Pear-Cherry Crisp (crock-pot)

I got this recipe from my friend Courtney and was SO excited to try it out! And yes, it was GOOD! But I have a little suggestion, make sure you buy yellow, and NOT ORANGE cake mix. Haha, it was still good, but I know it'll be even better with the right flavors! Make sure you try it out, what's better than a dessert you just throw all ingredients in and leave it, and it turns out great? Mmm I can't wait to make this again...

Ingredients:
1-26oz can cherry pie filling
1-15 oz canned pears in syrup
1 tsp almond extract (vanilla works also)
1-18ox box yellow cake mix
1 stick of butter cut into tablespoons
1 packet of instant oat meal (brown sugar maple is the best!)

Directions:
Spary crock with cooking spry. Combine cherries, pears and almond extract in crock. Sprinkle cake mix over fruit mixture. Dot with butter. Sprinkle oatmeal over cake mix. Place 6-8 dry paper towels over crock and secure with lid. The paper towels with absorb the moisture. Cook on low 4-6 hours (I only had 2 1/2 hours, so cooked on high and it still turned out!) and DO NOT lift the lid while cooking. Best served with vanilla ice cream or cool whip.

Cheddar Chicken Casserole

I went over to my friend Kat's house for dinner and this is what she made for us! This is a quick and easy weeknight meal that is pleasing to both kids and adults!!  The original recipe calls for turkey and regular pasta but I switched it to chicken since thats all I had and whole wheat pasta to make it healthier. Enjoy!

4 cups uncooked spiral pasta
1 garlic clove, minced
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. prepared mustard
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups 2% milk
1-1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1/2 cup slivered almonds optional

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, saute garlic in butter until tender.  Stir in the flour, salt, mustard, thyme and pepper.  Gradually stir in milk.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Remove from the heat; stir in cheese until melted.  Drain pasta; place in a large bowl.  Toss with turkey, vegetables and cheese sauce.

Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish.  Sprinkle with the almonds.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until heated through.

This recipe came from Taste of Home Simple & Delicious October/November 2010 magazine.

Orange Creamsicle Cookies

ORANGE CREAMSICLE COOKIES

2 1/2 Cups Flour

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Cup softened butter

1/2 Cup sugar

1/2 Cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla

2 Tbs orange zest (about 2 oranges)

2 Cups vanilla chips

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt and set aside. Cream butter and sugars and then beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture. Stir in orange zest and chips. Bake on cookie sheet at 375 for 8-10 minutes. YUMMY!!!!

Better than Anything Cake

There are many names for this cake and it's super yummy. Enjoy!!

1 package Betty Crocker SuperMoist German chocolate cake mix

Water, oil, and eggs as called for on cake mix package directions

1 can(14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

1 jar (17 ounces) caramel, butterscotch, or fudge topping

1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 bag (8 ounces) toffee chips or bits w/choc

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake cake as directed on package for 13x9-inch pan.  Cool 15 minutes. Poke top of warm cake every ½ inch with handle of wooden spoon, wiping handle occasionally to reduce sticking.  Drizzle with sweetened condensed milk and caramel topping.  Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled.  Spread whipped topping over the cake.  Sprinkle with toffee chips.  Cover and refrigerate any remaining cake.

 

Noodles and Ketchup

Yes you heard, er, saw right! Noodles and ketchup, nothing too fancy, and the only other ingredient is butter. So, yes, it's easy...I like easy, can you tell? I grew up with this, mostly eating it for lunch, and usually with a hot dog. Now most people stick their nose right up when they hear what it's called...but I LOVE it! Although this may not be one that pleases everyone. But I'm sure it'll be one the kiddos will enjoy!
 What you need:
Cooked noodles in amount desired (in whatever shape floats your boat)
Butter (amount depends on amount of noodles, enough to coat the noodles when melted)
Ketchup
What you do:
After the noodles are cooked, drain and leave them in the strainer-DO NOT RINSE-you want them hot. Put the butter in the pot to melt. Now here's where it gets good. Keep the butter cooking until it turns brown in color, this gives it a whole new flavor! When it's the right color add the noodles and stir it up. Then dish it out and add desired amount of ketchup right on top! YUM-O

Asain Wraps

Let me start out by saying that I love, love, LOVE these! And no the picture is not great...sorry, the fact that I didn't get the right lettuce doesn't help. But they are delicious! Try 'em, you'll love 'em too!
 And yes, they are easy! I can't remember where I got this recipe...but I'm pretty sure it was from one of the blogs to the left.

Ingredients:
3/4 lb lean ground meat (beef, turkey, chicken)
4 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1 tsp srirachi sauce
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp ground ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, finely diced
1 green bell pepper, finely diced
1/2 cup onion, finely diced
3 oz mushrooms, diced
butter lettuce leaves, washed & dried

Directions:
In a medium skillet over high heat, brown the ground meat (I used turkey), stirring often and reducing the heat to medium when thoroughly browned. Add diced onions; bell peppers. Stir frequently until softened. Add the garlic, soy sauce, srirachi sauce, ginger, and white pepper. Stir occassionally adding mushrooms. Cook a few more minutes until mushrooms are softened. Remove from heat. Serve hot in lettuce leaves

So while the meat was browning, I mixed the ingredients that go in after the onions and peppers in a bowl, which made things easier. Also, I left out the mushrooms, and used black pepper instead of white.

Oven Roasted Chicken Wings...35 min

These are SERIOUSLY easy AND DELICIOUS!!! I made them last night & I'm thinking of making them again for all the football games tomorrow!! ENJOY!

the goods:
3 lbs chicken drumettes
1/4 c. lemon juice
1 tablespoon ground pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup unsalted butter/margerine melted
ranch dressing, for dipping


Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. In a large boil, combine lemon juice, peper, garlic & onion powders and salt. Add thyme, cayenne and melted butter. Stir mixture thoroughly, then toss chicken with spice paste.

Arrange wings in one layer on baking sheet. Cook 20 minutes, then rotate sheet and flip wings. cook until wings are browned and cooked through, 10 minutes (I ended up cooking them again for another 10 minutes just so they were crispy enough). Serve with ranch for dipping.