Veggie Dish

A little old Indian (Native American?) lady who works in the same building gave me some little yellow squash from her garden and told me to:

Chop squash, onions, tomatoes and cut fresh corn from cob, saute in butter, add chiles (I just threw in a can, didn't have fresh, and it was still good). Grate cheese over top and let melt. Simple. SO YUMMY! Good way to use up all the tomatoes and zucchini and stuff that you may have a plethora of this time of year.

Brownie Trifle

11 Health bar candy bars
1 box fudge brownie mix
2 c. chocolate chips
2 lg. boxes chocolate instant pudding
5 c. cold milk
2 lg. containers cool whip
1 c. miniature chocolate chips

Bake brownies according to directions, except fold in 2 c. chocolate chips before baking. Bake in greased 9x13 pan for 28 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool completely. Cut into 1/2 inch cubes.

Make pudding mixture as follows: Mix pudding and milk together and stir with wire whip or mixer 1 to 2 minutes. Fold in 3 cups of Cool Whip and 1 cup miniature chocolate chips. Place 1/2 of brownies in bottom of large trifle bowl, then 1/2 of pudding mixture, 4 Heath bars (crushed), and a layer of Cool Whip. Repeat layers. Decorate with crushed Heath bars. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Tip: Freeze Heath bars; crush in wrapper with wooden mallet or handle of table knife. I used large punch bowl for serving.

*Just a little note....this is freakin' yummy!!!! I took it to a bbq and there was a little left, so I was going to bring it home and like 5 people ran to the car while we were getting in, wanting to dish up more. (we were ticked)

Something different to do with green beans. I promise this is yummy

Italian Green Bean Saute'

1/2 small onion, cut into thin wedges
2 tsp. Garlic Salt
1/2 tsp. Dried Basil
1 TB Olive Oil
2 cans Cut Green Beans (drained)
1 can Diced Tomatoes (drained)

Cook onion, garlic, salt and basil in oil in medium saucespan over medium heat for 5 minutes or until onion is tender.
Add green beans and tomatoes; heat through.

Skip the chips and use a spoon

Fresh Salsa

8 Roma Tomatoes diced
1 white onion diced
1 Tbsp finely minced garlic (we use less or none according to our social calendar)
12 Stems of just the leaves of cilantro, finely minced (I use more- personal preference)
1-2 Fresh limes, juiced (again personal preference)
1-2 Fresh green jalapenos (taste as you go, I take out the seeds)
1/2 tsp black pepper
salt to taste
One roll of breath mints!

I can't believe I am giving this recipe away

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

3/4 C. creamy peanut butter
1/2 c. butter
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
3 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 c. flour
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 bag peanut butter cups

Cream pb, butter, brown sugar, milk, vanilla and egg together. Add flour, salt and soda.
Roll into 1 inch balls, coat with sugar.
Put in greased mini muffin tin. Flatten balls a little with finger.
Bake 375 for 7-9 minutes.
Press pb cup in center of cookie. Leave in muffin tin to firm up before removing.

It works best to have the pb cups unwrapped and ready to put in as soon as the cookies come out of the oven before they start cooling.

I love these cookies because they are yummy and I like to bring them to places because they are really unique and everyone things I'm an awesome cook.

Baked Spaghetti

1 C. chopped onion

1 lb. browned ground beef

1 C. chopped green pepper

12 oz. cooked spaghetti noodles

1 tbsp. butter

2 C. shredded cheese

1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can olives(sliced)

1/4 C. water

2 tsp. oregano

1/4 C. parmasan cheese

Directions:

In a large skillet, saute onions and green pepper in butter until tender.

Add tomatoes, olives and oregano.

Add browned ground beef.

I add a little more canned spaghetti sauce to make it saucier.

You can add mushrooms if you want. The soup is enough for us.

Simmer uncovered for 10 min.

Put half of cooked spaghetti noodles in 9X13 pan.

Top with half of sauce, sprinkle with cheese.

Repeat layers.

Mix soup and water until smooth. Pour over casserole and sprinkle with parmasan cheese.

I know the soup on top sounds a little weird, but it totally makes it. It just makes everything creamy. If it seams to freek your family out, you can just mix it in the sauce and they'll never know it's there. It works better to spread it on top though. This is a really good change from the basic old spaghetti our families all get sick of. It's really yummy with Wendi's breadsticks.

Wendi's breadstick recipe makes the best pizza crust

I get compliments all the time, and my family begs for me to make pizza. I just use Wendi's breadstick recipe and it is seriously the best pizza crust. It's really easy.

1 tbsp. yeast
1 1/2 C. warm water
2 Tbsp. sugar
3 C. flour

Just let it rise to double and roll it out on your pizza pan. I bake it on 400 for 10 min. before I put the toppings on. It will make one big pizza or two smaller ones and the crust will be thick.

This Blog needs some action!

Come on! Doesn't anybody cook anymore?? Time for some new posts!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
18 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla.
3. In another bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
5. Stir in chocolate chips.
6. With your fingers, place golf ball-sized dough portions 2-inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake 9-10 minutes or just until edges are light brown.

Makes: 30 cookies