Marshmallow Creme Dip

This is so easy and so good and much better than the kind you buy at the store.  I can't get enough!  Really.  I can't.

1 small jar marshmallow creme

1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened

2 - 3 T orange juice

Beat together until smooth and creamy.  Refrigerate until serving.  Serve with your favorite fruit.

Gingerbread Boys Pumpkin Dip

This comes from my friend, Lisa, and it's addictive. Serve with gingerbread cookies or gingersnaps.

3 oz cream cheese
1/4 c powdered sugar
1/2 c pumpkin
1/4 t cinnamon
1/8 t nutmet
dast of cloves
8 oz tub Cool Whip

Beat cream cheese and sugar until well blended. Add pumpin and spices. Fold in whipped cream. Keep chilled.

Burger-Potato Bites

We had these for our Super Bowl party. They were a big hit -- cute and tasty. I got the idea from Better Homes and Gardens e-newsletter.

16 large frozen waffle-cut French fries
1 lb ground beef
2 t grilling seasoning blend
4 slices cheese, cut into quarters (I used American)
4 cherry tomatoes, sliced
mustard, ketchup and/or dill pickles slices

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Evenly space potatoes on baking sheet and bake for 18 - 20 minutes or until crisp and slightly browned. Remove from oven.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine meat and seasoning. Form into sixteen mini-burgers. In a skillet, cook burgers, uncovered over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, or until done. Drain fat. Top each potato with a burger, cheese quarter and (optional) tomato slice. (I left off the tomatoes and allowed people to put them on afterwards.) Broil 4 - 5 inches from heat for 1 -2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with condiments.

Best Bread Machine Bread

I'm in love with my bread machine. I found this recipe on allrecipes.com, and it's a keeper. I've modified it a little bit.

1 c warm water (110 degrees)
3 T white sugar
2 t bread machine yeast
1/4 c vegetable oil
2 1/2 c bread flour
1/2 c wheat flour
1 1/2 t salt

Place the water, sugar and yeast in the pan of the bread machine. Let the yeast dissolve and foam for 10 minutes. Add the oil, flour and salt to the yeast. Select basic or white bread setting and press start.

Now isn't that awesome? You walk away and a few hours later . . . bread! Who'da thunk it?

Blueberry Muffins

This is my mom's recipe, and it's my favorite! I especially like the crumb topping.

2 c flour
1/2 c sugar
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 c milk
1/4 c vegetable oil
1 egg
1 1/2 c rinsed and drained fresh or frozen blueberries

Crumb topping:
3 T flour
1 t cinnamon
3 T sugar
3 T butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add milk, oil and beaten egg. Mix just until blended. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin tins about 2/3 full. Sprinkle crumb topping on muffins. Bake about 10 - 12 minutes. Makes 15 - 18 medium sized muffins.

Sweet & Sour Cocktail Sausages

Mix the following in a saucepan over low heat and simmer 15 minutes:

2 c brown sugar

1 1/2 c ketchup

1/4 c mustard

1 t salt

2 T Worcestershire sauce

2 t vinegar

1/2 c chopped onions

Add either cocktail sausages or sliced smoked sausage and simmer until meat is heated through. Transfer to a slow cooker to keep warm.

Sweet Potato Quick Bread

For those of you who have read my Sugar Tails Blog (there's a link on this page) ,
you may know about my fear of making yeast breads. This is one I made often before my bread machine.

2 c flour
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
2 t cinnamon
1/4 t baking powder
1 1/4 c sugar
16-oz can sweet potatoes
3 large eggs
1/4 c canola oil
3/4 c chopped walnuts
1 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour a loaf pan. Mix dry ingredients. Blend sugar, sweet potatoes, oil, eggs and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients, walnuts (and raisins if you like them -- I don't in this). Bake about 1 hour.

Nacho Cheese Dip

I made this for our first New Year's party as a married couple. It disappeared!

1 lb regular Velveeta, sliced
1 lb Mexican Velveeta, sliced
1 lb ground beef
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 tomato, diced

Brown beef, drain and rinse. Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Turn to high and stir often as cheese melts, then turn to warm or low.

Melvin's Salsa

From the First Capital Christian Church Cookbook

3 - 5 fresh tomatoes, chopped
fresh cilantro
1/2 red onion
juice of 1 lime
jalapeno pepper (chopped fine)
2 t kosher salt

Mix and enjoy!

Stuffed Mushrooms

Melvin's recipe -- my favorite -- from the First Capital Christian Church cookbook (with a little revision by me in the cooking stage)

2 lbs large button mushrooms
6 oz cream cheese
12 oz pork sausage

Trim bottoms off of stems. Wash mushrooms and pop out the stems. Chop up for later use. Crumble and beginning browning the sausage, adding the chopped mushroom stems before it's fully cooked. When the sausage is done, drain grease then add the cream cheese and stir until blended. Stuff the mushrooms.

I usually make ahead by a few hours and store in the fridge. Then I bake in a 375 oven for 20 minutes. My Christmas party wouldn't be complete without them!

Yummy Granola

4 c old-fashioned oats
½ c shredded coconut (my kids/husband don’t even know it’s there)
½ c wheat germ
½ c vegetable oil
½ c honey
2 t ground cinnamon (or 1½ t cinnamon, ½ t nutmeg)
½ c raisins
chocolate chips, optional

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients in a bowl, except raisins and chocolate chips. Pour mix onto a baking sheet. Bake for 18 minutes, stirring every 6 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. Stir in raisins and a handful of chocolate chips if desired. Store in zippered plastic bags in the freezer. Makes 1½ quarts. Great by itself as a snack. Also can be a topping for yogurt or vanilla ice cream.