Spritz Cookies

Ok so I love the holiday and I love to bake. The kids love to help w/this recipe. You will need a cookie press. Hope you enjoy.

Lime Spritz Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups butter (no substitutes), softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 package (3 ounces) lime gelatin (or any jello flavor you like)
  
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Red and green colored sugar, optional

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and gelatin. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Using a cookie press fitted with the disk of your choice, press dough into desired shapes 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 14 dozen

Orange Glorius (AKA Orange Julius)

Tastes identical to an Orange Julius except that it's 10 times cheaper. I keep an open can of OJ concentrate in the freezer just for when I want one of these.


1 cup milk
1 cup ice water
1 (6 ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate
12 cubes ice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 cup white sugar

In a blender combine milk, water, orange juice concentrate, ice cubes, vanilla and sugar. Blend until smooth. Pour into three 12 oz glasses and enjoy with a straw.

EZ Breakfast Casserole

I read a title of "Breakfast Casserole" and thought, I could put one of those together in a flash!


Heat oven to 400.

4 frozen hashbrown patties
4 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup ready to eat bacon crumbles or frozen sausage patties cut into pieces or cubed ham
salt & pepper to taste
some cheese for on top


Grease a 9x9 baking pan.
Put hashbrown patties in bottom of pan.
In small bowl, mix eggs, milk, salt and pepper.
Pour over hashbrowns.
Add ready to eat bacon if desired.
Top with cheese.
Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes until center is set.

(For bigger families, use a 9x13 pan, 6 frozen hashbrown patties, 6 eggs, etc)

Teriyaki Sauce

This one is really easy and tastes great!

1 Cup soy sauce
1 Cup granulated sugar
2 TBS garlic
2 TBS ginger

Combine ingredients in heavy saucepan. Heat until just boiling. Mixture will be thick like honey. Refrigerate.

Creamy Caramels

Holly mentioned it, so here it is: the caramels recipe. Get ready to STIR!

1 Cup butter
2 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 dash salt
1 Cup light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla

Melt butter in large heavy saucepan.
Add sugar and salt. Add in corn syrup and milk, stirring constantly.
Cook and stir over medium heat to 245 on candy thermometer.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Pour onto greased 9x13 pan.
Cool thoroughly.
Turn out onto buttered cutting board and cut into 1" pieces.
Wrap with wax paper.

Thai Sauce

My Aunt Mariann is a chef. This recipe comes from her. It's YUM!

1 Cup chicken broth
1 Cup granulated sugar
1/4 Cup soy sauce
2 TBS cider vinegar
1 TBS cornstarch
2 TBS paprika

Mix all in bowl, set aside.

In heavy stock pot, add:
1/3 Cup minced garlic
1 TBS oil
2 TBS hot sauce (we like Pico Pica)

Brown garlic, add broth mixture. Bring to slow boil. Mixture will turn thick like honey. Refrigerate unused portion.

Great for spicy chicken wings, stir fry sauce, etc.

Sugar Cookies

These are alot of work, but worth it!

1 Cup butter
2 Cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 Cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
5 Cups all purpose flour
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg.
Sift dry ingredients together. Add alternately with milk and vanilla.
Roll out dough, about 1/4 inch thick. (The thicker, the better.)
Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

PS - I've found that it's easier to refrigerate the dough for a few hours and then roll it out, it's a little stiffer and doesn't break up as easily.

Cafe Rio Salad Dressing

Now, this is one that I haven't tried yet, so don't kill me if it sucks!

CAFE RIO SALAD DRESSING

1 1/3 cups sour cream
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 bunch of cilantro
1 package ranch dressing mix
4 tbsp. salsa verde (green salsa)
2 cloves of garlic
1/8 tsp. Tabasco sauce
juice of one lime

Mix together in the blender... and that's it!

Pecan Pie Bars

Crust:
1 1/2 Cups butter or margarine
1 Cup powdered sugar
3 Cups all purpose flour

Mix together, press in ungreased 9x13 pan. Form lip for filling.
Bake 20-25 minutes @ 350. Bring out of oven.


Filling:
3 eggs
2 Cups pecans, chopped
1 Cup granulated sugar
1 Cup corn syrup
2 TBS butter
1 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients, pour over the partially baked crust.
Return to oven, 35-40 minutes until set.

White Sauce Chicken Lasagna

I was telling Rachel about this White Sauce Chicken Lasagna. It is a favorite at our house. So here it goes.

1 Box of Lasagna Noodles (Cooked)
1 Pint Sour Cream
1 8 oz Cream Cheese
1 Can Cream of Chicken
1 Can Cream of Mushroom
2/3 cup Milk
1/2 pound Mozzarella Cheese (or what you like)
3 Chicken Breasts (cooked and chopped/shredded up)
Bread Crumbs in canister or make your own.

Cook noodles as to directions on package.
Mix in bowl, sour cream, cream cheese, both cream of soups, milk and part of the cheese.
Start layering in a 9x13 pan with noodles, chicken, sauce mixture, and more cheese. Do about 3 layers of noodles. On top of the last layer of noodles, add bread crumbs.
Bake at 350, until warmed up, (about 30-45 minutes)
Enjoy!!!

Question - Any Suggestions?

I tried a recipe off the back of a Stove Top Stuffing box. The recipe turned out really soupy/gloppy and not super tasty. Any suggestions for something similar?

It was something to the effect of, make the stuffing as directed, use cream of chicken soup, sour cream, frozen mixed veggies, and chicken. Mix the junk together but put the stuffing on top. It was a C+ at best....

HELP! My thought is to not make the stuffing mix beforehand, and just mix the dry bread crumbs in to the rest of it.

Tuesday Night Lasagna

If anyone knows or hears me talk about Kyle's eating habits they know he is super picky and almost vegetarian. I make this lasagna a lot on Tuesday nights because Kyle loves it, and I can put it together and have it in the oven before I go to work. Super easy and maybe already common knowledge but here goes.

1 pack lasagna noodles any kind
1 container ricotta cheese
1 package Italian cheese mix (mozzarella works mix includes Parmesan)
1 big bottle prego spaghetti sauce
salt
pepper
oregano
basil

pour sauce in baking dish just enough to cover the bottom
spread ricotta on noodles and put one layer in pan
sprinkle cheese on layer
sprinkle seasonings to taste
pour sauce enough to barely cover noodles
repeat
repeat
repeat until pan is full

cover with tin foil and bake on 350 for 1 hour

I season every layer and put a lot of cheese on every layer this is super easy and tastes even better after it has cooled all the way off so you can cook it early to have for dinner.

Clam Chowder

Another recipe from my mom. I've made it for dispatch once or twice and Tracie has requested it a few times!

2 cans chopped clams, with liquid
1 cup onion, chopped (or just dehydrated minced onion)
1 cup celery, sliced
2 cups potatoes, cubed
1 cup carrots, sliced
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 quart half & half cream
1 1/2 tsp salt
dash pepper
1/2 tsp sugar

Use large stockpot. Drain juice from clams and add to veggies. Add enough water to barely cover. Cook uncovered at medium heat until tender, about 15-20 minutes.

In large saucepan, melt butter. Add flour. Add half & half using whisk. It will thicken slightly. Add to undrained veggies. Add seasoning and heat. Will thicken more. Do not boil.

CrockPot Chili Dip

Great for entertaining! Double the recipe for a large group.

1 package cream cheese
2 cans chili (whatever you like)
1 tiny can chopped olives

Combine in crock pot. Stir as cream cheese softens. Serve with chips.

Fast and Easy Tofu Lo-Mein

I personally love tofu but if you are not a tofu fan, then juse use some chopped chicken or sliced beef in place of the tofu. This is a super cheap meal and it actually tastes REALLY good! I usually add a tsp of red pepper flakes to spice it up a little but thats just my tastes.

Fast and Easy Tofu Lo-Mein

1 (16 ounce) package extra firm tofu (chicken, beef, cat, whatever)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 (3 ounce) packages Oriental flavored ramen noodles
1 (16 ounce) package frozen stir-fry vegetables (I use fresh bell peppers instead)
1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon soy sauce, or to taste


Press tofu between paper towels to remove some of the water; cut in to bite size cubes. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu, and fry until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
Meanwhile bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add noodles from ramen packages, reserving the seasoning envelopes. Boil for about 2 minutes, just until the noodles break apart. Drain.
Add the stir-fry vegetables to the pan with the tofu, and season with the ramen noodle seasoning packet. Cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables are tender, but not mushy. Add noodles, and stir to blend. Season with soy sauce to taste and serve.

Egg Pancakes

A super easy breakfast!

Heat oven to 400.
Melt 1 cube butter in 9x13 pan while preheating.

In bowl, whisk together:
6 eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup milk'

Pour batter over melted butter. Return to oven for 20 minutes.
Serve immediately with syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh fruit.

Quick Beef Stroganoff

My mom made this a lot when I was little and I always liked it. I just made it for dinner tonight and the girls liked it pretty well. We'll see what Ryan thinks when he wakes up from his nap.


1 pound lean ground beef (I keep Costco hamburger patties for my "ground beef" and use 4-6 frozen patties depending on how many people I need to feed)
1 cup chopped onion (I used a TBS or so of dehydrated minced onions)
1/4 Cup oil
1 clove garlic (or just garlic powder to taste)
2 TBS all purpose flour
2 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 can sliced mushrooms, undrained
1 can cream of whatever you have soup (chicken or mushroom works just fine)
8 oz tub sour cream


Heat oil in large frying pan. Brown meat with onion and garlic.
Stir in flour and seasoning. Add mushrooms with liquid and soup.
Cook on low for 10 minutes.
Fold in sour cream when ready to serve.

Serve with cooked egg noodles or rice and a side of green beans. YUMMY!

Granola Bars

I made some Craisin/Cashew bars for Ryan and they were YUMMY! Chocolate chip bars are tough because of the heat, but it's worth it!

1 Cup Honey
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup Butter

5 Cups Rolled Oats (more or less for consistency)
Mix ins: coconut, broken up pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, etc.



Bring honey, brown sugar, and butter to just boiling in medium sauce pan.
Add to large bowl with oats and mix well.
Once oats are covered evenly, add in your Mix Ins.
Press granola mix into greased 9x13 pan. Let cool and cut into bars.
Store in airtight container, separated by wax paper so bars don't stick together.



*If adding chocolate chips (or something else that will melt) let the granola bars cool slightly. Then press in the chocolate chips ON TOP of the pressed out mix.

CrockPot Pineapple Salsa Chicken

I tried this one a few weeks ago. I WISH I had put everything but the chicken in the crock pot first, so I could taste the 'broth' and make sure there was enough of this and that. Anyway, just a hint.

6 skinless chicken breasts, tenders, or whatever's in the freezer
1 can pineapple tidbits with juice (big can if you love pineapple, small can if you like it)
1 can black beans (do not drain)
1 can corn, drained
1-2 cups instant rice (depending on how many people you're trying to feed)
1 big jar of salsa
1-2 cups of water or chicken broth
Spices: Whatever you like - I used Garlic powder, Red Chili Powder, Salt & Pepper, Dehydrated Onions to taste



Throw it in a crock pot. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or 2-3 hours on HIGH if you're in a hurry. Serve with tortillas, unless you forget to buy some. Once you do have tortillas, the leftovers make great burritos.

EZ Chicken Tortilla Bake

I got this one from AllRecipes.com. And Ryan wants me to make it again!!

1 can Tomato Soup 1 cup Salsa 1/2 cup milk 2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey 8 (6 inch) corn tortillas, cut into small pieces 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

	Mix soup, salsa, milk, chicken, tortillas and half the cheese in a big bowl. Slop it over into a greased 2-quart+ shallow baking dish. Cover.
	Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes or until hot. Top with remaining cheese.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

1 1/4  Cups Brown Sugar, firmly packed
3/4 Cup  Butter Flavored Shortening
2 TBS  Milk
1 TBS  Vanilla
1  Egg
1 3/4 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 tsp  Salt
3/4 tsp  Baking Soda
1 Cup  Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1 Cup  Pecans, coarsely chopped



Preheat oven to 350.  Grease 13x9 pan.

Combine sugar, shortening, milk and vanilla.  Add egg.
Combine flour, salt, and baking soda.  Add to wet mixture.
Beat at low speed until just blended.
Stir in chocolate chips and pecans.

Press dough evenly into prepared pan.
Bake at 350 for 22-25 minutes until lightly browned
and firm in the center.  Do not overbake.

Cool completely and cut into squares.

*Note - You can also make these into cookies.
350 for 9-12 minutes.