#512 - Glazed Strawberry Pie

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - ready-made Keebler graham cracker pie crust
1 cup water
1/4 cup strawberry jelly
1/4 cup of a small box of strawberry Jell-O mix (it won't take the whole box, just 1/4 cup)
2 - 3oz. Philly cream cheese
1 TBSP white sugar
2 TBSP orange juice
1 quart of fresh whole strawberries (washed, stemmed, and drained)
1 - 8oz. Cool Whip

In a saucepan, heat the cup of water until boiling, then stir in the 1/4 cup Jell-O mix and the strawberry jelly--stir until dissolved. Place ice cubes in a large bowl and set the saucepan in the ice until mixture is room temperature. Wipe the bottom of the saucepan with a towel and place saucepan in refrigerator until mixture starts to gel. In a mixer beat cream cheese, white sugar and orange juice until smooth. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on the bottom of the graham cracker crust. Evenly arrange the strawberries on the cream cheese mixture (bottom end of strawberries up). Remove the glaze from the refrigerator and spoon over the strawberries. Chill at least a few hours, then spread Cool Whip over the top. Refrigerate overnight.

#511 - BBQ Chicken and Rice

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 1/2 lbs. chicken pieces
2 TBSP canola oil
1 1/4 cups Kraft BBQ sauce
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups original Minute Rice
1 cup whole kernel canned sweet corn
chopped green and red peppers (optional)

In a large skillet add canola oil and brown chicken on both sides. After the chicken is browned, drain off the oil but keep chicken in the skillet--add BBQ sauce and water--stir. Cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes or until tender (turn pieces once or twice while they are cooking). Add the rice, corn and peppers (optional)--put lid back on, turn heat to low and cook for 5 minutes or until hot.

#510 - Chocolate Peanut Butter Drop Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 sticks softened butter
1 cup Jif creamy peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup Domino's dark brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate bits
1 cup Quick Quaker oats

In a bowl add flour and baking soda--stir and set aside. In a mixer add butter, white sugar, brown sugar, eggs--beat. Add vanilla and peanut butter--beat. Slowly add flour mixture--beat. Add oats and beat. Remove from mixer and stir in chocolate bits. Drop by teaspoonsful on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes (until light brown). After removing from oven, let them stand a few minutes before removing from cookie sheets.

#509 - Raisin Pie

(by Phyllis [Neff] Moyer - friend)

2 - 9" unbaked pie crust doughs
2 cups Sunmaid raisins
1 cup white sugar
2 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt
2 TBSP butter
3 TBSP lemon juice
1 tsp. lemon extract
2 TBSP cornstarch
3 TBSP water

In a saucepan add raisins, white sugar, water, salt, butter, lemon juice, and lemon extract--stir and bring to a boil, then boil for 5 minutes--do NOT drain. While raisins are cooking use a cup to dissolve cornstarch in 3 TBSP cold water--stir until dissolved. Add the cornstarch mixture to the raisin mixture on the stovetop after the raisins have cooked for the 5 minutes--stir and cook 3 minutes longer. Spray pie plate with Pam, place pie dough in pie plate, spray inside of pie dough with Pam, and pour raisin mixture into the pie dough. Place second pie dough on top and seal (pinch the two crusts all the way around--if you didn't spray with Pam, you will need to use water to seal the edges). Flute the edges of the top pie dough. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes.

#508 - Homemade Raisin Bread

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 cups flour
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup raisins (put them in saucepan, cover with water, bring to a boil then cook them for 5 minutes, and drain them)
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup milk

In a large bowl add flour, white sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon--stir until mixed. Use a spoon to make a well (hole) in the center of the flour mixture--set aside. In a separate bowl beat the egg until frothy. Add the melted butter, raisins and milk to the egg mixture--stir until mixed and pour this mixture into the flour well (hole). Use a wooden spoon to mix everything just until mixed and wet. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes to an hour. Test with a toothpick for doneness.

#507 - Italian Fried Chicken

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 1/2 pounds raw chicken pieces
1/2 cup flour
2 beaten eggs
1 envelope Spatini spaghetti sauce mix (NOTE: Spatini has been discontinued and has now been replaced with Lawry's Original Style Spaghetti Sauce--you can see it here http://www.lawrys.com/main/product.aspx?ProductId=127 )
2/3 cup dry bread crumbs
2 TBSP chopped parsley
canola oil for frying

Put the flour in a bowl or plastic bag. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and set aside. In a third bowl, mix Spatini sauce, bread crumbs and parsley. Dip each chicken piece in water, then coat in flour, then dip in eggs, then coat with Spatini mixture. Pour 1/4" canola oil in a skillet and turn stovetop heat on medium. When hot, brown each chicken piece on both sides. After both sides are browned, place a lid on the skillet, turn heat back to low and simmer for 20 minutes (turn pieces occasionally). Remove the lid and cook an additional 10 minutes (turn pieces occasionally).

#506 - Pineapple Delight

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup milk
1 - 8oz. can Dole crushed pineapple (drained--throw juice away)
1 - 8oz. Philly cream cheese
1 - 3oz. package French vanilla instant Jell-O pudding mix
1 jar maraschino cherries (drained--throw juice away)

In a mixer add 1/4 cup milk and cream cheese--beat until creamy. Add the rest of the milk (3/4 cup) and the pudding mix--beat 1 minute until well mixed. Remove bowl from mixer and stir in the crushed pineapple with a spoon. Pour mixture into a serving dish and top with drained cherries for decoration. Refrigerate well before serving.

#505 - Deluxe Shoo Fly Pie

(by Art Keithan - friend)

3/4 cup King syrup molasses
1/4 cup lite Brer Rabbit baking molasses
3/4 cup boiling water
1 egg
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 unbaked ready-made pie crust dough
Crumbs: 1/4 cup butter, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)

In a bowl add butter, flour and brown sugar--use your hands to mix until it turns to crumbs--set aside. In a separate bowl beat the egg, then add King syrup and molasses--stir with a spoon until well blended. Add the boiling water to the molasses mixture--add the baking soda to the boiling water/molasses mixture and stir until it stops fizzing. Spray the 9" pie plate with Pam--put unbaked pie crust in the pie plate, flute the edges and spray inside of the pie dough with Pam. Pour molasses mixture into the pie crust, then sprinkle all of the crumbs over the top. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Turn heat down to 350 degrees and bake 25-30 minutes longer.

#504 - Cranberry Pineapple Jell-O

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 16oz. Ocean Spray cranberry sauce
cold water
1 - 6oz. box strawberry Jell-O
1 - 20oz. can Dole crushed pineapple (drained--keep the juice)

In a bowl add cranberry sauce, then add drained pineapple and stir. In a large measuring cup, add the drained pineapple juice with enough cold water to equal 2 cups. In a separate bowl, add pineapple juice/water and Jell-O mix--stir. Add the Jell-O/pineapple juice/water mixture to the cranberry mixture--stir. Refrigerate well before serving.

#503 - Pizza Potatoes

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 4.9oz. package scalloped OR augratin potatoes mix
1 - 16oz. can Hunt's tomatoes
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 tsp. oregano (more if you wish)
1 - 4oz. package pepperoni slices
1/2 lb. ground chuck
1 medium chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 - 4oz. package shredded mozzarella cheese

In a saucepan, add tomatoes, water and oregano--stir and bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes once boiling. Set aside. In a skillet, brown ground chuck with onion, salt and pepper--drain and set aside. Add potato mix and ground beef to the tomato mixture--stir well. Grease a 2 qt. casserole and pour tomato/potato/beef mixture into the casserole. Spread the pepperoni slices over the top. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 25 minutes--remove from oven, add cheese on top, return to oven and bake 10 more minutes until cheese melts.

#502 - Citrus Punch

(by Pat Klase - friend)

2 - 46oz. cans Hawaiian Punch
1 can frozen Minute Maid lemonade concentrate (thawed)
1 can frozen Minute Maid limeade concentrate (thawed)
1 can frozen Minute Maid orange juice concentrate (thawed)
1 - 2 liter bottle Canada Dry ginger ale (more if you wish)
1 jar maraschino cherries (including the juice)

Chill the Hawaiian punch, cherries and ginger ale; thaw all other ingredients. Add all ingredients to a punch bowl EXCEPT the ginger ale--stir well. Add ginger ale and stir just before serving.

#501 - Puffed Broccoli

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - 10oz. packages frozen chopped broccoli
1 cup Bisquick
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Cook the broccoli according to package directions and drain. In a bowl, add Bisquick, eggs, milk and salt--beat until smooth. Add the broccoli and shredded cheese to the batter--stir. Pour batter into the greased casserole. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until inserted knife comes out clean.

#500 - Cherry Coke Salad

(by Nancy [Reichenbach] Persing - friend)

1 - 20oz. can Dole crushed pineapple (drained--SAVE the juice)
1/2 cup water
1 - 6oz. OR 2 - 3oz. boxes cherry Jell-O
1 - 21oz. can cherry pie filling (we use Musselman's)
3/4 cup Coca-Cola soda
Cool Whip (optional)

Drain the pineapple--set pineapple aside but place pineapple juice in a saucepan with the water. Bring to a boil while stirring. Remove from stove and add the Jell-O mix(es) and stir until dissolved, and while still hot stir in the cherry pie filling and soda. Pour mixture into a serving bowl--when it's cool enough, refrigerate until it starts to gel. Remove from refrigerator and fold in the pineapple. Refrigerate until firm. Top with Cool Whip if desired

#499 - Cherry Pie Salad

(by Nancy [Reichenbach] Persing - friend)

1 - 21oz. can cherry pie filling (we use Musselman's brand)
1 can Eagle brand condensed milk
1 - 20oz. can Dole crushed pineapple (drained--throw juice away)
1/2 cup chopped Diamond brand walnuts
1 - 16oz. Cool Whip (thawed)

In a large bowl, add pie filling, milk, pineapple, and walnuts--stir with a spoon until mixed thoroughly. Fold in the Cool Whip. Refrigerate before serving. If you don't like cherry, substitute your favorite pie filling flavor.

#498 - Italian Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. ground chuck
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 medium onion, chopped
1 minced garlic clove (optional)
1 - 16oz. can Hunt's tomato sauce
1 - 4oz. can chopped mushrooms (drained)
1 tsp. white sugar
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
2 cups Bisquick
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
8 slices provolone cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

In a skillet, brown beef, chopped onion, salt, pepper and minced garlic--drain and return to skillet. Add tomato sauce, mushrooms, sugar, oregano and basil to the browned beef--stir and heat until boiling. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. In a bowl, add egg and beat, then add milk and Bisquick--stir to form dough. Spread 1/2 of the dough in a greased square baking dish, then add a layer of 4 cheese slices. Spoon beef mixture over the top of the cheese, add remaining cheese slices on top of the beef mixture. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top of the cheese slices. Drop remaining dough by spoonsful on top of the cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes until slightly browned.

#497 - Taco Squares

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2lb. ground chuck
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup mayo
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 TBSP chopped onion
1 cup Bisquick
1/4 cup cold water
2 medium tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
tortilla/taco chips for topping

In a skillet, cook the ground beef and stir/brown with the small chopped onion, salt and pepper. Drain the meat. In a bowl, stir together sour cream, mayo, cheese and 1 TBSP chopped onion--set aside. In a separate bowl, mix Bisquick and cold water until dough forms a ball. Grease a square baking dish and press the Bisquick dough on bottom and part way up the sides of the dish. Layer the ground beef, then sliced tomatoes, then green pepper--spoon the sour cream mixture over the entire top. Season to your taste. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven, place a handful of taco chips in your hands and crush them over the top. Serve with salsa as a side dish.

#496 - Sesame Cheese Bread

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 TBSP sesame seeds
1 egg
1 1/2 cups milk
3 3/4 cups Bisquick
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 TBSP fresh or dried parsley
1/4 tsp. pepper (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2 qt. casserole dish, and sprinkle sesame seeds on the bottom and sides of the dish (tilt if necessary). In a mixer, beat the egg then add milk, Bisquick, cheese, parsley and pepper--beat at medium speed for 30 seconds. Pour batter into casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Test with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and dump upside down onto a wooden cutting board and remove casserole dish.

#495 - Rainbow Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist lemon cake mix (pudding mix is included in the mix)
1 - 3oz. box orange Jell-O
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup orange juice OR cold water
1 - 8oz. Cool Whip
7oz. Baker's coconut

Prepare cake mix according to box directions. Bake in a greased 9 x 13 cake pan at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cool the cake for 15 minutes. Use a large cooking fork to poke holes all over the cake. Add the box of orange Jell-O in the boiling water and stir--add the orange juice OR cold water to the Jell-O and stir. Pour the Jell-O mixture evenly over the top of the cake. Cool on the counter, then refrigerate 2 hours. Add Cool Whip to the top of the cake, then sprinkle with the coconut and refrigerate overnight.

#494 - Baked Custard

(Marie Nelson - friend)

5 eggs
3 cups milk
2/3 tsp. salt
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Topping: cinnamon to sprinkle and 1/2 cup Baker's angelflake coconut

In a mixer add eggs, white sugar, vanilla and salt--beat. Add milk and beat until foamy. Pour batter into custard cups or a baking dish/casserole--whichever you use, spray with Pam. Use a 9 x 13 cake pan filled with some water, then add your custard cups or baking dish to the pan of water (once cups or baking dish are placed in the pan, there should be 1" of water up the sides). Sprinkle cinnamon and coconut over the top of custard. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until a table knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on the counter, then refrigerate.

#493 - Monkey Bread

(by Kim [Knecht] Bickel - friend)

3 cans Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 cup Domino's dark brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, stir 1 cup white sugar and the cinnamon--set aside. Open biscuit packages and cut each biscuit into quarters. Grease a bundt pan or angelfood cake pan. Roll each of the biscuit quarters in the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Place each biscuit quarter in the bottom of the pan and continue until bottom is covered. Add extra pieces to the next layer. Keep layering until all pieces are used. In a saucepan, add butter and brown sugar--bring to a boil on medium heat. Once boiling, remove from stove and add the pecans--stir. If there is any of the cinnamon/sugar mixture left over, add it to the pecan mixture and stir. Pour the whole pecan mixture over the top of the layered biscuits. Place a piece of aluminum foil over the top of the pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes longer. Remove from oven, place a plate upside down on the top of the pan and flip upside down on the plate (be careful--juice will be very hot).