Mountain Dew Dumplings . . .

2 rolls crescent rolls
1 or 2 Granny Smith apples - thinly sliced
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
Can of Mountain Dew


Unroll 2 cans of crescent rolls

Place one or two slice of apple in each roll and fold up
Place each dumpling with apple in 9x13 baking dish

Melt 2 sticks butter
Add 1 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 t cinnamon
Pour over rolls

Pour Mountain Dew over the whole dish

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes

Portabella Frittata . . .

Rinse and dry a large Portabella mushroom without stem

Season cap with olive oil, minced garlic and pepper
Bake in 400 degree oven for 10 minutes

Finely chop a red pepper and add to 12 eggs and 1 tsp salt. Scramble mixture and pour over heated cap. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes

Dot egg filled cap with asiago cheese and prosciutto and return to oven for 15-20 more minutes.

Shortbread . . . from Little Birdie Secrets . . .

Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Recipe From Little Birdie Secrets

(these are mine with the addition of some pink sqiggles with Wilton melts)

4 cups flour
1 lb. butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. almond extract
1 bag Wilton Candy Melts or similar melting chocolate (we like "light cocoa" flavor)

Cream the butter and sugar with almond extract, then add flour and mix well. Roll out on a lightly floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Bake at 300 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
(Start checking after about 20 minutes. You want them to be just barely browning
around the edges.) Yields about 3 dozen cookies, depending on size of your cookie cutter.

Allow cookies to cool. Melt chocolate according to package directions. Dip half of each cookie in chocolate and place on wax paper to cool. When you start running low on chocolate, use a spoon to pour chocolate over cookies. Use the back of the spoon to smooth chocolate around until well-covered. Try not to eat too many before you pack them in your tins! They're addictive!

If you haven't checked out this blog you MUST. These ladies are SUPER crafty and have the MOST WONDERFUL ideas on the planet. Every week I find at least one thing I do from their site and I am not remotely talented in the cratfy-ness department. They do recipes, paper crafts, crocheting, sewing, everything! They are SUPER! Add them to your blog reader right now. Go.

Stuffed Peppers . . .

1 lb hamburger
1 cup cooked rice
1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)
2 T chopped onions
1 t salt
1/2 t garlic salt

Fry hamburger with onion and drain
add rice, garlic and salt and heat through
Stuff into hollowed peppers and sauce over peppers

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes
Remove foil and bake 15 minutes more.

Paula Deen's Breakfast . . .

I never watch Paula Deen, but I did once and this was on. It was a huge hit with my family! Dustin wanted breakfast food for his birthday dinner last year and it was fabulous.

Ultimate Coffee Cake :

• 16 to 18 unbaked frozen dinner rolls
• 1 (3-ounce) package regular butterscotch pudding mix, not instant
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

The night before place frozen rolls in well greased Bundt pan. Sprinkle dry pudding mix over rolls. Sprinkle brown sugar over pudding mix. Sprinkle chopped pecans over brown sugar. Pour melted butter over all.

To prevent the dough from forming a hard crust while its rising overnight, cover with a damp towel or tightly wrap with plastic wrap. Let rise overnight at room temperature, about 8 to 10 hours.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

Turn pan over onto a serving platter to remove. Serve by pulling apart chunks with forks.

Hash Brown Quiche :

• 3 cups, shredded frozen hash browns, thawed and drained
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, melted
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 3/4 cup diced cooked ham
• 1/2 cup diced green onions
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Gently press the drained hash browns between paper towels to dry them as best as possible. In a 9-inch pie plate, toss the hash browns with the melted butter into the plate. Press them into the bottom and up the sides to form a crust. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown and starting to crisp.

Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. When the hash brown crust is ready pour the egg mixture over it and return to the oven.

Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for about 30 minutes until the quiche is light golden brown on top and puffed.

Omelets for a Crowd:

• 6 large eggs
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 to 3 re-sealable plastic freezer bags

Optional Add Ins :

• Shredded Cheddar
• Crumbled feta
• Shredded mozzarella
• Cooked and crumbled bacon
• Cooked and crumbled sausage
• Diced ham
• Chopped bell peppers
• Chopped spinach
• Diced red onion
• Diced tomatoes
• Sauteed sliced mushrooms
• Sliced black olives

In a medium mixing bowl whisk together eggs, salt, pepper and any of the desired add-ins. Divide and pour the egg mixture into re-sealable plastic bags.

Boil a large pot of water and drop in the sealed omelette bags. Simmer the bags for 5 to 8 minutes. Remove bags from the water with tongs and drain them on a paper towel lined plate.

Allow to cool slightly before handling. Open the bags and pour the cooked omelet out onto a plate.

Baked Rice . . .

In 9x13 pan mix:

1 1/3 cup uncooked rice
2 2/3 cup water
2 T butter
1 T salt

Cover with foil and bake on 350 degrees for 30 minutes

This can used for many things and makes a simple, easy side dish. Buttery, warm and carbilicious!

Puppy Chow . . .

Not a dinner, but I certainly would eat it for dinner! :)

1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup margarine

Melt together in microwave
Pour over Rice Chex or Crispex cereal
Shake with 2 cups powdered sugar in gallon baggie

The best nacho dip . . .

Put the following in the crockpot:

1 pound browned and drained hamburger
1 packet of taco seasoning mix
1 medium onion diced
2 can Amour chili NO beans
16 ounces of Velveeta cut into inch cubes

Stir together and heat through in the crockpot for at least 1-2 hours.

This is a pretty big batch and freezes really well if you have leftovers. Heats nicely in microwave for leftovers as well if you add a little water and stir before heating.

Crab Cakes. . .

1 cup boiling water

1 pkg. STOVE TOP Cornbread Stuffing Mix

3 eggs

2 cans (6 oz. each) crabmeat, drained, flaked

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 medium lemon

Add boiling water to stuffing mix; stir just until moistened. Let stand 5 min.

Beat eggs lightly in large bowl. Add crabmeat; mix lightly. Add prepared stuffing; mix well. Shape into 6 patties.

Melt butter in large skillet on medium heat.

Cook patties 5 miutes on each side until heated and lightly browned on both sides.

Serve with the lemon wedges.

Homemade Chicken and Dumplings. . .

When Robert and I first got married he wanted me to learn how to make his Mammie's chicken and Dumplings. One time when she stayed with us I had her show me . . .

I used to start out with a whole chicken and boil it for hours, pick the meat off the bones, add more water and bouillon to make the broth and then make the dumplings. Then I realized that my family was only eating the dumplings and broth and leaving the chicken in the bottom of their bowls. I figured all that work for nothing was unnecessary. So here is the short version . . .

I fill a stock pot with chicken broth (I like the organic stuff) and throw in a pound or so of shredded chicken that I boiled in water and shredded with a fork.

While that is boiling, I make my dumplings. Mix:

5 cups flour
3 eggs
1 1/4 cup of broth
1 tsp garlic
1/2 Tspn Baking Powder
salt and pepper

Flour the counter and roll out mixed dough (dough will be thick and springy)
Cut into long strips with pizza cutter lengthwise and then crosswise to make strips about 1 inch by 3 inches.
Throw in boiling broth - they will cook through in about 3 minutes.

Oh my gosh! I have to make that for dinner tonight, just typing it out makes me want it. . .

Dreamy Orange Jello Salad . . .

This one is compliments of JR over at Green Eyed Gurl. Mmmmm there's nothing like jello and cool whip to make me want seconds!

3 c. boiling water
1 sm. pkg. orange Jello
2 pkgs. instant vanilla tapioca pudding
1 can mandarin oranges, cut up & drained
1 (9 oz.) Cool Whip

Mix water, Jello and pudding and put in refrigerator for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. After an hour, fold in oranges and Cool Whip. Serve in fancy dish.

Robert's killer Tuna Salad . . .

Robert makes the best Tuna Salad ever! That's why I married him, but shhhh don't tell him that. I made it last night . . . Remember I measure nothing so here ya go . . .

4 large cans of tuna drained well
1 medium size onion - chopped coursely
6 boiled eggs - chopped coursely ( I like chunky tuna salad )
4 dill pickles - chopped
celery finely chopped ( I hate the texture of celery )
1 tsp pepper (maybe more)
1 tsp salt
1 glob (probably 1 1/2 cups) miracle whip light or free
a good squirt of mustard
a dollop of sour cream ( maybe 2 tbsp)

Mix and enjoy!

I love to eat tuna salad rolled in wheat tortilla with a slice of yellow pepper and red pepper and a big ole lettuce leaf.

Garlic Sheese biscuits ala Red Lobster . . .

2 c. Bisquick mix
2/3 c. milk
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c. butter
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Mix Bisquick and cheese; add milk. Spoon on an ungreased cookie sheet (makes about 12). Bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Brush with melted butter and garlic powder.

Orange Smoothies . . .

Just Like Orange Julius. . .

1/2 can frozen OJ
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sugar
8-10 ice cubes

Blend til frothy!

Mmmmmm! Orangey-goodness.

Mexican Baked Fish

(this is courtesy of Postcards from Insanity)


1 ½ lbs tilapia or cod
1 cup salsa
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
½ cup coarsely crushed corn chips
¼ cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 400. Spray 8x12 baking dish with cooking spray. Rinse fish under cold water and pat dry with paper towel. Lay fillets in baking dish. Pour salsa over top. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with corn chips. Baked uncovered for 15 minutes or until fish flakes with fork. Serve topped with sour cream.

Ritz Chicken Casserole

(this one was courtesy of Postcards from Insanity)

Ritz Chicken Casserole
2 sleeves Ritz crackers
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
½ cup chicken broth
4 boneless chicken breasts, cooked & cut into pieces
4 ounces margarine, melted

Crumble 1 sleeve crackers in bottom of casserole dish. Drizzle ½ the melted butter over crackers. Mix chicken with soup, sour cream and broth. Pour mixture over crackers. Crush other sleeve of crackers over chicken mix and drizzle remaining butter over top. Bake at 300 for 30-40 minutes.

Mexican Lasagna

In large pan,brown
1 lb. ground beef
with 2 tsp. chili powder


Add:
2 cans diced green chilies
2 cans (12 oz) mexican stewed tomatoes
Simmer for 10 min.

In a 9 x13 pan, layer 6 corn tortillas, 1/2 can of refried beans, 1/2 of the meat mixture, and 1/2 bag of mexican shredded cheese. You can use just cheddar if you'd like. Repeat the layers one more time: tortillas, beans, meat mixture, and cheese.

Bake at 375 for 25 minutes

Can easily be down the night before to pop in the oven the following day.

I tried this the first time from Little Birdie Secrets.