Blonde Brownies!

Oh Becca! Bars

Trust me, you'll be screaming my name when you eat these little squares. Seriously. They are so good. I got the recipe from Becky Higgin's, who got it from her friend who got it from someone's Grandma...anyway. Sherri & Kimber make something similar and call them "Scotcharoos" and my brother's girlfriend Nanette makes something similar and calls them "O'Henry Bars". You call 'em whatever you want.

1 c. Karo syrup
1 c. sugar
1 c. peanuts (I got salted and I don't chop them)
1 c. peanut butter
3 c. Rice Krispies
1 pkg. (6 oz) chocolate chips
1 pkg. (6 oz) butterscotch chips

Stir together Karo syrup and sugar. Microwave for 2 minutes. Add peanuts and peanut butter to the Karo mixture. Microwave everything for 1 minute. Add 3 cups of Rice Krispies. Spread into a greased 9" x 13" pan.

Combine chocolate chips (on bottom) and butterscotch chips in a bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Spread over krispie mixture and cool in the refrigerator.

Remove and cut into 1-inch squares.

Apple Annie's Appetizer Dip

This is served at a cute little restaurant at Artisan's Alley in San Antonio. It sounds weird but it really tastes great!

Bean Soup and Cracked Corn and Cheese Squares

baked macaroni and cheese

preheat oven to 400.

1 lb elbow mac
1/4 cup butter
1 small onion, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
pinch of pepper
3 cups milk
4 cups (16 oz) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
3/4 cup fine, dry breadcrumbs
2 T butter, melted

1) cook macaroni as directed
- I always try to under cook the macaroni a bit or the noodles get a bit mushy.
2) melt butter, add onion and cook a few minutes. add flour, mustard, salt, and pepper, stirring well. gradually add milk and cook, stirring constantly, until smooth and thoroughly heated.
3) add 3 cups of cheese to flour mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until melted. pour sauce over macaroni, tossing gently to coat well.
4) pour mixture into a buttered 2-qt baking dish. sprinkle w/ remaining 1 cup cheese.
5) combine breadcrumbs and melted butter, stirring well; sprinkle over cheese.
6) bake at 400 for 20 minutes. let stand a few minutes before serving.

carey cottage chocolate pudding

this makes an enormous batch!

2/3 c cocoa
2 c sugar
1/2 c cornstarch

whisk these three ingredients together and add

5 c milk
3 egg yolks & 3 eggs

microwave until it thickens.

take it out and add 2 T butter and a teaspoon of vanilla.

tomato basil soup

1 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped carrot
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 c tomato juice
1 1/4 cups chicken broth
1 -14 1/2 oz can of tomatoes
1/2 6 oz can tomato paste
1 tsp dried thyme, crushed
dash cayenne pepper
3/4 cup milk or half and half (i use milk)
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup snipped fresh basil
sour cream

in a large covered saucepan cook celery, carrot, onion and garlic in hot oil over medium-low heat 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. add tomato juice, broth tomatoes, tomato paste, thyme and cayenne. bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. cool slightly.
place half of soup at a time in food processor and process until smooth. repeat with the other half. stire about 1 cup of tomato mixture into the milk, to prevent curdling. return all of soup to pan, add sugar. heat through. stir in basil. top each serving with sour cream and fresh basil garnish. i also set homemade croutons out to use as a topping, and they were a pretty good addition :)

this only has 106 calories per bowl, if you use milk rather than cream.

Cranberry Chicken

This is a super-easy, super yummy chicken dish that cooks in the crockpot! :) I originally got this recipe from Heather D. White and usually serve it with long grain and wild rice.

Cranberry Chicken
3-4 chicken breasts (can be frozen)
1 can whole-berry cranberry sauce
1 cup barbeque sauce
1/2 medium onion, chopped

Mix together the cranberry sauce, barbeque sauce and onion. Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker and cover with the cranberry sauce mixture. Bake all day on low.
I'll take a picture the next time I make this and come back to post it. : )