Chocolate Sheet Cake

In a medium bowl mix 1/2 c buttermilk, 2 well beaten eggs, 1t vanilla In a medium bowl sift together 2 Cups flour, 1 t baking soda and 2 Cups sugar - set aside In a medium saucepan mix 8T butter, 1/2 cup crisco, 4T cocoa, 1 cup water bring to a boil and then alternately add flour and buttermilk mixture Pour into 11*17 greased pan (jelly roll pan) Bake at 400 for 15-18 mins Frosting 8T butter 4T cocoa 1/3 c milk 1 box powdered sugar 1t vanilla Bring butter, cocoa, and milk to a boil. Remove from heat and add powdered sugar and vanilla. Frost while hot.

Strawberry Cake

1 box white cake mix
1 small strawberry jello
3/4 c Wesson oil
1/2 c water
4 eggs
1/2 c strawberries (frozen with juices- thawed)

Three cake pans floured 350 degrees 12-15 mins

Icing
1 box powdered sugar
1 stick butter (room temp)
1/2 c strawberries, mashed (use above remaining strawberries)

Vanilla Ice Cream

1 pt. heavy whipping cream
1 pt. whipping cream
2 cans condensed milk
4 cups whole milk
1 T. vanilla
4 eggs (use egg beaters)

(Larger freezers require 1½ - 2 x’s recipe)

Blueberry muffins

3 c flour
1 c oatmeal
4 t baking powder
1 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
1 c oil
1 c sugar
1 c orange juice
3 eggs
3 c blueberries
1/2 c sugar
1 t cinnamon
1/4 c chopped walnuts

Combine 1/2 c sugar, cinnamon, and chopped walnuts and set aside.
Mix oatmeal and orange juice and let stand.
Combine remaining ingredients except blueberries in a large bowl and mix well.
Add oatmeal & orange juice.
Add blueberries and mix gently.
Put in cupcake tins.
Top with topping mixture.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
Makes 2 1/2 dozen.
Recipe from Alice Burgess

Short Ribs in slow cooker

1 medium onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1/4cup rice vinegar
1/4cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 pounds short ribs (preferably flanken)
2cups white rice
1/2pound snap peas, sliced

Combine the onion, garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, sugar, red pepper, and ¼ cup water in a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add the beef and turn to coat. Cover and cook until the beef is very tender, on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours (this will shorten total recipe time). Skim off and discard most of the fat. Twenty minutes before serving, cook the rice according to the package directions.

Artichoke Dip

1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup Parm. Cheese
1 can of diced chilies
1 can artichoke hearts, drained

Blend above ingredients in blender. Bake 350 for 30 mins Serve with diced bread toasted in oven, crackers or rye bread.

Slow cooker chicken and wild rice soup

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 box uncle Ben's long grain and wild rice
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 cups chicken broth
2 1/2 cups of water
1 can sliced carrots, drained

Place all ingredients into 6 quart slow cooker and stir to combine cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Vegetable Chili

1 Tb.olive oil 1 Large onion, coarsely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch chunks 1 red bell pepper cut into chunks 1/4 tsp. chili powder salt/pepper 1 can (14.5 oz.) stewed tomatoes in juice 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed 1/2 cup chopped cilantro lime wedge In a dutch oven or saucepan with lid, heat oil over med. heat. Add onion and garlic and cook stirring occasionally, until tender, 5-7 min. Add squash, bell pepper, and chile powder; season with salt/pepper...cook stirring 1 min. Add 1/2 cup water. Cover and simmer until veggies are crisp-tender, about 7 min. Stir in tomatoes and their juice, breaking them up with a spoon; add chickpeas, black beans, 1/4 cup cilantro and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer, partially cover and cook until lightly thickened about 20 min. Season with salt/ pepper. Stir in remaining cilantro...YUM!

Lil ' Cheddar Meat loaves

3/4 c milk
1 egg
1 c cheddar cheese
1/2 c quick oats
1/2 c chopped onion
1t salt
1lb ground beef
Mix together and make into round loaves (almost tennis ball size)

Sauce
1/3 c ketsup
1/4 c. Brown sugar
1t mustard
Spoon over loaves before cooking 45 mins at 350

Chicken Casserole

6 chicken breast cooked and broken into bite size pieces/shredded ( I boil the breast)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 8 oz ctn sour cream
1 1/2 stacks ritz cracker crumbs
1 1/2 sticks butter melted

Mix chicken, soups and sour cream. Place in 9x13. Top with cracker crumbs and pour the melted butter over the crumbs. Cover when cooking. 350 degrees. 30 mins if warm. Can freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator and cook 50 mins. I don't put the crackers/butter on until I cook the dish.

Green Beans with Caramelized Shallots

s2 pounds haricots verts (tiny green beans), trimmed
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound shallots, halved lengthwise and peeled
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Preparation

1. Cook green beans in boiling salted water to cover 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Plunge beans into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain.
2. Melt butter and brown sugar with olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add shallots, and sauté 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, add vinegar, and sauté 10 minutes or until shallots are golden brown and tender.
3. Increase heat to medium-high; add green beans, and sauté 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Southern Living
NOVEMBER 2011

Star Telegram Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 c minus 2 T cake flour
1 2/3 c. flour
1 1/4 t. baking soda
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks butter
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. plus 2 T. sugar
2 large eggs
2 t. vanilla
1 1/4 lbs chocolate chips
sea salt for sprinkling

Sift dry ingredients; set aside. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars for five minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Reduce speed to low; add dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in chocolate pieces. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake on parchment lined cookie sheet 6 dough balls at a time for 9 minutes at 350 degrees. (Cookie balls may be sprinkled with sea salt just before baking) Allow cookies to cool on pan for 1 minute and remove to cookie rack to cool completely.
For chocolate I did 1 pkg of semisweet chocolate chips and one bar of bittersweet chocolate cut up in small pieces.

Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema

Crema:
1/4 c. Thinly sliced green Onions
1/4 c. Chopped fresh cilantro
3T. Fat-free mayo.
3T. Reduced-fat free sour cream
1 t. Grated lime rind
1 1/2 t. Fresh lime juice
1/4 t. Salt
1 garlic clove, minced

Tacos:
1 t. Ground cumin
1 t. Ground coriander
1/2 t. Smoked paprika
1/4 t. Ground red pepper
1/8 t. Salt
1/8 t. Garlic powder
1 1/2 lbs. Red snapper fillets
Cooking spray
8 (6 inch) corn tortillas
2 c. Shredded cabbage

Preheat oven to 425

To prepare crema, combine the first 8 ingredients in a small bowl; set aside.

To prepare tacos, combine cumin and next 5 ingredients (through garlic powder) in a small bowl; sprinkle spice mixture evenly over both sides fish. Place fish on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 425 for 9 mins or until done. Place fish in a bowl; break into pieces with a fork. Heat tortillas according to package directions. Divide fish evenly among tortillas; top with 1/4 cup cabbage and 1 T. Crema.

French Toast Bake

5 cups bread, cubes
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. Milk
1/4 c. Sugar divided, (2t. With cinn)
1/4 t. Salt
1t. Vanilla
1t. Butter
1 t. Cinn (cinn./sugar for top)

350 degrees 8x8. 45-50 mins

Crockpot Carne Asada Meat for Tacos

Ingredients:

1 (3-5 pound) cut of cheap beef
flap, london broil, flank or roast all work beautifully
1/2 cup limeade
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup oil
1 onion
4-5 garlic cloves
1 jalapeno
2 tablespoons Knorr Mexican beef boullion (granulated)
1 (7 ounce) can Embasa Salsa Verde Green
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder

Directions:

Early in the morning, place your meat in a large crockpot. In a blender, combine limeade, vinegar, oil, onion, clovers, jalapeno, boullion, salsa, cumin, and chili powder. Blend until well pureed. Pour the sauce over your meat, making sure it's well coated (the meat doesn't have to be entirely submerged, just nicely coated with the sauce). Cover crockpot with a lid, and cook all day on low heat. After allowing the meat to cook 8-10 hours, shred the meat, then return it to the crockpot. Stir it in the pan juices and allow it to continue cooking until it's ready to be served. Spoon over corn tortillas, top with grated cheese, homemade salsa or pico de gallo, and sour cream. Es Muy Bien!

Butternut Squash Casserole

Ingredients
1 butternut squash
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1/4 cup margarine, melted
TOPPING
1/2 (16 ounce) package vanilla wafers, crushed (i used rice krispies instead)
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1 cup brown sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Put butternut squash in the microwave and cook on high, until soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Cut in half, scoop out seeds and cube. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add squash and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash.
In a 9x13 inch casserole dish combine 3 cups mashed butternut squash, white sugar, milk, vanilla extract, salt, flour, eggs and 1/4 cup melted margarine.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until set.
In a medium bowl combine crushed vanilla wafers, 1/2 cup melted margarine and brown sugar. Crumble over top of cooked casserole and return to oven to brown.

***I baked mine at 350 for an hr.

Lazy Day Beef Stew

Lazy Day Beef Stew

Oh, I know you already have an easy beef stew recipe, but mine is better. And it's easier. So let me treat you to the quickest comfort meal on the planet while you go do incredible things. 'Cause, you know...you really are just splendid.

Ingredients:
2 pounds stew beef
1 small bag baby carrots
3 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
8-10 red potatoes, quartered
1 onion, quartered
1 pouch au jus gravy mix
2 pouches brown gravy mix
1 pouch ranch dressing powder
3 cups water

Directions:
Toss everything in your crockpot in the morning. Stir until well mixed. Set slowcooker to low and walk away.
Serve 8-9 hours later with hot biscuits, rolls, and giant spoons

Chicken Enchiladas with Pumpkin Cream Sauce

A simple, earthy take on traditional enchiladas. The pumpkin cream enchilada sauce is so slightly scented with nutmeg, cinnamon, and cumin, then slathered beneath a rich layer of crumbled Queso Fresco. If you've never used Queso Fresco, you're in for a treat. It's a fresh, mild Mexican cheese which can be found in the deli. In this recipe, it's gentle flavor beautifully compliments the rest of the meal. While you can substitute it with Monterey Jack, I definitely recommend sticking to this recipe as is.

Ingredients:
1 sweet onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cup chicken, cooked and diced
1/2 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp. cinnamon1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cumin
Dash of salt & pepper
8 corn tortillas
1 cup Queso Fresco, crumbled
1/4 cup. diced scallions

Directions:
In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, then add the onion slices. Saute until brown and caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken to the pan, stirring it to mix with the caramelized onions, then remove from the heat. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, cream, broth, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, salt and pepper. Spoon chicken mixture into the tortilla's, rolling them tightly and placing in a medium-sized baking dish. Once all enchiladas have been rolled, spread the pumpkin cream sauce over the top. Sprinkle generously with Queso Fresco, then bake in an oven preheated to 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or just until the tips of the cheese begins to brown. Garnish with diced scallions before serving.

Frozen Lime Pie

LIME PIE

1 (6 oz.) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 oz.) carton frozen whipped dessert topping, thawed.
1 (9 inch) graham cracker or chocolate cookie pie crust.
Chocolate curls or lime slices.
Mix limeade concentrate and sweetened condensed milk in a medium bowl. Whisk just until blended. Whisk in food coloring, mix well. Fold in dessert topping. Turn mixture into pie crust. Refrigerate until firm about 3 hours. To serve, garnish with additional whipped topping and chocolate curls, or lime slices. Makes 6 servings.

Soft Molasses Cookies

Soft Molasses Cookies

1/2 c. solid vegetable shortening (I was actually out of shortening, so we just used butter instead, and it still turned out great!)
1 ½ c. sugar
1/2 c. molasses
2 eggs, lightly beaten
4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 ¼ tsp. baking soda
2 ¼ tsp. ground ginger
1 ½ tsp. ground cloves
1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon

In large bowl, cream together butter, shortening and sugar until light colored and fluffy. Beat in molasses and eggs. Set mixture aside. In another bowl, combine flour, salt, soda, ginger, cloves and cinnamon. Blend thoroughly with whisk. Gradually mix flour mixture into creamed ingredients until blended and smooth. Roll dough into 1 ½” balls. Dip tops in granulated sugar. Place in greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Dip ½ of cookie in white almond bark or white chocolate. Place on waxed paper after dipping until cooled and chocolate is set. Store in tightly covered container. Makes about 3 dozen.