Zuppa Tuscana

I love this soup!  On a cold winter day (like today) when my nose feels perpetually cold, there is nothing better than to sit down and warm up with this soup.  (I think I have dinner planned for tomorrow!)  It is similar to the one at the Olive Garden restaurant.  I don't use kale in my soup, (though that is in the original recipe) because it upset my stomach.  I use chopped spinach instead (frozen is fine, but make sure all the water has drained from it). 

Spinach-filled Meat Loaf

My brother-in-law Dennis made this one year, and I loved it!  I asked him for the recipe later, and this is what he gave me.  This one is really good, but he had magic fingers when he made his, because his was amazing!

Chicken Stuffing Casserole

My husband created this recipe years ago.  We like the creaminess of the chicken mixture and the saltiness of the stuffing on top.

Beef Stroganoff

The Red and White Better Homes and Gardens cook book has some great recipes, and this is one of them.  It is a favorite with almost all of my kids (my youngest can't eat it with ketchup, so in her mind it is inedible.  Crazy kid!)  We had this for dinner again tonight, and if I had been thinking, I would have snapped some pictures of it. 

Beef Enchiladas

I'm listing this here because my husband and kids love this dish... BUT it is NOT authentic at all.  This is my mother-in-law's recipe for enchiladas.  I kind of think of it as more of a ground beef throw-it-together casserole. 

Sprinkle Cookies

We call these Sprinkle Cookies because you sprinkle one ingredient right on top of the next.  But you may know them as 7 layer cookies (I never add the 7th layer of butterscotch chips, though most do).  I've even heard them called Happy Cookies.  (Also a good name).  These are great and easy cookies to make.  And they have coconut... which makes me happy!

Raisin-filled Cookies

My hubby loves raisins, and he loves this cookie!  When we were first married we were just living on pennies and love!  One Christmas morning, at about 4 o'clock, I secreted away to the kitchen and made these cookies for him.  He hadn't had them in years and years and was so surprised that they tasted "just like his mom used to make."  Maybe that was because they were her recipe!  Since then, these cookies have been traditional and still make me smile when I think of them.  (Although I don't love cooked raisins.  But the possibilities for fillings is vast!  Raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, coconut, chocolate... who knows!)

Neiman-Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie

Back in the day when email was the way to communicate this was one of the only forwarded messages that I liked: It is the infamous Neiman-Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.  These are incredibly delicious!!! 

Soft Molasses (Gingerbread) cookies

Thank you to Lynae K. for this soft gingerbread cookie recipe.  I love fresh gingerbread, but it hardens too quickly for my taste (although I'll still eat it, of course!).  So this recipe is perfect, and the kids LOVE to decorate the little gingerbread people.

Pizza Dough

This is the only pizza dough recipe I use now.  It is so delicious and chewy.  You can make it thin or thick crusted, it always tastes great!  I have to thank my sister Erin for this recipe! I usually triple the recipe for my family.  The dough freezes great!  I just put the individual portions in individual freezer baggies, then pull it out and let it defrost and raise before I roll it out and cook. 

Lisa's Pizza Sauce

This is from my little sister Lisa.  Thanks Lisa!  This is one of my favorite tomato-based pizza sauces.  My kids will eat it with their pasta, too.

Cheesy Sausage dip.

This is a great appetizer for a lot of people (it makes a bunch!)  I'll admit, it isn't a gorgeous presentation, but the beauty happens when it hits the tongue.  Yummy!  Thanks Wendy L. for this awesome recipe!

1 pkg cream cheese
16 oz sour cream
3 tomatoes (no gooey stuff or seeds)
1 onion
1 can small diced green chili's
3 Jimmy Dean Sausage (1 reg, 1 italian)
1 can green pepper-diced

Combine all in a crock pot for about 4 hrs, best if served with white corn tortilla chips

Chocolate Turtle Brownies

This recipe is an adaptation from a little Nestle recipe pamphlet.  With chocolate, caramel and pecans it is extremely rich and chocolate-y, as I am sure you can imagine.


12 oz. semi-sweet choc. chips; divided
1/2 c. butter, cut- up
3 eggs
1 1/4 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. chopped pecans
caramel ice cream topping or *12 caramels.

Melt 1 c. choc. chips and butter in microwave for 1 minute; stir.  Melt at additional 10-20 second intervals, stirring between, until smooth.  Stir in eggs.  Add flour, sugar, vanilla, and soda (will be very thick) Spread batter in 13x9 baking pan.  Sprinkle remaining chips and walnuts.  Bake in preheated oven at 350* for 20-25 minutes or until wooden pick comes out slightly sticky.  Drizzle caramel over warm brownies.  Cool completely in pan on wire rack.  Cut into bars.
*add 1 TB milk to caramels and melt over low heat.

ooh... just a thought... I wonder how this would taste with a little bit of course salt sprinkled on the caramel. I mean, a very little bit of salt, but that sweet and salty combination might be perfect for this rich dessert.

Coconut Nut Frosting

My mother-in-law used to make this for my husband's birthday cake when he was little.  It's got a lot more substance than the canned frosting, although I love that stuff too.

Mint Ice Cream

Very much like the Lemon Ice Cream, this is another favorite from Lizzy R.

Lemon Ice Cream

Lemon homemade ice cream: I can't think of many better summer treats.  This one is particularly pleasing, and of course, from the Liz R. collection.


3 1/2 c. sugar
1 can milk
3/4 tsp. salt
3 qt. half&half
1 pt. heavy cream
1 oz. vanilla extract
2 oz. lemon extract (not juice)

Heat sugar, milk & salt til dissolved.  Cool a bit.  Combine with all ingredients in ice cream maker.  Layer ice and salt around canister.

Texas Sheet cake

Leave it to my favorite Lizzy to present chocolate at its best!  This recipe is from her! 

Chewy Coconut Bars

My mom's coconut bars!!!  I really don't need to say anything more.

Fruit Crisp

This recipe is from my good friend, Jill W.  This is the best fruit crisp I have ever had.  I was a little bit addicted to it for about 2 years.  I've given my family a little reprieve from it, but I think it's time to rip this recipe out again.  It's amazing.  Thanks so much J!

Good Morning cake!

Lizzy!!! I could have an entire section of just Lizzy recipes!  (Although I have not published some of the secret recipes of her family...sorry for all of you!)  This cinnamon-topped cake is divine in the mornings with a little drizzle of melted butter.  Oh my gosh!  My mouth is watering as I type.  I guess it's time for some more Good Morning Cake. (Thus named because none of us drink coffee, and for the kids it just sounds better)

Deep Dark Chocolate Cake

For my bridal shower, my best friend, Sadie C. had everyone bring a few of their favorite recipes. (Then they all copied it onto beautiful recipe cards.  What a great idea, huh?)  This was one that she gave me in that collection.  Still love my Sadie!  If you like homemade cakes, this is a great one.

Caramels

Another hooray for Tammy S. and her recipes!  These are her delicious caramels. 

Snicker Doodles

I think that Snicker Doodle is a great name for a cookie!  If I were a cookie, I would like that name.  I thought I'd just throw that out there for no particular reason.  These are fun cookies and my kids love to roll the dough around in the sugar. 

Sugar Cookies

I have been making these sugar cookies since I was a young teenager.  Love them!  They initially came from my sister's good friend, Jill R., but it may have changed a bit over the years.

No Bake cookies

These are your basic chocolate-y peanut buttery no bake cookies.  They are a Mom's dream.  My kids love to help me make these, and I like to let them!  They are so easy to make.

Delicious Cinnamon Rolls

Elizabeth D. is basically your standard Superwoman extraordinaire!  This is her amazing cinnamon roll recipe.  It's even lower fat than your basic recipe, because Liz rocks like that. 

Buttery Biscuits

This is a huge shout-out to Tammy S. for this delicious yeast biscuit.  These biscuits are buttery and yeasty without the wait that normal yeast rolls require.  These are delicious (as most things with a lot of butter are).

Banana Bread

I really wish I remember where I got this Banana Bread recipe!  My grandma made such a great Banana Bread I think this might be hers.  It is just so moist and so yummy.  It's very well used, too.  (My recipe card looks older than The Constitution, although I'm sure index cards are more recent than that. ;) If this is from you and not my Grandma, please let me know so I can give you all the credit!  Until then... enjoy this amazing bread!

Peach Syrup

Anticipating my mom's warm peach syrup on top of buttered waffles or pancakes is one of my favorite weekend morning memories.  I think my mom invented this recipe as a way to utilize all of her canned peaches and to stretch the food budget for our large family.  It's still my favorite waffle topping. Try it with the Super Fluffy Waffles, and expect peach pieces in this syrup (my favorite part).  It's also good on vanilla ice cream.  And the left overs are perfect for a dump peach cobbler.  Play with the quantities to suit your tastes.

Super Fluffy Waffles

My sister shared this recipe with me nearly 13 years ago, and it is still my favorite waffle recipe (and the only one I use).  These waffles are just perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  I'll admit, I make them more often for dinner than for breakfast.  They are especially delicious with the Peach Syrup recipe that I grew up with.

German Pancakes

My oldest daughter loves these pancakes.  I love that they are so easy to make. They are a light, buttery, egg-y breakfast food that can handle sweet or savory toppings.  Our favorite toppings are strawberries and whipped cream.  My sweet sister-in-law Lizzy, my mom and Andrea H are to thank for this recipe.

Ranger cookies

As far as cookies go, these are just about the best kind for my tastes!  Oats, coconut, vanilla, (and finely chopped nuts if you want to throw those in too.)  Oh, heaven.  These are so yummy.

Raisin Cream Pie

My husband LOVES raisins in his treats.  This pie is his absolute favorite.  I'm not a huge fan of cooked raisins in my desserts, but I love this pie, too.  I think you could probably substitute coconut or bananas for the raisins and make those varieties, but I haven't tried it.  Let me know if you do, and if it turned out for you!

Key Lime Cream Cheese Pie

This is such a versatile pie!  You can add cherries or blueberries on top and make it a fruit cream pie.  And it's no bake, which makes it easy to put together!

Famous Hot Fudge Sauce

My sister-in-law and her sister can duke it out on who made this famous sauce famous, but in the mean time, I'm going to call it by the said name above. :)  Thanks girls for this amazing sauce!

Rice pudding

I have combined and omitted ingredients from all my different Rice Pudding recipes.  I think this is my latest version.  My oldest daughter LOVES this, and requests it a lot.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Basic recipe for delicious cookies.  I do like a good cookie!  Though, my favorites are oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, or macaroons, or well, I do like any good cookie, and this is one of them.  My sister Emily gave me this one!  Thanks, Em!

Pineapple Salsa

Okay... this is my own attempt to make pineapple salsa.  I lived in a place with long winters, and so fresh ingredients weren't readily available.  This was my solution.  I wouldn't bottle this version, because I'm not all that sure about the right amounts of acidity, etc, to make it safe.  However, it's nice as a refrigerator salsa.  I haven't made it in years, but I think I might give it another stab.  If you find a yummier way to make this, do share. :)

Fresh Salsa, sort of.

So it's not technically FRESH salsa, but it is kind of a "refreshed" salsa.  I love this salsa when I make omelets.  and the dill weed is an unexpected surprise.  This is a dump and see recipe for me, now.  So feel free to play around with the quantities.

Fruit Dips

Here are two really simple creamy dips for fresh fruit. 

Holiday Slush

This frozen treat is so delicious!  I don't know why I wait until the holidays to make it.  With the oranges, pineapple and cherries, it's also so colorful!  (and I LOVE colors!)  Give it plenty of time to freeze.  (I've even frozen it in ice cube trays sprayed with non-stick spray, so it's already the perfect size.)  Thanks Lizzy R. for this favorite recipe!  Oh, my mouth is already watering just thinking of this!

Zucchini Brownies

I used to grow zucchini, and I loved new ideas for using them.  (When my husband could bear to part with his beloved squash.  He loves fried zucchini and would eat it every day of the zucchini season if he could.)  This recipe is especially moist and rich.  It was given to me by my sweet neighbor whom my kids call Grammy Grace.

Italian Pasta

This is an all-in-one skillet dish.  The Italian flavors blend so well together.  I came up with this recipe nearly ten years ago. I used what I had available.  Needless to say, it has changed a bit over the years, and mostly to accommodate what I had on hand.  I love dishes that work like that.  Have fun with it, and make it your own.  

 

Frog-eye Salad

This recipe was given to me by my Mother-in-law.  This recipe is a staple at EVERY single family gathering on my hubby's side of the family.  I include it here so that I can access the recipe whenever there might be a surprise family gathering.  There will be no tears shed on my watch!

Macaroon Cupcakes

This is a delightful little spin-off from the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes.  I can never decide which I like more.  I think I'm going to try this recipe with chocolate cake mix next.  It will be like a lovely Almond Joy in cupcake form.  I love making these cupcakes mini-size for sharing with friends.  They are so pretty!

Kielbasa and Cabbage

I found this recipe on All Recipes (allrecipes.com: kielbasa and cabbage) and I modified it to fit my needs.  Let me just say, this is comfort food heaven! Every time I make this dish, I think "It can't really be that simple. Am I forgetting something?" But it has turned out every single time. I have made it with chopped potatoes (slightly "baked" first in the microwave) and shredded carrots, and it's always delicious! My favorite is definitely served on top of hot buttered egg noodles. Pictures to come.

Mom's Black Beans and Rice

Oh!  How I love this meal!  It's one of my favorites.  My mom used to make it when I was little.  The Molho is essential for the overall experience.  My mom's method is more or less dump and taste.  While this recipe is amazing as it is, feel free to add the flavors you love.  

Spicy Barley Lentil Soup

Have you ever heard of a meal exchange?  Several years ago a few of my best mom-friends swapped meals three times a week.  One day a week I cooked dinner for the three other families and my own (thankfully we all had small families at the time.  They would do the same.  I had three amazing dinners a week that I didn't have to cook!  AND I got the recipes for my collection.  I'll admit, not all the dinners were that great (mostly mine).  We all tried new recipes and had lots of fun testing it out on each other.  A few times, I ruined dinner for all of us and everyone got pizza instead!  The experience was so awesome though, and I loved every minute of it.  This is one of the recipes from that meal exchange.  (Liz D. always had great ones)

 PS:  It tastes WAY better than it sounds!

Fry Bread

My mom is a bread-making genius!  I am not...at all.  Seriously.  Once I made rolls, and my husband said, "Your mom makes the best rolls."  He wasn't being mean, (he's just not that type) but there was nothing nice to say about my rolls.  This recipe, however, I can do.  I have used it to make Navajo tacos, impromptu pizzas, my own hot pocket versions of any filling, or even just as a nice yummy scone.  We all love it.

(For my family, I double the recipe)

Cranberry Broccoli Slaw

This is an easy side dish (and so pretty).  I make it frequently for pot-luck get-togethers.  My Aunt Susie gave me this recipe, and she substituted ordinary dried cranberries for the orange-flavored craisins... I celebrated in my mouth with every bite.  It was so good!  Of course, I can never find the orange-flavored craisins anymore, but ordinary dried cranberries and/or raisins are still lovely.  

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

I made the cutest little mini cupcakes for a Christmas party this week.  Now I have to make them again and take pictures, because they were so dainty.  Here's the recipe (Thanks to Wendy Lee for sharing).