Waikiki Meatballs

Meatballs:
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
2/3 cup cracker crumbs
1/3 cup minced onion
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 cup milk
Sauce:
3 T cornstarch
1 (13oz) can pineapple tidbits, save syrup for sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1 T soy sauce
1/3 cup chopped green peppers
3/4 cup sliced carrots/parboiled
1/2 cup sliced celery parboiled

Mix meatball ingredients throughly.  Shape mixture by rounded tablespoons into balls.  Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes
Mix cornstarch and sugar.  Stir in reserved pineapple syrup, vinegar, and soy sauce until smooth.  Pour into skillet.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils.  Boil and stir 1 minute with chopped green pepper.  Add meatballs, pineablle tidbits and parboiled carrots and celery heat through.  Serve over cooked rice.

Raspberry Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup buttermilk
1-2 cups raspberries (fresh or frozen)

Frosting:
2 8oz packages of cream cheese/softened
1/2 cup butter/softened
2 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup raspberries

Preheat 350.  Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together in a small bowl and set aside.  Cream together the sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla and buttermilk.  Gradually add in flour mixture.  Mix in the raspberries.  Pour into 9x13 pan and bake for 30-35 min. 
Frosting: cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy.  Mix in the vanilla and gradually stir in the confectioner's sugar.  Add in the raspberries.  May need more powdered sugar to thicken frosting depending how much liquid is in the raspberries.

Granola

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup wheat germ or oat bran (or whole oats that have been blended)
1 cup slivered almonds (I never add these)
3/4 cup shredded coconut
1/3 cup brown sugar
2T maple syrup
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
one shake of salt

Preheat oven to 250.  Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.  Combine all wet ingredients in a small bowl.  Combine the wet and dry ingredients, stir well.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Spread granola evenly on the cooking sheet.  Bake for 1 hour.  Cool and store in a tight container.

Baked Chicken Taquitos

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (4oz) cream cheese
1/3 cup green salsa (optional)
1 Tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2  tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 cup chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp sliced green onions
2 cups shredded cooked chicken (I like chicken cooked in the crock pot with salsa and taco seasoning)
1 cup grated cheese
about 20 flour 6 inch tortillas

Directions:
Heat oven to 425 degrees.   Lightly coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Heat cream cheese in microwave for 20 seconds.  Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder.  Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions.  Add chicken and cheese and combine well.

Place 2-3 Tbsp of chicken mixture on tortilla.  Roll it up as tight as you can.  Place seam side down on baking sheet.  Lay all the filled tortillas on a baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other.  Spray tops lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle some salt on top.

Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.

Dishpan Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups light brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups oil
4 eggs
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup quick oats
4 cups Special K cereal
1 bag chocolate chips

Directions:

In a very large bowl cream sugars, vanilla, oil, and eggs.  Add flour, soda, and salt.  Fold in oat, Special K cereal, and chocolate chips.

Drop by 1/4 measuring cup onto ungreased cookie sheets.  This batter might be a little dry and you may have to moosh it together with your hands to get it into a ball when you put it onto the pan. 

Bake for ten to twelve minutes at 375, or until edges are lightly browned.  If you want them to be chewy bake a little less, crispy, a little more. 

Brown Sugar Smokies

Ingredients:
1 pound bacon
1 16 oz  pkg little smokies
1 cup brown sugar, or to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.  Cut bacon into thirds and wrap each strip around a little sausage.  Place the wrapped sausages on toothpicks.  Arrange on a baking sheet and sprinkle liberally with brown sugar.  Bake until bacon is crisp and the brown sugar melted.

Kayli Chocolate Chip PB Cookies

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Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the peanut butter, vanilla and egg until well blended. combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter just until moistened. Mix in the oats and chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Drop by Tbsps on to lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 min in the preheated oven, until the edges start to brown. Cool on cookie sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies

Ingredients:
9 cups corn or rice chex
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
Into a large bowl, measure cereal; set aside. In 1 quart microwavable bow. microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon re-sealable food storage plastic bags. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Peanut Butter cup cookies

Oh my, these cookies are soooo good! I saw these on Annie's Eats website and knew I had to try them right away. Imagine all my favorite things in one cookie--it was divine. I changed the recipe up just a little by using my sister-in-law's recipe for the cookie part and then used the idea of melted marshmallows topped with ganache and m&m's from Annie's Eats. Seriously, you must try these cookies.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
Reese's mini peanut butter cups
mini marshmallows
4 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp water
mini M&M's

Directions:
Combine white sugar, light brown sugar, and softened butter; beat until light and fluffy. Add peanut butter, egg (room temp), and vanilla; blend for several minutes. Add flour, baking soda, and salt; fold in. Batter will be fairly loose. Chill for a couple hours (I didn't do this and my cookies were fine). Preheat oven to 350. Scoop 1/2"-1" balls into cup of mini muffin pan. Bake for 6-7 minutes or until edges turn brown. While cookies are baking make sure candy is unwrapped, easier to do if candy is cold. Remove pans from oven (cookie will be puffed). Firmly place buttercup into middle of each cookie. Edges should be even with or above candy. Top each cookie with 3-4 mini marshmallows. Return the pan to the oven and bake 2-3 minutes more, until the marshmallows have puffed up. Transfer the pans to a wire cooling rack and allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan before removing them. (This is important! I tried removing them while still slightly warm – not a good idea.)

Once the cookies are completely cooled, transfer them to a wire rack over a sheet of wax paper or aluminum foil. Place the chopped chocolate in a small bowl. Bring the cream, sugar and water to a boil, then pour the liquid over the chocolate and let sit for 30 seconds. Gently whisk the mixture together until smooth. Leave the glaze to sit until it thickens a bit to your desired consistency, then drizzle over the tops of the cookies. Sprinkle with mini M&Ms before the glaze hardens.

Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:
3 cups Mashed potatoes
1 14oz can green beans or frozen green beans
1 chopped onion
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1/4 tsp thyme
1 clove garlic
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Directions:
Brown the ground beef and onion in a skillet. Drain the grease. Add the can of mushroom soup, thyme and garlic. Pour into 9 inch casserole dish. Place drained green beans on top of the meat mixture. Place the mashed potatoes on top of the green beans. Bake in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes.

Texas Sheet Cake

Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE:
2 cups Flour
2 cups Sugar
¼ teaspoons Salt
4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa
2 sticks Butter
1 cup Boiling Water
½ cups Buttermilk
2 whole Beaten Eggs
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Vanilla
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FOR FROSTING:
½ cups Finely Chopped Pecans
1-¾ stick Butter
4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa
6 Tablespoons Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 pound (minus 1/2 Cup) Powdered Sugar

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.

In a saucepan, melt butter. Add cocoa. Stir together.
Add boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.

In a measuring cup, pour the buttermilk and add beaten eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.

While cake is baking, make the icing. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat. Add the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Stir together. Pour over warm cake.

Jalapeno Snacks

Ingredients:
1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 (1oz) pkg dry ranch salad dressing mix
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
20 large jalapenos, halved and seeded
1 lb sliced bacon, cut in half

Directions:
Preheat to 400. Stir together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, ranch dressing mix, and garlic powder in a mixing bowl until evenly blended. Spoon some of the cheese mixture into each jalapeno half, wrap with half a bacon strip, and secure with a toothpick (I didn't need to do this) Arrange the wrapped jalapeno halves onto a broiler pan (I put them on a cooling wrack on a sheet cake pan). Bake in oven until bacon is no longer pink and beginning to brown, about 20 minutes.

Lasagna

Ingredients:
1 lb sweet italian turkey sausage
3/4 lb lean ground beef
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6oz) cans tomato paste
2 (6.5oz) cans canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp white sugar
1 1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
12 lasagna noodles (I like oven ready)
16 oz ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 lb mozzarella cheese, sliced
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese


Directions:
In saucepan cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Drain out the fat. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, pepper, and 2 Tbsp parsley. Simmer for an hour 1/2.
If you don't use oven ready noodles this would be where you would boil the noodles until al dente and set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese (or substitute cottage cheese) with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 tsp salt.
Preheat oven to 375.
To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange noodles lengthwise. over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil. Bake in preheated oven for 25 min. Remove foil and bake and additional 25 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup canola oil
3 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
1 can pumpkin (2 cups)
2/3 cup water

Frosting:
4 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
1/2 lb powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp Nestle's quik (not vital for the recipe)

Directions:
Sift flour, salt, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and baking soda in a bowl. In another bowl, beat the oil, sugar, vanilla, eggs-one at a time, pumpkin, and water. Add the first mixture to the second. Pour into a Bundt pan you've coated with baking spray (I love Baker's Joy). Cook at 350 for 60-70 minutes
Frosting:
Allow cake to cool. Soften 1/2 pkg (4oz) cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter to room temperature. Cream together with 1/2 lb of powdered sugar and 1 1/2 tsp nestle's quik. Add more powdered sugar if the frosting seems too thin. Frost cake.

Apple Dip

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Ingredients:
8oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup + of caramel ice cream topping
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup toffee bits

Directions:
Place cream cheese, caramel sauce, and vanilla in a bowl. Mix together until smooth. Stir in toffee bits and then sprinkle a few on top. Serve with sliced apples and enjoy!

Pumpkin Snack Cake

Ever since my oldest started kindergarten I've had this cake ready for my kids to eat when they came home from their first day of school.

Ingredients:
1 2/3 cup flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp allspice
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vinegar
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I use more)

Directions:
Heat oven to 350. Mix flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and allspice with fork in ungreased square pan, 8x8x2. Stir in remaining ingredients except chocolate chips. Sprinkle chocolate chips over batter. Bake 35-40 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Peanut Blossoms

Ingredients:
1 bag Hershey kisses chocolates
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
granulated sugar

Directions:
Preheat 350. Remove wrappers from chocolate pieces. Beat shortening and peanut butter in a large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate piece into center of each cookie. Cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Layered Summer Fruits with Creamy Lime Dressing

Ingredients:
3 cups cut up cantaloupe
1 quart strawberries, quartered
2 ripe medium mangoes, seed removed, peeled and cut up
2 cups blueberries
2 cups cut up honeydew melon


Dressing:
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup whipping cream whipped (I used cool whip when the whipping cream I had was unusable)



Directions:
For dressing: beat cream cheese, limeade concentrate and powdered sugar with electric mixer on med-high speed about 3 minutes until smooth. Fold in whipped cream. Set aside.

In trifle bowl layer cantaloupe and strawberries. Spread half the cream cheese mixture over the strawberries. Layer mangoes, blueberries and honeydew over cream cheese mixture. Spread remaining cream cheese mixture on top. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving.

Apple Crisp

Ingredients:
4 cups sliced tart apples (abt 4 med)
2/3-3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Directions:
Heat oven to 375. Grease square pan 8x8x2. Arrange apples in pan. Mix remaining ingredients. Sprinkle over apples. Bake abotu 30 min or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender. Serve warm with ice cream, if desired.

Cookies N Cream Cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 3.9 oz pkg instant chocolate pudding mix
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup canola oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup hot water
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 box Oreo cookies, divided
1 container of cream cheese frosting

Directions:
Place cupcake liners into cupcake pan. Take 24 Oreos and separate one Oreo cookie side from the rest of the cookie. Take the cookie with the white frosting on it and place it frosting side up in each cupcake liner. Save the other half of the cookies to crush and sprinkle on top.
To make cake batter: Combine cake mix, pudding mix, oil, eggs, water, sour cream, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Take 12 more Oreo cookies and crush them. Stir them into the cake batter. Put the cake batter into each cupcake liner. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Once cupcakes are cooled frost with a cream cheese frosting and sprinkle Oreo crumbs on top of each cupcake. Enjoy!