Nilla Waffer

When I was seven and lived in Oregon I was invited to dinner at a friends, it was one of those leave it to Beaver families, they had a nice house a very nice dining room and they sat at the table for dinner. Well almost 40 years later I still remember the dessert she made. I have no idea what she had for dinner just the dessert served in a glass dish. Hey I was only seven. Well I am getting older and for some reason lots of memories are coming back from when I was little and living in Oregon, I think because I have so many wonderful memories living there. We won't talk about the time on Christmas moring we locked my Mom out of the house in the snow. :o) My brother and I thought it was funny, needless to say she had on a nightgown and now shoes. But she does laugh about it now and I do remember her laughing then about it also.  But back to the recipe, it is one from many years ago using Nilla waffers and I bet you all have either had it before or seen the recipe. I had my youngest son make it with me for tonights dessert.

3/4 cup sugar, divided
1/3 cup flour
dash salt
3 eggs, separated
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
45 NILLA Wafers, divided
5 bananas, sliced

MIX 1/2 cup sugar, flour and salt in top of double boiler. Blend in 3 egg yolks and milk. Cook, uncovered, over boiling water 10 to 12 min. or until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
RESERVE 12 wafers for garnish. Spread small amount of custard onto bottom of 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Cover with layers of 1/3 each of the remaining wafers, bananas and remaining custard. Repeat layers 2 times.
BEAT egg whites on high speed of mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar until stiff peaks form. Spread over custard, sealing well to edge of dish.
BAKE 15 to 20 min. or until lightly browned. Cool slightly. Top with reserved wafers just before serving.

Peanut Butter~Oatmeal~Chocolate Chip Cookies

From: For the Love of Cooking

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Using an electric mixer, combine melted butter and granulated sugar until fluffy. Add peanut butter and brown sugar, beating well until thoroughly combined. Add egg and vanilla and mix until smooth. In a small bowl stir together flour and baking soda, then add to cookie dough and mix just until blended. Using a mixing spoon, stir in oatmeal and chocolate chips.
Scoop balls of cookie dough and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before removing from cookie sheets.

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

1 cup butter or margarine, softened 2  cups sugar 3 eggs 2 grated lemon peel 2 lemons juiced 1 teaspoon vanilla or lemon extract 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups vanilla yogurt

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add lemon peel, juice and vanilla; mix well. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with yogurt (batter will be thick). Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups with 1/4 cup of batter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Lemon Curd Filling 1 3/4 cup sugar 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/4 cup cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups water 1/2 cup lemon juiced 2 tablespoon lemon zest 1 tablespoons butter 4 egg yolks, slightly beaten    Mix, sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt in a medium sauce pan, mix well and add 2 cups water. Cook until thicken add a small amount of hot mixture into eggs and mix. Add egg mixture back into pan and cook for about five minutes. remove from heat and add butter, lemon zest and lemon juice mix well. Set aside to cool.         Meringue 8 egg whites 1/2 tsp cream of tarter. 1/2 cup white sugar In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites and tarter until foamy. Add sugar one tablespoon at a time, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue on cupcake  Put under the broiler (make sure rack is in on the middle) until golden brown.  To put cupcakes together Use a wooden spoon or you can use the cupcake tool like I have to put the hole in the cupcake. Fill with the lemon curd put meringue on top and put under the broiler until light brown. I will post photo Sunday or Monday.

spaghetti squash

1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
3/4 cup grated parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet. Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook only until tomatoes are warm. Use a large spoon to scoop the stringy pulp from the squash, and place in a medium bowl. Toss with the sauteed vegetables, cheese and basil. Serve warm
* I like to use the shell of the squash as the bowl.

 

Ribs

This photo was taken with a cell phone so it is not very good.







4 pounds baby back pork ribs
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup chili sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 clove crushed garlic

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Place ribs on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Scatter 4 cloves of sliced garlic over ribs. Cover, and bake for 2 1/2 hours. Cool slightly.
In a small bowl, mix together white sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, chili powder, and ground cumin. Rub spices over cooled ribs. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.
In a small saucepan, mix together brown sugar, cider vinegar, ketchup, chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, onion, dry mustard, and 1 clove garlic. Simmer over medium-low heat, uncovered, for 1 hour. Reserve a small amount for basting; the remainder is a dipping sauce.
Preheat grill for medium heat.
Place ribs on grill. Grill, covered, for about 12 minutes, basting with the reserved sauce, until nicely browned and glazed. Serve with remaining sauce for dipping.

Pesto

1 1/2 cups cilantro leaves
3/4 cup fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup toasted walnuts
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 cloves garlic, peeled and quartered
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil



Blend the cilantro, basil, walnuts, Parmesan cheese,garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a food processor until nearly smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula as necessary. Drizzle the remaining olive oil into the mixture while processing until smooth.


This is really good. It looks gross but it taste good.

Cavity Maker Cookies

2 cup butter, softened
2 cup white sugar
2 cup packed brown sugar
4 eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
4 teaspoons hot water
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 bag of mini assorted candies (snickers, Milky Way, and Mars chopped)
I found a Reese Peanut Butter bar I chopped up, if you cannot find the bar you can chop up about 6 cups
1 cup plain M&M's
* 1 cup toasted Coconut
* 1 cup granola

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips and chopped candy Drop by large spoonful (about 1/4 cup) onto ungreased pans.
Bake for about 12-13 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned
* my 15 year old is really picky so I did not add the coconut or granola to the batter, I rolled the coconut on some and then baked it. Then with some of the other I added the granola in with some of the mix and baked some that way and then I mixed coconut and granola together with some of the other batter. The one with the granola was a hit with all of them and the one with the toaster coconut was a huge hit with other. I love coconut and granola so I liked the ones with both.
You can freeze these or just do what I do and wrap in plastic wrap and baked them as you need/or want.

Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup

1 pound sweet Italian (I like to use hot) sausage, casings removed

1 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

5 cups beef broth

1 cup water

4 large tomatoes - peeled, seeded and chopped

1 cup thinly sliced carrots1/2 tablespoon packed fresh basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

1 1/2 cups sliced zucchini

8 ounces fresh tortellini pasta

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

In a 5 quart Dutch oven, brown sausage. Remove sausage and drain, reserving 1 tablespoon of the drippings.

Saute onions and garlic in drippings. Stir in beef broth, water, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano, tomato sauce, and sausage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.
Skim fat from the soup. Stir in zucchini and parsley. Simmer covered for 30 minutes. Add tortellini during the last 10 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top of each serving.

Quinoa and Black Beans

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

3/4 cup uncooked quinoa

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup frozen corn kernels

2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, and saute until lightly browned.               

Mix quinoa into the saucepan and cover with chicken broth. Season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes,               

Stir frozen corn into the saucepan, and continue to simmer about 5 minutes until heated through. Mix in the black beans and cilantro.

Honey Chicken Kabobs

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes

2 cloves garlic

5 small onions, cut into 2 inch pieces

2 red bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces

skewers

           

1. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, honey, soy sauce, and pepper. Before adding chicken, reserve a small amount of marinade to brush onto kabobs while cooking. Place the chicken, garlic, onions and peppers in the bowl, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours (the longer the better).
2. Preheat the grill for high heat.
3. Drain marinade from the chicken and vegetables, and discard marinade. Thread chicken and vegetables alternately onto the skewers.
4. Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the skewers on the grill. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until chicken juices run clear. Turn and brush with reserved marinade frequently

Coconut Chicken Curry

by April's Home Cooking on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 8:41pm

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 teaspoon salt and pepper, or to taste
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons curry powder
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk
1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed, diced tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
3 tablespoons sugar
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
Heat oil and curry powder in a large skillet over medium-high heat for two minutes. Stir in onions and garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Add chicken, tossing lightly to coat with curry oil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in center and juices run clear.
Pour coconut milk, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and sugar into the pan, and stir to combine. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Tikka Masala

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tikka Masala

by April's Home Cooking on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 8:32pm

1 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
4 long skewers

1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoons salt, or to taste
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and 4 teaspoons salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat a grill for high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill until juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side.
Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with 2 teaspoons cumin, paprika, and 3 teaspoons salt. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken, and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro.

Honey Chicken Kabobs

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1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/3 cup honey 1/3 cup soy sauce 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes 2 cloves garlic 5 small onions, cut into 2 inch pieces 2 red bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces skewers <>   <> <>

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1	In a large bowl, whisk together oil, honey, soy sauce, and pepper. Before adding chicken, reserve a small amount of marinade to brush onto kabobs while cooking. Place the chicken, garlic, onions and peppers in the bowl, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours (the longer the better).
2.	Preheat the grill for high heat.
3.	Drain marinade from the chicken and vegetables, and discard marinade. Thread chicken and vegetables alternately onto the skewers.
4.	Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the skewers on the grill. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until chicken juices run clear. Turn and brush with reserved marinade frequently

German Chocolate cake and Frosting

My son is getting ready to turn 20 so I am getting his menu for his birthday dinner ready.     

      1 cup evaporated milk

1 cup white sugar

3 egg yolk, beaten with 1 teaspoon water

1/2 cup margarine

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup flaked coconut

In a large saucepan combine evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, margarine and vanilla. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Remove from heat and stir in pecans and coconut. Spread on cake while still warm.     

Cake          

 

    4 (1 ounce) squares German sweet chocolate

     1/2 cup water

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk

4 egg whites

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line bottom of 9x13 pan with parchment paper.

1. Microwave chocolate and water on high for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Stir halfway through. Stir until all is melted and smooth.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream 1 cup butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Add 4 egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in chocolate and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Beat after each addition until smooth.
4. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites on high until soft peaks form. Gently fold into batter. Pour into 9x13 inch pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Cool completely, then frost with coconut-pecan frosting.

              

 

Chicken Satay

I don't really like curry but I made these for one of our last camping trips and they were a hit. My son has wants curry for his birthday so I figure this will be one of the dishes I make.

      1/2 cup coconut milk

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

3/4 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch strips

1 cup coconut milk

1 tablespoon curry powder

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

3/4 cup chicken stock

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons lime or lemon juice

1 teaspoon soy sauce

Salt to taste

10 (6 inch) wooden skewers, or as needed, soaked in water for 30 minutes

           

1. Stir together 1/2 cup coconut milk, garlic, 1 teaspoon curry powder, brown sugar, salt, and pepper until the sugar has dissolved. Toss marinade with the chicken, cover, and marinate for at least 2 hours.
2. Bring 1 cup coconut milk, 1 tablespoon curry powder, peanut butter, chicken stock, and 1/4 cup brown sugar to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice and soy sauce; season to taste with salt.
3. Preheat a grill for medium-high heat.
4. Thread marinated chicken onto skewers, then grill 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Serve with warm peanut sauce.

CrockPot Spicy Beef

Pork would be really good for this also. I used this for tacos but it would be great for burritos.

1 (4 pound) chuck roast
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Cumin
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/4 bottle hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Trim the roast of any excess fat, and season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place meat in hot skillet, and brown meat quickly on all sides.
Transfer the roast to a slow cooker, and put onion over meat. Season with chili powder, cayenne pepper, hot pepper sauce, and garlic powder and cumin. Add enough water to cover 1/3 of the roast.
Cover, and cook on High for 6 hours, checking to make sure there is always at least a small amount of liquid in the bottom. Reduce heat to Low, and continue cooking for 2 to 4 hours, or until meat is totally tender and falls apart and then I would leave it in the broth for at least another hour cooking on low.

Coconut Pie

3 cups half-and-half
2 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup flaked coconut, toasted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked
1 heavy Cream, whipped with powder sugar

In a medium saucepan, combine half-and-half, eggs, sugar, flour and salt. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in 3/4 cup of the coconut and the vanilla extract. Pour into pie shell and chill 2 to 4 hours, or until firm.
Top with whipped topping, and with remaining 1/4 cup of coconut.
Note: To toast coconut, spread it in an ungreased pan and bake in a 350 oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.

Sausage Rice Casserole

16 fresh pork sausage links (about 1 pound)
1/2 medium green pepper, chopped
1/2 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon canola oil
3 cups cooked long grain rice
4 to 5 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn, thawed
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 cup soft bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Place sausages on a rack in a baking pan. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until lightly browned and no longer pink. Cut into 1-in. pieces; set aside.
In a large skillet, saute peppers in oil for 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Transfer to a 3-qt. baking dish. Add the sausages and the next eight ingredients.
Combine bread crumbs and butter; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-40 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 6-8 servings.

 

Pastry Cream/Custard

2 cups milk

1/4 cup white sugar

2 egg yolks

1 egg

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/3 cup white sugar

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a heavy saucepan, stir together the milk and 1/4 cup of sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat.

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and egg. Stir together the remaining sugar and cornstarch; then stir them into the egg until smooth. When the milk comes to a boil, drizzle it into the bowl in a thin stream while mixing so that you do not cook the eggs. Return the mixture to the saucepan, and slowly bring to a boil, stirring constantly so the eggs don' t curdle or scorch on the bottom.
2. When the mixture comes to a boil and thickens, remove from the heat. Stir in the butter and vanilla, mixing until the butter is completely blended in. Pour into a heat-proof container and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled before using.

Jambalaya

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
1 pound andouille sausage, sliced
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon Paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 pound frozen shrimp without tails
Fresh parsley to sprinkle on top
I served this one with pasta but we also like it with rice.


In a slow cooker, mix the chicken, sausage, tomatoes with juice, onion, green bell pepper, celery, and broth. Season with oregano, parsley, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and thyme.
Cover, and cook 7 to 8 hours on Low, or 3 to 4 hours on High. Stir in the shrimp during the last 30-45 minutes of cook time.
I cooked mine on low for 5 hours and it was not done, I have a new crockpot that does not cook the same as my old one did. I really like to cook mine on the stove but I wanted this to be ready when we came home from church so I went with the crock pot. The recipe is good and you might have a crockpot that will be done in the 3-4 hours mine was not done it five hours. This is one of the reasons i did what I wrote below and because some not liking shrimp.
**I took half of mine out of the pan because some do not like shrimp in my family then I added about 2 T cornstarch to 1/2 cup water and added it to the pot and cooked this for about 20 minuted before I added the shrimp and cooked until the shrimp was done.

 

Gluten Free Bars

This is another wonderful recipe from Hugs and Cookies

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hugs-Cookies-xoxo/361999659991#!/notes/aprils-home-cooking/gluten-free-bars/253803367964397

I have to admit I did not use anything gluten free. But the recipes from Danielle is the one I posted below. Go on over to Hugs and cookies xoxo and check out all her wonderful recipes. I don't think I have ever baked so many things off one blog before. :o)
1 BOX BETTY CROCKER GF CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MIX
1c. chopped GLUTEN FREE pretzels (I LIKE SNYDERS OR
GLUTINO)
10 caramels
1T. HEAVY CREAM
3c. peanut butter cups, CUT IN
HALF OR QUARTERS
1/2c. CHOCOLATE chips of your choice!

Step 1: PREPARE GF COOKIE MIX ACCORDING TO DIRECTIONS ON
BOX AND PRESS MOST INTO AN 8X8 PAN LINED WITH NONSTICK FOIL. RESERVE SOME FOR
THE TOPPING!


Step 2: Crush 1 cup of GF pretzels roughly with hands and
put on top of dough.

Step 3: Roughly chop 3c. peanut butter cups and
layer on top of the pretzels.

Step 4: Microwave 10 caramels and CREAM
till melted, about 1 minute. Pour on top of peanut butter cups.
Mmmmm!

Step 5: Crumble on the rest of the cookie dough that you reserved.
Bake about 25 minutes AT 350 till golden and cooked through. Let cool to room
temp.

Step 6: Melt 1/2c chocolate chips-milk or semisweet and drizzle
across the top when COOLED. Eat up

 

Pirate Cake

Sunday I had this sweet little blonde hair blue eyed boy run up to me with a cooking magazine in his hands and say,
"Grandma, will you make me this cake'" how could you not say yes to such a sweetie. Mommy and Daddy are having a date night tonight and Noah is coming over to Grandma and Grandpa's tonight, well he is really coming over to play with Uncle Jacob and Uncle Danny but as long I make a cake he will at least say a few words to me before going off to lay with his Unle Jacob for the night. For you who do not know, Noah is 3 and Jacob is 15, Jacob will drop everything when Noah comes over, if he has a choice to go with his friends or see Noah he will pick Noah, if we go some place and he does not want to go all we have to say is Noah is coming and he will change his mind. Noah has been the center of Jacob's life from the moment he held him a few minutes after his birth, the first words he said to Noah were "I am going to teach you to be so evil." I am glad to say he has not done that. Jacob is a very good 15 year old so I am not too worried, now he is a huge joker so for Noah's Mom's sake I hope that does not rub off on him. For an example, I was using the church bathroom one day during the week and Jacob decided to used a chair and locked me in the bathroom, after a few threats and yelling for my husband to make him open it I was let out. My whole family loves to play jokes but I think Jacob might be the worse well, his Dad might be a little worse. :o)

Italian Chicken

6 Boneless chicken breast, I think I will use boneless thighs next time.

Olive oil

1 large red onion

1 large yellow onion

6 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

2 green bell peppers, chopped

1 pound baby Bella cut in ¼

1 can chopped tomatoes

1 jar spaghetti sauce

Salt

Pepper

1 tsp. Oregano

½ tsp. Tarragon

1 tsp. Italian spice

2 T. Corn starch

1/8 cup water


Slice chicken breast in have so you have two thin pieces,
salt and pepper each slice. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan and fry until
lightly brown on each side but not all the way cooked. Cook a few pieces at a
time, remove to a plate. All onions, garlic, peppers, mushrooms and cook for a
few minutes. Add chicken back to pan with the onion mixture. Add can tomato,
spaghetti sauce, salt, pepper, oregano, Tarragon and Italian spice cover with
lid and cook for about 20 minutes.

Remove lid and mix corn starch with water and add to pan to
thicken sauce, stir carefully so you will not break up the chicken and cook for
about five minutes more.
Serve over pasta or rice.

Taco Salad

My husband use to teach the single adults at our old church and we use to have a blast with them, we have

so many wonderful memories. We had a party at our condo once with about 40 young adults and one of the kids Jason was in the back room jumping off the bunk bed with my girls, they did not tell me about that until after the party.


We had a Olympic day at the park on one of our outings and I can still remember Chris racing on the tricycle and having to drink all the juice out of the baby bottle to win the race.


Pizza outing and in the busy pizza place Art standing up on a chair to give thanks and the whole place went
quiet. I believe all these young adults are now married with families of their own. I hope they know how special they were to us. There were so many more but if I mentioned them all it would take me forever to write this. When I make Cheddar Bay biscuits I think of Linda, the first time I had them was when she made them and they were so much better then Red Lobsters. :o)


We had an a lot of great memories with them and every time I make this salad I think of Leigh-Anne, we had a
pot-luck and she made this taco salad and since then it has been a favorite of my kids as well as my husband and myself. I may not make it the same as Leigh-Anne did but each time I make it I think of her. tacos. She is now married with four of her own children.


I make this taco salad different every time.
Maybe I can get Leigh-Anne to post her recipe here. :o)



Here is the recipe I made today.

Ground beef, cooked and drained (I always use taco seasoning but was out today)
Kidney Beans
Cheese, shredded
Lettuce, chopped
Chopped tomatoes, I add these after because most of my kids do not like tomatoes.
Cucumber sliced thin (this is the first time I did this, I was out of olives)
Cilantro
Red onion, diced
Pace Salsa, we like ours hot
Tub sour cream


Doritos, squeeze while in bag to
break up.

Mix salsa and sour cream together
and chill. You depend on how much sour cream, salsa you want, I like more salsa
then sour cream.

Mix all the other ingredients
together besides the chips, add sour cream salsa dressing and mix then either
mix in the Doritos or sprinkle on top.

What I remember the most about
Leigh-Anne making this was mixing it is a trash bag because she made such a
large amount. :o)

Milkyway Bars

OK here is the link to the recipe, I am warning you right now if you gain lots of weight after joining this page it is your fault not mine and if you drool all over your keyboard and it shorts out that is also all your fault. :o)

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?reated&&note_id=251265118218222#!/pages/Hugs-Cookies-xoxo/361999659991
CRUST:
 1 1/2c. FLOUR      
     1/2C. PLUS 2T. CONFECTIONERS SUGAR     
     1 1/2 STICKS SOFT BUTTER  ELECTRIC MIX ALL TILL CRUMBLY/COMBINED AND PAT DOWN EVENLY INTO A 9X13 PAN LINED WITH NONSTICK FOIL.
BAKE AT 350 FOR 15-20 MINUTES UNTIL LIGHTLY GOLDEN. 
CARAMEL:
  12 OUNCES CARAMEL BITS (NO UNWRAPPING WITH THESE!) (OR USE 40 WRAPPED CARAMELS)
  5 T. BUTTER
  1 CAN SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK
  MICROWAVE ALL OF THESE TOGETHER UNTIL SMOOTH. GO 30 SECONDS-ONE MINUTE AT A TIME AND STIR IN BETWEEN. 
TOPPING:
1 BAG OF MILKY WAY MINIS CUT INTO 4 SLICES EACH. CAN ALSO USE MILKY WAY DARKS OR ANY OTHER CANDY YOU WANT LIKE PB CUPS!    LET CRUST COOL 5-10 MINUTES AND THEN POUR ON THE CARAMEL. PLACE THE CANDIES ON TO DECORATE AND CHILL COMPLETELY BEFORE CUTTING. THESE ARE EASY TO CUT WHEN VERY COLD AND SHOULD REMAIN IN FRIDGE UNTIL READY TO EAT. (CARAMEL WILL GET TOO GOOEY IF LEFT OUT.) 

Sinful Toffee Turtles

OK let me warn you now so you do not get mad at me for what is about to happen to you. I joined this new blog a few days ago and this is the second item I have made off Hugs-Cookies page. So be warned before you go over you will fall in love with her blog which will in turn make you want to bake everything she has on her blog which could make you gain a lot of weight, but just work out a little harder and all will balance out. LOL
I am scard to look at her older post because I may want to bake more. She is talking about a cake she is making that is going to weigh over 11.5 pounds. Kind of sounds like a cake I made with a cheesecake layer in it. :o) I think that one was close to 25 pounds.
But really, go on over and like her page you are really going to love it. :o)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hugs-Cookies-xoxo/361999659991?ref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Hugs-Cookies-xoxo/361999659991

1 stick butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
2 T. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Caramel Bits, 4 ounces (or regular caramels)
1 1/2 T. heavy cream

1 bag Heath toffee bits or chocolate toffee bits (both work great)
Pecan Halves-one per cookie
Small amount of melted chocolate disks or chips for drizzling!

Preheat oven to 350 and line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Beat butter and sugar till creamy. Add egg, milk and vanilla. Once combined well, gradually add flour, salt and cocoa. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in fridge at least 2 hours. You need this dough to be very cold!

Once chilled, break off large Tablespoons of dough and roll into balls. Roll each ball into the toffee bits. Place on cookie sheet and use back of a small measuring spoon to press an indent in the center. This step is like making a thumbprint cookie. Bake in the oven for approx 10-12 minutes. (Don't worry if they spread at this point because you will fix centers!) Remove and press the centers down with the measuring spoon again to fix the indent.

While cookies cool, melt caramels and cream in microwave and stir smooth. Let cool a few minutes and carefully spoon some into the center of each cookie. Top each caramel center with a pecan halve. Once set, melt chocolate in microwave and drizzle over the tops!

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Mac and Cheese with Chicken

2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups cream or /2 & 1/2 it is cheaper
1-1/2 to 2 cups chicken broth, divided
3/4 pound process cheese (Velveeta), cubed
2 packages (7 ounces each) uncooked elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
3 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add cream and 1-1/2 cups of the broth. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; add cheese; stir until melted. Add the macaroni, chicken, salt and pepper. Add additional broth if needed.
Pour into a 3-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40 minutes or until heated through.

Chow Mein

1 pkg stir fry noodles, cook as package directs
1 1/2 pounds diced chicken breast
1 small shallot, thinly sliced
3 cloves
garlic, minced
1 tsp ginger paste
2 tbsp peanut oil
1 carrot, julienned
2 cups beansprouts
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
4 tbsp soy sauce
1 cup chicken stock


In a very hot wok add oil and stir fry chicken until cooked, remove from
wok then set aside. Lower the heat to medium high, then add garlic, ginger
and shallots. Toss carrots and stir fry for 30 seconds, remove from wok then set
aside. Mix corn starch with chicken stock, hoisin sauce, soy sauce and
pour into wok and bring to a boil. Add noodles and give it a
good mix making sure that all noodles are coated with the gravy.
Put back the cooked meat, vegetables and bean sprouts, stir for 1 minute then
serve.

Spring Rolls

2 ounces rice vermicelli
8 rice wrappers (8.5 inch
diameter)
1 1/3 tablespoons chopped
fresh basil
3 tablespoons chopped fresh
mint leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh
cilantro
2 leaves lettuce, chopped
4 teaspoons fish sauce
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic chili sauce
Directions:
1. Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Boil rice vermicelli 3 to 5 minutes, or until al dente, and drain. 2. Fill a large bowl with warm water. Dip one wrapper into the hot water for 1 second to soften. Lay wrapper flat. In a row across the center, place 2 shrimp halves, a handful of vermicelli, basil, mint, cilantro and lettuce, leaving about 2 inches uncovered on each side. Fold uncovered sides inward, then tightly roll the wrapper, beginning at the end with the lettuce. Repeat with remaining ingredients. 3. In a small bowl, mix the fish sauce, water, lime juice, garlic, sugar and chili sauce. 4. In another small bowl, mix the hoisin sauce and peanuts. 5. Serve rolled spring rolls with the fish sauce

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I have a four week study going on with my sunday school class and the subject is watchdogs so I figured why not make treat bags for them. I can't wait to see the look on their face when they open their bags of dog bone. LOL Well shortbread dog bones that is. :o)

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually stir in flour and mix well. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 3 minutes. Pat into a 1/3-in.-thick rectangle measuring 11 in. x 8 in.
Cut into 2-in. x 1-in. strips. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Prick with a fork.
Bake at 300° for 25 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Yield: 3-1/2 dozen.

Bread Pudding

I was telling my daughter Kristine that I think something is wrong with me, (yes, those of you who know me already know this) anyhow, normal people talk about how much weight they have gained for the summer and decided to workout or diet. Well, then there is me.....I go make a bread pudding because I have left over hamburger and hot dog buns and some chocolate chunks and walnuts. How do I explain this and tell myself it is alright you wonder...well I remind myself that I am joining the gym tomorrow and will be good then. :o)


6 slices day-old bread (I used leftover hot dog and hamburger buns)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup chocolate chunks
1 cup nuts
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).


Break bread into small pieces into an 8 inch square baking pan. Drizzle melted butter or margarine over bread. Sprinkle with chocolate and nuts. In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, cream, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Pour over bread, and lightly push down with a fork until bread is covered and soaking up the egg mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly tapped.

This is so much better the next day cold, it reminds me of the bread pudding my grandmother use to make and a bakery we use to get bread pudding at when I was young. I am so glad I had left over buns and heavy cream I need to use up. This has got to be one of the best I have yet to make and just throwing it together was so worth it and I am glad I paid attention to what I did so I can make it again and have the recipe.

 * This would be good with dried fruit in place of the chocolate also.

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