Pistachio Salad

1 carton of cool whip

1 box of pistachio pudding

1 bag mini marshmallows

1-2 cans pineapple tidbits

crushed pecans (optional)

Mix together and sit in fridge.

Super easy salad that can be thrown together in minutes! Delicious too.

Zucchini Bread & Icing

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 cups grated zucchini

1 cup veggie oil

3 tsp. vanilla

3 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

4 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. allspice

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix all ingredients together. Grease 2 loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Makes 2 loaves.

ICING

3 cups powdered sugar

1 cube butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp. almond extract

Drizzle over warm bread.

I know there are a lot of zucchini bread recipes out there but this is one of the best ones I've tasted. Thanks to my friend Cassie!

Green Beans with Smoky Bacon Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed 1/2 pound smoked bacon, cut into 1/2 -inch pieces 1 yellow onion, sliced thin

1/3 cup red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon white sugar 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions:

1.	Make an ice bath by filling a large pot with ice and water; set aside.
2.	Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the green beans in the boiling water until slightly tender yet crisp, about 3 minutes; drain. Immediately plunge the green beans into the ice bath to stop them from cooking further. Drain and set aside.
3.	Cook the bacon in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until it begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the onions to the bacon and continue cooking until the onions begin to caramelize and turn golden brown, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the green beans, red wine vinegar, and sugar; cook and stir until the sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes.

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

It's starting to be soup weather!

3 cups chicken broth

2 cups grated carrots

1/2 cup chopped onions

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup flour

3 cups half and half (I substitute and use milk)

1 small jar cheese whiz*

1 cup grated american cheese

1 1/2 - 2 large head fresh broccoli (cooked)

Mix broth, carrots and chopped onions-simmer until tender (30-45 minutes). Melt butter in separate pan over medium heat. Slowly stir in flour, making smooth, thick paste. Slowly add half & half (or milk). Add broth mixture and simmer on low heat. Then add cheeses' and broccoli. DON'T boil once cheese is melted.

* The cheese whiz will make the soup very creamy and rich. My hubby can't have anything too cheesy and creamy so I usually omit the cheese whiz and just add an extra cup of grated cheese.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Recipe found HERE

Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ cup vegetable shortening
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup honey
2 large eggs
Sugar, for rolling the cookies

Directions:
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt; whisk together and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the shortening, butter, peanut butter and honey. Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture and beat just until incorporated.

Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Roll the dough into 1½-inch balls, and roll each dough ball in sugar. Place the dough balls on an ungreased baking sheet, a couple inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until slightly puffed and golden. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough. Store in an airtight container.

These are by far the BEST peanut butter cookies I've ever had!

Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings...

2 (8 count) cans crescent rolls
3 -4 tart apples
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 (12 ounce) cans Mountain Dew soda
Directions
Spray a 13x9 baking dish or pan.
Peel and slice apples into 16 pieces.
Roll each apple slice in 1 section of crescent roll.
Place rolled slices in pan in two rows, put extras along side.
Melt butter, add sugar and cinnamon and pour over apples.
Pour can of Mountain Dew over all.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Unsurpassable Chocolate Chip Cookies...

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
12 ounce package semi sweet chocolate chip cookies
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 cup powdered sugar

With an electric mixer, cream the butter, adding the brown sugar, egg and vanilaa.
Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, salt and cinnamon. Blend into the butter mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Chill until firm. Can refrigerate overnight. Between palms of hands roll small pieces of dough (scant teaspoon) into 1 inch rounds and dredge in powdered sugar. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets-about 2 inches apart. Bake in 375 oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, cool 5 minutes on cookie sheets before removing to racks. Store in airtight container. Yeild 6 dozen cookies

Poppy Seed Chicken...

4 chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 pint sour cream
3/4 cup milk
2 cups Ritz cracker crumbs
1 T. poppy seeds
1/3 cup butter

Cook chicken, cut into cubes. Make a crust with the crackers, butter and poppy seeds. (save some to spinkle on top) Add chicken, soup, sour cream and milk. Mix well and spread over the crust. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Serve over rice

Creamy Chicken and Biscuits...

1/2 large onion chopped
1 1/2 tsp. butter
4 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup shredded cheese
6 oz. cream cheese softened
3/4 cup sour cream
6 ready to cook biscuits

Saute onion in butter until tender. Combine onion, chicken soup, cream cheese, sour cream, and chicken and put in a 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Then take out and put cheese on top and then biscuits with a little cheese on top and then back in for as long as the biscuit package tells you to cook them.

***my findings...my biscuits are sometimes mushy on the bottom. I think I would bake biscuits on a separate pan and then bake casserole according to directions and take everything out and place cooked biscuits on top just before eating.

Creamy Chicken Spaghetti

1/4 cup melted butter
1 lb. chicken breasts or tenders
1 package dry spaghetti mix
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. cream cheese

Pour melted butter into crock pot. Add a layer of chicken, sprinkle dry spaghetti mix on top, more chicken, more spaghetti sauce, etc. Cook on high for 3 hours or until chicken is cooked. In microwave, melt together the chicken soup and cream cheese. Pour over chicken and let cook 1 hour or until sauce is hot, stirring occasionally. Serve over angel hair pasta or rice.

Chile Verde...

1 TBS. oil
1 chopped onion
1-2 Minced Garlic
1 diced green pepper
1 1/2 to 2 lbs. boneless Pork Roast
16 oz. jar Salsa Verde
7 oz. can diced Green Chilies
19 oz. can Green Enchilada Sauce
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper
1 lime for juicing

Saute the onion, garlic, and green pepper in the oil until softened. In the crock pot add the roast and the sauteed mixture. Continue to add the other ingredients, except the lime. Stir them together. Cook on high for 5-6 hours. After the pork is tender, shred it and turn the crock pot to low until time to serve. Right before serving squeeze the lime juice over the Chile Verde. Serve with sour cream, warmed black beans, rice, tomatoes, shredded cheese, avocado, and roll into a tortilla.

Black Bean Salsa...

2 cans drained black beans
1 1/2 jars of roasted red peppers
1/2 red onion diced
6-8 Roma tomatoes diced
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can drained corn
1 cup avocado diced
1/4 cup orange juice
2 TBS. cilantro
1 tsp. garlic powder

Combine together, chill, and serve with tortilla chips

Ritz Cracker Chicken...

4 chicken breasts
1 packaged sleeve ritz crackers, smashed
1 handful parmesan cheese
1 tsp. ranch dressing seasoning
1/2 stick melted butter

Combine crackers, cheese, and ranch dressing seasoning on a plate. Melt butter in a bowl. If chicken breasts are really thick, pound chicken. Dip chicken in melted butter and then cover in ritz cracker mixture. Line chicken breast in a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Serve with a side salad and a baked potato.

Amber's Peach Salsa

Recipe from Amber Cragun



Peach Salsa

20-25 small peaches peeled and chopped

12 large tomatoes peeled and chopped

3 cups chopped sweet onion

4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped (I just used 1 small can)

3 red peppers (I used red and green)

1 cup finely chopped basil or cilantro

1 cup white vinegar

4-6 cloves garlic finely chopped

3 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

3 T. lime juice

salt and pepper to taste (I like a lot of pepper)

3 1/4 cups sugar

You could also add a package of pectin if you wanted it a little less soupy. I also added a couple of drained cans of chopped tomatoes because I like a lot of tomatoes. I boil everything for about 20-25 mins. and then place in warm jars with warm lids and set upside down until the next morning.