seven layer jello

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-00,seven_layer_jello,FF.html

{seven layer jello is one of my favorite things that my mom makes, i'm not

even a huge jell-o person, but this is so yummy. The link is the recipe I found online..

but i'll get my mom's recipe on later}

Crash Hot Potatoes

I made my version of these from the Pioneer Woman's website and they were crunchy, yummy, scrumptiously good.

New potatoes (or other small round potatoes)
Olive Oil
Kosher salt
Black Pepper
Rosemary (or desired herbs)
Grated Cheese/Parmesan Cheese (Opt)

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add in as many potatoes as you wish to make and cook them until they are fork-tender.

On a sheet pan, generously drizzle olive oil. Place tender potatoes on the cookie sheet leaving plenty of room between each potato.

With a potato masher, gently press down each potato until it slightly mashes. rotate the potato masher 90 degrees and mash again. Brush the tops of each crushed potato generously with more olive oil.

Sprinkle potatoes with kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper and fresh chopped rosemary (or chives or thyme or whatever herb you have available). ......I also added parmesan on some and shredded cheese on others. Both were yummy. The shredded cheese got kind of crunchy, but I actually liked it. You could also add it 5 minutes before it is done if you just want it to melt.

Bake in a 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Apple German Pancakes

This is a recipe I stole from Delectable Edibles. It's basic German Pancakes, but the optional addition of the apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon was extra, super yummy and quite pretty. Definitely a keeper! Plus, the kids love to watch this bake up in the oven... the more eggs you use, the puffier it gets.

1/4 c butter
4-6 large eggs
1 c flour
1 c milk
1/4 t salt
Lemon juice, maple syrup, powdered sugar, applesauce, etc. for toppings

Preheat oven to 400. Melt butter in 9x13 pan in oven; swirl around so it covers the pan; Beat eggs slightly; beat in flour, milk, and salt just until mixed... do not overbeat. Pour into pan. Bake 20-30 minutes, until puffy and deep golden brown. Serve at once sprinkled with lemon juice and powdered sugar, apple sauce, maple syrup or whatever you like on your pancakes.

VARIATION: Make as instructed above, except sprinkle 2 T brown sugar and 1/4 t cinnamon evenly over melted butter in baking dish. Arrange 1 thinly sliced/chopped peeled baking apple over sugar and pour batter over apple. Bake 30-35 minutes; immediately after baking loosen edges and turn upside on serving plate or serve as is.

Spaghetti Pie

This is a yummy change for spaghetti....the "crust" and cottage cheese really make it. This is a doubled-ish recipe as I found it easier to just use a pound of hamburger, a jar of sauce, and more noodles, and then I just freeze one of the "pies" for later. Enjoy!

8 oz dried spaghetti
2 Tbs butter
2 beaten eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 lb ground beef
2 cloves garlic, minced (or garlic seasoning in the sauce)
1 cup chopped onion (1 onion)
1 cup chopped green sweet pepper (optional....I've never had one on hand when making)
1 jar spaghetti sauce
Seasonings of choice for sauce (garlic, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, sugar.....)
2 cups low fat cottage cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook spaghetti and drain (I like to break mine into pieces first). Return to pan and stir in butter till melted. Stir in egg and parmesan cheese.

Meanwhile, cook ground beef, onion, sweet pepper, and garlic, seasoning the meat with salt and pepper. Drain fat. Stir in spaghetti sauce and seasonings to taste. Heat through.

Spray two 9-inch pie plates with non-stick coating. Press spaghetti mixture onto bottom and up sides of pie plates, forming a crust. Spread cottage cheese on bottom and up sides of crusts. Spread meat mixture over cottage cheese. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.

Bake in a 350 oven for 20-25 minutes or till bubbly.

Broccoli Salad

4-5 spears fresh broccoli ,washed and chopped

1 pound bacon, cut to bits, and fried crisp ( I use scissors to cut it)

1 cup golden raisins, plumped (Soak for 10 minutes in HOT water, drain) Can also use Craisins straight from the bag

1/2 cup toasted almonds or 1/2 cup roasted sunflower seeds (or both)

In A bowl combine broccoli, raisins or craisins, toasted almonds or sunflower seeds, and bacon. Add dressing just before serving so the bacon doesn't get soggy.

Dressing

Mix together and let sit for a least 3 hours, for flavors to develop:

3 Tablespoons red onion, minced

2 Cups Mayo (NOT Miracle Whip)

1 Cup sugar (Can use 1/2 c sugar, 1/2 cup Splenda)

1/2 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

Chicken Cordon Bleu

finished product

pre-cooked

-chicken

-swiss cheese

-bread crumbs

-ham slices (deli slices)

Easiest recipe ever! Slice the chicken in half and place 2 ham slices and a piece

of swiss cheese inside. put flap of chicken back on and put bread crumbs, salt 

and pepper on top. Place in oven at 400 degree's, For 45 minutes.  When it's 

all cooked place another piece of cheese on top and put in oven again, for about

3 minutes, or until cheese is melted. 

Delicious, Easy, Filling meal. 

Soft Sugar Cookies

Cream together:
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar

Add and Cream:
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg

Add:
½ cup sour cream

Sift separately and then combine with the mixture:
3 ¼ cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt

Roll them out thick and bake in 400 degree oven for 8-11 minutes

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

6 cups flour
3 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 tsp baking powder
3 tsp vanilla
1 ½ tsp soda, salt, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon
1 ½ cup shortening
29 oz can of pumpkin
2 bags milk chocolate chips

Cream shortening and sugar, add eggs, then pumpkin and vanilla. Sift flour and seasonings. Gradually add to pumpkin mixture. Mix in Chocolate chips. Bake about 10-15 minutes at 375, depending on the size. They're best if you cover and let them sit for several hours...they get softer.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

....the softest, most wonderful-est ones ever, I might add.

2 ¼ cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter, softened (not too melted or cookies will come out greasy and flat)
¼ cup sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 small box instant vanilla pudding (3 ½ oz)
2 eggs
2 cups milk chocolate chips

Combine flour & baking soda; set aside. Cream butter, sugars, vanilla & pudding mix. Beat in eggs. Add flour mixture. Add chocolate chips. Bake 9-10 minutes in a 375 degree oven.

Cabinet Mountain Inn Rolls

2 pkg (4 1/2 tsp) fast rising active yeast
2 c warm water
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c shortening
1 tsp salt
4 plus c flour

Dissolve yeast in water; set aside 10 minutes. Blend in sugar, shortening, salt, and flour; knead well. Dough will be sticky; add more flour if needed until workable (I add quite a bit). Place dough into a buttered pottery bowl; cover with cloth and let rise in warm place for 1 hour. Remove cloth; punch down and roll into 2 inch balls. Place in buttered muffin tins or baking pan and let rise 1 hour or until doubled. Bake at 375 or until lightly golden. Makes 24 rolls. These are our favorites!

Note: If I do them in a large baking pan, I will sometimes drop the temperature to 350 and cook a little longer to make sure the middles are cooked.

Turtle Pumpkin Pie {picture coming soon}

INGREDIENTS 

• 1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
• 1 (6 ounce) HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust
• 1/2 cup PLANTERS Pecan Pieces
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 pkg. (4 serving size) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 (8 ounce) tub COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
• 2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping
• 2 tablespoons PLANTERS Pecan Pieces

DIRECTIONS

1. Pour 1/4 cup caramel topping into crust; sprinkle with 1/2 cup pecans.
2. Beat milk, dry pudding mixes, pumpkin and spices with whisk until blended. Stir in 1-1/2 cups whipped topping. Spread into crust.
3. Refrigerate 1 hour. Top with remaining whipped topping, caramel topping and pecans just before serving. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

Easy Cheesy Cheese Ball (thanks to DeAnn Jeppson)

Original Cheese Ball

1 Package of Cream cheese

1 tablespoon of chives

1 tablespoon of Bon Appetit seasoning

Mix these things together and roll in almonds, and you have a delicious cheese ball. 

   

chris' cheese ball

1 package of cream cheese

1 tablespoon of chives

1 tablespoon of dry ranch mix

1/2 cup of smoked cheddar cheese

and he added just a dash of Bon Appetit seasoning

Mix all together and roll in almonds. Chris loves almonds that are

flavored with garlic. 

this makes the perfect holiday treat!! 

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Delicious Honey Frosting!!

• • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice (or 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/8 teaspoon each allspice and cloves)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin puree
  • FOR THE HONEY FROSTING
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, very soft
  • 1 bar (8 ounces) regular (or reduced-fat) cream cheese, very soft
  • 1/4 cup honey

  Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin-pie spice. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, butter, and pumpkin puree until combined. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture, and mix gently until smooth.
  3. Turn batter into prepared pan, and smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool cake 10 minutes in pan, then turn out of pan, and cool completely, right side up, on a rack.
  4. Make Honey Frosting: In a medium bowl, whisk butter, cream cheese, and honey until smooth.
  5. Spread top of cooled cake with honey frosting. Cut cake into squares to serve.

  
  

  
  

  It asks that you use the pumpkin filling from the can, it's the most compatable for this recipe. It's delicious and the frosting is something fresh and new. 

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese with Ham

Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pound elbow pasta, cooked and drained
4 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup (spooned and leveled) all-purpose flour
4 cups milk
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, (optional)
Nutmeg
1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded yellow cheddar cheese
1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded white cheddar cheese
8 ounces ham, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
2 white sandwich bread

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook pasta, and drain; reserve. Meanwhile, in a 5-quart heavy pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk in flour to coat onion. In a slow steady stream, whisk in milk until there are no lumps.

Cook, whisking often, until mixture is thick and bubbly and coats the back of a wooden spoon, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in cayenne & nutmeg, if using, and 1 cup each yellow and white cheddar cheese. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Toss pasta with cheese mixture; fold in ham.Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or individual dishes (see note, below left). Set aside.

(This topping is the best and would be great on anything where you need a breaded topping....cheesy, crunchy, yum!) In a food processor, pulse bread until large crumbs form. Toss together with remaining 1/4 cup each white and yellow cheddar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Top pasta with breadcrumb mixture. Bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes

I always add nutmeg. Just add a dash or two. It adds a kick without making you think. Hmmm...there's nutmeg in this. Also, the cyanne pepper is a really great addition. I just add all one kind of cheese.

Enjoy....Em

Glazed Carrots

Carrots
Butter
Brown Sugar
Pepper
Nutmeg

Steam carrots until al dente (not too soft as they will continue to cook a little while you glaze). Over Med-low head glaze carrots to taste with a bit of butter, the brown sugar, pepper and nutmeg for a few minutes until sugar melts and caramelizes a little. Easy and super yum! One of my most frequently asked for recipes!