#2653 - Quick Strawberry Frosting

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 cup Crisco shortening
1/2 cup softened butter
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups Domino's powdered sugar
1/8 cup mashed/blended fresh strawberries

In a bowl add some fresh strawberries--mash them with a potato masher, then put them in a blender. Blend the berries on high speed until almost liquid. In a mixer add Crisco and softened butter--beat. Add vanilla and 1/8 cup of the blended strawberries--beat. Slowly add powdered sugar--beat until smooth and creamy. If frosting is too thick, add a little milk and beat again. If frosting is too thin, add a little more powdered sugar and beat again.

#2652 - Cocoa Cookie Frosting

(by Aunt Faye [Herman] Minier)

4 TBSP softened butter
2 cups powdered sugar (sifted--measure before sifting)
1/3 cup Hershey's cocoa
2 tsp. vanilla

In a mixer add butter and vanilla--beat. Add cocoa--beat. Slowly add powdered sugar--beat until smooth. Use this mixture to frost cookies.

#2651 - Buttermilk Devil's Food Cookies

(by Aunt Faye [Herman] Minier)

2 3/4 cups sifted flour (measure before sifting)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup Hershey's cocoa
1/2 cup Parkay margarine (softened)
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Into a bowl sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a mixer add white sugar and Parkay--beat. Add eggs--beat. Add cocoa, buttermilk and vanilla--beat. Add chopped nuts--beat. Slowly add flour mixture--beat. Drop by spoonfuls on to greased cookie sheets. Refrigerate batter overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Frost with chocolate frosting if desired.

#2650 - Fruit Cocktail Delight

(by Aunt Faye [Herman] Minier)

1 - 30oz. can Dole fruit cocktail
1 - 3oz. box Jell-O (any fruit or berry flavor)
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
2 TBSP milk
1 envelope Dream Whip

In a saucepan add fruit cocktail and its juice--cook/stir over medium heat until boiling. Remove from heat--add Jell-O and stir well until dissolved. Let it cool to room temperature. In a mixer prepare Dream Whip according to envelope directions. When Dream Whip is ready add milk and cream cheese to Dream Whip--beat until smooth. Pour fruit cocktail mixture into a 9 x 13 glass dish. Refrigerate until firm. Once firm, spread Dream Whip mixture all over the top--refrigerate until cold.

#2649 - Pineapple Lemonade Punch

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 cup Country Time lemonade mix
2 cups cold water
2 - 24oz. cans Dole pineapple juice (cold)
2  - 12oz. cans of Sprite soda (cold)
1 or 2 oranges (sliced but not peeled)

In a punch bowl add lemonade mix and cold water--stir until dissolved. Add pineapple juice--stir until mixed. Taste the punch--if you want a more sour flavor, add a little more lemonade mix and stir until mixed. When ready to serve, add both cans of Sprite--stir until mixed. Float the orange slices on top.

#2648 - Hawaiian Strawberry Punch

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 32oz. can original Hawaiian punch
1 - 32oz. can pineapple juice
1 can frozen Minute Maid orange juice concentrate (no pulp)
1 - 2 liter bottle bottle of Sprite OR 7Up
1 box frozen strawberries (thawed)
2 oranges (sliced but not peeled)

Refrigerate Hawaiian punch, pineapple juice and Sprite until very cold. In a punch bowl add Hawaiian punch, pineapple juice and frozen orange juice concentrate--stir until orange juice thaws and mixes. Add thawed strawberries--stir. Add Sprite--stir to mix. Float the orange slices on top.

#2647 - Sausage Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. loose fresh sausage
1 can original Rotel tomatoes and chilis
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (cubed and softened)

In a skillet add loose sausage--cook/stir over medium heat until browned, then drain. In a crockpot add browned sausage, Rotel and cream cheese--stir until mixed. Turn crockpot on medium until mixture is hot--stir. Turn heat back to low and serve dip warm with tortilla chips.

#2646 - Potato Tomato Bake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. ground chuck
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 cup (or more) chopped tomatoes
1 1/2 pounds garlic mashed potatoes
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
4 slices cooked bacon (crumbled)
2 green onions (chopped)

In a skillet add ground chuck, salt, pepper and chopped onions--cook/stir until meat is browned, then drain off any grease from the beef. Add 1 cup (or more) chopped tomatoes to hot beef mixture--stir to mix. Press the beef mixture into the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Spread the mashed potatoes over the beef mixture. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, remove from oven, sprinkle 1/4 cup chopped tomatoes, chopped green onions, bacon and cheese all over the top. Return to oven and bake another 15 minutes or until heated through.

#2645 - Potato Chicken

(by Shirley McNevich)

Topping: 1 3/4 cups water; 1 cup milk; 2 1/4 cups dry potato buds (mashed potato mix); 1 envelope Good Seasons ranch dressing mix (dry); 1 beaten egg

Bottom: 2 cups cooked chicken OR turkey (cut into bite sized pieces); 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (thawed); 2 - 10.75oz. cans Campbell's cream of chicken soup; 1/2 cup chicken broth

In a saucepan add chicken pieces, thawed vegetables, both cans of soup and the chicken broth--cook/stir over medium heat until boiling. Once boiling, remove from heat and pour mixture into a greased 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Topping: in a separate saucepan add water--bring to a boil. Remove from heat--add milk--stir to mix. Add dry potato buds and dry ranch dressing mix--stir until mixed. Let the potato mixture stand for 1 minute, then add the beaten egg--stir well. Cool the potato mixture for 5 minutes, then stir again. Spread the potato mixture over the top of the chicken mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

#2644 - Dark Pecan Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

Crust: 2 cups flour; 1/2 cup Domino's powdered sugar; 2 sticks softened butter
Batter: 3 eggs; 1 cup white sugar; 1 cup Kayro dark corn syrup; 1 tsp. vanilla; 1 TBSP flour; 2 TBSP butter (melted); 1 cup chopped pecans

Crust: in a bowl add 2 cups flour, powdered sugar and 2 sticks butter--mix with a pastry blender to make crumbs. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. In a mixer add eggs and white sugar--beat. Add corn syrup and vanilla--beat. Add 1 TBSP flour, melted butter and chopped pecans--beat. Spread the batter over the hot baked crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until lightly brown on top. Cool completely. Cut into bars or squares.

#2643 - Cream Cheese Jell-O Salad

(by Shirley Ross - friend)

1 - 29oz. can fruit cocktail (drained but save the juice)
2 - 3oz. boxes lime Jell-O
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
2 TBSP milk
1 - 8oz. Cool Whip (thawed)
1 - 3oz. box cherry Jell-O
1/4 cup maraschino cherry pieces (drained)

Place the drained fruit cocktail juice in a saucepan--cook/stir over medium heat until boiling. Once boiling, remove from heat and add both boxes of lime Jell-O--stir until dissolved. Let it cool to room temperature. In a mixer add cream cheese and milk--beat. Remove from mixer--add drained fruit cocktail, maraschino cherry pieces and lime Jell-O mixture--stir until mixed. Add the Cool Whip--stir until mixed. Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Refrigerate until cold and set. Prepare cherry Jell-O according to box directions--let it cool to room temperature. Remove lime Jell-O mixture from refrigerator--pour cherry Jell-O liquid over the top. Refrigerate overnight.

#2642 - Tomato Soup Fried Chicken

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 cups flour
2 envelopes Lipton cup of soup tomato flavor
1 TBSP paprika
2 envelopes Good Seasons Italian dressing mix
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
bowl of milk
up to 16 pieces of chicken

In a bowl add flour, tomato soup mixes, paprika, Italian dressing mix, salt and pepper--stir well to mix.  Dip chicken pieces one at a time in the milk, then in the flour mixture to coat, then either fry or bake the chicken.

#2641 - Dill Sweet Pickles

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - 32oz. jars whole dill pickles
2 cups white sugar
Juice: 2 cups white sugar; 1/2 cup white vinegar; 1/2 cup water; 1 TBSP pickling spice

Drain both jars of pickles, then slice the pickles into coin shaped pieces. Place the pickle pieces in a large bowl. Sprinkle 2 cups of sugar all over the pickle pieces, then stir to mix. Cover the bowl and let them sit on the counter overnight. The next day in a saucepan over medium heat add white vinegar, water, pickling spice and 2 cups white sugar--stir/cook until boiling. Once boiling remove from heat and pour the boiling mixture over the pickles. Cover and let the pickles sit on the counter overnight. The next day, uncover the bowl, stir, and place pickles/juice in glass jars and store them in the refrigerator.

#2640 - Blueberry Shortcake

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 1/3 cups original Bisquick mix
1/2 cup milk
3 TBSP white sugar
3 TBSP butter or Parkay margarine (melted)
1 can Lucky Leaf blueberry pie filling

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. By hand, stir the Bisquick, milk, sugar, and melted butter/margarine until a soft dough forms. Pour batter in an 8 x 8 x 2 cake pan or a 9 inch round cake pan. Pat dough down with your hand until it's even all over the bottom of the pan. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes until golden brown. Test with a toothpick for doneness. To serve, place a piece of shortcake in a bowl, crumble the cake into small pieces, scoop some of the blueberry pie filling over the top, and add a little cold milk.

#2639 - Cream Cheese Carrot Muffins

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 15oz. can sliced carrots (well drained)
1 3/4 cups flour
1 cup white sugar
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 egg
1/3 cup canola oil
Filling: 1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened); 1 egg; 1/4 cup white sugar

Filling: in a mixer add cream cheese, 1 egg and 1/4 cup white sugar--beat well and set aside. Batter: in a bowl add drained carrots--mash them with a potato masher until smooth. In a separate bowl add flour, 1 cup white sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and nutmeg--stir to mix. Add 1 egg and canola oil to the mashed carrots--beat with a whisk until smooth. Pour the carrot mixture into the flour mixture--stir with a spoon just until mixed. Place cupcake liners in muffin tins. Fill each 1/3 full of batter, drop 1 TBSP of the cream mixture into the middle of the batter, then place more batter on top of each so they are 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

#2638 - Pea Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

8oz. shredded cheese (your choice of type--more if you wish)
3 - 15oz. cans small peas (drained)
1 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing (more if needed)
3 hard boiled eggs (peeled and chopped)
1 red onion (chopped)
1 - 4oz. jar diced pimentos (well drained)
1/2 tsp. salt
ground black pepper to your taste

In a bowl add shredded cheese and drained peas--stir gently until mixed. Add Miracle Whip, pimentos, salt, ground pepper, chopped onions and chopped eggs--stir until well mixed. If too dry, add a little more Miracle Whip and stir again. Refrigerate overnight for best flavor. Stir before serving.

#2637 - Tuna Noodle Cracker Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - 3oz. cans albacore tuna (well drained)
1 cup frozen peas and carrots
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup crushed Keebler Club crackers (buttery garlic flavor)
2 1/2 cups dry egg noodles
1 - 10.75oz. can Campbell's cream of mushroom soup
a dash of garlic powder

Cook egg noodles according to bag directions, adding peas and carrots during the last 2 minutes of cooking time--drain but do not rinse. In a bowl add mushroom soup, garlic powder and milk--stir to mix. Add noodle mixture and tuna to soup mixture--stir. Pour the mixture into a greased 2 qt. casserole dish. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, remove from oven, sprinkle the cracker crumbs over the top, return to oven and bake 10-15 minutes longer or until hot.

#2636 - Skillet Pasta

(by Shirley McNevich)

6oz. dry spaghetti (or other pasta)
1 cup broccoli floret pieces
1 - 15oz. can Italian style diced tomatoes
1 - 15oz. can wax beans (drained)
2 cups cooked chicken pieces
shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook pasta according to box directions, adding broccoli during the last 3 minutes of cooking time--drain but do not rinse. In a skillet add diced tomatoes and drained wax beans--cook/stir over medium heat until boiling. Once boiling, reduce heat to simmer. Add chicken pieces--cook/stir until chicken is hot. Spread the pasta mixture on a large serving plate, then pour the tomato mixture all over the pasta. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese all over the top when serving.

#2635 - Raspberry Glaze Topping

(by Shirley McNevich)

9 TBSP raspberry preserves (seedless)
6 tsp. water

In a microwave safe bowl add raspberry preserves and water--stir until mixed. Microwave on high in 10 second increments, stirring in between, until mixture is smooth. Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then stir well before drizzing on cake or cheesecake.

#2634 - Cream Cheese Veggie Alfredo

(by Shirley McNevich)

12oz. medium egg noodles
16oz. frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup milk
1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (cubed, then softened)
3 TBSP butter buds sprinkles
2 tsp. garlic and herb seasoning
1/2 cup chopped onions

Cook egg noodles according to bag directions--during the last 4 minutes of cooking time for the noodles, add the frozen mixed vegetables and chopped onions. Drain the mixture but do not rinse. In a large saucepan over medium heat add milk, cream cheese, butter buds and garlic herb seasoning--cook/stir until cream cheese is melted. Add egg noodle/vegetable mixture to the cream cheee mixture--stir until mixed. Cook/stir until mixture is hot.