Rainbow Cupcakes

I really want to makes these for Brynlee's birthday.  We'll see if I have her talked into it by then or not :)

Colorburst Cupcakes

1 white cake mix
2 eggs
1 C yogurt (any smooth textured fruit flavor is fine!) or sour cream
1/2 C milk
1/3 C vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients until incorporated (about 30 seconds). Scrape sides of bowl and then beat on med-high speed for 2 minutes.

Divide batter according to how many colors you are using. I used 5 colors and it worked out to a little over 1 cup for each color, but each cake brand will be slightly different.

Use food coloring to color batter to desired intensity.

To get a layered stripe like I used, you’ll want to put a spoonful of each color in the cupcake one at a time. The batter is thick, so it won’t spread on it’s own. A great tip is to set out a little bowl of water where you’re working. Dip your finger in the water and then gently spread the batter out. The water will make it so the batter doesn’t stick to your fingers.

Another tip is to use a measuring spoon and some water to measure out how many teaspoons/tablespoons are going to fit in your cupcake. Then divide that by how many colors you have so you know how much of each color to use for each cupcake. For my 5 colors, it worked out perfectly with 2 t of each color in each cupcake. So I put in 2 t of blue in the bottom of each cupcake and spread it out with my finger. Then I put in 2 t of green on top of that, then yellow, etc.

Bake them according to the package directions, until a toothpick comes out dry.

I topped mine with this frosting.

Step by Step picture directions can be found HERE.

I also found this rainbow slush 

that would be perfect with these cupcakes! Directions found HERE.

Banana Bread with Chocolate Swirls!

Banana Bread with Chocolate Swirls
Ingredients:
1 c margarine or butter
2 c sugar
4 eggs
2 c mashed bananas (about 5)
1/2 c milk
2 tsp lemon juice
4 c all purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c nuts, chopped (optional, this is in my Mom's recipe, but I never put the nuts)
1/2 c chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:
Beforehand: Let butter/margarine soften. If your bananas are frozen, pull them out of the freezer.

1. Cream margarine and sugar
2. Add eggs and mix well
3. Add bananas, milk, and lemon juice. Mix well
4. Add in dry ingredients. mix

without chocolate swirls: pour in 2 large loaf pans or 3 medium loaf pans and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

with chocolate swirls:
-melt your 1/2 cup of chocolate chips
-once melted, mix 1 c of the banana bread butter in with the chocolate chips.

I made 3 medium loafs. I left one plain banana and did the swirls to 2 loafs. I liked the banana to chocolate ratio, but you can do it however you want.

First, put a layer of the banana batter down. Next, put a layer of the chocolate batter. Using a knife, swirl it around to create a marbled look. To do this, you'll want to bring the knife up and down while you're swirling. REPEAT as many times as you want. NOTE: you need to end with the BANANA batter on top. The chocolate burns. Make sure it is well covered.

Manicotti

Manicotti:
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 container of cottage cheese
1 pkg. Itallian mix cheese
1 c. cheddar cheese
1 box manicotti noodles
1 jar Ragu Garden Combination Sauce  
Servings: 4 generous


Directions:

1. Brown the hamburger. Season with salt and pepper as desired. 
2. Mix all the ingredients (except the sauce an noodles, of course) together in a bowel. Save a little bit of the Italian cheese mixture for the end. Like a handful or two.
3. Get out a cake pan and pour a small amount of the sauce on the bottom of the pan, just enough to  cover it.
4. Stuff the mixture into the uncooked manicotti. (when I first started making this, I tried using a utensil to stuff the manicotti and  it took way to long. Now I use my hands. Warning: it gets kinda messy. oh, and don't pay attention to the dirty dishes in the background). Place in pan.
5. After all of the stuffed manicotti are in the pan, pour the remaining sauce on top.
6. Cover the pan with tinfoil and put in the oven at 350 degrees, bake for 50 minutes. *note, it is essential to top the pan with tinfoil in order for the noodles to cook! Don't forget this step.  
7. After it's done I always top the manicotti with some Italian cheese mixture and a little parsley, because I like how it makes it look fancy.
8. Eat and enjoy! I usually serve with green beans.

 

Cajun Chicken

This is one of our family favorites.  It tastes like the Cajun Chicken Pasta at Chili's.  Okay not exactly like it but pretty close :)  And it's way easy!

• 1/2 pound penne pasta
• 1 jar alfredo sauce
• 5 chicken tenders
• 1 tomato
• Cajun Seasoning--a little goes a long way. I use Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning that I got at good old Wal-Mart.

Cook pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, sprinkle chicken tenders on both sides with seasoning and grill them. (for my kids I just leave the chicken plain so they'll eat it) You can grill it on a George Foreman Grill or just your outside grill. Drain pasta and put it back into pot with the jar of alfredo sauce and I sprinkle a little of the cajun seasoning to give it a little kick. After in is heated, place pasta on plate top with chicken cut into strips and diced tomatoes. Enjoy!

Cheesecake Miniatures

My mom made these a lot growing up and I loved them.  So for our ward party a couple of weeks ago I made them.  They turned out just as yummy as I remembered!

• 24 Nilla Wafters
• 2--8 oz. cream cheese 
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 24 foil cupcake liners
• 1 can pie filling--whatever your heart desires

Soften cream cheese.  Place foil liners in muffin tins.  Place one wafer in each liner.  Mix the rest of the ingredients together and place 1 heaping tablespoon in each cup.  Bake @ 350 for 15 minutes.  When cooled, top with 1 tablespoon pie filling.  Refrigerate.

Chocolate Moose

• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 small pkg. mild chocolate instant pudding mixed with 3 cups milk
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 8 oz. cool whip

Blend butter, flour and nuts together.  Spread and pat into 9x13 pan.  Bake @ 300 for 15-20 minutes.  Let cool.  Combine pudding and milk.  Pudding will be thick.  Let stand. Blend powdered sugar, cream cheese and 4 oz. cool whip.  Spread this mixture over crust.  Spread pudding mixture over next.  Then spread top with 4 oz. cool whip.  Refrigerate and enjoy!

chocolate marshmellow rice krispie dessert

My friend, Kristen, brought this to our Bishop's bbq picnic. It was so good. I love peanut butter and chocolate. You have to try this recipe. Sorry no picture. But trust me, it is delicious. Thanks Kristen

chocolate marshmellow rice krispie dessert

Bottom:

1 cup margarine

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

6 tbsp cocoa

1 cup flour

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

Middle:

7 oz marshmellow cream

Top

1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup peanut butter

3 cups rice krispies

Mix the bottom ingredients and spread in a greased cake pan. Bake for 25-30 min at 350 degrees. (It usually just takes 25 min)

Let cake cool slightly and then spread marshmellow cream over the top.

Heat chocolate chips and peanut butter together (I just melt chocolate chips in microwave and then mix in peanut butter while it's hot)

and mix with rice krispies. Pour over top and chill.

Delicious Fruit Pizza

2 pkg. Pillsbury sugar cookie dough
2 lemon yogurts
1 8 oz. cool whip
fruit of your choice

Place cookie dough in jelly roll pan.  roll out until it covers the bottom evenly.  Cook dough according to package directions (I cooked mine a little longer than the directions said).  Let cool.  Mix yogurt and cool whip.  Spread over cookie. Add cut up fruit to the top.  Whatever your little heart desires strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, raspberries, mangerine oranges, bananas, etc.

Grandma Hill's Homemade Ice Cream

Oh this is to die for.  I promise!

Small Ice Cream Freezer:
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups sugar
10 cups 1/2 & 1/2
1 1/2 Tbsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp salt

Large Ice Cream Freezer:
6 eggs
3 cups sugar
15 cups 1/2 & 1/2
2 Tbsp. vanilla
1 tsp salt

Mix eggs and sugar; beat well.  Add 1/2 & 1/2 vanilla and salt.  Mix and freeze by placing ice and ice cream salt around the outside of the ice cream maker.  Let sit for a few hours.  You might have to switch out the ice about half way through.

Christmas Sandwich Cremes

My Aunt Melanie made these at my sisters "wrap it up" baby shower.  They were SOOO yummy!  Sorry, no picture.  They were all gobbled up by the time I thought of it.  Drat!

1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
1/3 cup whipping cream
2 cups all-purpose flour
sugar

FILLING:
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
1-1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Food coloring

In a mixing bowl, combine butter, cream, and flour; mix well.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until dough is easy to handle.  Divide into thirds; let one portion stand at room temperature for 15 minutes (keep remaining dough refrigerated until ready to roll out).  On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness.  Cut with a 1-1/2 in round cookie cutter.  Place cutouts in a shallow dish filled with sugar; turn to coat.  Place on ungreased baking sheets.  Prick with a fork several times.  Bake at 375 for 7-9 minutes or until set.  Cool on wire racks.  For filling, in a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add vanilla.  Tint with food coloring.  Spread about 1 tsp. off filling over half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies. **My aunt said she was in a hurry and just used frosting she bought at the store and they still tasted great!**Yield: 4 dozen

Cranberry Chicken

I haven't actually tried this one yet but a friend of mine said it was good and I wanted to try it out.  So instead of writing it down and trying to remember where I put it when I want to make it I decided to post it here.

• 2 lbs chicken breasts 
• 1 (16 oz) can whole berry cranberry sauce 
• 1 cup creamy french dressing (can be substituted with favorite dressing)
• 1 (1.25 oz) envelope onion soup mix. 

Cut chicken into strips, place in greased baking dish, bake 20 mins at 350, drain off juices. Combine cranberry sauce, dressing and onion soup mix. Pour over chicken, bake uncovered for 30 mins at 350. Serve with rice OR  for a quick meal for another day remove from oven and allow to cool.  Place in freezer baggie and label. (6 servings). To serve: thaw, heat until hot throughout.

Ham, Corn & Potato Chowder

For some of you it's getting a little warm outside to be making soup.  But for the rest of us who live in the cold I got this from one of Lance's relatives and it is really easy and super good.  I liked it, my kids liked it, and Lance liked it. SCORE!!

5-6 potatoes
2 T. butter
1 c. chopped ham (small cubes)
1 can cream style corn
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 1/2 c. milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 tsp. salt

Cook potatoes and then dice.  In Large pan, melt butter and saute onions.  ( I actually just cut up my potatoes and boiled them until they were done and drained most of the water out of them before I put the rest of the stuff in) Add milk, ham, and cream of mushroom soup to potatoes. Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes stirring regularly.  Add corn, salt and pepper.  Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.

Grown up Mac and Cheese

This recipe is so good. I watched the episode and thought it looked so good. You have to try this recipe. warning though the cheese is a little expensive. I didn't use it all so I put the rest in wrap and froze it.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces thick-sliced bacon
• Vegetable oil
• Kosher salt
• 2 cups elbow macaroni or cavatappi
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated
• 3 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated
• 2 ounces blue cheese, such as Roquefort, crumbled
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch nutmeg
• 2 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
• 2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon in 1 layer on the baking rack. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Remove the pan carefully from the oven - there will be hot grease in the pan! Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and crumble when it is cool enough to handle.

Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt the butter in a medium pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or 2 more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, blue cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and crumbled bacon and stir well. Pour into 2 individual size gratin dishes.

Place the bread slices in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until you have coarse crumbs. Add the basil and pulse to combine. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the pasta. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

Artichoke cheese dip

Okay so I am so sad I don't have a picture of this cause it was DELICIOUS! You all probably have a recipe like it or something similar, but here it is anyway.

12 oz mozzarella cheese
1 C. Mayo
1 C. Parmesan cheese
8 oz Cream cheese
1 1/2 C. chopped artichoke hearts
1/2 sm. white onion(chopped)
2 garlic cloves

Mix all together and bake @ 350 for 25-30 minutes. Enjoy with tortilla chips, bread, pita chips, etc....
My hubby and I LOVE this stuff.

Chocolate Thin Mints

Chocolate Thin Mints

2 sleeves Ritz Crackers
3 candy canes, crushed
1 bag Andes Mints baking chips (in baking section)

Microwave half of the bag of Andes mints in small microwaveable bowl for about 30 seconds, stir, then another 30 seconds. Stir until melted. Dip crackers in melted chocolate, completely coating cracker with chocolate. Remove with tongs and shake off the excess. Place on wax paper-covered baking sheets. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes after you place them on wax or parchment paper. Let completely dry or refrigerate for 30 minutes. Repeat with second half of chocolate.

These are so yummy. My friend Summer made these for a cookie exchange a couple years ago and I loved them. I made them for a cookie exchange at Callie's preschool. They are so easy.

Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I made these for my daughter's preschool. They are super fun and easy to make.

Here is the recipe:

24 chocolate-striped shortbread cookies

12-ounce package of chocolate chips

24 marshmallows

Yellow frosting

1. Set the cookies stripe side down on a cookie sheet.

2. Melt the chocolate chips in microwave.

3. One at a time, stick a wooden toothpick into a marshmallow. Dip the marshmallow into the melted chocolate, and center it on top of the cookie. Using a second toothpick to lightly hold down the marshmallow, carefully pull out the first toothpick.

4. Chill the hats until the chocolate sets, then pipe a yellow decorators' frosting buckle on the front of each hat.

Hot Fudge Sauce

• 1 cup butter
• 3 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 can evaported milk

Melt butter on medium heat in saucepan.  Add cocoa, then milk.  Gradually stir in sugar and stir constantly until it comes to a low simmer.  Take off heat and add vanilla.
Eat over ice cream or with fruit. (apples, grapes, bananas, oranges, strawberries, etc.)
This is the best hot fuge sauce ever!  I promise!

Caramel Corn

• 2 qts. popped popcorn
• 1 can sweet & condensed milk
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cube butter
• 1 cup Karo syrup
• pinch of salt

Pop popcorn and place in large bowl.  Cook all the rest of the ingredients on stove top to soft ball stage, stirring constantly --to test for soft ball stage put room temp. water in a small bowl and drop some of the caramel in.  If it forms a "soft ball" in the water then it's done--  Mix with popcorn. 
So soft and gooey!  It's my FAVORITE!!

Texas Sheet Cake

• 2 cubes butter
• 4 Tbsp. cocoa
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups plus 2 Tbsp. flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 cup milk

Bring butter, water and cocoa to a boil.  Pour over all the rest of the ingredients and mix well.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Frosting:

• 1 cube butter
• 4 Tbsp. cocoa
• 6 Tbsp. milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 lb. powdered sugar

Stroganoff Boats

• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1 green bell pepper
• 2 Tbsp. Worchestershire sauce
• 1 tomato
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup grated cheese
• 3 green onions
• 1 loaf French bread

Brown hamburger, then add Worchestershire sauce and sour cream.  Slice bread lengthwise and place on foiled pan.  Spread hamburger mixture over both halves of bread.  Top with sliced green pepper, tomatoes and grated cheese.  Place under broiler for 5-10 minutes.