Chicken Pasta Salad

CHICKEN PASTA SALAD

4 cups cubed, boiled chicken (*May also use canned chicken! In fact, that's my preferred choice!)
2 cups grapes
10 oz cashews
1 cup crushed pineapple (optional)
1/4 cup green onion
2 cups apples, diced
2 cups celery (optional)
3 cups cooked pasta, cooled (I prefer bowtie for this recipe!)
1 cup mayo
1 cup coleslaw dressing (Kraft)
smidge of salt and pepper
smidge of seasoning salt

Mix all together. Can be served hot or cold!

Enjoy!

Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein

BEEF AND BROCCOLI LO MEIN

8 oz. thin spaghetti, broken in half
1 tsp dark sesame oil (or vegetable oil)
1 tsp vegetable oil
3 cups chopped broccoli
1 1/2 cup sliced onion
1 Tbsp minced, peeled, fresh ginger
4 garlic cloves, minced
12 oz. sirloin tips, cut crosswise into thin strips
3 Tbsp beef broth
3 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp oyster sauce

Stir spaghetti into pot of lightly salted boiling water and cook according to directions. Drain noodles well, then return to pot and toss with sesame oil.

Heat vegetable oil in large nonstick skillet over med high heat. Add broccoli and onion and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and continue stirring while mixture cooks for another 30 seconds. Add sirloin and cook, stirring often, for 5 mins or until it is no longer pink.

In a small bowl, mix the broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and oyster sauce. Add soy sauce mixture and pasta to skillet with broccoli and beef and continue cooking, stirring often, for 1-2 minutes or until everything is heated through.

Serve lo mein hot.

Makes 4-6 servings.

*Also very good with chicken! You will need to add it sooner than the beef though as chicken takes longer to cook and must cook all the way through. If cooking with chicken, use 3 Tbsp chicken broth instead of beef.

Enjoy!

Hot Fudge Sauce

HOT FUDGE SAUCE

2 1/2 cups sugar
5 Tbsp cocoa
1 cube margarine
1 can evaporated milk

Combine all ingredients and stir over medium heat on stove. Stir occasionally and bring to a boil. Let boil for 1 min. Remove from heat and add 1 tsp vanilla. Cover and let cool. (or serve hot over ice cream!)

Enjoy!

Christmas Sugar Plum Ring

This is the Jack family traditional Christmas morning breakfast.

Dough:

1 pkg. dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1/2 cup milk, scalded

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup shortening

1 tsp salt

2 beaten eggs

3 1/2 to 4 cups flour

To assemble:

1/2 cup melted margarine

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup whole almonds

1 jar maraschino cherries

1/3 cup dark corn syrup

In mixing bowl, combine scalded milk, sugar, shortening, and salt. Cook to lukewarm, if necessary. Stir in 1 cup flour. Beat well. Combine yeast and warm water together. Add yeast and eggs to dough. Add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead. Cover and let rise until double (1-2 hours. This is the part where you opening presents!) Punch dough down and let rest 10 mins. Divide dough into small walnut-sized balls.

To assemble: Combine cinnamon and sugar. Dip each dough ball into melted butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture. Arrange a layer of balls in the bottom of a well-greased bundt or angel food pan (DO NOT use pan that center can be removed from rim!) Sprinkle cherries and almonds around balls, filling in spaces between dough balls. Repeat procedure to make 2 more layers. Mix corn syrup with any remaining butter and cinnamon sugar. (You might need to make more cinnamon sugar) Drizzle over top of dough. Cover and let rise until double, about 1 hour (more presents?!) Bake at 350 for 35 mins. Cool 5 minutes in pan, and then invert pan onto serving plate and remove ring.

Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Brownie Cupcakes

CREAM CHEESE BROWNIE CUPCAKES

Make brownie mix according to directions (or homemade brownie recipe works great too!). Fill each cupcake liner about 1/2 full (makes about 24).

CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1-2 Tbsp milk

Whip all ingredients together until fluffy. Add 1-2 Tbsp to each brownie. Drag a knife through each cupcake to mix a little.

Bake according to brownie directions or until knife comes out clean.
Put a few mini marshmallows on top and put under the broiler until gold brown. Let cool.
*We didn't broil the marshmallows and they were still great, but the cupcakes do sink down in the middle so this would probably help them to keep a great cupcake shape!*'

CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup margarine
3 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 Tbsp milk

Mix together until creamy and desired consistency. Spread onto cooled cupcakes.

*I've only made this recipe in a cupcake form and they were amazing! I think they'd also be just as good in a brownie bar form. I'm planning on trying it like that soon!*

Enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUPCAKES

Make a milk chocolate cake mix according to directions except add peanut butter chips to the batter. (I sprinkled them on top of each cupcake so that they wouldn't just sink to the bottom). Bake as directed. Let cool.

Peanut Butter Frosting:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons milk, or as needed

2 cups powdered sugar

Place the butter and peanut butter into a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer. Gradually mix in the sugar. When it starts to get thick, incorporate milk one tablespoon at a time until all of the sugar is mixed in and the frosting is thick and spreadable. Beat for AT LEAST 3 minutes for it to get good and fluffy.

Top cupcakes with chopped peanut butter cups or mini Reese's pieces.

Enjoy!

Caramel Popcorn

Best caramel popcorn recipe. I'd have a picture but we ate it all before we could take one. This recipe makes quite a bit so be sure to share it with family or friends!

CARAMEL POPCORN

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 cup light corn syrup

pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients together in a large pot. Bring to a boil and cook until small ball stage.

Pour over 5-6 bags of popped popcorn. (Or just pop a whole bunch if you don't want to use the bag microwave popcorn. We popped our own and filled a huge bowl. I think it was about 2 1/2 cups unpopped popcorn. And it was just right)

Enjoy!