Asian Cole Slaw

Put a 16 oz bag of cole slaw mix (I like the tri colored kind) in a bowl. Add:

2 pkg Oriental flavor ramen noodles (crunched up) (save the flavor packets for dressing)
1 can Mandarin oranges (save 1/4 c of liquid)
2/3 c toasted sunflower seeds
1/2 c chopped green onions
4 oz slivered almonds

(In the past I have also added finely chopped Craisins, shredded carrots and chopped chicken to make it a complete meal)

Dressing:
2/3 c veg oil
1/4 c cider vinegar
1/3 c sugar
2 flavor packets from the soup
2 TBS soy sauce

Since you don't add the dressing until just before you serve it, I make the dressing in a little container and take it with me if I'm going to someone else's house or if I make it ahead at home.

Molly Bees Caramel Banana Bread

Mix together:
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

In another bowl mix:
1 c brown sugar
1/2 c butter

Then add:
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c mashed ripe bananas

Add liquid mixture to flour mixture and stir until well combined.

Add 1 package of Kraft caramel bits (they're in the choc chip aisle) and stir well.

Divide batter into 2 well-greased loaf pans.
Bake at 350° for 60-65 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool for 15 minutes in pan and then remove to wire rack.

Lemon Chicken Bake

Lemon Chicken Bake

Put in 9x 13 pan:
1.5# chicken legs and thighs
1# potatoes (baby ones or fingerlings are good but I used a mix of white and sweet that I had on hand) chunked up
5 peeled garlic cloves -whole

Mix:
1/4 c Kraft Spicy Italian Salad Dressing (I suspect any italian would work)
1/2 c chicken stock (I just melted a bullion cube in 1/2 c hot water)
1 TBS honey

Drizzle over stuff in the pan. Top with a lemon cut into 8 wedges.

Bake at 400° for an hour or until the chicken and potatoes are tender. EASY AND YUM x 1000!

Before

After

(I mashed the roasted garlic cloves up with my potatoes and garnished with roasted lemon!)

Oreo Truffles

36 whole Oreos (finely ground in the food processor)

1/2 c of EITHER cream cheese or creamy peanut butter

Mix until it all comes together into a dough.*

Roll into balls and refrigerate until firm.

Dip in chocolate or dust with powdered sugar or cocoa powder.

*Don't lose heart! You're going to think you did something wrong, that's it's too dry, and that there's not enough cream cheese/peanut butter in there, but just have faith and keep going. All at once it will just happen!

Pasta Fagioli

Brown until onions are translucent:

1 # ground beef or turkey

1 small chopped onion-finely chopped

3 large garlic cloves-minced

1 TBS oregano

2 TBS parsley

Salt and Pepper to taste

red pepper flakes (Optional. I don't use them)

Add and bring to a boil:

2 reg sized cans of Italian Stewed tomatoes that you've run through the blender

1 reg sized can of beef broth

Add and cook until pasta is done:

1 can kidney beans (or white beans)-drained

1-2 c of dry elbow macaroni

When pasta is done, add 1/2 bag fresh spinach (optional) and simmer for up to an hour. It's good then but it's even better the next night and the next!

Serve with liberal amounts of FRESH Parmesan (not Kraft in the can, the stuff you have to grate yourself. It's worth it!), crusty bread and a salad! YUM!

Black Bottom Mini Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecakes

From The Picky Palate blog:


Black Bottomed Mini Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites

8 whole Oreos, finely ground in food processor

1 1/2 Tablespoons melted butter

8 oz softened cream cheese

1/2 Cup granulated sugar

1/2 Cup pumpkin puree (I used Libby’s)

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

3 Litehouse Lowfat caramel dip (comes in a package of 6 20z little cups)

12 Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses, unwrapped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine ground Oreos and melted butter into a bowl until well combined. Spoon into 12 mini cheesecake cups that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Press into the bottom of each cup so the crust is flat. Partially bake for 10 minutes then remove from oven.

2. In a stand or electric mixer beat the cream cheese, sugar and pumpkin until smooth. Beat in egg, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg until combined. Pour evenly into the 12 cups filling about 3/4 way full. Spoon about a teaspoon of caramel into the tops of each filled cup and swirl with a toothpick gently. Bake for 25-28 minutes or until cheesecake is cooked through. Let cool completely.

3. Remove cheesecakes from pan and top each with a spoonful of remaining caramel and a Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kiss. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

12 mini cheesecakes
(My mini cheesecake pan makes 6 of the slightly larger cheesecakes and the recipe still worked fine.

Monkey Bread

This is a fun, fast recipe to make. I'm taking it in to work tomorrow to appease the masses since I've been out the last couple of days.

Monkey Bread
Cut each biscuit in three 10 oz cans of refridgerated biscuits* into quarters.

In large saucepan, combine and melt together

• 1 c butter
• 1 1/2 c brown sugar
• 2 TSP cinnamon
• 1 c chopped pecans or walnuts
• In buttered Bunt pan:
  

Sprinkle a sparse bit of the nuts and syrup in a greased bundt pan just for topping.

• Sprinkle in 1/2 of the biscuit pieces.
• Slowly pour 1/2 of the syrup over biscuits.
• Sprinkle the other half of the biscuit pieces over the syrup layer.
• Finish by pouring the rest of the syrup over the top.

Bake at 300° for 45 minutes. Let sit in the pan for 7 minutes and then invert onto serving plate. Can cut with a knife or just pull parts off like a monkey!

Can cut with a knife or just pull parts off like a monkey!


*Of course I could only get four 7 oz cans and it worked just fine.