Strawberry Pretzel Salad

My mom makes this salad every Thanksgiving and I love it!!!

Recipe from Emerson 2nd Ward Cookbook

Bottom Layer:
2 cups pretzels, crushed
3/4 cups melted butter
3 tablespoons sugar

Mix and press into 9x13 inch pan. Bake 8 minutes at 400 degrees. Cool completely.

Second Layer:
2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
1 cup sugar

Blend together, then fold in 8 ounces Cool Whip.

Third Layer:
1 (6 oz) package strawberry Jell-O
2 cups hot water

Dissolve. Add 2 (10 oz) packages strawberries, partially thawed. Let set slightly, then pour on top of second layer. Chill throroughly.

Top with Cool Whip.

Gooey Caramel Popcorn

We have this every 4th of July while we watch fireworks
Recipe from Cindy Gillette

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cube butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
3 gallons popped popcorn

Mix butter, sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil. Add milk. Cook to soft ball stage (228 degrees). Pour over popcorn and stir.

Filthy Wilma

For some reason, my pudding didn't set up very well this time. I also made some alterations to the recipe. I used a gramhm cracker crust so that it was nut free and forgot to buy enough cool whip, so we are missing a layer here. Less calories I guess!!!
Recipe from Cindy Gillette

Crust:
1 cup flour
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
1 cube butter/margarine

Cut butter into flour with a fork and then add nuts. Press into the bottom of a lightly greased 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool completely.

2nd layer:
16 ounces Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups Cool Whip

Mix ingredients with an electric mixer. Spread over cooled crust.

3rd layer:
1 small package instant pudding, any flavor
1 small package instant vanilla pudding
3 cups cold milk

Mix well. Allow to thicken. Fold in 2 cups cool whip. Layer over cream cheese layer.

Refrigerate 2 hours. Top with Cool Whip and sprinkle with nuts.

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

Will last 3-4 days

1 package buttermilk Ranch Dressing mix
1 cup Mayonnaise (real, not light!)
5 tomatillos (small-med)
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
1 tablespoons jalepeno juice + 1 slice of jalepeno (canned)
1/3 bunch cilantro (cut up)
juice of 1/2-1 lime

Blend all ingredients together and refrigerate 2+hours. The longer it refrigerates, the thicker it gets.

Cafe Rio Burritos

I struck gold when I found this recipe laying on one of the computers at work!!!

2 1/2 lb roast (beef or pork)
1 package flour tortillas (burrito size)
2 (15 oz) cans green chile enchilada sauce (old El Paso- mild)
1/2 cup brown sugar
15 oz can black beans (warmed and drained)
1/3 lb Monterrey Jack Cheese, grated
Rice (prepared with chicken broth instead of water if desired for flavor)

For sauce, combine:
1/2-3/4 cup green chile sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
Pour mixture over shredded meat and mix together.

Heat over to 350 degrees. Spray 9x13 pan with Pam. Pour 1/2 cup green chile sauce in bottom of pan. Sprinkle each tortilla with shredded cheese, rice, black beans and 1/3 cup meat mixture. Roll filled tortilla up and place in pan. Pour remaining green chile sauce over burritos and sprinkle with cheese. Bake in oven 20 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with creamy tomatillo sauce and garnish wish your choice of tomatoes, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.

*You can also cook chicken in crock pot in a can of chicken broth, then shred and mix with sauce.

Ranger Cookes

Recipe from Cindy Gillette

2 cups margarine or butter (softened)
2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons milk
4 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups oats
2 cups coconut
4 cups rice krispies

Cream margarine. Add sugars gradually and beat until creamy. Add milk, eggs and vanilla. In separate bowl, blend dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Slowly add dry mixture to other. Blend well. Add oats, coconut, and rice krispies. Mix. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.

Salmon and Asparagus

Salmon
I use both fresh or frozen salmon.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place thawed salmon in pyrex pan. Place 1/2 tablespoon butter slice on top of salmon. Sprinkle lightly with Lowry Garlic and Parsley seasoning salt. Bake 15-20 minutes,

Asparagus with Lemon Vinaigrette
Steam fresh asparagus in steamer/rice cooker for 11-13 minutes.

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablesppons lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
Pinch pepper

In bowl, combine ingredients. Store, covered in refrigerator. Serve at room temperature.

Remove asparagus from heat and refresh under cold water; drain well. Toss asparagus with enough lemon vinaigrette to lightly coat.

Chicken and Rice

Recipe from Amanda Hepworth

3 chicken breasts, cut in half
2 c milk
2 cans soup (cream of mushroom and chicken)
1 cup uncooked rice (regular not minute)
½ pkg onion soup mix

Prepare chicken. In a 9x13 greased baking dish, mix rice, soup, and mix. Pour in pan. Place chicken on top; cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes.

I occasionally 1/2 this recipe (only adding 1 can of soup, I like the chicken) and cook it in a smaller dish and it works great for feeding 2 people.

Breakfast Tacos

Recipe from Eating-for-life cookbook

1-2 eggs
2 slices tomato, diced or 1-2 Tbsp salsa
2 corn tortillas
1/4 avocado, sliced

Scramble eggs. I either use 1 egg or 1 whole egg and 1 egg white. Warm tortillas. Place 1/2 scrambled eggs on each tortilla. Top with avocado and salsa/tomatoes. Serves 1.

Milky Caramel Cake

1 white cake mix
1 jar caramel ice cream topping
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tub cool whip
1 candy bar

Cook cake according to directions on back of box. Immediately after removal from oven, poke holes all over the cake with the end of a wooden spoon. Pour caramel and milk over top of cake. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Top with cool whip and sprinkle crushed candy bar on top.

Easy Sugar Cookies

These are super easy drop-sugar cookies. I made this particular batch to go with my "Preparing for Young Womens" Achievement Day. We played a matching game- value to story and then I let the girls decorate their own cookies with the value colors.

Recipe from Emerson 2nd Ward Cookbook

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour

Mix ingredients in order given. Roll into balls and bake 6-19 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Frosting:
4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter
3-4 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix well and frost cooled cookies.

Goose Creek Chicken

Recipe from the kitchen of Amanda Hepworth

8 or 9 chicken breasts
swiss cheese slices (enough to put on each piece of chicken)

Place a slice of cheese on top of each piece of chicken in a greased 9x13 baking dish.

2 cans cream of chicken soup
8 oz sour cream
1 Tbsp lemon juice

Combine ingredients in a separate bowl then pour over chicken.

1 cube butter
1 pkg butter flavored crackers, crushed (I use wheat Ritz)

Combine butter and crackers then sprinkle over top of chicken. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 1 ½ hours. Serve over white rice (I use brown rice).

Fajitas

1 lb cube steak
KC Fajita Marinade (or you can make your own with garlic salt, lime juice and pepper)
Tortillas
Toppings: tomatoes, cheese, salsa, sour cream, guacamole

Cut steak into 1/2 x 2 inch strips. Cover with marinade and let sit in refrigerator for 30 min. Cook steak in frying pan on stove. Warm tortillas. Place steak and desired toppings in warm tortilla.

Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

From the Essential Mormon Cookbook

1 cup butter- softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour
3/4 tesaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 (12-ounce) bag chocolate chips

Cream together butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla. In a separate bowl sift together flour, salt, and baking soda. Add to creamed mixture and beat well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop onto greased cookie sheet by heaping tablespoons. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned. Makes about 3 dozen.