#3904 - Cheddar Macaroni Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 box elbow macaroni
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell peppers
1/4 cup finely chopped green bell peppers
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1 cup mayo
3/4 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 TBSP white sugar
3 TBSP white vinegar
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Cook/drain elbow macaroni in salted water according to box directions but DO NOT RINSE. In a bowl add chopped red bell peppers, chopped green bell peppers, chopped celery, mayo, sour cream, white sugar, white vinegar and milk--mix well. Taste--if too sweet add more white vinegar and stir again. If too sour, add more white sugar and stir again. Once you like the flavor, add the drained macaroni and shredded cheddar cheese--toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate until cold.

#3902 - Sour Cream Pecan Coffee Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1 tsp. cinnamon (less if you wish)
1/8 tsp. salt
3 TBSP melted butter
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup Breakstone's sour cream

In a bowl add the chopped pecans, 1/3 cup white sugar, the brown sugar, cinnamon salt and melted butter--mix well. In a separate bowl add flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda--whisk until mixed. In a mixer add the 1/2 cup softened butter and 1 cup white sugar--beat. Add the eggs--beat. Add the vanilla and sour cream--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add the flour mixture--stir just until mixed. Spread HALF of the batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 cake pan. Drizzle HALF of the pecan mixture evenly over the batter. Pour the rest of the batter over the top. Sprinkle the rest of the pecan mixture evenly over the top. Use your fingers to GENTLY press the pecans into the batter. Bake at 350 degrees 30-40 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool slightly before cutting and serving.

#3894 - Cinnamon Nutmeg Cornbread

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 medium sweet potato (washed, peeled and cubed)
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 TBSP baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 eggs
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
3/4 cup milk
2 TBSP canola oil + extra for oiling the skillet

Place the cubed sweet potatoes in a pot and cover them with water--bring them to a boil over medium heat, then cook until fork tender. Drain the cubed sweet potatoes but DO NOT RINSE. Use some canola oil to grease a 10" cast iron skillet. Place the oiled skillet in the oven and start heating the oven to 425 degrees. In a bowl add yellow cornmeal, flour, white sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg--whisk to mix. Mash the drained sweet potatoes and stir until almost smooth. Add 1 1/2 cups of the mashed sweet potatoes to a bowl, then add the sour cream, milk and 2 TBSP canola oil--stir well. Add the egss--mix well. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the cornmeal mixture--stir just until mixed. Take the hot skillet out of the oven and pour the batter evenly into the hot skillet. Use the back of a spoon to smooth the top. Return it to the oven and bake 25 minutes or until center is puffed up and the top is golden brown (you should also see cracks around the edges).

#3882 - Ranch Potato Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

2lbs. red potatoes
2/3 cup Breakstone's sour cream
2/3 cup creamy ranch salad dressing
6 slices bacon
3 TBSP chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup butter (melted)
3 cups Italian bread crumbs
salt
pepper

Place potatoes in a pot, cover them with water and add 1 tsp. salt--bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, cook until potatoes are fork tender. Drain the potatoes, let them cool until you can handle them, and cut them into chunks (do not remove the skins). Fry the bacon, then place it on paper towels to drain. When bacon is cooled, crumble the bacon. Place the potato chunks evenly in a greased 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the potatoes. In a bowl add the sour cream, ranch dressing, chopped parsley and 3/4 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese--stir. Spread the ranch mixture evenly over the potatoes. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the ranch mixture. In a separate bowl add the Italian bread crumbs, melted butter and 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese--stir to mix. Spread the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the casserole. Bake at 375 degrees 40-45 minutes or until hot, and top is browned and crispy.

#3881 - Plum Loaf

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 cups pitted/chopped plums
1 TBSP flour + 1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/3 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1/4 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)

In a bowl add chopped plum pieces and 1 TBSP flour--toss to coat. In a mixer add butter and white sugar--beat. Add eggs and vanilla--beat. Add salt and baking soda--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Add sour cream--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add coated plums--stir to mix. Pour batter into a greased and floured bread loaf pan. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the top. Bake at 350 degrees 50-60 minutes--test with a toothpick for doneness. Cool for 15 minutes, then loosen and remove loaf. Place loaf on a cake plate until completely cool before slicing. Note: even with the brown sugar, this is very tart.

#3852 - Parsley Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup mayo
1 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 tsp. Lawry's seasoned salt
1 TBSP chopped fresh parsley
1 TBSP dried dill weed
1 TBSP dried onion flakes

In a small glass bowl add mayo, sour cream, seasoned salt, chopped parsley, dill weed and onion flakes--stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve with assorted vegetables or good quality crackers.

#3850 - Sour Cream Blueberry Mousse

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup blueberries + extra for sprinkling
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 cup cold heavy cream

In a bowl add 1 cup blueberries, the white sugar and the salt--mash with a potato masher. Place the mashed mixture into a saucepan--turn heat to medium. Cook/stir until simmering, then cook/stir for 10 minutes or until the consistency of jam. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. In a blender or a food processor add the cooled blueberry mixture, sour cream and softened cream cheese--blender on the puree setting until smooth. In a mixer add the cold heavy cream--beat until soft peaks form. Add the blueberry mixture to the cream mixture--stir well. Spoon the mixture into serving dishes and top with a few extra blueberries.

#3828 - Leftover Baked Mashed Potatoes

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
3/4 tsp. garlic salt
1 cup bite sized cooked ham pieces
4oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream OR 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (whipped)

In a bowl add mashed potatoes and garlic salt--stir to mix. Spread the mashed potatoes into a greased 2 qt. baking dish. Sprinkle the ham pieces over the potatoes. Fold the shredded cheddar cheese into the sour cream (OR fold the cheese into the whipped whipping cream). Spread the cheese mixture over the top of the ham. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.

#3817 - Oreo Cheesecake Bites

(by Shirley McNevich)

36 regular Oreo cookies
1/2 cup butter
4 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup Breakstone's sour cream
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
4oz. Baker's semi-sweet baking chocolate

Finely crush 24 of the Oreo cookies (you can use a food processor, or place the cookies in a Ziploc bag and crush them with a rolling pin). Melt 1/4 cup of the butter. In a bowl add finely crushed Oreo cookies and melted butter--stir to mix. Press the mixture into the bottom of a foil-lined 9 x 13 cake pan. In a mixer add cream cheese--beat. Add white sugar--beat. Add sour cream and vanilla--beat. Add eggs--beat. Remove bowl from mixer. Finely crush the remaining 12 Oreo cookies and add the finely crushed cookies to the batter--stir to mix. Pour the batter evenly over the cookie crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool to room temperature. In a microwave safe bowl add the baking chocolate and 1/4 cup butter--microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until mixture is melted and smooth. Cool the melted chocolate for a few minutes, then spread it evenly over the cooled cheesecake. Refrigerate overnight. The next day use the foil to remove the whole thing from the cake pan and place the whole thing on a cutting board. Cut the cheese cake into fudge-shaped squares and peel off/discard the foil. Keep squares refrigerated.

#3811 - Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake

(by Shirley McNevich)

8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1/3 cup Breakstone's sour cream
3/4 cup Jif smooth peanut butter
1 cup + 3 TBSP Domino's powdered sugar
1/3 cup chopped peanuts
1 - 9" Keebler ready-made graham cracker crust (OR chocolate crust if you prefer)
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
1 bag Nestle's peanut butter chips
chocolate cookie sprinkles

Sprinkle the chopped peanuts evenly into the bottom of the ready-made crust. In a mixer add cream cheese and sour cream--bat. Add peanut butter and 1 cup of powdered sugar--beat until smooth. Spread the batter evenly into the crust (all the way to the edges). In a mixer add heavy cream, cocoa and 3 TBSP powdered sugar--beat until mixed and leave it in the mixer bowl. Refrigerate both the pie and the bowl of topping mixture until cold and cheesecake is set. Remove both from refrigerator. Place the topping mixture back on the mixer--beat until stiff peaks form. Spread the topping mixture evenly over the top of the pie. Sprinkle peanut butter chips (your choice of amount) and chocolate sprinkles evenly over the top of the pie.

#3807 - Colby Pizza Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. ground chuck
1 onion (chopped)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1lb. shredded Colby cheese
16oz. Breakstone's sour cream
good quality tortilla chips

In a skillet over medium heat add ground chuck, chopped onions, salt and pepper--cook/stir until meat is browned. Drain off all fat, then set aside. In a bowl add softened cream cheese--beat with a spoon. Add sour cream--stir until mixed. Spread the sour cream mixture evenly over a round pizza pan. Sprinkle the warm drained ground chuck evenly over the sour cream mixture. Spread the shredded cheese evenly over the top. Bake at 250 degrees 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is hot. Serve hot with good quality tortilla chips.

#3800 - Mexican Chicken Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened and cubed)
1/3 cup Frank's Redhot sauce (original)
1 TBSP taco seasoning mix
1 fully cooked rotisserie chicken (from the deli or grocery store)
8oz. Breakstone's sour cream
good quality tortilla chips or crackers

Remove the skin from the cooked chicken and cut off 2 cups worth of bite sized chicken pieces. In a greased skillet add cubed cream cheese, redhot sauce and taco seasoning--cook/stir over medium heat until melted and smooth. Add chicken pieces--cook/stir until mixture is bubbling. Add sour cream--cook/stir until hot. Serve hot with good quality tortilla chips or crackers.

#3796 - St. Patrick's Day Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 tsp. dried or fresh dill weed
1 tsp. Lawry's seasoning salt
1/4 tsp. onion salt
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 TBSP dried or fresh minced onions
1 TBSP fresh or dried chopped parsley
1 large green bell pepper
good quality crackers and/or assorted fresh vegetables

In a bowl add mayo and sour cream--stir well. Add dill weed, seasoning salt, onion salt, Worcestershire sauce, minced onions and parsley--stir to mix. Cover and refrigerate until cold. When ready to serve, slice off the top of the green bell pepper and scoop out/discard the insides. Fill the empty green bell pepper with the dip mixture, place it in the center of a serving dish, and arrange crackers and/or vegetables around it.

#3794 - Chopped Ham and Chicken

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 10.75oz can Campbell's cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1lb. boneless/skinless chicken breasts
3oz. thin sliced deli smoked ham (chopped into bite sized pieces)
1 tsp. parsley flakes
salt
pepper

In a bowl add cream of chicken soup and sour cream--stir well. Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken, then cut the chicken into 1 1/2" wide strips. Grease a 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Place the chicken strips in the baking dish so they are close but NOT touching. Arrange the chopped ham pieces evenly over the tops of the chicken pieces. Carefully spoon the soup mixture over all of the chicken/ham. Bake UNcovered at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until chicken is done. Remove from oven and sprinkle the parsley flakes evenly over the top.

#3780 - Spring Onion Potato Cassrole

(by Shirley McNevich)

3lbs. red potatoes (washed, peeled and cut into 1" chunks)
1 cup Carnation evaporated milk (NOT condensed)
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
8oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
8 slices bacon (fried and crumbled)
thinly sliced green onions

Place the potato chunks in a pot and cover them with salted water--bring to a boil over medium heat, then cook 20 minutes or until tender. Drain the potatoes. In a large bowl add drained potatoes, evaporated milk, sour cream, salt and pepper--mash with a potato masher. Add HALF of the cheese and HALF of the crumbled bacon--stir until mixed. Spread the mixture into a greased 3 qt. casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees 25-30 minutes or until hot. Remove from oven--sprinkle spring onions, remaining bacon and remaining cheese over the top. Return to oven and bake until cheese is melted.

#3779 - Deluxe Mashed Potatoes

(by Shirley McNevich)

2lbs. red potatoes (washed, peeled and cut into 2" or so pieces)
3 cups chopped broccoli florets
2 TBSP butter
1/3 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1 tsp. finely chopped garlic
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

In a large saucepan add potato pieces--cover them with water. Over medium heat bring the water to a boil, then cook the potatoes for 10 minutes. Add the chopped broccoli pieces to the potatoes and continue to cook another 8-10 minutes or until potatoes and broccoli are tender. Remove from heat, then drain and set aside. In a skillet over medium heat add butter--melt. Add chopped red bell peppers--cook/stir for 3 minutes. Add chopped garlic--cook/stir 1-2 minutes longer. Remove from heat. In a large bowl add drained potatoes/broccoli, red bell peppers/garlic, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, salt and pepper--mash with a potato masher. Add milk a little at a time, stirring in between, until mashed potatoes are the consistency you desire.

#3773 - Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2lb. ground chuck
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
8 bacon strips (cut into 1" chunks)
1/2 of a large onion (chopped)
4oz. softened Philadelphia cream cheese
1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
2 TBSP Heinz ketchup
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1/4 cup mayo
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a skillet over medium heat add the ground chuck, salt and pepper--cook until beef is browned, then drain the beef and set aside. Fry the bacon in a skillet. When bacon is done, remove the bacon but leave the drippings in the skillet. To the bacon drippings add the chopped onions--cook/stir until tender, then drain off the grease. In a large bowl add cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, mayo, sour cream and ketchup--stir well. Add drained beef, bacon pieces, onions and both cheeses--stir to mix. Spread the mixture in a glass pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees 20-25 minutes or until hot. Serve with good quality chips or crackers.

#3747 - Double Berry Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 unbaked pie crust dough
18oz. fresh blackberries
6oz. fresh raspberries
2/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup water
2 TBSP cornstarch
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup Domino's powdered sugar
1/3 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla

Place pie dough into a greased 9" pie plate, use the tines of a fork to prick holes into the bottom of the crust, flute the edges and spray the inside of the pie crust dough with Pam. Place a second pie plate into the pie dough (to keep dough from shrinking when baking). Bake at 475 degrees 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned, then cool completely. In a bowl add the fresh blackberries, fresh raspberries and white sugar--toss gently to mix. Pour the 1/4 cup water over the berries and let them sit for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, drain the berries well but keep the juice. Measure the berry juice--if less than 1 1/4 cups, add just enough water to make 1 1/4 cups liquid total. In a saucepan over medium heat add the berry juice and cornstarch--stir well. Keep stirring/cooking until mixture boils. Once boiling, remove from heat and cool the cornstarch mixture for 10 minutes. Spoon the drained berries into the cooled crust. Stir the cornstarch mixture one more time, then evenly spread the cornstarch mixture over the berries. Refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, place your mixer bowl into the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Remove mixer bowl from refrigerator and place it on your mixer. Add the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar--beat until you get soft peaks. Add the sour cream and vanilla--beat. Slice pie and place on plates, then top with the sour cream mixture.

#3738 - Creamy Vanilla Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 14oz. can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup water
1 - 3oz. box Jell-O vanilla INSTANT pudding mix
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 - 8oz. Cool Whip (thawed)
1 - 9" ready-made graham cracker crust

In a bowl add sweetened condensed milk, water and pudding mix powder--stir just until pudding powder is dissolved. Add the sour cream and Cool Whip--stir until mixed. Pour batter into the graham cracker crust. Refrigerate overnight.

#3727 - Chicken Nugget Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

4 slices of bacon (cooked and crumbled)
3/4 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1 TBSP mayo
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

In a bowl add sour cream, mayo, crumbled blue cheese and crumbled bacon--stir well. Serve as a dip with chicken nuggets.