Apple Coffee Cake

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup self rising flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 med. tart apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add cinnamon to flour. Gradually add flour to mixture. Fold in apples and nuts. Pour into an 8 x 8 x 2 baking dish. Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serves 9

Changes - use pears instead of apples. Change the spices by using allspice, apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, or maybe cloves.

Popcorn Bars

5 cups cooked popcorn
1 cup chopped nuts
1 pkg (10 1/2 oz.) miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips

In a large bowl combine popcorn, pecans and 1 cup marshmallows. In a heavy saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add chocolate chips and remaining marshmallows. Cook and stir until smooth. Pour over popcorn and nuts. Toss to coat. With buttered hands, press into a greased 13 x 9 x 2 pan. Cool. Cut with a serrated knives. Makes about 2 doz.

This is great to have on hand as an after school snack. You can change the flavor by using other flavors of chips such as white, butterscotch, etc. You can also used pre-cooked, pre-packaged popcorn if you want. Just watch the salt content so your bars won't come out too salty. Or simply use low or no salt microwave popcorn.

Herby Macaroni & Cheese

1 Tbl. butter
3 Tbl. all purpose flour
2 cups milk
3/4 tsp. dry marjoram
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. paprika
1 Tbl. Dijon mustard
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 pkg (7 oz.) elbow macaroni
1 cup cottage cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook macaroni according to package and drain. In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil over med. heat. Boil 2 minutes or until thickened. Add marjoram, thyme, nutmeg and paprika. Stir until blended. Remove from heat. Stir in mustard and 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese. Mix well. Add macaroni and cottage cheese stirring until coated. Pour into an 8 x 8 baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray. Top with remaining Parmesan. Bake 30 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Changes - change the cheese to cheddar, Swiss, etc. Add a little cooked, crumbled bacon to inside as well as top. Add French fried onions to top. Or you might add 3/4 - 1 cup of cubed ham to the mac and cheese.

Chicken Mac & Cheese Casserole

1 box Macaroni & Cheese
1 can (10 3/4oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chopped chicken, cooked
1 green onion, chopped
1 cup crushed potato chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make macaroni and cheese according to package. Stir in soup, milk, chicken and onion. Pour into a 2 qt. casserole dish sprayed with non-stick spray. Top with crushed chips. Bake 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serves 6

Changes - Instead of chicken, use tuna. Change the soups to cream of mushroom, celery or broccoli. Dress it up by adding 1/4 cup of chopped black olives or water chestnuts for a crunch.

Nutty Coconut Pie

1 stick of butter, softened
2 Tbl. self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup light syrup
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup nuts (pecans, walnuts)
1/2 cup shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar, add flour, then syrup mixing well after each addition. Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each. Stir in vanilla and coconut. Sprinkle nuts in the bottom of an unbaked pie crust. Carefully spoon coconut mixture over nuts (trying not to disturb the nuts). Bake 45 minutes or until center is set.

Lemon Carrots

1 1/2 lbs. medium carrots cut into 1/2" slices
3 Tbl. butter
3 Tbl. brown sugar
3 Tbl. lemon juice

Place carrots in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 10-12 minutes or until crisp-tender. In a small saucepan melt butter. Add brown sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Boil 1 minute stirring constantly. Drain carrots, add butter mixture and toss gently. Serves 6.

One Pan Tacos

1 lb. extra lean ground beef
2 cups water
1 pkg Taco seasoning mix
2 cups instant rice, uncooked
1 cup shredded cheese
2 cups shredded lettuce
2 cups chopped tomatoes

Brown meat in a large non-stick skillet, drain. Add water and seasoning mix, stir to blend. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover with a tight fitting lid and turn off heat. Let sit 5 minutes or until water is absorbed by rice. Serve lettuce and tomatoes on the side.

These can be served in taco shells, wrapped in tortilla or served as it is. I like to top mine with sour cream and extra shredded cheese. You can add chopped onions and peppers for more taste.

White Chocolate Macadamia Muffins

1 3/4 cups self rising flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Glaze
1/2 cup white chocolate chips melted
1 Tbl. evaporated milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl whisk egg, milk and butter. Stir in flour just until moistened. Fold in chips and nuts. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes before removing from the pan. For glaze , in a small microwave-safe bowl, melt chips with evaporated milk. Stir until smooth. Drizzle over warm muffins. Makes 12 muffins.

Changes - You can use milk chocolate chips instead of white and you can use pecans or walnuts instead of the macadamia. You can also use 3/4 cup of blueberries in place of the chips. This is actually a basic recipe for making simple muffins so just get creative.

No Cook Lemon Pie

1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 pkg (3.4 oz.) instant lemon pudding mix
2 pkg (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup pure lemon juice
1 graham cracker crust

Mix milk and pudding beating at low speed, about 2 minutes. In another bowl beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually add lemon juice and then pudding mix. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Serves 6-8.

Changes - Make it Key Lime by using lime pudding and key lime juice.

Apple Log

1 pkg (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped apples
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans


Combine cream cheese and powdered sugar. Mix in apples, cinnamon and 1/4 cup pecans. Shape into a log. Roll in remaining 1/4 cup of pecans. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 20 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla wafers, butter cookies, etc.

Changes - Instead of apples you can use any chopped dried fruit such as raisins and cranberries. This is really pretty to make for the Christmas holidays using dried red and green fruits.