Chocolate Pudding Pops! =)

4 cups cold milk
1 pck (8 oz.) instant chocolate pudding mix
2 teaspoons vanilla
(to make them sweeter you can add 1 cup sugar) We liked them fine without.

Mix ingredients with and electric mixer for 2 minutes.
Pour into cups or popsicle molds. We had popscisle sticks for ours this time, but we have also used regular cups and spoons.
When removing run under hot water and be careful not to pull the stick/ spoon out.
Enjoy =)

Ham Fried Rice

3 teaspoons canola oil
4 eggs scrambled
2 1/2 cups cold cooked rice
1 1/2 cups diced ham, fully cooked
2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
3 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ginger (if you have it)

In a frying pan mix all ingredients, except eggs and soy sauce, and cook until heated through Add eggs and soy sauce stir into mixture. Serve

Homemade Fries & Hamburgers

The yummy dinner!

Peel potatoes and slice in fry slices. 

If you have an airtight bowl put the slices in that or you can you a gallon size zipper bag. 

 Then I add oil and seasonings. I actually never measure, I just eyeball it so I am going to guess that for this many potatoes I would add somewhere between 1/4 to 1/2 cup oil and then any seasonings that you have on hand. I add onion salt, paprika, garlic powder or salt, parsley - because it makes it pretty. You could use seasoning salt or just regular salt. Then I zip up the bag or put my lid on my bowl, TIGHT, and then shake it up until the seasonings have coated all of my potatoes.

 Spread out into one layer on a cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for about 30 minutes or until the edges are golden and a bit crispy. Cooking time will depend on thickness of the slices.

Jello Cookies

3 cups butter (no margarine)

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 pkg jello

2 tsp. vanilla

6 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

Beat butter and sugar. Add egg and mix well. Stir in all other ingredients and roll in 1 inch balls. Makes about 6 doz.

Bake at 350 on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Flakey Biscuits

2 cups flour

1 Tbls baking powder

½ tsp salt

¼  tsp baking soda

¼  cup butter

¾  cup dairy sour cream

¼  cup milk

Butter, melted

Preheat oven to 450. In a mixing bowl sift together flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Mix with fork & fingers or 2 knives, cut in butter until mixture is the texture of cornmeal.

Blend in sour cream. Stir in milk until dough clings together. It is a little lumpy.

On lightly floured surface knead lightly.

Pat or roll about 1/2 inch thick. Cut out biscuits with floured 2 inch diameter item like lid or cookie cutter.

Transfer to baking sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and brush tops with melted butter.

Oatmeal Raisen Cookies/Bars

½ cup plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened

¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt (optional)

3 cups Oatmeal, uncooked

1 cup raisins

Heat oven to 350. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins; mix well.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered. Makes about 4 doz. cookies

Bar Cookies: Press dough onto bottom of ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Store tightly covered. About 24 bars

Applesauce Cake/Muffins





Mix together:

1 cup sugar

1 egg

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

½ cup butter

1¾ cup flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. cloves (opt.)

Add:

1 cup applesauce

1 cup raisins (or nuts or chocolate chips)

My family doesn’t like baked raisins so I make it plain and they still love it.



Bake in greased 9x9 pan at 350 for 35-45 min.

Serve warm, it is so yummy.
Or serve with sliced apples sprinkled with cinnamon, wipped topping or ice cream.





Melt in Your Mouth Banana Bread

2/3 cup oil
5 eggs
2 cups mashed bananas (about 4 med.)
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 of an 8 oz package
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 325. Mix oil, egg and bananas in a bowl. Mix all dry ingredients in separate bowl making sure salt and baking soda are mixed in well. Add dry ingredients to wet, slowly until thoroughly mixed. Grease and flour loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour. Makes 2 9x5x3 (4 minis – bake 45 min.) Stick in knife or toothpick to check when done.

***I always double this batch and then just use the whole bag of vanilla pudding mix. If you don’t want to bake all of the dough right then place in freezer. Thaw completely and then pour into greased/floured pans and bake.

I also freeze bananas to use for later. When they look a little ripe I put them in the freezer with the peeling on, then peel before I add them to my recipe.

Easy Beef Stew

EASY BEEF STEW

2 lbs stew meat

1 onion, chopped

5 potatoes, peeled & cut into small chunks

8 carrots, peeled & sliced

1 can tomato soup

1 can whole tomatoes

1 can green beans with juice

Salt & pepper to taste

Thaw & brown stew meat, season with salt & pepper while cooking. Place all ingredients in crock pot. Cook on high for 3 hours. Freeze half for an easy dinner later.

Make due Chicken Broth

Some recipes, like the pot pie, need a little chicken broth - I discovered a way to create it easily for those times I don't have it on hand or available to me.

1 cup hot water
2 Tbls. cream chicken soup
1 tsp. salt

Mix together well.
If I am using in a recipe that does not include chicken I strain off the chicken pieces by pouring with a fork.