Taco Bake (I think that's what it's called)

Taco Bake

Ingredients:

• 1 lb hamburger meat
• 1 pkg taco seasoning
• 8 oz sour cream
• 1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes (optional -- I didn't use these, but I did use a can of chili beans)
• 1 cup shredded cheese (I NEVER measure cheese... just throw enough on there to make it good ;) )
• 3/4 of a bag of Dorito chips

1. Brown hamburger and drain.
2. Add taco seasoning, tomato sauce, tiny bit of water, and diced tomatos and/or beans. Simmer.... (the recipe I found seriously just said "simmer" it didn't specify how long, so I just let it simmer about 10 minutes)
3. IN a 9x13 dish, press out crescent rolls and rol them to form a crust.
4. Layer hamburger mixture, sour cream and then cheese.
5. Crush the doritos and put them on top.

Bake at 350* for 30 minutes



This was some seriously yummy dinner! My husband is somewhat picky, and sour cream doesn't touch most of his food... So when I made this I made half with sour cream and the other half without... When he came  back for a second helping I MADE him try the sour cream side, he said it was MUCH better that way, and next time I can make it with sour cream over the whole thing! So even if you don't like sour cream, at least try it on part of it, before you nix it completely ;)

Cinnamon Roll Waffles

I'm a little behind on posting my recipes, so I have 2 to post right now, and 1 more when I make my recipe for this coming week.

Cinnamon Roll Waffles

What you'll need:

• Refrigerator Can of Cinnamon Rolls
• Non-stick spray
• Waffle iron

This was about as easy as the canned biscuit donuts!   Take the rolled cinnamon rolls and place them on the greased waffle iron, watch them closely so they don't burn, it doesn't take long at all. When they're done, pull them out and cover with glaze, or syrup (Sam had his with syrup and said they were really good).

I almost feel like I cheated with this recipe, since it's so easy! ;)

Pumpkin Pie Bars

I have had the stuff to make these for 2 weeks now, and finally got them made! :) 

Pumpkin Pie Bars:

What you'll need: 

•  1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 (15oz) can pumpkin
• 1 (12oz) can evaporated milk
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

In a medium bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Mix in flour. Fold in oats.

Press into 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake in preheated oven 15 minutes, until set.

In a large bowl, beat eggs with white sugar. Beat in pumpkin and evaporated milk.

Mix in salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Pour over baked crust.

Bake in preheated oven 20-30 minutes, until set. Let cool before cutting into squares.

YUM!

Easiest, Yummiest, Homemade Donuts EVER!

Easy Homemade Donuts

• What you'll need:
  1 can of refrigerator biscuits (and if you're like me, a man, big or small to open said can of biscuits)
• Canola Oil
• Sugar/Cinnamon Mixture
• 1/2 cup margarine, melted

Melt a stick of margarine and place the margarine and cinnamon sugar bowls side by side so we’ll be able to use them as soon as the doughnuts are done.

Using a small circular device such as a plastic bottle cap, or I used a small star cutout for mine, cut the middle of each biscuit out.

Pour a little less than half an inch of canola oil in skillet and heat on medium to high heat for several minutes. You want it to be pretty hot so the donuts are instantly seared, so they don't absorb too much oil and become soggy.

Put as many donuts as will fit in your skillet, it takes less than a minute on each side. Repeat with your donut holes (the donut holes are my kids' favorite part).
Remove cooked donuts and place on a paper towel lined plate.

after a few minutes the donuts should have cooled slightly, so you can handle them, but they're still pretty warm. Dip each donut in the melted butter and then in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Eat them warm and you'll think you're in heaven ;) YUM!  You would never believe they came from a can of biscuits either! SO GOOD!

I added a lot of cinnamon to mine, so they're kinda dark. But they were oh. so. good!

 

Cheesy Chicken Lasagna

Cheesy Chicken Lasagna

What you'll need:

2 (12 oz) cans evaporated milk (not fat-free)
1 (1 oz) pkg. dry Ranch dressing mix
3 C. cubed, cooked, chicken
1/8 tsp pepper
8-12oz lasagna noodles, cooked (I used bowtie noodles)
1 1/2 to  2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 1/2 to  2 C mozzarella cheese, grated

Cook the chicken and noodles first at the same time. Once noodles are done–rinse in cold water and set aside (it keeps them from sticking together). Combine evaporated milk (don’t use fat-free version) and Ranch dressing in a 3 quart heavy saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring frequently until dry ingredients are dissolved. Stir in chicken and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, 25 minutes (don’t do any less), stirring frequently. Layer half of Noodles, poultry sauce, and cheese in well-buttered 9×13 pan. Repeat layers again. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

**I used Bow-tie noodles for mine, because with the kids I Have to cut up the lasagna noodles, so using bowtie- took some of the work off my plate ;) My plan was to go ahead and layer everything, like a lasagna, but I messed up on some of my layers, so I just mixed it all really good. This dish turned out so good!

Oreo Muffins

Oreo Muffins

What you'll need:
1 3/4 Cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp Baking powder
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 cup milk
1 egg
16 oreos coarsely chopped (plus 5 more for the cookie crumb topping)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Cookie Crumb topping (recipe follows)

Mix flour, sugar and baking powder in med. bowl; cut in butter until mix resembles coarse crumbs.
Blend milk and egg in small bowl; stir into flour mixture. Gently stir in chopped cookies and, if desired, chocolate chips; do not over mix. Spoon batter into 12 greased or paper lined muffin pan cups.
Sprinkle with cookie crumb topping
Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pan; cool slightly. Serve warm.

Cookie Crumb Topping:
Mix 5 finely chopped oreo cookies and 3 tbsp each of flour and sugar. Blend in 2 tbsp softened butter until crumbly.

This was pretty good. I left out the topping because I didn't have any oreos left, after making this and worms in dirt. But it's pretty good without ;)

Mexican Tortilla Dish

Mexican Tortilla Dish

What you'll need:

• 1 lb hamburger meat
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 can water
• 1 onion (or onion powder/flakes)
• 3tsp Chili Powder
• Tortillas & Cheese

Preheat oven 350
Brown and drain hamburger meat.
Add onion, Chili powder, tomato sauce and water.
 Let simmer about 20 minutes.
Layer ingredients in baking dish, meat, tortilla, cheese, meat tortilla cheese... until you don't have any room left. Bake around 25 minutes.

This was SO GOOD! Chris said "You will definitely be making this again!" That is always nice to hear!

Cheescake Stuffed Strawberries? Umm Yes Please!

So I am totally obsessed with Pinterest right now! So many great ideas and recipes!! I got this recipe from pinterest, and it's awesome, and easy! ;) The recipe actually called for cream cheese and some other stuff to make the cheesecake mixture, but I cheated and got the Jello No-Bake Cheesecake mix, to make it even easier!

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

What you'll need:

• Carton of Strawberries (rinse and pull green tops off)
• Jello No-Bake Cheesecake mix (and milk to make the cheesecake part)
• Chocolate chips (optional)

Carefully core the strawberry. I used a tiny paring knife (the little $1.50 Pampered Chef knife) Get as deep as you can without breaking the bottom. 

Prepare the Cheesecake filling as directed on the box. Set the crushed graham crackers to the side, in a bowl with 2 tbsp sugar.

Spoon part of mixture in a ziplock bag and snip the end to make a piping bag... Pipe the cheesecake mixture into the strawberry, leaving just a little bit to come out the top. Then sprinkle with the graham cracker crumbs.

I drizzled some melted Chocolate Chips over mine. They look delicious!

Apple Chips

Week 6 ~

Apple Chips

what you'll need:

• 2 Apples, cored (I used my apple peeler/corer/slicer, so I didn't have peel on them)
• Cinnamon/Sugar (or 2Tbsp Sugar mixed with 1 Tsp of Cinnamon)
• Canola spray

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

Thinly slice apples crosswise with a mandolin or sharp knife. Arrange apple slices in a single layer on 2 parchment lined baking sheets and spray with canola oil cooking spray.  Sprinkle Cinnamon/Sugar evenly over slices

Bake on the top 2 racks of the oven for 2 hours, or until apples are dry and crisp. Remove from oven and let them cool completely before transferring to a sealed container. 

You can store these for up to 3 days in a sealed container... IF they last that long! To me they are just as addictive as potato chips, only good for you!


below is what's left of them! I had to take a quick picture before they were all gone!

Rolo Cookies

Week 5 ~

Super easy, delicious cookies and only 4 ingredients!

Rolo Cookies

You'll need:
Bag of Rolos
Devils food cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

Mix the cake mix, eggs and oil in a bowl ( I had to finish mixing with my hands to make sure it was completely mixed together) 

Take a small ball of dough and form a ball around the rolo. (Only use enough dough to cover the rolo so it can spread through the cookie.)

Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 7-8 minutes.

You can sprinkle with powdered sugar, but they are really sweet enough without it.
They are the most amazing right after they come out of the over to about 10 minutes after... So if at all possible consume all 2-3 dozen within that first 10 minutes! Seriously

Cream Cheese Bacon Crescents

Week 4 ~

Cream Cheese Bacon Crescents

What you'll need:

• 8oz Chive & Onion Cream Cheese
• Peices of bacon, chopped small
• 2 cans crescent rolls (I just used one can and had left over cheese)

Preheat oven to 375*
Mix the cream cheese and bacon well. I had to microwave the cream cheese a little to soften it.
Unroll crescent rolls and cut each triangle in half.
Spread 1 tsp (or however much looks good ;) ) of cream cheese mixture, and roll up.
Bake 12-15 minutes, or until golden.

Not much to say about this one... it was super easy, and very Good!!!  I'll definitely be making these again.

5 Minute Chocolate Cake

I forgot to get the things I needed to make the recipe I wanted to make this week, so I thought I'd try something I've always wanted to try! I had all the ingredients in my cabinet!

5 Minute Chocolate Cake (in a mug)

You'll need:
4 tbsp flour
4 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp whisked egg (seriously 2 tbsp, not a whole egg)
2 tbsp cocoa
3 tbsp milk
3 tbsp oil
3 tbsp chocolate chips (or any kind of candy chopped up)
splash of vanilla

Mix all dry ingredients well, in a mug
add the egg and mix well
next add the milk and oil until well incorporated
add your chocolate chips or candy  (I used chopped Heath Bar, because I had it in my cabinet)  and splash of vanilla, and mix well.

Microwave 3-4 minutes (3 for a high watt microwave)

 I sprinkled the top of mine with some powdered sugar. Wait a couple of minutes before eating and it's better. Kinda rich right out of the microwave ;)

 This was pretty good. My little chocolate princess loved it! I will definitely have to make it again. I think this would make a cute little christmas gift too. Mix the dry ingredients (maybe even put a pkg of chocolate chips with it, and make out a card telling them which ingredients to add, all in a cute little mug!

Bacon Ranch Chicken ~ YUMM-O

I am a big fan of easy-to-make, yummy food! This is a great recipe and it cooks in the crock pot, so it's super easy! Everyone in my house LOVED it!

Bacon Ranch Chicken:

• 4 Boneless Skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp real bacon bits
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 pkg ranch dressing mix
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream

Combine bacon, garlic, ranch dressing mix, soup and sour cream; mix well. Pour over chicken in the crockpot. Cook on high 3-4 hours.

Seriously... it's super easy! And OH, SO, GOOD!  The chicken just falls apart when you take it out of the crock pot! There were no left-overs at my house! I made it with a side of mashed potatoes and used the soup from the crock pot as a gravy. Pretty tasty!

Rocky Road Crunch Bars

Join me as I challenge myself to 1 new recipe a week. This new recipe will just be a "new to me" recipe.  I want to blog it to keep record and have an easy "look back to" reference. I am doing this challenge with a couple friends, and in this we're hoping to find lots of new recipes!

My first recipe:

Rocky Road Crunch Bars

You will need:
1/3 cup honey
2 tbsp butter
4 cups mini marshmallows
6 cups Honey Bunches of Oats
1 cup peanuts, chopped
4 squares semi sweet baking chocolate, chopped

Microwave honey and butter in large bowl, high 1 minute. Stir until well blended. Add marshmallows, toss to coat. Microwave 1 1/2 minutes, or until marshmallows are puffed. Stir until well blended. Add remaining ingredients - mix well. Press mixture firmly into greased, foil-lined 13x9 pan. Cool and cut into 24 bars.

These were pretty tasty! Be prepared to get sticky while making it. They were super easy to make and took less than 10 minutes!