppers and onions unitl meat is brown, drain grease

Stir in soup, olives, salsa and water. Bring to boil and reduce heat. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes then remove from heat.

Meanwhile, prepare corn muffin mix according to package directions. Spread 1/2 batter into a greased 13x9 baking dish. Spoon hot meat mixture over the muffin mix. Carefully spread the remaining corn muffin batter over the meat mixture.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 - 35 minutes or until muffin layer is golden. Top w/cheese.

Makes 10 servings.

Great served with sourcream.

Zucchini Bread

2008-07-15T11:05:00.001-07:00

Ingredients Needed:

3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3 tsp ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups white sugar
3 tsp vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini **

Grease and flour two 8x4 bread pans
Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Sift flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon in a bowl

In seperate bowl - beat eggs, oil, vanilla and sugar. Add in dry ingredients and beat well. Stir in zucchini.

Bake for 60 minutes.
As a side note, this is a runny/soupy bread mixture, it is supposed to be that way so please don't think you did something wrong.

** The key to my bread (the best zucchini bread that is) is to zest and not grate the zucchini (yes this will take a lot longer, but makes the bread oh so much better - not dry at all!!!!)

Cream Lasagna

2008-05-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

First let me just tell you....this Lasagna is HEAVENLY!!!!

Ingredients Needed:
1 pkg lasagna noodles
tomato meat sauce (see below for ingredients)
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 lbs. mozzerella cheese (sliced thin)
cream sauce (see below for ingredients)
15oz. ricotta cheese

Cook Lasagna noodles according to pkg. directions.

Tomato Meat Sauce:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 med. onion diced
1 clove garlic
2 lbs ground beef
1/2 lb. pork sausage
1 lg can tomatoes (1lb, 15 oz)
2 cans tomato paste (6oz cans)
1 tbsp. salt
1 tsp oregano
1 bay leaf

Saute the olive oil, onion and garlic. Then add the ground beef and sausage, brown and drain the excess grease. Then add the remaing tomato sauce ingredients and allow to cook on low for 1 hour.

Cream Sauce:
Melt 1/4 cup butter
Add 1/4 cup flour
add 2 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste
Cook on medium until thick

In a 5 quart baking dish pour 1/3 meat sauce. Lay 6 or 7 noodles in dish. Spread 1/3 remaing meat sauce over noodles. Sprinkle 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Top with 6 or 7 noodles. Arange mozzerella cheese over noodles. Spread hot cream sauce over mozz. cheese. Top w/remaining noodles. Spoon dollops of ricotta over lasagna. Spread with remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle w/ remaining parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 for one hour.

From Gran's Kitchen.

Money Crunching in the Kitchen

2008-04-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

So, gas is going to be $4 a gallon and food prices are on the rise!!! If you are like me, you are constantly looking for ways to save a dollar here and there. I'm noticing that a lot of our money goes to the grocery store, a little here and a little there add up to ALOT. The key I'm deciding is a little menu planning and limiting my grocery trips to just once a week (vs. almost every other day) - which is not as easy as it sounds. So, in addition to taking inventory of what I have in stock, keeping a running list of what I need (and taking the list with me and sticking to it - so I don't forget anything), I have decided (based on topics of discussion amongst my mommy friends here in AL) that menu planning is a big key. I've decided to post a menu for one week (and I plan on doing this every so often).....I'm doing this with hopes that it will help you as well as inspire you to share your tips with me :)

Week 1

Dinner Numero Uno: Meatball Sandwiches
Dinner Dos: Roast and Veggies
Dinner Tres: Spaghetti and Meatballs
Dinner Quatro: Italian Beef Sandwiches
Dinner Cinqo: Pizza and Salad

What you'll need (be sure to check your pantry before heading to the grocery - you may have some of this in stock):

1 Bag of Frozen Meatballs
Noodles
Hoagie Buns (to be used for the meatball sandwiches and italian beef)
Spaghetti1 BIG jar/can of tomato sauce (one for spaghetti and one for the meatball sandwiches)
1 Roast (cut in 1/2 once you get home - use 1/2 for the roast and 1/2 for italian beef)
1 frozen pizza
1 bag of salad mix (you can make 1/2 for the spaghetti night and the other 1/2 for pizza night)
1 jar of mild peppercini pepper
Beef Boullion Cubes
Italian Seasoning
Veggies of choice for Roast Night
Beer (used in Italian Beef - and for relieving stress :)

Tomato Soup

2008-04-23T13:47:00.001-07:00

Ingredients Needed:
2 cans crushed tomatoes
1 can chix broth
basil to taste
1 - 2 Tsp. Sugar
2 cup whipping cream (or sub. half and half)
5 tbsp. butter

Bring tomotoes and broth to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for ~ 10 min.
Add in basil and sugar, then add whipping cream and butter. Allow to cook (stirring occasionally) until butter and cream have melted.

Serve with good ol' fashioned grilled cheese.

No Bake Cookies

2008-02-29T14:31:00.000-08:00

Ingredients Needed:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
2tbs. cocoa
1 tsp salt
3 cups oats
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup coconut

Combine sugar, milk, butter, cocoa and salt in large sauce pan and bring to a boil - remove from heat. Stir in oats, coconut and vanilla.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool.

YUMMY

I've been tagged!

2008-02-12T19:49:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by Heidi - Tasty Sensations and reminded of the tag by Krista - Delishhious Dishes. (Have you checked out their sites?? Very good recipes!)

Food Facts About Me:
1) I cook one new dish every week.
2) I can't stand for my food to touch on a plate
3) I burn bread almost every time I cook it.
4) The first time I make a dish I follow the recipe to the 't', but then I tend to modify it to my tastes.
5) I eat my food in order of least fav. to most fav.

Yummy Jelled Hearts

2008-02-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

Ingredients Needed:
2 pkgs cherry flavored jello
1 pkg vanilla instant pudding mix
2 1/2 cups boiling water
1 cup cold milk

In a small bowl, mix jello with water until dissolved -set aside for 30 minutes
After the 30 minutes---
In another small bowl, whisk pudding with milk for about 1 minute then quickly add it to jello mixture, whisking until well blended.
Pour into an oiled 9x12x2 pan. Let sit in refrigerator until well chilled and set.

Use cookie cutter to make hearts (or any other shape you choose - since LOVE is in the air right now - I went with hearts)

This is a great finger food for festive parties - little ones will enjoy!

Easy Italian Chicken

2008-01-11T12:22:00.000-08:00

So easy and done in crock pot all day!!!

Ingredients Needed:
3 chicken breasts
1 can of chicken broth
1 packet of Italian Seasoning
1 80z package of cream cheese
1 can of cream of chicken
Egg Noodles OR White Rice

In the morning place three uncooked, thawed boneless, skinless chicken breasts in your crock pot with one can of Chicken Broth and One packet of Italian Seasoning (used for Italian Dressing). Let this cook all day on low.

About 45 minutes or so before serving (after it has cooked for about 7-8hours), add in 1 8oz thing of SOFTENED cream cheese and 1 can of cream of chicken soup. Let this cook on HIGH in the crockpot until well blended (cream cheese will have completely melted). Or I do this by taking everything out of the crock pot and placing it in a big pot on the stove....it's quicker b/c you can turn the heat up high and stir.

This is great on top of Egg Noodles or White Rice!

Enjoy

Chicken Florentine

2008-01-11T12:17:00.000-08:00

Ingredients Needed:
2 cans of crescent rolls
1 10oz can of chicken
10oz frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix all ingredients (except crescent rolls) with mixer until blended thouroughly.
Seperate the uncooked dough of the crescent rolls so that you have 16 triangles, spoon the mixture onto the widest part of each crescent roll and wrap the crescent roll around mixture. Bake for 20 minutes. For a festive touch at Christmas you can layer your crescent rolls onto one another into the shape of a circle with the triangular points pointing out, then spoon on your mixture and fold the triangular part over it (it will bake and look like a beautiful wreath!)

Christmas Spiced Tea

2007-11-26T18:38:00.001-08:00

1 cup instant tea (dry)
2 cup dry Tang
3 cups sugar (may use 1 1/2 cups sugar sub + 1 1/2 cups sugar)
1/2 cup red hots (candy)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp powdered cloves
1 pkg. Wylers lemonade mix

Boil all ingredients in water - serve hot!

(This makes 1 1/2 quarts!! - for 1 cup add 1 heaping tblsp. to 1 cup hot water)

Gingerbread Cookies

2007-11-26T18:35:00.001-08:00

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp allspice
1 1/2 sticks of margarine
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour

Mix all dry ingredients. In a seperate bowl, mix all wet ingredients and add to dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly.

Allow to chill 4 - 6 hours (or overnight).

Preheat oven to 375.

Roll dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Place on ungreased cookie sheet for 8 - 19 minutes.

Blizzard Party Mix

2007-11-26T18:29:00.000-08:00

Ingredients Needed:
2 cups oven toasted cereal squares
2 cups small pretzel twists
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
1 cup coarsley chopped caramels
2 12oz packages white chocolate morsels

Spray 13x9 inch baking dish w/non-stick spray

combine cereal, pretzels, peanuts and caramels in large bowl

microwave white choc. for ~ 1minute. Stir until smooth and pour over cereal mixture - stir to coat evenly.

Spread mix into baking dish and let stand for 20 - 30 minutes, break into candy pieces.

Enjoy!

The Best Potato Soup Ever

2007-11-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

5 POTATOES, DICED 1 CAN CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP
2 C WATER 1 CAN CREAM OF CELERY SOUP
1TSP SALT 2 C MILK
1 TSP GARLIC SALT PEPPER TO TASTE
1 MEDIUM ONION CHOPPED BACON BITS
1 8OZ CREAM CHEESE CHEDDAR CHEESE

COOK POTATOS IN WATER UNTIL TENDER, ADD NEXT 8 INGREDIENTS AND SIMMER UNTIL DESIRED THICKNESS. TOP WITH BACON AND CHEESE

Recipe given to me by my Sis! :)

Creamy Chicken w/Wild Rice Soup

2007-11-11T18:36:00.000-08:00

1 1/3 C WILD RICE
1 WHOLE CHICKEN
7 C OF WATER
1 C OF CHOPPED CELERY
1 C CHOPPED ONION
2 TBSP VEGETABLE OIL
1 C FRESH SLICED MUSHROOMS
2 CHICKEN BOUILLON CUBES
3/4 TSP GROUND WHITE PEPPER
1/2 TSP SALT
1/2 C MARGARINE( 1 STICK)
3/4 C ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
4 C MILK
3/4 C WHITE WINE

1. COOK THE WILD RICE ACCORDING TO PACKAGE DIRECTIONS, BUT REMOVE FROM HEAT ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT'S DONE. DRAIN THE EXCESS LIQUID AND SET ASIDE.

2. IN A STOCK POT OVER HIGH HEAT, COMBINE THE CHICKEN AND THE WATER. BRING TO A BOIL, AND THEN REDUCE HEAT TO LOW. SIMMER FOR 40 MINUTES, OR UNTIL CHICKEN IS COOKED AND TENDER. REMOVE CHICKEN FROM THE POT AND ALLOW TO COOL. STRAIN THE BROTH FROM THE POT AND RESERVE FOR LATER. WHEN CHICKEN IS COOL, REMOVE THE MEAT FROM THE BONES, CUT INTO BITE SIZE PIECES, AND RESERVE.

3. IN THE SAME STOCK POT OVER MEDIUM HEAT SAUTE THE CELERY AND ONION IN THE OIL FOR 5 MINUTES.ADD THE MUSHROOMS, AND COVER. COOK FOR 5-10 MINUTES, STIRRING OCCASIONALLY, UNTIL EVERYTING IS TENDER. RETURN THE BROTH TO THE STOCK POT, AND ADD THE PARTIALLY COOKED WILD RICE. STIR IN THE BOUILLON, WHITE PEPPER AND SALT, SIMMER, UNCOVERED FOR 15 MINS.

4. MEANWHILE, MELT MARGARINE IN A MEDIUM SAUCEPAN OVER MEDIIUM HEAT. STIR IN THE FLOUR UNTIL SMOOTH. WHISK IN THE MILK.AND CONTINUE COOKING UNTIL MIXTURE IS BUBBLY AND THICK. ADD SOME OF THE BROTH MIXTURE TO THE MILK MIXTURE, CONTINUING TO STIR THEN STIR ALL OF THE MILK MIXTURE INTO THE BROTH MIXTURE.

5. MIX IN THE RESERVED CHICKEN MEAT AND THE WHITE WINE. ALLOW THIS TO HEAT THROUGH FOR ABOUT 15 MINS.
ENJOY!!!

From the kitchen of Tonya Tucker (a.k.a. my sis)

Warm Chicken Spread

2007-11-11T18:34:00.000-08:00

2 80Z CREAMCHEESE
1 C SOUR CREAM
2 CHICKEN BOULLION CUBES
1 CUP OF CHEDDAR CHESSE( OR MORE)
1/2 C SLICED ALMONDS
3 CHICKEN BREAST COOKED AND SHREDDED

MIX FIRST THREE INGREDIENTS, THAN THE NEXT THREE.
BAKE IN DISH AT 350 FOR ABOUT 20-25 MINS.
I USUALLY PUT THE CHEDDAR CHEESE IN THE MIX THAN WHEN I SPREAD IT IN MY PAN,
SPRIKLE MORE ON TOP THAN MY ALMONDS ON TOP. EAT WITH CRACKERS OR PRETZELS.

Given to me by my sis! Enjoy :)

Peanut Butter Candies

2007-11-05T19:10:00.000-08:00

Ingredients Needed:

1 cup sugar
1 cup white corn syrup
1 1/2 cups of peanut butter
6 cups of corn flakes

Combine sugar and syrup in sauce pan and bring to boil - boil for about 3 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in PB, then add corn flakes.

Drop by the teaspoonfuls onto wax paper to set.

Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip

2007-11-05T19:05:00.000-08:00

Ingredients Needed:

2 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped ( I only use one can-but I'm not an artichoke fan)
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 8 oz. container sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 8 oz. brick cream cheese
1 cup grated Romano, Parmesan, Asiago cheeses
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Mix all ingredients together with electric mixer or food processor. Pour into a baking dish and bake for 30 - 45 minutes (until the middle starts bubbling) at 350 degrees. Best with tortilla chips!

Garlic Cheese Ball

2007-11-05T19:03:00.000-08:00

Ingredients Needed:
2 8oz. packages of cream cheese - softened
1/2 cup of butter
1 tbsp. dijon mustard
1tsp. minced garlic
1 ounce pkg. of ranch dressing mix

Mix all ingredients in large bowl with electric mixer. Refrigerate for 6 - 8hrs/or overnight. Form into a ball and serve with crackers or pita chips!

Caramel Apples

2007-10-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

Ingredients Needed:
6 apples
1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
2 tablespoons milk

Remove the stem from each apple and press a craft stick into the top. Butter a baking sheet.
Place caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave 2 minutes, stirring once. Allow to cool briefly.
Roll each apple quickly in caramel sauce until well coated. Place on prepared sheet to set.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

2007-10-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

Ingredients Needed:
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
3/4 cup white sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 prepared 8 inch pastry shells

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Beat together the cream cheese and the sugar, add the pumpkin and the spices. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add salt. Beat until creamy. Pour the batter evenly into the two pastry shells.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 minutes or until the knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool then top with whipped topping, if desired.

Cheese Ball

2007-10-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

Ingredients Needed:

2 packages of cream cheese
1/2 cup of sour cream
1 - 2 tsp onion soup mix
Chopped Pecans

Mix cream cheese, sour cream and onion soup mix well. Try to somewhat form into a ball shape and refrigerate in covered bowl for a few hours (you can let it sit overnight as well).
After it has refrigerate it is more formable, form into a ball and roll in chopped pecans. Serve with crackers of your choice.

Banana Nut Bread

2007-10-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

Ingredients Needed:
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter
1 egg
2 cups self-rising flour
2 - 3 ripened bananas
1 cup nuts (optional)
1 tsp vanilla

Cream sugar and butter, then add egg and mix well. Alternate adding flour and mashed bananas until blended. Add in vanilla and nuts.
Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees

No Bake Cookies

2007-10-16T14:41:00.001-07:00

One of my childhood favorites!

Ingredients Needed:
2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 cup butter
3tbs. cocoa
1 tsp of salt
3 cups of oats
1 tsp of vanilla
1/2 cup of nuts (optional - I prefer without)
1 cup coconut

Combine sugar, milk, butter, cocoa and salt in large sauce pan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in oats, coconut, vanilla and nuts. Drop from teaspoon onto waxed paper. Let cool and serve!

Old Fashioned Peach Cake

2007-10-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

Ingredients Needed:
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 can peach pie filling
3 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional)

for topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter (best when cold)
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In large bowl combine dry cake mix, pie filling, eggs, vanilla and nuts. Beat at low speed for about 1 minute, then for 2 minutes at medium speed. Spread batter into greased 9x13 pan.

Combine your topping ingredients in a bowl and use a fork (not a mixer) to mush together until it creates a sugary crumble mix. Sprinkle evenly over batter.

Bake for 40 45 minutes.

OPTION: if you want to add a glaze after baking - mix 2 cups of confectioners sugar, ~ 2 tbsp or so of milk and 1 tsp of vanilla, spoon over warm baked cake.

Great with coffee time or anytime!

Thanks to my sis for a wonderful recipe.

Feel free to mix up the pie filling - apple would be good too!

Crunch Bar

2007-10-16T14:29:00.001-07:00

Ingredients Needed:

1 column saltine crackers (from 4pk. package)
2 sticks of butter
1 cup of light brown sugar
12 oz. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Layer saltines on foil lined 15x10 pan. Boil butter and sugar fro 3 min. Pour or spoon butter-sugar mixture over saltines. Bake at 400 for 7 minutes (watch carefully)
Remove from oven and immediately spread morsels over top - don't let it cool at all before spreading the chocolate - (you could even do this on the oven door)

Cool in refrigater. Then break into candy size pieces - it's a treat for all!

I got this recipe from our Aunt Dotti in a family cookbook that she gave us for our wedding.

Kathy's Texas Potatoes

2007-10-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

Ingredients Needed:

2 - 3 cups of cornflakes
3/4 stick of butter

2 lbs of frozen hashbrowns
1/2 cup frozen onions
16 oz sour cream
12 oz of shredded cheddar cheese
1 can of cream of chicken soup

Mix the hashbrowns, onions, sour cream, cheddar cheese and soup and place in a greased 9x13 pan. Mix the melted butter with the crushed cornflakes and place on top of first mixture. Bake at 325 for 1 hour.

Fruit Dip

2007-10-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

1 8 oz package of cream cheeze
1 13oz jar of marshmellow cream

Mix and Chill.

Great with grapes, strawberries, honeydew, cantaloupe, apples, blue berries...any fruit of your choice!!!

Kathy Hill's Italian Beef

2007-10-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

4 -5 lb. tip or rump roast
1 jar mild pepercini peppers
oregeno
Italian Seasoning
Boullion Cubes
Beer

Chunk uncooked roast with knife and place in crock pot
Drain juice from peppercini jar and cut off stems - place peppers in with roast
Add 1 tsp oregeno, 1 tsp Italian Seasoning, 4 -5 bouillion cubes, 1 cup hot water, and 1 bottle of beer.

Cook all day on low and serve on hoagie rolls!

Puppy Chow

2007-10-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

Ingredients Needed:

9 cups chex cereal
1 cup choc. chips (semi sweet)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 stick of butter
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Put cereal in BIG bowl (great if you have lid for this---like a big tupperware bowl)
Combine choc., peanut butter and butter - microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes - stir until smooth.
Add in vanilla - stir.
Pour over cereal and stir until all cereal is coated.
Pour in the powdered sugar and stir/shake ( shaking is best).

Great at football nights, game nights, etc....

Fresh Fruit Salad

2007-10-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

1 can of peach pie filling
1 can drained pineapple chunks
3 sliced bananas
2 pints of strawberries (you can use frozen, thaw and drain juice)

Mix all together and chill in refrigerator before serving.

Homemade Biscuits - YUMMY

2007-10-04T09:38:00.001-07:00

Ingredients Needed:
2 cups self rising flour
7/8 cup of milk
3 tbsp crisco.

Mix crisco into flour unti it is a meal. Add milk and stir until flour is damp. Place on surface covered in flour and knead lightly. Roll out and cut (round cookie cutter, round glass, whatever you have).

Bake at 425 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Pie

2007-10-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
2 whole eggs beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 stick of cooled melted butter
1 cup choc. chips
1/2 cup of walnuts (optional)
1 unbaked pie shell

Mix all ingredients and pour into pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes.
Best Served with Cool Whip

Tiramisu

2007-10-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

GREAT ITALIAN DESSERT

(must make 24 hours in advance)

Ingredients Needed:

6 eggs seperated
1 lb. marscapone cheese (do NOT substitute)
36 lady fingers
2 1/2 cups of STRONG Italian coffee
1/2 cup dry marsala wine
13tbsp. sugar
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa

Directions:
1. in large bowl use electic miser to beat egg yolks and sugar until fluffy
2. add marscapone cheese and hand mix w/spoon until combined
3. whip egg whites until stiff peaks form adn then fold them in gently w/marscapone cheese mixture.
4. split mixture into thirds.
5. add cocoa to on of thirds.
6. spread one third of mixture (w/out cocoa) onto bottom of a cake dish 11 3/4 x 8 3/4
7. Quickly dip both ends of lady fingers into coffee and layer into dish.
8. Cover this layer with the third marscapone mixture that does have the cocoa in it.
9. Add wine to remainder of coffee and dip remainder of lady fingers into it and layer it onto the chocolate mixture.
10. Layer the last third of marscapone mixture (without cocoa).
11. Sprinkle some cocoa powder over top thru a fine mesh strainer (presentational purpose only)
12. Refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.

Ham & Cheese Quiche

2007-10-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

Ingredients Needed:

1 unbaked pie shell (as the blog states...SIMPLE RECIPES :)
1/2 cup grated cheese
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1 1/2 cups of grated ham
4 eggs
1 cup evaporated milk

Layer cheese, onion and ham in pie shell. Beat eggs and milk until smooth. Pour over first mixture. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes.

Very Easy BBQ Chicken

2007-10-03T19:06:00.000-07:00

Ingredients Needed:
160z of Diet Coke (trust me)
1 cup of BBQ Sauce (your choice)
1/2 cup of ketchup
boneless, skinless chicken tenders

Bring diet coke to a boil in a frying pan.
Add BBQ sauce and Ketchup - bring to a boil.
Lower heat to medium and add uncooked chicken tenders

Cover and let simmer for 45 minutes, turning your chix tenders every once in awhile.

Ready to serve...the way the chicken just falls apart will amaze you!

Spaghetti Pie

2007-10-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

I got this delicious recipe from my sis...hope you enjoy!

Ingredients
Angel Hair Pasta
Tomato Sauce (your choice)
Hamburger (optional)
8 oz cream cheese
8 oz sour cream
Shredded Mozzerela Cheese

Cook desired amount of pasta and place in bottom of casserole dish
Brown hamburger and drain - add tomato sauce to cooked hamburger

Cut up an 8 oz package of cream cheese and layer on top of pasta. Spread a thin layer of sour cream on top of that. Pour your meat sauce on top and cover with mozarella cheese!

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Serve with salad and garlic bread

Easy Chicken Casserole

2007-10-03T18:57:00.001-07:00

Ingredients Needed:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can of cream of chicken (or cream of mushroom)
1/2 small container of sour cream
Ritz crackers
Butter (melted)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Boil your chicken breasts until thouroughly cooked (about 20 min)
Drain, cool and chop.

Mix: cream of chicken and sourcream. Fold in chicken. Place in a baking dish.

Crush your crackers and soak with the melted butter. Spread this over your chicken mixture in baking dish...covering the whole dish.

Bake for 20 minutes and serve.

Good Southern Casserole....make a few vegetables for a side dish and you have yourself a meal!

Easy Apple Dumplins

2007-10-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

Ingredients Needed:

2 cans of crescent rolls
2 apples (peeled, cored and cut into slices)
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1 stick of butter (melted)
1 cup of diet mtn. dew (trust me on this one)

First, roll each apple slice in a crescent roll to create your dumplins and place them in a baking dish.
Then mix your cinnamon, sugar and butter. Spoon the mixture over each dumplin.
Next pour the Mtn. Dew over the entire dish.

Bake uncovered for 45 minutes at 375 degrees -basting about every 10 minutes.

A family favorite!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

2007-10-03T18:39:00.000-07:00

Ingredients Needed:
2 8oz packages of light cream cheese (softened)
2 cups of ranch dressing
1 cup of Frank's Red Hot Sauce
3 large, skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Boil the chicken until thoroughly cooked then shred into small pieces.

Mix the cream cheese, ranch dressing and hot sauce in large bowl. Fold in the chicken.

Place in a baking dish and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

*Optional: Put shredded cheddar cheese on top for last 10 minutes of baking.

Good with Tortilla Chips or Celery.

Loved at all get togethers...