Caramel Marshmallow Treats

Mmmmm..... A childhood favorite. Maybe that's why I was so chubby. :)

• 5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 package (14 ounces) caramels
• 1 cup butter, cubed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 package (16 ounces) large marshmallows

Directions:

Line two baking sheets with waxed paper; set aside. Place cereal in a shallow bowl. In a large saucepan, cook and stir the milk, caramels and butter over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat; stir in the cinnamon and vanilla.

(I like to let caramel cool and thicken a bit before dipping, cuz if it's too runny it will run off mallow and then you just get a puddle at the bottoms)
With a toothpick, dip each marshmallow into warm caramel mixture; turn to coat. 

Roll marshmallows in cereal; place on prepared pans. Let stand until set.

Lettuce Rolls

I took a recipe from the pampered chef and just did my own thing with it!

Here is my adapted version:
2 packages chicken flavored ramen noodles
chicken cooked and coarsely chopped (I use 1 to 2 breasts)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 garlic clove pressed
couple shakes of ginger
whatever veggies I have on hand - carrots, cucumbers, peppers, green onions, zucchini,lettuce - whatever I have
sweet and sour sauce
cook the ramen noodles, i do it in the microwave, drain and rinse with cold water, set aside in a bowl. Chop veggies and add to noodles. Add chopped chicken. Combine soy sauce, oil, garlic and ginger.pour over noodles and veggies, toss to coat. cover and refrigerate.
serve up on on lettuce leafs and drizzle with sweet and sour sauce.
My kids love this, one eats it with lettuce and one without. I make this amount and we eat it at one sitting, just add more of stuff to make a bigger portion.

"Cake w/ Pudding and Strawberries"

I'm not sure what to name this cake....

This cake is a great cake for summer, and it's super easy. Just how I like it. :)

What you need...

1 box yellow cake mix (prepare as directed) 

-I find it's easier to split the cake mix and cook, rather than cut it in half later cuz it usually falls apart. And if you cook two, then just shave the top off the bottom layer so it's level-

1 box instant vanilla pudding (prepare as directed)

Strawberries

Bananas

Cool Whip, or whip cream (I prefer the cool whip)

Spread pudding and fruit in middle. Put top layer on. spread with cool whip and add strawberries.

Yum!

This pic is from my friend's page. It looks better than the pic I took. Maybe cuz her decorating is cuter. :)

This was her daughter's bday cake. Hence the name.

Patriotic Peanut Butter Pie

Patriotic Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients:

3/4 C. creamy peanut butter
12 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 C. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 C. milk
12 oz. whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
1 can cherry or strawberry pie filling
2 9" graham cracker crusts, prepared Blue food coloring, as needed

Instructions: 1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese on medium high with an electric mixer until fluffy.

2. Blend in the peanut butter and powdered sugar until fluffy and well mixed.

3. Slowly beat in the milk in several additions. Beat in vanilla.

4. Fold in the Cool Whip.

5. Separate this filling into two equal sized batches. Leave half white, and color the other half blue with food coloring.

6. Divide the blue filling equally among your two graham cracker crusts. Pour white filling equally over the blue.

7. Freeze until set.

8. Pour pie filling over and serve.

My colors didn't come out just right, but you get the point. Next time I think I would use strawberries on top instead of cherries!

Banana Bread w/Frosting

I'm putting this in the cake section too, cuz it's so good it belongs in both. :)
Most people react "banana bread with frosting????" Oh but you won't be disappointed! This is so yummy and the bread is so light and fluffy.

Ingredients
(This makes 2 loaves)

• 2 C sugar
• 1 C Shortening or Butter
• 3 C Flour
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 6 Ripe Bananas
• 4 Eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 C Choc Chips (optional)
• 1 C Nuts (optional)

Beat sugar and eggs together first. Then add everything else.
Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes. (or til done)

Frosting

• 3/4 C Margarine or Butter
• 1/3 C Cream or  Evap Millk
• 3 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 C Brown Sugar
• 3 1/2 C Powdered Sugar

Heat margarine and brown sugar together until dissolved and mixture bubbles slightly. Blend in cream, pwdr sugar and vanilla. Frost. Top with nuts if you want.

Eclair Cake

This is super easy, fast, and a family favorite.

Ingredients

Graham Crackers, 3 packs

1 pkg (3.4oz) Instant Vanilla Pudding

1 1/2 Cups cold milk

1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip, thawed

1 tub Milk Chocolate Cake Frosting

Directions

• Mix together milk and pudding mix.
• Fold in Cool whip.
• Layer bottom of 9x13 pan with crackers. Align and break crackers however to make them fit and cover.
• Pour half of pudding mix over crackers.
• Repeat another cracker layer.
• Pour rest of pudding mix on cracker layer.
• Top with another cracker layer.

• Pour Cake frosting over top layer of crackers. (Put in microwave for about 45-60 seconds. Be sure not to burn it! Just enough to make it pourable.)

• Refrigerate until firm. (Probably about an hour at least.)

Wa-lah! Deliciousness for you!

Peanut Chewies

Yeah, I could eat a whole pan of these by myself. In fact, I think I did.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 egg yolks
• 3 cups miniature marshmallows
• 2/3 cup corn syrup
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups peanut butter chips
• 2 cups crisp rice cereal
• 2 cups salted peanuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, 1/2 cup butter or margarine, 1 teaspoon vanilla and egg yolks. Mix on low speed with an electric mixer until crumbly.
3. Press firmly into bottom of 13 x 9 inch pan. Bake 12- 15 minutes until golden brown.
4. Immediately sprinkle marshmallows over top and return to oven for 2 - 2 1/2 minutes. Let cool while preparing topping.
5. To Make Topping: In a large saucepan over low heat combine corn syrup, 1/4 cup butter or margarine, 2 teaspoons vanilla and peanut butter chips until smoothly melted, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in cereal and nuts. Immediately spoon over marshmallows, spreading to cover. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into 36 bars.

Baked Halibut Supreme

This picture doesn't do it justice for how delicious this is. Mmmmmmmmmmm....

Bake Halibut Supreme

• 3 lbs fresh or frozen Halibut
• salt/pepper
• Butter
• 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
• 4 Strips Bacon
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1 c Sour Cream
• 1/3 c Buttered Bread crumbs
• chopped parsley

Directions:

• rub halibut with butter, salt, and pepper.
• lay bacon on bottom of pan, and place fish on top.
• mix sour cream, cheese, crumbs, and lemon juice. Spread over fish.
• Bake at 350 deg 20-30 minutes or until done.
• Serve sprinkled with grated cheese and parsley.

***Eat bacon at own risk.... I recommend NOT eating it. ***

Black Bean Salsa

This is SO easy, and SO delcious! And better yet, it's pretty healthy for ya too... Until you use the chips. :)

• 2 avacodo's
• 3-5 small tomotoes
• green onions
• bushel of cilantro
• green pepper
• 1 can white corn, drained (I use a can of white/yellow)
• 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 packet italian dressing (make according to pkg)

Just dice everything up and mix together. YUMMY!!

Healthy Fruit Dip

Healthy Fruit Dip

8-oz vanilla low-fat yogurt
1/4 tsp grated lemon peel
1 T lemon juice
Dash cinnamon
Dash ground ginger
3 T strawberry jam

Mix all together and chill. Serve with favorite fruit. Right now strawberries, bananas, and blueberries are all cheap and in season.

Tortellini Salad

Tortellini Salad

1 9-oz pkg cheese tortellini or ravioli
3 cups broccoli florets
1 cup finely chopped carrots
1/4 cup green onions
1/2 cup reduced-fat ranch dressing

1. In large pot cook pasta according to directions. Add the broccoli (I buy frozen florets for time and money) and carrots. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain again.

2. Add the green onions and ranch dressing and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours.

Turkey-Zucchini Burgers

Turkey-Zucchini Burgers

1 lb ground turkey
1 zucchini (shredded or chopped small)
1 small onion (chopped, about 1/4 cup)
1 egg
2 beef bouillon cubes (crushed)
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. pepper

Mix together and throw on the grill.