Recipes, What's For Dinner?

[LauraA]

Hey, I thought it would be fun to share some recipes. I know not all of you cook, but if your mom makes something you really like, maybe you could ask her for the recipe.

Here is one of my favorites:

Grandma Ruth’s Banana Nut Bread

½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
2 cups flour
Less than 1tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
2 TBS milk
1 ½ c mashed bananas (3 bananas)

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, add dry ingredients alternately with combined milk and bananas. Add nuts.

Bake in buttered and sugared loaf pan at 335 degrees for 65 minutes or until toothpick in center comes out clean.

Let sit 15 minutes. Turn over onto wire rack to cool. Let cool 15 minutes, and then roll in sugar. Continue to cool on wire rack.

Serve with butter. YUM!

I will often sprinkle chopped pecans over the top before putting it in the over. When I take the loaf out of the pan to cool, I will roll it in sugar for a little extra sweetness. Our pastor LOVES this bread so I try to make him a couple loaves every few weeks.

[LilyWhite]

Ohhh great idea Laura!

Here is one of my favourites for a cold day.

Corny Chicken Happiness

Ingredients
15ml vegetable oil
1 small onion, diced
250g/8 oz boneless chicken breast fillets, shredded
3 potatoes, chopped
3 cups/ 750ml/24 fl oz chicken broth
1 tin/ 12oz/ 350g corn kernels drained and chopped
1 tin cream style sweetcorn
300ml/10fl oz milk

1 bay leaf (optional)
Freshly ground black pepper
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp fresh parsley
1tbsp snipped fresh chives
½ cup grated parmesan cheese (pecorino is YUM if you can find it)

Method:
1 – Heat oil in a saucepan over a medium heat, add onion and cook, stirring for 4-5 minutes or until onion is soft. Add chicken and cook for 2 minutes longer, or until chicken just changes colour.
2 – Add potatoes and broth and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are almost cooked.
3 - Stir the corn, milk, bayleaf and black pepper to taste into the broth mixture and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until potatoes are cooked.
4 – Discard the bayleaf. Stir in lemon juice, parsley, chives and black pepper to taste.
Just before serving sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
(if you are trying to cut down on fat instead of the cheese, just add another dash of lemon juice…although lets face it, the cheese makes it delicious!)

ENJOY!

You can play around with the amount of lemon juice, I think it should be less than a whole lemon, but I love the taste it gives so I go for it.

Also it can be made with fat free milk, but full cream tastes amazing.

[LilyWhite]

Oh I will add some delicious South African Dessert recipes when I have time. Yummy yum yum!

[Kelly]

I love this thread already! *pulls out recipe book*

[jayhawk4]

Good idea!

Anybody else frequent allrecipes.com (http://www.allrecipes.com)? I go there often to look for new recipes!

[LauraA]

Ohhhh, Michelle. That sounds really great! I'll have to copy it and print it out. And I would love to see some SA recipes!

Here is a WW recipe. I have tons of them, so if you want more, let me know...

BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
3 2/3 cups cooked large shell macs
4 cups cut-up tomatoes
4 strips bacon. cooked and crumbled
3 cups thin sliced lettuce
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1/2 cup fat free Mayo
1/3 cup light sour cream
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Salt & pepper to taste
In a large bowl mix together the shell macs, bacon, lettuce and lettuce.
In a small bowl mix the sugar, vinegar, mayo, sour cream and mustard.
Pour over the shell mac mixture, stir together and chill.
SERVING SIZE: 1 cup
Can't believe I didn't record how many points it is per serving. What is the point, after all? (No pun intended...LOL.)

[krazyyouth]

Butterscotch Confetti Squares
Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 8 oz (250g) bag multicolored miniature marshmallows
Directions:
1. Line a 9x9 square baking dish with waxed paper (bottom
and sides)
2. Put butter and peanut butter in a large saucepan and
stir over medium heat until they are melted together.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Immediately stir in butterscotch chips until they are
melted and all lumps are gone.
5. Let saucepan cool until you can comfortably hold your
hand on the bottom (you don't want your marshmallows to
melt).
6. Stir in marshmallows and pour mixture spray pan is a great idea
7. Refrigerate.




YUMMMMMMMM

[LauraA]

Ok, you all have me drooling already. More! lol

Leigh, I would LOVE to have your chocolate chip cookie recipe!

[Kelly]

Oh I will add some delicious South African Dessert recipes when I have time. Yummy yum yum!

My grandmother always made Congo Squares and now my mom makes them...they are SOOOOOOO yummy! I'll have to dig out the recipe and post it!

[LauraA]

I'd love to see it. Here is another recipe. It's one of my all time favorites!

Layered Toffee Cake

2 Cups Whipping Cream
½ cup caramel or butterscotch ice cream topping
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 prepared angel food cake (16 ounce)
9 Heath or Score candy bars (1.4 ounces each), chopped

In bowl (not a plastic one) beat cream just until it begins to thicken. Gradually add the ice cream topping and vanilla, beating until soft peaks from. Cut cake horizontally into three layers. Place the bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup cream mixture and sprinkle with ½ cup candy bar. Repeat. Place top layer on cake; frost top and side with remaining cream mixture and sprinkle with the remaining candy bar. Store in fridge. YUM!

[LilyWhite]

These sound so good!

Well ladies! This one I really really encourage you to try. It is not like American fudge at all. It sets hard and is just so amazing. It takes some time, but it is WELL worth the effort, trust me. Plus it is rather sweet so it will last quite a long time as you won’t be tempted to eat it all at once. So great for those of you who like something sweet but find it difficult to have it in moderation.


South African Fudge!

1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
400g white sugar
30 ml golden syrup
60 ml water
60 g butter
5 ml vanilla essence

Method:
*Place sugar and water into a heavy based saucepan.
*Stir over low heat until sugar has dissolved.
*Add butter and syrup and stir until butter has melted.
*Add condensed milk and stir until mixture comes to the boil. Boil slowly for 20-30 minutes stirring slowly ALL the time. It should go quite a dark caramel colour.
*Remove from stove, add vanilla essence and beat until fudge thickens (This happens pretty fast)
*Pour into a greased baking tray and allow to cool before cutting into squares. Be careful it is HOT!

Here is a really helpful site to help with conversions in case you don't know the measurements I mentioned: http://www.worldwidemetric.com/metcal.htm

[LauraA]

Fudge is TOO GOOD!!! I love it. Do you ever put nuts in it? I might try this one for our Christmas fudge this year. Might have to try it sooner, too. LOL. Thanks, Michelle.

[CherryCokeGrl]

These are my all time favorite cookies!! They are so easy to make & everyone I know LOVES them! :)


Chocolate no bake cookies

2 c. sugar
1/4 c. cocoa
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 c. quick cooking oats


Combine sugar, cocoa, milk, and butter in saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil for 1 min. stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients, mixing well. Drop by tablespoon onto wax paper. Cool.

[LauraA]

No bake cookies! How cool. They sound awesome. Here's another recipe:

Peppermint Bark Brownies
1. Mix and bake a box of your favorite plain brownie mix according to it's directions.
2. Allow to cool completely.
3. While the brownies are cooling, mash up peppermint candy canes until they are crunched up to your liking.
4. When brownies are cooled, take one bag of either milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips and melt in a double boiler.
5. After the chocolate has melted, pour it over the brownies and spread it around to cover the tops of the brownie.
6. Once you've poured the chocolate onto the brownies, top it off with the peppermint candy canes!
7. Allow to set in a cool, dry place for a few hours or overnight.

A variation to the peppermint bark brownies posted on here:
Instead of milk or dark chocolate chips, use white chocolate.
Use Andes Peppermint Crunch baking chips instead of crushed candy canes. It still gives a wonderful peppermint flavor, but it's not too crunchy.


I don't remember where I got this...maybe on the old boards. (Is it one of yours? LOL. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks so good!)

[CherryCokeGrl]

No bake cookies! How cool. They sound awesome. Here's another recipe:

Peppermint Bark Brownies
1. Mix and bake a box of your favorite plain brownie mix according to it's directions.
2. Allow to cool completely.
3. While the brownies are cooling, mash up peppermint candy canes until they are crunched up to your liking.
4. When brownies are cooled, take one bag of either milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips and melt in a double boiler.
5. After the chocolate has melted, pour it over the brownies and spread it around to cover the tops of the brownie.
6. Once you've poured the chocolate onto the brownies, top it off with the peppermint candy canes!
7. Allow to set in a cool, dry place for a few hours or overnight.

A variation to the peppermint bark brownies posted on here:
Instead of milk or dark chocolate chips, use white chocolate.
Use Andes Peppermint Crunch baking chips instead of crushed candy canes. It still gives a wonderful peppermint flavor, but it's not too crunchy.


I don't remember where I got this...maybe on the old boards. (Is it one of yours? LOL. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks so good!)


Thanks for posting that recipe on here Laura!! I could be wrong but I think it was Kay that posted that on the old board before she left.

[taryns93]

These are the best things that you will ever taste. I L-O-V-E them. My mom makes them all of the time!

1 c. margarine, softened
1 c. vegetable oil
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 c. sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 c. regular oats
1 c. Rice Krispies
1 (12-oz) pkg. chocolate chips
3/4 to 1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Cream butter and oil, gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed. Add egg and vanilla. Combine flour, soda, salt, cream of tartar and add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop by tsp. onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees until browned, 7 to 10 minutes (check sooner). Cool. Yield: 10 dozen.

Really, these are the BEST cookies EVER! I love them and my friends do too.:)

[krazyyouth]

Bluebarry CHEESE CAKE

1 1/4 c. graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp suger
3 tbsp butter
2 oz. pkg. plus 1-3 oz. pkg. Philadephia cream cheese
1 C. suger
2 tsp grated lemon or 2 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs

Bluebarry Glaze
Heat oven to 350 Degrees F. Stir together craker crumbs and 2 tbsp.sugeer than mix in butter throughly.press mixture into bottom of 9"springform pan.Back 10 min. and cool
Reduce oven temp. to 300 degrees f.Beat cream cheese in a large mixing bowl
Gradually add 1 c. suger,beating untill fluffy. Add lemon and vanilla. Beat in eggs one at a time.
Pour into graham crust. Bake until centre is firm,about 1 hour. cool to room temp. Spread with (blueberry glaze) Refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Blueberry glaze-Drain 1-16 oz. can of blueberries,reserving liquid. add enough water to liqud to make 1 c. Mix 1/2 c suger and 2 tbsp. cornstarch in small sause pan.Stir in the 1 c. liquid. Cook at med. heat,stirring constantly until mixture thickness and comes to a boil.
Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat,stir in blueberries. Cool then pour over cheesecake

[krazyyouth]

sausage bread

2 Owen Breakfast Sausage
link of pork sausage
2 white onions
2 bell peppers
1/4 cup jalapeno's
1 bag of mozarella chesse
4 frozen white bread loaves

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Saute the onions and bell peppers. Add the breakfast sausage and the pork sausage. cook until done. take off of heat. add the jalapenos. let stand until cool. roll out bread. put flour on ur counter or where ever u r workin at.. and on a rollin pin put flour so it dont stick. dont roll it to thin then it wont fold over the stuffing. after u roll the bread put the sausage mixture and the top it off with some mozarella cheese. then fold it so the mixture is covered. then melt some butter to butter the bread and then cook until golden brown. Cool. then cut and serve. and repeat until mixture is all used up or until u run out of bread!!

[taryns93]

These are my all time favorite cookies!! They are so easy to make & everyone I know LOVES them! :)


Chocolate no bake cookies

2 c. sugar
1/4 c. cocoa
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 c. quick cooking oats


Combine sugar, cocoa, milk, and butter in saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil for 1 min. stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients, mixing well. Drop by tablespoon onto wax paper. Cool.

I tried these and they are REALLY, REALLY good! I ate almost all of them in one day! They are REALLY good! Try them!

[God'sGirl]

Sloppy Joes

1 Lb. Hamburger
1 Can of Campells Tomato Soup
2 TBSP Ketchup
2 TBSP Barbque Sauce
2 TBSP Sweet Relish

Cook Hamburger in Skillet. Then mix Tomato Soup, Ketchup, Barbque Sauce, and Sweet Relish in a bowl. Mix very well then pour it over the cooked Hamburger and let simmer for 10 - 20 mins on low. Let it sit for 5 mins. Then Enjoy!!!

[LauraA]

All of these are looking REALLY good. I hope Dan is up for some new dishes! Here is a recipe for ya....

SLOW-COOKED TAMALE CASSEROLE

1 pound ground beef
1 egg
1-1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 can (15-1/3 ounces) whole kernel corn
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained (14-l/2 ounces)
1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe
olives, drained
1 envelope chili seasoning
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded
cheddar cheese

In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink;
drain. In a bowl, combine the egg, milk and cornmeal until smooth. Add Corn, Tomatoes, Olives, chili seasoning, seasoned salt and beef. Transfer to a greased slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours and 45 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese; cover and cook 15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Yield: 6 servings.

[CherryCokeGrl]

I tried these and they are REALLY, REALLY good! I ate almost all of them in one day! They are REALLY good! Try them!

So glad you enjoyed them!! They are so yummy it is really hard to stay away from them, LOL :)

[LilyWhite]

Here is one of my favourite recipes. I am not the hugest fan of ginger though so I have left it out many times and it still tastes good!

Also some pics I took last time I made it...nothing like a picture or two to tempt the taste buds!

Roast Butternut Salad

Ingredients

1 Butternut squash, large
2.5 cm fresh root ginger, grated
4 Bay leaves
1 pinch freshly ground salt and black pepper
7 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
24 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 garlic clove, sliced
12 rashers of pancetta or bacon
120g Rocket

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6.

2. Halve the butternut squash length ways and scoop out the seeds. Slice thickly across the width, into pieces that are roughly 1 cm thick. Remove the rind.

3. Place the butternut squash slices in a roasting tin with the ginger and 3 of the bay leaves, and then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

4. Drizzle over 5 tablespoons of the olive oil and toss so that the butternut squash is well coated. Cook in the oven for 20 minutes.

5. Put the cherry tomatoes into a separate small baking dish or roasting pan. Add the remaining olive oil, half the garlic, and the remaining bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper and turn the tomatoes so that they are coated in oil.

6. After 20 minutes, remove the squash from the oven. Add the remaining garlic; turn the squash and lay the pancetta over the top. Return the squash to the oven and put the tomatoes in the oven too. Roast them both for 20 minutes, until tender and cooked through.

7. Serve the roasted vegetables with a rocket salad.

Voilà
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/Michelle4p/Yumminess1-1.jpg

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee241/Michelle4p/Yumminess2-1.jpg

[LauraA]

Oh, that looks yummy! It's so colorful.

[Kelly]

Ok peanut butter cookie fans....here's an AWESOMELY EASY recipe for ya....

1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg

Roll into balls then press fork down on each....

Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes :)

[LauraA]

I LOVE peanut butter cookies! That looks so easy. I should do that one with my daycare kids and Ben. Oh and grandkids. LOL. I have a HOUSEFUL today!

[Kelly]

You definitely should...they're AMAZING!!! And SOOOO easy!!!! Definitely kid-friendly!

[LauraA]

Ok, you talked me into it. (Wasn't that hard? lol) I'll do that with the kids tomorrow to console myself since I can't go with you. ;)

[Kelly]

Hehe awwww you're gonna make me sad now! :p

[LauraA]

No, you go and have fun without me. I'll survive somehow. ;) lol...

Here is another recipe:

You can always make this with ‘regular’ ingredients instead of the low fat.

Weight Watchers Potato Casserole
This is a very good recipe and
is quick and easy. It can be made the night before and baked the next day.
Ingredients:
**1 28 oz bag of frozen Ore-Ida O'Brien hash brown potatoes
1 10oz can of reduced fat cream of chicken soup
1 cup of fat free sour cream
1/2 cup fat free shredded cheese
**2 tbsp butter (can't give that up)
3 tbsp bread crumbs
Combine first 4 ingredients. Melt margarine and add to mixture.
Spread mixture in casserole dish sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
Sprinkle casserole with bread crumbs and bake at 350 for about one hour.
SERVING SIZE: 1 cup
POINTS: 5.5 + butter

[confused]

we all have our weaknesses, mine just happenes to be cream cheese and chocolate. I am actually making these right now. (20 min. left- yeah!!)

granite, the way it is here, its not very.. how you say... good for you...
but i guess you could subsitutue some things. really, the worst thing in it is butter.


Red Velvet Bars

For Cake:
1 box (18 1/4 ounces) German chocolate cake mix (or just buy a red velvet mix and nix one step)
1 stick butter, softened
1 egg
1 ounce red food coloring (if you need it)

For Cream Cheese Layer:
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray 9 by13-inch baking pan lightly with cooking spray; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat with an ELECTRIC mixer (do not attempt to do this with a hand mixer) on low speed, cake mix, butter, egg, and food coloring (if you needed any) until combined. Press cake mixture into prepared pan; set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar on medium speed until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat to combine. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake layer.

Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until bars barely start to pull away from sides. Cool completely before cutting.

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee304/bpm0108/RED.jpg

[Kelly]

Ohhhhh....myyyyyyy......goodnessssssssss!!!!

Red velvet is my FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!!

I WILL be making those!!!! :D

[CherryCokeGrl]

That Potato Casserole sounds really good Laura! I might have to make some soon :)

[LauraA]

"Confused", the butter is the BEST part! LOL.

The potato casserole is really good. I just realized I had the ingredients on my shopping list for last night and forgot some of them. Grr. :rolleyes: lol

[Kelly]

Ok i have a question for you guys....my mom made a salmon souffle today to get pictures for her magazine....but what in the world do you eat with a salmon souffle???? It's good, it's just boring. We were all sitting there eating it thinking "There's gotta be something you serve this with..." But we couldn't figure it.

[CherryCokeGrl]

hmmm, I'm not much help since I have never had that before. You could maybe try to google it??

[LauraA]

One of my friends made this for the church picnic yesterday. They were TOO GOOD! I had to force myself not to eat a 3rd one. (Oink)

Frosted Banana Bars

1/2 c. butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream
1 t. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
2 lg. bananas or 3 small (about 1 cup mashed)

Frosting:
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 t. vanilla extract
2-3/4 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Sitr in bananas. Spread into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool. For frosting, in a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Gradually beat in enough confecttioners' sugar to achieve desired consistency. Frost bars. Store in the refrigerator. Yield 3-4 dozen

[LauraA]

Molasses Spice Cookies
(makes about 4 dozen cookies)
350 degrees, 10 minutes

3/4 cup shortening or margarine
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup molasses (I use the strong-flavored molasses, but you might prefer milder molasses .)
2 1/2 cups plain flour (You can substitute half whole wheat flour without being obvious about it! ;-D)
3/4 teaspoon salt (Decrease to 1/2 tsp. if you don't use a lot of salt.)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
white sugar to roll cookie balls in
OPTIONAL: 2/3 c. raisins (I like raisins, but my guys do not eat cooked raisins.)
Cream sugar and shortening or margarine, then add egg and vanilla and continue to cream for a couple of minutes. Add the molasses and mix well. Combine all dry ingredients and add them gradually to the creamed mixture. After dough is thoroughly combined, refrigerate it for an hour or two to make it easier to work with. Roll chilled dough into balls that are around 1" in diameter for a medium-small cookie. (If you prefer larger cookies, you can roll them into larger balls; of course, you will get fewer cookies and may need to cook them slightly longer as well.) Roll dough balls in granulated white sugar and place about 2-1/2" apart on a greased cookie sheet. Cook for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Outside should be crispy and cracked-looking, and inside should be soft and chewy. Let them cool on the cookie sheet for a couple of minutes before removing them to a wire rack to finish cooling. Enjoy!

[beautiful_love]

Hey, any of you heard of spaghetti squash? It's the coolest stuff. It's a squash, but the insides are just like strands of spaghetti when you scoop them out. I found an awesome recipe using spaghetti squash...it's super-super-good.

Spaghetti Squash
* 1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or butter)
* 1 onion, chopped (I use only half an onion)
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes (Canned, diced tomatoes work too)
* 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
* 3 tablespoons sliced black olives
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (Dried basil is good also!)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook only until tomatoes are warm.
4. Use a large spoon to scoop the stringy pulp from the squash, and place in a medium bowl. Toss with the sauteed vegetables, feta cheese, olives, and basil. Serve warm.

Here are some more variations:

Our oven was on the blink when I made this, so I halved and seeded the squash, wrapped each half in plastic wrap, and microwaved them individually for about 10-12 minutes. They still came out tender and yummy!

Also, I made the same general recipe again tonight, only I couldn't find spaghetti squash at the store, but found that pasta works deliciously as well! This time I added a zucchini too.

Hope you try this and like it! It was definitely a hit in my family. :)

*Oh yeah, and if you have a bigger family, you might want to double the recipe. One spaghetti squash won't make just a ton.

http://images.allrecipes.com/site/allrecipes/area/community/userphoto/big/18967.jpg
It'll look something like this.

[LauraA]

Oh that looks and sounds great. I bought a spaghetti squash about a year ago and whatever I did with it wasn't good. Now I'll have a recipe to follow. Thanks!

[Kelly]

We had this for dinner last night....it's pretty much a family dinner staple around here :)

Chicken Carbonara

Ingredients:
Angel hair pasta
2 cups cooked chicken (bite-size pieces)
16oz heavy whipping cream
4-5 strips bacon cooked & crumbled
jar of roasted red peppers
cayenne pepper
chipotle powder
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:
In medium saucepan, on low, heat heavy cream, bacon, roasted red pepper, and spices. (Do NOT let it boil!) Combine with pasta and chicken in large dish.

That's all there is to it :) Kinda time consuming since you have to cook the pasta and the bacon and the chicken and the cream sauce, but easy otherwise! :) Acid reflux runs in our family, but we make an exception for this dish because it's SOOOO good! :)

[Kelly]

These are easy and delicious, and great to make with kids! We entered them in our local county fair years ago and they won a blue ribbon! :)

No Bake Peanut Butter Logs

Ingredients:
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
2 tbs butter
1 1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
3 cups Rice Krispies
chocolate frosting

Blend peanut butter and butter. Stir in powdered sugar. Add cereal. Mix well (with hands! :D This is the kids' favorite part of course!) Shape into small logs (about 1 1/2-2 inches long). Frost, chill, and serve.

[CherryCokeGrl]

These are easy and delicious, and great to make with kids! We entered them in our local county fair years ago and they won a blue ribbon! :)

No Bake Peanut Butter Logs

Ingredients:
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
2 tbs butter
1 1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
3 cups Rice Krispies
chocolate frosting

Blend peanut butter and butter. Stir in powdered sugar. Add cereal. Mix well (with hands! :D This is the kids' favorite part of course!) Shape into small logs (about 1 1/2-2 inches long). Frost, chill, and serve.

Wow, those sound great Kelly!! I like easy & tasty recipes!! :)

[LauraA]

This sounds mouthwatering!!! Thanks. I'm going to try this for sure!

We had this for dinner last night....it's pretty much a family dinner staple around here :)

Chicken Carbonara

Ingredients:
Angel hair pasta
2 cups cooked chicken (bite-size pieces)
16oz heavy whipping cream
4-5 strips bacon cooked & crumbled
jar of roasted red peppers
cayenne pepper
chipotle powder
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:
In medium saucepan, on low, heat heavy cream, bacon, roasted red pepper, and spices. (Do NOT let it boil!) Combine with pasta and chicken in large dish.

That's all there is to it :) Kinda time consuming since you have to cook the pasta and the bacon and the chicken and the cream sauce, but easy otherwise! :) Acid reflux runs in our family, but we make an exception for this dish because it's SOOOO good! :)

[LauraA]

This sounds great, too! I might make this today with the kids if we can get a grip on the noise level. YIKES!!! It's so loud today.

These are easy and delicious, and great to make with kids! We entered them in our local county fair years ago and they won a blue ribbon! :)

No Bake Peanut Butter Logs

Ingredients:
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
2 tbs butter
1 1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
3 cups Rice Krispies
chocolate frosting

Blend peanut butter and butter. Stir in powdered sugar. Add cereal. Mix well (with hands! :D This is the kids' favorite part of course!) Shape into small logs (about 1 1/2-2 inches long). Frost, chill, and serve.

[Kelly]

If you make the carbonara, just a heads up....it's SPIIIIIIIICY! Of course, it depends on how much cayenne and chipotle you put in...you can always put less than it calls for, or more, depending on your taste.

[krazyyouth]

Great for parties

Pretzels
1. 15 Oz Bag of Pretzels
2. 3/4 cups of Oil
3. 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
4. 1/2 tsp Lemmon Pepper
5. 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
6. 1 pkg. of Dry Ranch
Pour over pretzels. toss every 30 mins. For 2 hrs.
Leave over night, change bags

yummmmmmmmmmm

[LauraA]

Oops, I just responded inside your post. Hit Edit instead of reply. Sorry. I didn't edit your post. lol.

This is what I meant to do:

Ooohhhh, that sounds even better. Yum. I made the bars with the kids today and they LOVED them. (So did I. yikes.) Really good and super easy. Thank you.

And the pretzels sound yummy, too. My diet is doomed!

[Kelly]

Wow, you didn't waste any time! Hehe. Glad you like them! I wanna make them again! Been way too long!

[ktbug23]

We had this for supper last week. It's good :) It's easy too.

Hamburger Crescent Bake

1 lb. hamburger
1 pkg. dry spaghetti mix
1-8 oz. tomato sauce
2-8 oz. cans crescent rolls (Pillsbury)
1-8 oz. pkg, shredded mozzarella cheese

Brown hamburger, drain, add spaghetti mix and tomato sauce. Simmer on low for 10 minutes. In an ungreased 9x13 pan, put 1 can of the crescent rolls rolled out on the bottom of the pan. Put hamburger mixture over the rolls, cover with cheese. Roll out the other can of crescent rolls and cover with more cheese. Bake 20-25 minutes at 375°.

[Kelly]

Awwwww man....that sounds just like something I "invented" a while back. My mom made this thing called cheeseburger pie....you lay out the crescents in a sun shape with the middle filled in, scoop in beef mixed with taco seasoning and top with cheddar cheese, then "close up the pie" by bringing up the triangles and overlapping on top. I decided to try an italian version, so instead of taco seasoning, I mixed in spaghetti sauce and italian seasoning, and used mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar....it's SOOOOOO yummy!

[LauraA]

It also sounds like the Broccoli Ham Ring that I learned how to make at a Pampered Chef party. It's really good!

[Kissy]

1 can of coke or pepsi
1 can cream of mushroom
1 pkg french onion soup beef roast
parsley, 3 stalks celery chopped
Mrs. Dash
3 lb roast

Rub roast with Mrs. Dash and flour flavored and sear on both sides
In separate bowl mix 1 pkg french onion soup 1 can cream of mushroom
24 oz can of coke pour contents of bowl over the roast in the crock pot.
Add red potatoes and carrots.

Cook low setting for 6-8 hrs.

[Kissy]

20 large mushrooms
1 egg beaten
1/4 tsp seafood seasoning
2 tbs plain yogurt
2 tsp finely chopped parsley
1 tso worcheshire sauce
2 tbs lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 lb crab meat

Parmesan cheese and paprika topping

Arrange muchrooms in a casserole or on a large cookie sheet. Mix the rest of the
ingredients and fold in the crab meat. Spoon a heaping amount into each
muchroom cavity and sprinkle with cheese and paprika Bake in preheated
oven 400 8-10 minutes.:D

[LauraA]

Oh Kissy! Those sound GREAT. Thank you for sharing with us!

[DawnAurora]

biscuits and gravy for me tonight - fast comfort food to help get over this cold.

[LauraA]

We bought an Angus steer and split it with 4 families (including us). The meat is SO MUCH BETTER than store bought. We'd never done this before and I am just shocked at the difference in quality between it and the store-bought. We each got about 130 pounds of meat and it came out to about $2.92 per pound, less than hamburger. We each got 36 pounds of ground chuck, roasts of every type, ribs, porterhouse steaks, round steaks, rib steaks, sirloin steaks and tips, etc. I can hardly wait to do this again. If any of you have this opportunity, I encourage you to go for it.

How this all got started was a farmer we know from church told Dan that beef is expected to go way up this fall. Dan thought it would be a good time to buy a steer since we've always wanted to do it.

[krazyyouth]

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALL "STOUP" (THICKER THAN SOUP, THINNER THAN STEW)
PREP. TIME- 20
COOK TIME -25
Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped into a small dice
• 1 medium yellow skinned onion, chopped
• 2 small ribs celery from the heart, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 cups tomato sauce or 1 (14-ounce) can plus 1 (8-ounce) can
• 3 cups chicken stock, available in a box on the soup aisle
• 1 pound ground beef, pork and veal mix (meatloaf mix) available at butcher counter
• 1/2 cup grated cheese, Parmigiano or Romano, plus more to pass at table
• 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs, a few handfuls
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves
• 1/2 pound spaghetti, broken in half
• 1 cup basil leaves, torn or shredded
• 1 loaf Italian crusty bread, for dunking
Directions
Preheat a medium soup pot over medium heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, carrots, onions, celery, garlic and saute 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce and stock and cover pot. Turn up heat and bring to a fast boil.
While soup comes to a boil, mix the ground meat with cheese, bread crumbs, egg and parsley. Roll into 1 1/2 to 2-inch balls.
Remove lid from soup and slide balls into soup. Bring back to a boil then stir in spaghetti. Reduce the heat and simmer soup 10 minutes more, until pasta is tender and balls have cooked through. Stir in basil and remove "stoup" from the stove. Serve soup with bread and cheese

[JeepGirl83]

These are delicious!!

Cheese Cake Cookies

1 pkg. yellow cake mix

3 eggs

8 oz. cream cheese

1 box confectioners sugar

1 stick butter

______________

Mix 1 package yellow cake mix, 1 beaten egg, and 1 stick butter, melted. Press in bottom of 9x15 inch pan. Mix 2 beaten eggs, 8 ounces cream cheese, softened, and 1 box confectioners sugar. Spread over first mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. (These are even better the second day; may refrigerate.)

[CherryCokeGrl]

These are delicious!!

Cheese Cake Cookies

1 pkg. yellow cake mix

3 eggs

8 oz. cream cheese

1 box confectioners sugar

1 stick butter

______________

Mix 1 package yellow cake mix, 1 beaten egg, and 1 stick butter, melted. Press in bottom of 9x15 inch pan. Mix 2 beaten eggs, 8 ounces cream cheese, softened, and 1 box confectioners sugar. Spread over first mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. (These are even better the second day; may refrigerate.)

YUM!! I love those things!! We need to make some!! :)

[LauraA]

All these yummy recipes! They look great!

This is a recipe from my friend Ida. They are delcious. Don't expect to only eat one if you make them.

Frosted Banana Bars

1/2 c. butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream
1 t. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
2 lg. bananas or 3 small (about 1 cup mashed)

Frosting:
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 t. vanilla extract
2-3/4 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Sitr in bananas. Spread into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool. For frosting, in a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Gradually beat in enough confecttioners' sugar to achieve desired consistency. Frost bars. Store in the refrigerator. Yield 3-4 dozen.

[JeepGirl83]

Love all these new recipe ideas :D

[krazyyouth]

oohh that sounds good Laura