Cheddar Bacon Dip

Ingredients:
1 cup sour cream
1 cup miracle whip
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1/4 cup bacon bits
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese


Directions:
Mix all ingredients together.  Serve with tortilla chips, vegetables, or crackers.

***Also, try topping with lettuce and or tomatoes for a "BLT dip"

Cucumber Party Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 pkg (8 oz cream cheese), softened

2 Tbsp dry Italian salad dressing mix

2 Tbsp mayonnaise

30 slices snack rye bread

30 thin slices cucumbers

Dill weed

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, dressing mix & mayo.  Let stand for at least 30 minutes.

Spread on rye bread.  Top each piece with a slice of cucumber & top with sprinkles of dill.  Cover and refrigerate until serving.

...If you're not a cucumber fan, try it without--they are just as tasty!

Monster Bars

This is my mom's recipe, and they are *so* addicting.  I generally eat them for breakfast, afternoon snack, and dessert. You can easily make monster cookies out of this dough, but let's face it: the bars are way easier.

1 stick margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 cups peanut butter
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking soda
4-1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup M&Ms (or any chopped candy: I use candy cane Hershey Kisses, crushed candy bars...whatever you have on hand will work well)

Mix all ingredients in order.  Press in pan (I use an 11x18" pan, so the bars should be thin).  Bake at 350* for 15 minutes.

Strawberry Cake

This recipe is great and festive.  If you like strawberries, you will love this recipe!

Cake

Ingredients:
-1 box white cake mix
-3 Tbsp flour
-1 box strawberry jello
-1/2 cup water
-3/4 cup vegetable oil
-1 cup frozen strawberries, thawed and chopped
-4 eggs

Directions:

Combine cake mix, flour, Jello water, and oil.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well in between. Add strawberries and beat well. Pour batter into greased and floured 9×13 pan.

Bake at 350* for about 45 minutes.

Icing: Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
-4 Tbsp butter, softened
-1/2 pkg cream cheese (4 oz), softened
-1/2 cup frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and chopped

Directions:

Mix all ingredients well.  Frost on cake after cake has completely cooled.

-3 cups powdered sugar

(pictured: cake after frosting)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

This take a little while to make, but is easy (I promise), and it's a nice kick on 2 favorites!


Brownies:
Mix up a batch of your favorite brownies.  Yes, you can use a box.  Pour dough into a greased 9x13 pan.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough:

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
1/2 c.. sugar
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1-1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c.  chocolate chips

Beat all ingredients until mixed well.  Drop cookie dough by spoonfuls onto the brownie batter. 

Bake for 35-40 minutes at 350* preheated oven (do the "toothpick test").  When they’re done, take them out and let them cool completely (for about an hour) before cutting.  

Pepperoni Rolls

One word: awesome!

Ingredients

1 loaf frozen white bread (we use Rhode's brand)
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup cheddar cheese
12-15 slices pepperoni (we use the bigger deli style)
1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp melted margarine

Directions:

Allow dough to thaw for a few hours.

Preheat oven to 375*.  When dough has completely thawed, roll flat, using a rolling pin, into a square (try 10x10 approximate).

After the dough has been rolled into a square, brush olive oil on surface.  Then, place a layer of pepperoni.  On top of this, add the cheeses and seasonings (Italian & garlic powder).

Then, roll the dough (it should look like a log).  Place on a baking sheet and brush melted butter on top.

Bake for 15-18 minutes.  The roll should look golden brown.  Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

Oreo Candy Cane Bark

Tis' the Season...

Ingredients:
3 pkgs (6-oz each) Bakers Premium White Baking Chocolate
2 cups chopped Oreos
1/4 cup crushed candy canes

Directions:
Cover baking sheet with foil.  Set aside.

Microwave chocolate in bowl for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds.  Stir in chopped cookies.

Spread immediately onto prepared baking sheet.  Sprinkle with crushed candy canes (press candy lightly into chocolate with back of a spoon).

Refrigerate for approximately 4 hours.  Break into pieces after firm.  Store in refrigerator.

Chili Cheese Dip

Another easy recipe that includes--yes--Velveeta :)

Ingredients:
1 lb (16-oz) Velveeta
1 can chili (with or without beans--we use Hormel with beans)

Directions:
Mix ingredients in crock pot for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.  Serve with tortilla chips.

Ultimate Queso Dip

This is quick, easy and popular!

Ingredients:
1 lb (16-oz) Velveeta cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 can Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles, undrained

Directions:
Mix ingredients in crock pot for 2 hours on high, stirring occasionally.  Serve with tortilla chips.

Cheesy Potato Soup

One of the best comfort foods!

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp margarine
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup sliced onion
1 can chicken broth
2 cups milk
1/4 cup flour
3 large potatoes
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 pepper

Directions:
Boil & peel potatoes.  Cut into bite-sized pieces.
Saute carrots & onions with margarine until tender.

In large pan, add cooked vegetables, cut potatoes, chicken broth, flour & milk.  Gradually add cheddar cheese until melted.  Add salt & pepper (add more to taste).  Serve with crackers or biscuits.

Caramel Puff Corn

Ingredients:
1 cup margarine
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1 tsp baking soda
2 bags corn puffs (we use Old Dutch brand)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250*

Put first three ingredients info medium saucepan & melt.  Bring to boil.  Add 1 tsp baking soda; stir until foamy.

Pour sauce over puff corn in pan (may use big roasting pan).

Bake at for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Let cool on wax paper & break up chunks.

Rueben Dip

Ingredients:
1-16 oz jar sauerkraut, drained
1-8 oz package cream cheese, softened
2-cups shredded Swiss cheese
2-cups shredded corned beef
1/2-cup thousand island dressing

Directions:
In crock pot, combine all ingredients.  Cook on high for 45-minutes.  Serve with crackers or chips.

Baked French Toast

This recipe needs to be prepared the night before baking.  It's great for company and would be an excellent choice for brunch!

Ingredients:
1 stick margarine
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp corn syrup
5 large eggs
1-1/2 cups half & half
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp orange juice
1/3 tsp salt
1 loaf of bread

Directions:
Mix butter, brown sugar & corn syrup in saucepan, stirring over moderate heat until smooth.

Pour mixture into bottom of cake pan & sent bread on top of it (should get approximately 2-3 layers, depending on what type of bread you use).

Whisk all other ingredients together & pour over bread.  Cover pan with lid & refrigerate overnight.

In the morning...
Preheat oven to 350*

Take lid off of pan & bake for 30-40 minutes or until edges are light gold/brown in color.

We serve this with fresh fruit and sprinkle pieces with powdered sugar.

Cheeseburger Chowder

One of the best comfort foods...and of course, easy to make!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
2 cans condensed cheddar cheese soup
1 can diced, green chiles
1-1/2 cups milk
1-1/2 cups frozen hash brown potatoes
1 Tbsp chili powder

Corn chips, chili powder & shredded cheddar cheese for topping.

Directions:
Brown ground beef.  In separate saucepan, add remaining ingredients.  Cook over medium heat.  Add browned hamburger.  Use additional chili powder to taste.

Serve with corn tortilla chips (we use Fritos), and top with shredded cheddar cheese.

Corn Dip

Here is another easy appetizer--great for tailgating!

3 cans shoepeg corn (11-oz cans), drained
16 oz Mayo
1 small red onion, diced
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tsp pickled jalepenos

Mix all & serve chilled with tortilla chips.

Bagel Dip

This is one of the best--and most addicting--dips ever!

• Ingredients:
• 1 (6 ounce) container sour cream
• 15 oz mayonnaise (small jar)
• 1 Tbsp Accent
• 1/2 Tbsp dill weed
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 3/4 Tbsp ground onion
• 2 (2 ounce) packages dried beef, chopped into pieces
• 1 package bagels
• 
  

Directions:

Mix all ingredients, except bagels.  Chop bagels into bite-sized pieces (toasted bagels are even better).  Serve dip chilled with bagels.

Warm Winter Lemon Cake

'Tis the season--this dessert is perfect for all your winter parties.  I love it best while it's still warm.

Ingredients:
1 pkg yellow cake mix

2 cups cold milk
1-1/4 cups water
2 pkgs lemon flavor pudding
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tbsp powdered sugar

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350*
-Prepare cake batter as directed.  Pour into greased cake pan.
-Pour milk & water into mixing bowl.  Add pudding mixes and sugar.  Pour over cake batter (does not need to be an even layer, just drizzle it all over the batter).
-Bake 55 minutes.  Sprinkle top with powdered sugar.

Cookie Salad

A great addition to a meal...and you can *almost* consider it dessert :-)

Ingredients:
1 cup buttermilk
1 pkg vanilla pudding
1 8-oz container cool whip
2 cans mandarin oranges
10 striped shortbread cookies (AKA "zebra" cookies)--crushed & crumbled

Directions:
-Stir buttermilk & pudding.
-Add cool whip
-Sprinkle cookies on top

Warm Artichoke Dip

1 word: YUM

Ingredients:
1 can drained & cut artichoke hearts
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 8-oz pkg cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup mayo
3/4 tsp dillweed
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in bowl.  Place in greased 8x8 square pan.  Bake at 400* for 20-30 minutes.  Serve with crackers (we use the specialty crackers from Trader Joe's).

Beef Stew

Everyone has a variation of this, but this is ours...one of our favorite fall/winter dinners!!  And--best of all--it takes 10 minutes to prepare :)

Ingredients:
2 cups carrots (cut into bite-sized pieces)
1 cup sliced onion
2 cups cubed potatoes
1 can beef broth
2 cups water
1/2 lb boneless chuck pot roast, thawed
2 Tbsp lowry seasoning
1 packet brown gravy mix (powder)

Directions:
Add all ingredients into crock pot, cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Serve with biscuits, toast, or garlic bread.

S'mores Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup margarine (1 stick), melted

Topping

• 2 cups marshmallows
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 
  
• 
  
• Directions

In a bowl, combine the first five ingredients; stir in melted butter. 

Press into a greased cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. 

Take pan out; top with marshmallows and chips. Bake 5-7 minutes longer or until marshmallows begin to brown.

Lemon Pasta

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp margarine
1/2 pint heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 Tbsp lemon pepper
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp parsley
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
2 cups bowtie pasta (or whatever pasta you prefer)

Directions:
-Boil pasta until cooked & drain water
-In separate saucepan, melt margarine.  Then, add all ingredients in order listed, stirring well.  Once cheese has melted well into the sauce, add the mixture to the pasta.  Allow 3-5 minutes to set before serving, so sauce can thicken on pasta.

Enjoy!

 

Dump Dip

Another popular game-day recipe!  This is a very-requested recipe, and I'm almost embarrassed at the easiness to throw it together :-P

1-can salsa
1-8 oz container sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Mix everything together & chill for approximately 2 hours before serving.  This also makes a great filling for tortilla roll-ups.  If you need to make a bigger batch, just use equal parts sour cream & salsa.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

This is a MUST-HAVE recipe for any game day!

1 8-oz block cream cheese (softened)
2 cups chicken (can use canned or rotisserie)
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup wing sauce (we use Buffalo Wild Wings Medium or Hot BBQ, but you can use your favorite)
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Place all ingredients in a crock pot and cook on high for about 40 minutes (low for a couple of hours).  Serve with tortilla chips!

Cheesy Potatoes

We usually prepare this ahead (the day before we need to bake it).  It's an easy and tasty side dish!

Ingredients:
1 bag frozen hashbrown potatoes (24-32 ounces)--thawed
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup chopped onion
8-oz sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided into cups)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 can French fried onions

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350*
-Mix soup, sour cream, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, chopped onion, salt and pepper in large bowl.
-Add hashbrowns; mix well.
-Place in 9x13" casserole pan.
-Top with remaining 1-cup shredded cheddar cheese, and French fried onions.

-Bake for 1 hour until golden brown and bubbly.

Apple Oatmeal Crisp

One of our favorites--perfect for the fall :-)

• Ingredients

  1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup margarine, melted (1 stick)
• 3 apples - peeled, cored and cut
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 
  
• -Preheat oven to 350*.  
• -In a large bowl, mix all ingredients (except apples)--should be crumbly. 
• -Place half of crumb mixture in 8-inch square pan. Spread the apples evenly over crumb mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mixture.
• -Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Baked French Onion Dip

You can't go wrong with this quick appetizer--one of our staple dips!

1-8 ounce block softened cream cheese (do not microwave-let soften for a few hours before mixing)
1-can condensed french onion soup
2-cups mozzarella cheese

1-loaf French bread (baked & sliced).

Preheat oven to 350*.  Mix cream cheese, soup and 1-cup mozzarella cheese together in baking dish.  Top with remaining 1-cup mozzarella cheese.  Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbling hot.  Serve with sliced French bread.

Chicken Salad

PJ loves chicken salad, and I decided to give it a try this week.  It was a huge hit--and super easy!  We've made chicken salad wraps, sandwiches and even used it as dip with tortilla chips.

2-1/2 cups diced & cooked chicken (or 2 cans chicken breast)

1 cup diced apple 

3/4 cup cashews 

2 Tbsp parsley

1 tsp salt

1 cup mayo

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

In medium bowl, combine all ingredients, and stir well.  Chill for an hour before serving.

*Optional ingredients: celery, grapes (apple substitute), walnuts or pecans (cashew substitute)

Welcome!

Welcome to my first blog-a bit confusing, but exciting!


After numerous requests for recipes from family and friends, I've decided to make a one-stop shop.


Check for updates, and enjoy!
-L