Guacamole

2 large ripe avocados, pitted, peeled and mashed
2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
2 jalapeño chilies, seeded and finely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons lime or lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
Tortilla chips, if desired

1. Mix all ingredients except tortilla chips in glass or plastic bowl. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour to blend flavors.

2. Serve with tortilla chips.

Beef Penne Pasta Casserole

Preparation Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Servings: 6

1 pound dried penne pasta
8 ounces lean ground beef
1 small onion chopped
2 cups water
2 (6 ounces each) cans Italian tomato paste
1/3 cup red wine or water
1 tablespoon MAGGI Instant Beef Flavor Bouillon
2 (8 ounces) cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 350° F.

COOK beef and onion in large saucepan, stirring occasionally, until beef is no longer pink. Add water, tomato paste, wine and bouillon; cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes or until flavors are blended.

LAYER ingredients as follows in ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking dish: 1/2 pasta, 1/2 sauce and 1/2 cheese. Repeat layers; cover.

BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Season with salt.

FOR FREEZE AHEAD:
PREPARE as above; do not bake. Cover; freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.

PREHEAT oven to 350° F.

BAKE for 45 to 55 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Season with salt.

Taco Pie

Prep Time: approx. 20 Minutes.
Cook Time: approx. 10 Minutes.
Ready in: approx. 30 Minutes.
Makes 4 servings.

1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
1 pound ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
8 ounces shredded Mexican-style cheese blend
1 (14.5 ounce) package crushed tortilla chips

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2 Lay crescent dough flat on the bottom of a square cake
pan and bake according to package directions.

3 Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet
over medium high heat. Add the taco seasoning and stir
together well. When dough is done, remove from oven and place
meat mixture on top, then layer with sour cream and cheese,
and then top off with the crushed nacho chips.

4 Return to oven and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees
C) for 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

Baked Basil Fries

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
1 tablespoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
4 medium red potatoes

1. In a bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, oil, basil and garlic powder.

2. Cut potatoes into 1/4-in. sticks. Add to cheese mixture; toss to coat. Place in a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray.

3. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes; turn potatoes. Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until crisp and tender.

Fresh Peach Dumplings W/ Hard Sauce

Prep Time: approx. 30 Minutes.
Cook Time: approx. 30 Minutes.
Ready in: approx. 1 Hour .
Makes 6 dumplings (6 servings).

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter flavored shortening
5 tablespoons ice water

6 fresh peaches - peeled,
pitted and halved

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1 In a medium bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Cut
in the butter flavored shortening using your hands or a
pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Sprinkle the ice water over the dough, and stir until the
mixture comes together. Knead the dough briefly, then divide
into 6 pieces.

2 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

3 On a lightly floured surface roll out each piece of
dough into a thin circle. Place two peach halves together,
and wrap in each circle of dough, sealing at the top.
Place the dumplings onto an ungreased baking sheet.

4 Bake dumplings for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or
until golden brown. While the dumplings are baking, make the
sauce. In a medium bowl, mix together the butter, egg,
nutmeg, vanilla and salt using an electric mixer on low speed.
Gradually mix in the confectioners' sugar. Spoon over warm dumplings.

Chocolate Rum Balls

3 1/4 cups crushed vanilla wafers
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup rum


Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir together the crushed vanilla wafers, 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, cocoa, and nuts. Blend in corn syrup and rum.

2. Shape into 1 inch balls, and roll in additional confectioners' sugar. Store in an airtight container for several days to develop the flavor. Roll again in confectioners' sugar before serving.

Cheesecake Topped Brownies

1 (21.5 ounce) packagebrownie mix
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (16 ounce) container prepared chocolate frosting

Directions

1 Preheat oven 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a
9x13 inch baking pan.

2 Prepare brownie mix according to the directions on the
package. Spread into prepared baking pan.

3 In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and
cornstarch until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed
milk, egg and vanilla until smooth. Pour cream cheese
mixture evenly over brownie batter.

4 Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is
lightly browned. Allow to cool, spread with frosting, and cut
into bars. Store covered in refrigerator, or freeze in a
single layer for up to 2 weeks.

Cream Cheese and Bacon Jalapinos

8-10 Large Jalapinos
Cream Cheese
1 lb thin sliced bacon

Slice jalapinos in half and scoop out seeds. Fill with cream cheese. Wrap with bacon. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Remove pan from oven, drain fat and turn jalapinos over. Bake another 15 minutes or until bacon is completely done on both sides.

Okra and Tomatos

Prep Time: approx. 10 Minutes.
Cook Time: approx. 20 Minutes.
Ready in: approx. 30 Minutes.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.

2 slices bacon
1 pound frozen okra, thawed and sliced
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
2 celery, chopped
1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1 Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium
high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.

2 Remove bacon from pan and saute okra, onion, pepper and
celery until tender. Add tomatoes, salt and pepper and cook
until well blended.

3 Garnish with crumbled bacon, if desired.

Goulash

1 pkg pasta (large elbow, shells, anything you'd like)
1 lb ground beef
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can tomato paste
1 lb chedder cheese (shredded)
1/2 bell pepper (optional)
1/2 small onion (optional)
Garlic, salt, pepper to taste

Boil pasta while browning beef, drain any fat. Add seasonings, peppers, onion, tomato sauce and paste to beef. Simmer 5 or 10 minutes. Drain pasta and add all of the cheese. Mix until stringy/gooey. (At this point, I take some of the mac and cheese out as the "side dish" and pepper it -- it's rather bland and is an acquired taste but I love it) Add the beef/tomato mixture to the cheesey pasta and mix well. Goes great with garlic bread! Cheap and VERY easy. Feeds 3 or 4 easily.

Creole Baked Potato Salad

8 medium red potatoes, cooked & cubed
1 lb cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 c onion, finely chopped
1 c mayo
1/2 lb cooked bacon, not too crispy

Combine cheese, mayo & onion. Mix in sliced potatoes & spread in buttered 9x13 baking dish. Top w/bacon. Bake @ 350 for 1 hour

Mexican Chicken Casserole

1 lb Chicken- boneless strips
1 bell pepper (I use 1/2 red 1/2 green)
1/2 onion
1 can enchilada sauce (6-8oz)
1/2 jalapeno or one green chile
salt & pepper to taste
water
3 tbsp sour cream
2 cups shredded Monterey jack
2 cups shredded cheddar
1 tbsp chili powder
1/8 tbsp cayenne pepper
1-2 tbsp butter
tomatoes
(omit or add to recipe as desired)

How to Prepare:

Boil chicken strips until done (I cook for a long time 30 minutes or so). While they are cooking, chop the onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno, tomatoes and set aside. When the chicken is done, cool slightly and shred with a fork. Add the onions and peppers with the shredded chicken into a skillet and add butter and about 5 tbsp of water. Salt and Pepper to taste! Saute for about 10 minutes, (Adjust water to keep mix moist long enough to soften veggies)

Add enchilada sauce, chili powder, and cayenne. Simmer 5-10 minutes. If the mix isn't juicy enough just add some water till you get a good texture. Or if there is a lot of excess juice you can drain it off/ or keep it if you wish. Stir in sour cream and mix well.

In an 8x8 casserole dish, put the chicken mix in the bottom, Dice tomatoes and put on top, Mix cheeses and spread on top (I use LOTS of cheese). Bake in oven at 350 for about 15-30 min.(Until cheese is melted)

Everything is optional and adjustable. This is a recipe I got and switched completely up. It is WONDERFUL! It's also good to shred some lettus on the plate and put the casserole on top. If you have non/low carb-ers in your house, you could get tortilla's to make a chicken burrito, or some chips for a nacho like meal for them. My husband eats it just like I do and he loves it!

Guacamole Potato Salad

3 pounds red potatoes
2 T. salt
1 ripe avocado, peeled
2 t. grated lime zest, or juice of two limes
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 C. chopped cilantro
2 T. mayonnaise
2 celery stalks, sliced

In large pot, boil the potatoes and salt then simmer about 20 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool. Meanwhile puree the avocado, lime zest and juice, garlic, cilantro, mayo and some salt in a food processor or blender until smooth. If too thick, add a little bit of hot water. Cut the potatoes into bite size chunks leaving the skins on and place in a large bowl with celery. Scrape in the dressing and gently stir together. Serve immediately or chill. Serves 8.

Kraft Dinner Casserole

Prep time: apprx. 15mins.
Cook time: apprx. 15mins.
Cost: apprx. $12 (depending on your area and quanity that you make. The price can easily be cut if you make half this recipee. I make for a large family of 5 and we have a lot of leftovers.)

Ingredients:
2.5 lbs ground beef
* Italion Seasoning to taste
* 2 cloves fresh garlic or garlic powder
* 1 onion
* 1 can mushrooms
3 cans of tomato soup (I use Campbells)
4 boxes of Kraft Dinner
* 1 bag of shredded mozarella cheese (2 c)

* You can substitute these ingredients. You can spice the burger with whatever you prefer. I sometimes use a mixter of cheddar and mozarella cheese on top as well. Also, you can add a small can of stewed tomatoes, diced up. You can scale the burger, Kraft Dinner and soup down to make the quanity you need.

Brown beef, seasoning, mushrooms, onions until burger is thoroughly cooked. Meanwhile, prepare Kraft Dinner as per box instructions (cheese, butter and all). Be careful to NOT overcook the Kraft Dinner. If anything, just cook the noodles until tender.

I use a roasting pan like you would cook a turkey in. I dump cooked Kraft Dinner, cooked hamburger stuff, 3 cans of tomato soup in the roaster and mix thoroughly. Top with shredded mozarella cheese. Bake in oven 350F for about 15 mins or until cheese is good and melted! It's great with garlic bread and/or salad too!

Easy Fudge

1 can of sweetend condensed milk
2 cups chocolate chips

Pour condensed milk in a bowl and microwave it for a minute. Add chocolate chips. Stir. Nuke for another minute or two, stir again and pour into waxed paper lined pan. Put in fridge to set.

Blondies

3/4 cup + 2 TBS firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
8 TBS (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 c. chopped pecans, toasted
4 oz. white chocolate, chopped, or 3/4 c. white choc. chips
(Makes 16 2" squares)

Oven @ 325 degrees.

Lightly butter 8-in. sq. pan (with sides at least 1 1/2 in. high). Using electric mixer, beat together egg and sugar until light and fluffly (about 3 min.) Add vanilla and melted butter - mix well. In a small bowl, combine flour, soda and salt. Add to butter mix, beating until just incorporated. DO NOT OVERMIX. Using a spoon, stir in chocolate and pecans.

Pour batter into pan and smooth the top. Bake for 25-30 min., until the top is dry and golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached (not wet, but not perfectly dry). Cool in pan on wire rack. Store at room temp., well-wrapped, for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw before serving. (If they last that long!!)

Tater Tot Casserole (serves 6)

1 lb lean ground beef
1 can green beans, drained
1 can cream of chicken (or mushroom, or anything) soup
1/2 can water
1 bag (about 1.25 pounds- I never use a whole bag) tater tots
2 c cheddar cheese

-Preheat oven to 350
-Spray a 3 qt casserole dish with cooking spray
-Layer frozen tater tots in the bottom of the dish
-Brown (and drain, if you have to) ground beef
-Add green beans, soup, and water to ground beef; heat through
-Place ground beef mixture on top of tater tots; top with cheese
-Bake uncovered for 30 minutes

Pride Of Idaho

**This recipe can be served two ways. Either as a big 13 x 9 dish of yummy goodness, or as pretty appetizers of potato rounds with cheese, sour cream and bacon on top. It's up to you.**

6-10 Idaho Russets or Burbanks, scrubbed and cut into 1/8-1/4 inch rounds
1/2 pound cooked, crumbled bacon
1 Spanish Sweet onion
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 - 3/4 cup medium cheddar cheese, shredded
3 TBSP Oil
2 TBSP Beef Boullion, either crush a couple cubes or get the granulated.
Chili powder, Lawry's Garlic Salt, Salt, Pepper, Paprika, Cayenne powder. Other seasoning of your taste.
Fresh snipped chives.

Add potato slices to oiled pan. If you are serving this as an appetizer then do the rounds on a cookie sheet so each potato round is separate, if you are serving it as a side dish then put it in a 13 x 9 pan. Toss in oil until potatoes are coated. Toss seasonings over potatoes and cook 1 hours at 350-425 until potatoes are cooked through and are brown and in some places crispy, *if you are doing appetizer rounds just watch them until they are done. Do stir the potatoes a couple times so they cook evenly. You can even add more seasonings if you like.

Once the potatoes are cooked shut the oven off and take them out. Cover the potatoes with the cheese and place them back in the oven until the cheese is melted. About 3-5 minutes. Once the cheese is melted take them out and dollop sour cream and bacon on top. Sprinkle with fresh snipped chives.

Sour Cream Spaghetti

1 lb. ground beef
26 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
8 oz. elbow macaroni, uncooked
8 oz. sour cream


Brown ground beef in large skillet over medium heat; drain. Add spaghetti sauce. Spread macaroni in a single layer over beef and sauce; cover. Cook over medium heat 10 minutes or until noodles are tender; add water as necessary to prevent sticking. Add sour cream and mix; heat through. Makes 4-6 servings.

Better Than Sex Cake

1 baked devils-food or german chocolate cake (sheet cake)
1/2 jar of fudge topping (I like the Smuckers)
1/2 jar of caramel or butterscotch topping
1/2 can of condensed milk (I like Eagle brand)
6 Skor candy bars (these are like large Heath Bars)
1 tub of Cool Whip OR
1 package of Dream Whip Mix to which you add milk

Do not remove cake from pan. After the cake has cooled, make holes in the entire top of the cake using a large fork or the handle of a wooden spoon. Pour (one at a time) fudge, butterscotch, and condensed milk over the top of the cake and let each flavor soak in before adding the next. Crush 3 of the Skor candy bars and sprinkle on the top. Frost the cake with the whipped topping and crush the 3 remaining Skor bars to decorate the top. You may have an extremely hard time not eating it right out of the pan.

6 Layer Bean Dip

1 lg. can refried beans
1 lg. jar picante sauce (hot or mild)
2 cartons avocado dip or homemade
1 lg. carton sour cream
Grated jack or mild cheddar cheese
Diced green or black olives

Layer ingredients in order listed in a rectangular cake pan. Use as much cheese as desired. Heat or eat cold. Serve with large tortilla chips.

Hamburger soup

2 lbs hamburger
1 onion
3 cans ranch beans
2 cans rotel tomatoes with chilies
3 cans minestrone soup
3 cups water
handful of macaroni or bowtie pasta

brown hamburger and onion, drain. Add ingredients and heat!

Chicken Noodle Casserole

1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
2 cups shredded cheese, I use cheddar
12 oz medium egg noodles, cooked and drained

Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine soup and mayonnaise. Add the chicken and one cup of cheese, mix well. Add noodles and toss to coat. Transfer to a greased two-quart baking dish. Bake, uncovered, 30-35 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake until melted.

Amish Friendship Cake (fermented w/ Starter directions)

Ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 ounce warm water
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
1 cup starter
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs
1 cup white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts


Directions
1. To Make Starter: Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 1 tablespoon white sugar, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup of the flour, and 1 cup of the milk in a non-metal bowl and stir with a non-metal spoon until creamy. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place for two days to ferment. It will become bubbly and have a sour odor. Do not place in refrigerator. On second day, third day, and fourth day: stir. On fifth day, add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk, and stir. On sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth day: stir. On tenth day add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Reserve 1 cup starter; pour remaining starter, 1 cup each, into 3 containers to give away to friends if desired. Starter is enough for 8 loaves.

2. To Make Cakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 8 or 9 inch loaf pans.

3. Mix 1 cup of the starter, oil, baking powder, eggs, 1 cup of the sugar, 2 cups of the flour, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, vanilla, and chopped nuts. Stir in the baking soda just before pouring the batter into the prepared pans.

4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Bananas, dates, or raisins can be added for variety.

Amish Friendship Bread (non fermented)

1 cup oil
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 large box vanilla instant pudding
2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups flour
nuts - optional

Preheat oven to 325 F. Pour batter into two greased and sugared loaf pans. Bake one hour. Cool and remove from pans.

Potato Skins

4 large potatos
Cheese
1/2 lbs Cooked Bacon


Microwave/Bake potatos until done. Scoop out middle (can save as left overs for another meal) . Deep fry potato skins until crip. Add cheese and bacon bits. Bake in oven at 350 until cheese is melted. Add sour cream, salsa, chives, etc.