gearing up...

this weekend, we are having a par-tay!
and around here, parties mean food. good food.
so it has been awhile since my last post,
only because i am gearing up to share my take on an easter feast.
it will be worth your wait, i promise.

coconut macaroons

coconut macaroons
1 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. light corn syrup
4 c. coconut
2 stiff beaten egg whites

to make them "bird's nests":
[1/4 c. chocolate chips, 1/4 c. butter, and robin's eggs candy]

mix flour & sugar, then gradually add corn syrup & mix until smooth.
in a seperate bowl -beat egg whites until stiff, add coconut.
add coconut mixture to flour mixture.
shape into small balls and use your thumb to push down the center of each cookie.
bake at 375 degrees for 13 minutes.

to make them bird's nests:
[melt chocolate chips & butter over low heat.]
[spread spoonful of chocolate on top of cooled cookie.]
[place two eggs on top.]

no fail peanut butter cookies

no fail peanut butter cookies

1 c. peanut butter

1 c. sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 egg, beaten

mix sugar & peanut butter.

add baking soda & egg.

mix well.

roll into small balls.

bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

let everyone think you are a kitchen genius!

chicken wing dip

chicken wing dip
8oz. block of neufchatel cream cheese
1lb. tub of blue cheese crumbles
16oz. tub of fat free sour cream
1 c. frank's red hot wing sauce
4 c. shredded, cooked chicken

in crockpot, mix first four ingrdients until smooth.
add chicken and mix.
cook on low at least 2 hours.
serve warm with celery sticks.

cracker toffee

cracker toffee

40 saltine crackers

1 c. butter or margarine

1 c. brown sugar

1 classic bag hershey's nuggets with almonds, chopped (i use my mini food processor)

(----could also substitute chocolate chips)

place saltines flat on foil/parchment lined sheet pan or casserole(9x13).

in small pan, melt butter & sugar together.

boil for 3 minutes.

pour onto saltines, evenly coat.

bake at 400 degrees for 5-6 minutes.

top with chocolate.

spread evenly as it melts.

cool in fridge until hardened.

break into pieces and devour.

st. patty's day soup

st. patty's day soup:

corned beef & cabbage

2 T. oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 leeks, sliced

4 carrots, sliced

5 medium red potatoes, diced

1 head green cabbage, sliced

2 lb. corned beef (with seasoning packet)

8 cups water

in a large pot, saute garlic, leeks & carrots in oil for 4-5 mins.
trim fat from corned beef.
add water and beef (+ seasoning packet's contents) to pot.
bring to a boil.
cover and reduce heat to low and simmer 3 hours.
remove beef and shred meat.
return it to the pot.
add potatoes & cabbage and simmer for additional 30-45 minutes until tender.

yum. i now love this irish meal.

totally from skinnytaste...i only twisted it a tiny tad

stumped..

between being on a diet,
having children's sports practices every night of my life,
and trying an occassional date night out on the town...
new & exciting [and worthy to share] dinner recipes
are far and few between.
when we have something you would like,
i promise, i'll share.

pizza rolls

pizza rolls

dough:
2 c. cold water
4 c. flour
1 c. wheat flour
1/4 c. sugar
2 T. pwd. milk
2 t. salt
2 t. yeast
1 T. butter or margarine

1 lg. can marinara sauce
8 oz. bag shredded cheesetoppings; pepperoni, sausage, ham/pineapple, etc.

add all dough ingredients in bread machine in order and run on dough cycle.
after cycle is complete (usually 1:30 hrs.) sprinkle counter with corn meal.
 roll dough into thin oval shape.
spread even layer of marinara sauce atop dough.
sprinkle cheese.
add toppings and roll into log shape.
slice into a dozen rolls.
top with additional toppings (if desired), sauce and cheese.
bake at 375 degrees until center rolls are browned and cheese is bubbly.

i debated about letting this recipe out into the world, but it is so just daggum delicious. consider yourself lucky.

mexicorn chowder

mexicorn chowder

2 c. water

2 chicken bullion cubes (or 2 t. granules)

1 can creamed corn

1 can mexicorn (corn w/ peppers)

1 can diced green chilies

3 medium red potatoes, diced

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. cumin

1/4 t. black pepper

1/2 t. garlic powder

tortilla chips, to garnish

mix all ingredients in slow cooker (crock-pot).

simmer on high 6 hours.

next time, we're adding a spoonful of salsa to our bowls right before we chow.

afterschool snack on a dime. literally.

we all grow up eating our favorite foods and thinking they are totally normal and mainstream.
as i got older, i realized all of the things i loved weren't the same things my friends grew up loving.
still, they are my favorite.
an all-time favorite: cheese bread
here's how it's done...
one slice white, cheap bread (now that i'm a grown-up i like it on cheap wheat bread better.)
+
a handful of grated cheese spread over the entire piece
+
microwave-d for 30 seconds
=
happiness

beans & greens soup

beans & greens soup

5 c. water

1 large can crushed tomatoes

1 pkg (lb.) dry great northern beans

1/2 c. brown rice, uncooked

1/2 c. dehydrated onions

1/4 t. black pepper

1/2 t. garlic salt

1/2 t. dried basil

handful, fresh spinach (opt.)

mix all ingredients in slow cooker (crock-pot) and simmer on high 7-8 hours.

add fresh spinach 20 minutes before serving, if you so desire.

---quicker version---beans & greens soup
3 c. water

1 large can crushed tomatoes

2 cans great northern beans, drained & rinsed

1/2 c. brown rice, cooked

1/2 c. dehydrated onions

1/4 t. black pepper

1/2 t. garlic salt

1/2 t. dried basil

handful, fresh spinach (opt.)

mix all ingredients in slow cooker (crock-pot) and simmer on high 2-3 hours.
add fresh spinach 20 before serving, in you so desire.

sticky bun popping corn

sticky bun popping corn

2 bags natural (or low-butter) microwave popcorn, popped

1 c. brown sugar

1 (sm)t. cinnamon

1/2 c. butter or margarine

1/4 c. light karo syrup (or honey)

1 t. vanilla

1/2 t. baking soda

in microwaveable bow, mix brown sugar & cinnamon.

chop the butter in chunks and evenly place it over sugar mixture.

pour karo syrup/honey over all.

microwave for 30 sec. remove & stir.

microwave 2 minutes. remove & stir.

microwave 2 additional minutes.

remove & add vanilla & baking soda (this is the secret....mixture will foam & rise & get sticky!)

pour the gooey-ness over the popcorn and mix well to coat evenly.

spread on cookie sheet and bake at 250 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

remove sheet from oven and immediately transfer to wax paper to cool.

what's next?

i've given you some of the most-requested

recipes from my little recipe box.

so, now...

what do you want next?

QUICK.

leave a comment,

then i'll post your request next.

pumpkin cinnamon roll bars

pumpkin cinnamon roll bars
1 15-oz. can pumpkin
4 eggs
1/2 c. oil (or applesauce)
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 c. butter
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 box instant vanilla pudding mix
1 vanilla cake mix

mix all ingredients, whichever way you want to, all together.
mix until smooth.
pour into jelly roll pan.
bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
let cool, then frost with cream cheese frosting (but maybe add 2 T. of milk)
cut into bars.

do not forget to lick every single utensil clean, when you're done. it is that good.

luau beans

luau beans

1 lb. ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 20-oz. can crushed pineapple, drained

1 large can baked beans

1 can chili beans

1 c. spicy bbq sauce

1 c. ketchup

salt & pepper to taste

brown onion and ground beef in skillet.

transfer to slow cooker, or crock-pot.

add remaining ingredients and stir.

cook on low 6-8 hours.

could be dinner alone or as a side dish. and beans are cheap $.

banana sheet cake

banana sheet cake
1/2 c. butter or margarine
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. yogurt
(every single kind you have in your fridge works just fine---this is the secret!!)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
2-6, mashed day-old, bananas

cream butter, eggs, sugar, yogurt, vanilla.

add remaining ingredients and mix well.

bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

frost with cream cheese frosting (and nuts, if ya want)

my 90-year-old grandpa eats more bananas than anyone I know.
and this recipe always reminds me of him.
enjoy it.

sugar cookies

sugar cookies

1 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
3-4 T. milk
4 c. flour
1 t. nutmeg
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt

cream shortening & sugar.
add eggs & milk. mix well.

in another bowl, mix flour, nutmeg, baking powder, & salt.
add to creamed mixture.

refrigerate half the day.

roll thin and cut into shapes.

bake a 375 degrees for 12 minutes.


optional frosting--

2-3 c. powdered sugar
1 cube butter (1/2 c.), softened
1 t. vanilla
3 T. milk

mix well.

i cannot count the times my Grandma made these cookies.
i love them, my children love them, so will you.
p.s. they are kinda crunchy...yum.

fruit pizzAZ

fruit pizzAZ
1 sugar cookie mix, prepared (or a batch of homemade)
1 8-oz. cream cheese
2-3 c. powdered sugar
1 T. butter or margarine
1 t. vanilla
1 c. blueberries
1 small can mandarin oranges, drained
1 lb. strawberries, hulled & sliced
1 c. diced pineapple

...and a flag, of course.

prepare and bake sugar cookie mixture as directed in a jellyroll pan.
let cool.
in a small bowl, mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter & vanilla.
spread on cookie.
top with fruit in pattern of AZ flag.

happy 100th b-day AZ.

lemon heaven cookies

lemon heaven cookies
1 boxed cake mix, lemon flavor
1 tub cool whip
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c. powdered sugar

mix the cake mix, cool whip and egg together until just evenly moistened, (don't overmix)
roll 1/2 inch balls out of dough.
roll in powdered sugar to coat outside evenly.
place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 mins.

the mr. calls these lemon spring nuggets....they're the essence of spring at it's finest!