#3722 - Amish Scrambled Eggs

(by Shirley McNevich)

4 TBSP flour
6 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
fresh ground black pepper (optional)
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 TBSP butter
shredded cheese (optional)
cooked/crumbled bacon (optional)


In a bowl add the flour and milk--mix well until there are no lumps. In a separate bowl add eggs--beat. Pour eggs into the milk mixture and add the salt--mix well. In a skillet over medium heat add the butter--melt. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet--cook while shredding the mixture with a fork until eggs are done. Place on plates and top with fresh ground black pepper, shredded cheese and crumbled bacon.

#3721 - Cherry Butter Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 30th)

2 cups softened butter
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups Domino's powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
4 1/2 cups SIFTED flour (measure before sifting)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup chopped red maraschino cherries
1/4 cup chopped green maraschino cherries

After chopping the cherries, spread them on paper towels to soak up any liquid. In a mixer add butter, vanilla and powdered sugar--beat. Add salt and slowly add flour--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add chopped walnuts and chopped cherries--mix/knead with your hands until cherries and walnuts are incorporated evenly. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and place them on greased cookie sheets. Use the tines of a fork to flatten the cookie and make a criss cross pattern. Bake at 350 degrees 12-17 minutes. This is a tough cookie to get the baking time correct, so definitely bake a test cookie.

#3720 - Layered Pumpkin Cheese Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 29th)

2 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 - 9" ready-made graham cracker crust
1/2 cup Libby's canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
a pinch of ground cloves
a pinch of nutmeg
1/2 cup Cool Whip (thawed)

In a mixer add cream cheese, white sugar and vanilla--beat. Add eggs--beat. Measure out 1 cup of the cream cheese batter and spread it on the bottom of the graham cracker crust, leaving remaining cream cheese batter in the mixer. Add the pumpkin to the mixer with the remaining cream cheese mixture--beat. Add cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg--beat. Spread the pumpkin batter into the crust. Bake at 325 degrees 35-40 minutes or until almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate overnight. Spread thawed Cool Whip over the top before cutting and serving.

#3719 - Cream Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 28th)

1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup Crisco shortening
2 cups white sugar
5 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups Baker's angelflake coconut
1 tsp. baking powder
2 cups flour
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups Domino's powdered sugar
2 TBSP cream
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a bowl add 1/2 cup butter, Crisco and white sugar--beat. In a small bowl add buttermilk and baking soda--stir to dissolve. Add buttermilk mixture, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 cup of the coconut, baking powder and flour to the batter--beat. Pour batter evenly into 3 - 9" round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees 30-40 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool cakes, then remove one and place it on a cake plate. Frosting: in a mixer add cream cheese and 1/2 cup butter--beat. Add 1 tsp. vanilla and the powdered sugar--beat well. Add cream--beat well. Frost the first cake, place second cake on top, frost the second cake, place third cake on top and frost the rest of the cake. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts and remaining coconut over the top and sides of the cake (using more coconut and nuts as necessary).

#3718 - Upside Down Cranberry Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 27th)

2/3 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1/3 cup + 1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (thawed and drained if frozen)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts OR chopped pecans
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt

Wrap the outside of a 9" spring form cheesecake pan 3 TIMES with foil to catch leaks. Place the wrapped pan on top of a jelly roll pan (one with a lip on all sides). Into a bowl sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt, then set bowl aside. In a saucepan over medium heat and brown sugar and 1/3 cup butter--cook/stir until boiling. Slowly pour the brown sugar mixture into the bottom of the springform pan. Sprinkle the cranberries and chopped nuts evenly into the brown sugar mixture. In a mixer add 1/2 cup butter and the white sugar--beat. Add eggs and vanilla--beat. Add sour cream--beat. Slowly add flour mixture--beat. Pour batter over the cranberries/nuts. Keeping the pan on the jellyroll pan, put the whole thing in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool for 20 minutes, then invert on to a cake plate and loosen/remove the springform pan. Serve warm or cool completely.

#3717 - Fresh Apple Torte

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 26th)

Crust: 1/2 cup butter; 1/3 cup white sugar; 1/4 tsp. vanilla; 1 cup flour

Batter: 1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened); 1/4 cup white sugar; 1 egg; 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Apples: 6 baking apples (washed, peeled cored and sliced THIN); 1/3 cup white sugar; 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Crust: in a mixer add 1/2 cup softened butter, 1/3 cup white sugar, 1/4 tsp. vanilla and 1 cup flour--beat well. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of a greased 9" springform cheesecake pan. In a mixer add cream cheese--beat. Add 1/4 cup white sugar, 1 egg and 1/2 tsp. vanilla--beat until smooth. Pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over the crust. In a bowl 1/3 cup white sugar and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon--mix well. In a large bowl add apple slices--sprinkle the cinnamon mixture over the apples--toss to coat. Spread the apple slices over the cheese mixture. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes, then WITHOUT OPENING THE OVEN DOOR reduce heat to 400 degrees and bake 25-35 minutes longer or until apples are tender. Cool completely.

#3716 - Creamy Italian Cheesecake

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 25th)

2 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1 - 16oz. ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 TBSP lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla
3 TBSP cornstarch
3 TBSP flour
1/2 cup butter (melted and cooled)
1 pint Breakstone's sour cream

In a mixer add cream cheese and ricotta cheese--beat. Add white sugar and eggs--beat. Add lemon juice and vanilla--beat. Add cornstarch, flour and melted butter--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add sour cream--stir to mix. Pour batter into a greased springform cheesecake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, then WITHOUT OPENING THE OVEN DOOR turn off the oven and let it in the oven for 1 hour. Cool completely, then refrigerate until cold.

#3715 - Box Mix Pound Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 24th)

1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon extract
2/3 cup water
1 - 8oz. Breakstone's sour cream
1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix
1 cup flour

In a mixer add butter and white sugar--beat. Add eggs, vanilla and lemon extract--beat. Add water and sour cream--beat. Slowly add cake mix powder--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Pour batter into a greased and floured 10" bundt cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees 60-80 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool for 20 minutes, then loosen and invert on to a cake plate. Cool completely, then dust with powdered sugar or glaze as desired.

#3714 - Black Walnut Banana Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 23rd)

3 cups flour
2 cups white sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups canola oil
3 eggs
1 - 8oz. Dole crushed pineapple (well drained)
2 cups mashed ripe bananas
1 cup chopped black walnuts
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1/4 lb. softened butter
1lb. Domino's powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

In a bowl add flour, white sugar, baking soda and salt--stir to mix and set aside. In a separate bowl add canola oil, eggs, mashed bananas and chopped black walnuts--stir to mix. Add the flour mixture to the banana mixture--stir to mix. Pour batter evenly into TWO greased and floured 9" cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool cakes. Loosen one cake and place it on a cake plate. In a mixer add softened butter and cream cheese--beat. Add vanilla--beat. Slowly add powdered sugar--beat. Frost the top and sides of the first cake. Loosen second cake and place it on top of the first cake. Frost the top and sides.

#3713 - Overnight Sour Cream Coffee Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 22nd)

3/4 cup softened butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 - 8oz. Breakstone's sour cream
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp. cinnamon

In a mixer add softened butter and white sugar--beat. Add eggs--beat. Add sour cream--beat. Add baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and salt--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 cake pan. In a bowl add brown sugar, chopped pecans and cinnamon--stir to mix. Sprinkle the pecan mixture evenly over the top of the batter. Tightly place Saran wrap over the top of the cake pan (making sure that it it NOT touching the batter) and refrigerate overnight. The next day remove the plastic wrap and bake at 350 degrees 35-45 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Serve warm or cool completely.

#3712 - Chocolate Chip Oreo Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 21st)

1 ready-made Oreo cookie crust
2 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla
2/3 cup Nestle's MINI semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a mixer add cream cheese and brown sugar--beat. Add eggs and the egg yolk--beat. Add vanilla--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add mini chocolate chips--stir to mix. Pour batter into the Oreo cookie crust. Bake at 350 degrees 45-50 minutes or until filling is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

#3711 - Cranberry Coffee Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 20th)

1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 - 8oz. can Ocean Spray cranberry sauce
Domino's powdered sugar

In a mixer add softened butter and white sugar--beat. Add eggs and vanilla--beat. Add baking powder, baking soda and salt--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add sour cream--stir just until mixed. Pour 1/3 of the batter into a greased and floured 10" tube cake pan. Spoon HALF of the cranberry sauce evenly over the top of the batter, then use a wet tableknife to swirl the cranberry sauce through the batter. Pour another 1/3 of the batter over the top. Spoon remaining cranberry sauce over the batter and swirl as before. Pour remaining batter over the top. Bake at 350 degrees 50-60 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool for 20 minutes, then loosen and invert on to a cake plate. Dust the top with powdered sugar or glaze as desired.

#3710 - Ricotta Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

(this recipe is for Dec. 19th)

16 eggs
3 cups white sugar
3 tsp. vanilla
3 lbs. ricotta cheese
1/4 cup Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
4 cups flour
5 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup + 1 TBSP Crisco shortening (cold)
1 TBSP milk

Batter: In a mixer add 12 eggs, 2 cups of white sugar and 2 tsp. vanilla--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add all of the ricotta cheese and the chocolate chips--stir well, then set aside. Crust: in a bowl add the flour, baking powder and 1 cup white sugar--stir to mix. Add 1/2 cup + 1 TBSP cold Crisco shortening--mix with a pastry blender to make crumbs. Add four beaten eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla--mix with your hands to form the dough. Cut the dough into four equal balls, wrap each in Saran wrap, then refrigerate them for 1 hour. Grease TWO deep dish pie plates. Roll out two of the doughs and place them in the greased pie plates. Flute the edges of the doughs. Roll out the other two doughs, cut them into 1/2" strips. Divide the batter evenly into the two pie crusts. Arrange the cut dough strips evenly over the top of each pie. Use a pastry brush to brush the milk over the dough strips. Cover the dough edges with foil. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and turn each pie halfway around. Continue baking another 30 minutes or until inserted knife comes out clean and crusts are golden brown. Cool completely, then refrigerate until cold.

#3709 - Chocolate Apple Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups white sugar
1 cup softened butter
3 eggs
1/2 cup water
1 TBSP vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
2 TBSP Hershey's cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup Nestle's MILK chocolate chips
2 cups grated baking apples (peel and core before grating)

In a mixer add white sugar and butter--beat. Add eggs, water and vanilla--beat. Add cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add chocolate chips and grated apples--stir just until mixed. Pour batter into a greased and floured 10" bundt cake pan. Bake at 325 degrees 60-70 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool for 20 minutes, then loosen and invert on to a cake plate. Glaze as desired.

#3708 - Sourdough Crab Bread

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 long shaped loaf sourdough bread
butter (optional)
3/4 cup mayo
3 TBSP chopped fresh dill
1/2 tsp. salt
12oz. lump crab meat
2 TBSP finely chopped red onions
16 tomato slices (halved)
shredded mozzarella cheese
fresh ground black pepper

Slice the sourdough bread into 16 slices, then lightly butter each side of each slice. Place the buttered bread slices on a cookie sheet and broil bread slices 1-2 minutes on each side until lightly browned and toasted. In a bowl add mayo, dill and 1/4 tsp. salt--stir well. In a separate bowl add crab meat, onions and 1/4 tsp. salt--stir well. Measure out 2 TBSP of the mayo mixture and add it to the crab mixture--stir well. Spread remaining mayo mixture evenly over the toasted bread slices. Spread crab mixture evenly over the mayo mixture. Place 2 halved tomato slices side by side on top of each bread slice (overlapping where necessary). Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the tomatoes. Broil them 3-4 minutes or until cheese melts. Sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper. Serve hot.

#3707 - Danish Rice Pudding

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup Carolina white rice (long grain)--do NOT use Minute Rice
1/2 cup water
4 1/4 cups whole milk
1 tsp. salt
4 TBSP white sugar
1 TBSP cinnamon
butter (optional)

In a bowl add white sugar and cinnamon--stir to mix, then set aside. In a large saucepan add the water, rice and salt--stir to mix. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat (while stirring). Once boiling, cook/stir for 2 minutes. Slowly add all of the milk while stirring. Once all milk has been added, bring to a boil again. Once boiling, turn heat back so mixture is lightly boiling. Tilt a lid on top of the saucepan and cook 30-35 minutes (stirring every 2-3 minutes so the bottom doesn't burn). Mixture should be nice and thick (if not, cook longer). Serve warm in bowls. Add a pat of butter on top of each serving, and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the top. If you don't like it hot, you can cool to room temperature before serving, or you can place the mixture into a glass container and refrigerate it until cold. No matter which temperature you serve it at, make sure to sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the top before serving.

#3706 - Hot Pizza Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. parsley flakes
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup of your favorite pizza sauce
pepperoni slices (chopped)--as much as you wish
2 TBSP sliced black olives (optional)

In a bowl add cream cheese, oregano, parsley flakes and basil--mix well. Spread the mixture on the bottom of a 9" glass pie plate. Sprinkle HALF of the shredded mozzarella cheese and HALF of the grated Parmesan cheese over the cream cheese mixture. Spoon the pizza sauce all over the cheeses. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the top. Bake at 350 degrees 15-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let it stand a few minutes. Serve warm with good quality crackers.

#3705 - German Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 box Duncan Hines German chocolate cake mix
1 - 3oz. box Jell-O INSTANT chocolate pudding
2/3 cup Quaker quick oats
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 to 1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1/4 cup water
2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup Nestle's white chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup Baker's angelflake coconut

In a bowl add cake mix powder, pudding powder, baking powder and oats--stir. Add 1/4 cup canola oil, sour cream, water and vanilla--stir well. If batter is too dry add another 1/4 cup canola oil and stir again. Add chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, coconut and chopped pecans--stir to mix. Drop batter by spoonfuls on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees 10-14 minutes. Cool slightly, then place on paper towels to cool completely. Note: this cookie can take WAY longer to bake than other cookies, so best to bake a test cookie to figure out the correct baking time for your oven.

#3704 - Sour Cream Crumble Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

Topping: 1/3 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed); 1/2 cup flour; 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon; 3 TBSP cold butter (cut into small pieces)

Batter: 1 1/3 cups flour; 1 tsp. baking powder; 1/4 tsp. baking soda; 1/4 tsp. salt; 1/2 cup softened butter; 3/4 cup white sugar; 2 eggs; 2 tsp. vanilla; 1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream

Glaze: 1/2 cup Domino's powdered sugar; 1/2 tsp. vanilla; 2 TBSP milk

Topping: in a bowl add dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour and cinnamon--stir to mix. Add cold butter pieces--mix with a pastry blender to make crumbs, then set aside. Batter: in a bowl add 1 1/3 cups flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1/4 tsp. baking soda, and the salt--stir to mix. In a mixer add 1/2 cup softened butter--beat. Add white sugar--beat. Add eggs--beat. Add 2 tsp. vanilla and the sour cream--beat. Slowly add the flour mixture--beat just until mixed. Spread HALF of the batter into a greased and floured 8" square cake pan. Sprinkle half of the topping mixture evenly over the batter. Pour remaining batter over the topping mixture. Sprinkle remaining topping mixture over the top of the batter. Bake at 350 degrees 25-35 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool completely. Glaze: in a bowl add the powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp. vanilla and the milk--stir well. If glaze is too thin add a little more powdered sugar and stir again. If glaze is too thick add a little more milk and stir again. Drizzle the glaze all over the top of the cooled cake.

#3703 - Sour Cream Parmesan Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

16oz. Breakstone's sour cream
1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 TBSP Dijon mustard
kosher salt
fresh ground black pepper

In a bowl add sour cream, grated Parmesan cheese and Dijon mustard--stir well. Add kosher salt and fresh ground pepper (to your taste)--stir well. Taste--add more grated Parmesan cheese and/or more Dijon mustard to your taste--stir well. Cover and refrigerate leftover dip. Serve with good quality crackers.

#3702 - No Bake Crab Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 TBSP horseradish sauce
2 TBSP dry Lipton onion soup mix
2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 cup cocktail sauce
8oz. lump crab meat (more if you wish)
1 small onion (chopped)
1/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped red bell peppers
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped parsley

In a bowl add cream cheese, sour cream and horseradish sauce--mix well. Add dry onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and cocktail sauce--stir well. Add chopped onions, chopped green bell peppers, chopped red bell peppers and chopped parsley--stir well. Add lump crab meat--stir well. Cover and refrigerate until cold. Serve with good quality crackers. Re-stir just before serving.

#3701 - Wonton Chips

(by Shirley McNevich)

18 square wonton wrappers
melted butter
sea salt

Cut each wonton wrapper in half diagonally so you end up with 36 triangles. Spray a large cookie sheet with Pam. Arrange the triangles on the cookie sheet (close but NOT touching each other). Use a pastry brush to brush each triangle with melted butter. Sprinkle sea salt over the tops of the triangles. Bake at 375 degrees for 9-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool them until they firm up and are crispy.

#3700 - Ritz Onion Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

5 or 6 large Vidalia onions (peeled, sliced and separated into rings)
1 stick butter
2 cups fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 sleeve of Ritz crackers (crushed)

Cut the stick of butter into pats.In a Dutch oven over medium heat add the butter pats--melt. Add all of the separated onion rings--cook/stir until onions are tender. Remove from heat. Grease a large casserole dish. Make multiple layers of softened onions, then Ritz cracker crumbs, then grated Parmesan cheese. Make sure the final (top) layer is Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until top cheese layer is melted and browned. Optional: you can substitute any cheese of your choice, and you can add salt/pepper to the softened onions before layering them.

#3699 - Smashed Potatoes

(by Shirley McNevich)

4 red potatoes (about 6oz.; washed, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces)
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1/2 cup milk
2 TBSP minced chives
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

In a microwave safe bowl add just the potato pieces--cover the bowl with Saran wrap and use a sharp knife to cut a slit in the middle of the wrap. Microwave on high 10-12 minutes or until tender. Remove from microwave and let them stand for 2 minutes. Remove the wrap, then add the sour cream, milk, minced chives, salt and pepper. Mash the mixture with a potato masher, then stir well. Serve immediately. Note: these are meant to be eaten right away as the leftovers will be "gummy".

#3698 - Cracker Barrel Macaroni and Cheese

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - 8oz. blocks Cracker Barrel sharp yellow cheddar cheese
1 - 16oz. box raw elbow macaroni
3 TBSP butter
1 onion (chopped fine)
3 TBSP flour
1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
2 cups milk
4-6 slices buttered bread (torn into bite sized pieces)

Shred both blocks of cheese. Prepare macaroni in salted water according to box directions--drain but DO NOT RINSE. In a skillet over medium low heat add butter and chopped onions--cook/stir until onions are tender. Add the flour and black pepper (while stirring). Cook/stir for 1 more minute. Slowly add the milk (while stirring), then cook/stir until mixture starts to thicken. Add all of the shredded cheese--cook/stir until all cheese is melted and sauce is a nice, thick cheese sauce. In a large bowl add drained macaroni and cheese sauce--stir to coat. Pour the whole mixture into a greased 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Sprinkle all of the torn buttered bread all over the top. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until bread on top is brown and crispy. Cool slightly before serving.

#3697 - Sharp White Cheese Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 cups shredded Cracker Barrel Vermont Sharp White Cheese
1/3 cup mayo
3oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1/3 cup diced Vidalia onions
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. Creole seasoning (optional)

In a bowl add shredded white cheese, mayo, softened cream cheese, diced onions, pepper, Italian seasoning and Creole seasoning--stir well to mix. Spread the mixture into a greased glass baking dish. Bake at 375 degrees 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling. Serve hot with good quality crackers.

#3696 - Mocha Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 sticks softened butter
1 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 TBSP instant coffee (dissolved in 1 TBSP boiling water)
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup Hershey's cocoa
2 cups M&M's candies

In a mixer add butter, brown sugar and white sugar--beat. Add eggs and vanilla--beat. Add baking soda, salt and instant coffee mixture--beat. Add cocoa--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add M&M's--stir with a wooden spoon. Drop batter by spoonfuls on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees 9-10 minutes. Cool slightly, then place on paper towels to cool.

#3695 - M&M Frosting

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 sticks softened butter
3 cups Domino's powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 TBSP milk
1/3 cup Hershey's cocoa
1 cup M&M's candies

In a blender or food processor add the M&M's--blend until coarse. In a mixer add butter, vanilla, milk and cocoa--beat. Slowly add powdered sugar--beat. Add milk--beat. Slowly add crushed M&M's--beat. If frosting is too thick, add a little more milk and beat again. If frosting is too thin, add a little more powdered sugar and beat again.

#3694 - Bacon Potato Soup

(by Shirley McNevich)

6 slices bacon (fried, drained and crumbled)
6 cups cubed red potatoes
4 cups chicken broth
2 carrots (shredded)
1 yellow onion (chopped)
1 TBSP chopped parsley (fresh or dry)
1/2 tsp. celery seed
salt
pepper
2 cups milk
1/4 cup flour
4 slices American cheese (broken into small pieces)
6 green onions (chopped)

In a Dutch oven over medium heat add crumbled bacon, cubed red potatoes, chicken broth, shredded carrots, chopped parsley, chopped onions and celery seed--cook/stir until boiling. Tilt the lid on the Dutch oven and reduce heat to simmer--simmer the mixture until potatoes are tender (20-30 minutes). Taste--add salt and pepper to your taste, then stir well. In a bowl add milk and flour--whisk until mixed. Pour the milk mixture into the soup slowly (while stirring). Turn heat up to medium--cook/stir until soup is hot and thickened. Remove from heat--add American cheese pieces--stir until cheese is melted. Place soup in bowls and top with chopped green onions. Note: for more bacon flavor, fry your bacon in the Dutch oven first, then leave the drippings in the Dutch oven before adding soup ingredients.

#3693 - White Chocolate Graham Crackers

(by Shirley McNevich)

12 graham crackers
24oz. white chocolate candy melts
6oz. milk chocolate candy melts

Break the 12 graham crackers so you have 24 graham cracker squares. Place wax paper on cookie sheets. In a bowl melt white chocolate candy melts according to bag directions. Place the milk chocolate candy melts in a separate bowl and melt according to bag directions. Dip each graham cracker square into the melted white chocolate until fully coated, then place it on the wax paper. Use a teaspoon to drizzle the melted milk chocolate in a pattern on the white chocolate covered graham square. Repeat with all graham cracker squares. Note: when one tray of grahams is completed, stick it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes while you work on the second tray, then refrigerate the second tray for 15 minutes. You can remove them from the refrigerator once the chocolate has hardened.

#3692 - Homemade Sour Cream

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/4 cup whole milk
3/4 tsp. white vinegar
1 cup heavy cream

In a glass quart jar add cream and white vinegar--stir to mix, then put the lid on and shake well. Remove the lid and add the milk--stir well, then put the lid on and shake well. Remove the lid and cover the top of the jar with a tea towel--secure the towel with a rubber band. Let the mixture sit on the counter overnight. The next day remove the towel--stir well, screw the lid on tight and refrigerate until cold. Note: homemade sour cream is a bit thinner than store bought sour cream because there are no artificial thickeners.

#3691 - Coconut Walnut Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter flavored Crisco
1/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
1 egg
1 TBSP water
1 1/4 cups flour + 3 TBSP flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 - 14oz. can Eagle sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated)
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup Baker's angelflake coconut

In a mixer add white sugar and butter flavored Crisco--beat. Add cocoa, egg and water--beat. Add salt and 1 1/4 cups flour--beat. Press the batter into the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. In a bowl add Eagle milk, 3 TBSP flour and vanilla--stir to mix. Add chocolate chips, chopped nuts and coconut--stir. Spread the mixture over the top of the hot crust. Bake at 350 degrees 20 minutes. Cool completely. Cut into bars or squares.

#3690 - Meatball Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup mayo
2 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese (more if you wish)
1 tsp. oregano
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese + extra for topping
1/2 lb. cooked meatballs (cooled to room temperature)
6 cherry tomatoes (diced)
3 black olives (diced)
3 green olives (diced)
Ritz crackers

Dice the cooled meatballs. In a bowl add softened cream cheese, mayo, Parmesan cheese and oregano--stir well. Add shredded mozzarella cheese, diced meatballs, diced cherry tomatoes and diced olives--stir well. Pour the mixture into a small casserole dish. Sprinkle extra shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Bake at 350 degrees (uncovered) 25-30 minutes. Serve hot with Ritz crackers.

#3689 - Dutch Cheeseburger Noodles

(by Shirley McNevich)

12oz. medium egg noodles
1lb. ground chuck
1 onion (chopped)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 - 15oz. can diced tomatoes
2 1/2 cups water
1 TBSP French's yellow mustard
8oz. Velveeta cheese (cubed)

In a skillet over medium heat add ground chuck, chopped onions, salt and pepper--cook/stir over medium heat until meat is browned. Drain off any grease. Add diced tomatoes, water and yellow mustard to the ground beef in the skillet--cook/stir until bubbling hot. Add the egg noodles--stir. Turn heat back to simmer--simmer, stirring often, until noodles are done to your liking and most of the liquid has evaporated. Add cubed Velveeta cheese--cook/stir until cheese is melted. Serve right away.

#3688 - Panko Pork Chops

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 egg
1 cup panko bread crumbs
2 TBSP fresh grated Parmesan cheese (more if you wish)
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
salt
pepper
4 pork chops
1/4 cup canola oil

Salt and pepper both sides of each pork chop (to your taste), then press the salt and pepper into the chops using the back of a fork. In a bowl add egg--beat. In a second bowl add panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning--stir to mix. Spread the panko mixture over a dinner plate (so you'll have room to coat the pork chops). In a cast iron skillet over medium heat add the canola oil--heat until hot. Dip a pork chop into the panko mixture (both sides) and place it in the hot oil. Repeat with all pork chops. Fry until bottoms are golden brown, then flip and fry until other sides are golden brown and pork chops are cooked through.

#3687 - Raspberry Lemon Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/4 cup red raspberry jam (seedless if possible)
1 cup fresh red raspberries
1 - 9" Keebler shortbread ready-made crust
4oz. softened Philadelphia cream cheese
1 - 12oz. can Carnation evaporated milk
2 - 3oz. boxes Jell-O lemon INSTANT pudding
1 lemon (room temperature)
1 - 8oz. Cool Whip (thawed)

Spread the raspberry jam over the bottom of the shortbread crust. Sprinkle 3/4 cup of the fresh red raspberries over the jam. Grate the outside of the lemon to get lemon zest (as much as you wish). In a mixer add cream cheese--beat. Add evaporated milk, both boxes of lemon pudding mix and the lemon zest--beat on low until mixed, then beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Remove bowl from mixer--add HALF of the thawed Cool Whip--stir well. Pour the batter into the crust. Spread remaining Cool Whip over the top. Arrange the remaining 1/4 cup raspberries over the Cool Whip. Refrigerate until cold.

#3686 - Sweet and Sour Pork Chops

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 TBSP canola oil
4 pork chops
1 red onion (sliced)
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 TBSP soy sauce
1 TBSP honey
salt
pepper

Salt and pepper both sides of each pork chop (to your taste). In a skillet over medium heat add canola oil. When oil is hot, add pork chops--cook both sides of each pork chop until browned, then place them on a plate but leave the drippings in the skillet. To the drippings in the skillet add sliced onions and minced garlic--cook/stir until onions are soft. Add cider vinegar, soy sauce and honey--stir well. Place the pork chops back into the skillet--cover the skillet and turn heat back to simmer. Simmer the pork chops until pork chops are done (no longer pink inside). Place pork chops on plates and cover with the onion mixture.

#3685 - Chocolate Chips

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 lbs. white chocolate
1 1/2 lbs. milk chocolate
1 bag ridged plain potato chips (no flavorings)

Break the white chocolate into small pieces and place them in a microwave safe bowl--microwave on high in 30 second increments until melted and smooth. Cover cookie sheets with wax paper. Open the chips and dip the bottom half of one chip into the melted white chocolate, let extra chocolate drip off, then place it on the wax paper. Repeat with more chips until white chocolate is gone. Cool completely. Break the milk chocolate into small pieces and place them in a microwave safe bowl--microwave on high in 30 second increments until melted and smooth. Dip the undipped portion of each chip into the milk chocolate, let extra chocolate drip off, then place them back on the wax paper. Cool completely.

#3684 - Marshmallow Pecan Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
pinch of salt
2 sticks softened butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups Quaker quick oats
1 1/4 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 or 2 cups milk chocolate chunks + extra for melting
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mini marshmallows

In a bowl add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt--stir and set aside. In a mixer add softened butter, white sugar and brown sugar--beat. Add eggs and vanilla--beat. Slowly add flour mixture--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add oats, cereal, chocolate chunks, chopped pecans and marshmallows--stir with a wooden spoon. Cover and refrigerate batter for 1 hour. Drop batter by spoonfuls on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees 10-12 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheets and placing on paper towels to cool. Optional: melt some extra chocolate chunks and drizzle the melted chocolate on top of the cooled cookies.

#3683 - Sour Tomato Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 cucumbers (washed, peeled and sliced)
1 onion (peeled, sliced, then quarter the slices and separate them)
3 tomatoes (washed, sliced, then cut slices into strips)
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup canola oil

In a small bowl add cider vinegar, white sugar, salt, black pepper and canola oil--stir well. Taste--adjust as necessary (more white sugar if too sour; more cider vinegar if too sweet). In a large bowl add cucumber slices, onions and tomato strips--toss with your hands to mix. Pour the vinegar mixture over the cucumber mixture--stir well. If you don't have enough liquid, re-make a second batch of the vinegar/white sugar/salt/pepper/canola oil mixture, pour it into the cucumber mixture and stir well. Cover and refrigerate a few hours before serving, but refrigerating overnight is preferable.

#3682 - Italian Sausage Soup

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. Italian sausage (sliced into coin shaped pieces)
1 onion (chopped)
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 tsp. olive oil
2 - 14.5oz. cans chicken broth
1 soup can of water (use of of the empty chicken broth cans to measure)
1 - 15oz. can cannellini beans (rinsed and drained)
1 - 14.5oz. can stewed tomatoes
1 cup raw rotini pasta
1 1/2 cups baby spinach leaves (washed)
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a Dutch oven over medium heat add olive oil, sausage pieces, chopped onions and minced garlic--cook/stir until sausage is browned and onions are softened. Add chicken broth, water, cannellini beans and stewed tomatoes--stir well. Bring mixture to a boil--add the pasta and cook for 8 minutes. Remove from heat--add baby spinach, stir, then put the lid on the Dutch oven. Let it stand covered for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top, then serve.

#3681 - Four Cheese Macaroni Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 cups raw macaroni
28oz. whole peeled tomatoes (drained and chopped; you can use fresh tomatoes if you have them)
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. basil
salt (to your taste)
pepper (to your taste)
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Cook macaroni in salted water until softened but still chewy. Drain but DO NOT RINSE. In a large bowl add drained (still hot) macaroni, 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese--stir carefully until cheeses melt. In a separate bowl add chopped tomatoes, Italian seasoning, oregano, basil, salt and pepper--stir well. Pour the tomato mixture into the pasta mixture--stir to combine. Pour the whole mixture into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and all of the feta cheese over the top. Bake at 350 degrees 20-30 minutes. Note: you can omit the feta cheese if you don't like feta cheese.

#3680 - White Chocolate Graham Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix
1 egg
1 stick softened butter
6 large graham crackers (less as necessary)
1 - 10oz. bag Nestle's white chocolate chips
2 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup Eagle brand condensed milk (NOT evaporated)

Line an 8 x 8 cake pan with foil--grease well with Pam. In a mixer add cake mix powder, egg and butter--beat on low until mixed, then beat on medium until dough forms. Press HALF of the dough evenly into the foil-lined cake pan. Make a single layer of graham crackers over the dough (breaking the graham crackers where necessary). Sprinkle the white chocolate chips over the graham crackers. Sprinkle the mini marshmallows over the white chocolate chips. Spread remaining dough over the top (press with your fingers to make sure the whole top is covered with the dough. Drizzle the Eagle brand milk all over the top. Bake at 350 degrees 25-35 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool for 5 minutes, then use a tableknife to loosen the edges all the way around. Cool completely. Pull up on the foil to remove the whole thing from the pan and place it on a cake plate. Cut into bars or squares.

#3679 - Powdered Sugar Cutout Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup softened butter
1 cup Domino's powdered sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt

In a mixer add butter and powdered sugar--beat. Add egg, almond extract and vanilla--beat. Add salt--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Cover the mixer bowl and refrigerate the batter for 2 hours. Sprinkle a little flour on your counter, then roll out some of the dough to 1/8" thick (leaving remaining dough in refrigerator until needed). Use any shape cookie cutter to cut the cookies and place them on greased cookie sheets. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake at 375 degrees 7-9 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly, then place them on paper towels to cool completely. Frost as desired.

#3678 - Ranch Oyster Crackers

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 1oz. envelope ranch dressing mix powder
1/2 tsp. dried dill weed
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 tsp. lemon pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
a pinch or two of salt
5 cups oyster crackers

In a large bowl add ranch dressing powder, dried dill weed, canola oil, lemon pepper, garlic salt and salt--stir to mix. Add the oyster crackers--toss to coat (or pour the whole mixture into a paper bag, close the top of the bag and shake to coat). Once coated, spread the crackers on baking sheets. Bake at 250 degrees for 15-20 minutes, stirring once during baking. Place crackers on paper towels to cool.

#3677 - Sour Cream Cherry Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 box Duncan Hines angelfood cake mix
1 - 21oz. can Lucky Leaf cherry pie filling
1 - 3oz. box Jell-O vanilla INSTANT pudding mix
1 1/2 cups cold milk
1 - 8oz. Breakstone's sour cream

Prepare the angelfood cake according to box directions, then cool it completely. Tear the cake into bite sized pieces. Spread HALF of the cake pieces in the bottom of a 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Spread 2/3 of the cherry pie filling evenly over the cake pieces. Spread the remaining cake pieces evenly over the top. In a mixer add pudding mix, milk and sour cream--beat until thickened. Spoon the sour cream mixture evenly over the top of the cake. Cover with foil and refrigerate until cold. When ready to serve, spread the remaining cherry pie filling over the top. Note: you may not use all of the cake pieces depending on the size and depth of your cake dish.

#3676 - No Bake Springform Cheesecake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 TBSP white sugar
6 TBSP butter (melted)
2 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1 TBSP vanilla
1 cup Domino's powdered sugar
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream (taken directly from refrigerator so it's cold)

In a bowl add graham cracker crumbs, white sugar and melted butter--mix well. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and partway up the sides of a 9" springform cheesecake pan. In a mixer add cream cheese--beat. Add vanilla and powdered sugar--beat. Add sour cream and heavy whipping cream--beat until mixed, then beat 5-6 minutes until thick and creamy. Pour the batter into the crumb crust. Cover the cheesecake with Saran wrap and refrigerate overnight. Add any toppings just before cutting and serving.

#3675 - Shortbread Butterscotch Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

24 shortbread cookies
6 TBSP butter (softened)
1 - 10oz. bag Nestle's butterscotch chips
1/2 cup Kayro lite corn syrup
2 TBSP cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
coarse sea salt (for sprinkling)

Crush the shortbread cookies. In a bowl add crushed shortbread cookies and 3 TBSP butter--stir to mix. Press the mixture into a greased 8" square cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. In a saucepan over medium heat add butterscotch chips, lite corn syrup, 3 TBSP butter, cream and vanilla--cook/stir until melted and smooth. Spread the butterscotch mixture evenly over the baked crust. Sprinkle the coarsely chopped pecans evenly over the top, then use the back of a spoon to LIGHTLY press the pecans into the butterscotch mixture. Bake at 350 degrees 10-13 minutes or until topping is bubbling. Cool completely. Sprinkle a little sea salt over the top before cutting into squares or bars.

#3674 - Sour Cream Mac and Cheese

(by Shirley McNevich)

14.5oz. chicken broth
1 cup water
2 cups raw elbow macaroni
3 TBSP butter
2 TBSP flour
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
8oz. shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese

In a saucepan over medium heat add chicken broth and water--bring to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni--cook 6-8 minutes or until tender. While the macaroni is cooking, in a saucepan over low heat add butter--melt. Add flour and dry mustard--cook/whisk for 2 minutes. While whisking slowly add milk and sour cream--cook/stir until boiling. Turn heat back to simmer--simmer for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese--cook/simmer until melted and smooth. Drain the macaroni but DO NOT RINSE. In a bowl add drained macaroni and cheese sauce--stir to mix. Dump the whole mixture into a greased 2 qt. casserole dish. Sprinkle the rest of the shredded cheese over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until hot. Let it rest slightly before serving.

#3673 - Sweet Bacon Crackers

(by Shirley McNevich)

36 Keebler club crackers
12 slices lean bacon
Domino's dark brown OR light brown sugar

Preheat oven to 250/275 degrees. Line two jelly roll pans (cookie sheets with a lip on all sides) with foil. Arrange the 36 club crackers on the foil. Cut each slice of raw bacon into three equal pieces. Repeat with all bacon. Cover each club cracker with one bacon piece each. Sprinkle one piece of bacon with one level teaspoonful of brown sugar. Repeat with all bacon pieces. Bake at 250/275 degrees 45-55 minutes or until bacon is browned and sugar has turned into a glaze. Remove from oven and place them one at a time on paper towels to drain. You can serve them warm, serve them after cooling to room temperature or, for best flavor, eat them the next day.

#3672 - Almond Bark Crackers

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 sleeve original flavor Ritz crackers
Jif smooth peanut butter
8oz. white chocolate almond bark (broken into small pieces)

Spread peanut butter on half of the Ritz crackers, then place another Ritz cracker on top of each to make sandwiches. In a microwave safe bowl add the almond bark--microwave on high in 30 second increments until melted and smooth. Dip each sandwich into the melted chocolate and place on wax paper. Repeat with all sandwiches. Cool completely. Optional--right after you place each sandwich on the wax paper, decorate the tops with colored sugar, candy sprinkles, etc.

#3671 - Granola Pieces

(by Shirley Ross - friend)

2 cups Quaker old fashioned oats
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup chopped peanuts
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1 cup Baker's angelflake coconut
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
3 TBSP butter
2/3 cup honey
1/4 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray it with Pam. In a bowl add oats, sliced almonds, chopped peanuts, chopped pecans and coconut--stir to mix. Grease a separate cookie sheet with Pam and spread the oat mixture evenly on the sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Pour the oat mixture into a bowl and add the toasted wheat germ--stir to mix. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees. In a saucepan add honey, butter, dark brown sugar, vanilla and salt--cook/stir over medium heat until boiling. Once boiling, cook/stir for 1 more minute. Remove from heat--pour the hot mixture over the oat mixture. Add the chopped dates, chopped dried apricots and chopped dried cranberries--stir well. Spread the mixture evenly over the parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven--use a spatula to flatten the whole top slightly. Cool completely, then break the mixture into pieces.

#3670 - Ritz Ice Cream Squares

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 sleeves original flavor Ritz crackers + extra for sprinkling
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1 pint good quality vanilla ice cream
2 - 3oz. boxes Jell-O vanilla INSTANT pudding
1 - 8oz. Cool Whip (thawed)

Crush the Ritz crackers. In a bowl add crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter--stir to mix. Press the mixture into the bottom of a metal 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees 6-8 minutes, then cool completely. Sit the ice cream container on the counter so the ice cream thaws a bit, then prepare both boxes of vanilla pudding (according to box directions) in a mixer. Once pudding is ready, leave pudding in mixer on low speed and start adding scoops of the softened ice cream until the whole pint has been added and mixture is smooth. Remove from mixer--add Cool Whip--stir to mix. Spread the mixture over the cooled crust. Crush a few extra Ritz crackers and sprinkle over the top. Refrigerate until cold. Note: you can use any combination of pudding flavor and ice cream flavor that you wish. If you want firmer squares, you can freeze it for a few hours but you will need to let it soften up a bit before cutting.

#3669 - BLT Burritos

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup mayo
1 fresh tomato (peeled and chopped)
8 flour tortillas
iceberg lettuce (chopped)
red onion (sliced)
16 slices of bacon (fried and crumbled)
salt
fresh ground black pepper

In a bowl add mayo and the chopped tomatoes--stir to mix. Spread the 8 flour tortillas evenly with the tomato mixture. Spread chopped lettuce over the tomato mixture. Spread sliced onions over the lettuce. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the onions. Add salt and pepper to your taste. Roll them up like a burrito (securing with a toothpick if necessary). Serve immediately.

#3668 - Waffle Fries and Bacon Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 bag frozen waffle cut french fries
3-4 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled; more if you wish)
1 - 16oz. Breakstone's sour cream
1/4 cup fresh chopped chives (less if you wish)
a few dashes of hot sauce (optional)

In a bowl add crumbled bacon, sour cream, chopped chives and hot sauce--stir well to mix. Pour the mixture into a dip serving bowl, then cover and refrigerate overnight. The next day bake the waffle fries according to bag directions. While the fries are baking, remove the bacon dip from the refrigerator and set it on your counter to warm slightly. Serve the hot fries with the bacon dip.

#3667 - Ham and Onion Sprouts

(by Shirley McNevich)

6oz. country ham (cubed)
5 TBSP olive oil
2 lbs. fresh Brussels sprouts (washed, trimmed and halved)
2 tsp. salt
2 lbs. yellow onions (sliced)
1/4 cup honey (optional)
1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
shredded mozzarella cheese

In a skillet over medium heat add 3 TBSP olive oil and the cubed ham--cook/stir until crispy. Remove ham cubes to paper towels to drain but leave the drippings in the skillet. Add halved Brussels sprouts and 1 tsp. salt to the drippings--cook/stir over medium heat until Brussels sprouts are almost tender, then remove from heat. In a separate skillet add 2 TBSP olive oil and the sliced onions--cook/stir over medium heat until onions are brown and soft. Add honey, black pepper, red pepper and 1 tsp. salt to the onions--stir to mix. Add Brussels sprouts and ham--cook/stir until the whole thing is hot and mixed. Pour the whole mixture into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese all over the top. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese melts and mixture is hot.

#3666 - Ritz Ice Cream Sandwiches

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 cups Nestle's MILK chocolate chips
24 Ritz crackers (original flavor)
1 cup Jif creamy peanut butter
good quality vanilla ice cream

In a microwave safe bowl add the milk chocolate chips--microwave on high in 20 second increments, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Place a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet. One at a time dip the flat sides of all the Ritz crackers into the melted chocolate, then place them on the wax paper (chocolate side up). Place the tray in the freezer for 10 minutes. Remove from freezer and spread a thin layer of peanut butter over just 12 of the chocolate coated crackers. Place them back in the freezer for 10 more minutes. Place a heaping spoonful of vanilla ice cream on top of the crackers that have the peanut butter, then place the remaining crackers (chocolate side down) on top of the ice cream covered crackers and press gently to create the sandwich. Place the tray in the freezer for 30 minutes and they are ready to eat. IF there are any leftovers, you can wrap them each in Saran wrap and keep them frozen.

#3665 - Crispy Peanut Butter Treats

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/3 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1/4 cup Jif creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
4 TBSP softened butter
2 cups Quaker quick oats
2/3 cups Rice Krispies cereal
3/4 cup Reese's peanut butter baking chips
1 cup Reese's Pieces candies

In a saucepan over medium low heat add the brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and honey--cook/stir until boiling. Once boiling, cook 2-3 minutes longer or until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat--add oats and Rice Krispies--stir to coat. Cool the mixture for 5 minutes. Add 1 cup of the peanut butter chips--stir to mix. Line an 8 x 8 cake pan with foil. Press the mixture into the foil lined pan. Spread the other 1/2 cup of peanut butter chips and all of the Reese's pieces evenly over the top. Use the bottom of a heavy drinking glass (or the back side of a large spoon) to press down the mixture all over the top so the candy gets pressed into the bottom mixture. Cool completely, then cut into squares or bars.

#3664 - Reese's Oatmeal Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 sticks softened butter
2 cups Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup Jif creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
1 TBSP vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup Quaker quick oats
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup Reese's peanut butter baking chips
2 cups Reese's minis candies

In a mixer add butter and brown sugar--beat. Add peanut butter--beat. Add eggs and vanilla--beat. In a bowl add flour, oats and baking powder--stir to mix. Slowly add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add the peanut butter chips--stir to mix. Spread 2/3 of the dough into a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Spread the Reese's minis evenly over the top of the dough. Drop the remaining dough by spoonfuls over the top (it won't cover the whole top). Bake at 350 degrees 25-30 minutes. Cool completely. Cut into bars or squares.

#3663 - Rolo Pretzels

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 bag salted mini pretzels (normal pretzel shape)
1 bag Rolo candies (unwrapped)
1 bag pecan halves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place parchment paper on cookie sheets. To test the baking time, place ONE pretzel on the parchment paper and place one unwrapped Rolo candy on top of the pretzel. Bake at 350 degrees 3-4 minutes or until Rolo is softened (but not melted). Remove from oven--place a pecan half onto the softened Rolo and press down slightly. Cool completely. Repeat with more pretzels, Rolos and pecan halves. Cool completely. Keep leftovers refrigerated.

#3662 - Chocolate Pretzel Hugs

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 bag Hershey's Hugs candies (unwrapped) OR regular Hershey's Kisses (unwrapped)
1 bag waffle shapes salted pretzels
1 bag regular M&M's candies

These are easy to burn, so do ONE first to test the baking time for your oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place one waffle pretzel on a cookie sheet (salted side up) and place an unwrapped Hug candy in the center of the pretzel. Bake 1-2 minutes (just enough for the Hug to soften). Remove from oven and press an M&M candy into the softened Hug candy. Once you have figured out the cooking time for your oven, you can do about 20 at a time if you are quick in pressing the M&M candies into the softened Hugs. Cool completely. Refrigerate leftovers. If you have trouble with them sticking to your cookie sheets, use parchment paper to line the cookie sheets.

#3661 - Pancetta Mashed Potatoes

(by Shirley McNevich)

5 or 6 red potatoes
1 tsp. salt
2 TBSP butter
1/4 cup milk
a package of pancetta (Italian bacon)

Fry the pancetta pieces (as many as you wish) in a cast iron skillet until browned but not too crispy--drain them on paper towels, then slice the fried pancetta into bite sized pieces. Peel and wash potatoes--slice them in half. In a saucepan add the potatoes, enough water to cover them, and the salt. Do not put the lid on tight or they will boil over. Bring to a boil on medium heat, then cook for 20 minutes after water is boiling--test for doneness with a fork. Pour water off and mash them with a potato masher. Add the butter to the potatoes and stir. When there are no more lumps left, slowly add the milk and beat the mixture with a spoon until the mashed potatoes have the consistency that you like. Once consistency is correct, add the pancetta pieces--stir well.

#3660 - Oreo Pretzel Sandwiches

(by Shirley McNevich)

4oz. Baker's white chocolate baking squares
18 original Oreo cookies
4oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1 bag salted waffle pretzels

Using a blender or a rolling pin, crush the Oreos. In a bowl add softened cream cheese and crushed Oreos--mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll the Oreo mixture into 1 tsp. sized balls, then make a sandwich using two waffle pretzels as the top and bottom (with the Oreo mixture in between). Squeeze gently. Repeat until you've used up the Oreo mixture. Melt the baking chocolate according to box directions, then dip each sandwich and coat it in the white chocolate. Place completed sandwiches on wax paper--cool completely, then refrigerate. Keep them refrigerated.

#3659 - Crispy Ravioli

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup 4C Italian bread crumbs
2 eggs
1 - 14oz. bag frozen cheese ravioli
warm marinara sauce

In one bowl add the eggs--beat with a fork. In a second bowl add the breadcrumbs. Grease cookie sheets with Pam. In a large pot of salted boiling water add the frozen ravioli--cook about 5 minutes or until softened. Drain ravioli but DO NOT RINSE. Let the ravioli cool just enough to handle. Dunk one ravioli into the beaten eggs, then into the bread crumbs, then place it on the greased cookie sheets. Repeat with all ravioli. Lightly spray the tops of the ravioli with Pam. Bake at 425 degrees 10-12 minutes (turning once during baking) until ravioli are crisp and golden brown. Cool slightly, then serve with warm marinara sauce for dipping. If you haven't made these before, bake just one ravioli to start to get the correct baking time for your oven.

#3658 - Easy Basic Hummus

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 15oz. can garbanzo beans (drained but save the liquid)
1 TBSP lemon juice
1 TBSP olive oil
1-3 garlic cloves (minced)
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt

In a blender or a food processor add drained beans, lemon juice, olive oil, cumin and salt--mix well (it will be dry). Add a little of the reserved bean liquid at a time and blend again until you get the thickness that you like. Taste--adjust and add seasonings to your taste.

#3657 - Shredded Chicken Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. boneless/skinless chicken breasts
salt
pepper
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
4oz. mayo
4oz. Breakstone's sour cream
8oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1 - 4oz. can diced green chile peppers (drained)
1 jalapeno pepper (diced)

Salt and pepper both sides of chicken. Line a glass baking dish with foil and spray it with Pam. Place the chicken on the foil. Bake at 350 degrees until chicken is fully cooked. Cool chicken completely. Into a large bowl use two forks to shred the chicken. Add the cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, drained/diced green chile peppers and diced jalapeno peppers--stir well to mix. Spread the mixture into a greased glass baking dish or casserole. Bake at 350 degrees 30-35 minutes or until edges are browned and mixture is hot. Serve hot with good quality crackers.

#3656 - Cajun Gumbo Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/4 cup butter
6 green onions (sliced)
2 ribs of celery (chopped)
1/4 cup chopped red bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped orange bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped yellow bell peppers
1 1/2 lbs. large raw shrimp (peeled and chopped)
1 garlic clove (minced)
1 1/2 tsp. creole seasoning
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened and cubed)
3/4 cup sliced pickled okra
1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for sprinkling)
2 TBSP chopped fresh parsley
good quality crackers

In a Dutch oven over medium heat add butter--melt. Add sliced green onions, chopped celery and all four colors of chopped bell peppers--cook/stir until tender. Add chopped shrimp, minced garlic and creole seasoning--cook/stir for 2 minutes. Turn heat back to low and add cream cheese--cook/stir until cream cheese is melted. Remove from heat--add sliced okra and 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese--stir to mix. Pour the mixture into a greased 2qt. baking dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, then sprinkle more grated Parmesan cheese over the top and return to oven 5-10 minutes longer or until hot and bubbling. Serve hot with good quality crackers.

#3655 - Crispy Caramel Mix

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 12oz. box Crispix corn and rice cereal
1 1/2 cups nuts (one type or mixed)
1/2 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup Kayro lite corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
2 cups chocolate covered peanuts

In a foil roasting pan add the cereal and nuts--toss to mix. In a saucepan over medium heat add brown sugar, lite corn syrup and butter--cook/stir until melted and smooth. Drizzle the butter mixture over the cereal mixture while stirring the cereal, then toss to coat. Bake at 300 degrees for 20-30 minutes (stirring every 7 minutes). Spread the cereal mixture over a large sheet of buttered foil. Cool completely. Wash and dry the foil roasting pan. Place the cereal mixture into the foil pan (breaking up any clumps) and add the chocolate covered peanuts--toss to mix.

#3654 - Multi Colored Pasta Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 16oz. box multi-colored rotini pasta
1 zucchini (washed and sliced, peeled before slicing if you wish)
1/4 cup sliced black olives
1/2 lb. cooked ham (cut into bite sized pieces)
6oz. pepperoni slices (quartered)
1/2 of a red bell pepper (chopped)
1 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 tsp. oregano
salt and pepper (to your taste)
1 cup Italian salad dressing (more if necessary)
fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 small container cherry tomatoes (quartered)

Cook and drain pasta in salted water but DO NOT RINSE. In a large bowl add sliced zucchini, sliced black olives, ham pieces, pepperoni pieces, chopped red bell peppers, chopped celery, sliced green onions, oregano, salad dressing and drained pasta--toss well. Taste--adjust seasonings and add salt/pepper as necessary. Cover and refrigerate overnight. The next day, add cherry tomato pieces and shredded mozzarella cheese--stir well. Sprinkle fresh grated Parmesan cheese over the top before serving. If salad is too dry, add a little more Italian salad dressing.

#3653 - Pepperoni Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

16oz. uncooked shell pasta (or other shape)
1lb. ground Italian sausage (casings removed)
28 to 32oz. pasta sauce
24oz. ricotta cheese (less if you wish)
1 can sliced black olives (drained)
12oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
12oz. pepperoni slices (more if you wish)

Cook and drain pasta in salted water--drain but DO NOT RINSE. In a skillet over medium heat crumble the Italian sausage--cook/stir until browned. Chop all of the pepperoni slices into small pieces. In a bowl add drained pasta, browned sausage, HALF of the pepperoni pieces and the pasta sauce--stir well. In a separate bowl add ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and sliced black olives--stir to mix. Pour the pasta mixture into a large greased casserole dish. Spread the cheese mixture over the pasta mixture. Sprinkle the other half of the chopped pepperoni pieces over the top. Bake at 350 degrees 25-35 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let it sit a few minutes before serving.

#3652 - Hot Monterey Jack Cheese Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 cup mayo
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 green onions (finely chopped)
8-12 Ritz crackers (crushed)
8 slices of bacon (fried, dried on paper towels and crumbled)

In a bowl add mayo, softened cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, shredded Monterey Jack cheese and finely chopped green onions--mix well. Spread the mixture into a greased glass pie plate. Sprinkle the crushed Ritz crackers evenly over the top. Bake at 350 degrees 15-20 minutes or until hot and bubbling. Spread the crumbled bacon evenly over the top. Serve with good quality crackers.

#3651 - Sour Cream Biscuits

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups self-rising flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cups Breakstone's sour cream
4 tsp. canola oil
melted butter

In a bowl add self-rising flour and baking soda--stir to mix. Add sour cream and canola oil--stir just until combined. Flour your counter. Place the dough on the floured counter and knead the dough 6 times. Use a knife to cut the dough into 8 equal pieces (or you can use a biscuit cutter). Place the dough pieces on a greased cookie sheet. Brush melted butter over the top of each biscuit dough. Bake at 425 degrees 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

#3650 - Chocolate Peanut Butter Poke Cake

 (by Sue [Hetrick] Sheaffer - friend)

1 box Duncan Hines chocolate cake mix
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1 can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated)
1 cup Jif peanut butter
2 - 8oz. Cool Whip (thawed)
1 jar hot fudge ice cream topping
chopped peanuts

Prepare and bake cake according to box directions (in a 9 x 13 cake pan). Cool cake to room temperature. Use the handle end of a wooden spoon to poke about 30 holes into the cake (all the way to the bottom). In a mixer add cream cheese--beat. Add condensed milk and peanut butter--beat. Add ONE of the thawed 8oz. Cool Whips--beat until smooth. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the top of the cake. Keep smoothing the cream cheese mixture with a spatula so that the holes get filled with the cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate the cake for at least 6 hours. Remove from refrigerator, spread the other 8oz. Cool Whip over the top of the cake. Drizzle the hot fudge topping over the Cool Whip. Sprinkle chopped peanuts over the top of the cake.

#3649 - Quick Peanut Butter Squares

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup butter (melted)
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 cups Domino's powdered sugar
1 cup + 4 TBSP Jif peanut butter
1 1/2 cups Nestle's MILK chocolate chips

In a bowl add melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and 1 cup peanut butter--mix until well blended. Press the mixture into an UNgreased 9 x 13 cake pan. In a microwave safe bowl add 4 TBSP peanut butter and all of the milk chocolate chips--microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Pour the chocolate mixture evenly over the crust. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold. Keep refrigerated. Cut into bars or squares.

#3648 - Easy Soft Pretzel Nuggets

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 11oz. can Pillsbury refrigerated breadstick dough
1 beaten egg
kosher (coarse) salt
1 - 15oz. jar Cheez Whiz
2 TBSP milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unroll and separate the dough into 12 breadsticks. Brush the beaten egg over the top of each breadstick, then sprinkle the kosher salt over the tops. Use a sharp knife to cut all of the breadstick dough into pretzel nuggets shapes and place them on greased cookie sheets (not too close together). Bake at 375 degrees 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. While they are baking, scoop out about 1/3 of the Cheez Whiz (about 5oz.) into a bowl and add the milk. Microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until hot/melted/smooth. Serve the warm pretzel nuggets with the melted cheese.

#3647 - Sourdough Checkerboard Bread Appetizer

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 large loaf round sourdough bread
6 slices bacon (more if necessary)
1 pack cheddar cheese slices
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1 TBSP Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix powder

Cook the bacon, drain it on paper towels and crumble the bacon. With a sharp bread knife slice the bread every 1" but DO NOT cut through the bottom (leave about 1" from the bottom uncut). Once you've sliced the loaf all the way across in one direction, turn the bread 1/4 turn and do the same thing again (making a checkerboard pattern but with everything still held together by the bottom of the loaf). Sprinkle the crumbled bacon evenly into all of the slits. Cut a cheddar cheese slice into four rectangular pieces and slip the cheddar cheese pieces into the slits. Repeat with as many cheese slices as necessary. In a bowl add melted butter and ranch dressing powder--stir well. Drizzle the butter mixture evenly into the slits. Wrap the whole loaf with foil and place it on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. To serve, let your "eaters" tear off pieces as they please.

#3646 - Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 TBSP white sugar
3 TBSP butter (melted)
2 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
vanilla frosting
strawberry preserves

In a bowl add graham cracker crumbs, 2 TBSP white sugar and melted butter--stir to mix. Place 18 cupcake liners into muffin tins. Spoon the graham cracker mixture evenly into the cupcake liners, then use your thumb to lightly flatten down the graham cracker mixture in each liner. In a mixer add cream cheese--beat. Add 1/2 cup white sugar and the vanilla--beat. Add eggs--beat. Spoon batter over graham cracker mixture in each liner until each liner is 3/4 full. Bake at 325 degrees 23-27 minutes or until cream cheese batter is set. Cool completely. Frost the cupcakes with your favorite vanilla frosting, then use your thumb to make a small well in the center of the frosting on each cupcake. Place a dollop of strawberry preserves into the well in the frosting of each cupcake.

#3645 - Parsley Garlic Bread

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 loaf Italian bread
1 stick softened butter
2 large garlic cloves (smashed and minced)
1 heaping TBSP fresh chopped parsley
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

In a bowl add softened butter, minced garlic and chopped parsley--mix well. Slice the bread loaf into 1" thick slices. Spread the butter mixture over each bread slice and place them (butter side up) on cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and sprinkle fresh grated Parmesan cheese over the buttered tops. Set oven to broil, return to oven and broil 2-3 minutes or until edges of bread are crispy.

#3644 - Hot Cinnamon Apples

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/4 cup butter
4 large tart apples
2 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Wash, peel and core apples, then slice them into 1/4" slices. In a cast iron skillet over medium heat add butter--melt. Add apple slices--cook/stir until apples are almost tender. In a bowl add water and cornstarch--mix well. Pour cornstarch mixture into the apple mixture--stir. Add brown sugar and cinnamon--cook/stir until apples are tender and sauce has thickened. Serve warm as a side dish, or serve at room temperature over vanilla ice cream.

#3643 - Bagel Croutons

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - day old (or stale) bagels
1-2 tsp. Italian seasoning
salt
1/4 cup olive oil

Slice each bagel in half. Cut each bagel half into large crouton sized pieces. In a bowl add olive oil, salt (your choice of amount) and Italian seasoning--stir to mix. Add the bagel pieces to the olive oil mixture--toss to coat. Spread the coated bagel pieces on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely.

#3642 - Parmesan Wax Beans

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/4 lbs. fresh yellow wax beans (or canned wax beans as described below)
2 TBSP butter
1/4 cup crushed Ritz crackers (more if you wish)
salt and pepper (to your taste)
grated Parmesan cheese (for sprinkling)
crumbled cooked bacon (optional)

Trim the ends of the wax beans and cut them to the size you like. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil--add the wax beans and cook/stir until beans are soft. Drain the beans. In a bowl add drained beans and butter--toss until butter is melted. Sprinkle the crushed Ritz crackers, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese over the beans--toss to coat. Serve immediately. Optional: add some crumbled cooked bacon when you add the crushed Ritz crackers. You can use canned wax beans if you cook/drain them after heating them just until hot.

#3641 - Raisin Walnut Pumpkin Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 cup Crisco shortening
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup Libby's canned pumpkin
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Place raisins in a saucepan, cover them with water, bring to a boil over medium heat and boil them for 5 minutes. Drain the raisins and set aside. Into a bowl sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon, then stir with a whisk--set aside. In a mixer add white sugar and Crisco--beat. Add egg and vanilla--beat. Add pumpkin--beat. Slowly add flour mixture--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add drained raisins and chopped walnuts--stir to mix. Drop batter by spoonfuls on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees 10-14 minutes. Cool completely. Frost or glaze if desired.

#3640 - Italian Chili

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 rib of celery (chopped)
1 onion (chopped)
1/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped red bell peppers
1 TBSP canola oil
1/4lb. Italian sausage (loose/crumbled - more if you wish)
1 - 15oz. can Italian stewed tomatoes
1 cup canned kidney beans (drained and rinsed - more if you wish)
1 cup water
5 TBSP Hunt's tomato paste
3/4 tsp. chili powder (optional)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
shredded cheese (your choice of type)

In a skillet add canola oil, chopped celery, chopped onions, chopped green bell peppers and chopped red bell peppers - cook/stir over medium heat until vegetables are tender, then set aside. In a Dutch oven add crumbled sausage--cook/stir until sausage is browned, then drain off any grease. Add vegetable mixture, stewed tomatoes, kidney beans, water, tomato paste, chili powder, salt and pepper to the sausage--cook/stir until mixed and boiling. Once boiling, turn heat back to simmer. Simmer for 20-30 minutes or until thickened. Serve in bowls and sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of each bowl when serving.

#3639 - Onion Sauce Skirt Steaks

(by Shirley McNevich)

4 - 6oz. skirt steaks
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 TBSP olive oil
1 onion (sliced)
salt and pepper (to your taste)

Salt and pepper both sides of each skirt steak. In a skillet over medium heat add olive oil, then place the steaks in the skillet. Cook steaks on both sides until done to your taste. Place steaks on a serving plate to rest. To the drippings in the skillet add onions--cook/stir until softened. Add red wine vinegar--cook/stir until onion mixture is tender and hot. Serve the onion sauce over the steaks.

#3638 - Burger BBQ Sauce

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup Heinz ketchup
1/2 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup molasses
2 tsp. French's yellow mustard
1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. liquid smoke
1/8 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

In a saucepan add ketchup, brown sugar, white sugar, honey, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, liquid smoke and pepper--stir until well mixed. Place saucepan over medium heat--cook/ stir mixture until it starts to boil. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Stir well before using on cooked burgers or cooked steaks.

#3637 - Corn and Egg Soup

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - 15oz. cans cream style corn
29-30oz. chicken broth
2 beaten eggs
2 TBSP cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1 - 10oz. can corn kernels (drained; optional)
salt and pepper (to your taste)

In a Dutch oven add all of the cream style corn and the chicken broth--cook/stir over medium heat until boiling, then reduce heat to simmer. In a bowl whisk the water and cornstarch together. Add the cornstarch mixture to the soup--stir well. Slowly add the beaten eggs to the soup while whisking. Add the drained corn kernels--cook/stir until soup is hot and thickened. Taste--add salt and pepper to your taste.

#3636 - Extra Chewy Sugar Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 sticks softened butter (NO substitutes)
2 cups white sugar + extra for sprinkling
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

In a bowl add flour, baking powder and salt--stir with a whisk to mix. In a mixer add butter and white sugar--beat 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla--beat. Slowly add flour mixture--beat. Drop heaping spoonfuls of dough on to grease cookie sheets. Sprinkle a little extra white sugar on top of each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees 10-13 minutes or until edges of cookies are golden brown. Cool completely. Note: do a test cookie bake to get the baking time right. If you over bake them, they won't be chewy.

#3635 - M&M Peanut Butter Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups Jif creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar + extra for rolling
1/2 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
2 eggs
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1 bag M&M's candies

In a mixer add peanut butter, white sugar and brown sugar--beat until mixed, then beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Turn mixer speed to low--add eggs, baking soda, vanilla and salt--beat until mixed. Use a teaspoon and get a heaping spoonful of batter. Place some white sugar in a bowl. Roll the batter into a ball, roll it into the white sugar and place it on a greased cookie sheet. Use a greased fork to press down on the dough ball and make a criss cross pattern. Press 5-6 M&M's into the cookie dough. Repeat with all dough. Bake at 350 degrees 10-12 minutes.

#3634 - Italian Gravy (Red Sauce)

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 cup olive oil
1 large onion (minced)
3 garlic cloves (minced)
4 cups water
2 - 32oz. cans crushed tomatoes
1 - 16oz. can Hunt's tomato paste
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. white sugar (more if necessary)
salt, pepper and oregano (to your taste)

In a Dutch oven over medium heat add olive oil, minced onions and minced garlic--cook/stir until onions are see-through. Turn heat back to medium low. Add water, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped basil, baking soda, white sugar, salt, pepper and oregano--cook/stir until mixture is simmering. Tilt the lid on the Dutch oven and simmer for 2 hours or until sauce is thick. Taste--adjust seasonings as necessary.

#3633 - Cabbage and Onions

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 onion (chopped)
1 head of cabbage
1 1/2 TBSP butter
5-6 bacon slices
salt and pepper (to your taste)

Remove the cabbage core, then tear the cabbage into bite sized pieces (just enough cabbage so it will fit in your cast iron skillet). In a cast iron skillet over medium heat fry the bacon. When bacon is done, place the bacon slices on paper towels to drain and leave the bacon drippings in the skillet. Add the butter and onions to the bacon drippings--cook/stir until onions soften. Add the cabbage pieces--toss/cook until cabbage is wilted and tender. Remove from heat. Crumble the drained bacon and add it to the cabbage mixture--toss to mix. Add salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot.

#3632 - Chocolate Jelly Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup white sugar
2 cups sifted CAKE flour (sift after measuring)
4 TBSP Hershey's cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
a pinch of salt
1 cup water
2 TBSP Welch's grape jelly
1 cup mayo
2 tsp. vanilla

In a bowl add white sugar, sifted cake flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt--stir. In a mixer add water, grape jelly, mayo and vanilla--beat on low to mix. Slowly add flour mixture--beat until mixed. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees 30-35 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool completely. Frost as desired.

#3631 - Easy Pot Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 - 10.75oz. cans Campbell's cream of chicken soup
3 cups frozen mixed vegetables (thawed and drained)
2 cups shredded cheese (your choice of type)
1 - 16oz. can Pillsbury Grands biscuit dough
2 TBSP butter (melted)

In a bowl add chicken, both cans of soup, drained vegetables and shredded cheese--stir to mix. Pour the mixture into a greased 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Open the biscuit dough and separate dough into 8 biscuits. Cut each biscuit dough into four equal pieces. Place the 32 biscuit pieces in a bowl--drizzle with the melted butter and toss to coat with butter. Spread the biscuit pieces over the top of the chicken mixture. Bake at 375 degrees 20-25 minutes or until top is browned and chicken mixture is hot.

#3630 - Puffed Potatoes

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. Yukon gold potatoes
1/4 cup Breakstone's sour cream
3 TBSP softened Philadelphia cream cheese
salt
pepper
garlic powder
parsley flakes
2 sheets of puff pastry (thawed according to box directions)
1 egg
1 TBSP water

Wash/peel the potatoes, cut them into chunks and boil them in salted water until tender. Drain off the water. In a bowl add drained potatoes--mash with a potato masher. Add cream cheese and sour cream--mix well. Add salt, pepper, parsley flakes and garlic powder (to your taste)--mix well. In a bowl add egg and water--mix well to make an egg wash. Roll out one sheet of puffed pastry on a floured counter. Cut the sheet into 9 equal sizes squares (3 rows of 3). Place some of the mashed potato mixture in the center of each pastry square. Brush all four sides of each square with egg wash, then pull the four corners together and pinch them to seal. Repeat with all squares, then repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry (9 more squares). Place them on greased cookie sheets (pinched corner side down). Bake at 425 degrees 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

#3629 - Baked Tomato Slices

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 large tomatoes
1 bag shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup chopped bell peppers (red, green, orange, yellow--one color OR a mixture)
oregano

Slice each tomato into 4-5 thick slices and arrange them on a foil lined baking sheet. Spoon chopped bell peppers evenly over each tomato. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the tops of each tomato. Sprinkle a little oregano over the cheese. Bake at 350 degrees 15 minutes or until cheese is browned and bubbling. Remove slices using a slotted spatula to drain off any extra juices before place them on serving plates.

#3628 - Dijon Mustard Dressing

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 heaping TBSP Dijon mustard
2 TBSP balsamic vinegar
5 TBSP olive oil
salt and pepper (to your taste)

In a bowl add Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar and olive oil--stir well. Add salt and pepper to your taste--stir well. Use on a salad or on a fully cooked steak. Double, triple recipe as necessary.

#3627 - Homemade Chocolate Pudding

(by Shirley McNevich)

6 TBSP white sugar
1/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
2 TBSP cornstarch
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a saucepan (no heat yet) add white sugar, cocoa and cornstarch--stir. Slowly add milk while stirring--stir well. Place saucepan over low heat--stir constantly and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cook/stir for 2 minutes. Remove from heat--add vanilla--stir. Pour hot mixture into a glass bowl or glass serving dishes. Place a piece of Saran wrap on top of each and press the wrap so it is touching the whole top of the pudding. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold.

#3626 - Zucchini Chowder

(by Shirley McNevich)

4-8 slices cooked bacon (crumbled)
3/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped celery
1lb. zucchini (peeled and chopped)
1lb. frozen corn kernels (thawed and drained)
2 1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
other seasonings to your taste

Cook the bacon in a Dutch oven but save 2 tsp. of the bacon drippings. Crumble the bacon. To the 2 tsp. bacon drippings in the Dutch oven add chopped onions, celery and zucchini--cook/stir over medium low heat until vegetables are tender. Reserve 1 cup of the drained corn. In a blender add the UNreserved corn and 1 cup of milk--blend well. Add remaining 1 1/4 cups milk, the salt and the pepper to the blender mixture--blend well. Pour the blender mixture into the soup--stir well. Add the crumbled bacon, reserved corn and shredded cheese to the soup--cook/stir until soup is hot. Taste--add more seasonings to your taste. If broth is too thin, add a ladle of broth to a bowl and whisk in a tsp. cornstarch, then add it to the soup and stir well. Repeat if necessary.

#3625 - Dreamy Chocolate Cheesecake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 cups Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened) AND
1 - 3oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup softened butter
2 cups Cool Whip (thawed)
1 ready-made graham cracker crust
1 bag Nestle's MINI chocolate chips (optional)

Melt chocolate chips according to bag directions, then cool slightly. In a mixer add both packs of cream cheese--beat. Add white sugar and butter--beat. Slowly add melted chocolate chips--beat until smooth. Remove bowl from mixer--add Cool Whip--stir to mix. Spread the mixture into the graham cracker crust. Refrigerate until cold. Optional: garnish the top with mini chocolate chips.

#3624 - Baked Enchiladas

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 red bell pepper (chopped)
8oz. mushrooms (sliced)
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 TBSP butter
1 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 - 10.75oz. can Campbell's cream of chicken soup (do NOT add water)
8oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups cooked chicken pieces
6 tortillas
1 jar salsa

Line a 9 x 13 baking dish with foil, then spray the inside of the foil with Pam. In a saucepan over medium heat add butter, chopped onions, mushrooms and red bell peppers--cook/stir until tender, then drain. Add sour cream, cream of chicken soup and HALF of the shredded cheese to the mushroom mixture--stir to mix. Add cooked chicken pieces--stir to mix. Spread the mixture evenly over each tortilla shell, roll them closed and place them side by side in the foil-lined baking dish. Spread salsa (your choice of amount) and remaining shredded cheese over the tops. Bake at 350 degrees 20-25 minutes or until hot. Note: if you're afraid they will get soggy during baking, omit the salsa and serve salsa on the side instead.

#3623 - Dream Coffee Cake

(by Alma Russell - friend)

1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix
1 cup canola oil
4 eggs
1 cup Breakstone's sour cream
3/4 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
3 TBSP butter
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 3/4 cups chopped walnuts

In a bowl add cake mix powder, canola oil, eggs and sour cream--mix with a pastry blender to make crumbs. In a separate bowl add brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and chopped walnuts--mix with a pastry blender to make crumbs. Spread half of the batter crumbs into a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Sprinkle half of the walnut crumbs over the the batter crumbs. Spread the other half of the batter crumbs over the walnut crumbs. Spread the other half of the walnut crumbs over the batter crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees 35 minutes or until top is browned.

#3622 - Hot Broccoli Bacon Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups chopped broccoli
1 cup mayo
1 1/2 cups Breakstone's sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (regular OR sharp)
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon
1/2 cup diced red onions
dip crackers

Cook broccoli in salted water until it just starts to get tender. Remove from heat and drain broccoli. Chop broccoli into small pieces until you have 2 cups of chopped broccoli. In a bowl add chopped broccoli, diced red onions, bacon bits and minced garlic--stir to mix. Add mayo, sour cream, all of the shredded cheddar cheese and 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese--stir well. Spread the mixture into a greased square baking dish. Sprinkle the other 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Bake at 425 degrees 15-18 minutes or until cheese on top is melted and browned. Serve hot with good quality crackers.

#3621 - Quick Biscuits and Gravy

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 1lb. can refrigerated Grands biscuit dough
12oz. pork sausage
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 cups milk

Separate and bake biscuits according to can directions. While biscuits are baking, remove sausage casings and crumble the sausage into a skillet. Cook/stir sausage over medium heat until sausage is browned. Add flour, salt and pepper to sausage while stirring. Slowly add milk to the sausage mixture while stirring--cook/stir until mixture is gravy consistency and is hot. Serve the pork gravy mixture over the warm biscuits.

#3620 - Upside Down Caramel Apple Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

Batter: 2 2/3 cups flour; 2 tsp. baking powder; 1 tsp. cinnamon; 1/2 tsp. salt; 2 cups white sugar; 1 cup softened butter; 4 eggs; 2 tsp. vanilla; 1/2 cup milk

Topping: 1/2 cup butter; 1 1/2 cups Domino's dark brown sugar; 1 tsp. cinnamon; 4 medium apples (washed, peeled and sliced)

In a saucepan over medium heat add 1/2 cup butter--melt. Slowly add brown sugar while stirring--cook/stir until mixture starts to boil. Remove from heat--add 1 tsp. cinnamon--stir well. Pour the hot mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Spread all of the apple slices evenly over the hot mixture. Batter: in a bowl add flour, baking powder, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and salt--stir to mix. In a mixer add 1 cup butter and the white sugar--beat. Add eggs one at a time--beat. Add vanilla--beat. Slowly add flour mixture--beat. Slowly add milk--beat. Pour batter evenly over the apple slices. Bake at 325 degrees 55-70 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool for 20 minutes, then loosen cake edges with a knife. Place a cake plate upside down on top of the cake, then invert the cake on to the plate. Serve cake with whipped cream.