Quick and Easy Caramel Corn

Pop 3 bags of microwave popcorn
(I like to use the light butter variety).

Combine in a saucepan:
2 sticks of butter (1 cup)
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup Karo syrup
Bring to a boil and time for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Then add:
1 tsp vanilla

Pour caramel sauce over popcorn and mix 'til well coated.

Enjoy!

Credits: Katie Bateman and Anita Witkamp

Yummy Peach Cobbler

Line 13 inch pan with sliced fruit peaches (drained).
Batter:
1 cube butter
½ c milk
½ tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
½ c sugar
1 c flour
1 tsp vanilla

Mix and pour over fruit and spread. Mix 1 cup sugar and ½ c very hot water and stir to dissolve. Then pour over batter. Bake 350 for 35-40 min. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.


This actually taste better when it is cold and has had time to set up more. I cut in half to put in a 9x9 pan. With fresh peaches I use about 4-5 depending on size, taste better with more.

Baked Chicken Parmesan

Vegetable oil spray
2 C bread crumbs
1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 Tbsp fresh or dried parsley
1 1/2 tsp paprika
3/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 t dried thyme, crumbles
1- 1 1/2 C sour Cream
6 boneless chicken breast halves, all visible fat removed

Spaghetti noodles
Spaghetti sauce
Mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 450 F. Lightly spray a rectangular baking sheet ( I put tin foil on it instead) and a slightly smaller cooling rack with vegetable oil spray. put rack on backing sheet. Set aside.

In a food processor or blender, process bread into fine crumbs. Pour into a shallow bowl. Stir Parmesan, parsley, paprika, garlic powder and thyme into crumbs. Put sour cream into a shallow bowl. Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Dip chicken into sour cream, dredge in crumbs and shake off excess crumbs. Put chicken on cooling rack. Spray each breast with vegetable oil spray. Bake for 15 minutes, turn chicken and bake for 5 minutes or until done. Serve with spaghetti sauce, noodles and LOTS of mozzarella cheese.


I made this with 4 chicken breast and could have easily cut the mixture in half.

recipe from deals to meals

Great Apple Pie

1 ½ c flour
1 ½ tsp sugar
½ tsp salt
½ c vegetable oil
2 Tbsp cold milk
Combine dry ingredients. Add salad oil and milk. Mix well. Pat in 9 inch pie pan, do not roll out
Filling
4-5 c sliced apples
½ c sugar
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp cinnamon
Combine all dry ingredients. Toss with sliced apples. Put in unbaked shell
Topping
¾ c flour
½ c margarine -don’t melt just soften
½ c sugar
Combine and mix together with fingers until crumbly. Sprinkle over pie. Place in paper bag and seal. Bake at 350 for 1 ½ hours. No peeking!


The hardest part about this is peeling and slicing the apples. It can be a fun gift. You give it to someone in the paper bag ready to be baked and they get a nice surprise in 1 1/2 hours.
I sometimes make this in a 9x13 pan and I just double the recipe and bake the same amount of time.

Potatoes and Chicken Dijon

4 med potatoes, sliced ¼ inch thick and microwave 8 to 10 min or until tender
chicken breast cubed
2 tbsp vegetable oil
¼ c prepared honey-Dijon barbecue sauce
1 tsp dried tarragon

While potatoes cook, in large skillet toss and brown chicken in oil over high heat 5 min. Add potatoes; sauté and toss until potatoes are lightly browned. Add barbecue sauce and tarragon; toss until heated through

Roasted Veggies

6 potatoes, cubed into ½” pieces

3 carrots, peeled and diced

3 celery sticks, diced

Canola oil (or Olive oil)

Spices

Place vegetables on cookie sheet. Drizzle with oil to coat lightly. Toss with hands. Spread evenly over pan, and then sprinkle liberally with salt, pepper and your favorite spices such as garlic powder, cayenne pepper, chili powder, paprika and oregano. Bake at 470° F for 20-40 minutes until light brown and crispy edges. Spices may be omitted.

This is a super easy dinner. I just throw potatoes, carrots, and celery in until I think there is enough. I usually only put salt and pepper on it. I will make chicken to go with it or pork chops.

Rainbow Jello Salad

Small boxes of jell (bottom layer working up)
Lime, lemon, orange, strawberry, cherry, grape
2 cups sour cream

Dissolve one pkg in 1 cup boiling water. Stir. Divide in half.
To first half add 1/3 cup sour cream and 1 tbsp water. Stir and pour into 9x13 pan. Put in fridge in level place. When set, add 4 tbsp water to 2nd half and pour on top of first half. Let it set. Continue with all flavors. Top with Cool Whip


I wish I had a pic of this. When it is done it is beautiful. Bryans work loves it when I make it for them. The only downfall is it takes all day to make it

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Dip chicken in eggs and a little milk and roll in flour and sprinkle with garlic salt. Brown in oil. Then place in a casserole dish

In a saucepan combine:
1 Cup sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
½ cup vinegar
½ cup pineapple juice
½ tsp salt
4 tbsp ketchup
Bring to a boil. Pour over chicken and bake uncovered for 30 min at 350


I think I made this one time when you guys came to dinner. The more I make it the easier it is. This meal is now a staple in our house. I now buy the little 6 oz cans of lemon juice that come in a pack of 6 I think so I always have some on hand.

Chocolate Caramel Candy Cake

Ingredients
Cake:
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
6 TBLS cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2/3 cups vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
2 TBLS vinegar
2 cups water
Topping:
1 small container cool whip
1 Butterfinger candy bar
1 small jar (half a larger jar) of caramel/butterscotch ice cream topping

Mix together dry ingredients for cake. Add oil, vanilla, vinegar and water, mixing until blended. Pour into 13x9 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cool. Once cake is cool, poke a few holes in it. Pour caramel sauce over cake. Frost the cake with Cool Whip. Sprinkle crushed candy bar over Cool Whip. Best served same day. Refrigerate leftover cake.

As you can tell I didn't take this pic but it looked a lot better than mine. I loved this cake when I couldn't eat dairy because there is no milk or eggs in it. It is moist and was a big hit tonight at dinner.

http://www.betterrecipes.com/

Tiger Butter Bake Sale Bars

3/4 c. oil

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 c. cocoa powder

2 c. flour

11 oz. butterscotch chips

1 c. milk chocolate chips

Set aside 1/2 c. of butterscotch chips for frosting. In a large bowl, combine oil, sugar, eggs, salt, baking powder, cocoa and flour until well mixed. Add chips & stir until incorporated. Spread dough evenly across a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees fpr 18-22 minutes (or just until center has set). Remove from heat & allow to cool until warm to the touch. Cut into squares, then remove individual squares, placing each bar onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool. Glaze with ButterBaby glaze.

ButterBaby Glaze
1/2 c. butterscotch chips
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. milk
Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Over medium-low heat, melt until all ingredients are well mixed and a smooth but slightly runny glaze has formed. (Add more or less milk, or more or less powdered sugar, as needed). Transfer to a plastic bag, seal. Cut one bottom corner off plastic bag and pipe onto cooled bars. Allow frosting to set before serving or sealing in plastic.

These are yummy. I made them for a fundraiser a friend of mine is doing. They are fairly easy but kind of messy when you put the glaze on.

This is one of my favorite blogs for desserts
http://conversationswithacupcake.blogspot.com/

She has stories to go along with everything she makes, and she takes great pics. I am always hungry after reading her blog

Banana Bread

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts, if desired
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Heat oven to 350. Grease bottom only of loaf pan. In large bowl, combine sugar and margarine; beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs, beat well. Add bananas, milk, and vanilla; blend well.
In small bowl, combine flour, nuts, baking soda and salt; mix well. Add to banana mixture; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour into greased pan.
Bake at 350 for 50-60 min or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 min; remove from pan. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled. Wrap tightly and store in refrigerator.


Everybody has a favorite banana recipe, this is mine. I have never added nuts because Bryan doesn't like them. One trick I have learned is if the outside is down and the top middle is still a little mushy after about 55 min I turn the oven off and let the bread sit in there a few more min and that usually bakes it all the way through

Bryan Texas Sheet Cake Brownies

Cake
1 cup water
4 Tbsp cocoa
3 cubes margarine
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
½ cup buttermilk
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs slightly beaten

Frosting
1 cube margarine
3 Tbsp cocoa
6 Tbsp evaporated milk
½ tsp vanilla
1 1-lb box powdered sugar

Cake:
In a saucepan combine water, coca and margarine and bring to a boil. In mixer combine sugar, flour, salt, and cinnamon. Pour saucepan mixture over sugar and flour mixture and mix well. In small bowl combine buttermilk, baking soda, and vanilla. Add to mixture. Beat well. Add eggs last and beat well. Pour into greased and floured jelly roll pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes.

Frosting:
Start about 3 min before cake is finished baking. In saucepan melt carefully margarine, cocoa, evaporated milk, and vanilla. Bring to just about boiling, stirring constantly and add 1 box powdered sugar. Beat with mixer immediately until smooth. Remove cake from oven and spread frosting while cake is hot.


We love these at our house, it is bad when we make them because I end up eating most of them. It does make a lot.

English Muffin Pizzas

This is another easy one! It's relatively healthy (depending on which toppings you choose!) and low in calories, yet filling. I love it as a snack or as a meal.

Ingredients:
English muffins (one muffin makes two mini pizzas) Tomato sauce/pizza sauce/spaghetti sauce
Shredded cheese
Toppings, as desired:
pepperoni
ham
mushrooms
green peppers
black olives
onions
tomatoes
pineapple
garlic powder
etc.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Slice English muffins in half and toast in the toaster. Place slices open-faced on a baking sheet. Put one tablespoon of sauce on each slice and spread with back of spoon. Add desired toppings. Top with cheese. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden brown. Yum!

Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches

Ingredients:
1 chopped onion
2 cups ketchup
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
4 boneless/skinless chicken breast
1 doz large soft rolls

Add all ingredients in crock pot and cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours. When it gets closer to being done stir chicken with a fork to shred. Serve on fresh rolls. *we half this recipe for our family and still have enough for 2 sandwiches the next day for lunch**suggestions* set your oven on broil and add your favorite cheese to your roll. Broil open faced to toast bread and melt cheese. You can also do this with a beef or pork roast

Blueberries and Strawberries

My mom found this recipe and it was yummy.

Take the big blueberry muffins from Costco and cut into eighths and put around a bowl top with strawberries and cool whip. We added ice cream in the middle. It is supposed to be a 4th of July dessert with the red white and blue and put the muffins in a star shape. But it would be yummy anytime.

Banana Split Cupcakes

I found this recipe in a cookbook I have, called "Kids' Party Food." I've been excited to try it and just made them this past week for an Activity Days activity.

Ingredients:

1 package yellow cake mix
1 cup water

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

3 eggs

1/2 cup chopped drained maraschino cherries

1 1/2 cups miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups prepared vanilla frosting

1 cup marshmallow creme

1 teaspoon shortening

Colored sprinkles

30 whole maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake/muffin pans with paper baking cups (you'll need about 30).

Reserve 2 tablespoons dry cake mix in a separate small bowl. In a large mixing bowl, combine remaining cake mix, water, bananas and eggs. Beat at low speed with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Combine chopped cherries and reserved cake mix. Stir chopped cherry mixture and 1 cup of chocolate chips (I used regular instead of mini-sized chips and it worked fine) into batter.

Spoon batter into baking cups. Bake 15-20 minutes (test with toothpick). Cool pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes to wire racks and cool completely.

Combine frosting and marshmallow creme in a medium bowl until well blended. Frost each cupcake. Combine remaining chocolate chips and shortening in small microwavable bowl. Microwave 30-45 seconds, stirring until smooth. Drizzle chocolate mixture over cupcakes (I used Hershey's chocolate syrup instead of melting the chocolate chips and it worked well, though it was a little messy!). Add colored sprinkles. Place one whole cherry on each cupcake.

Teriyaki Shredded Pork

Crock Pot Meal

1 1/2 C Soy Sauce
4C Water
2 C White Sugar
1 TBSP cornstarch
2 cloves garlic ( I didn't use)
1 TBSP ginger
5 lbs Pork Loin Roast
Serve over white rice

Bring the soy sauce, water, sugar, cornstarch, garlic, and ginger to a boil in a sauce pan. Take 1/2 of the sauce and put in with the pork in a crock pot for 4-5 hours on high heat. Set the other 1/2 aside for later. Cook the pork until fork tender. Drain the sauce from the crock pot, take any excess fat off the pork loin and shred. Add remaining sauce back to the crock pot until ready to serve. Serve over rice.


I found this recipe from this deals to meals that I signed up for and we tried it tonight and loved it. I used a 3 1/2 pound pork and it was PLENTY we will be having sandwiches with it later. You can also freeze this meal and use later. I didn't drain the sauce I took the roast out shred it and then put it back in and added a little more sauce

Pistachio Dessert

Crust:

1 cup flour

1 cube butter*
1 cup chopped walnuts

Mix together. Press in bottom of 9 x 13 pan Bake 10-15 min. at 350. Allow to cool completely before topping with filling.

Mix together:

8 oz cream cheese*

1/2 16-oz. ctn. Cool Whip*
1 cup powdered sugar

Add:
2 small pkgs. instant pistachio pudding*

3 cups milk

Blend until thick. Pour into crust.

Garnish with:
Remainder of Cool Whip
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

*I recommend using the "light" versions of margarine, cream cheese and whipped topping, as well as sugar free pistachio pudding.

Credit: Susan Shepherd

Potato Salad

Ingredients:

13 small potatoes
7 eggs, hard-boiled
1/2 onion, diced/minced onion
3/4 cup mayo
3/4 cup light sour cream

1 Tbsp. mustard
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp. season salt
1/4 tsp. celery salt
(optional: 1 Tbsp pickle relish)Paprika

Chop potatoes into bite-sized chunks. Add to a pot of water and boil until tender. Dice eggs. Combine all ingredients and stir until evenly covered with sauce. Sprinkle with paprika. Makes 10 cups (20 1/2 cup servings).

Calories: approximately 135 calories per 1/2 cup serving; 270 calories per 1 cup serving (when using Kraft mayo w/olive oil and light sour cream).

Credit: Susan Shepherd, Judy Bateman

Homemade Dinner Rolls

Homemade Dinner Rolls (from It's What's for dinner)

ingredients:
1 c. margarine or butter
3 c. milk
1 c. sugar
1 c. hot water
4 eggs
12 c. flour
4 T. yeast
4 t. salt
and extra butter, softened or melted, and a pastry brush
directions:
combine margarine, milk, sugar, and water. Heat in microwave until warm (about 4 min.). Using a mixer with a hook, start mixing. Add half of flour and all of your eggs. Mix well. Add yeast and salt; continue mixing. Add remaining flour. When mixed in, turn speed to high and let knead for 8 minutes. When finished mixing, turn out onto floured surface and divide into 4-5 balls. Roll first ball into a circle the size of a pizza. Spread evenly with softened or melted butter. Using a pizza cutter, cut circle into 10-12 wedges. Roll from wide end to shape into a croissant. Place on greased baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of dough. Let raise about 30-40 minutes (she suggests to raise on top of your preheated oven, covered with a Pam-sprayed layer of plastic wrap. You can also put your baking sheet in to a garbage bag- that's a baker's tip:) Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until rolls are golden brown. Rub top with butter while still hot. makes 40 servings.


I made these for my family on Sunday and I cut the recipe in half and ended up with 35 rolls. I guess it depends on how thick you roll them out and the size of the balls. Everybody in my family loves these and they are easy to make. If it is just the 3 of us I cut the recipe in 4ths.

Best Ever Secret Barbecue Chicken

Best Ever Secret Barbecue Chicken (from BetterRecipes.com)

Chicken Breast
1/2 c lemon lime soda
1/2 c soy sauce
1/4 c ketchup
1/4 c barbecue sauce
1 tbsp Dijon mustard (I use regular mustard)
8 cloves of garlic, crushed (I don't use garlic cause I never have any and that seems like a lot)
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large Ziploc bag and let it marinate for at least 3 hours. then Grill.

Last time I made this I used two chicken breasts and cut this recipe in half and it was more than enough.
The original recipe calls for 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs but I always have chicken breasts on hand

Strawberry Salad

Strawberry Salad (From It's What's for Dinner)

1 bag Romain Lettuce
1/2 bag spinach
1 cup chopped red pepper (I used 1 green pepper)
1 container sliced strawberries
1/2 cup bacon bits
1 cup toasted almonds (you can sugar them)
tortilla strips
1 purple onion (You can use 4 green onions, they aren't as strong, but I usually don't use any)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

dressing:(I cut this recipe in half and still had a ton left over)
3/4 cup strawberry jam (good opportunity to use freezer jam if you bottled any)
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
3/4 cup canola oil
1/2 to 1 t. dry mustard
1/3 cup sugar
1 t. salt
blend all ingredients in blender and pour over salad before serving