Creamy Loaded Mashed Potatoes

8 servings - Prep Time: 10 minutes - Cook Time: 45 minutes

3 lbs all-purpose potatoes, peeled & cubed
1.5 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (about 6 oz.), divided
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
3 green onions, finely chopped (optional, but just do it!)
6 slices bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled

1 - Preheat oven to 375*. Spray 2-qt shallow baking dish with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
2 - Cover potatoes with water in a 4-qt sauce pot; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender; drain and mash.

3 - Stir in 1 cup cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, green onions and 4 strips crumbled bacon. Turn in to prepared baking dish and bake 30 minutes or until bubbling.

4 - Top with remaining .5 cup cheese and bacon. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish, if desired, with additional chopped green onions.

Shoyu Chicken

I got this recipe from a lady in my mom's ward who got it from a Samoan guy they knew - family recipe.

1 cup soy sauce
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup sugar
ground ginger (up to 1 tbsp - to your liking)
1 5 lb bag chicken thighs

Mix soy sauce, pineapple juice, sugar and ground ginger in a big pot. add chicken. When it comes to a boil, turn the burner down to medium heat, let cook for 45-60 minutes. While it is cooking, make your rice.

The hardest part for me in this recipe is taking all the fat off the chicken. long process - but worth it. So yummy!

Taco Soup

I got this recipe from my MIL. It's super easy and so good!

Ingredients:

1-1.5 lb of hamburger
2 packets of taco seasoning
1 small onion chopped
1 can of corn
2 cans of kidney beans
1 can of black beans
2 cups of salsa
1 large can of vegetarian veggie soup (aka-veg. beef soup minus the beef)
Tortilla chips
Shredded cheese

In large pot brown your hamburger with your onions, drain fat. Next add soup, along with one soup can of water. Next add kidney beans, black beans, and corn-DO NOT DRAIN any of them, just add straight from can. Next add in salsa and mix all together. Last add taco seasoning and stir into soup.I used about 1 1/2 packets of taco seasoning and it was perfect, you can adjust to your liking. I put on medium heat for about half hour stirring occasionally. Last top off with crushed tortilla chips and cheese.

It makes a lot!!

Bread Pudding

My husband LOVES bread pudding so I have been making it lately when I have bread or buns that are kinda going old. I really like making it because you can adjust to your own tastebuds by adding different fruit or spices and it usually still turns out really good.

Ingredients:

About 7 or 8 pieces of old bread.
3/4 cups of brown sugar (or you can use white sugar)
2 TBS. of melted butter
2 Cups milk
1 tsp of vanilla
1 tsp. of cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
3 Eggs


Directions:

Break bread up into little pieces and place into 8x8 pan.
Drizzle melted butter over broken bread, add raisins on top if desired.
In bowl combine eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, sugar together and mix with electric mixer until well blended.
Pour mixture over bread.
With a fork, make sure all bread is soaked in liquid mixture.
Bake at 350 for 45 min.

Serve with whip cream on top, or by itself. Really yummy hot or cold.
Enjoy!!

Snickerdoodle Cookies

This is a recipe from my Aunt Kathy. I tried it out at my toe party. I think I over baked them. They were a little crisp. So when baking make sure to check them after 8 minutes, they seem to puff up and then go back down.

Cream together:
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
Measure and sift:
2 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp. cream of tarter
1 tsp. soda
1/4 tsp. salt
Combine all ingredients together. Form into 1 inch balls and roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10.

Beer Margaritas

My husband made this at a toe party I hosted. Everyone seemed to enjoy it so I thought I'd share it.

12 oz. Tequilla
12 oz. 7 Up
12 oz. Corona Extra
12 oz. can limeade concentrate

Pour all ingredients into large pitcher. Stir with wooden spoon until combined. Garnish with kosher salt and a lime.

Serves 6

Texas Sheet Cake

My Mom use to make this when I was a kid. She told me she got the recipe from my Aunt Tammie. It's delicious and makes a lot.

Set aside
3 cups flour
3 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

Bring to boil
3 cubes of butter
6 tbsp. cocoa
1 1/2 cups water

Mix together
3/4 cup sour cream
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

Add cocoa mixture then flour mixture. Take out enough mixture to make 4 cupcakes or else it the cake will over flow. You can set that aside until the cake is done. Pour the rest of the mixture into a floured and greased jelly roll pan or cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Frosting
Bring to boil
1 1/2 cubes butter
6 tbsp. cocoa
6 tbsp. milk
2 tbsp. karol syrup
Then add
5 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Spread over cake. Enjoy!

Apple Bread

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 beaten egg

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups finely shredded, peeled apple

1/4 cup cooking oil

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted

1. Grease the bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of an 8x4x2- inch loaf pan; set aside. In a medium bowl combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg. Making a well in center of flour mixture; set aside

2. In another medium bowl, combine egg, sugar, apple, and oil. Add apple mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in nuts. Spoon batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 50-55 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.

Zucchini Bread: Prepare as above, except substitute 1 Cup finely shredded, unpeeled zucchini for the apple.

Apple Cake

This is one of my favorite things my mom would make when I lived back in Texas! I hope you enjoy!

1 1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil

2 Cups Sugar

3 Eggs

2 tsp. Vanilla

3 Cups Flour

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Cinnamon

3 Cups Apples (Cut into chunky pieces)

1 Cup Pecans

Grease and flour a bundt pan; set aside. In large mixing bowl, begin mixing ingredients in the order given: Oil & Sugar; Stir. Add eggs; Stir. Add Vanilla; Stir... Continue in order making sure to stir well after each ingredient is added. Spoon into bundt pan evenly.

Bake @ 325 degrees F for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool 15 minutes. Remove from pan onto a serving plate. Top with sprinkled powdered sugar if desired.

Apple Dumplings

I posted this on my blog as well, but this is seriously the best (and easiest!) dessert ever.

Apple Dumplings

• 2 Granny Smith apples
• 2 cans crescent rolls
• 2 sticks butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoons vanilla
• cinnamon
• 1 small can Mountain Dew

Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

Then go to confession. Quickly.

Love,

Pioneer Woman

For a back story and step-by-step pictures, go to PW's website, HERE.

So yummy hamburgers!

Summer is here friends....and you HAVE to try these! {okay so summer isn't here yet...and you don't have to do anything...but I highly recommend it}

1 pound ground beef (lean is best because you add so much to it)
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 egg
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2-to 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/3 C. grated Parmesan (the shaky powder kind)
salt and pepper
10 pieces of raw bacon

Mix all ingredients together except the bacon.

Make into patties....
Wrap two pieces of bacon around each patty....secure with a tooth pick
and slap on the grill!
SO YUMMY

Bunco Bruscetta

OK sorry girls that it has taken me so long to post this, but here it is.

Topping:

5-6 Roma Tomatoes (chopped)
2-3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1 tsp salt (to taste)
1 tsp pepper (to taste)
10-15 fresh basil leaves (chopped)

Mix all together in a strainer to remove any excess juice from tomatoes.

1 Pillsbury pizza crust
2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1-2 cups mozzarella cheese

Press dough to fit cookie sheet drizzle with olive oil rub it around til dough has a thin layer on it. Bake as directed or til golden brown. While still warm cut a clove of garlic in half and rub over the crust. Let cool, mix mayo and garlic salt and spread evenly over crust,next top with mozzarella cheese then the tomato mixture. Put back it the oven til cheese is melted. When removed sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, serve and enjoy.