Pecan Pie Recipe

Pecan Pie

1 c brown sugar

1/3 c light corn syrup

1 egg-lightly beaten

2 c pecans-lightly toasted in 375' oven for 10 min.

1 pie shell already baked

1/3 c margarine

1/4 c heavy cream

1/2 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 375'. Put pecan pieces on cookie sheet and cook for 10 min.  Combine brown sugar, margarine, corn syrup, and cream in heavy 10 in. skillet.  Bring to boiling over med. heat, stirring constantly.  Once mixture comes to a really good boil, stop stirring.  Boil 4 min. without stirring reducing heat a little.  It should be thick with big bubbles on the surface after the 4 min.  Remove from heat.  Beat egg and add 3-4 T of mixture to it.  Let mixture set a couple of min., then add to the rest.  Add pecans and vanilla.  Mix well and put in pie shell.

Cute Halloween Treat Ideas

Gummy Pumpkins - Lori Jackson

Cut a thin slice off each side of two gummy oranges so that they are sticky. Stick the cut sides together. Cut the bottom off of a green gum drop and stick it on top of the orange. Ta da! you have a pumpkin.


Root Beer - Louise Day

Stir together:
1 bottle of root beer stuff
5 lbs of sugar
5 gallons of water
dry ice


Witches Hats - Karlene Von

stick together Hershey's kisses and Fudge Stripe cookies using orange frosting - cute!


Scary Pudding Cups - Lisa Mercer

Melt chocolate and paint faces with it on the inside of clear cups
Make vanilla pudding and tint it green with food coloring - pour into cups
Top with crushed Oreo cookies

4 servings of pudding will fill 4 5 oz cups

Halloween Peanut Butter Fingers

1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 c powdered milk
1/3 c + 2 Tbsp peanut butter
1/3 c + 2 Tbsp light corn syrup
small pretzel sticks
almond slices (for fingernails)

Mix sugar, milk, peanut butter, and corn syrup together to form dough (similar to play dough)
Form dough around each pretzel to create a finger shape. Add an almond for a finger nail and score with a knife for the knuckles. Keep refrigerated until serving. Makes 15

Almond Cheesecake Bars

Here is the recipe for the bars we had at our Enrichment Night with Dave Prows. Yummy!

Crust:
2 c flour
1 c butter - softened
1/2 c powdered sugar

Combine and press into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 min until golden brown.

Filling:
1 pkg cream cheese (8oz)
1/2 c sugar
1 t almond extract
2 eggs lightly beaten

Beat the cream cheese, sugar and extract together until smooth. Add the eggs and beat on low until combined. Pour over crust and bake for 15-20 min until center is almost set. Cool.

Frosting:
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
1/4 c butter - softened
1 t almond extract (we cut this in half)
4-5 t milk

Combine all the ingredients and beat until smooth. Spread over bars and top with sliced almonds.

Store in the refrigerator. Yield = 3 doz.

Cooking with Dave Prows!

Here are the recipes that Chef Dave Prows shared with us at our Enrichment Night. He also gave us a bunch of chopping tips and tricks and information about the awesome power of bean flour. I have a word doc with all this info and it will be handed out Sunday. If you would like me to email you a copy, send your request to Lisa at squeekycheeze@yahoo.com.

Jumbalaya - Dave Prows

Render the sausage (brown / caramelize over low heat). Add onion, garlic, celery and green pepper. Saute. Add chicken stock, Tabasco, herbs (basil, oregano, and thyme), and kitchen bouquet. Bring to a boil. Add rice, use converted not instant, and simmer covered until rice is done and water absorbed.

* if using seafood instead of sausage, use a tomato base instead of chicken stock
** Tabasco has vinegar which breaks down the protein in the meat and releases flavor - you don't want to exclude this!!

White Bean and Ham Soup - Dave Prows

Saute ham, onion, and garlic. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add white bean flour until thickened. Add Tabasco and fresh basil.

Red Bean and Sausage over Rice - Dave Prows

Brown onion, garlic and sausage. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Whisk in red bean flour until thickened and serve over cooked rice.

Veggie Soup - Dave Prows

Cut vegies bite size, smaller cut = cooks quicker

Chicken Stock
Celery
Onion
Garlic
Carrot
Green Onion
Tabasco
Red Jalapeno
Red Pepper
Thyme
Popcorn Flour

Black Bean Dip - Dave Prows

Saute onion and garlic in oil. Add black bean flour and water. Blend with cream cheese and add cooked shredded chicken. Put into a casserole dish and top with shredded cheese. Bake until cheese is melted.

Fresh Salsa - Louise Day

8 - 10 tomatoes
1 medium onion
3 bell peppers
2 jalapenos
1 tsp lemon juice
celery salt

mix and enjoy!

Easy meal ideas: top chicken with this and bake or eat with chips for a yummy fresh from the garden side.

Caribbean Pork & Rice - Karlene Von

2 lbs pork tenderloin
1 onion
2 chopped carrots
3 spoonfuls bbq sauce
1 tsp ground ginger
1 green pepper chopped
2 c minute rice

cook pork in a little oil. add onion and carrot until tender and pork is done. mix in rest of ingredients and bring to a boil. cover and let stand 5 minutes.

Ritz Chicken Casserole - Karlene Von

4 chicken breasts cooked, cubed
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz sour cream
1/4 cube butter melted (2T)
ritz crackers

put chicken on bottom of casserole dish. mix cream of chicken and sour cream together and put on top of chicken. top with crushed ritz crackers and butter. bake at 350 for 20 minutes

Tater Tot Casserole - Karlene Von

1 lb hamburger
1 onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 can milk
tater tots

brown hamburger and onion. mix all together. put tots on top and bake at 350 for 35 minutes

Funeral Potatoes - Karlene Von

2 lb hashbrowns
4/4 c margarine
1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup
1 onion chopped
1 pt sour cream (2c)
2 c grated cheese

mix all together and top with crushed corn flakes. bake at 350 for 45 minutes

Mac & Cheese - Lori Jackson

1 box Velveeta Shells & Cheese
1/2 c sour cream
1/4 c milk
diced ham
shredded cheese
bread crumbs

cook noodles. stir in sour cream, milk, cheese packet, and ham. place in a 9x9 baking dish. sprinkle with shredded cheese and bread crumbs. bake at 350 until cheese melts.

Chicken Stir Fry - Karlene Von

1 T oil
1 tsp garlic
1 lb chicken breast
1 1/4 c water
16 oz pkg frozen stir fry vegis
1/4 c soy sauce
1 T sugar
2 c minute rice

brown chicken breast with oil and garlic in a large skillet. (used pre-cooked chicken for a faster meal) add water, vegis, soy sauce, and sugar. bring to a boil. stir in rice, cover, remove from heat, and let stand 5 min.

Sticky Chicken - Lisa Mercer

3-4 chicken breasts cut into strips
2 eggs beaten
cornstrach

line 9x13 pan with foil, dip chicken in egg and roll in cornstarch, fry in hot oil. place chicken in a single layer and baking dish, sprinkle with garlic salt, pour sauce on top. bake 30-40 min at 350. serve over rice.

sauce: (double it)
1 T soy sauce
1/4 c pineapple juice
3 T ketchup
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 c sugar
1 T red wine vinegar

Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies with wheat flour and oats

This is doubled, makes about 6 doz.
Cream together:
2 sticks butter (1 cup)
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 c peanut butter
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla

Then add:
2 c whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
Stir in 2 cups oats
1 bag choc.chips.

375 for 10-12 min. They freeze well too.

July's Recipies - Home Made Ice Cream & Cookies

Tasty recipes for the month were:

• Soft Ginger Snaps
• Fickel Brickel Ice Cream (this recipe was published last Aug, see the recipe box)
• Food Storage Ice Cream
• Rolo Cookies

Stay tuned for the topic in Aug! and thanks always to Karlene for letting us come to her home!

Sof Ginger Snaps - Linda Jackson

3/4 c shortening
1 c brown sugar
1/4 c molasses
1 egg
2 1/4 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tsp ginger

Cream the first four ingredients. Stir dry ingredients together and mix with creamed ingredients. Form dough into small balls, roll in sugar, and bake on greased cookie sheet for 6 minutes. Don't over bake.

makes about 30 small cookies

Home Made Ice Cream

The basics with an ice cream maker:

* when putting your salt and ice around the canister, layer them
* when the machine stops churning (it's done) take out the paddle turny thing (technical term = dasher) being very careful not to get any salt into the ice cream, replace the lid, and cover the lid with ice (no salt) and a towel. this helps the top of the ice cream to freeze a bit more.
* time to churn is usually about 20 - 30 minutes
* home made ice cream does not set up hard unless you put it in the freezer.

Food Sorage Ice Cream - Lousie Day

1 1/2 qt bottled apricot juice
1 gal of frozen peaches
2 tsp lemon juice
1 pt whipping cream
1/2 - 3/4 qt half and half
3 c sugar

Blend the frozen peaches with the apricot juice until you get the texture you want. Place all ingredients in the ice cream maker and churn. When the machine stop turning take the dasher out, replace the lid, and cover with ice and a towel to help the top freeze harder.

Rolo Cookies - Karlene Von

1 bag of rolo candy
1 devils food cake mix
1 egg
1/2 c water
3 Tbs vegetable oil

Mix everything but rolos together, dough will be dryish (crumbly moist). Flatten about a Tbs of dough and wrap it around a rolo. Place balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Optional: melt white chocolate and drizzle in top of cookies when they come out of the oven.

Makes about 30 cookies

Churros - Louise Day

by special request here is the Day's churro recipe - makes about 2 dozen 4" churros

1 c water
2 Tbs brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c butter
1 c white flour
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla

cook in hot oil until golden brown

Frozen Fruit Ice Cream - Merilyn Seifert

1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1/2 gallon pineapple sherbet
small bag frozen raspberries or strawberries
5 bananas, cubed

Place ice cream in large bowl and let soften just enough to be mixed. Fold in thawed frozen fruit with their juice and the bananas. Mix thoroughly being careful not to let it melt and refreeze. It needs to refreeze for about 8-10 hours.

Green Bean & Toasted Pecan Salad - Linda Jackson

12 ounces frozen whole green beans thawed (or fresh green beans cooked just until tender-crisp)
3 Tablespoons pecan pieces dry roasted on stove (cook and stir for 3 minutes on medium high heat)
Several slices thinly sliced red onion
2 ounces feta cheese crumbled
3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 Tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine vinegar, sugar and salt together and toss with the green beans and onion. Sprinkle with the pecans and cheese. Let stand in fridge for 1 hour or more before serving.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares - Shellise Matagi

1/2 c sugar
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c butter/margarine, softened
1/3 c peanut butter (creamy)
1 c flour
3/4 c quick cooking oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 c chocolate chips

grease 13x9 pan. mix sugars, margarine, and peanut butter. stir in remaining ingredients except chocolate chips. spread in pan and bake 15-20 min at 350 until golden brown. immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips. let stand 5 min until chips are softened and carefully spread them over the baked layer. refrigerate uncovered for 30 minutes until chocolate is firm and drizzle with glaze.

Glaze:
1/3 c powdered sugar
2 Tbs peanut butter (creamy)
1-2 Tbs milk
mix until smooth and thin enough to drizzle.

Pot of Slush - Louise Day

just dump in whatever you have laying around. what Louise used this time is listed in parenthesis.

bottled fruit - don't drain (2 qt peaches, 1 qt pears)
frozen fruit (1 qt frozen strawberries)
fruit juice (1 qt apricot juice)
2 packages of lemonade Kool-Aid
2 c sugar (or a little less depending on the fruit)
(1 qt Sunny D, added as an after thought)

blend the frozen fruit with the bottled fruit until smooth. pour everything into a large pot and place covered in the freezer. stir once per hour for 9 hours - Louise makes it in the morning so that it is ready around dinner time.

BBQ Sauce / Meatballs - Leann Haws

Meatballs: use your favorite recipe and cook them by dropping them several at a time into boiling water. they take about 4-5 minutes to cook depending on their size. break one open to test if they are done. if you are making extra to freeze for later let them cool completely and then freeze them in ziplock bags.

BBQ Sauce:
1/4 c chopped onions
2 Tbs cooking oil
8 oz can tomato paste
1/2 c water
2 Tbs mustard
1/2 c brown sugar (packed)
1/4 c soy sauce
1 Tbs vinegar
1 Tbs chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic
dash of pepper

mix and pour over cooked meatballs. bake at 350 for 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

Chicken Pasta Salad - Stacey Kjar

rotini noodles - cooked and drained
ranch dressing - use packaged and make thick
celery
tomatoes
grilled chicken
bacon bits
salt & pepper

make ranch dressing using a mix and reduce the amount of milk added to make it a little thicker, use regular milk not buttermilk. chop the celery, tomatoes and grilled chicken. combine all the ingredients using enough of the ranch dressing to make it creamy.

Fruit Dip - Stacey Kjar

1 block of cream cheese
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tsp + a little vanilla

mix together and let sit overnight

Baked Potato Salad - Lori Jackson

clean and boil red potatoes (do not peel), cool
cut in half and then slice them like for au gratin potatoes

Dressing:
2 parts sour cream
1 part mayonnaise
1 part milk
"just dump and pour" until it is the consistency of pancake batter
wisk in dill weed, garlic salt, season salt, pepper, and bacon bits to taste.

Let the dressing sit so that the flavors will "mingle"

Tip: using red potatoes keeps the potatoes from absorbing the dressing and breaking apart - red potatoes hold together better than brown and are less "mealy"

Taco Bake (from the RS B-day Party)

Here it is, the long awaited Taco Bake recipe!

1 lb hamburger
1 can chili
1 can corn drained
1 8oz can tomato sauce
2 c grated cheese

Topping:
2 eggs
1 c milk
2 c Bisquick

brown hamburger, spoon off grease. add chili, corn and tomato sauce. mix well. spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and add the meat mixture, spreading evenly. sprinkle cheese evenly over meat. in a bowl, mix the milk and eggs and add the Bisquick. mix well and pour evenly over ingredients in the baking dish.

bake at 350 for 35 min

cut into 8 pieces. invert onto the plate meat side up. top with salsa, sour cream, tomatoes, olives, lettuce and more grated cheese.

April's Recipes - Mexican Dishes

Here are the recipes for the month of April. Still to come is Angelica's recipe for tamales:) so check back. Next month we are doing recipes for picnics and bbqs so come hungry! As always, if there is something you would like to learn how to cook or get ideas for call Karlene Von. We are also trying to do more demonstrating and hands on cooking, so come with suggestions on how to make this group useful to you.

Pastel Azteca - Liliana Pena

10-12 corn tortillas
8-9 oz (250 g) queso fresco (fresh cheese - buy at Mexican market)
17.5 oz (500 g) sour cream
1 pkg cream cheese
2 cans corn
2-3 poblano peppers
1/2 med red onion
1 chicken breast
2 c shredded mozzarella cheese

roast the peppers for about 3 minutes and then place them in a plastic bag so that they sweat and you can peel the skin off easily. remove the seeds and chop in strips about 2 inches long and 1/4 in thick.

fry the tortillas in a small amount of vegetable oil until just crisp.

cook the chicken breast in water with salt (garlic and onion can also be used) and shread.

blend together 1 can of corn (not drained), fresh cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream until smooth.

slice the onion and saute in vegetable oil until it starts to brown, add the peppers and saute a few more minutes. add the chicken and 1 can of corn (drained). cook for a few more minutes.

Layer the ingredients into a foil lined 9x13 pan. tortillas, mozzarella, chicken mixture, sauce. layer until the pan is full and top with the rest of the mozzarella cheese. bake covered @ 350 for 15 minutes and then uncover and bake for another 15 minutes until the cheese is browned.

Tacos - Angelica Chi

Cook ground beef with salt, pepper, and cumin
soften corn tortillas by soaking them in heated vegetable oil in a small skillet
serve with chopped onion, tomato and cilantro, fresh salsa and lime juice

Fresh Salsa - Angelica Chi

1 tomato
2 chili peppers (serrano or jalapeno - serrano are hotted)
1 clove garlic
onion - about the size of 2 cloves of garlic

Boil all together in water to blanch the tomato. Peel the skin from the tomato and blend in a blender. Add salt to taste. For other flavors add cilantro or lime.

Fresh Tomatillo Salsa - Helen Thomas

6 tomatillos (cut in half and roast in frying pan)
1/1 jalapeno (with seeds, roast with tomatillos)
1/2 med onion
cilantro
1 clove garlic
salt to taste

put all into a blender and puree. makes delicious fresh salsa.

Healthy & Delicious Oatmeal Pancake Mix

2 c quick oatmeal
1 c white flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c sugar
4 t baking powder
2 t baking soda
2 t salt

Mix these dry ingredients together and place in a gallon zip-lock bag and store in the fridge. For every 6-8 pancakes, mix:

3/4 c pancake mix (above)
3/4 c buttermilk
1/4 c milk
1 egg
1 T oil

What's for Dinner - Pizza

For dinner last night I made pizza. For a twist I tried adding some thyme to my crust (about a Tbsp)

Crust:
1 c warm water (about 80 deg)
1 pkg yeast (2 1/4 t)
1 t sugar
1 t salt
2 t oil
2 1/2 - 3 c flour

mix all together in a bowl and let rise 15 min. kneed in more flour if too sticky to work with and stretch out in a pan - I use a cookie sheet oiled with olive oil.

add pizza sauce and toppings (I used a can of hunts spaghetti sauce and added cheese, pepperoni, green pepper, olives, and diced tomatoes).

Bake at 350 for 20 - 25 min until cheese is melted. for a crispier crust you can bake it closer to the bottom burner for the first half of the time.

Caramel Popcorn

This is a great recipe that I got from my old neighbor Rachel Bankhead. It does make a lot so I usually half the recipe.

1 stick butter
1/2 bag brown sugar (about 2 1/3 c)
1 c light caro syrup
1 c sweetened condensed milk
1 t vanilla
4 bags of microwave popcorn - I use a light kind and it works, I don't think I'd use a heavy butter kind.

melt the butter in a medium sauce pan with the brown sugar and caro syrup. stir pretty constantly until just before it reaches soft ball stage (softball is about 234 degrees). remove from heat and add the condensed milk and vanilla. mix well and pour over the popcorn in a large bowl.

If you are making a whole recipe you may want to split it into two bowls so that it is easier to stir. Also when putting the popcorn into the bowls I like to shake the bag to get all the un-popped kernels at the bottom and then scoop the popcorn out by hand so that the un-popped kernels stay in the bag.

What's for - Chicken Salad

since I have leftover chicken from last night and I still have lettuce to use up...

Chicken Salad:
romaine and iceberg lettuce
chopped olives
tomato
grated mozzarella cheese
green onion
leftover chicken (pan fried with salt, pepper, olive oil, and thyme)
I wish I had an avocado, I would add it.

On the side:
oven roasted carrots (see recipe box)

Prep time/Cook Time:
salad: 10 min prep, 20 min cook (for chicken)
carrots - 10 min prep, 40 min cook

What's for Dinner - Chicken Tacos

Call me corny but I thought this could be fun... This is what I made for dinner tonight.

Chicken Tacos

Pan fried chicken breast (salt, pepper, and olive oil - with a little thyme cause it smelled good)

cook on med or medium low for about 8 - 10 min per side until the chicken feels firm not squishy when poked. cut into chunks after cooking - it cooks slower than cutting it up then cooking but I think it is moister.

shredded cheddar cheese
lettuce
diced tomatoes
salsa (Peterson Salsa recipe found in the canning section:)
ranch dressing

wrap in tortillas and serve:) yum and fast. if your chicken is thawed this only takes about 30 min from start to eat.

February's Valentines Theme

All the recipes from our meeting tonight are up! Enjoy trying out some of these yummy recipes:) Make sure you look at the archive section on the right of the page since only the last few posts show up and you don't want to miss out on any of the recipes that were shared tonight.

Oven Roasted Carrots

This was a recipe that my sister in law gave to me - best carrots ever!

12 carrots peeled
3 T olive oil
1 t table salt or 1 1/2 t sea salt (coarse)

cut the carrots into 2 inch long sections and if large cut in half lengthwise. place on cookie sheet and sprinkle with salt and toss in cookie sheet with olive oil. Bake for 40 minutes at 400 degrees turning half way through. You want them to blacken a little - this is the best part it has a dark caramelized flavor.

Berry Smoothies - Kathy (Von) Moore

1 c frozen berries
1/2 c milk
1/2 c water
1/4 t vanilla
1/2 c sugar (can use less)

Blend all together and top with whipped cream and sliced strawberries. For a fancier look layer the smoothie, whipped cream and sliced strawberries parfait style. Delicious!

Loads of Love Pizza - Karlene Von

Dough:
1 1/4 c flour
2 t yeast
1/4 t salt
2 T oil
1 cup warm water

Mix well with a fork then add another 1 1/2 c flour and mix together. Kneed dough for about 3 minutes then let sit covered for about 5 minutes.

Grease pizza pan and stretch dough to fit. Bake dough in a preheated oven at 425 for 8 minutes.

Sauce:
1 - 2 cans tomato sauce (8 oz each)
1 t sugar
1 t oregano
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t pepper

Mix together and put on top of cooked dough.

Toppings:
lots of mozzarella cheese
cut green peppers
sliced olives
onion
mushrooms
hamburger or sausage cooked and drained
heart shaped pepperoni or heart shaped Canadian bacon (cut your own if you cant find it)
pineapple

cook another 8-10 minutes until cheese melts

Heart Egg-tack - Karlene Von

With a heart shaped cookie cutter cut the center out of a piece of bread. Place the bread and the cut out heart onto a buttered pan to cook. After placing the bread in the pan crack an egg into the whole left by the cookie cutter. Cook til firming up and turn to cook the other side. Cook longer for a firmer yolk and less time for a runny yolk. What a fun breakfast idea for valentines day!

Meat Loaf (heart shaped) - Karlene Von

1 pound lean ground beef
1 1/2 c stove top stuffing mix
1/2 c water
1/4 c ketchup (divided)
1 egg beaten

Mix all ingredients together except 2 T ketchup. Shape meat mixture into a heart shaped cake pan. Bake at 375 for 40 - 45 minutes. Put remaining ketchup on top to make a red heart.

Fresh Strawberry Cheese Pie - Linda Jackson

Line 2 pie pans with graham cracker crust (approximately 4 c crushed graham crackers mixed with 1 1/2 - 2 cubes butter)

Mix:
2 - 8 oz packages cream cheese softened and beaten until smooth
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 t vanilla
1/4 c lemon juice

Pour evenly over pie crusts and let set in fridge for 30 min or more.
Mix 1 package strawberry junket according to directions on box (or 2 c strawberry glaze). Add 2 quarts fresh strawberries cut in chunks. Pour over pies and refrigerate several hours before serving. Can top with whipped cream if desired.

* for valentines I shape the strawberry topping in the shape of a large heart on the top of the cheesecake.

Chocolate Molten Cake - Helen Thomas

5 oz bittersweet or semi sweet chocolate (3/4 c of chips)
10 T (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter
3 large eggs
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 c flour

Chop the chocolate into small pieces or use chips. Melt the chocolate and butter together over low heat. Set aside and cool slightly. Preheat oven to 450. Whisk eggs in a large bowl, then whisk in sugar. Slowly add in the chocolate mixture while mixing so that it doesn't cook the eggs. It is easier to add in the chocolate into the eggs with an electric mixer. Add the flour and blend well. Pour into buttered custard cups, very small bread pans, or cupcake papers. You can refrigerate the cakes at this point until you are ready to bake them - they should be eaten right after baking. When ready to bake, place the dishes on a cookie sheet and bake 11-12 min (14 minutes if refrigerated). When done run a knife around the edges to loosen them and turn over onto a plate. Serve immediately. Serve with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sause if desired.

Poppy Seed Dressing - Lori Jackson

For Strawberry Heath Salad

1 c mayonnaise
1/2 c milk
1/4 c white vinegar
1/3 - 1/2 c white sugar
2 T poppy seeds

mix together and chill

Strawberry Heath Salad - Lori Jackson

1 bag spinich
1 head of romaine, washed and torn up
1 container (1 lb) strawberries sliced (they look like hearts when sliced top to bottom)
1/2 package Heath Toffee Bits
Dressing : Poppy Seed Dressing (Lori)

Green Eggs and Ham Treats - Lori Jackson

For Dr. Seuss Day

Melt white chocolate or white candy melts and drop onto parchment or wax paper top while still warm with a green M&M with the M side down (or other green candy). These look just like the green eggs from Dr. Seuss' book. So Cute!

Chocolate Chip Cookies - Heart Shaped

1 pound butter
2 c brown sugar
1 1/2 c sugar
Mix together and add:
3 eggs
2 T vanilla
beat for 4 minutes
slowly add:
6 c flour
1 1/2 t salt
1 1/2 T baking soda
1 bag chocolate chips

bake at 375 for 8 min (my oven might bake hot but I was baking them for 6 - 6 1/2 min)
To make them into hearts take two tablespoons of dough and roll each of them into a short cylinder. Place them on a cookie sheet in a V shape and join the two ends at the bottom. As they bake they will puff out into a heart.

My New Favorite Smoothie

In my current cycle of trying to eat healthier, I thought I'd have another go at making smoothies. I've never had great success, but I think that's because I was trying without recipes - some people can do that, but apparently, not me. Anyhow, I found this great one that everyone at my house loves. It's super easy and healthy, and today I tried it on Amy Mills and the Mercer boys, and they loved it, too, so it's officially kid friendly.

Frozen strawberries
Banana
Canned pineapple
Orange juice

I know I didn't list amounts. I use about 8-10 strawberries, one banana, a fourth of the can of pineapple, and maybe 1/2 cup of the orange juice. That makes enough for two glass fulls. Throw it in the blender for a few minutes (the longer the smoother). I usually don't sweeten it, but it is a little tart, so I threw in a couple tablespoons of Splenda today for the kids, and that took the edge off. Hope you like it!

Bread Sticks - Helen Thomas

1 c warm water (105 - 115 degrees)
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 1/2 - 3 c flour
1 teaspoon salt

add yeast and sugar to water, put a plate over the mixture to keep warm. when 1/2 and inch of foam has formed on the mixture pour into a mixing bowl. stir in 1 c of flour. add salt and another cup of flour. gradually add enough flour to form a ball. pour dough out onto a floured counter and kneed in flour as needed so dough is soft not sticky. kneed 8 - 10 min.

if making bread sticks: cover and let dough double. punch down and roll out. place in baking tray. cut with a pizza cutter and top with garlic salt and parmesan cheese. let raise a little and bake at 375 for 7 - 10 min.

if making pretzels: divide dough into 8 -12 pieces. cover with towel and raise for 5 -6 min. roll each piece into a 14 - 16 inch rope (1/2 inch diameter). twist into shape by making a loop with ends crossing at the bottom. twist the end again so that they are twisted twice. bring the ends up and lay them across the top of the loop. carefully turn the pretzel over and place on a baking tray (lightly greased if not teflon). beat and egg white with 1 tablespoon of water and brush onto pretzel (helps hold the toppings on the pretzel). sprinkle the pretzel with course salt, salad supreme, garlic salt, parmesan cheese or cinnamon sugar. bake 15 - 20 min at 400 - 425 degrees or until golden brown.

Quick Taco Soup - Karlene Von

2 cans chili
2 cans corn drained
1 can tomato soup
1 quart tomatoes
1 package taco seasoning (we use half a package)

dump all into a big pot and heat trough on the stove. serve with cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.

Beef Stew - Louise Day

2 1/2 lbs beef cubes
8 carrots cut in quarters
8 medium potatoes cut in quarters
2 bay leaves
1 package onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 - 8 oz can tomato sauce

add to a roasting pan and mix. bake at 250 - 275 degrees for 6 to 8 hours.

Roasted Tomato Soup - Linda Jackson

2 1/2 lbs fresh tomatoes (mixed varieties)
6 cloves garlic pealed
2 small yellow onions sliced
vine cherry tomatoes for garnish (optional)
1/2 c extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
1 quart chicken stock
2 bay leaves
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 c chopped fresh basil leaves washed and dried (optional)
3/4 c heavy cream (whole milk tastes just fine)

preheat oven to 450 degrees
wash, core and cut tomatoes in halves. spread the tomatoes, garlic, onions and vine cherry tomatoes (leave whole and on the vine) onto a baking tray. drizzle with 1/2 c olive oil and season with salt and pepper. roast for 20 - 30 minutes or until caramelized.

remove from oven and transfer to a large stock pot. set aside vine tomatoes for later. add 3/4 of the chicken stock, bay leaves and butter. bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 - 20 min or until liquid had reduced by a third.

add basil leaves to the pot. use and immersion blended to puree the soup until smooth or cool slightly and use a regular blender. return soup to low heat, add cream and adjust consistency with the remaining chicken stock. season with salt and pepper to taste.

Creamy Chicken Vegi Soup - Lisa Mercer

2 c chicken broth
3/4 c chopped celery
3/4 c chopped carrots
1/3 c chopped onion
1/2 - 1 c cubed chicken
cook until chicken is done and carrots are soft.

1/2 c flour
1 1/2 c broth
blend together and add to veggies. cook until thickened stirring constantly.

1 c milk
1/2 c light cream
1/2 c butter
add to soup, warm and serve.

White Bean Chile (10 Min Prep!) - Linda Olsen

2 - 15 oz cans great northern beans
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 soup cans of water
1 - 4 oz can diced green chilies
dash of garlic salt
1 can of chicken (tuna sized can)

dump all ingredients into a soup pan and heat until warm. serve with grated cheddar cheese and tortilla chips.