Ghost Cookies

GHOST COOKIES
Here are the easiest cookies to make ever! Impress friends and family (it only takes a few minutes)

Ingredients:
1 lb white candy coating, chopped
1 pkg (1 lb) Nutter Butter cookies
Minature Chocolate Chips

Directions:
1. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt candy coating. 20 seconds, stir, repeat until smooth. Dip cookies into coating, covering completely. Place on waxed paper. 2. Brush ends with a pastry brush dipped in coating where fingers touched cookies. While coating is still warm, place two chips on each cookie for eyes. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.

Home Cooking - Carmal Apple Cake

Warm Caramel Apple Cake

Cake

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup whipping cream

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans

2 large cooking apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced (about 2 1/3 cups)

1 box yellow cake mix

1 1/4 cups water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1/4 tsp. apple pie spice

Topping

2/3 cup Betty Crocker Whipped fluffy white frosting

1/2 cup Cool Whip thawed

Caramel ice cream topping

1. Heat oven to 350. In heavy saucepan cook butter, whipping cream, brown sugar over low heat, stiring occasionally, just until butter is melted. Pour into 13x9 inch pan. sprinkle with pecans, top with sliced apples.

2. Mix cake mix, water, oil, eggs and apple pie spice with mixer on low until moistened. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Carefully spoon batter onver apple mixture.

3. Bake 40 to 45 minutes until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. cool in pan 10 minutes. Loosen sides of cake from fan. Carefully turn platter and pan over. Let pan remain on cake about 1 minute so carmel can drizzle over cake. Remove pan.

4. In small bown mix frosting and whipped topping. Serve warm cake topped with frosting mixture and drizzled with caramel topping.

Makes 15 servings.

Funeral Potatoes

Funeral Potatoes (my most requested recipe)

12 large potatoes or 1 (32 oz) bag of frozen shredded hash browns

2 (103/4 oz) cans cream of chicken soup

2 cups sour cream

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup chopped onion

2 cups crushed corn flakes

2 Tbsp. butter melted



Peel potatoes and boil for 30 minutes, until just tender. Cool and grate into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish (or put hash browns in baking dish). Combine soup, sour cream, cheese, melted butter and onions. Gently blend into potatoes. Combine crushed corn flakes and the 2 TBS. butter. Sprinkle on top. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Makes 12 servings.

Cafe Rio Pork

Pork Tacos


1 pork loin
2 cups pace medium salsa
2 cups brown sugar
Tortillas, your favorite toppings: lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, sour cream, etc.

Put in your slow cooker for 6-8 hours on low. Shred and let sit for one more hour. Serve in crunchy or soft taco, top with your favorite toppings

Lime Rice
3 cups of rice
3 cups of water
1/2 onion
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 can green chilies
4 t garlic- minced
4 t chicken bouillon
1/2 t salt
1 T butter
4 T lime juice

Blend/Chop onion, cilantro, and chilies in a food processor (or you can just chop onion and cilantro by hand). Then put all ingredients in with the rice and cook; either on stove or in a rice cooker. Stove top: Bring to a boil, lower heat and cook 15 minutes with cover on pot, do not remove cover. Let sit for 10 minutes with cover on. Stir with fork or follow directions on rice cooker.

Home Cooking - Chicken Curry Salad.

This is always a crowd pleaser! Perfect for warm summer nights!

Chicken Curry Salad
2 cups Cooked Chicken
1 1/2 Cups Mayonnaise
1 tsp Curry Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1/4 Cup Green Onions
1 1/2 Cup Cooked Rice
1 Can Mandarin Oranges
1 Cup Slivered Almonds
1 Cup Celery

Procedures
Cook Chicken, cool, cut into bite size pieces. Cook Rice. Chop Green Onions and celery. Mix together Mayonnaise, Curry Powder, Salt, Pepper. Mix together Chicken, Cooled Rice, Green Onions, Celery, Almonds. Gently fold in Mayo mixture. Gently stir in Oranges.

Serving. Can be served plain or for a nice twist serve on a lettuce leaf with a slice of cantalope, cut in a circle. Scoop salad in the hole of cantalope.

Mother's Day Spa Lunch

Creating a Special Day for the Mom (Or Moms) In Your Life.
Mother's Day is just a few days away. If you've yet to plan a celebration for the mom or moms in your life, you'll definitely want to stick with this article. It may be too late to make reservations at a restaurant, but it's not too late to put together an incredible lunch that you can serve right in your own home.

Our moms play such an important role in all our lives, so it's only fitting that we create a special celebration on the day that honors them. Before we get into the subject of the food, let's talk a little about the day as a whole.

In addition to giving us life, moms do a whole lot for us. They are an example to their daughters of how to be a strong woman, as well as to their sons of the caliber of woman they should strive to have in their lives. They push us to do better as individuals, while at the same time provide comfort when we are vulnerable. Moms are the ultimate multi-taskers, oftentimes juggling careers with household and family responsibilities. In general, moms have very few moments to themselves. The reason – their job is 24/7, 365!

Today is mom's day to relax…completely. One duty she need not take on is planning her own Mother's Day celebration. That's going to be your job and I am going to help you do it. Don't worry. It's going to be fun. What do you say we get started?

Pampering
Considering the amount of pampering our moms do for us, it's only fair we return the favor on her big day. This may sound like a big job, but I'm going to simplify it for you by giving you two words to remember – spa day.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a mom that would not enjoy having a day of beauty. I'm serious when I say you really can't go wrong with this. Send her to the spa for a massage or a facial, or the salon to get her hair done. Even the nail salon for a manicure and pedicure, or a yoga class would work. The key is to find something she enjoys and that fits into your budget. Make her a mid-morning appointment on Mother's Day and get her out of the house for a few hours. This will give her a chance to decompress, and you a chance to put the finishing touches on a great spa-like meal.

Food
It's not uncommon for a spa day to include a healthy yet satisfying lunch, as there is nothing like eating great food after a massage and a sauna. The difference on Mother's Day is that instead of mom eating that lunch at a restaurant, she'll be able to do it in the comfort of her own home…without having to do any of the work.

Try a Mother's Day Shrimp Salad,    My favorite is butter lettuce, shrimp, grapefruit slices, avocado slices.  Arrange on plate and top with thousand island dressing or your favorite dressing.
For dessert: Try Delicious Balsamic Berries with Vanilla Gelato (serves two)

2 C fresh strawberries, green stems removed and sliced
1 C fresh blueberries or raspberries or a mixture of all three.
1.5 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (good quality)
3 Tsp sugar
Vanilla gelato
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)

In a bowl, combine strawberries, blueberries, vinegar, and sugar. Mix well and allow the berries to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.  Spoon vanilla gelato into bowls and top it with the desired amount of berries and the accumulated sauce. For an interesting finish, top the berries with a little coarsely ground black pepper. I know it sounds weird but trust me it's delicious.

For a beverage, Spa Water (makes 1 gallon).  Very refreshing.

1 lemon, sliced crosswise very thinly, 1/2 English or hothouse cucumber, sliced crosswise thinly, 1 gallon purified water

Place the lemon and cucumber slices in a gallon-sized pitcher and add water. Refrigerate for 3 hours before serving.

Home Cooking - Granola

This granola recipe is not only low in both fat and sugar, but it is extremely cost effective. In terms of taste, I find this granola to be spectacular. Make it on the weekend when you have time, and eat it for breakfast or as a snack throughout the week.

Orange, Cranberry and Almond Granola (makes 5 1/2 cups granola)

3 C old-fashioned rolled oats

1/4 C wheat germ

1/4 C flax seeds

1/4 C unsalted and shelled sunflower seeds

1/2 C almond slivers

1/2 C pecan pieces

3/4 C dried cranberries

1/3 C fresh squeezed orange juice

3/4 C honey

1 Tsp orange zest

1 1/2 Tsp vanilla extract

1 Tsp almond extract

1/3 C canola oil

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.



In a small saucepot, combine orange juice, honey, orange zest, vanilla, almond extract and canola oil. Heat over a low flame just until the honey melts and all the ingredients are incorporated.



In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, wheat germ, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds and pecans.



Pour the orange juice mixture over the oat mixture and mix until everything is well combined.



Spread the oats in a thin layer on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and gently stir the granola. Bake for another 15 minutes. Add the cranberries to the granola, gently mix and bake for an additional 10 minutes.



Remove the granola from the oven and allow it to cool completely. Transfer it to an airtight container or re-sealable bag and enjoy!

The Baker's Edge Nonstick Brownie Edge Pan Makes Perfect, Double-Edged Brownies

One of my favorite things!  For fans of "edge" pieces, this brownie pan from Baker's Edge is a cookware best-seller and for good reason. It's built strong and bakes double-edged, extra chewy brownies to perfection inside and out.
Made from heavy-gauge cast aluminum, the Brownie Edge Pan is a continuous baking chamber that channels heat to all pan parts equally.  The result is a more evenly-cooked, better tasting batch of brownies. And with a 9 by 12 by 2 inches capacity, the pan is large enough to handle most homemade and box mixes.
Like cookware, you often get what you pay for with respect to baking products and, at $35 from Amazon.com, the Baker's Edge Nonstick Brownie Edge Pan may be worth every penny.  Or you can do what I did and order from the Solutions catalog for $39.00!  Ouch!
Buy one for yourself, or as a housewarming gift for a friend. It's perfect brownies every time.

Shrimp and Avocado Salad

Shrimp and Avocado Salad


1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. honey
1 TBSP Dijon mustard
1 shallot, chopped
1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Mix together first four ingredients. Slowly blend in oil until well blended.

1 lb. cooked shrimp
1 lb. jicama, peeled, julienned
1 pkg. frozen corn, thaw and drain well, slightly brown in skillet with small amount of oil.
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
3 Hass avocadoes, peeled, and diced
Salt and Pepper to taste.

Mix together, lightly coat with dressing. Best served at room temperature (about 30 minutes). Dressing can be stored in refrigerator. Low Cal and Healthy!

Home Cooking

Shrimp and Avocado Salad
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. honey
1 TBSP Dijon mustard
1 shallot, chopped
1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Mix together first four ingredients. Slowly blend in oil until well blended.

1 lb. cooked shrimp
1 lb. jicama, peeled, julienned
1 pkg. frozen corn, thaw and drain well, slightly brown in skillet with small amount of oil.
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
3 Hass avocadoes, peeled, and diced
Salt and Pepper to taste.

Mix together, lightly coat with dressing. Best served at room temperature (about 30 minutes). Dressing can be stored in refrigerator. Low Cal and Healthy!

Hearty Bacon Potato Chowder
8 slices bacon, cut into 1" pieces
2 cups (6 med) potatoes
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup sour cream
1 1/4 cup milk
10 3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp thyme (optional)

In 3 qt. saucepan cook bacon and onions over med. heat for 5 minutes; add potatoes. Continue cooking stirring occasionally until potatoes are tender. ( can pre-cook potatoes for less time). Add remaining ingredients. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally until heated through. (10 to 12 minutes)
Serves 6

ENGLISH TOFFEE

A favorite old family favorite that brings back childhood memories.

1 giant size Hershey Chocolate Bar
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts
2 cups sugar,
1 lb. butter plus additional butter for pan
2 TBSP water.
Grate Chocolate Bar. Using a cookie sheet with a rim, generously butter pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the nuts, layer 1/2 of the chocolate over the nuts. Set aside pan.

Combine water, sugar, butter, bring to a fast boil. Boil until the color changes to a a medium carmel color and it is foamy. Stir constantly. You do not want it too light in color or it won't set up, too dark and it will be too hard. Try for a light golden brown.

Pour over chocolate, top with remaining chocolate and then the remaining nuts. Cool completely. Break into pieces.