Thursday, November 30, 2006

#272 - Easy Chicken Pot Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 2/3 cup frozen mixed vegetables (thawed)
1 cup cubed, cooked chicken breast
1 - 10.75 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup milk
1 egg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl using a spoon, mix vegetables, cubed chicken and soup. Pour this mixture into a greased 8 x 8 x 2 baking dish. In a separate bowl using a fork, stir together the Bisquick, milk and egg. Pour this batter over the top of the vegetables. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

#271 - Easy Cobbler

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/4 cup Parkay margarine (softened)
4 cups peaches, nectarines or apples (peeled and sliced)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 TBSP + 2/3 cup Bisquick
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 TBSP firmly packed Domino's dark brown sugar
2 TBSP milk

In a 2 qt. baking dish sprayed with Pam, add fruit, then sprinkle white sugar, 1 TBSP Bisquick and cinnamon over the top of the fruit. In a medium bowl, mix 2/3 cup Bisquick with brown sugar, then stir in the Parkay (mix as you would mix pie dough)--mix until crumbly and the crumbs are the size of a pea. Stir in the milk until batter is moistened. Drop the batter by spoonsful over the top of the fruit. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

#270 - Blueberry Cheese Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 Keebler ready-made graham cracker crust
1 - 21oz. can blueberry pie filling (or any other berry pie filling)
8oz. softened Philly cream cheese
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
8oz. Cool Whip (optional)

In the mixer, add cream cheese and sugar--beat together, then add eggs and beat well. Pour this mixture into the graham cracker crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. Spread pie filling on top and garnish with Cool Whip if you choose. Chill overnight before serving. Keep refrigerated.

Monday, November 27, 2006

#269 - Buttermilk Cake

(by Kim [Knecht] Bickel - friend)

Cake: 1 cup butter; 2 cups white sugar; 4 eggs, separated; 3 cups flour; 1 tsp. cream of tartar; 1 tsp. baking soda; 1 cup buttermilk

Topping: 3 TBSP butter (softened), 1/2 cup Domino's dark brown sugar, 3 TBSP milk, 1 cup chopped nuts

In a mixer, beat 4 egg whites until stiff--set aside. In a mixer, beat 1 cup butter, 2 cups white sugar, 4 egg yolks, cream of tartar, baking soda, buttermilk and beat well--slowly add the 3 cups of flour and beat until smooth. Remove bowl from mixer and fold in egg whites with a spoon. Pour in a 9 x 13 x 2 cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. While cake is baking, by hand mix the 3 TBSP butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 3 TBSP milk and 1 cup chopped nuts--use a bowl and stir together with a spoon. Remove cake from oven and immediately spread the topping on the cake. Put the cake in the broiler (for electric ovens, move top rack all the way to the top of the oven and turn on "BROIL" and leave oven slightly ajar)--for 3 minutes. Remove from broiler and allow to cool.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

#268 - Lemon Chiffon Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups Pillsbury flour
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup canola oil
7 eggs, separated
3/4 cup cold water
2 tsp. grated lemon rind
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

Beat eggs whites with mixer and add cream of tartar--beat at high speed until stiff. Set aside. In a mixer, add flour, sugar, baking powder and salt, then add canola oil, egg yolks, water, lemon rind, and vanilla--mix until smooth. Pour the egg white mixture into the flour mixture and mix thoroughly. Pour batter into a tube or angelfood cake pan and bake at 325 degrees for 65 minutes.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

#267 - Oreo Cookie Cheesecake

(by Shirley McNevich)

Crust: 1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/3 cup melted butter; 1 tbsp. cinnamon
Batter: 4 - 8oz. packages Philly cream cheese; 2 tbsp. flour; 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cup chopped Oreo cookies; 1 1/4 cups white sugar; 2 extra large eggs; 2 egg yolks; 1 tbsp. vanilla
Topping: 2 cups sour cream; 1/4 cup white sugar; 1 tbsp. vanilla; extra crushed Oreo cookies to sprinkle on the top

Using a spoon and a bowl, combine the crust ingredients above and line the bottom and sides of a 10-inch spring form pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. To make the filling mix the cream cheese, sugar, flour, eggs, vanilla and heavy whipping cream together in a mixer. Fold the chopped Oreos into the filling. Remove crust from oven and pour cream cheese mixture into the baked crust. Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Turn the oven down to 325 degrees and bake for 50 minutes more. Remove from oven. To make the topping, turn the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the sour cream, vanilla and sugar together in a mixer. Spread the topping on top of the warm cheesecake. Bake for 7 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven, allow to cool, then refrigerate. Garnish with crushed Oreo cookies.

Friday, November 24, 2006

#266 - Chocolate Covered Strawberries

(by Shirley McNevich)

Make sure that strawberries are completely dry before dipping or the chocolate coating may clump. Dip berries no more than two hours before serving.

Fresh strawberries (rinsed and patted dry--leave the stems and caps in place)
12oz. EITHER chocolate or vanilla candy melts (available in WalMart craft department)--if only doing a few berries, reduce the amount of chocolate

In a small saucepan, melt the candy coating you choose over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and tip saucepan--hold the strawberry by the stem and dip 3/4 of the berry. Hold and allow the extra coating to drip off of the berry. Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper or saran wrap. Allow to dry. Working quickly, repeat with remaining berries.

#265 - Strawberry Daiquiri Punch

(by Shirley McNevich)

6 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
1 - 6oz. container limeaid frozen concentrate
3/4 cup pineapple juice
1 - 16oz. bottle Sprite (chilled)
2 cups ice cubes
fresh strawberries for decoration (optional)

Remove stems and caps from fresh strawberries--thaw frozen berries after measuring and do not drain. Place strawberries half at a time in a blender--cover, blend until smooth. Transfer all blended berries to a large pitcher and stir in limeaid and pineapple juice. Cover and chill until serving. Just before serving, stir in the Sprite and the ice. Serve in a punch bowl and add fresh strawberries as decoration if you wish.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

#264 - Onion Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)
1 pint sour cream
1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix

Open the sour cream, add the soup mix and stir until blended. Refrigerate several hours before serving--you can transfer dip into any dip serving dish. Serve with assorted vegetables.

#263 - Potato and Egg Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 stick butter
16oz. Ore Ida hash brown potatoes
4 eggs
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped tomato
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 TBSP minced onion
3 TBSP ranch dressing
3/4 cup milk
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
chopped peppers (green and red) if desired

Mix butter and potatoes in casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees until potatoes are thawed. Remove from oven and drizzle dressing over potatoes. Add milk, tomatoes, pepper, onions, salt and cheese--add peppers if desired. Pour mixture over potatoes and bake at 350 degrees until eggs are set, stirring occasionally.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

#262 - Tuna Ranch Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

8oz. your choice of pasta
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
2/3 cup bottled ranch dressing
1 - 6oz. can tuna (drained)
1 1/4 cups shredded sharp cheese
1/4 tsp. pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta, but save 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Coat a large skillet with Pam and heat over medium heat--add onion and cook 5 minutes. Add vegetables and pepper to the onions and cook 5 minutes. Stir in ranch dressing, tuna, pasta, and saved pasta water--heat for a few minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of the sharp cheese. Transfer entire mixture into a 2 qt. casserole dish sprayed with Pam. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup sharp cheese over the top. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

#261 - Pumpkin Bread

(by Rachel Guarini - friend)

2 eggs
1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup Miracle Whip Dressing
1/4 cup milk
2 cups flour
2 tsp. Calumet baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 cup Planter's Chopped Pecans


Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl. Add sugar, pumpkin, Miracle Whip and milk - mix well. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl, then add dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture. Stir just until moistened. Gently stir in pecans. Pour batter into greased and floured loaf pan. Bake 55-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pan. Cool completely. Cut into slices to serve.

Monday, November 20, 2006

#260 - Homemade Stromboli

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 loaf frozen bread dough
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. French's mustard
3/4 lb. cooked ham (chipped)
1/2 lb. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 lb. sliced pepperoni
fresh onions (chopped) - optional
green peppers (chopped) - optional
mushrooms (sliced) - optional
oregano
garlic salt
butter

Allow dough to rise as directed on bread dough package. Roll out the dough to about 8" by 10". Mix mustard and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl--use a pastry brush to brush the top of the dough with the mustard mixture. Add a layer of ham, then a layer of cheese, then a layer of pepperoni on the dough--keep layering and insert onions, green peppers, and mushrooms as desired. Sprinkle the last layer with oregano and garlic salt. Fold dough over and seal with water so it is half moon shaped. Place the seam side of the stromboli down on a greased pan. Brush top with melted butter and sprinkle with oregano and garlic salt. Cut slits in the top of the dough but don't cut all the way through to the filling layer. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 15-20 minutes longer or until browned.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

#259 - Hoagie Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. small or medium pasta shells (cooked according to package directions)
1/2 lb. regular salami, cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 lb. hard salami, cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 lb. sharp cheese, cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped green peppers
1 cup chopped olives
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped tomatoes (add them last)
1 - 16oz. bottle Italian dressing

Put all ingredients except tomatoes in a large bowl--mix as you would mix a salad. Pour the bottle of Italian dressing over the top and stir. Refrigerate overnight. When read to serve, add the chopped tomatoes and stir.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

#258 - Cheesecake Coffee Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 cups Bisquick
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 - 8oz. softened Philly cream cheese
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup strawberry or raspberry preserves

In a bowl, combine Bisquick, 1/4 cup white sugar, melted butter and milk. Beat vigorously for 30 seconds. Sprinkle some extra Bisquick on your counter, then dump the dough on the counter. Knead the dough 30 times with your hands. Pat the dough evenly in the bottom and sides of an ungreased round cake pan (9" x 1.5"). Prepare the cheese filling: in a mixer, combine 1/2 cup white sugar, eggs, cream cheese, vanilla and beat all ingredients until smooth. Pour the cheese filling over the dough. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until edge is golden brown and cheese filling is set. Remove from oven and cool 20 minutes. Spread preserves over the top. Keep leftover cake refrigerated.

Friday, November 17, 2006

#257 - Fruity Cheese Whip

(by Martha [Engle] Sweetser - friend)

1 - 3oz. box Jell-O (any flavor)
1 - 15 oz. can DelMonte fruit cocktail (do NOT drain)
1 envelope Dream Whip
8oz. Philly cream cheese

In a saucepan, add Jell-O and fruit cocktail with juice. Bring it to a boil while stirring. When it comes to a boil, remove from heat and cool completely. In a mixer, prepare Dream Whip according to package directions. Add softened cream cheese with the Dream Whip and blend well until creamy. By hand, fold in the Jell-O mixture with the Dream Whip mixture. Pour into an 8 x 8 x 2 glass baking dish and refrigerate overnight before serving.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

#256 - Cranberry Relish

1 cup white sugar
1 cup water
12 oz. fresh or frozen cranberries
1 - 3oz. package raspberry Jell-O
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 - 8oz. can Dole crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup diced celery

In a large pot, dissolve sugar in water and bring to a boil. Add cranberries, stir and return to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until berries pop. Remove from heat. Stir in Jell-O until completely dissolved--the Jell-O will thicken the mixture. Cool completely. Add walnuts, crushed pineapple and celery--stir well. Refrigerate 24 hours.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

#255 - Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

1/2 of an 8oz. package Philly cream cheese, softened
1 TBSP white sugar
1 TBSP cold milk
1 cup Jif peanut butter
1 - 8oz. Cool Whip, thawed
1 - 9" prepared graham cracker crust--regular or chocolate
2 - 3.9oz. boxes Jell-O instant chocolate pudding mix
2 cups cold milk
4 regular size Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, cut into small pieces

In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar, 1 TBSP milk and peanut butter until smooth. Gently stir in 1 1/2 cups of Cool Whip. Spread this mixture on bottom of pie crust. In a second bowl, stir pudding mix with 2 cups cold milk until thick. Immediately stir in remaining 1/2 cup Cool Whip. Spread mixture evenly over peanut butter layer. Scatter peanut butter cups over top of pie. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

#254 - Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 lb. ground chuck
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 egg
2 slices bread broken into bite sized pieces
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 TBSP canola oil
2 - 10.75oz. cans Campbell's tomato soup

In a medium sized bowl, add all ingredients EXCEPT the tomato soup--mix them thoroughly with your hands. Form golf ball sized meatballs with the mixture using your hands. In a skillet, add 1 TBSP canola oil and brown the meatballs, turning until brown on all sides. Put meatballs in a Dutch oven or a crockpot. Pour the two cans of tomato soup in a bowl--use one of the empty cans, fill with water, and add the water to the soup and stir until mixed. Pour the soup over the meatballs--if using Dutch oven bake with lid on for 2 hours. If using a crockpot, you'll have to judge the time yourself.

Monday, November 13, 2006

#253 - Baked Ham

(by Dorothy [Blair] Duffy - friend)

1 - 16oz. canned ham
1 - 3oz. package orange Jell-O
1/3 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
2 tsp. dry mustard
1 cup boiling water
1 - 17oz. can canned sweet potatoes or yams

In a bowl, dissolve Jell-O, brown sugar, dry mustard in the boiling water. Place the opened canned ham in a shallow pan and arrange the sweet potatoes or yams along the sides of the ham. Pour the Jell-O mixture over the ham and potatoes. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Baste using the juice in the bottom of the pan every 15 minutes while it's cooking.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

#252 - Hermit Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups dark brown Domino's sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups Sun Maid raisins
1 cup chopped dates

Cook raisins in water--boil water, then cook them for 5 minutes. Drain the raisins. In a mixer, combine butter/margarine, sugar, eggs and beat until smooth. In a separate bowl, add baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and flour--use a spoon and mix these dry ingredients. Add the buttermilk to the mixer and blend. Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture to the mixer and mix. By hand with a wooden spoon, add the dates, nuts and raisins to the batter and stir until well mixed. Drop heaping teasponsful on a greased cookie sheet about 2" apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Test with your finger--if you lightly touch a cookie and it gets dinged, put them back in a minute or two longer.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

#251 - Oat Chocolate Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

Batter:
1 cup softened butter
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
3 cups uncooked Quaker quick oats

Filling:
1 - 12oz. package Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate bits
1 - 14oz. can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
2 TBSP butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 x 2 cake pan. In a mixer, combine 1 cup butter and brown sugar. Add eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla and mix. Mix in flour, 1 tsp. salt and baking soda. Add the Quaker oats and mix well--if it gets too stiff for mixer, continue by hand with a wooden spoon. Press 2/3 of the batter into the greased cake pan--save the rest for later. Filling: melt the chocolate bits in a saucepan with Eagle milk, 2 TBSP butter, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/2 tsp. salt--cook over medium heat and stir constantly. Remove from heat as soon as chocolate is melted. Pour this mixture on top of the pressed oat mixture in the cake pan. Sprinkle the nuts over the melted chocolate filling. Crumble the other 1/3 remaining oat mixture over the top of the walnuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into bars when cooled.

Friday, November 10, 2006

#250 - Ham and Mushroom Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 TBSP butter
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 - 10.75oz. cans Campbell's cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cups cooked ham (cubed)
6 hard boiled eggs (sliced or quartered)
toast or Chinese noodles

Sautee the mushrooms in the 2 TBSP butter for 5 minutes. In a saucepan, heat mushroom soup and milk together--when it's hot, add and stir in the sauteed mushrooms, cubed ham--cook for a few minutes until entire mixture is hot. Add the sliced hard boiled eggs last. Serve over toast or Chinese noodles.

#249 - Quick Ginger Bread

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups Bisquick
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2 TBSP ground ginger
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup Brer Rabbit molasses
2 TBSP melted butter
2 eggs
Cool Whip

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 x 2 cake pan. In a large bowl, combine Bisquick, white sugar and ginger. In a separate bowl, mix milk with molasses and then beat in butter and eggs with molasses and milk. Add the molasses mixture to the Bisquick mixture and stir with a spoon until blended and smooth. Pour batter into cake pan and bake at 350 degrees about 25 minutes (or until inserted toothpick comes out clean). Serve with Cool Whip.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

#248 - Impossible Tuna Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 6.5 oz. can drained tuna
1 cup shredded sharp cheese
1 - 3oz. package Philly cream cheese, cut into small pieces
1/2 medium onion (chopped)
2 cups milk
1 cup Bisquick
4 eggs
3/4 tsp. salt

Grease a 10" x 1.5" pie plate. In a bowl using a spoon, combine tuna, sharp cheese, cream cheese, and onion. Pour this mixture into the greased pie plate. In a blender, beat milk, Bisquick, eggs and salt--beat for 15 seconds on high. Pour this batter on top of the tuna mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Test with a knife--if inserted knife comes out clean, it's done.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

#247 - Tuna Noodle Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - 10.75oz. cans Campbell's cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
2 cups frozen peas
2 - 12oz. cans tuna (drained)
4 cups of hot (cooked) medium egg noodles (cooked according to package directions)
2 slices of bread broken in bite sized pieces
1 TBSP melted butter

Stir milk, peas, soup, tuna and noodles together in a bowl using a spoon. Pour into greased 3 qt. casserole. Add bread crumbs to the top. Sprinkle the melted butter over the top of the bread crumbs. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

#246 - Tuna Rice Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - 6oz. cans tuna (drained)
1 - 10oz. package frozen peas (cooked according to package directions and drained)
3 cups cooked rice (cooked according to package directions and drained)
3/4 cup water
1 - 10oz. can Campbell's cheddar cheese soup
2 slices of bread

In a large bowl, combine tuna, cooked peas, and cooked rice--mix well with a spoon. In a separate bowl, combine the cold cheddar cheese soup and water. Pour cheese soup mixture on top of tuna mixture and mix with a spoon. Pour everything into a greased casserole dish. Break up two slices of bread into bite sized pieces and place on top of casserole. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Monday, November 06, 2006

#245 - Whole Wheat Soda Bread

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup flour
2 TBSP Domino's dark brown sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 TBSP cold butter or margarine
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup Quaker old fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet. By hand in a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Mix well. Add butter and mix with your hands. Stir in the whole wheat flour and the oats. In the center of the dough, make a large hole and pour buttermilk in the hole. Mix the dough and buttermilk with a fork until well blended. Drop the dough on to a floured countertop. Knead the dough for 1 minute. Shape dough into a ball and place on the cookie sheet. Flatten out the dough into a 6" circle. Use a knife and cut a cross into the top of the loaf. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes or until brown.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

#244 - Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan

(by Shirley McNevich)

4 boneless/skinless chicken breast halves
1 egg, slightly beaten with a fork
3/4 cup italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 - 26-28oz. jar Ragu pasta sauce (room temperature)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Dip chicken in the beaten egg and roll chicken in the bread crumbs, coating well. Spray a 13 x 9 x 2 glass baking dish with Pam. Arrange chicken in the dish. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Test chicken to make sure it's no longer pink--return to oven a few more minutes if still pink. Remove from oven and pour pasta sauce over the chicken. Top with the mozzarella cheese. Return to oven and bake an additional 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

#243 - Chocolate Oreo Cookie Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups sugar (1 white, 1 dark brown--Domino Brand)
1/2 cup Parkay Margarine (1 stick)
2 eggs
1/2 cup Hershey Cocoa
1 TBSP vanilla
Pinch of salt
1 TBSP baking soda (Arm & Hammer brand)
1 cup buttermilk (or powdered buttermilk--follow directions on label to equal 1 cup buttermilk)
2 cups sifted flour (measure flour before you sift it!)
1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup coarsely crushed Oreo cookies
Vanilla frosting (ingredients listed after recipe)

Beat Parkay margarine and sugar until creamy. Add eggs, vanilla, salt, and cocoa. Mix baking soda in buttermilk until it starts to fizz. Pour buttermilk into batter. Stop mixer and add flour. Mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add boiling water and mix. In a Ziploc bag, coarsely crush Oreo cookies until you have enough for 1 cup--take out 3 TBSP of crushed Oreo cookies to use later in the frosting. Stir the rest of the 1 cup crushed Oreo cookies into the cake batter. Pour batter into long cake pan 13 by 9 by 2. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes. Test if it's done using a toothpick. If toothpick comes out clean, it's done. If it doesn't come out clean, leave in a few more minutes and retest. Frosting: 1/2 box Domino's Powdered Sugar (1 lb. size); 1 stick Parkay margarine; 2 tsp. imitation vanilla; 1.5 TBSP milk. Feed in mixer. The longer you beat it the creamier it gets. When finished making frosting, stir in the 3 TBSP of crushed Oreos that you had set aside. Frost cake when it is cool. You can add more crushed Oreos to the top for decoration if you wish.

Friday, November 03, 2006

#242 - Whipped Sweet Potato Bake

(by Shirley McNevich)

3- 15 oz. cans sweet potatoes (drained)
1/2 stick Parkay or butter (melted)
1 tsp. McCormick ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. McCormick ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
3 cups Jet Puffed miniature marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixer, combine sweet potatoes, melted butter, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg--beat on medium speed until well blended. Grease a 1.5 quart baking dish with Pam. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the baking dish and top with the marshmallows. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the sweet potato mixture is heated through and marshmallows are lightly browned.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

#241 - No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/3 cup Hershey's cocoa
2 cups white sugar
1 stick Parkay margarine
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup Jif peanut butter (smooth, not chunky)
3 cups quick Quaker oats oatmeal

In a medium saucepan, add cocoa, white sugar, Parkay and milk--stir and bring to a boil over medium heat--boil for 1 minute after bringing to a boil--stir constantly. Remove from heat and add vanilla and peanut butter. Beat with a spoon until smooth. Stir in the oatmeal. Drop teaspoonsful on wax paper or saran wrap. When cool, store in airtight containers.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

#240 - Peanut Butter Brownie Cupcakes

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 17.6 oz. package brownie mix with milk chocolate chunks
3 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup canola oil
9 unwrapped mini-Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
1/4 cup Jif creamy peanut butter
1 - 16oz. can vanilla frosting
Multi-colored sprinkles (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 9 muffin holes in 2 muffin tins with cupcake liners. At medium speed, beat brownie mix, eggs, sour cream, and canola oil until light and fluffy (3 minutes). Evenly divide the batter among the 9 cupcake liners. Place one unwraped peanut butter cup in the center of each cupcake on top. Bake 25 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool. Stir peanut butter into the can of vanilla frosting. Frost cupcakes and add sprinkles.