Easy Snack Mix

Easy Snack Mix

1 box of Golden Grahams

3 packages of yogurt covered raisons

(my kiddos like to pick out the raisons, so I put lots in!)

Layered Tortellini and Pesto Chicken Salad

This recipe is actually from my friend Brenda, who brought it to me when I broke my leg, it lasted all week for lunches and is such a beautiful salad to bring to potluck things!


Layer in order given:
5 cups torn romaine lettuce
1 1/2 cups julienne carrots
2 cups cooked/grilled chicken
1 cup thawed frozen peas
1 pkg tortellini, cooked
1 red bell pepper, chopped

Dressing:
1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise
1/2 cup basil pesto
1/4 cup buttermilk

For Sweetie Pie's Baptism, I did make a little extra, more peppers and peas and doubled the dressing to make sure there was enough.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

What do you do with giant zucchini?
Shred it and make Chocolate Zucchini Cake!!

Yummy!!!
½ cup butter
½ cup oil
1 ¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
½ cup sour milk (add 1 tsp. of vinegar)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 ½ cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
4 T cocoa powder
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp cinnamon
2 cups shredded zucchini
Topping:
1 cup chocolate chips
¼ cups brown sugar

Add first four ingredients alternately with milk. Add all others and mix in zucchini. Spread in a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle top with chocolate chips and brown sugar. Bake at 350, 40-50 minutes. Yummy!!! Thank you Tracy!

New Year's Cheese Ball

This recipe I got from my MIL and it is actually called "Terry's Cheese Ball". I have no idea who Terry is and my husband has no idea, so I'm going to call it "New Year's Cheese Ball" because we make it every New Years Eve! It tastes great and has so few ingredients that it is SO easy to make!

New Year's Cheese Ball

2- 8 oz pkg cream cheese

1/2 cup black olives (sliced or chopped)

Mix above well, form into a ball and roll in a mixture of

1/3 cup chopped walnuts and

1 Tbsp parsley flakes

*This tastes great with Triscuits!

Midnight Bliss Cake

We made this delicious, rich, chocolate cake for Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We put on a candle for each of us, to symbolize the light of Christ inside of us. I thought this an appropriate cake since It is believed that Jesus was born at midnight.

Midnight Bliss Cake

1 pkg chocolate cake mix, any variety (we picked chocolate fudge)

1 pkg (4 serving size) chocolate instant pudding

4 eggs

1 container 8 oz sour cream

1/2 cup flavored coffee, prepared (I use International Foods French Vanilla)

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup water

1 pkg 8 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate, chopped.

Heat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease and flour a tube pan (bundt cake)

Beat all ingredients except chopped chocolate in large bowl with mixer, until well blended and smooth. Stir in chopped chocolate and pour into prepared pan.

Bake 50-60 minutes until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar. No need for frosting with this cake, it's rich and that good!

Candy Bar Pie!

This is our Christmas Pie! We make it every Christmas day to have for dessert!

The kids are great helpers as they love to help cut up the candy bars and nibble a little bit!

Candy Bar Pie

1 pkg Cream cheese

1 Tbsp milk

2 tubs cool whip

2 pkgs chocolate instant pudding

1 3/4 cup milk

1 pkg mini candy bars (we usually use Snickers, but could use Milky Way or 3 Musketeers), chopped

Chocolate pie crust (we use the Oreo one)

Mix the cream cheese with 1 Tbsp milk until smooth. Gently stir in 2 cups cool whip and the chopped candy bars. Set aside.

Pour 1 3/4 cups milk into another bowl and add pudding, beat wit wire whisk and then gently stir in 1/2 cup cool whip.

spread 1/2 the pudding mixture on the bottom of crust, spread cream cheese mixture over pudding mixture and top with remaining pudding mixture and then on the very top, cover the pie with cool whip. (I placed shaved chocolate on top for decoration)

Needs to refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.

Dairy Bake Potatoes

OK, these are the most fattening potatoes in the world! (but also the best!) Which is why we only make these on Christmas day! I do always double this recipe and put into a little larger baking dish. My husband loves the leftovers of this! (me too!)

Dairy Bake Potatoes

1 bag hash brown potatoes, thawed

1/2 cup butter, melted

1tsp salt and dash of pepper

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 8 oz carton sour cream

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups crushed corn flakes

1/4 cup melted butter

paprika

Stir together potatoes, 1/2 cup melted butter, salt, pepper, onion, soup, sour cream and cheese. Pour into a 9x13 buttered baking dish. Top with corn flake crumbs and 1/4 cup melted butter. Sprinkle with paprika for added color.

Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour.