Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients
1 package sugar cookie mix (22 oz)
3 eggs
1/3 cup plus 6 Tbs butter
1 tsp water
1 1/2 package cream cheese
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup Hershey's Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 350 degrees mix sugar cookie mix, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup butter, and water. Spread into an 13X9 inch pan. (ungreased)
In another bowl beat cram cheese, and 6 Tbs butter until creamy. Gradually add sugar and cocoa until smooth. Add 1 egg and vanilla. Spread over cookie dough mix. Bake 30-35 minutes. Store in Fridge

Print the Recipe

Garlic Chicken and Spinach Pasta

Sorry to all those I promised this too and it has taken so long to get it up. This is so delicious it is one of my favorite new recipes. It is really nutritious and light, but plenty filling and my kidos love it too.
Ingredients
6 cloves minced garlic (about 3 tsps)
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
6 Tbs oil
2-3 chicken breasts
1 pound penne pasta
1 (5 oz) bag baby spinach
1 Tbs dried basil (or 1/4 cup fresh)
6 Tbs lemon juice, or juice of 2 lemons
1 1/2 cup parmesan (i use shredded because it is delicious but grated works fine too)

Combine garlic, pepper, and oil in small bowl and microwave until garlic turns brown. It usually only takes 1 minute, if it isnt brown stick it in for another 30 seconds.
Cut chicken into bite size pieces, using 1 tbs of your garlic oil, put chicken and oil in a skillett and brown. While you are cooking up the chicken boil the pasta according to package.
Next combine chicken, drained pasta, reserved oil, lemon juice, basil, and cheese. Toss in spinach, serve immediately.

Tips:
If you arent a lemon love like me, you can half the amount
I really never use the whole bag of spinach, i usually use about half because i am not spinach lover, but put in a little at a time until its the amount you like

Print this Recipe

Original Recipe: My Kitchen Cafe

World's Greatest Lasagna

This recipe comes from my mom. It is the meal we beg for for our birthday dinners, our Sunday dinners, our Everyday Dinners. She passed it on to me and guess what its EASY!!!

Ingredients:
16 oz pack wide egg noodles
1 small sour cream
1 pound ground beef (or if you have it I love it with 1 pound sausage too)
1 Jar your fave Ragu sauce
24 oz cottage cheese
1 1/2 shredded cheese
Tbs garlic salt

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to directions, drain and stir in sour cream. Pour into large casserole dish. Next brown beef, strain and pour in Ragu, simmer over low heat for 2-3 minutes. Pour beef mixture on top of noodles. Next mix cottage cheese, cheese, and garlic salt in bowl. Smooth over beef. Cook for 30 minutes. EASY!!!

Tips:
This makes a HUGE Lasagna, sometimes i will split it into two smaller casserole dishes and freeze one for later. Then all you have to do is pull it out of the freezer and cook for 45 minutes or so.

Print this Recipe

Original recipe: Mama Jill

Raspberry Lemon Muffins

Fluffy, delicious, easy and nutritious. (I think that is someones slogan i stole, i dont know) Anyway here they are.Ingredients:
2 Cups flour
1 Cup sugar
3 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 Cup half-and-half
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp lemon EXTRACT (in bold because my first batch i miss read and did lemon concentrate, stupid yes but DON'T DO THAT)
2 eggs
1 cup frozen raspberries. Do not thaw

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line muffin tin with paper baking cups. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another small bowl mix half-and-half, oil, lemon, and eggs. Combine with dry ingredients until just moist. Fold in raspberries. Fill paper cups 3/4 full. Bake 18-23 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and remove from pan.

Print this Recipe

oringinal recipe: Pillsbury Bake-Off Cookbook

Binky Straps

So my littlest guy is always losing his binky and the straps at the store are big, ugly and expensive so here is an easy fix I found thanks to a friend

What you need:
1/2 Yard ribbon (approx. 3/4 inch) Make sure its something easy to wash.
1 snap or Velcro (I prefer snap so it doesn't scratch baby's chin)
1 pack mitten clips (you will be able to make FOUR binky Straps with one pack)
needle and thread

For the attachment i used the old school mitten clips. (you remember them, they hold your mittens to your coat sleeve.) Best of all they are on clearance at Walmart, for 50 cents you get
four brand new binky attachments. Slide the ribbon through the slot, fold over the hem, and sew straight across several times for a good hold, like shown. I used my sewing machine , but doing it by hand works just as well.

(Also while doing this project take mind of what side you want facing up and that all your snaps and attachments go accordingly.)
With the other end get your snap or velcro and sew them on the in side of the ribbon. I folded mine into a clean hem so it wouldn't fray. An inch or so a part should work well, but you may want to measure with an actual binky to be sure.
(I sewed around the hem by hand just to make it a little neater)

And there you have it, for less than a buckTip: I wasn't crazy about the colors of the mitten and red was all I could find. If you can't find the color you are looking for or prefer silver I found the color could be stripped with a little nail polish remover and some scrubbing! TADA!!!

Print this Pattern

Original Pattern from: Ally Munn

Chocolate Raspberry Cookies

Ok these cookies are so unbelievably good i had to hand them out to all my family and friends just so i wouldnt eat them all. The best part is that they are easy! Perfect for Valentines treat.
1 Cup butter margarine
4 1/2 ounce package of instant chocolate pudding mix
1 egg
2 cups flour
3 Tbs sugar
1/2 cup raspberry preserves
1/2 cup semi-sweet chips
3 Tbs butter or margarine

Heat oven to 325 degrees. In large bowl beat butter and pudding until fluffy. Beat in egg. Gradually blend in flour until dough forms. Shape into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased pan. With thumb, made depression in center of each cookie. Bake for 15 minutes (cookies should be firm to the touch). Remove from pan immediately and cool completely.

Fill each depression with about 1/2 tsp or raspberry preserves. Melt chips and butter in microwave until chips are smooth (about 45 seconds). Drizzle about 1/2 tsp of chocolate on top of cookie. Cool completely. Makes 3 dozen.


TIP: This dough freezes REALLY!!!

Print this recipe

Original recipe: Pillsbury Bake-Off Cookbook

Chicken Enchilada Pasta

This was really delicious and if you have already prepared chicken it takes all of 15 minutes to prepare! Enjoy!!

2-3 Chicken Breasts (cooked and shredded)
2 Tbs Oil
2 cloves garlic (I used minced its easier)
1 medium onion diced
4 oz can mild green chilis
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
2 (10 oz) can green enchilada sauce
1 can large olives sliced
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded cheese
1 (16oz) box small noodle pasta (i used rotini, but penne or macaroni work well too)

Cook pasta to package direction. While pasta is cooking add oil to large skillett, add onion and garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes. Add chicken, green chilis, olives, enchilada sauce, and spices. Let simmer about 10 minutes. Add sour cream and cheese, heat until melted but DON'T BOIL. Combine sauce and pasta.

Tip:
Garnish with sour cream, tomatos, green onions, and/or cheese.
I really like cilantro flavor so I throw a little dried or fresh cilantro in the sauce

Print This Recipe

Original recipe: My Kitchen Cafe

Crocheted Bead Rings

I am HUGE into rings right now. Probably because it is a difficult piece of jewlery for my 5 month old can destroy. I bought a ring the other day, when my mother saw it she said "hey i used to make rings just like that." Sure enough with a lot of searching, I found a few patterns on the internet. This is a really easy pattern, it just takes a little patience. I have found similar rings in stores for 8-16 bucks so you can't go wrong. GOOD LUCK!!!





YOU WILL NEED:
Elastic Thread
Beads of any size/color
Size 3 Crochet Hook

Abbreviations:
CH (chain)
SL ST (slip stitch)
SC (single crochet)
RND (round)

Begin a ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring. Rnd 1: * Slip a pearl or bead down, sc in ring, repeat from * 4 times (5 sc). Rnd 2: This rnd is worked without pearls or beads; 2 sc in each sc of previous rnd (10 sc). Rnd 3: * Slip pearl or bead, sc in sc, repeat from * around (10 sc). Rnd 4: This rnd is worked without pearls or beads. Sc in each sc (10 sc). Rnd 5: Repeat rnd 3. Rnd 6: Repeat rnd 4. Next: Ch 20, join with sl st in 5th sc on rnd 6 to form a ring. Turn, sl st in each of ch 20, fasten off. Pull ends through to wrong side of work and fasten securely. Tips: 1. dont panic about being perfect, the pattern is simple, but the work is pretty intricate. You miss a stitch here, or lose you spot there, it will still turn out. 2. As you can see I made the band thicker by simply doing triple crochet and securing the ends to the middle of the ring. Print this Pattern Original pattern: groovyboutique.com

Cookie Dough Topped Brownies

You can't go wrong with this combo. And for once no one can say "don't eat raw dough you will get sick!" This cookie dough is perfectly safe and delicious.

BROWNIES
1 (12 oz) package semi-sweet chips
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs at room temp.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In medium sauce pan heat butter and chips, over low heat. Stirring constantly. Blend in sugar, add eggs and blend one at a time. Add flour and salt, beat until it bubbles. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and cook for 20 min. Reduce heat to 325 degree and cook additional 10 minutes.

COOKIE DOUGH TOPPING
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 sugar
3 Tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup flour
pinch of salt
1 cup semi-sweet chips

Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in milk and vanilla. Gradually add flour and salt. Stir in chips. Drop in spoonfulls over cooled brownies. Carefully spread. Cut into squares and store in fridge.

Print This Recipe

Original recipe from My Kitchen Cafe

Paul's Superbowl Sausage Dip

In honor of the great Superbowl Holiday (at least its a holiday at my house) we couldn't pass up this delicious dip. This treat comes from one of the our a fellow worker of my husbands. This is a super easy dip, in fact David made it ALMOST all by himself.

Paul's Super Bowl Sausage Dip

2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
1 (16 oz) sour cream
1 cluster green onion chopped
2 jalapeno (chopped finely)
1 can medium olives (diced)
1 pound Jimmy Dean Spicy Sausage browned (we actually used deer sausage because honestly what do you do with it:)

In a crockpot warm cream cheese and sour cream until soft
Mix in all other ingredients, heat until warm.
Serve warm with tortilla chips. YUM!!!

Print this Recipe