Rice Pilaf

From Your Homebased mom

Rice Pilaf

1 C uncooked rice (I use a long grain)

1/2 C vermicelli (real skinny spaghetti)

1/3 cube/stick butter

1 can chicken broth adding enough water to make 2 cups

1 tsp minced onion

1 tsp salt or I prefer 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp Lawry’s seasoning salt

In a pan melt butter and brown the broken up vermicelli. Stir often as this will burn easily. Cook until the noodles are well browned. Add chicken broth, onions and salt and bring to a boil. Add rice and stir once. Cover and simmer slowly until cooked through (15-20 minutes)

Serves four but is easily doubled

Cheesy Chicken

So here’s our favorite – Cheesy Chicken! From "Homebasedmom" blog

Cheesy Chicken

8 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Sauce:

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/3 can beef broth

1/3 C Parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp poultry seasoning

1/4 tsp pepper

1 Tbsp parsley flakes

Mix sauce ingredients together.

1/3 cube/stick of butter, melted

2 oz. whole cashews

1 lb. grated Monterey Jack cheese

Melt butter in 9 x 13 dish. I used my heavy roasting pan. Lay chicken over butter. Cover with 3/4 of sauce.

Bake 1 hour at 325. Add rest of sauce and cashews. Top with cheese. Turn oven off. Leave in oven for 5 more minutes.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

4 Chicken Breast halves
2 15 oz cans stewed tomatoes
2 15 oz cans black beans
1 can salsa
4 oz. can chopped green chilles
1 14 1/2 oz. can tomato sauce
1 bag tortilla chips
2 or more cups grated cheese

Combine all ingredients except chips and cheese in large slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 8 hours. Just before serving remove chicken breast and slice into bite sized pieces (or shred). Stir back into the soup. To serve, put a handful of chips in each soup bowl. Ladle soup over chips. Top with cheese and sour cream is optional.

We just had this soup at Kathy and Seth Little's. Kathy's sister in law gave her this recipe! YUM

Italian Sausage Bake

YUM YUM!

Ingredients:
one package of spiral noodles
1 lb. of Italian sausage, (cooked, chopped)
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1/2 of a green bell pepper
1/2 of a red bell pepper
a lot of mozzarella cheese

instructions:
preheat oven to 350. & grease 13x9 pan
cook noodles according to package
cook sausage and peppers together until cooked thru.
in mixing bowl, mix drained noodles, sausage, peppers, & spaghetti sauce.
Pour into greased pan, and top with lots of mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 20 min.


VERY EASY, VERY CHEAP, VERY GOOD!
Even my toddler loved it!

Tim's Chocolate Cake

This recipe was given to me by Tim Morganson. He is a GENIUS! He and his brother owned a restaurant for a lot of years. This recipe is the closest thing I've tasted to Magleby's chocolate cake. So delicious!

Tim makes this cake in a full sheet, but I only have 9x13 pans, so this is a recipe for 9x13. The frosting is for the full sheet, hence his note by that recipe.

CAKE

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Blend the following ingredients together:

2 cups sugar

1-3/4 cups flour

3/4 cup cocoa

1-1/2 Teaspoons baking soda

1-1/2 Teaspoons baking powder

3/4 Teaspoon salt

Stir in:

1/2 cup melted salted butter

2 large eggs

1 cup buttermilk

3 Teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat on medium speed until well incorporated then turn mixer to slowest speed and add:

1 cup boiling water

Pour into buttered and floured 9 x 13 baking pan.

Bake until done? (Tim's note: I have never done one this small. I would guess about 30 min. If you gently insert a wooden tooth pick and it comes out clean it is done. Don't be alarmed if the cake appears to fall just a bit, that is normal and can be filled with frosting. You know my motto when it comes to cake. "A cake is only as good as its frosting is thick!") Cool cake completely before frosting.

FROSTING

(Tim's note: I use this recipe to frost the one of the cakes I usually make. If you make it all up you can save what you don't use in a plastic bag refrigerated for along time. Good for brownies, sugar cookies, graham crackers, and some of us consider it finger food.)

Gently blend together

2 pounds powdered sugar

3/4 cup cocoa

In small pieces add:

1/2 pound (2 squares) softened butter

Add:

3 Teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1/2 to 2 cups of heavy whipping cream (This will depend on the thickness of the cream.)

Turn to high speed and whip for approx. 3 minutes.

Big Fat Chocolate Chip Cookie

I got this recipe from your homebased mom It is really good!

I baked these a couple of days ago and slightly over cooked them. If you over cook cookies you can put a bread crust in the cookie jar and that will soften them so they are not to hard.



2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups chocolate chips (I use 1/2 white and 1/2 milk chocolate)
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
Bake for 15-17 minutes (depending on size of cookie) in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

"Bajio Sweet Pork Salad" Copy Cat

I made this salad last week and it was DELICIOSO! I found these recipes online. The one for the sweet pork was from our local ABC 4 news who had one of the big wigs from Bajio on their show to present, so I thought it would be a pretty good recipe and it sure was!

So the layers in a salad you would get at Bajio (or Cafe Rio) include:

1- Tortilla (I used the uncooked 'tortilla land' brand you can find at Costco or most grocery stores by the milk, butter, etc. for sure at Walmart, smiths, maceys)

2- Sweet Rice (recipe below)

3- Black Beans (I just opened a can of seasoned black beans)

4- Corn

5- Sweet Pork (recipe below)
6- Chopped romain lettuce

7- Cheese

8- Any additional toppings you like: sour cream, guacamole, pico, salsa, etc

9- Tortilla strips (instructions below)

10- Creamy Tomatillo Ranch (recipe here)

And that is one dreamy meal.. and those you are serving it to will think you are the BEST!

Recipe for:

Sweet Pork

pork

3 lbs pork roast 

2 quarts water 

4 cups sliced white onions

1/4 cup salt

1 cup sugar

Marinade

Simmer together the following ingredients for 1 hour

4 cups enchilada sauce

1 cup brown sugar

2 cups soda water or coke/dr pepper

1 Tbs taco seasoning to taste

1 small cans pineapple juice (I added this to original recipe to try to reduce the spiciness of the taco seasoning because I had overdone it with almost 3 Tbs, my sis-in-law Birgitta recommended the pineapple juice and it was sooooo good that I'm always going to use it)

Cook pork in crock pot until tender enough to shred (about 8 hours). 

Drain pork and shred with fork, keeping pork in original cooking pot

Pour hot marinade over shredded pork

keep warm

Recipe for:

Sweet Rice

1 Tbs oil

1/2 of a white onion, chopped (add more or less to your taste)

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro chopped

1 1/3 c. white rice

3 c. chicken broth

1/4  c. white sugar
heaping 1/2 tsp salt (1/2 tsp salt per cup of rice)

Put a little oil in bottom of pan

Saute chopped onion until translucent

On the side, combine the chicken broth and sugar, letting sugar dissolve (get this ready before you add the cilantro so it's ready to pour)

Add rice, cooking it until it is brown (be careful not to burn)

Add chopped cilantro (no big stems) to your onions and rice and saute 30 seconds more or so

Pour in broth with sugar, add salt, combine, and bring to boil

Cover and let cook on low/med low until rice is done, about 20-25 min

Fluff with fork before serving.

Tortilla Strips

Use tortillas of your choice (white corn, yellow, corn, flour)

Cut into thin strips

In large skillet, heat vegetable oil and fry up your strips, adding plenty of salt for deliciousness. Fry until light to golden brown.

Enjoy! You will be stu-uffed.

Heather Please Post....

....the pork recipe! Please! Thanks again for dinner. That pork salad was the best! It seriously tasted like Bajio!

B

Cynthia Davies Whole Wheat Bread

Cynthia Davies Whole Wheat Bread:
5 1/2 cup hot tap water
11 cups whole wheat flour (I used 14)
3 T SAf instant yeast
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
1 1/2 T salt (did I say I followed it exactly? I put in 2 T)
1/2 cup gluten flour (you can get it a health food store or Walton Wheat)
Turn over on to 200. Pour water into mixer and add 3 cup whole wheat flour and yeast. Mix well. Add 3 more cups flour. oil, honey and salt. Mix well. Add gluten and the rest of the flour while mixer is mixing. Add flour only until dough pulls away from the bowl, cleaning sides . Knead 10 minutes in the mixer.

Turn oven off. Divide dough into four parts and shape into loaves on a lightly oiled surface. Put dough in sprayed pans and raise in the over about 20-25 minutes. When loaves are almost raised, leave them in the oven and turn it on to
350 degrees. Bake for 45 minutes. (My oven is hot and so I cook it on a lower temperature for 40 minutes.

Butterfinger Brownies

This is awesome. Very easy... We had them on Father's Day.

Ingredients:
Your favorite brownie mix
6 mini butterfinger bars or 2 full size bars
1/2 cup of chocolate chips

Directions: Prepare the brownie mix as directed. Fold in the chocolate chips. Spray pan and pour batter in 9x13 pan. In a ziplock bag, put your butterfinger bars in. Take out your frustrations, and beat it with a rolling pin to crush them. :) Then sprinkle on the top of the brownie batter. Bake as directed on the box.. And wha-la, you have yummy butterfinger brownies!

Black Bean Salad

I got this recipe from Enrichment night. It's pretty tasty and perfect for summer BBQ's!

3 Cans Black beans, rinsed & drained
2 Cans Corn, drained
1 ¼ Cups cooked white Rice
3 Roma Tomatoes, chopped
½ Cup Red Onion, chopped
¼ Cup Green Onion, chopped
1 Cup Italian Dressing
1 Can chopped Green Chilies
1 Bunch Cilantro, chopped
1 tsp. Salt
1 TBL. Cumin
2 TBL. Lemon or Lime Juice
¼ Cup Red Wine Vinegar

Combine all ingredients and chill.

Red Lobster’s Garlic Cheese Biscuits

I found this recipe on Your Home Based Mom and make these ALL the time. They are so quick and easy to make.


Red Lobster’s Garlic Cheese Biscuits
copycat recipe
2 c. Bisquick
2/3 c. milk
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c. butter
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. oregano/parsley -optional

Mix Bisquick and cheese; add milk. Spoon on an ungreased cookie sheet (makes about 12). Bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Brush with melted butter, garlic powder and oregano.

Tomato Corn Chowder a'la Magelby's

By now you might have figured out I don't really cook, I just assemble.

I had a bowl Tomato Corn Chowder from Magelby's one day and was enchanted. I needed more. So, in desperation, I "assembled" this. It worked!

One can of Progresso Hearty Tomato Soup
One can creamed corn
A few shakes of Mongolian Fire Oil (look in the grocery stores asian section, it's pretty common)
Enough cream, half n half, or evaporated (canned) milk to make it nice and creamy. Usually 3/4-ish cup.

Heat. Eat.

This is a great food storage and camping dish because the ingredients have forever shelf lifes (if you use canned milk.) Add as much Fire Oil as you want. We put it on the table for people who like spice.

Cafe Rio Dressing

I've had a request for my lazy chef Cafe Rio Replica.

Start with a good Ranch Dressing. Hidden Valley in a bottle is NOT good ranch dressing. Hidden Valley you make from a packet is pretty good. Costco sells a big bottle of ranch back near the produce (refrigerated) that is very good.

Add Salsa Verde (the green stuff), Lime juice and cilantro to taste. I use a blender so the fresh cilantro gets chippity chopped.

And there you have it. Never had any complaints.

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

People either love these or hate them. The dough is extremely soft. Work with it cold, Roll them quite thick, DO NOT over bake, and store airtight. They are my favorite.

1/4 c butter
1/4 c shortening
1 c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c sour cream
2 2/3 c flour
1 tsp B Powder
1/2 tsp B soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg (the secret ingedient)

Sift together all dry ingredients. In another bowl, mix all other ingredients except sour cream. Alternate adding dry ingredients and sour cream until all is blended. Wrap in plastic and chill. Roll and shape. Bake at 425* for 8-10 minutes. They should not be brown, at all.

Soft and fluffy. We call them heroin cookies. ;-)

White Velvet Sugar Cookies

By Melanie

OK.. after my last post, I actually applied myself and found this sugar cookie recipe on my friend Melanie's recipe blog (which has a link on my sidebar now.. cuz I'm tellin' ya this girl's got it goin on)

Anyhoo... below is a link to her sugar cookie recipe that looks absolutely perfect, and I'm excited to try it! I hope she doesn't mind that I borrowed it :)

White Velvet Sugar Cookies by Melanie

Gimme Some SUGAR... Cookie Recipes

I am in need of a tried and true sugar cookie recipe.. I've never actually had one. Like, soft, fluffy sugar cookies.  Anyone got one they can share??  

I'm planning on making them tomorrow. If you could post today that would be great!

Thanks!

Heath

Granola (It Tastes Like a Warm Oatmeal Cookie!)

2 1/2 cups uncooked regular oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sunflower seeds or chopped nuts
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup melted butter
1/4 cup bran or wheat germ
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup raisins

As you may note, this doesn't make a huge amount, so if you have little hands that will want to share with you, I would suggest doubling it. And I've only used sliced almonds (no sunflower seeds yet and wheat germ instead of bran and I don't put the raisins in 'cause my kids don't like them).

Preheat oven to 325. Combine all ingredients except raisins. Bake in a 13 x 9 pan for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in raisins. For cooling, I suggest combining the granola into a big lump, so that it stays moist. If you spread it out to cool it will still taste warm and delicious the first day, but if you have any left by the next day, it will be drier. It's up to you.

Colorado Cake (best ever Coffee Cake)

Here's a recipe from my college days. I had three roommates from southern Colorado and they would make this coffee cake almost every Sunday. It soon became a favorite amongst us roommates and pretty much everyone else who knew us. After a few Sundays this coffee cake became known as the Colorado Cake.


Colorado Cake (Best ever Coffee Cake)
Erica Gilleland

Batter:
1 1/2 C Sugar
1/2 C butter
2 eggs
1 C buttermilk
3 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Topping:
1 C chopped nuts
1 C brown sugar
4 TB flour
4 TB melted butter
4 tsp cinnamon
4 tsp water

Combine sugar, butter and eggs and blend well.Add dry ingredients alternately with milk.Spread half of batter in greased cake pan. Put 1/2 topping on top, swirl, repeat with remaining batter and topping.Swirl.Bake 30 minutes at 375. Let cool slightly and pour glaze over.

Glaze:
1/2 C sugar
1/4 C buttermilk
1/4 C butter
1/4 tsp soda
1 tsp vanilla

(substitute for buttermilk: Add 1 TB vinegar to milk and let stand a couple of minutes.)

Caramel Popcorn

For you Birg :) This stuff is the best!

2 c. brown sugar
1 c. Karo (corn) syrup
1 pinch salt

1 cube butter or marg.
1 tsp. baking soda

1 large bowl of popped corn - usually two full batches in an air popper is plenty.

Instructions: Pop your popcorn, set aside. Bring to boil brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Boil for approximately 2 -3 minutes, or until color changes to darker brown. remove from heat. Add butter and baking soda. Pour over popcorn and mix well. Spread over wax paper to cool.

This recipe takes only about 20 minutes (if you have all your ducks in a row). Also, I find that it works best with fresh popcorn.

Enjoy!

I want caramel popcorn!

Heather--will you post your caramel popcorn recipe?? Thanks!

Mini Sour Cream Biscuits

In the spirit of fairness, this isn't my recipe. I'm pretty sure it came from Taste of Home magazine. But it's a gem, double it, I promise, you'll wish you had. I've made these as drop biscuits for lack of mini-muffin tins--it works just fine but they aren't nearly as adorable.

1 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1/4 cup melted butter

Combine. Drop into Pam'ed mini muffin pan. Bake at 425. Check at 7 minutes, can go up to 15 minutes. They don't get really brown, just slightly firm---you know, like a....um...what is it?...a...right...a biscuit!

Also: Check out the recipe winners in the recent issue of http://www.scoutermagazine.com/. Muy Bueno! I also put these on http://www.theloneread.com/

Marie Calendars Corn Bread Muffins

Whoa! These are fantastic. Very simple and very yummy.

Ingredients:
Yellow Cake mix (plus what it calls for)
Jiffy corn bread muffin box (plus what it calls for)

Instructions:
Follow the cake mix instructions and mix. (using the eggs, water and oil it calls for)
Then dump in the jiffy corn bread mix, plus (whatever it calls for 1egg, and 1/3 c. milk)
Blend with the mixer for one minute.

Temp: 355'
Bake for 15 min.
Yields: 40 cupcakes or 24 cupcakes and 4 mini loafs.

ENJOY!

Chicken With Parmesan Crust

This is Kristi's Recipe. She sent it when Danielle asked all os us to email some good recipes. She served it when I was in Kansas. It is yummy and she said it is easy.


Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
2 T Olive oil
3 T butter or margarine
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
2 T grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Marinate thawed chicken breasts with Italian dressing for 10 - 15 minutes. Meanwhile, mix melted butter, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese in a small bowl, and set aside. Preheat frying pan over medium heat and add olive oil. Lightly coat chicken with flour. Brown chicken on both sides for approximately 2 minutes per side. Place browned chicken breast on foil lined baking sheet. Top chicken with breadcrumb mixture and lightly press for the mix to hold. Bake for 10-12 minutes; until crust is golden brown.

Chocolate Mouse

I got this recipe from Carolyn Nielson when they lived in Moses Lake.

Crust:
1 Cup Flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans (can use walnuts)
1/2 cup margarine
1/4 cup sugar

Combine as if for pie crust. Pat into bottom of 9x13 pan. Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool.

8 oz cream cheese softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 (12 oz) Cool Whip
1 large package instant chocolate pudding
2 3/4 cup milk

Mix softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 cup Cool Whip together. Spread on crust. Mix together pudding and milk following package directions, pour on cream cheese layer. Spread with remainder of Cool Whip.

Tastes good with butter scotch pudding instead of chocolate as well. You can also use lemon pudding and call it lemon luscious. I have heard of people making this ahead, freezing it and thawing it in time to serve. I haven't done it.

Cherry Cheese Pie

This Recipe was given to me by my sister, Gwen, back in the early 70's.
I have loved it! It is supper easy and yummy!

CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
Soften 8 oz package of cream cheese
Add and beat 1 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla
Gradually add 2 cups whipping cream, beat until stiff (can use 4 cups cool whip)

Pour into 9x11 pan with graham cracker crust. Chill.
Then top with 1 large can or cherry or blue berry pie filling. Chill.

GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST:
Melt 1/4 cup butter
Add: 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 T. sugar
Mix and press into pan

This recipe can be cut in half and put in a 8x8 inch pan, using a small can of pie filling.

Fruit Bars

These are super easy, and with the granola and fruit in them, I just might eat them for breakfast!

1 1/2 C flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C oats
1 C brown sugar
1 3/4 sticks butter (softened at room temp) cut into pieces
1 10-12 oz jar of raspberry preserves (could use apricot, strawberry etc)

Mix all ingredients together except for the preserves. Press 1/2 of the mixture into a buttered 8" baking dish.
Spread the preserves over this layer.
Sprinkle remaining crumb topping over preserves layer-tap lightly in place.

Bake at 350* for 30-40 minutes, or until top is lightly browned and preserves are bubbling.

I serve them hot with vanilla ice cream, but they are delicious cooled!

Potatoe Cheese Soup

This is my favorite soup recipe of all time. Hope you enjoy!!!

Potato Cheese Soup
Source: Unknown

5 c. diced potatoes ( I add a few more!)
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 c. chopped celery
1 c. chopped carrots
3 c. water
3 chicken bouillon cubes
*boil 15 min. Do not drain

White Sauce:
3/4 c. butter
4 c. milk
3/4 c. flour
*cook on low, add 8-12 oz. Velveeta cheese

Add white sauce to vegetables, stir and enjoy
serves: 6

Chicken and White Bean Chili

This chili took home the prize for Best Overall at my ward's Chili Cook-off this weekend, so I thought I would share. I got the recipe from my aunt and it is my favorite thing to make when it is blustery and cold outside.

(The original recipe suggests you buy dry Great White beans and soak 4 cups of them in 4 cups of water and 3 cups of chicken broth, but I never have a day to spend boiling beans so I just buy canned beans.)

4 16oz cans Great White or White Northern beans (I like to mix them up for variety)
2 chicken breasts (or 4 tenderloins)
2 tsp White Chicken Worschestershire Sauce or Lea&Perrins Chicken Marinade (this is impossible to find, so I usually just leave it out)
2 tsp coriander
2 tsp cumin
pepper and salt to taste
1 small clove of garlic
1 cup chopped onion
3 cans mild green chiles (I usually just do 2, as 3 cans can get spicy)

Chopped cilantro to taste (you can leave it out if you don't like cilantro)

(The recipe says to cut chicken in 1 inch cubes, but I hate working with raw meat, so I usually just boil the chicken and then shred it into pieces w/ forks)

Take chopped garlic clove and onions and saute in 3 tbsp of olive oil until transluscent. Add chicken and spices and brown. At the same time put beans in a stock pot over medium heat. Once chicken is browned add the entire mixture to the stock pot along with the green chiles and a can and a half of water or chicken broth. Boil over medium high heat for an hour, then turn down to medium for at least another hour, stirring occasionally. You can really let it simmer for as long as you want, depending on how soupy you want it. Serve w/ pepper jack or mozzarella cheese sprinkled on top. Also, if you boil and shred the chicken, you can throw everything into a slow cooker and just not worry about it for about 4 hours.

Chocolate Chip Chocolate Bundt Cake

This recipe is from a lady in my ward, Julee Bateman. It is TO DIE for. Anyhoo...

1 chocolate pudding cake mix (any choc cake mix will do)

1-4oz. chocolate pudding mix

10 oz sour cream

4 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup warm water

12 oz pk chocolate chips

Mix all together and pour into a greased and floured bundt pan and cook for 50-60 minutes on 350 degrees.  It is pretty moist so it needs to be cooked all the way through. You can put powdered sugar on top, or drizzle chocolate sauce, or for Christmas chopped candy cane.

Enjoy!

Brown Sugar Muffins

This recipe is in the 6th Ward cook book, pg 95 From Karla Hansen. We had it today for book club lunch at Brenda Goodrich's house. They are awesome!

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup nuts
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp soda

Combine flour, soda, and salt in a bowl; set aside. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar, then add the egg, milk, and vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture and last of all nuts. Place in greased muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Yield: 12 muggins

Buffalo Wings

Wingette Chicken Pieces (we have only found them at Walmart, ugh.)
Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce (that's just the name, not the heat talking!)
Famous Dave's Chicken Wing Seasoning.


Place wings on cookie sheet (a large cookie sheet holds two packages of wings, and it's hard to have any less because they fly!) Sprinkle with the seasoning, on both sides. Place in 400 degree oven for 40 minutes. Deep fry wings for two minutes. Dump in a steel mixing bowl and toss with Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce until coated. They are spicy, but not an overkill of spice. We love, love, love them!! GREAT football food! That's nice and all...now that football season is over!

Brownies With Strawberries & Cream

Brownies: Make brownie mix with cake like directions and bake them in a mini muffin tin for 14 minutes at 325* When you take them out of the oven press the centers right away with a spoon or whatever you have that will make a small indentation in the middle.

Frosting:
Mix together 8 oz softened cream cheese and 1/4 Cup powdered sugar.
Add in: Melt 1/3 bag of white chocolate chips in microwave until soft.
Fold in: 1 Cup thawed cool whip (or more if you like).

Assembly:Put the frosting in a zip top bag, snip a small corner off and squeeze the frosting into the brownies. Top with fresh strawberries or a small amount of strawberry jam (or another fruit that goes well with chocolate and cream.)

These are great little desserts that taste like you spent hours in the kitchen!!

Pasta Fagioli Soup

2 cans of beef broth
1 can of Great Northern beans, drained.
1/2 link of Kielbasa Sausage, diced.
1 can of diced tomatoes, undrained. (I used Italian Tomatoes)
2 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced.
1 tbs. olive oil
1 ½ tsp. minced garlic
½ tsp. dried basil leaves
½ tsp. dried oregano leaves
½ c. uncooked tubetti, ditali pasta
½ c. garlic croutons
½ Parmesan cheese

1. combine broth, beans, tomatoes with juice, zucchini, oil, garlic, basil, and oregano in slow cooker. Mix well. Cover; cook on low for 3-4 hours.
2. 2. Stir in pasta. Cover; cook on low 1 hour or until pasta is tender. (just threw pasta in to begin with)
3. Serve soup with croutons and cheese. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.

Prep time: 12 minutes
Cook time: 4-5 hours
Makes 5 – 6 servings.

This is super easy and a crowd pleaser! YUM YUM!

EASY Turtle Bars

I got this recipe out of my new cake mix cook book. I made these for New Years Eve and everyone raved about them!

1 pkg chocolate cake mix
1/2 C butter, melted
1/4 C milk
1 C semisweet chocolate chips
1 C chopped pecans or walnuts
1 jar (12 oz) caramel ice cream topping

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9x13 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Combine cake mix, butter and milk; mix until well blended. Press half of batter into prepared pan. Bake 7 -8 mins or until crust begins to form.
3. Sprinkle chocolate chips and half of the nuts over partially baked crust. Drizzle with caramel topping. Drop spoonfuls of remaining batter over caramel mixture; sprinkle with remaining nuts.
4. Bake 18-20 mins or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Makes 2 1/2 dozen bars.