Maison Salad-(from the Keeping up Cookbook)

1 Large head of Romaine lettuce ( chopped finely ;)
1 cp. grated Monterey Jack or Swiss Cheese
1/4 pd. bacon, cooked crisp and chopped up
2/3 cp. slivered or sliced almonds, toasted

Dressing:
Juice of 1 Lemon ( or 3 tbsp. of Lemon Juice)
1 clove garlic, ( or 1 tsp. of the fresh minced garlic that comes in the jar.)
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cp. canola oil or olive oil

Whisk together dressing ingredients ( refrigerate for at least a few hours or overnight for best flavor.)

*This is the salad I took to the Hansen Family Christmas Party. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Molasses Cookies

2 Cups Sugar
1 1/2 C. oil
2 eggs
1/2 C. molasses
4 C. flour
4 tsp baking soda
1tsp ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp salt
additional sugar to roll

In mixing bowl, combine sugar and oil. Mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in molasses. Combine all dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Shape into balls and roll in sugar. Place 2" a part on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes (don't overcook). Cool completely.

Optional: Melt vanilla almond bark and dip cookies halfway. Place on wax paper to cool.
Makes about 4 dozen.

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

(these are the ones I made for the Christmas party)

Cookie
1 cup softened butter (recommend using a good brand butter!)
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup raspberry jam

Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
2 to 3 tsp water

-combine butter, sugar and almond extract. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Add flour. Beat until well mixed. Cover and chill until firm.

- Heat oven to 350. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart  onto ungreased cookie sheet. Make indentation in center of each cookie with thumb (edges may crack slightly). Fill each indentation with about 1/4 tsp jam. (I put the jam in a sandwich bag and snip a corner and squeeze into each cookie.)

- Bake for about 14 minutes (do not overbake!). Cool completely.

- Combine glaze ingredients and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies. (I use the sandwich bad trick for the glaze too)

Caramel Bars

I got this recipe from one of my favorite cook books. Keeping up cook book. I love it.

3/4 cp. butter
3/4 cp. brown sugar
1cp. flour
1 cp. old-fashioned oats
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix together. Press 3/4 of mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

1 (14 oz) package Kraft caramels, unwrapped
3 tbsp. cream or half/half ( I used half/half- Less calories)
3 tbsp. butter
2 cps. milk chocolate chips

While crust is baking, melt the craramels, cream and butter over low heat or in a double boiler. Pour melted mixture over crust. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and crumble remaining oat mixture on top. Bake at 350 for an additional 15 minutes. Cool before slicing.

Perfect Chicken Fajitas

Last night I thought I would try a new Fajita recipe. I had to tweak it a bit, but WOW was it good! Cam came home started eating, while I was busy cleaning up, and out of no where he says, "I give this meal a good 9!" It was hilarious! Sometimes he will rate the food 1-10. I should have asked why not a 10, because after his second one, I confessed and told him, I even had two, probably smaller than his, but still. It was that good!

3 or 4 chicken breast
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, loosely packed
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp Chili powder
sprinkle of salt/Pepper

and 1 tsp garlic salt
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar

Saute: 1 medium onion, 2 green peppers, and a little bit of butter. Set aside and add to your ( just cooked tortilla, I love Costco and Sam's) tortilla with some mild cheddar cheese, and sour cream.

1. Add all ingredients (except the chicken of course!) into a blender or food processor. Blend until the whole mixture comes together.
2. Pour over Chicken, coating on both sides, in a dish or plastic bag, for one hour. ( I didn't have time and it still went great!

3. Cook Chicken in pan with a little bit of Olive oil until done on med. heat. The chicken gets so tender!

Top with cheese, onions, peppers, and sourcream! Enjoy.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Super Easy Cupcakes...

1 box Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge Cake mix
*Follow directions and also add one 3 oz. box of Jello chocolate pudding mix. ( Yes, the powder.)
* Then I added in some Reeses Peanut butter chips, to the batter and baked by the directions.

Peanut Butter Frosting ( Wilton)-

• 1/3 cup solid vegetable shortening( I used 1/4 cp)
  
• 1/3 cup butter ( I used just a little more than a 1/3)
  
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
  
• 4 cups (approx. 1 lb.) confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 4-6 tablespoons milk

Makes:

About 3 cups.

Instructions:

Step 1

Cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add peanut butter and vanilla. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk, one tablespoon at a time, and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Step 2

Keep icing covered with a damp cloth until ready to use. For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use. Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks. Re-whip before using.

Step 3

*To do the swirls on the cupcakes I used a 18 star tip. Put it in the bottom of the little decorating bag, loaded my frosting, and swirled away. A bigger tip would have been better.

Strawberry Spinach Salad-Pampered Chef

Salad:
1/4 cp. sliced natural almonds, toasted
8 Strawberries, or to taste
1/2 med. cucumber
1/4 small red onion
1 pkg. 6 oz. of baby spinach


Dressing:
1 lemon
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp poppy seeds

For dressing, zest lemon to measure ½ tsp. zest. Juice lemon to measure 2 tbsp juice. Combine zest, juice, vinegar, sugar, oil and poppy seeds in Measure Mix n Pour. Whisk until well blended. Refrigerate until ready to use.

How to toast almonds: Pre-heat oven to 350 spread on cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes.

Combine all together and enojoy!

Italian Styled Pizza, Pampered Chef

1 cp. mozzarella cheese
1/4 cp. parmesan cheese
4 plum tomatoes
1/4 cp. fresh basil leaves or 1 tsp. dried basil
1 can olives, optional
2 tbsp. Olive oil
1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, I did 2 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 salt and pepper
1 package of Boboli prebaked pizza crust or fresh pizza dough
I also added some fresh spinach.

To make sauce for topping pizza. In a small bowl add olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and salt and pepper. Using a pastry brush, brush onto dough.

If dough is not pre-baked, cook dough with sauce on it. Remove from oven and top with olives, tomatoes, and cheeses. Bake @ 400 for 10-15 more minutes or until cheese is melted.

GRILL INSTRUCTIONS:
Place crust in center of grill, top side down brushed with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Leave grill lid open cook at about med heat for about 4-5 minutes.
Turn crust over, add toppings (third), cheese (second), and remaining oil mixture (first). Spread on crust. Add pizza back to grill, if not there already, and put grill lid down and bake for about 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Chili Cheese Frito Pie

Confession! I have had this recipe in my little personal cookbook for oh... I don't know somewhere around 9 years and have never made it. My friend Tasha gave me some of her's and this was one of them. Well... I had some Frito's that no one seemed to care for out of the variety pack from Costco so I thought hmm... that recipe. I was SHOCKED at how good it was. So call it the pantry dinner if you must, but so good! Then I remember being in College at U.S.U and the L.D.S. Institute fed all of the students one day chili inside little Frito bags. I remember how good it was. So this is like a little remembrance meal for me! Enjoy!!!

1 small onion cooked in butter
1 small can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 small can of Nalley Chili
1 small can of Corn
2 cps. Frito chips ( next time I am going to try chili cheese fritos)
1 cp. cheddar cheese

Mix all together in a casserole dish and microwave 8 minutes. Top with 1 cp. grated cheese, (optional. Olives), and 1 cp. Fritos. Microwave 1 more minute. Oh and I added a little dallop of fat free sour cream, tomatoes, and green onions to mine. Yum!

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies:

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies:

They really do melt in your mouth. Need I say more?

Melt in Your Mouth Pumpkin Cookies

By Better Homes and Gardens and sweettreatsandmore.blogspot.com

This recipe makes tons of cookies, be ready to share.

Ingredients

• 2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 15-ounce can pumpkin
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2-3/4 cups powdered sugar
• Ground cinnamon (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, beat 2 cups butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Add eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla; beat until combined. Beat in pumpkin. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour.
2. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until tops are set. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool.
3. In a small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup butter and brown sugar until melted and smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in powdered sugar until smooth. Spread frosting on cookies. If desired, sprinkle with additional cinnamon. Makes about 60 cookies.

Peach Shortcake

Bring to boil: 2 cups sliced peaches, or berries, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup water

Or: 1 bottle sliced peaches, or 1 can berries + ¼ cup sugar

[For peach cobbler add 1 tsp. almond flavoring just before pouring over dough]

Dough: In a 9 X 13 pan (or deep casserole 8 X 8 dish) mix together with a fork until smooth:

1 cup flour, ½ cup sugar, 2 tsp. baking powder and a pinch of salt

Add: ½ cup milk and 3 Tbs. vegetable oil or melted shortening

Pour hot fruit and liquid/syrup over dough. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until golden brown on top. (The pudding rises to the top.)

Serve warm with ice cream or milk on top.

Delicious!

**I like to make this in the 9X13 pan and double the cake, but not the liquid portion of the recipe—for a more cake to fruit ratio.**

My Relief Society President brought me this and I had to get the recipe. So yummy!

Creamy Lemon Chicken ( better than an olive garden recipe!)

2 tbsp. olive oil
10 chicken tenders ( or breasts, I usually do like 4, and use the extra sauce and mix with thin spaghetti noodles mmm!)
1 tsp. Herbes de Provence
1/2 tsp. creole seasoning
1 cp. chicken broth
1 3/4 cp. heavy cream or half/half ( to cut calories)
zest of 1 lemon
2 tsp. lemon juice

Serve with thin spaghetti noodles or rice.
Sprinkle herbes de provence and creole seasoning. Heat oil in skillet over med-high heat and brown tenders on both sides. Add chicken broth and simmer just until chicken is cooked through. 1 to 2 minutes. Remove chicken from broth and set aside.

Allow broth to simmer and reduce down for a few more minutes, then add cream and lemon zest. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes or until sauce has reduced to desired consistency. Stir in lemon juice and add chicken back to sauce.

Lemon Bars

Lemon Bars-

Crust: 2 cps. flour, 2 cubes butter ( I did one cube, it was great.), 1/2 cp powdered sugar 1/4 tsp salt mix. Pour into non-greased 9x13 Bake @ 300 for 15-20

Filling: 4 eggs beaten, 2cp sugar, 1/4 cp flour, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 6 tbsp. lemon juice ( or the juice of 2 real lemons, I do this) Mix and pour over hot crust.

Bake @ 350 23-25 minutes. Enjoy!

Whole Wheat Blender Waffles

Blend:
1 c. Whole Wheat Kernels
1 c. Milk
Blend wheat and milk for about 3 minutes. If you have a strong blender (Vitamix or Blend tech) you don't have to do it this long. I just blend it while I get out all the rest of my ingredients.
Add:
1/2 c. Milk
2 Eggs
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 c. Oil
1 T. Baking Powder
2 T. Sugar
Blend long enough to combine. Pour onto hot griddle. The batter is very thin.
These are SO yummy and healthy.

Pumpkin Cookies

1/2 c. Shortening
1 1/2 c. Sugar
1 Egg
1 c. Vanilla

2 1/2 c. Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Nutmeg
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 bag Mini chocolate chips
Mix all together and Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes
Such a yummy fall time cookie
Note: 1 small can of pumpkin makes this recipe 2 times so I usually double it so I don't waste the pumpkin or don't have to figure out what to do with it. I bake what I want and then I put the remainder in the fridge or freezer. This freezes really well.

Fresh Peach Pie

Happy Peach Days! This is one of my most favorite Peach Recipes and it's so easy.

1 c. Sugar
2 T. Cornstarch
1 c. Water
1 small package Peach Jello

3 c. peeled, sliced ripe peaches (about 3 or 4 good sized peaches)
1 9 inch pie crust baked
Whipped Cream

In a saucepan combine sugar, cornstarch and water until smooth. Cook and stir over medium heat until bubbly and thickened. Remove from heat and stir in jello until dissolved. Cool. Arrange peaches in crust; pour filling over peaches. Chill in fridge until set, about 2 hours. Serve with Whipped Cream.

*Sometimes I get really fancy and I make it in a grahm cracker crust and mix 1 package cream cheese with a 1/2 c. Sugar and spread in the bottom of the crust and then put this mixture on top of that and make it more of a peach cheese cake. YUMMY!

Enjoy!

Green Chili Turkey Burgers w/ Avacado Mayo

1 pd. ground turkey ( I got mine at Costco, one of the 4 packages and got more than 4, like 8.)
1/2 cp. salsa verde
1 egg ( to hold them together)

4 Hamburger buns
sliced pepper jack cheese
sliced tomatoes
lettuce

Combine turkey, verde, and egg. Mix. Form into patties and grill.

Avacodo Mayo:

1 avacado pitted
1/2 cp. mayo, I used light
1 clove garlic ( I used minced in my fridge)
1/4 tsp. salt

Add to sandwhich and enjoy! So yummy.

Coconut Lime Chicken *Lauren Perry*

this is super easy and very yummy! I make this for a lot of my friends who have babies. It isn't spicy (though you can make it spicy if you want), it is very flavorful and mild and always a hit.

Ingredients
2 cans of coconut milk
1 small can of diced green ortega chili's
1 tbs+ of lime juice
1-2 tbs of sugar
few good shakes of salt or garlic salt (adjust to taste)
fresh ground pepper to taste (like 1/4 tsp)
4 chicken breasts (bbq and slice in strips.... its best to bbq the chicken because you want the smokey bbq flavor)
rice


Directions
Boil rice
-in a sauce pan, bring to medium heat 2 cans of coconut milk and green chili's. Then slowly add to simmer. Add sugar, salt, pepper and lime juice. Stir every 10 minutes or so for about 40 minutes (it will thicken...do NOT bring to boil)
-bbq chicken and slice. Add to your coconut lime sauce and let simmer a few minutes
adjust seasoning
in a bowl add rice and top with the chicken and sauce mixture

Yummy Queso *Lauren Perry*

Ingredients

1 brick of plain velveeta (I used the largest one)
1 brick of cream cheese
1 small can of diced green ortega chili's
1 can of chili beans (do not drain)
1 lb of ground beef
1 cup of fresh salsa (pace works as well)
1 tbs ground cumin
a dash of pepper

Directions
brown and crumble meat with garlic salt and pepper
drain fat
add cheese, cream cheese, chili's, beans, salsa and mix
add cumin and mix by hand until it melts. Serve hot with tortilla chips

Crab Wontons *Lauren Perry*

Ingredients

oil for frying
crab meat or imitation crab meat
brick of cream cheese
bunch of green onions chopped
wonton skins (these can usually be found in the produce section by the salads)
sweet red chili sauce
pinch of garlic salt


Directions
heat a cup or 2 of oil in a frying pan or wok
leave cream cheese out at room temp and put in a bowl
chop up crab meat and green onions, throw into bowl with cream cheese
add a dash or 2 of garlic salt and mix bowl of crab mixture by hand
spoon out a teaspoon of mixture and put in 1 corner of the square wonton
wet finger and make an L shape along wonton skin. Fold dry corner of wonton to the wet corner (it will look like a triangle at this point) and add pressure to the ends to make sure that it is sealed off.
Add the wontons (about 2-4 at a time) to the hot oil, use a spatula or tongs to flip them after about a minute until each side is golden. Let the oil run off of the wonton back into the pan/wok. Remove from heat and add to a plate with paper towel.
Serve warm with a red thai chili sauce, it is wonderful!

Candied Bacon Salad *Lauren Perry*

Without fail- every.single.time I make this or one of my friends (who I shared the recipe with) make this, it is always a hit. I have had many many requests for this recipe :) Salads aren't too hard to make yummy!

Ingredients
Romaine hearts
green onions (I use a whole bunch), chopped
candied bacon (I've posted the recipe before, I LOVE this in the salad)
feta cheese (just half of a container...go off of your love of feta... if you love it, add more!)
2-3 avacado
craisins (same as the feta, go with your gut! I find that more is better)
sliced almonds (I buy the honey roasted)
and Girards Champagne Salad Dressing, it is tangy and a MUST HAVE for this salad

Strawberry Shortcake *Lauren Perry*

I did a fun little 4th of July treat with mason jars and strawberry shortcake :)

First, I am going to tell you the easy/quick way to make this. Later, I am going to post a homemade (to die for) pound cake recipe that you can use instead of the box (if you really want to be delicious and fancy)...

Easy Pound cake- Betty Crocker box... quick and easy... :)

Strawberries- wash and slice 1 container, add 1 tbs sugar and drizzle half a can of sweetened condensed milk (strawberries and cream effect)... let sit in fridge for an hour so the juices mix

Whipped cream- 1 quart heavy whipping cream, about 3/4 cup of sugar (go off of your taste preference), 1 tsp vanilla..... i also sliced and got the seeds out of a vanilla bean. I can taste a difference, but I don't think it is a must have ingredient (since vanilla beans can run you $10). Blend or mix in a mixer until stiff peaks form... refrigerate if serving immediately (within an hour or 2, otherwise put in freezer so that it doesn't melt)

Optional topping- I used The Pampered Chef Cinnamon Sugar Sprinkle mix. You can also make your own little topping with about 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbs brown sugar, 1 tbs white sugar and 1 tbs raw sugar (the chunky crystals) and a dash of nutmeg..... mix in a bowl by hand and sprinkle a bit on the top

Layer cubed pound cake, strawberries with the cream/syrup, whipped cream and top with your optional mixture :)

Healthy Muffins-Carrie Hansen

Healthy Muffins-Carrie Hansen

In a sauce pan add 3 cp. milk, 2 cp. oatmeal, until it is thick.

Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl mix 4 eggs, 3/4 cp. oil, 1/2 cp. flaxseed, 1/4 cp. oil, 2 cp. Splenda, 2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp baking soda, zest of 2 lemons, plus juice, 2 cp. Orange Juice. Use either 4 cp. wheat flour and 2 cp. white flour. ( or 6 cp. Wheat). Mix.

Then in a large bowl add the oatmeal mix to all the rest of the ingredients.

Add craisins, coconut, chopped pecans, raisins, etc. Too taste.

Put in cupcake pan fill to almost full.

Bake @ 350 for 20 min.

Guacamole *lauren Perry*

I always make guacamole when I make my salsa! It is super easy!

Ingredients
3-4 large ripe avocados
1/2 - 3/4 cup fresh salsa (recipe in post below)
1 tomato chopped good size chunks
1/2 tsp ground cumin
a small handful of chopped cilantro (because the salsa has plenty of cilantro in it)
2 shakes of garlic salt
1 tsp lime juice

Directions
I don't like my guacamole to be pureed. You can over mix the avocados and it is not very good that way. I scoop out the avocados into a bowl and gently press and lightly mix to get major chunks broken down. It will be mixed a bit more, you just don't want to OVER mix it early on. Add the salsa and briefly mix it in the bowl for like 10 seconds. Add seasoning, lime juice, cilantro and tomato chunks (the salsa has smaller chunks, you want some decent size chunks of tomato in your guacamole) and refrigerate for about 30 minutes

Salsa *Lauren Perry*

I am always skeptical to share this recipe. I never really measure it out when I make it, I just kinda go to taste. Its always a hit at parties, so it is hard for me to share a signature favorite... but I have had a few requests for it! I say "about" with the seasoning because you don't want to over do the seasoning until the salsa has had a chance to sit for an hour in the refrigerator. It takes a while for the seasonings to mix and be flavorful- so I always add a little bit more according to taste after it has had a chance to sit.

Ingredients
4-5 large ripe tomatoes
red onion (about 1/3 - 1/2 cup)
cilantro (a bunch! chopped)
lime juice (about 1/4 - 1/3 cup)
about 1 tsp ground cumin
about 1 TBS sugar
a few shakes of onion powder
2 shakes of garlic powder
a few good shakes of garlic salt (about 1 TBS)
about 1/4 tsp lemon pepper
about 1/8 tsp cayenne (or you can take 1 serrano chili and food process it really fine if you want it spicy, I like my salsa mild to medium though)


Directions
Take 4 tomatoes and slice them in 1/4 and throw them in your food processor and chop it up really good. You don't want to puree it, but you don't want HUGE chunks either)
Take 1 tomato slice it in 4, take the middle seeded part out and chop it by hand with smaller chunks.
Put the both sets of tomato in a bowl
in a food processor, mix up the red onion and a bunch of cilantro until finely chopped, add to tomato mixture in bowl
add cumin, sugar, garlic salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder, lime juice and cayenne (or the finely finely chopped serrano chili) and give a brief mix by hand.
Refrigerate for an hour and taste- adjust seasons accordingly. Add less seasoning ahead of time and adjust one the flavors have had time to sit together in the refrigerator

Deviled Egg Dip *Lauren Perry*

I wish I had posted this closer to Easter, so that you guys could have had fun with all of your leftover Easter eggs :) This was super yummy and everybody LOVED it

Ingredients
5-7 hard boiled eggs
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 stick of melted butter
2 tbs chopped onions
a bunch of chopped green onion
4-6 pieces of cooked bacon (I think the more, the merrier!)
sour cream
garlic salt, pepper
dash or 2 of Tabasco sauce :)

Directions
In a food processor: mix the eggs, melted butter, mayo, white onion garlic salt, pepper, Tabasco to a puree- leaving no lumps

By hand, mix in chopped green onion and bacon

Put in a serving dish, top with sour cream. You can make it pretty by adding a little bit of chives brumbled bacon or a few splashes of Tabasco to top it.

Serve chilled with Ritz crackers!

Favorite Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies

1 cup butter
1 cp. Brown sugar
1 cp. sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 1/4 cp. flour
2 cps. old fashioned
1 (11 1/2 oz.) milk chocolate chips

Cream together butter and sugars. Add vanilla and eggs and mix well. Add salt, soda, powder, and flour and mix just until combined. Stir in oats and chocolate chips. Roll into balls with a cookie scoop adn bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 10-12 minutes at 350.

Soft Molasses Cookies

I have been looking for a soft molasses cookie recipe for sooo long. Well have I got a winner.

1 1/2 cp. butter
2 cp. brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cp. molasses
4 1/2 cp. Flour
4 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs and molasses and mix well. Add dry ingredients. Roll into balls and roll in sugar. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Chicken Pot Pie *Lauren Perry*

A yummy comfort food! This was a HUGE hit in our house. Enjoy :)

Ingredients
2 TBS butter
1/3 cup chopped white onion
1 can of corn drained
1 small frozen package of peas and diced carrots (if it has corn, that is fine too- use your judgement)
1 rotisserie chicken, pull the meat off (you can buy them at Costco or your local grocery store for $5)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 pint of heavy whipping cream
1 cup of shredded mild cheddar cheese
2 tbs of flour with 2 tbs of chicken broth- (mix together, get rid of lumps, add to soup mixture 5 minutes before you put in the oven to thicken it)
garlic salt
pepper
2 tubes of the refrigerated Pillsbury crescent rolls

***you only need to add the flour if it needs to be thickened. I've made this a few times without the flour because it was thick enough already, and it turned out great :)

Directions
-preheat oven to 325- unroll 1 tube of crescent roll and put in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. It will cover the bottom completely. Cook in the oven for about 15-20 minutes
- while the dough is cooking- melt butter in pot, add chopped onions and saute
-add can of soup, whipping cream, veggies, shredded chicken meat, cheese, flour thickening sauce- cook on med for about 5 minutes until bubbly- turn to simmer until your bottom layer of crescent roll is cooked.
-add seasoning, mix with a spoon and pour over cooked crescent roll
-open the 2nd tube and unroll, rest on top of pot pie mixture, it will cover the top completely. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden.

Homemade Oreos *Lauren Perry*

This is my cute friend Natalie's recipe :) Its is chewy and totally delicious!

preheat oven to 350

Cookie
2 boxes of devils food cake mix
4 eggs
2/3 cup shortening

-mix all ingredients together- dough will be thick
-roll into little balls, place on baking sheet
-bake at 350 for 10 minutes

Frosting/Filling
8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
3 TBS butter, softened

-mix together and spread over a cooled cookie
-top with another cookie to make a sandwich/oreo!
-eat 50 of them, they are totally fat free, no carb, no sugar, and they have antioxidents! (ok, maybe that is just what I tell myself so that I don't feel guily)

Jambalaya *Lauren Perry*

This is a southern favorite! Its full of flavor and its great for company or football games.

Ingredients
1 lb shrimp (shells removed)
2 chicken breasts, cube
1 package of hot links (I use Hillshire Farm), slice
1 cup rice (I use Uncle Ben's- do NOT use minute rice or boil in a bag)
3/4-1 cup of chili sauce (I use Heinz and I use about half of the jar)
1/2 cup of green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup of onion, chopped
1/2 cup of celery, chopped
2 cloves of garlic
3 TBS butter
2 cups water
1/4 (or less) tsp of cayenne
few shakes of garlic salt and pepper

Directions
-saute garlic and butter
-add rice and make golden (do not add water yet)
-add veggies and saute
-add chili sauce and then water, briefly stir, do not stir constantly
-bring to boil, then turn to low
-add chicken and sausage and seasonings
-keep covered (but allow a little vent to let the steam out) and stir brief and occasionally- about every 15 minutes.
-add shrimp and cook for an additional 10 minutes, it is ready when the rice is tender and you have a small amount of standing liquid. It its not supposed to be soupy, but you also don't want it to dry. You should be able to get a few TBS of liquid off of it.

Green Beans with Special Sauce *Lauren Perry*

This is sooo yummy! You must follow the directions. The horseradish gives it a slight bite and the sugar sweetens it just enough. We LOVE these beans! I had something very similar at a wonderful resturant over Thanksgiving in Arizona. This is my "mock" version with a few little changes. This is great with prime rib or a good meaty dish.

Ingredients
1 brick of cream cheese
1 tbs horseradish
1 cup whipping cream
garlic salt
pepper
1 tbs chopped garlic
1 tbs of sugar (the slight sweetness is what makes this yummy!)
1/3 cup shredded swiss cheese
*melt above on skillet

extra yummy add in's
-3-4 green onions, chopped
-5 pieces of candied bacon (4 to mix in and 1 to garnish the top)
-bread crumbs
-crispy fried onions

thaw out a bag of frozen green beans (about 2 lbs)
pour the above cheese mixture over the green beans
mix in the 4 pieces of chopped candied bacon and green onions
dump into a casserole dish
top with bread crumbs and bake at at 300 degrees for 20 minutes
top with crispy fried onions and bake an extra 5 mintues

Chicken Soup for the Soul *Lauren Perry*

There is nothing like a good chicken soup! When it's cold outside, when you are under the weather, when you need a little pick me up...chicken soup!

Ingredients
2 quarts chicken broth or stock (I use low fat or low sodium)
2 large carrots, slice and chop in half
2 large celery
1/2 large white onion
1 rotisserie chicken, shred
8 ounces of egg noodle
garlic salt to taste
pepper to taste
onion powder, to taste
1 bay leaf
a bunch of fresh parsley chopped
1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
1/2 tsp lemon juice (or less... just enough for a little kick)

1 tbs sugar

Directions
throw veggies in pot and cook on med/low with either 1 TBS butter or a little chicken broth, until the veggies are tender (5-10 minutes)

add broth, parsley, noodles- bring to boil

add shredded chicken and cheese

season

move to low heat/simmer for about 30-40 minutes