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.



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.

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.

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.

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.

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

Dump Cake

1-2 can(s) pie filling (any flavor)

1 box cake mix (any flavor)

1 stick butter, chunked

In a greased 9x13 pan, pour pie filling evenly in bottom.

Sprinkle cake mix over top.

Spread chunks of butter over top of mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

NOTE: Caramel Apple Dump Cake: I had left over candied apples that I wanted to get out of the refrigerator, so I put those (with the juice) in with apple pie filling.