#3327 - Homemade Cracker Jacks

(by Shirley McNevich)

8 cups plain popped popcorn
1 cup roasted peanuts
3/4 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1/4 cup butter
3 TBSP Kayro clear corn syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Grease a large jelly roll pan (pan with a lip on all sides) with Pam. Spread the popped popcorn evenly over the pan. Sprinkle the peanuts evenly over the popcorn. In a cast iron skillet add brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt--cook/stir over medium heat until butter is melted. Once butter is all melted, cook for 3 minutes WITHOUT STIRRING. Remove from heat--add baking soda and vanilla--stir briskly until mixed. Pour the hot mixture evenly over the popcorn (it's ok if you don't coat every single piece of popcorn). Use a greased spatula to gently mix the popcorn mixture, then spread it out again evenly in the pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool completely. Break into pieces.

#3326 - Chewy Marshmallow Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup butter (melted)
3 cups mini marshmallows
1 - 6oz. bag Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate bits
1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix
3 cups Cheerios cereal
1 can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated)

Pour the melted butter into a 9 x 13 cake pan and shake pan back and forth to spread the melted butter evenly. Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the top of the butter. Sprinkle the marshmallows evenly over the cake mix. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the marshmallows. Sprinkle the Cheerios evenly over the chocolate chips. Carefully pour the condensed milk evenly over the whole top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely. Cut into bars or squares.

#3325 - Homemade Soft Pretzels

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 envelope of yeast
1/4 cup warm water + 1 cup warm water + 4 cups water
a pinch of white sugar
2 tsp. salt
4-5 cups flour
softened butter (as needed)
4 tsp. baking soda
coarse salt for sprinkling

In a small bowl add the yeast and 1/4 cup warm water--stir to mix. In a separate small bowl add a pinch of white sugar and 1 cup warm water--stir to mix. In a large bowl add the yeast mixture, 2 tsp. salt and the white sugar mixture--stir to mix. Start out by adding 4 cups flour--mix to make dough. If dough is not stiff, add more flour and mix the dough until the dough is stiff. Put the dough on a floured counter and knead the dough for at least 10 minutes so that the dough is elastic. Place the dough in a bowl and spread the whole top of the dough with softened butter. Cover the bowl with a towel and let the dough raise for 45 minutes or until dough is doubled in size. Shape dough into 1/2" thick ropes and shape them into pretzel twists. In a saucepan add 4 cups water and the baking soda--bring to a boil. Carefully drop one pretzel dough into the boiling water at a time and boil it for 1 minute or until it floats to the surface. Use a slotted spoon to remove it, drain it as much as possible and place it on a greased cookie sheet. Repeat with all pretzel doughs, making sure that pretzel doughs don't touch each other on the cookie sheets. Sprinkle coarse salt on the pretzel doughs (if coarse salt doesn't stick well, use your finger to spread a little water over the tops of the pretzel doughs). Bake at 475 degrees for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.

#3324 - Sweet and Sour Lettuce

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 head of lettuce (torn into salad sized pieces)
1 pint mayo
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup cider vinegar
6 hard boiled eggs (peeled and chopped)

In a large bowl add mayo, white sugar, cider vinegar and chopped eggs--stir to mix. Taste--if too sour add more white sugar and stir again; if too sweet add more cider vinegar and stir again. Add lettuce pieces--toss to coat. Serve as a salad.

#3323 - Leftover Turkey Au Gratin

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 1/2 cups water
1 - 5oz. package Betty Crocker au gratin potatoes
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup milk
2 TBSP butter
salt and pepper (to your taste)
2 cups frozen peas (thawed)
2-3 cups cooked turkey pieces

In a skillet over medium heat add the water, contents of the au gratin potatoes mix, chopped onions, milk and butter--cook/stir until boiling. Turn heat back to simmer and cook for 13-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Taste--add salt and pepper as necessary. Add drained peas and turkey pieces--turn heat up a bit and cook/stir until turkey and peas are hot. Remove from heat and let the mixture thicken 2-3 minutes before stirring and serving.

#3322 - Dutch Oven Sausage Pasta

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 TBSP olive oil
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 onion (chopped)
1lb. Italian sausage (cut into thin coin shaped pieces)
2 cups chicken broth
1 - 15oz. can Italian style diced tomatoes
1/2 cup milk
8oz. raw spiral pasta
1 cup shredded cheese (your choice of type)
salt, pepper and oregano (to your taste)

In a Dutch oven over medium heat add olive oil, minced garlic, chopped onions and sausage pieces--cook/stir until sausage is browned. Slowly add chicken broth, diced tomatoes, milk and the raw pasta--stir until mixed. Add salt, pepper and oregano to your taste--cook/stir until boiling. Once boiling, turn heat back to simmer, put the lid on (tilted) and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until pasta is done to your liking. Remove from heat and remove the lid--sprinkle shredded cheese over the top. Place the lid back on for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

#3321 - Swiss Broccoli

(by Shirley McNevich)

8 cups frozen broccoli
1/2 cup butter
2 TBSP flour
1/2 of an onion (chopped)
1 1/4 cups milk
4 cups shredded Swiss cheese
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp. salt plus salt and pepper (to your taste)
crushed Ritz crackers (optional)

Cook broccoli according to box directions with 1 tsp. salt until tender--drain the broccoli. In a saucepan over medium heat add butter--melt. Add flour--cook/stir until smooth. Add chopped onions--stir. Slowly add milk while stirring--cook/stir until mixture is boiling, then cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat--add salt and pepper--stir well. Add shredded Swiss cheese and beaten eggs--stir well. In a bowl add drained broccoli and the cheese mixture--toss to coat. Pour the whole mixture into a greased 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until heated through. Remove from oven and cool slightly before serving. Optional--sprinkle crushed Ritz crackers all over the top during the last 10 minutes of baking time.

#3320 - Bacon Corn

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. bacon
1 chopped onion
1 chopped green bell pepper
1 chopped red bell pepper
32oz. whole kernel corn (drained)
salt and pepper (to your taste)

Chop the raw bacon into bite sized pieces. In a cast iron skillet add the bacon pieces--cook/stir over medium heat until bacon is browned but still soft. Drain off the bacon grease but save the grease. Add the chopped onions and chopped peppers to the bacon--cook/stir whole mixture until onions and peppers are tender (stirring constantly). Turn heat back to low--add the drained corn--cook/stir until corn is hot and tender. Optional--add a tsp. or two of bacon grease and stir well. Add salt and pepper to your taste--stir well.

#3319 - Multi Potato Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 large sweet potato
3 red potatoes
3 russet potatoes
1 cup mayo
2 TBSP white sugar (more if you wish)
1 TBSP white vinegar (more if you wish)
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. dill weed
onion salt (optional--your choice of amount)

Wash, peel and cube the russet potatoes. Wash and cube the red potatoes (do NOT peel). Wash, peel and cube the russet potatoes. Place all of the potatoes and 1 tsp. salt in a pot--add enough water to cover all of the potatoes. Bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, turn heat back to low and cook until all potatoes are fork tender. Drain but do NOT rinse, then cool to room temperature. In a separate bowl add mayo, white sugar, dill weed and onion salt--stir until mixed. Taste--if you want it more sour, add more white vinegar and stir again. If you like it more sweet, add a little more white sugar and stir again. Add more salt if necessary--stir again. Pour the mayo mixture over the cooled potatoes--used a wooden spoon to toss/stir until potatoes are covered with the mayo mixture (it's ok if the sweet potato pieces don't hold up). Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight before serving.

#3318 - Italian Brussels Sprouts

(by Shirley McNevich)

16oz. frozen Brussels sprouts (thawed and drained)
1 tsp. salt + extra for sprinkling
pepper (your choice of amount)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 to 1 cup grated white cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
2 TBSP butter

Place thawed/drained Brussels sprouts in a pot with 1 tsp. salt--cover them with water. Turn heat to medium and bring to a boil--once boiling, cook/stir sprouts about 10 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat--drain but do NOT rinse. Using a sharp knife, cut each sprout into four pieces. Place the sprout pieces in a greased baking dish and salt/pepper them to your taste. Slowly pour the heavy cream into the corner of the baking dish so it doesn't wash away the salt and pepper from the sprouts. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the sprouts and sprinkle the breadcrumbs all over the top. Cut the butter into pieces and spread the butter pieces over the breadcrumbs. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until bubbling and browned.

#3317 - Bacon Cheese Fries

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 bag of your favorite frozen French fries
6 slices of bacon
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Old Bay Seasoning--optional

Spread the frozen french fries on a greased cookie sheet and bake them according to bag directions. While the fries are baking, cook the bacon slices until crispy, drain the bacon on paper towels, and crumble the bacon. Once the fries are golden brown remove the cookie sheet from the oven. Turn the oven to broil and sprinkle the crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese all over the fries. Return the fries to the oven and broil until cheese is melted. Optional--sprinkle a little Old Bay Seasoning over the top of the melted cheese as soon as you take the fries out of the oven the last time.

#3316 - Frozen Sprinkle Cookies

(by Shirley McNevich)

3 cups sifted flour (measure before sifting)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 sticks softened butter
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
2-3 tsp. vanilla
1 jar multi-colored round sprinkles

In a mixer add softened butter and white sugar--beat. Add egg and vanilla--beat. Add salt and baking powder--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Place sprinkles in a bowl. Roll the cookie dough into 1" balls and roll each dough ball in the sprinkles. Set the dough balls very close together (but not touching) on a baking sheet so you can fit all of them on the same sheet. Place the sheet in the freezer for 30-40 minutes until very firm. Once they are firm, take the baking sheet out of the freezer and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Grease cookie sheets and place dough balls 2" apart (leaving remaining dough balls chilling in the refrigerator). Bake at 350 degrees for 13-14 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough balls.

#3315 - Mustard BBQ Sauce

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 TBSP butter
1/2 tsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
2 TBSP chili powder
1/4 cup water
3/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup French's yellow mustard

In a bowl add cayenne pepper, white pepper, black pepper, chili powder, brown sugar and white sugar--stir well to mix. In a saucepan over low heat add water and cider vinegar--stir. Add mustard and the dry ingredient mixture--stir well. Cook over low heat (simmer) for 1/2 hour, stirring occasionally. Add butter and soy sauce--cook/stir over low heat for an 10 additional minutes. Use sauce on grilled meats.

#3314 - Pork and Noodle Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

2lbs. pork steak (cubed)
water (if necessary)
2 cups chopped celery
1 medium onion (chopped)
2 -10.75oz. cans Campbell's cream of mushroom soup
salt
pepper
1 - 16oz. bag egg noodles
Velveeta cheese slices
crushed potato chips

In a skillet over medium heat add cubed pork steak, chopped celery and chopped onions--salt and pepper it to your taste, then cook/stir until meat is browned and vegetables are tender (adding a little water if necessary). Add both cans of mushroom soup--stir, turn heat back to simmer, and simmer while cooking the egg noodles. Cook egg noodles according to bag directions in salted water, then drain but do NOT rinse. Add the drained egg noodles to the pork mixture--stir. Pour the whole mixture into a Dutch oven and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until meat is well cooked. When meat is done remove from oven, lay Velveeta cheese slices all over the top and spread crushed potato chips all over the top. Return to oven and bake just until cheese is melted.

#3313 - Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 TBSP honey
1 TBSP Dijon mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
1 garlic clove (minced)
salt and pepper (to your taste)

In a blender add cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, olive oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper--beat until well mixed. Taste--if too sour add more honey and beat again. If too sweet add more cider vinegar and/or mustard and beat again. Use immediately over fresh salad greens. Recipe can be doubled, tripled, etc.

#3312 - Mashed Turnips

(by Shirley McNevich)

6 red potatoes
2 large turnips
1/2 cup cream (room temperature)
1 stick butter (melted)
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
salt
pepper

Scrub/wash the potatoes. Peel the turnips but NOT the potatoes. Cube the turnips and the potatoes. Place the cubed turnips and cubed potatoes in a pot--cover them with water and add 1 tsp. salt--bring to a boil over medium heat, then cook them until tender (12-15 minutes). Drain but do NOT rinse the potatoes and turnips. In a large bowl add the drained turnips and drained potatoes--mash with a potato masher. Add the cream, melted butter and sour cream--stir well. Mash more if necessary. Add salt and pepper to your taste--stir well.

#3311 - Ground Beef Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. ground chuck
1 onion (chopped)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
9oz. green beans (cooked and drained)
1 - 10.75oz. can Campbell's tomato soup
1/4 cup water
2 cups prepared mashed potatoes
1 can French's french fried onions
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

In a skillet over medium heat add ground chuck, chopped onions, salt and pepper--cook/stir until meat is browned, then drain off any grease. Add cooked green beans, tomato soup and water--stir to mix. Pour the whole mixture into a greased 2 qt. casserole dish. In a bowl add the prepared mashed potatoes and 1/2 of the can of french fried onions--stir to mix. Spread the mashed potato mixture over the top of the beef mixture. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, remove from oven, spread the other 1/2 can of french fried onions and cheese all over the top. Return to oven and bake 10 minutes longer or until heated through and cheese is melted.

#3310 - Impossible Pineapple Cake

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup white sugar
1 cup Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
2 eggs
2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups flour
2 - 8oz. cans Dole crushed pineapple (including the juice)
Sauce: 1/4 cup Parkay margarine; 1/2 cup milk; 3/4 cup Domino's powdered sugar; 1/2 cup Baker's angelflake coconut; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a mixer add white sugar, brown sugar and eggs--beat. Add baking soda--beat. Add both cans of pineapple/juice--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Pour batter into a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. While the cake is baking, make the sauce: in a saucepan over low heat add Parkay--melt. Add milk and powdered sugar--cook/stir over low heat until boiling. Once boiling, cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat--add coconut and chopped walnuts--stir to mix. Spread the sauce mixture over the top of the warm cake. Cool completely.

#3309 - Ritzy Mac and Cheese

(by Shirley McNevich)

8oz. raw elbow macaroni
8oz. Velveeta cheese (cubed)
1 - 10.75oz. can Campbell's condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/2 to 1 cup Breakstone's sour cream (use the full 1 cup if you love sour cream)
1/4 cup shredded fresh Parmesan cheese (NOT pre-grated Parmesan cheese)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers
2 TBSP butter (melted)
salt (to your taste)
pepper (to your taste)

Cook macaroni in salted water according to box directions to "al dente". Drain the macaroni but DO NOT rinse. In a large bowl add drained macaroni, Velveeta cubes, cheddar cheese soup, sour cream, shredded Parmesan cheese, milk, salt and pepper--stir carefully to mix. Pour the mixture into a greased glass baking dish. In a separate bowl add the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter--stir to mix. Sprinkle the cracker mixture all over the top of the macaroni mixture. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, remove the foil, and bake 10-15 minutes longer or until the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and let it sit a few minutes before serving.

#3308 - Hot Chicken Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

4 cups bite sized cooked chicken pieces OR the same amount of leftover turkey
2 cups diced celery
2 cups 4C fine Italian breadcrumbs
1 cup mayo
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped onions (optional)
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
8oz. grated very sharp cheddar cheese

Spread the breadcrumbs on an UNgreased cookie sheet--bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely. In a large bowl add chicken pieces, diced celery, mayo, milk, chopped onions, salt and pepper--mix well. Add grated cheese and toasted breadcrumbs--stir well. Spread the mixture in a greased glass baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until heated through. Serve on bread or rolls.