Thursday, June 27, 2013

Crock Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup

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This is simply incredible!  Every time I have made it, it's a HUGE hit!

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6                   Large potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
1                   Large onion, chopped
1 qt              Chicken broth
3 cloves       Garlic, minced
1/4 c             Butter
2 1/2 tsp      Salt
1 tsp             Pepper

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1 c                Half & Half
1 c                Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tblsp         Chopped fresh chives

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1 c                Sour cream
8 slices        Bacon, cooked and crumbled
                     Shredded sharp cheddar cheese

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Combine first seven ingredients in a large crock pot.
Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
Mash the mixture to coarsely chop the potatoes.
Stir in the cream, cheese and chives.
Top with sour cream, bacon crumbles and cheese.

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Pink Salad

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Good stuff!  Easy to make!  Compliments will be forthcoming!!

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1 can          Cherry pie filling
1 lg can      Crushed pineapple, drained
1 can          Sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
1 c              Flaked coconut
1 c              Chopped pecans or walnuts
16 oz          Cool whip

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Mix all ingredients and chill.

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Pound Cake

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This was incredible, and it calls for ingredients that most of us already have in the kitchen!

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2 sticks               Butter
1/2 c                   Shortening
3 c                       Sugar
5                          Eggs
3 c                       All-purpose flour
1/2 tsp               Salt
1/2 tsp               Baking powder
1 c                      Milk
1 tsp                  Vanilla extract

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With a mixer, cream butter and shortening together.
Add sugar, a little at a time.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
Sift dry ingredients together, then alternate adding to mixer with milk.
Mix in vanilla extract.
Pour into two well-greased and well-floured loaf pans.
Bake at 350 for 60-75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

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Thursday, June 20, 2013

Broccoli Salad

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This salad is great on a hot summer day.  It's easy to make and will be a shoe-in with your family and guests.

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1 1/2 c            Mayonnaise
4 tblsp           Apple Cider Vinegar
2/3 c               Sugar
4 bunches     Broccoli (florets only)
1 lb                 Bacon, cooked & chopped
1 lb                 Cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1 c                  Red onion, chopped

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Ina bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar.
Add remaining ingredients and toss.
Best if made the night before and chilled.

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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Strawberry & Romaine Salad

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Anytime I make this salad, I get a ton of requests for the recipe.  At first, I didn't think I would like lettuce, onions and strawberries together, but it is deeeeeeeee-li-shus!  Serve it with a grilled chicken breast and you have a tasty meal...perfect on a hot summer day.

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Dressing:

1/2 c           Mayonnaise
2 tblsp       White vinegar
1/3 c           Sugar
1/4c            Milk
2 tblsp       Poppy seeds

Salad:

1 bunch     Romaine, rinsed and dried, torn into bite-sized pieces
1                  Sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 pint         Fresh strawberries, cleaned and cored, sliced

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Mix dressing ingredients well and chill (overnight is best).
Mix salad ingredients.
Drizzle dressing over salad.

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Buffalo Chicken Dip

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There are like 92 things wonderful about the title, don't you think??

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32 oz         Cream cheese
2c              Buffalo sauce
2c              Ranch dressing
4c              Chicken, cooked and shredded
2c              Cheddar cheese, shredded

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Mix together the cream cheese and buffalo sauce.
Mix in the ranch dressing.
Stir in the chicken and cheese.
Pour into a lightly-greased 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
If oil collects on top, simply dab it with a paper towel.
Serve with Fritos corn chips.

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No-Bake Key Lime Mousse Pie

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Tasty & Cool....Perfect on a Hot Summer Day!  Crazy simple too!!!

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1           Graham cracker crust
1/3 c     Key lime juice
8oz       Cool Whip
1 can    Sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
1            Lime for garnish

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Mix the juice, cool whip and condensed milk until well blended.
Pour into the pie crust.
Chill.

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Slice the lime. 
Cut two of the slices in half. 
Cut each half in half, but don't cut all the way through.
Twist each half and place in the middle of the pie.

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Almond Joy Pie

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This recipe is so insanely easy!!  If you like Almond Joy candy bars, you'll LOVE this pie.

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2 c               Milk
3/4 c            Sugar
1/2 c            Biscuit mix
4                  Eggs
1/4 c            Butter, melted
1 1/2 tsp     Vanilla
                   Flaked coconut
                   Sliced or slivered almonds
6 oz             Semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tblsp        Vegetable Oil

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Combine the first 6 ingredients in a blender for three minutes.
Pour mixture into a greased 9" pie pan.
Let sit for five minutes.
Sprinkle coconut on top.
Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes.
Let pie cool completely.
Sprinkle almonds on top.
Microwave chocolate chips and vegetable oil until smooth.
Drizzle chocolate on top.

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Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Rolls

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Once again, my love of bread got the best of me and I made these individual pull-apart rolls.  THEY WERE INCREDIBLE!

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1/2 c            Butter, melted
1/8 c            Olive Oil
1 tsp            Onion powder
3/4 tsp        Garlic powder
1/2 tsp        Oregano
1/2 tsp        Chopped parsley
4 to 6          Crusty rolls
2 to 3 c       Shredded cheese of your choice

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Combine first six ingredients & set aside.
Cut each roll diagonally, approximately 1" apart.
Turn and cut rolls the other direction to create a "diamond" effect.
Be sure to cut most of the way down, but not all the way through.
Generously spoon the butter mixture into each space in the bread.
Stuff each crack with cheese.
Cover with aluminum foil, seal tightly, and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Open the foil and bake an additional 10 minutes.

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3-Ingredient Chicken

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When I saw this recipe on Facebook, I thought, "Hmmm....interesting."  I do love chicken...and eat quite a bit of it...so I gave it a whirl and it was GREAT!  The brown sugar actually carmelizes with the salad dressing mix and forms a tasty crust on the chicken.


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1               Whole chicken, cut up (I used a pkg of thighs and legs)
2 pkgs      Dry italian salad dressing mix
1/2 C        Brown sugar

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Combine the dry salad dressing mix and brown sugar.
Coat chicken on all sides.
Bake at 350 for about an hour.

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Mixed Berry Cobbler

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I enjoy having guests over for dinner, so it always helps to have some every-day staples on-hand so I can whip up something in a hurry. 

When I happened across this recipe on Facebook, I knew I had to try it.  This cobbler was awesome with ice cream on top and it was INCREDIBLY SIMPLE to make.

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24oz     Frozen Mixed Berries
1 box    Dry White Cake Mix (no pudding)
1 can    Clear Soda (I used Sierra Mist)
              French Vanilla Ice Cream

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Place frozen berries in the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.
Pour the dry cake mix over the top of the berries.
Pour the soda over the top of the cake mix.
Do not mix!
Bake at 375 for 45-55 minutes.
Serve warm with a scoop of French Vanilla Ice Cream on top!

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