Christmas Crack ( Saltine Toffee Candy)

Saltine Toffee Candy
Recipe found at Mommy's Kitchen

1 1/2 sleeves saltine crackers
1 - cup butter, not margarine
1 - cup light brown sugar
1 - 12 oz package chocolate chips
1 - cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts or almonds)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Lay crackers out on sheet in one layer. In a medium sized saucepan melt the butter and the brown sugar. Stir often and bring to a full rolling boil and boil for exactly 3 minutes.

Pour over the saltines and bake for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and wait until they are almost melted then spread evenly all over all the saltines. Sprinkle on the nuts all over the top as evenly as possible. Refrigerate until cool and then break up into pieces and store in a air tight container.

Grandma's Gingersnaps

Grandma's Gingersnaps

Recipe found here at Allrecipes

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup margarine
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup white sugar for decoration

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup white sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and molasses until well blended. Combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; stir into the molasses mixture to form a dough. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll the balls in the remaining sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Quick and Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle

Ingredients 1 1/2 c peanuts, salted and without skins 1 c white sugar 1/2 c light corn syrup 1 pinch of salt 1 Tbsp butter 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp baking soda
Directions 1 grease Teflon cookie sheet with butter. 2 In glass microwavable bowl combine peanuts. sugar.corn syrup and salt 3 microwave on hi for 6-7 minutes, I microwave for 3 then give it a quick stir and then microwave for another 3 minutes 4 stir in butter and vanilla, and return to microwave for another 2 minutes, 5 Remove from micro wave and quickly stir in baking soda, mixture will look slightly foamy. Pour on to prepared cookie sheet and spread quickly with the back of the spoon. cool and break into pieces.

Creamed Turkey Over Rice

Great to use up your leftover Turkey
COMFORT FOOD yummm
recipe found here at Mommy's Kitchen
I served ours over potatoes, you could also use noodles or rice

Creamed Turkey & Brown Rice

1 - cup celery, thinly sliced
1/2 - cup onion, chopped
6 - tbsp. real butter
1/4 - cup flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 - cup milk
3 - cups cooked turkey chunks
1/4 - tsp. thyme
1 - tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 - tsp. salt
pepper to taste
brown rice, cooked

Start by cooking your brown rice according to the directions on the package. In a large saucepan saute celery and onion in butter for 5 minutes or until crisp tender. Stir the flour in gradually, and cook over low heat until mixture is bubbly. Slowly add the chicken broth to the celery and onion mixture, stirring constantly. Add milk; bring to boil and simmer, stirring often. Add the chunks of turkey, thyme, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Heat this mixture thoroughly. Serve creamed turkey on brown rice, white rice or mashed potatoes.

Chili Rellenos Casserole

Chili Rellenos Casserole
recipe from Bonnie at Just A Pinch
this recipe is DELICIOUS I love the crispy edges the best lol. I used green peppers instead of red and also used med cheddar instead of sharp because thats what I had but this is EXCELLENT:)

1	pound ground sirloin
1/2	cup chopped onion
3/4	cup red bell pepper
1	teaspoon olive oil
1/2	teaspoon salt
1/4	teaspoon pepper
1/2	teaspooon garlic powder
1	teaspoon cumin
1/4	teaspoon allspice
2	4 ounce cans chopped green chilis
1 1/2	cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and a little more for the top of the casserole
1	cup milk
1/2	cup sour cream
1/4	cup flour
4	eggs beaten
	dash of tobasco
	toppings of sour cream, black sliced olives and chopped green onions Directions 1 In a medium sized skillet, add the olive oil and saute the onion, garlic and bell pepper with a pinch of salt until onion is translucent. 2 Then add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper, cumin, allspice and cook until just browned (cooked through). It is going in the oven so don't overcook the beef. 3 Set your skillet at an angle and allow all the fat to drain away from the beef mixture. Soak up the grease with a paper towel and discard. 4 In a 10 x 6 x 1 1/2 inch baking dish add one can of the chilis, spread evenly over bottom of dish. 5 Sprinkle with the sharp cheese and then add the drained ground beef mixture, spreading evenly. 6 Add the second can of chilis over the meat. 7 In a small mixing bowl add the milk, sour cream, flour, salt, pepper, beaten eggs and dash of tobasco. Whisk well until smooth and pour this mixture evenly over the dish. 8 Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes until it is set. Add some cheese to the top about ten minutes before the dish is done. If the dish is not brown enough when cooking time ends, turn the oven on broil, watch carefully so it doesn't burn, only takes about five minutes or so. Cut into squares to serve and top with sour cream black olives and chopped green onions. Enjoy!

To Try: Junior's Cheesecake

Junior's Cheesecake from the Soulfoul Recipes newsletter



Don't know where they got Junior's Cheesecake recipe?? I
happen to have it also for at least 40 years.

8 Graham crackers or enough to cover bottom and up sides halfway.
1 pound plus 14 ounces cream cheese
7/8 cup sugar (l tblsp less than 1/2 cup)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 extra large egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/2 cup heavy cream

IN A MIXING BOW, CREAM CHEESE UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY. GRADUALLY
ADD TGHE COMBINED SUGAR AND CORNSTARCH. BEAT IN EGG, THEN
VANILLA AND HEAVY CREAM. POUR INTO A WELL GREASED 7 INCH PAN
WITH GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMBS ON BOTTOM OF PAN. BAKE IN A
PREHEATED 450 DEGREE OVEN FOR APPROX. 40 TO 45 MINUTES OR UNTIL
TOP IS GOLDEN BROWN. COOL FOR 3 HOURS, THEN REFRIGERATE 15
MINUTES BEFORE SERVING.

This recipe was in the DAILY NEWSPAPER years and years ago. In
fact I could not find a 7" pan so I went to Junior's and the
chef gave me 2 throw away tins. Terry

Chili Seasoning Mix

To Try Soon:

Chili Seasoning II

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
• 1 tablespoon dried, minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. In a bowl, stir together flour, chili powder, red pepper, onion, garlic, sugar, cumin, parsley, salt, basil and pepper. Store in an airtight container.

Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes

Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes

recipe found at allrecipes click here
this will be my go to recipe from now on, DELICIOUS

Ingredients

• 4 russet potatoes, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
• 1 onion, sliced into rings
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups milk
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter a 1 quart casserole dish.
2. Layer 1/2 of the potatoes into bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Top with the onion slices, and add the remaining potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. In a medium-size saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Mix in the flour and salt, and stir constantly with a whisk for one minute. Stir in milk. Cook until mixture has thickened. Stir in cheese all at once, and continue stirring until melted, about 30 to 60 seconds. Pour cheese over the potatoes, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
4. Bake 1 1/2 hours in the preheated oven.

Bobby's Lighter Apple Pies

Bobby's Lighter Apple Pies

recipe found here

Ingredients:
4 teaspoons butter
3 McIntosh apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated rolled pie crust
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a large sheet tray with nonstick spray.
Heat the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until melted. Add the apples, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Cook, over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft, 10 – 15 minutes. Remove from the heat; let the filling cool 15 minutes.

Cut the pie crust roll into 8 (11/4-inch) pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 5-inch round. Spoon 2 tablespoons filling slightly off center of each round. Fold each round over the filling to make a half-moon shape. Seal by pressing the edges with the tines of a fork. Prick the top of each pie two or three times to vent. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes. A little of the filling may bubble out. Cool on the baking sheet on a rack 5 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar while still warm. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Prep Time: 35 min
Cook Time: 40 min
Difficulty: easy
Yield: 8 pieces

Per Serving (1 pie) 176 Cal (41% from Fat, 3% from Protein, 56% from Carb); 1 g Protein; 8 g Tot Fat; 3 g Sat Fat; 3 g Mono Fat; 25 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; 11 g Sugar; 3 mg Calcium; 0 mg Iron; 162 mg Sodium; 5 mg Cholesterol

Original recipe courtesy Paula Deen: Fried Apple Pies

Lightened Up recipe courtesy of Bobby Deen and the Paula Deen Test Kitchen

Movie Style Popcorn

Movie Style Popcorn
I cant remember where I got this recipe, if you recognize it please let me know :)


3 T oil
2 T Butter
1/2 C Popcorn
1/2 teaspoon salt

put oil, butter and salt into pan and heat oil/butter.. pop in a few kernels of popcorn and put a lid on your pan. start moving back on forth on your burner. When the kernels pop then your oil is hot enough to continue. Add in your 1/2 C popcorn. Put the lid on and start moving back and forth on your stove, when there is about 3 seconds between pops your popcorn is done. Pour it in a bowl and eat up

Easy Applesauce

Easy Applesauce

recipe found here at allrecipes

Ingredients

• 12 medium sized apples
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 cup apple cider
• salt

Directions

1. Peel and cut apples into chunks.
2. Mix in brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, a dash of salt and the apple cider. Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer for approximately 20 minutes. Uses a potato masher while cooking to help breakdown the softened apples. Serve warm or cool.

Apple Coffee Cake

Apple Coffee Cake
recipe found at allrecipes

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 4 apples - peeled, cored and sliced
• 5 tablespoons white sugar
• 5 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10 inch tube pan.
2. In a large bowl, stir together flour and baking powder. In a separate bowl, beat together 2 cups sugar, vegetable oil, eggs. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture, alternately with orange juice, until smooth. In a small bowl, combine 5 tablespoons white sugar, 5 tablespoons brown sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon.
3. Pour 1/2 of batter into prepared pan. Add 1/2 of the apples then 1/2 of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Repeat laying with remaining ingredients.
4. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 50 to 70 minutes. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes, invert on a plate and serve.

Baked Carrots

Baked Carrots
recipe found here at Just A Pinch thank you Vicky :)
Note: I didnt peel my carrots I left the skins on, these are DELICIOUS hubby is on his seconds

Directions

1

Scrape the carrots, leave small carrots whole and slice large carrots.
Place in a casserole dish.

2

Cream butter, sugar, salt and cinnamon togheter. Add 1 cup boiling water
and blend well. Pour over carrots.

3

Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 30 minutes

Best Carrot Cake Ever

Ingredients

2 c	sugar
1 1/4 c	oil
4	large eggs
2 c	flour
2 tsp	baking soda
1 Tbsp	cinnamon
1 tsp	salt
3 c	grated carrots
1 c	chopped walnuts
FROSTING
12 oz	powdered sugar
2	3 oz. cream cheese room temp
1 tsp	vanilla extract
2 Tbsp	butter
2 Tbsp	milk 1.In large bowl, beat sugar and oil. Add eggs and beat well. Sift together flour, soda, cinnamon, and salt into egg mixture; mix well; fold in carrots and nuts. Place batter in greased 9x13 pan; bake 1 hour and 10 miniutes in a 350 oven. (Check once because of oven variances) FROSTING: Beat together powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla, butter and milk; spread on cooled carrot cake.

Taco Seasoning Mix

Taco Seasoning Mix
recipe from Just A Pinch.com / Sandy Johnson

Note: I added a little water in and cooked it down , my meat was kind of dry but with water it turned out perfect..I think I added maybe 1/2 C or so. This is DELICIOUS thank you Sandy

2 tsp	dehydrated onions
1 tsp	salt
1 tsp	chili powder
1/2 tsp	corn starch
1/2 tsp	dehydrated red pepper
1/2 tsp	garlic powder
1/2 tsp	oregano, powdered
1/2 tsp	cumin

Directions

1.

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.

2.

This is equivalent to one package of taco seasoning and will season one pound ground beef for tacos.

Taco Meat

Taco Meat
I found this at the My Kitchen Cafe Blog ... RECIPE HERE and to see her pretty pictures

Ground Beef Tacos
adapted from Joy of Cooking

Heat in a medium skillet over medium heat:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I used canola oil)

Add:
3/4 cup chopped onion

Cook, stirring often, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high and add:
1 pound ground beef

Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Stir in:
1 to 3 garlic cloves ( I used garlic powder it worked great)
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander (this is optional – but I love the flavor of coriander!)
Salt to taste (I used about 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt)

Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add:
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced fine (alternately, you can add hot pepper sauce to taste or canned jalapenos OR just leave out the heat altogether, although I think the meat really needs a little kick and the 1 jalapeno I used wasn’t overly spicy)

Cook, stirring occasionally, over low heat for 10 minutes.

Serve meat in taco shells (hard or soft) and your choice of toppings.

The cutest taco salads EVER!

Homemade Taco Tortilla Bowls

Recipe found here ohhh peek at her pics

these are SOOo yummy and crispy, I also used her taco meat, Ill post that recipe and link too, SO good I will be using it from now on

Best Rolled Sugar Cookies

The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies
got my dough made, will be making some puurty cookies later will post a pic

Allrecipes.com


INGREDIENTS

* 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
* 2 cups white sugar (I used 3 based on other reviews on the allrecipes site)
* 4 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 5 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt


DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Cheddar Chicken Spaghetti

Cheddar Chicken Spaghetti

recipe from AllRecipes click here

I love this recipe but will be adding a lil spice, maybe some garlic powder, italian seasoning and slices up some tomatoes to put on top :)

Ingredients

• 1 (7 ounce) package spaghetti, broken
• 2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon diced pimientos (I dont add these, never tried one lol)
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the chicken, 1 cup cheese, soup, milk, pimientos if desired, salt and pepper. Drain spaghetti; add to the chicken mixture and toss to coat. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.

Miss Paula Deen's House Seasoning

Paula Deens House Seasoning

recipe found here

1 C salt
1/4 C pepper
1/4 C garlic powder

Great stuff for meats, I use it on beef, chicken, pork.. you name it :)

Sugar Cookies must try soon

Ill let ya know when I try them :) Im a sucker for those sugar cookies in the store with the pink frosting yummm I ate them every day when I was pregnant with my youngest lol

Soft Sugar Cookies
(from The America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Book)

Makes 2 dozen cookies
Recipe from The How To Eat A Cupcake Blog

2 cups granulated sugar, divided
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
14 Tbsp (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs

Set oven rack in middle of the oven. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread 1/2 cup of the sugar in a shallow dish for coating and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together and set aside.

Beat softened butter and remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar together in a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3-6 minutes. Beat in the vanilla then eggs, one at a time, until combined, about 30 seconds, scraping down the bowl & beaters as needed.

Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly mix in the flour mixture until combineds. Give the dough a final stir with a rubber spatula to make sure dough is combined.

Line large baking sheets with parchment paper. Using damp palms, roll 2 tablespoons of dough at a time into balls, then roll in sugar to coat. Place balls on parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced 2 inches apart. Flatten cookies with the buttered bottom of a drinking glass, then sprinkle and remaining sugar over flattened tops. (I just layed a piece of plastic wrap over my cookies and pressed them with the bottom of a clean glass.)

Bake cookies, one sheet at a time, until the edges are set and just beginning to brown but the centers are still soft and puffy, 10-12 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through baking. Allow cookies to cook on baking sheet for 10 minutes, then serve warm or transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Skillet Potatoes

Skillet Potatoes
recipe from Mommy's Kitchen
Pictures are before and then after being in the oven. A lil too garlicky but still delicious, I will make again with less garlic


4 or 5 medium sized potatoes, sliced thin 1/8 inch
1 - 5 oz can evaporated milk
2 - Tablespoons heavy whipping cream (optional)
3 - Tablespoons of butter
1 - 2 Tablespoons minced garlic (next time I will cut this down to 2 teaspoons garlic)
salt/ pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel and slice potatoes into 1/8 inch thick slices. The thicker you slice the potatoes the longer they take to cook. In a heavy oven safe skillet melt butter with garlic, salt and pepper. Add the potatoes and cook until the potatoes are coated with butter and are turning brown on the edges. Add evaporated milk and cream and continue to cook until the milk starts boiling. Place the whole skillet of potatoes into the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Adjust cooking time for the thickness of the potatoes. I cooked the potatoes and additional 10 minutes so the potatoes would be crispy on top. Remove from oven, cool a bit and serve right from the skillet.

Salsa Verde

Green Hot Sauce (Salsa Verde)
Recipe from AllRecipes.com

Note: We used some smoked chilis that we got from our in laws (New Mexico chilis that were charred, we removed the skin) we also added in 2 extra jalapenos for heat and a little cilantro. DELICIOUS

• 10-12 tomatillos, husked and rinsed
• 8 serrano chile peppers, sliced (we used 3 charred New Mexico chilis)
  
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons salt, or to taste

Directions

1. Place the tomatillos, serrano peppers, onion, and garlic in a saucepan, and add water to just cover. Sprinkle the salt over the top, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the tomatillos are soft and have turned slightly brownish in color, 20 to 30 minutes. Add more water if needed to keep the mixture from burning as it cooks.Drain vegetables.
2. Pour the cooked vegetables into a blender, and blend until smooth.

Taco Bell Meat Seasoning

Taco Bell Meat Seasoning for tacos/burritos

very good stuff, hubby really liked it alot, I think a lil less chili powder next time

Recipe from www.CopyKat Recipes.com

Meat Mixture

1 1/3 lbs lean ground chuck
1 1/2 tablespoons masa corn flour
4 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon instant minced onion
1/2 teaspoon beef bouillon

Meat Directions

Mix together all ingredient except the meat. Stir the spice mixture well making sure that all spices have been blended well. Crumble ground beef and brown stirring well. Remove from heat, rinse with hot water and drain water and grease from beef. Return beef to the pan and add spice mix. Add 3/4 – 1 cup water to ground beef and seasoning and simmer on medium low temperature for 20 minutes. Simmer until most of moisture has cooked away. Remove from heat when moisture in meat as dissipated but meat is not dry.