Candy Crunch Pudding Pie

(I made this with a toffee bar and it was great but I want to try it with Snickers next time.)

2  3.9-oz. packages Jell-o Chocolate Instant pudding
2  cups cold milk
1  8-oz. tub Cool Whip whipped topping, thawed and divided
2  1.4-oz. milk chocolate English toffee candy bars, chopped and divided
1  6-oz. Oreo Pie Crust
1  1-oz. square Baker's semi-sweet chocolate, melted

Beat pudding mixes and milk with whisk for 2 minutes. Stir in half of the Cool Whip and all but 3 tablespoons of the toffee candy. Pour into crust. Top with remaining Cool Whip and candy. Drizzle with chocolate.

Twisty Dinner Rolls

Makes 24

1⅔ cups milk
½ cup butter
¼ cup sugar
2 eggs
2¾ teaspoons salt
1½ tablespoons active dry yeast
5 to 6 cups bread flour
1 egg, beaten

Place milk and butter in a mixing bowl and warm milk and soften butter (about 2 minutes on high in the microwave). Add sugar, salt, 2 eggs, yeast and two cups of flour and mix using a dough hook at low speed until ingredients are moistened. Increase speed to high and beat for 2 minutes. Decrease speed to low and add remaining flour. Dough should be soft but not sticky. Transfer dough to a greased bowl, cover and let rise till double (about 1 hour).

Portion dough into 24 balls. Roll each ball to form a rope about 15 inches long on a lightly floured surface. Braid into a knot and place on a greased baking sheet.

Let rolls rise 30 to 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°. Brush rolls lightly with beaten egg. Bake 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.

Cheese Empanadas

4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks, beaten
¼ cup vegetable oil
1½ cups warm milk
½ lb. Monterrey Jack cheese, cubed
oil for frying

Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Add egg yolks, ¼ cup oil and milk. Stir to form a soft, elastic dough. Roll out ¼" thick and cut into 4" circles. Place a small square of cheese in the center of each circle. Fold the dough over and seal with water. Fry in hot oil until golden brown on each side.

Potato Chip Casserole

Mom calls this Mock Chicken Casserole but my kids would never recognize it by that name.

Oven 400º

2 cups coarsely crushed potato chips, divided
1 10¾-oz. can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
1 6½-oz. can grated tuna
2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced

Combine soup and milk. In a 9-inch square pan, layer 1 cup chips, soup mixture, tuna, eggs and 1 cup chips. Bake at 400º for 20 minutes.

Banana Bread

Oven 350º

6 bananas, mashed
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup margarine
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
5 cups flour
2 tsp. salt
½ cup nuts dredged in flour
1 cup water

Blend mashed banana with soda and baking powder; set aside. Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add salt, flour and nuts and mix well. Gradually add water mixing until smooth. Add banana mixture to batter and stir until well blended. Immediately pour into 3 well-greased pans. Bake at 350º for one hour. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Then turn onto sides to cool completely. Store in foil.

Brownies

I got this recipe from my roommate, Shawn, who got it from her sister-in-law, Susan W. Tanner. I call this my Young Women Brownie recipe.

Oven 325º

1¼ cups margarine, softened
2½ cups sugar
6 eggs
½ teaspoon salt
⅔  cup cocoa
2 cups flour

Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs. Stir in dry ingredients. Spread into large greased baking sheet. Bake at 325º for 25 minutes. Do not overbake.

Lemon Bars

Oven 350º

Crust:
1 1/4 cups butter
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Filling:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
6 tablespoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

To make crust: Put butter in mixer bowl and beat until softened. Add flour and powdered sugar and mix on low speed until just combined. Spread dough evenly in a 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until the corners are light golden brown. Remove from oven and pour filling on top of crust.

To make filling: in a small mixing bowl, mix together eggs, sugar, lemon juice, flour and baking powder with a wire whisk or on low speed of a mixer for just a few minutes. (It is important not to mix a lot of air into the filling.) Pour on top of partially baked crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool slightly and dust with powdered sugar. Cut into small bars.

Snickerdoodles

Oven 400º

1 cup shortening
1½ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cream of tartar
½ tsp. salt
2¾ cups flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. sugar

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs. Stir in dry ingredients. Chill 2 hours. Roll into 1-inch balls and roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 400º for 10 minutes.

Hold Over Mashed Potatoes

(served here with Pork Roast with Tangy Sauce)

12        medium potatoes
1          8-oz. package cream cheese, softened
¼         cup sour cream
½         cup milk
2          eggs, beaten
¼         cup onion, finely chopped
1          tsp. salt

Peel, cook and mash potatoes.  Add softened cream cheese to hot potatoes a little at a time.  Beat with electric mixer.  Add the remaining ingredients and beat until fluffy.  Fill greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish.  Refrigerate overnight.  Bake at 350º for 30 minutes.

Pork Roast with Tangy Sauce

(served here with Hold Over Mashed Potatoes)

Oven 350º

1 boneless pork roast
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. salt

Sauce:
1½ cups apple jelly
1½ cups ketchup
3 Tbsp. vinegar
3 tsp. chili powder

Combine the chili powder, garlic salt and salt and rub on roast.  Bake at 350º for 3 hours.  Thirty minutes before the roast is done, combine apple jelly, ketchup, vinegar and chili powder in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer.  Fifteen minutes before the roast is done, brush with the sauce.  Add ½ cup pan drippings to the remaining sauce and serve warm.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Oven 375º

1 cup butter
2/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
22/3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 14-oz. package chocolate kisses

Cream butter and sugars.  Add peanut butter, eggs and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.  Add dry ingredients.  Roll dough into walnut sized balls.  Dip them in sugar.  Place on the cookie sheet.  Bake at 375^o for 8 minutes.  Unwrap kisses.  Remove cookies from oven.  Place a kiss in the center of each cookie.  Return to oven for 2 min.

Hot Taco Rice

(picture courtesy of Melinda)

1          lb. ground beef

1          onion, chopped

1½       cups salsa

1          8-oz. can tomato sauce

1          chicken bouillon cube

1½       cups cooked rice

            chopped tomatoes

            sour cream

            olives

            shredded cheese

            tortilla chips

Cook ground beef and onion until meat is brown.  Add salsa, tomato sauce and bouillon cube.  Simmer for 15 minutes.  Arrange rice in the center of the plate with the chips surrounding it.  Spoon beef mixture over and garnish with tomatoes, olives, cheese and sour cream.

Breaded Ranch Chicken

Oven 350º

¾ cup crushed corn flakes
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
½ cup butter or margarine, melted

In a shallow bowl, combine the corn flakes, Parmesan cheese and salad dressing mix.  Dip chicken in butter then roll in corn flake mixture to coat.  Place in a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish.  Bake, uncovered, at 350º for 45 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.