Pecan Pie Bars

1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
¼ cup packed brown sugar
3 large eggs
¾ cup corn syrup
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1¾ cups coarsely chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate (or chocolate chunks in a bag!)
1½ cups chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. For the crust, mix together the flour, butter and brown sugar until crumbly. Press into the baking pan and bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly brown.

For the filling, beat the eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter and vanilla extract with a wire whisk. Stir in the chunks and pecans. Pour evenly over the baked crust and bake for 25-30 minutes or until set. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cool completely and cut into bars. Store in an airtight container at room temperature (or in the refrigerator if you live in a warm/humid area with no air conditioning).

Sausage Swirls

4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3/4 to 1 cup milk
2 lbs. uncooked bulk pork sausage
Steps:
1.In a large bowl combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in oil until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually stir in enough milk to form a soft dough.
2.turn onto a floured board; knead lightly for 30 seconds. roll into two 16-in. x 10-in. rectangles. Crumble uncooked sausage over dough to within 1/2 in. on sides. Carefully roll up from 16-in. end.
3.Wrap in foil; chill for at least 1 hour. Cut into 1/2 in. slices; place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm or cold. Store in refrigerator. Yields about 4 dozen.

Southwest Bean Dip

2 tablespoons Taco Seasoning Mix
1 can Refried Beans
1/2 cup Sour Cream
3 Scallions
1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Steps:
1.Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.
2.Stir occasionally over low heat until cheese melts.
3.Serve warm with taco chips

Cheesy Artichoke Mini Appetizers

Serves: 6

Ingredients:
1 cup Mayonaise
14 oz can Can Artichoke in Water
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella
1 cup Shredded Parmansean Cheese
4 oz can Diced Ortega Chilies
2 cans Pillsbury Cresent Rolls
Steps:
1.Preheat oven to 350 Degrees...Drain Artichokes. Chop into small pieces by hand or using a food processer. Pour into bowl
2.Drain Ortega Chilies, Add to artichokes.
3.Add the Mayonaise, Mozzorella and Parmansean cheese to artichoke mixture and stir.
4.On cutting board, lay out the cresent rolls into four rectangles. Pierce together the perforations. Then, cut each rectangle into 6 squares.
5.Press each square into a grease mini muffin tin. Spoon artichoke mixure into each cup. Bake until cresent rolls are golden brown. Approximately 15 min. Yields 24 (4 per person

Easy Tater Tot Casserole

spray 9x13 pan with non-stick coating
line bottom with tater tots (bake according to package)
while potatoes are baking, brown 1 lb of ground beef
add 1 can cream of mushroom soup after meat is browned
take tater tots out of oven - evenly spread soup/meat mixture over them
sprinkle 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese and return to oven for 15 minutes.

Crockpot Brown Sugar Chicken

12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or 6 boneless, skinless breast halves
2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup vinegar
3 cloves smashed and chopped garlic
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tsp ground black pepper
*** see below

Use a 4 quart crockpot for this recipe.

Plop the chicken into your crockpot. Cover with the brown sugar, pepper, chopped garlic, and soy sauce. Add the vinegar, and pour in the soda. It will bubble!

Cover and cook on low for 6-9 hours, or on high for 4-5. The chicken is done when it is cooked through and has reached desired consistency. The longer you cook it, the more tender it will be.

Serve over a bowl of white rice with a ladle full of the broth.

*** I am going to try adding celery, water chestnuts, pineapple and maybe some green onions to this the next time I make it...this is definatley a keeper!!!

Spiced Apple Rings

4 lbs. firm, tart apples - peeled, cored, sliced
2 qt. water
2 Tbls. lemon juice
4 cups granulated sugar
2 cups water
1/3 cup red hot cinnamon candies
1/3 cup distilled white vinegar
1 Tbls. whole cloves


-Soak apple slices in water and lemon juice.
-Combine sugar, water, cinnamon candy, vinegar, and cloves in a 6 quart saucepan.
-Bring to a boil, then simmer 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
-Drain apples, add to hot syrup, and cook 5 minutes.
-Serve hot OR follow instructions for canning below.

Canning Instructions:

-Place boiling water bath canner (or large pot), filled half full with water, on the stove burner and begin to heat. Make sure canner has a removable rack that will fit inside the canner. The canner should be large enough to allow the water to boil 1"-2" over the jars when they are placed on the rack in the canner.
-Place an extra kettle of water on the stove burner in case extra boiling water is needed to cover the jars in the canner.
-Wash jars and bands in hot soapy water; rinse in hot water. Jars should be boiled in hot water for at least 10 minutes.
-Fill jars with hot apples and syrup, leaving 1/2" head space at the top of the jar. Run a non-metal knife or spatula along the inside of the jar to remove air bubbles. Wipe off the top of the jar rim with a clean cloth.
-Place hot sealing lid on packed jar next to glass. Screw band on jar until just tight.
-Place jars in canning rack, then place rack in canner while water is boiling. Ensure jars are far enough apart to allow for circulation of water around jars. Water should be 1"-2" over the tops of the jars when boiling.
-Begin timing for processing as soon as the water returns to a rolling boil. Boil, covered, for 20 minutes.
-Remove hot jars from water and place on a towel or rack to cool. Keep jars out of drafts. Do not turn jars upside down. When jars have cooled, ensure they have sealed properly.
-Decorate lids by wrapping a ribbon around the rim.

King Ranch Chicken

1 (3 lb.) fryer or a rotissere chicken
1 (#303) can cream of mushroom soup
1 lg can tomatoes with green chilies
6 to 8 corn tortillas cut in pieces
1 lg. chopped onion
1/2 can chicken broth
1 lb. grated sharp cheddar
Boil chicken and cut into bite size pieces. Mix soup with tomatoes, chicken and broth.
Layer in greased casserole, tortillas, chicken pieces and top with sprinkling of cheese
and onions. Repeat about 3 times and top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Macaroni Ham Casserole

Add 1/2 cup Velveeta cheese to 1 1/2 cup of thin white sauce***(directions below)
2 cups cooked macaroni
1 1/2 cups cooked chopped ham
4 hard cooked eggs sliced
1/2 cup buttered bread crumbs

Put half of the macaroni in a greased 2 quart casserole. Add the 3/4 cup ham. Add a layer of egg slices. Pour 1/2 of the cheese sauce on that. Then alternate the rest of the ham, macaroni, eggs and the cheese sauce. Top with the buttered bread crumbs.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

***white sauce recipe
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
Directions
1.In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and stir until the butter and flour are well combined. Pour in milk, stirring constantly as it thickens. Add more milk depending on desired consistency.

No Peek Casserole

2 lbs stew meat (I use 3 lbs)
1 can Campbell's Chicken Mushroom Soup
1/2 cup Ginger Ale
1 pkg Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 4 oz jar mushrooms, drained (optional)

Preheat oven to 300. Combine ALL ingredients (DO NOT brown meat and DO NOT dilute soup with water) together. Mix well. It will be lumpy before it's cooked. Pour into a casserole dish and cover. Bake 2 1/2 to 3 hours. DON'T PEEK!! Serve over pasta, rice or mashed potatoes. The smell as it's cooking is WONDERFUL

You can also add some garlic and chopped onion and use fresh mushrooms.

Scotch Kisses (like See's Candies)

1 pint whipping cream
1 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. light corn syrup
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 (10 oz. each) bags regular marshmallows, cut in half*

Combine cream, sugar, corn syrup and salt in a DEEP medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring occasionally, until the temperature reaches 235 degrees on a candy thermometer (soft ball stage) (mixture will be milky white at first, but will turn a butterscotch color as it comes up to temperature). Remove from heat; let sit a few minutes until mixture begins to thicken slightly (it usually takes between 3-5 minutes....the test I use is I take the wooden spoon I was stirring it with and see if when it drizzles off, it looks a little thicker than when I took it off the stove-if it's boiling hot, the marshmallows will melt on contact). dip each marshmallow half in the butterscotch to coat, letting the excess drip off; place on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Let sit, uncovered, overnight. Wrap individually in plastic wrap. Makes over 100.

*The easiest way to cut the marshmallows is with kitchen scissors....I dip them in hot water, dry them and cut the marshmallows through the middle, then put them cut side up on a tray. Make sure to keep the cut side up as that side is REALLY sticky and will stick to whatever you put them on. Cut the marshmallows before you get your butterscotch started....that's what I do. I have the "assembly line" all set up.....marshmallows...hot plate for the butterscotch and then the lined cookie sheets. I drop the marshmallow in the butterscotch-one at a time or they'll melt on you-then take my 2-tined meat fork and fish it out of the butterscotch, let the excess drip back into the pan and slide the marshmallow onto the lined cookie sheet with my metal cake tester...works like a charm! Also-when the hot butterscotch comes off the stove-since my saucepan isn't that heavy, I have the heating pad plugged in and on high-I set the pan on that, then wrap a hand towel around the pan and clothespin it....keeps the pan warm. As the butterscotch cools down, it will thicken and won't coat the marshmallows. You sort of have to work quick, but it's not that bad. Get your older kids involved if there are any in the house-they'd love it! I get hubby involved when I make them on the weekend and he's home-he actually enjoys it!
Oh-and as far as wrapping them...yes, that's a pain.....but....take one of the tips I posted about cutting an inexpensive roll of plastic wrap in half and use that......works SO good! I rip off a ton of pieces and lay them out 9-10 at a time...take a butter knife and run it under the marshmallow, taking up the butterscotch that "pools" around it, plop it on the plastic wrap, fold it over and twist the ends. These will keep for a good 2-3 weeks if stored air tight.

Now DON'T let the length of the explanation scare you! I just wanted to save you all the headaches I went through getting these right! Last year, I made 5 batches of these, between the Christmas Fair and gifts....and enjoyed every minute of it. They're not hard at all, once you get the hang of it and get a system going that works for you-and man are they ever good-they're downright addictive!
Also-that pinch of salt in the recipe is IMPORTANT....I forgot to use it one time and the butterscotch was SO gooey it stuck to the plastic wrap more than the marshmallow. That pinch of salt helps the butterscotch "dry out" a little...I call it "semi-tacky"....they're easier to eat right off the plastic wrap than to peel off and eat...your fingers might get a little sticky but it's all good!

Frosty Mandarin Oranges

1 (6 oz.) pkg. orange Jell-O
2 c. boiling water
1 can mandarin oranges
cold water and juice to make 1 cup
1 pt. orange sherbet, softened

Dissolve Jell-O in 2 cups boiling water. Drain oranges, reserving juice, add water to juice to make 1 cup. Add this to Jell-O mix. Chill until slightly thick. Blend in sherbet and oranges. Pour into mold and refrigerate.

Hershey Bar Pie

1 (6.0 oz.) HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Bar, broken into pieces
1 tub (8 oz.) frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
1 packaged crumb crust (6 oz.)
Directions:1. Place candy bar pieces in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1 minute or until chocolate is smooth when stirred. Cool slightly.

2. Fold whipped topping into melted chocolate; spoon into crust. Cover; refrigerate 6 hours or until firm. Garnish as desired. Cover; refrigerate leftover pie. 6 to 8 servings.

Sour Cream Swiss Steak

1/3 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons each salt,pepper,paprika and ground mustard
3 lbs boneless round steak,cut into serving size pieves
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups (12oz) sour cream
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 cloves garlic minced
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 to 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour

In a shallow bowl, combine flour,salt and pepper, paprika and mustard;dredge the steak. In a large skillet,heat oil and butter. Cook steak on both sides until browned. Carefully add water; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. In a bowl, combine the sour cream onion, garlic,soy sauce,brown sugar and flour; til til smooth. Transfer steak to a greased 2 1/2 qt baking dish, add sour cream mixture. Cover and bake at 325 for 1 1/2 hours or until tender. Yield 6-8 servings

Lemon Buttermilk Pudding Cake

6 Servings

As it bakes, this homey classic separates into a layer of light cake on top of a delicious lemon curd.


3 eggs, separated
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
1-1/4 cups buttermilk
2 tbsp salted butter, melted
1 tbsp grated lemon rind
1/3 cup lemon juice



In large bowl, whisk egg yolks with sugar until pale; beat in flour and salt.

Whisk in buttermilk, butter, lemon rind and lemon juice.

In separate bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold one-third into milk mixture. Fold in remaining whites.

Pour into greased 8-inch (2 L) square glass baking dish. Place dish in roasting pan; pour in enough hot water to come halfway up sides of dish.

Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven until top is golden, about 35 minutes. Remove from water; let cool on rack for 30 minutes.

Hearty Muffuletta

I found this @ Taste of Home on Facebook....can't wait to try it!!

8-10 ServingsPrep: 55 min. + chilling
Ingredients
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup sliced pimiento-stuffed olives, drained
1/2 cup sliced ripe olives, drained
1/2 cup giardiniera
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup Crisco® Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Canola Oil
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 garlic clove, minced
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 round loaf (24 ounces) unsliced Italian bread
1/4 pound thinly sliced hard salami
1/4 pound provolone cheese
1/4 pound thinly sliced deli ham
Directions
•In a large bowl, combine the first 12 ingredients. Cover and
refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons
liquid.

•Cut loaf of bread in half; hollow out top and bottom, leaving a 1-in.
shell (discard removed bread or save for another use). Brush cut
sides of bread with reserved liquid. Layer bottom of bread shell
with salami, half of the olive mixture, cheese, remaining olive mixture and ham. Replace bread top. Cut into wedges. Yield: 8-10
servings.

Giardiniera is a vegetable mixture available in mild and hot varieties. Look for it in the Italian or pickle section of your local grocery store.

Cream Cheese Shrimp Dip

2 cans tiny shrimp, drained
2 blocks of cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 bottle chile sauce
1 (6oz.) bottle shredded horseradish(get the real stuff, not the creamed)
crackers or chips to dip

You can use either an electric mixer/stand mixer or food processor. I use the processor: Add both cans of the shrimp and the entire bottle of horseradish to the processor and shred until fine: To this add the softened cream cheese, a little at a time until well mixed:
Remove to a bowl and stir in the chile sauce, mixing well. Chill in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving for the best taste. Believe me, the guys will love this one!

Lasagna on a Bun

From Taste of Home




8 ServingsPrep: 20 min. Bake: 25 min.

Ingredients
8 submarine or hoagie buns (8 inches)
1 pound ground beef
1 cup spaghetti sauce
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
Directions
•Make a 2-in.-wide V-shaped cut in the center of each bun to within 1
inch of the bottom. Remove cut portion and save for another use; set
aside.

•In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink;
drain. Add the spaghetti sauce, garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
Cook 4-5 minutes or until heated through.

•Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, Parmesan cheese and half of cheddar
and mozzarella cheeses. Spoon meat sauce into buns; top with cheese
mixture. Place on a baking sheet. Cover loosely with foil.

•Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining
cheddar and mozzarella. Return to the oven for 2-3 minutes or until
the cheese is melted. Yield: 8 servings.

Bisquick Cheese Bread

1 egg
1 1/2 cup milk
3 3/4 cups Bisquick baking mix
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1-2 cups Cheddar cheese - shredded


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350degrees F. Beat egg on low speed. Add remaining ingredients and beat 1/2 minute medium speed until blended. Pour batter into a greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Bake 1 hour or until golden brown.

Pecan Dreams

1 cup butter softened
2 cups pecans
2 cups flour
2 tsp vanilla
6 heaping tblsp powdered sugar
1/2 tsp salt
Powdered sugar to coat baked cookies

Mix all ingredients until smooth. roll into 1" balls
Bake for 20 to 30 minutes (until slightly brown) in 325 degree oven.
Shake in bag with powdered sugar while still warm.
Makes about 5 dozen