Toffee Squares

Christmas baking with my girlfriends was cancelled this weekend, but this is one of the recipes we would have used. This recipe is one of the two Christmas treats my mom would make when we were growing up.


Toffee Squares
1 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg yolk
1 t. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/4 t. salt
1 pkg. chocolate chips

Mix butter, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla. Stir in flour and salt. Spread in a rectangle on a greased baking sheet, leaving about 1" all around the edge of the baking sheet. Bake 20-25 mins. at 350. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Let stand until soft and then spread evenly. Cut into small squares while warm.

Toll House Pie

A BIG, very rich chocolate chip cookie!

Toll House Pie
2 eggs
½ c. flour
½ c. sugar
½ c. brown sugar
¾ c. butter, melted
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. pecans, opt.
1 unbaked, regular, 9” pie crust

Beat eggs until foamy. (2-3 mins.) Beat in the flour and sugars. Mix in butter. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans. Pour into shell. Bake 55-60 mins. at 325*.

Serve warm with ice cream or Cool-Whip.

Easy Chicken Marinade

Marinated Chicken
6 chicken breasts
1/2 c. Italian dressing
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/8 t. onion salt
1/8 t. garlic powder

Combine dressing ingredients. Marinade chicken in ¾ c. dressing for at least 4 hours or overnight. Grill or bake at 350*. (boneless for 35 mins. or bone-in for 50-60 mins.) While cooking, season and baste with reserved marinade.

Cheesy Garlic Mushrooms

So easy and so yummy!

Cheesy Garlic Mushrooms
1 pkg. mushrooms
1/4 c. butter
1/4 t. dill weed
1/2 t. garlic salt
1/2 c. mozzarella

Clean and remove stems from mushrooms. Melt butter; add dill weed and garlic salt. Pour or brush over the mushrooms. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 400* for 20-30 minutes.

Cucumber Salad

Per Jeni's request! ;)

Cucumber Salad
Cucumbers (1-3?)
Onion, chopped
Salt
½ c. mayo
½ c. sour cream
½ t. dill weed

Peel and slice cucumbers thinly. Add chopped onion. (I layer them.) Place in a bowl and sprinkle generously with salt. Let sit in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. Drain liquid. Mix the mayo, sour cream, and dill weed. Fold gently with the cucumbers. Marinate until serving.

Wontons

Do you want to make friends?

These wontons are AMAZING! I'm always the hero on poker nights when I make and serve these to the guys. Emma gets upset if I don't save some for her breakfast the next day.

Wontons
1 pkg. Wonton wraps
1 lb. pork sausage, browned and drained
1 c. mayonnaise
1 envelope of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
2 c. cheddar cheese, shred
½ c. red pepper, chopped
1 small can of black olives

Mix mayonnaise, dry dressing, sausage, olives, pepper, and cheese. Place a small amount in the center of each wrap and set in a mini-muffin cup. Bake at 350* for 10-15 mins. Serve warm.

Dutch Letter Bars

Oh, so yummy! These were a new recipe I tried from a "Our Iowa" magazine at G'ma Munson's. Katelynn went NUTS over these! (and admittedly, so did I!)

Dutch Letter Bars
1 stick of butter
1 stick of margarine
2 eggs
1 can/roll of almond paste (7-8 ozs.)
2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
additional sugar/almonds to place on top

In a large mixing bowl, cream margarine, butter, and eggs. Beat in the almond paste. (This may be difficult.) Add sugar and flour; mix well. Spread into a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle the top with sugar and almonds. Bake at 350* for 30-35 minutes until the top is browned.

**I left the almonds off the top

Baby Carrots

I'M BACK!
I hope to be posting many recipes soon as I'm typing them for an upcoming wedding present.

My girls love these and although I don't make them often, they are nice for veggie variety!

Cooked Baby Carrots

16 ozs. Baby carrots

1 c. apple juice

¾ c. water

1/3 c. honey

Combine all and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10-14 mins. until tender.

Monster Bars

NEVER MAKE MONSTER COOKIES AGAIN!

These are SO easy!

Monster Bars
1 stick of butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. peanut butter
3 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 tsp. soda
4 1/2 c. oatmeal
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. butterscotch chips
1 c. m&ms

Mix in order given. Spread in an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 mins. (no longer).

Famous Pork Chops

Last night was new recipe night at our house. I had the pork chops and wanted to try something new and found the recipe online. Kurt and Emma LOVED these. I loved them because there was not much prep!

Famous Pork Chops

1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
garlic salt, to taste
ground black pepper, to taste
2 eggs, beaten
4-6 pork chops
1/4 cup butter (I used less, maybe 2 T.)

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a shallow bowl, combine crushed crackers, garlic salt and pepper; mix well. In a separate bowl beat eggs.
Dip your pork chops in the eggs and then in the cracker mixture. Place the pork chops in a casserole dish. Place chunks of the butter around the pork chops. Cover and bake for 45 minutes. (I uncovered the last 15 mins.)