Augratin Vegetables

OK 

This is a little time consuming

 but so worth it..

Probably my favorite vegetable dish.

4 ½ c. fresh broccoli cut into i-inch pieces (pre-steamed for 3-5 minutes)

I like the bottom of my dish covered with broccoli.

1 ½ c. carrots, cut into julienne strips (pre cook separately 3-5- minutes)

1 c. diced celery ( I saute these in garlic butter first)

1 jar pimentos (or not)

2 cans cream of chicken soup

2 TB. minced onion

2 TB parsley flakes

1 stick butter

1 c. sour cream

1 ½ c. shredded cheese (Colby jack)

1 TB. milk

Once your broccoli and carrots have been steamed separately,

 BUT NOT COOKED THROUGH

drain. In a greased 13X9 dish layer broccoli first on the bottom, then carrots on top, celery and pimentos.

In a sauce pan combine and heat the soup, butter, minced onions, and parsley. Once heated add sour cream then cheese. If too thick to pour add milk to thin. Pour over vegetables, and sprinkle with cheese on top.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 until heated through 4-50 min.

Seriously the sauce is soooooo good. A great way to get your kids to eat veggies.

French Dip sandwiches

I made this for our Sunday dinner!!!

Slam dunk. Delicious and easy.

French Dip Sandwiches
 from Best Bites

Their most requested recipe.

1 2.5-3 lb. beef roast (you can use a frozen roast if you want)


2 Tbsp. olive oil


 salt and pepper

 
2 1-ounce packages dry onion soup

 mix 
2 c. water

r
2 cans beef broth


6-8 large buns

 (or more…6 would be VERY generous servings!)


Swiss, provolone, or mozzarella cheese, shredded or sliced.

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and rub roast with salt and pepper.

When very hot, carefully place roast in pan and sear on all sides. You’re not cooking the meat, you’re just browning it quickly on all sides to add flavor and seal in the juices. Oh, and it smells so good–just like Grandma’s house on a Sunday afternoon.

Place in crockpot and sprinkle with onions soup mix. Pour water and beef broth over roast.

I cooked high for 2 hours and 4-5 hours on low. It’s hard to screw this part up; basically, the longer it cooks, the more tender it will be. But you know it’s done when you pop a fork in it and the meat just falls apart. When meat is ready, shred with a fork.

Place meat in crusty rolls. Top with cheese and broil open-faced in the oven or toaster oven for a few minutes, until bread is golden and cheese is melty. And don’t even think about walking away–things can go from lightly-toasted to on fire within a matter of seconds when you’re using your broiler.

Ladle juices into small cups for dipping and enjoy!

Snickers salad

Becky brought this salad on Easter. Delish.

You can use green apples cut up, snickers bars, and cool whip

  or

any fruit you have on hand or  especially like.

I have seen recipes using vanilla pudding along with cool whip if you so desire.

Easy peasy and yummy.

Creamed corn

1 can corn drained

1 can creamed corn not drained

4 Tbls. flour

4 Tbls. sugar

½ c. butter melted

1 c. milk

2 eggs beaten

½ tsp. salt

pepper to taste.

Mix ingredients together bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 min.

Can be tripled or doubled.

White cake with raspberry topping

This was one of the desserts I made for Easter.

 What I like about it is you can make it for all

 seasons because you can use frozen berries.

Raspberry Shortcake Dessert

Serves: 24

Use your favorite berry(s) to top this delicious dessert. Fresh or frozen. My favorite is raspberry or fresh strawberry.

Ingredients

•   1 white cake mix (prepared according to package instructions)

•   1 (4.75 oz) Package Danish Dessert (see picture in post)

•   1 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened

•   ½ cup powdered sugar

•   1 8 oz package Cool Whip

•   3-4 cups fresh or frozen berries

Instructions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake cake according to package instructions. Use a large 13×18 lightly greased cookie sheet to bake it in. Mine only took 12 minutes to cook. It should take 12-15 min. When toothpick placed in center comes out clean you know it is done.

2.Let cake cool completely

3.In a sauce pan, combine contents of the Danish Dessert with 1¾ cup cold water. Put on medium high heat and stir continuously until mixture comes to a boil, Boil for 1 minute or until mixture thickens.

4.Remove form heat and add in fresh or frozen fruit, Transfer hot mixture to fridge (I put it on a hot pad in the fridge)

5.While the berry topping is cooling combine softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until completely combined and smooth. Can use a hand mixer if needed.

6.Mix in Cool Whip and carefully spread onto cake.

7.(The cheesecake layer is thick and can be hard to spread. I like to put big spoonfuls evenly across cake and careful spread them to the edge and towards each other (that sounds weird, but it really helps not bring up the top layer of cake and have it get all mixed up in the cheesecake layer.)

8.Once the cheesecake layer is evenly spread check the berry mixture to see if it has cooled off. Don’t leave it in the fridge too long or it will set up. It doesn’t have to be completely cool to add to the cake, you just don’t want it to be hot or it will melt the cheesecake layer

9.Spread the berry topping evenly over the cheesecake layer and put entire dessert in the fridge for at least two hours or overnight.

Keep Refrigerated

Alison Scott Raspberry salad

1 large vanilla yogurt

1 pkg instant vanilla pudding

2 bags of frozen raspberries

1 carton of cool whip

Mix all together.

Creamy Balsamic chicken

I tried this 15 minute recipe and loved it.

1 lb. chicken tenders ( I cut them up in chunks)

½ tsp thyme

½ tsp mrs. dash chicken seasoning ( or not if you don't have it)

salt and pepper

1 -15 oz. jar light Alfredo sauce

1 ½ Tbs. Balsamic vinegar

Sprinkle dash and thyme on chicken and place in hot skillet and brown. Remove from pan.

Pour sauce and vinegar in pan and stir. Add chicken. Heat through till chicken is cooked and sauce is hot.

Pour over noodles or rice. ( I used rice.)

BECAUSE WE ARE A SAUCY FAMILY I DOUBLED THE SAUCE.

Seriously yummy.

Mary's delicious rolls

I got this recipe from a friend many years ago...they are easy to make and turn out delicious every time!

Small bowl:
2 pkgs. yeast (or 2-3 tbsp.)
1 tbs. sugar
1/2 c. lukewarm water

Large bowl:
2 c. warm water
1 c. sugar
1 c. butter
2 tsp. salt
2-3 cups flour

Mix ingredients in small bowl.  Add yeast ingredients to large bowl mixture.  Add 4 eggs and 4-5 cups more flour to make a stiff batter (do not knead).  Oil the top of the batter and place in the fridge overnight or at least 4-6 hours. 

Divide it into 4 sections.  Roll one section into a circle (about 1/2 inch thick) and brush the top of the circle with butter.  Cut it like a pizza into 12 pieces.  Roll from the wide point to the small point and place on a baking sheet point down.  Let rise for 2 hours.  Bake at 375 degrees until beginning to brown, then turn the heat down to 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  Brush with melted butter and enjoy!

Dessert for one...

Yes it is known that I can be selfish when it comes to dessert. This little cupcake in a mug caught my eye.

ENJOY!!!!

easy as 1-2-3

You will need 2 cake mixes (any flavor) but one of them has to be angel food. Stir the 2 together in bowl. Put in air tight container.

In your microwaveable mug put 3 TBLS. of dry mixture and add 2 TBLS. water. mix and microwave 1 minute..

You now have a single serving of cake. Top with whip cream, ice cream or fruit.

You are welcome!

Best cupcakes ever

Choose your favorite cake mix to make some yummy cupcakes. On the 4th I followed this little secret to make my cakes ever so tall and fluffy.

Fill liners 3/4 full and lower oven temp. to 325 and bake about 22 -25 min instead of 350 for 22 min.

GOT IT?????

OK!!! We are ready to move on with the best frosting ever by the pioneer woman.

It tastes like whip cream.

Pour 5 TBLS. of flour into 1 c. whole milk. Whisk together, then place on med. heat. Whisk until thickened. Stop when thick.

COOL COMPLETELY

(will be thick)

add 1 tsp. vanilla to cooled mixture

Stir until combined.

Pour 1 c. regular sugar (not powdered) in bowl with 1 c. butter. whip until light and fluffy. Add cooled flour mixture. Whip till it looks like whip cream. (45 sec)

Sizzler Malibu Chicken

Love me some malibu chicken...This was a great copy cat recipe.

6 boneless chicken breasts

6 slices of ham

6 slices of swiss cheese

1 egg

1/4 c. flour

1/4 tsp salt and pepper

3/4 c. panko bread crumbs

2 TBLS. oil

2 TBLS. butter

1 TBLS. water

1 tsp. mustard

1/4 c. mayo

stir egg and water with fork. Combine flour, s+p and coat each chicken piece, dip in egg and then coat with bread crumbs, making sure to press crumbs. Heat oil and butter in large skillet over med. heat. Brown chicken 4-5 minutes each side. Place chicken on cookie sheet top with ham, cheese. 350-until cheese melts.

Serve with dipping sauce of 1/4 c. mayo and 1 tsp. mustard

Really good sloppy Joe recipe

I made this for the 4th of July and lets just say Jake had "5" of them.

2 TBLS. vegetable oil

2 med onions chopped

21/2 pounds of ground beef

2 TBLS. tomato paste

2/3 c. BBQ sauce

1/2 c ketchup

1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 c. soy sauce

ground pepper

11/2 TBLS. brown sugar

8-12 potato rolls

preheat oven to 300

Heat the oil in large skillet over med. heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring till translucent, about 4 min. Add the beef and cook, stirring and breaking up meat, until it is finely crumbled, the liquid boils off and the meat begins to brown, about 10 min. Drain the grease off meat and onions. Stir in tomato paste, and keep stirring until meat is coated. Add the BBQ sauce, ketchup worcestershire, soy sauce, and pepper and brown sugar and bring to boil. Cook until the sauce is slightly thick. You can make the sloppy joe meat up to 2 days in advance and reheat it over low heat or in microwave.

Can wrap the rolls in foil and warm for about 10 minutes.

Serve the sloppy Joe mix on warmed rolls.

Maple Texas Sheet Cake

I've made this cake a couple of times. Our family loves maple, so this is a keeper.

3/4 c. butter

1 c. water

11/2 c. sugar

2 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

1/2 c. sour cream

1/2 tsp maple flavoring+1 tsp vanilla

ICING:

1 c. butter

6 TBLS. evaporated milk

4 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp maple flavoring and 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

optional (1 c. nuts)

Preheat oven to 375. Melt butter and water in large pan over med heat until butter is melted.

Remove from heat and stir in sugar, flour, salt, baking soda. Stir with a wire whisk until smooth. Add eggs, sour cream and maple extract and vanilla and stir until blended. Pour the batter into greased sheet pan. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Remove cake from oven and allow to cool slightly while you make frosting.

Put 1 c. butter and 6 TBLS. evap. milk in med saucepan. Heat until butter is melted and bring to simmer. Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar, flavorings and salt. Whisk until smooth. Spread over cake and top with nuts if desired. Mark and Ethan thins it needs double frosting. You be the judge.

I served this with butter pecan ice cream.

No-Bake Cheesecake (w/ or w/out sugar)

I was trying to find an old low-sugar cheesecake recipe

I used to use, and I couldn't find it anywhere!!

I was forced to take a couple internet recipes and

fuse them together and play a little and-

I got it right!  A yummy, no-bake cheesecake

you can make with sugar or with Splenda.

-

*This makes a large, 10-inch pie.  To make a smaller

8-inch pie, you may want to cut the ingredients some-

-

INGREDIENTS:

-Two 8-oz. packages cream cheese

-About 2 1/2 c. Cool Whip (or Reddi Whip, which I had

to use in a pinch and it worked just fine!)

-1/4-1/2 t. vanilla

-2 T. sour cream

-8 T. splenda OR sugar
-1/4 t. lemon juice (*optional, wasn't in the original recipe but I like it)

-

DIRECTIONS:

1. Beat the cream cheese til slightly fluffy

-

2. Mix in/beat in the cool whip

-

3. Add the vanilla and sour cream, mix

-

4. Add in the splenda.

(Once all mixed, taste it to see if you want to add more

sweetener or sour cream)

-

Kool-Aid Play Dough

---

So... I've never made home made play dough!

Until today, that is.

And this recipe rocks.

It's soft and salty like the homemade play dough we all

remember, but it also smells good, can be whatever

color you choose, and if it starts to dry out- it can be

instantly brought back to life with a little water!

---

KOOL-AID PLAY DOUGH

---

1 c. flour

2 T. cream of tartar

1/4 c. salt

1 packet Kool-Aid powder (whichever color you want)

1 c. water

1 T. veg oil

[This makes about the size of a large grapefruit or so of dough.]

---

1. In a medium saucepan (non-stick is best, but any will work,)

combine flour, tartar, salt and kool-aid.

-

2. Turn on a stove burner to medium heat.

-

3. (Either on stove or off, depending on your comfort level,)

Add water and oil to pan and stir.

-

4. Keep stirring over medium heat for about four or five minutes.

The dough may look lumpy, which is fine.

It should start to thicken up.

-

5. Once the dough is sticking together in a large ball in the pan,

and if you stab the ball with a spoon or utensil, the whole ball

will pick up with your spoon, it's done.

-

6. Set the ball of dough on the countertop and let cool a bit.

Once cool enough to touch, knead any lumps out and let

it continue to cool.

-

7. Once cool, it's good to go! Play away.

To store: Place either in a plastic bag or container and

refrigerate for best results.

**If dough ever starts to dry out or get crumbly, add a few

drops of water and knead. It should be pliable again instantly.

Leslie's Any-Fruit Fruit Salad

---

This is an awesome dish to serve as a snack,

a side dish, or even as a dessert.

The awesome thing about it is-

you can use ANY fruit you want.

-

This salad has a secret ingredient,

and it works wonders with any combination of any

type(s) of fruit.

-

So you can use your very favorite fruits,

or you can go for the colors you want,

or for what's in season or on sale,

or just whatever you have in your fruit basket.

===

DIRECTIONS:

Simply cut and mix up any kind of fruits you want.

My faves include melons, berries, bananas, etc.

If you want it to look nice, be careful not to smash

the berries as you mix.

The secret ingredient is: Pina colada mix.

Our favorite is the frozen Bacardi pina colada mix,

located in the frozen juice section of the store.

But if you can't find that one, just use a bottled

pina colada mix from the soda section.

Add enough to give a nice, sweet, pina colada flavor.

YUM!

Porcupine Grill Salad dressing

Porcupine grill has the best salads. We went there for lunch the other day and afterwards googled to see if I could find the dressing recipe..

I DID!!!!!

1/2 c. honey

1 C. mayo

1 tsp. grey poupon mustard

1/2 tsp. sesame seed oil

1/3 c. balsamic vinegar

Blend until mixed

(It makes a lot)

pour over mixed greens, mandarin oranges, red onions, and toasted pecans.

Delish

Million Dollar Spaghetti

I have made this twice already, and I love it. Delicious and easy.

1 lb. hamburger

1 c. bottled spaghetti sauce (Ragu or other)

8 oz. cream cheese

1/4 c. sour cream

1/2 lb. cottage cheese or Ricotta

one stick of butter

8 oz. noodles

bag of sharp cheese

bake at 350

Boil noodles

Mix cream cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese real smooth

cook meat and brown—pour spaghetti sauce over top

take a few slices of butter and put in bottom of 9x13 pan

layer half of noodles, pour creamy mixture on top and spread it out

then add rest of noodles and add rest of slices of butter on top

Pour red sauce with meat on top and spread (you can add more spaghetti sauce if desired)

(Mark likes things saucy!)

bake 30 minutes. Take out and put sharp cheese on top. Bake an additional 15 minutes uncovered.

Berry Cobbler

I have made this 2 times. Once with gluten free cake mix and a regular cake mix. Do whatever you like.



9x13 pan that has been sprayed
2 bags of frozen berries (12 oz. each)
1 box white cake mix
1 can diet soda..sprite zero, 7-up or spite
(12 oz).
Put frozen berries in sprayed pan. Pour cake mix over berries. Pour sprite slowly over cake mix. Don’t mix. Try to cover as much cake mix as possible. 350 degrees for 45-50 min.
Must serve with lots of ice cream. Yummy! and easy.

Little smokies that you have to repent from after eating.

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!

For super bowl Sunday I used 3 pkgs. of little all beef smokies.

I used 3 pkgs. of center cut bacon and cut in thirds. Then wrap each smokie with the bacon and secure with a toothpick.  Sprinkle with 3/4 c. brown sugar. Put in pan and bake at 325 40-60 min. I like mine crispy. Then put in crock pot on low. GONE…everyone of those puppies.