Saturday, October 27, 2012

Dale Jr. "88" Cake

I made this cake for my Dad's birthday and thought I'd share the photo for other ideas/inspriations.  He really thought it was super cool!!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Top Secret!!

Thanks Ashley for your top secret family recipe.

Top Secret Green Beans


2 cans french style green beans (DO NOT DRAIN)
1 can water (use green bean can)
4 chicken bouillon cubs
Seasonings: salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder

In a large sauce pan, combine all ingredients and cook on low until desired doneness.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Buffalo Chicken Pizza


1 pizza crust (mix, dough, or pre-cooked)
3-4 cups chicken tenders, cooked & cubed
1 stick butter
½ cup hot sauce
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1-2 cups Colby jack cheese

Prepare pizza crust as directed on package.
Meanwhile, place butter, hot sauce, lemon juice and Worcestershire in a small sauce pan and melt until combined.
Once pizza crust is beginning to crisp up, brush with approximately ½ cup sauce, coating crust.
Mix the chicken tenders in the remaining sauce and coat.  Pour chicken onto of the crust and spread out evenly.
Top with cheese.
Bake for additional 10-15 minutes, or until crust is done and cheese is melted.

Note: I used the chicken tender that are breaded because I feel the sauce sticks better and soaks into it for more flavor.

Also, different types of cheeses would be great on this pizza… try blue cheese or pepper jack!!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Saturday Morning Donuts

Fried Semi-Homemade Donuts

1 roll refrigerated biscuits, quartered
Vegetable oil
Powdered Sugar Icing (see below for recipe)

In a large skillet, pour oil into pan where it is 2 inches up the skillet. 
Once oil is hot, add biscuits.  Cook for 1 minute on each side or until biscuit is golden brown.
Remove from skillet and set on a paper towel covered plate.
Serve with powdered sugar icing.


Powdered Sugar Icing Recipe

2 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp. vanilla
1-2 tbsp. milk

Combine all ingredients until smooth.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1 cup granulated sugar
1 stick butter, softened
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 pkg. instant pudding (flavor of your choice)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Cream sugar and butter; beat in the mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla.
Combine dry ingredients and mix until well blended.  Fold in chocolate.
Pour batter into greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until center is done.
Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

TIP: I had about a cup of mini chocolate chips in my freezer I wanted to use up, so I used those instead of regular chips.  Any flavor or size will be just fine.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Pineapple Sweet Ham

On Saturdays, I normally try to post breakfast recipes.  However, I thought I'd post this recipe that would be excellent for your Saturday night family dinner.

Pineapple Sweet Ham


½ cup white syrup
1 cup brown sugar
¼ cup maraschino cherry juice
½ cup Pepsi
2 tbsp. flour
1 can pineapple, drained (chunks or crushed)
1 ham (I use the pre-cooked water hams)

In a large bowl, combine first 5 ingredients.  Mix well.
Put ham into crock pot insert and cover with brown sugar mixture.
Top with pineapple.
Bake for 5-6 hours on low or until ham is done.

NOTE: This recipe could easily be cooked in the oven as well.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Jam Cookie Bars

I love to make Thumbprint Cookies, but sometimes I just don’t have time to roll out the cookies then place the jam in the center.

I decided that I would try to make the cookies into bars…  Turned out pretty good!


Jam Cookie Bars

1 roll sugar cookie dough (softened)
¾-1 cup jam (any flavor)

Press cookie dough into bottom of greased 8x8 baking dish. 
Poke holes in the dough with the bottom of a wooden spoon handle.
Spread jam over top of dough.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until center is set.
Cut into bars and serve.


Monday, October 8, 2012

Cream Cheese Mashed Potato Casserole

Cream Cheese Mashed Potato Casserole


3 lbs. potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 stick butter
1 pkg. cream cheese
¼ cup milk
Seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, etc.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large pan, boil potatoes until tender.
Once tender, drain the potatoes and return to pan.
Add 1 stick of butter and begin to mash with hand mixer. Mix until smooth.
Once potatoes are creamy, add cream cheese, milk, and seasonings.  Mix well.
Pour potato mixture into an 8x8 baking dish, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes before serving.

NOTE: Top with sprinkled paprika for extra color.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Cinnamon Roll French Toast

Ever get tired of the same ol' Saturaday morning breakfast?? Try this new twist to French Toast.  It is very YUMMY, but even better its SUPER easy to make. 

Don't quite feel like doing a lot of work?? Have the kids help cut up the cinnamon rolls.


Cinnamon Roll French Toast


1 can cinnamon rolls with icing
1/8 cup butter
2 eggs
3 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. vanilla
½ cup syrup

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Put butter into a 9x13 pan and allow to melt in oven as you prepare your other ingredients.
Cut each cinnamon roll into 8 pieces, set icing aside.
In a bowl, combine all other ingredients EXCEPT syrup.  Mix well.
Remove pan from oven once butter is melted and arrange cinnamon roll pieces evenly on bottom.
Gently pour egg mixture over top and then drizzle with syrup.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove from oven and drizzle with icing.
Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes before serving.

NOTE: This would make a beautiful presentation if you sprinkle with powdered sugar and drizzle with more syrup.  Or you could make your own powdered sugar icing and totally omit the syrup by adding more icing.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Weeknight Pork Tenderloin with Apples

Having friends or family over for a weeknight dinner?? Try this main course. 
You can have it cooked (with little work) by the time you get home and the presentation will look as if you've been cooking all day long.

Pork Tenderloin with Apples


1 pork tenderloin
Montreal Seasoning
1 can apple pie filling

Rub pork tenderloin with seasoning.  Put into a crock pot insert.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until done.
Once done, remove from crock pot and put onto serving plate.  Spoon apples beside tenderloin.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars

Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars


1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tbsps. light corn syrup
2 eggs
Water
1 cup mini marshmallows
¾ cup chocolate chunks

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. 
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, brown sugar, and corn syrup. 
In a 1 cup measuring dish, break 2 eggs.  Add enough water to fill until it reaches 2/3 cup.  Mix well.  Then add to cake mixture.
Beat cake mixture until combined.
Spread into a greased 9x13 pan.  Sprinkle with marshmallows and chocolate chunks.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

TIP: If you don’t have chocolate chunks, you can use 1 cup chocolate chips or mini chips. 

NOTE: THIS DISH IS BEST WHEN SERVED WARM! 


Biscuit Pizza

This is a great recipe that the kids can help you cook.  They will have tons of fun and will enjoy eating what they make.
  
Biscuit Pizza



1 can refrigerated biscuits
1 cup pizza sauce
2 cups cheese, shredded (can use Italian style, mozzarella, or pizza style)
1 small pkg. of pepperoni

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick spray.
Press out each biscuit into a round circle.
Top each biscuit with your toppings.
Bake for 10-15 minutes or until biscuit is golden brown.

NOTE: Add any other toppings you may want.  Just remember the more toppings you add, the longer you may need to cook the dough to make sure it is done.