Mari's Recipe Blog

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

2011-03-31T20:16:00.002-04:00

I'm sorry that I have been so neglectful of this poor little blog! I'll try to do better, but I'm not promising. :)
This is an easy cheesecake that is oh, so good!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups (about 18) crushed oreo's
1/4 cup melted butter
3 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup miniature chocolate chips
1 teaspoon flour

Preheat oven to 300 degree.Combine oreo's and butter; press into 9" springform pan.
Beat cream cheese until fluffy, add condensed milk and beat until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.
Toss together 1/2 cups chocolate chips with flour to coat. Gently stir into cream cheese mix.
Pour onto crust. Sprinkle remaining chips over top.
Bake for one hour. Cool to room temperature, then chill.
Keep refrigerated.

Peach Pie

2010-09-01T21:45:00.000-04:00

Peach Pie

Pastry for 9 inch, 2 crust pie
5 cups sliced fresh peaches
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare pastry, and place one crust into 9 inch pie plate.
Mix peaches and lemon juice.
Mix 1 cup sugar, flour and cinnamon; stir peaches into mix.
Turn into pastry lined pie plate. Cover with top crust, and place slits in crust.
Seal crusts and flute edges.
Brush water over top crust and sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over top.
Cover edge of pie with 2 inch aluminum foil to prevent excess browning.
Bake for 30 minutes, remove foil and bake for 15 more minutes or until crust is brown.

*I also freeze this pie filling. Make it as directed and put it in a freezer bag. When you are ready to make the pie, all you need is the crust. I thaw the filling, add about 2 tablespoons of flour right into the freezer bag, seal it and mix it in. Then pour it into the crust and finish as directed on recipe. It turns out great!

Crescent Bars

2010-08-08T22:23:00.000-04:00

These bars are one of the easiest recipes ever, and they are so good! I get asked for the recipe all the time!

Crescent Bars

2 cans crescent rolls (I use the recipe variation, without the perforations)
2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup chocolate chips

Spread a pkg of crescent rolls in 9x13 pan, and press into corners.
Mix cream cheese and sugar; spread over crescents in pan.
Sprinkle chocolate chips over cream cheese.
Place remaining crescents between 2 sheets of wax paper and roll to fit pan. Place over chocolate chips.
Sprinkle sugar over top for a nice finish.
Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned.

We have a winner!

2010-07-20T21:07:00.000-04:00

It's time to announce the winner of the $50 CSN giveaway. After removing a few duplicate entries I entered 1 - 29 in the random number generator.

The number that came up was #19 - Kim, from Just a Southern Girl!
Kim - send me your e-mail address so CSN can contact you about your gift certificate.
Thanks to all the rest of you who entered.

Giveaway!

2010-07-13T19:27:00.001-04:00

The wonderful people at CSN store have offered a giveaway to my readers!

CSN stores are a collection of over 200 online stores, where you can find anything from luggage to dining room sets, cookware to baby cribs. You name it - they have it!
Since most anyone who comes to this blog has an interest in cooking, I thought I would show you some things they have available for use in the kitchen.

Mixing bowls, in all colors and sizes...

Prex bakeware sets...

Roaster Ovens, and so much more.

Someone is going to win a $50 gift certificate that can be used in any of their stores! (It doesn't have to be kitchen or dining room related)
To enter, visit CSN stores and tell me what you might be interested in ordering if you win. You don't have to be specific, and you can change your mind.
I'm sorry, but you have to be from the USA or Canada to enter, as they only ship to those 2 countries.
This giveaway will be open through July 20, when I will draw a winner.

Fruit Slush

2010-06-15T19:06:00.002-04:00

Fruit Slush

1 cup sugar

2 1/2 cup water

6 oz. frozen lemonade concentrate(thawed)

6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate

8 oz frozen strawberries (I used 12 ounces fresh)

16 oz crushed pineapple with juice

4 medium bananas

Cut fruit into small pieces.
Stir together water and sugar; then mix in juice concentrate.
Stir altogether and freeze.

Scoop into individual bowls and pour just a little bit of 7UP or Ginger Ale over the top.
Enjoy!

*This is really refreshing on a hot day, and we all loved it!

No Bake Cookies

2010-05-27T21:32:00.001-04:00

These cookies are an old favorite. They are easy to make and so good!

No Bake Cookies

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 1/2 cup oatmeal
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix cocoa and sugar together. Stir in milk, and add butter. Heat in saucepan and bring to full boil. Add peanut butter and vanilla and stir in. Remove from heat, then add oatmeal.
Drop by tablespoon onto wax paper or cookie sheet. Let cool and enjoy!

Barbecue Beef

2010-05-07T16:23:00.000-04:00

When I make a roast, I always buy a large one so I have leftovers. This recipe is one of my family's favorite ways to use them.

BBQ Beef
2 cups shredded, cooked beef
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup vinegar
4 tablespoons chopped onion
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
4 teaspoons packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Heat all ingredients, except beef to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir roast into sauce and serve on buns.

*This can be made ahead and kept warm in the crockpot.

Beef and Potato Pie

2010-04-16T20:32:00.002-04:00

Beef and Potato Pie

1 pound lean ground beef
2 carrots, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1 med onion, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
2 stalks celery, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
1 large potato, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch cubes
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup beef broth
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 refrigerated pie crusts

Preheat the oven to 375.
In a skillet, combine the beef, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, salt, pepper and potato and cook, breaking up the meat, over medium high heat until the beef is cooked through and some liquid has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Lower the heat to medium, add the broth and cook for 10 minutes. Let cool and add the cheese.
Place one crust in a pie plate and pour beef filling in. Cover pie with second crust, crimping edges to seal. Cut slits into top crust to vent.
Cover edges with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes.

I made this for the first time last week and we all liked it!

Flourless Chocolate Cake

2010-03-10T19:10:00.000-05:00

Flourless Chocolate Cake (from Paula Deen)

12 oz. high quality dark or semi-sweet chocolate (You need to buy the good stuff for this - I used dark chocolate for mine)
2 sticks of butter
1 1/4 c. of sugar
6 eggs, separated

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place some parchment paper on the bottom of a springform pan so it hangs over. Close the latch to hold the paper in place and secure the sides. You'll also want to generously spray the paper/pan with some non-stick cooking spray. Separate 6 large eggs--yolks in a small bowl and egg whites in a mixing bowl. Set aside.

Combine Chocolate and 2 sticks of butter. Melt in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between until completely melted and smooth. Whisk in 1 1/4 cups sugar until combined. Then add the six egg yolks to the chocolate and sugar mixture, one at a time, whisking after each addition.

In the mixing bowl, beat the six egg whites on high with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Then, gently fold egg white mixture into the melted chocolate mixture until combined. Pour it in the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees. It will rise pretty high in the oven, but when you take it out to cool, it will fall. And fall hard. Delicious! Let it cool one hour on the counter and then for at least four hours in the refrigerator before you release it from the springform pan.

If you like fudgy chocolate, you will love this one!

Thank You Squares

2010-02-24T20:58:00.002-05:00

This is a recipe I got when I was in High School, so it has stood the test of time. A friend asked me to post this, so I don't have a picture, but these are quite pretty.

Thank You Squares
Cream until light and fluffy:
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs
Add to above and beat in:
1 teaspoon almond flavoring
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Pour into greased 15x10 pan. Cut into 24 squares before baking. Drop 1 tablespoon cherry pie filling in the center of each square. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. When cool sprinkle with powdered sugar.
These are liked by everyone in our house!

Calzones

2010-02-04T20:24:00.004-05:00

1 pound lean ground beef
3 1/2 cups (14 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
12 ounce can tomato paste
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 (10-ounce) cans refrigerated pizza crust
Olive oil
6 ounce can Tomato Sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Cook ground beef in a large skillet and drain.
Combine beef, 2 1/2 cups cheese, tomato paste and 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning.
Unroll each pizza crust, and cut each crust into thirds. Press each portion into a 6 inch circle. Spread about 3/4 cup of meat mixture evenly over half of each circle. Moisten edges with water; fold dough over, pressing or crimping edges to seal. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet, and cut slits in tops to allow steam to escape. Brush with olive oil.
Bake at 375° for 25 minutes or until golden. Mix tomato sauce and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, spread sauce in a thin layer over baked Calzones; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Place back into oven for 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
Note: Freeze baked calzones up to 1 month, if desired. Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Wrap calzones in aluminum foil, and bake at 300° for 1 hour or until thoroughly heated.
Yield: Makes 6 servings
*These were easy to make and we all enjoyed them!

Swiss Pepper Steak

2010-01-08T21:35:00.000-05:00

This is a freezer recipe I tried out recently. It's something you can make ahead and freeze, to pull out when you need it. We enjoyed it!

Swiss Pepper Steak
2 lbs round steak, ½” thick cut
¼ cup flour
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
2 tbsp oil
½ cup green pepper, thinly sliced
1 ¼ cup onion, minced
1 16-oz can tomatoes
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
Cut steak into 8 individual pieces, using a fork to pierce each side of each piece. In a small bowl, combine flour, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper. Top one side of the steak pieces with half this mixture, then use a meat mallet to pound the flour mixture into the steak. Flip the pieces over and repeat.
In large skillet, heat oil and brown meat for about 15 minutes, turning frequently. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover skillet and allow to simmer for 1 hour, adding small amounts of water as needed.
In a separate bowl, combine green pepper, onion, tomatoes, salt and ¼ tsp pepper, mixing well. Add to skillet, cover and simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Divide skillet contents in half (including tomato sauce mixture), and place in 8×8 freezer containers – foil is best so you can reheat right in container. Allow to cool, seal and label with cooking instructions.

On cooking day: Place thawed steak in 400 degree oven. Remove lid and bake for 30-40 minutes or until steak is tender. Serve with rice or noodles.

* I put mine in the crock pot on low for about 5 hours. It was nice and tender this way. I was afraid cooking it for such a short time in the oven would leave it tough.

Candy Cane Kiss Brownie Bites

2009-12-15T16:10:00.002-05:00

I got this recipe from Jenny at Picky Palate. If you haven't visited her there, you really need to. She has wonderful recipes!
I changed this just a little. She made hers in mini cheesecake pans, which I don't have. I tried mini muffin pans, but it didn't work, because I couldn't get them out. I then tried regular muffin pans and these are the festive and delicious result!

Candy Cane Kiss Brownie Bites

1 brownie mix 9×13 inch size

Candy Cane Hershey Kisses

1/2 Cup chocolate chips

2 Tablespoons heavy cream

3 original candy canes, crushed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions and scoop into a muffin tin that has been generously sprayed with cooking spray, about 3/4 way full. Press kisses into center of brownie batter, do not push all the way to bottom, some of the tip should stick out the top. Bake for about 20 -23 minutes or until brownies are cooked through. Let cool completely.

Melt chocolate chips in microwave, 30 second intervals until smooth and melted. Stir in cream until silky smooth. You can place back in microwave for 10 seconds to smooth more if needed. Dip tops of brownies into melted chocolate, then sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
Enjoy!

Sugar Toasted Almond Salad

2009-12-07T16:26:00.000-05:00

I made this salad to go with supper for a group at my house and we all enjoyed it. The sugar toasted almonds adds a special touch.

Sugar Toasted Almond Salad
1/2 cup sliced almonds
3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup red wine or cider vinegar
1/3 cup salad oil
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
3/4 tablespoon poppy seeds

1 head romaine lettuce, torn in small pieces
6 ounce bag, baby spinach leaves
1 1/2 cup grape tomatoes
12 ounces cubed co-jack cheese
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

Combine almonds and sugar in a small skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir until sugar is melted over almonds, about 5 minutes. Spread almonds in a single layer on waxed paper to cool.
To make the salad dressing, whisk together the vinegar, salad oil, sugar, mustard and poppy seeds; set aside.
Toss together the romaine lettuce, spinach,tomatoes,cheese and bacon in a large bowl. Sprinkle almonds and drizzle dressing over top of salad and toss just before serving.

French Cream Mint Brownies

2009-11-29T18:40:00.000-05:00

I got this recipe from my sister Cheri. These brownies are easy to make and are so good!

French Cream Mint Brownies
1 pkg brownie mix
1/2 c. margarine softened
2 c. powdered sugar
1 T. milk
1 tsp. peppermint extract
1 drop green food coloring if wanted (I do use this and the filling is a light green, although it doesn't show in the picture)

Frosting:
1/2 c. margarine
6 oz. chocolate chips

Prepare brownie mix for a 9x13 pan as directed on package and bake.
For cream filling, mix together margarine and powdered sugar. Blend in milk, peppermint extract and green food coloring. Spread filling over cooled brownies. Refrigerate until firm.
For frosting, melt butter with chocolate chips and pour evenly over filling layer. Chill approximately 30 minutes. Cut into squares and return to refrigerator until firm. Serve chilled. Chocolate will crack if cut before it is chilled.

*I've made these for several gatherings and people always ask for the recipe, so I don't think you will be disappointed if you try them!

Chicken Enchiladas

2009-11-18T18:42:00.001-05:00

This is a good recipe to use leftover chicken in, or with Thanksgiving coming, maybe you have some leftover turkey to substitute! It works well with either.

Chicken Enchiladas
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 ounce can of diced green chilies, with juice
3/4 cup sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
2 cups shredded, cheddar cheese, divided
10 large flour tortillas
1/3 cup milk

Melt butter; add onion and garlic and saute. Stir in green chilies, sour cream and soup. Remove 3/4 cup of sauce and set aside. Add chicken and 1/2 cup of cheese. Fill tortillas with chicken mix and roll up. Place in greased 9X13 pan, seam side down.
Add milk and 1/2 cup cheese to remaining sauce. Pour over enchiladas. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of cheese over top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
Serve with green onions, sour cream and salsa if desired.
*This is a long time family favorite. Heather says it may be her favorite meal ever!

M & M squares

2009-11-12T20:13:00.000-05:00

This recipe is an old favorite. Kids love it, but adults do too.

M & M Squares
1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup oleo
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/3 cup flour
1 cup quick oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups M & M's

Beat together peanut butter, oleo and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix flour, oatmeal, soda and salt. Add to oleo mixture. Mix in 1 cup M & M's. Press into jelly roll pan. Sprinkle remaining M & M's over dough. Bake 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Enjoy!

Pizza Rolls

2009-11-03T19:51:00.000-05:00

I tried out a new recipe that I got from my friend Betty, at A glimpse into midlife. I changed it just a little, to fit our tastes and because she lives in Paraguay I switched the measurements from metric. Anyway - they are good and in spite of using a yeast dough, they are surprisingly easy to make. Hope you enjoy them too!
Pizza Rolls
1 tbsp. quick rising yeast
1 egg
1 cup warm milk
1/2 cup Oil
1 tbsp. Salt
3 - 4 cups flour, or until it makes a soft dough

Knead the dough thoroughly then put in a warm place and let rise for about an hour. This is not a very big recipe, so it´s not much dough.

While the dough is rising you can prepare the filling:
8 ounces mozzarella cheese
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
8 ounces ham, chopped finely
1 garlic clove
1 Tomato
1 jalapeña pepper
Oregano and any other spices you enjoy.
* You may change the meat to other types, or add you own favorit pizza filling.
Mix this all together in a bowl.

After dough is risen, take about half the it (beware it´s pretty soft and sticky, use lots of flour), and roll it out into an oblong shape. Then you sprinkle the filling mixture onto the rolled out dough.
Then you roll it up till it resembles a log.
Slice pieces off the log and lay them filling side down on a baking sheet.
Let them rise for about 15 minutes.
Bake in a preheated oven, 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
*These rated a 9 on Bob's scale.

Mother Load Cookie Bars

2009-10-03T20:14:00.003-04:00

I found the recipe for these cookie bars on a blog and tried them out this week. Imagine all your favorite cookies in one bar and that's what these are!
I took them to a church meeting and everyone loved them. So will you!

Mother Load Cookie Bars

Layer 1: Sugar Cookie

1 Roll of Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Press sugar cookie dough into bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish that’s been lined foil and sprayed with cooking spray. (I found it helped to break the dough up and let it warm up just a little before trying to spread it in the pan)

Layer 2: Double Chocolate Chip Cookie

(the recipe below makes double what you’ll need for the bars, use extra for cookies)

1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder)
2 tsps. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Slowly add eggs and vanilla until well combined.

In another bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Slowly add to wet ingredients then stir in chips. Layer 1/2 the recipe over sugar cookie layer, pressing gently.

Layer 3: Peanut Butter Cookie

1 Cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 Cup granulated sugar

1 egg

Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix until combined. Press over chocolate cookie dough.

Layer 4: Chocolate Chip Cookie

(the recipe below makes double what you’ll need for the bars, use extra for cookies)

2 sticks softened butter

3/4 Cup granulated sugar

3/4 Cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon pure vanilla

2 1/2 Cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 bag chocolate chips

Make sure oven is preheated to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer cream the butter and sugars until well combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Place flour, baking soda and salt into a large bowl; mix to combine. Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips. Spoon 1/2 of the dough evenly over peanut butter cookie dough but don’t press, just leave uneven. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until center of dough is cooked mostly through. Edges will be brown. I covered pan with foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.

Let cookies cool completely. Lift out of pan with edges of foil. I cut off 1/2 inch edges and just used softer centers, but do as you wish. Edges are crispier. Drizzle top with 1/2 Cup melted chocolate chips if desired.

This recipe was created by Jenny at The Picky Palate. We rate it a 1o.

Pasta Salad

2009-09-08T14:58:00.000-04:00

This is a recipe I got from Bob's Mom before we got married, so it's an oldie! (but a goodie) The ingredients can be varied with what you like or have on hand, and it always tastes good.

Pasta Salad
1 cup shell macaroni (or twists or elbow...)
hard boiled eggs - I use 2, but you can add more or less to taste
1 small can tuna fish, or like amount of chopped ham, or diced chicken
1 can peas
1 tablespoon chopped pickles (optional)
1/2 cup salad dressing
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In 2 cups boiling water, cook pasta until tender. Place in colander and drill with cold water. Allow to cool.
Toss together meat, peas and pickles. Cut eggs fine and add to meat mix. Stir in pasta and salad dressing. Stir in cheese.
Refrigerate overnight. You may need to add more salad dressing before serving, as pasta my absorb some.
*This is another family favorite and gets a 10!

Joanie's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-08-31T23:02:00.000-04:00

These cookies are a favorite in our house. I got the recipe from a friend at church . She is known for these cookies and they always get a good price when she makes them for the annual youth auction. The recipe is actually her Grandma's, so it has stood the test of time! These cookies turn out different that the standard Toll house cookies. They are lighter and crispier.

Joanie's Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 sticks margarine or butter
1 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups flour
2 - 12 ounce pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine sugars and butter and cream well. Add oil, egg, vanilla and milk. Mix together. Add salt, soda, and flour and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoons on cookie sheet or warm baking stone. Bake at 350 degrees for 17 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
*These rate a 10, especially for Andy. Joanie has made them for him several times when he has had leave and could come home. He is always thrilled!

Malted Milk Ball Dessert

2009-08-16T16:08:00.000-04:00

This recipe has been one of Andy's favorites since he was little. He used to call basketballs "boop balls" when he was little and since this dessert had "balls" on the top, he called it Boop Ball Dessert. We still call it by that name! It's a nice refreshing dessert in the summer.

.Malted Milk Ball Dessert

Crust:
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 stick melted butter
Mix and press into a 9 x 13 pan.

Filling:
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream, softened

12 ounces crushed malted milk balls
Stir together and spread over crust. Freeze.
Top with 8 ounces softened Cool Whip spread over frozen filling. Garnish each piece with a malted milk ball.

.*This is a long time favorite that rates a 10

Japenese Chicken Salad

2009-08-04T17:10:00.001-04:00

This is a recipe I got from my mom. It's great for potlucks and is always liked!

Japanese Chicken Salad
1 cup slivered almonds
2 cups cooked, cubed chicken
3 ounces Ramen noodles, chicken flavor (keep flavor packet for sauce)
2 chopped green onion
1 bag coleslaw mix
Put almonds in single layer on cookie sheet. Toast at 350 degrees for about 7 minutes or until lightly browned. Set aside and cool.
Put chicken in large bowl. Stir in coleslaw mix, crumbled noodles and onions.

Dressing
1 pkg noodle seasoning
1/2 cup oil
3 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon Accent
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Combine all ingredients and pour over chicken and cabbage mix. Stir together to mix. Place in refrigerator overnight. Just before serving, sprinkle with almonds.

*Bob doesn't like this, but he doesn't like any chicken salads. I think it's a 10 and have had lots of requests for the recipe, so it must be good!

Ice Cream Dessert

2009-07-28T19:18:00.003-04:00

I'm sorry I don't have a picture of this one. I make it frequently so there is really no excuse for this. However - it's such a good summer dessert that I decided to post it and not wait for a picture! This is one of my families favorite desserts. I like it because it can be made ahead of time, and can easily be changed.

Ice Cream Dessert
24 Oreo cookies
1/3 cup margarine, melted
1/2 gallon ice cream, flavor of your choice (Mackinaw Island fudge, mint chip. coffee, heath bar, are all good)
Crush the Oreo cookies and mix with melted margarine. Press into 9x13 pan and place in freezer. Allow ice cream to soften and spread on top of frozen crust.
Topping:
6 squares semi -sweet chocolate
3 tablespoons margarine
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
Combine topping ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened. Allow to cool completely and spread over ice cream. Freeze.
* This is an easy 10 in our family!

Chili Corn Bread Salad

2009-06-27T19:43:00.002-04:00

Here's a great salad recipe for you. I made it when we had a group over and it was really good!

Chili Corn Bread Salad
1 pkg (8.5 oz) corn bread/muffin mix
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1/8 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp ground oregano
Mix all of above and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool.

1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 envelope ranch salad dressing
Mix to make dressing.

1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

In a 9x13 glass pan or a large glass bowl, crumble half of the corn bread. Spread half of the dressing over bread. Layer with half the beans, corn, tomatoes, pepper, onion, cilantro and cheese. Repeat layer. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
* this was a huge hit and gets a 10!

Crispy Chicken Wontons

2009-06-24T13:29:00.000-04:00

I made these recently for a night with friends and they were so good!

Crispy Chicken Wontons
8 ounces cream cheese
3 tablespoons mild green chili, diced
1 tablespoon jalapeno, diced
1/8 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced finely
1 pkg wonton wrappers
vegetable oil for frying
In large bowl, combine cream cheese, chili, jalapeno, breadcrumbs, garlic, salt and chicken. Mix well.
Wontons may be made in two ways: place 2 teaspoons of filling in center of wrapper, moisten one side with egg white to seal and roll. This makes a larger size, long roll.
Or, place 1 teaspoon in center of wrapper, moisten one side with egg white and fold diagonally to make a triangle. You will have more appetizers, smaller in size.
Press edges together and seal. In deep saute' pan on high, heat oil and fry wontons until golden, about 1 and 1/2 minutes. These may be served immediately or frozen and microwaved or reheated in oven. They reheat well.
Serve with sweet and sour sauce.
*We really liked these and gave them a 10

Chicken Bacon Crescent Ring

2009-06-16T19:00:00.001-04:00

I tried this recipe for the first time this week, we liked it and it goes together quickly.

Chicken Bacon Crescent Ring

2 (8 ounce) tubes crescent rolls
6 ounces pre-cooked chicken breast, chopped in small pieces (I used Hormel brand - found in refrigerator section)
1 1/2 cups swiss cheese
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup finely chopped red or green pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
2 tablespoons mustard
1 tablespoon Italian salad dressing mix

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unroll crescent roll dough; separate into 16 triangles. Place wide end of one triangle 3 inches from edge of a round stone or a greased 14 inch pizza pan, with point overhanging edge of pan. Repeat with remaining triangles along outer edge of pan, overlapping with wide ends (dough will look like a sun when complete). Lightly press wide ends together.
In small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Spoon over wide ends of dough. Fold points of triangles over filling and tuck under wide ends (filling will be visible). Bake at 375 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Yield: 8 servings
* we rated this a 9

Award

2009-06-01T18:51:00.003-04:00

I recently received this "Lovely Blog" award from dd of Flickr Project 365. dd and I both have a photo blog and I've really enjoyed getting to know her through her daily pictures and postings. Thanks dd!
I'm passing this award on to anyone who is a follower of this blog. You are all lovely!

Rhubarb Coffe Cake

2009-05-17T20:09:00.000-04:00

This is a recipe I make frequently in the spring, when rhubarb is fresh. It mixes together quickly and is so good!

Rhubarb Coffee Cake

1/2 cup oil

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup buttermilk (I use regular milk with no problem)

2 heaping cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups rhubarb, cut thinly

1/2 package strawberry jello

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together oil, sugar and egg. Add buttermilk, then stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in rhubarb. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan.

Sprinkle the 1/2 package of jello over top and swirl through batter with a knife.

Mix together the remaining sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle on top of batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until cake tests done.

Serve topped with whipped topping.

* This is always a hit and rates a 10!

Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert

2009-05-10T19:36:00.003-04:00

This is a simple to put together dessert that looks fancy when cut, and is so good!

Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert

2 boxes ice cream sandwiches

12 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

2 bags Heath Toffee Bits

Open sandwiches from one box and place in 9 x 13 pan, positioning to cover bottom of pan. Spread half of Cool Whip over ice cream sandwiches. Sprinkle 1 bag of the Heath bits over Cool Whip. Repeat layers and freeze.

This recipe fills a 9 x 13 to the top of the pan, so it makes a lot. When I make this for just my family, I half the recipe; still using a 9 x 13 pan and the pieces are just not as tall.

*This recipe gets a 10. It's one of the things Andy asked me to make the last time he was home.

Taco ring

2009-04-20T15:48:00.000-04:00

My family likes taco's but we don't always want to deal with crumbly shells. This is a favorite way to eat a taco meal at our house!

Taco Ring
3/4 pound hamburg, browned and drained
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons water
2 pkg crescent rolls

Stir seasoning, water and cheese into browned hamburg. Unroll crescents and arrange in a circle on a round baking stone with the ends pointing out. (You can use a large cookie sheet, but it will cook quicker than on a stone)
Scoop meat onto wide part of each crescent triangle. Bring outside points in and tuck under dough at center.
Bake for 20 - 25 minutes at 375 degrees until lightly browned. Slice and serve wedges with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese and sour cream.

*This one rates a 9

Grandpa Salad

2009-04-06T16:47:00.001-04:00

This is a favorite salad in our house. I got the "recipe" from my daughter who got it from her husbands family. It's a salad that her hubby's grandpa always brought to family gatherings, which is why it has the name it does. I've made it to bring to potlucks and we've had it at home and it's always a hit. There is no actual recipe, so you can make as much or as little as you like. Sometimes I make a small version and bring it to work as my lunch.

Grandpa Salad

lettuce; variety of your choice, torn into bite size pieces

hard boiled eggs; sliced (I use 6 or 7 for a large bowl of salad)

bacon; cooked and broken into small pieces

cherry tomatoes

cheese, cut into small cubes (I use the Kraft crumbles variety)

mayonnaise (I use Kraft, reduced fat with olive oil)

Place lettuce into serving bowl. Stir in eggs, bacon, tomatoes and cheese. This may be done ahead of time. Immediately before serving stir mayonnaise into salad. Use just enough to coat the other ingredients.

It sounds funny to use mayonnaise but it really tastes good. My husband and one of the girls at work don't like mayonnaise but they like this salad!

* this gets a score of 10

Chili Tortilla Bake

2009-03-16T20:17:00.000-04:00

This is an easy recipe to make and it makes a 9 X 13 pan, so you get a lot!

Chili Tortilla Bake

1 pound hamburg
16 ounces tomato sauce
1 can (14 1/2 ounce) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (8 3/4 ounce) whole kernel corn, undrained
1 can (4 1/2 ounce) chopped green chilies, undrained
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons minced onion
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon oregano
6 (8 inch) flour tortillas
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large skillet, brown ground beef; drain.
Add tomato sauce, beans, corn and green chilies.
Stir in next 5 seasoning. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered for 15 minutes.
In a greased 9 X 13 pan, place 3 tortillas to cover bottom, tearing and overlapping as needed.
Layer with half of meat mix, then half of cheese.
Top with another 3 tortillas, remaining meat and cheese.
Bake 30 minutes.

*This one rates a 9 at our house.

French Lasagne

2009-03-09T19:58:00.000-04:00

This recipe is a family favorite. It's something my Mom used to make before I was married, and I've been married almost 28 years, so it's a classic!

French Lasagne
1 pound hamburg
1/2 pound sausage
1 small can tomato paste
1 tablespoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
2 cans crescent rolls (I use the recipe type, with no perforations)
1 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
4 slices mozzarella cheese

Brown meat and drain fat. Add tomato paste, parsley, oregano, onion, salt, pepper and worcestershire sauce. Simmer 10 minutes.
Place crescent rolls on cookie sheet, long side together. Pinch edges together.
Spread 1/2 of the meat mix down the middle of the crescent rolls.
Mix cottage cheese and parmesan cheese. Spoon over meat.
Spread remaining meat mixture over cheeses. Place slices of mozzarella over top of meat.
Bring sides of crescent rolls up and cover cheese. Seal together. Finished it should look like a large roll of French bread.
Bake 325 degrees for 25 minutes until top is golden. Top may be brushed with melted butter.

*My whole family likes this one. It's a 10!

Angelic Fruit Dessert

2009-03-01T21:15:00.002-05:00

This is such an easy recipe, but it tastes so refreshing and good. It really looks pretty too, although you wouldn't know from the picture above! I used sugar free pudding, low fat Wool Whip and skim milk and I can't tell the difference from the regular ingredients.

Angelic Fruit Dessert
1 Angel Food Cake, cut into cubes (large size or 2 loaf pans)
2 small vanilla instant pudding mixes
3 cups milk
8 ounce Cool Whip, thawed
Fresh Fruit - strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches to your taste

Place angel food cake cubes in 9 X 13 pan. Mix pudding with milk and fold in Cool Whip. Pour over cake cubes. Top with cut up fruit of your choice.
*This rates a 10, rated by both family and friends!

Easy Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

2009-02-14T12:20:00.003-05:00

We love cheesecake but it's not something I make often, because it's not exactly good for you and making the real thing can be time consuming, with the springform pan and water bath. My sister recently shared an easy cheesecake recipe that's really good. If you want to make one quickly, you'll like this recipe!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
1 graham cracker pie shell
3 - 8 ounce pkg cream cheese
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup mini chocolate chips, divided
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat cream cheese till smooth, then add condensed milk. Add egg and stir in vanilla.
Stir together 1/2 cup chocolate chips and the teaspoon of flour. Stir into cream cheese mix and pour into pie shell. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips on top.
Bake for 45 minutes or until filling is set.
*My family really likes this one and gives it a 10

Party Punch

2009-01-31T16:35:00.002-05:00

I had a group of women over last night and I made a new punch recipe. It was very good and I had requests to share the recipe so here it is.

Party Punch
3 (3 ounce packages) fruit flavored gelatin
4 cups white sugar
13 cups boiling water
2 cans (46 ounces) pineapple juice
16 ounce bottle lemon juice concentrate
2 (2 liter) bottles Ginger Ale

In a large bowl, combine gelatin and sugar. Stir in boiling water until mixture is dissolved. Stir in pineapple juice and lemon juice concentrate. Divide into 2 containers or 4 zip-loc freezer bags, and freeze until solid.
To serve, place gelatin mixture in punch bowl, and chop into pieces. Pour in ginger ale.

I used raspberry jello and it was very refreshing. I also used freezer bags. It was easy to freeze and thaw. Make sure you take it out of the freezer about 45 minutes before you mix it, so it has time to thaw. This is a slushy type of punch.
It made two punch bowls full.

*I got lots of compliments on this and my family loved it too. It gets a 10!

More Freezer meals

2009-01-09T18:42:00.006-05:00

I recently made more freezer meals and have a few recipes to share.

Mexican Manicotti
1 pound lean ground beef
1 can (16 0z) refried beans
2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
8 ounce pkg manicotti shells
2 1/2 cups water
16 ounce jar picante sauce
***
To use when serving:
2 cups sour cream
8 ounces Montery Jack cheese
1/4 cup sliced green onions
sliced ripe olives - optional

In a bowl, combine the UNCOOKED beef, beans, chili powder and oregano. Spoon into UNCOOKED manicotti shells. Arrange in greased 9X13 baking dish. Combine water and picante sauce, pour over shells. Cover and seal dish tightly with aluminum foil. Freeze.
To serve: Thaw completely in refrigerator. Leave covered and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Uncover, spoon sour cream over top, sprinkle with cheese, onions and olives if desired. Bake another 10 minutes until cheese is melted.
Serves 6
* We rated this an 8. Bob and Heather liked it. I thought it was okay, but didn't care for the texture of the pasta. It was too soft for my taste
~~~

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti
4-6 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded.
1 green pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes with green chilies, drained
1 can stewed tomatoes, with juice
16 ounces cheddar cheese
16 ounces spaghetti

Cook spaghetti for about 2/3 time listed on package (this ensures it doesn't become mushy when freezing), and rinse drain.
In large bowl, stir together chicken, onion, green pepper, soup, Ro-Tel, stewed tomatoes and cheese. Then stir in cooked spaghetti.
Divide into 2 - 9X13 pans.
To serve: Thaw completely in refrigerator. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes until bubbly.
* This was good. It doesn't taste at all like regular spaghetti. It's spicy but not too much. We rated this one a 9.
~~~

Parsley Parmesan Chicken
12 boneless, skinless chicken breast - or what ever type of chicken you like. (the quantity is quite flexible)
1 bottle Italian salad dressing
1 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup parsley flakes
1 tablespoon paprika
salt and pepper

Marinate chicken in dressing overnight. Mix remaining ingredients and dread each breast with coating. Place each breast on a cookie sheet and allow to freeze, then place together in zip-loc bag and freeze.
To serve: Thaw completely in refrigerator. They may then be grilled or bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until done.
*We rated this a 9. Bob loved the chicken. I did it on my Foreman grill and next time will do it in the oven on parchment paper, because the coating stuck to the grill.

Sweet Treats

2008-12-13T19:36:00.002-05:00

I have a recipe for one of the easiest Christmas treats ever. I got this recipe from a friend a few years ago and we have enjoyed it ever since. These treats are good, easy and can be changed in several ways.

Sweet Treats
Round pretzels (may also use square basket weave type)
Hershey Hugs (may also use chocolate Kisses)
Christmas M & M's

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil. Lay pretzels out onto lined cookie sheet. Unwrap Hugs and place in center of pretzel ring or in using square pretzel, on top of it. Place in oven for about 5 minutes.When Hugs are still maintaining their shape, but are soft press one M & M into Hug. Cool in refrigerator , then eat!
*These are a nice easy 10!

Pasta E Fagioli

2008-11-08T19:21:00.003-05:00

I had lunch at the Olive Garden a few weeks ago, and had this wonderful soup. It was so good I thought it would work well for a group I had coming over. I searched the web and found a copy cat recipe. I made just a few changes to it and it really did taste like the real thing. This soup is really very easy to make and is delicious.

Pasta E Fagioli

3 teaspoons oil
2 lbs ground beef
14 ounces carrots, slivered
12 ounces onions, chopped
14 ounces celery, diced
48 ounces diced canned tomatoes
2 cups red kidney beans
2 cups white kidney beans
88 ounces beef stock
3 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 1/2 teaspoons pepper
5 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
48 ounces spaghetti sauce
8 ounces dry pasta shell macaroni, cooked as directed

Sauté beef in oil in large 10 quart pot until beef starts to brown.
Add onions, carrots, celery and tomatoes and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Drain and rinse beans and add to pot. Also add beef stock, oregano, rosemary, garlic, pepper, Tabasco and spaghetti sauce.
Simmer until celery and carrots are tender, about 45 minutes.
Add pasta about 10 minutes before serving.
Grate fresh Romano or Parmesan cheese onto soup before serving.

This recipe makes 9 quarts! I served it to 12 people and still had plenty for another meal. A friend of mine made it and said it freezes well. If I was making it for just my family I would half it and there would still be a generous amount.

* It's a 10!

Apple pie

2008-10-25T22:43:00.002-04:00

Here's how I spent my day today - peeling lots of apples. I made pies to give away today, but of course kept one for Bob! This is a good recipe and I thought I would share it.

Mom's Apple Pie
Combine: 1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Press out any lumps. Ad 6 large tart apples, peeled and sliced. Toss well.
Place unbaked pie crust in 9 inch pie plate. Fill pastry shell with apple mix.
Topping: 1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup butter
Stir together sugar and flour, then cut in better until mixture is crumbly. Spread over filling.
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until browned.
*This is our families favorite apple pie and we rate it a 9.

Marshmallow Crescent Puffs

2008-10-18T22:42:00.003-04:00

I just found this recipe. It was easy and a hit at our house, so I thought I would share it!

Marshmallow Crescent Puffs
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
16 large marshmallows
1/4 cup margarine, melted
2 pkgs Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine sugar and cinnamon. Dip each marshmallow in melted margarine and roll in cinnamon sugar. Wrap a crescent roll around each marshmallow. Seal completely!!! (this is important) Dip in melted margarine and again in cinnamon sugar. Place in greased muffin tin. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes until brown.
* You may skip the cinnamon sugar on the crescent roll and drizzle with powdered sugar glaze when done instead. I'm going to try that next time because I think it will taste like a cinnamon roll and be less messy!
**If you don't seal the crescents well, the marshmallow will melt and bubble all over your pan, making quite a mess! I learned the hard way!
*** We thought these were great and Bob rates them a 10!

Chocolate Toffee Pecan Cookies

2008-09-16T17:22:00.003-04:00

I got the recipe for these cookies from Perri of My life in Bits and Pieces. She found it on another blog, Lynn's Kitchen Adventures. I thought that since 2 people liked them enough to post them, they must be good. Guess what? They really are good! I didn't follow the recipe exactly, though. My family doesn't care for nuts in things, so I doubled the Heath bits and left out the pecans. I also made them normal size because I know we would eat just as many regardless of size. Hope you like these too!

Chocolate Toffee (Pecan?) Cookies
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips
4 ounces toffee bits (Heath)
3/4 cup very finely chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In mixing bowl, combine butter and sugars until well blended. Add egg, yolk and vanilla. Batter will appear slightly greasy. Add dry ingredients until blended. Add chocolate chips, toffee bits and pecans. Scoop into 1/4 cup balls onto cookie sheet - may use ice cream scoop. Place 6 onto cookie sheet. When made this large, make sure you only do 6 at a time as they will spread out. Bake 15 minutes. When you set them out to cool, be sure to use a rack because as the toffee pieces harden, it will stick to paper towel or any other paper.
* these rate a 9

Key Lime Pie

2008-07-28T16:38:00.003-04:00

I have to apologize for my lack of posting lately. Hopefully the great recipe I am posting will make up for it!
This is the easiest recipe for Key Lime Pie ever, and it tastes wonderful and refreshing. Hope you enjoy!

Key Lime Pie
5 egg yolks, beaten
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lime juice
1 drop green food coloring
1 prepared graham cracker pie crust

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix together egg yolks and condensed milk. Stir in lime juice and food coloring. Poor into prepared pie crust. Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees. Garnish with whipped cream if desired.
*Bob and Heather rate this a 10

Apple Dumplings

2008-04-12T22:28:00.005-04:00

I got the recipe for these apple dumplings from The Pioneer Women. (If you've never been to her site, you really must stop in.) After hearing a few of my blogging friends rave about them, I thought I would try them out. They were right. These dumplings are so easy to make and they are sinfully delicious! I can guarantee that your family will thank you for making these.

Apple Dumplings

2 Granny Smith apples
2 cans crescent rolls
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoons vanilla
cinnamon
1 small can Mountain Dew

Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.
~~~
These are fabulous! My family rates them an 11!

Mexican Chocolate Crinkles

2008-04-09T19:29:00.004-04:00

This is an old cookie recipe that my Mom got from a friend about 30 years ago. Although I don't make cookies very often, my family always likes these ones. These crispy cookies have a unique flavor because of the cinnamon in them.

Mexican Chocolate Crinkles
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 3/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
sugar to roll cookies in, about 1/4 cup

Cream shortening, sugar and egg. Add syrup and chocolate . Stir in flour, soda, salt and cinnamon to make a stiff dough. Shape dough into walnut sized balls. Roll in sugar. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
~~~
Our family rates these a 9, they really like them!

Dutch Green Pea Soup

2008-03-15T16:23:00.005-04:00

Our family has a tradition that we have been following for about 20 years. Every Christmas my Dad provides the ham for the dinner. We then freeze the ham bone and some of the leftover meat. A month or two later I make pea soup and use the bone and ham to make it. My parents always came to that supper and we used to invite an older lady from our church who my parents knew. My mom and this lady have passed away, but the tradition continues. It's something we always look forward to, when Christmas is done. When Andy was about 3, we started calling this soup "Turtle Soup" because he thought he didn't like it. He did like the the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" though. When we told him it was what they ate, he liked it too! So here it is - Turtle soup or Pea soup. I don't care what you call it!

Dutch Green Pea Soup
1 pound split green peas, rinsed
2 1/2 quarts water
3 medium onions. chopped
2 large stalks celery, sliced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 ham bone with meat
4 large carrots, sliced
4 large potatoes, cubed

Combine peas, water, onions, celery, salt, pepper and ham bone. Heat to boiling; reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add carrots and potatoes and simmer another hour until peas have cooked down to a thick broth and potatoes and carrots are tender. Stir occasionally during cooking. More water may be added if soup is too thick. Makes 10 generous servings.
~~~
I got this recipe from a contest held by our local paper about 25 years ago and have been making it ever since. It is rated a 10 by our family!

Snow Salad

2008-02-14T18:57:00.004-05:00

A friend asked me to post this recipe, so here it is! I don't know anyone who doesn't like this one.

~~~

Snow Salad

Snow:

1 pkg (1/4 oz) unflavored gelatin

1/4 cup cold water

1 cup boiling water

2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups (16 oz) sour cream

8 ounces Cool Whip

Dissolve gelatin in cold water, then add boiling water and stir to dissolve. Add sugar and vanilla and stir well to dissolve. Wisk in sour cream until mixture is smooth. Blend in Cool Whip. Pour into 6 cup mold and refrigerate overnight.

Sauce:

1 pkg Salada Danish Dessert mix

2 - 10 oz cartons frozen strawberries or raspberries

Drain berries and save liquid. Follow directions on Danish Dessert box, using liquid from berries with water to equal amount called for, to make sauce.

Serve slices of snow, with sauce poured over top.

This makes a very pretty salad when made in a mold, but can also be poured into a 9x13 pan and cut into squares.

*This salad rates a 10 at our house.

Chocolate Streusel Bars

2008-02-02T14:55:00.000-05:00

Here are some dessert bars I made for our homegroup gathering. They are easy to make and the cream cheese filling is delicious!

Chocolate Streusel Bars

1 3/4 cup flour

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup cocoa

1 cup cold margerine

1- 8 oz pkg cream cheese

1 -14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, sugar and cocoa. Cut in margerine until crumbly (mixture will be very dry). Reserve 2 cups crumb mixture and press remainder on bottom of 9x13 pan. Bake 15 minutes. Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in condensed milk until smooth. Add egg and vanilla. Mix well. Pour over prepared crust. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over cheese mixture. Bake 25 minutes or until bubbly. Cool and chill. Cut into small squares and store in refrigerator.

* This gets another 10 rating!

Bean soup with ham

2008-01-30T18:42:00.000-05:00

Bean Soup with Ham

1/2 cup dry black beans

1/2 cup dry great Northern beans

1/2 cup dry red kidney beans

1/2 cup dry pinto beans

1/2 cup dry split green peas

1 ham bone or ham hocks with meat attached

1 small onion, chopped

4 stalks celery, chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 bay leaf

6 cups ham broth (I made mine using ham soup base)

16 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

3 hours before serving, rinse beans with cold running water. Remove stones or shriveled beans. In a dutch oven or stock pot, mix beans and 9 cups water. Bring to boil and allow to boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans. Place beans, broth, onion, celery, ham bone and spices into pot. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 1 1/2 hours until beans are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove ham bone and add tomatoes to soup. Heat to boiling, reduce to low and simmer for 15 more minutes. While this is simmering, remove any ham from bone and add to soup. Discard bay leaf and serve.

*This is delicious soup - it rates a 10

Fudgy Mint Brownies

2008-01-26T19:41:00.000-05:00

Someone at work brought in some brownies with mint patties in them last week and everyone liked them. I decided to try my own version, which turned out really good. You only need a small piece of these, because they are really rich and unfortunately they are not calorie free! Fudgy Mint Brownies
2 boxes fudgy brownies (I used Duncan Hines)
eggs, oil and water as directed on brownie pkg.
1 pkg York peppermint patties
1/4 teaspoon mint extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare one box of brownies as directed on pkg. Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Unwrap mint patties and lay on top of prepared brownies. (24 in all; 6 rows of 4) Prepare second brownie mix as directed, then stir in mint extract. Pour over mint layer. Bake for 40 minutes. Take out of oven and frost immediately.
Frosting
4 tablespoons margarine
3 tablespoons milk
2 scat tablespoons cocoa
1/2 box powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Heat margarine, milk and cocoa, but do not boil. Remove from heat and pour into mixing bowl containing powdered sugar. Mix, then stir in vanilla. Pour over hot brownies. Enjoy!
* These received a 9 rating from my family - very good

Crescent Chicken Squares

2008-01-06T21:18:00.001-05:00

I have a friend at work who has been asking me for this recipe for a while and I keep forgetting to take it in to work. Now she says that since I have a recipe blog I should put it here - so here it is!

Crescent Chicken Squares

8-ounce pkg cream cheese, softened

5 tablespoons margarine, melted - reserve 1 tablespoon

4 cups cooked chicken, cubed

1/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons minced onion

2 8-ounce pkgs crescent rolls

3/4 cup seasoned croutons, crushed

1 can cream of chicken soup plus 1/4 cup milk for sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend cream cheese and 4 tablespoons of margarine until smooth. Add milk, salt, pepper and onion. Stir in chicken and mix well. Separate rolls into 8 rectangles and press perforations to seal. Spoon 1/2 cup chicken mix into center of each. Pull 4 corners of dough to top center of filling, twist together and pinch to seal. Place squares onto ungreased cookie sheet. Brush tops of squares with remaining melted margarine. Sprinkle with crouton crumbs. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown. Warm cream of chicken soup mixed with milk and spread this sauce over top. These reheat well.

~~~~~

I have been making these for several years and my whole family likes them. I have served them to friends and they are always a hit. Bob and Heather rate these a 9.

More Freezer recipes

2008-01-05T19:39:00.001-05:00

Here are a few more recipes for things that freeze well. I will add my families rating of these recipes later, but can tell you that I have made the spaghetti casserole before and it is very good. It's a good one to bring when someone is sick as kids really like it. Spaghetti Casserole

1 pkg (16 ounces) angel hair pasta

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1 jar (26 ounces) spaghetti sauce ( I use Hunts 4 cheese)

2 cans (8 ounces each) tomato sauce

1 can cream of mushroom soup

16 ounces sour cream

4 cups shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese

Cook pasta for a slightly shorter time than directed on pkg, until just done. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown beef and drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce. Remove from heat. Stir together cream of mushroom soup and sour cream. In two 8x11 freezer pans, layer half the meat sauce, pasta, sour cream mix and cheese. Repeat layers. Cover tightly with foil and freeze up to 3 months.

To use frozen casserole: Thaw in refrigerator. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Orange Teriyaki Chicken

8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 1/2 tablespoon minced onion

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon oil

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon red pepper sauce

1 - 6 ounce can frozen orange juice concentrate

Mix all ingredients except chicken. Divide into 2 freezer bags. Add 4 chicken breast to each bag. Seal bag, allowing very little air inside. Freeze.

To cook: thaw chicken breast. They can be cooked on the grill, George Foreman type grill or baked at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

*Spaghetti Casserole from Taste of Home, Chicken recipe from the Freezer Chicks

~~~

*Rating for the Orange Teriyaki Chicken: 8. Good, but we thought it had a little too much orange in it for us.

Rating for the Spaghetti Casserole: 9 - always a hit.

Freezer Recipes

2008-01-05T19:22:00.002-05:00

Here are a few dinners that can be made ahead and frozen. Crowd Pleaser Casserole

1 1/2 pound ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

12 oz frozen corn

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of celery soup

2 cups macaroni noodles

2 cups cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cook noodles shortly under time directed on package, so they don't get mushy when frozen. Brown beef with onions, then stir in the corn, soups and seasoning. Place into 9x13 freezer pan. (I used two 8x8 pans). Sprinkle cheese on top. Cover tightly with foil and freeze. To cook: Thaw. Cook covered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Cheesy Chicken Soup

4 chicken breasts

6 1/2 cups water

3/4 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup finely chopped or slivered carrots

4 cubes chicken bouillon

2 cans cream of chicken soup

3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Add chicken breast to water and simmer until tender. Remove chicken breast from water and allow to cool. Add celery, onion, carrots and bouillon to water. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Shred cooled chicken and add to soup. Add cream of chicken soup and bring to simmer. You will probably need to add more water at this time if soup is too thick.

Place soup into freezer containers and freeze.

To serve: Thaw soup and heat. Before serving add cheese.

*Recipes adapted from the Freezer Chicks.

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Rating for the Crowd Pleaser casserole: 9. It was easy and good!

Rating for the Cheesy Chicken soup: 10! We loved it and will definitely have it again.