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.

Snickerdoodle Cake

From the Cake Mix Doctor

1 pkg. (18.25 ounces) plain white cake mix
1 cup whole milk
8 tbls. (1 stick)butter, melted
3 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x13 pan.

2. Place the cake mix, milk, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. The batter should look well combined. Pour batter in pan, smoothing it out with the rubber spatula. Place the pan in the oven.

3. Bake the cakes until they are golden brown and spring back when lightly pressed with your finger, 27 to 29 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place them on wire racks to cool for 10 minutes. Allow it to cool completely, 30 minutes more.

4. Frost with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting below.

Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

8 tbls. (1 stick) butter, at room temperature.
3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
3 to 4 tbls. milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 tsp. cinnamon

1. Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until fluffy, 30 seconds. Stop the machine and add confectioners' sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Blend with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, 1 minute more. Blend in up to 1 tablespoon milk if the frosting seems to stiff.

Homemade Ranch Dressing

I got this recipe from my Sister Kim. It's yummy delicious on salads!

1 quart or 4 cups buttermilk
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. onion salt
2 tsp. parsley
1 quart or 4 cups mayo
2 tsp. accent
2 1/2 tsp. garlic salt

Mix mayo and buttermilk together then add spices.

Stuffed Shells

I made this for my bunco group this week. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it. I got the recipe from my sister Kim, she saved me by helping me get it all ready for the party. Thanks, Kim!

1 (16 oz.) package jumbo pasta shells
4 cups small curd cottage cheese
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dried oregano or 2-3 tbs. fresh oregano
1 tsp. dried parsley or 2-3 tbs. fresh parsley
1 (26 oz.) jar spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
*You can add one package frozen chopped spinach (thawed, liquid squeezed out)

Directions
1. Cook shells according to package directions. Place in cold water to stop cooking. Drain.
2. Mix together cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, eggs, and garlic powder. Rub the dried herbs in the palms of your hands to pulverize them, and stir into the cheese mixture. Stuff mixture into the shells.
3. Spread 1/3 of the spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan. Place shells open side up, and close together in pan. Spread remaining sauce over the top, and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan, and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes covered and 20 minutes uncovered. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Tips
You can pipe cheese filling from a gallon size zip-loc bag, 1/3 at a time works best. Cut a whole about a dime size so all the filling can come out.

Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers

Submitted by: Mary M.
From http://eatingwell.com

Makes Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
Canola oil cooking spray
½ cup sliced almonds
¼ cup whole-wheat flour
1 ½ teaspoons paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dry mustard
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 ½ teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 large egg whites
1 pound chicken tenders (see Ingredient Note)

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 475°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set a wire rack on the baking sheet and coat it with cooking spray.
2. Place almonds, flour, paprika, garlic powder, dry mustard, salt and pepper in a food processor; process until the almonds are finely chopped and the paprika is mixed throughout, about 1 minute. With the motor running, drizzle in oil; process until combined. Transfer the mixture to a shallow dish.
3. Whisk egg whites in a second shallow dish. Add chicken tenders and turn to coat. Transfer each tender to the almond mixture; turn to coat evenly. (Discard any remaining egg white and almond mixture.) Place the tenders on the prepared rack and coat with cooking spray; turn and spray the other side.
4. Bake the chicken fingers until golden brown, crispy and no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes.

Tips
Ingredient note: Chicken tenders, virtually fat-free, are a strip of rib meat typically found attached to the underside of the chicken breast, but they can also be purchased separately. Four 1-ounce tenders will yield a 3-ounce cooked portion. Tenders are perfect for quick stir-fries, chicken satay or kid-friendly breaded “chicken fingers.”