Play Dough

I remember using this recipe to make 4-5 different colors of play dough to make the earth and the different layers (inner core, outer core, mantle and crust) there for a science project in elementary school. My mom was pretty amazing. We just use it to play with and come up with all sorts of great colors.

1 C. Water
2 Tbsp. Oil
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 C. Flour
2 tsp. Cream of Tarter

combine all ingredients over medium heat until it sticks in a ball, you can add food coloring as desired. Keep in a Ziplock bag for re-use over and over.

Microwave Caramel

In high school one of my girlfriends used to make these microwave caramels and bring them to share with everyone. They're easy, delicious and there is just something fun about unwrapping wax paper and sinking your teeth into a gooey caramel, wouldn't you agree?

2 cubes butter
2 1/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. karo syrup
1 can sweet condensed milk
dash of salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Melt butter, blend in sugar, milk, salt & karo syrup. Cover microwave on high for 10-12 minutes. Take out and stir, cook on medium high 16-20 minutes or until candy forms, add vanilla. Pour into greased 8x8 pan. Cool and cut. Wrap in wax paper.

The Perfect Roast

My parents got this recipie several year back and since then we've been enjoying roasts in a whole new way. Tender and delicious every time!

1 tri-tip or rib roast (3 servings per lb of roast)

1 caffeine free diet coke

Meat tenderizer

2 Pkgs dry Lipton Onion Soup

1-2 Onions quartered

Onion Salt

Garlic Salt

Line roasting pan with roil going both directions. Moisten one side of the roast with coke, rub in tenderizer, garlic and onion slats and one package of the dry soup mix then repeat the process on the other side of the roast. Place roast in pan, then top with fresh onions. Bake at 225 for 3-4 hours. Cut roast across the grain. Thicken juices with cornstarch and milk to make gravy.

This can also be made in a crockpot cooked on low all day long.

Rootbeer

This is a fun recipie for summer time. The kids always love to see the smoke coming out of the cooler while the dry ice does it's trick. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and make them delicious floats.

1 Bottle Rootbeer Extract

5 lbs of Sugar

5 Gallons of Water

5 lbs of Dry Ice

Mix water, sugar and extract in a large drink container, then add dry ice, DO NOT COVER the top. Let the root beer brew for 20 minutes to "carbonate", then serve.

Crescent Chicken Squares

My kids love these, I've found shredding the meat off a rotisserie chicken save a lot of time.

3 oz cream cheese
2 Tbsp butter melted
2 c. chicken
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. chives
1 Tbsp pimento (Optional)
1 (8 0z.) can crescent rolls
3/4 c. bread crumbs

Mix cream cheese and 1 tablespoon butter. Add next six ingredients. Spoon into rolls (2 triangles pressed together to make a square). Bring corners together at top and pinch and pinch. Top with butter and sprinkle bread crumbs. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Cake Mix Cookies

These are too easy to say you can't make them homemade.

1 yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 c. shortening
mix together

add 6 oz chocolate chips or nuts as desired.

Roll into balls and bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Lou's Freezer Jam

This is my Aunt's Recipe for Freezer Jam.

5 C. Berries (before crushing)
2 C. Sugar
3 Heaping Tbsp. Gel Stuff
1 Pkg. Kool Aid
1/2 C. White Karo

Crush Berries in a bowl, then mix sugar, Gel and Kool Aid and add to berries. Then add Karo Syrup. Pour into jars and freeze.

Serena's Cranberry Tart

This is my sister in law's recipie and a very good one at that! It simple and perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

1 1/2 stick butter melted
2 c. fresh cranberries
1 1/4 c. sugar
1 c. dropped pecans
1 c. flour
2 eggs-beaten
1 tsp almond flavoring

Grease 9" pie tin. Pour in cranberries and sprinkle with 1/2 c. sugar. Add pecans. Mix butter, flour, eggs 3/4 c. sugar & almond extract. Pour over berries and nuts. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes.

Sheila's Pie Crust

Making your own crust is not as hard as it may seem. They always taste better. This is the recipie we've been using since I was a little girl.

2 C. Flour

1 tsp. Salt

2/3 C. Shortening

Mix together well using a pastry cutter, then add 7 Tbsp. of Ice Water and mix until pea like. divide into 2 crusts. Roll out crust, put in desired pie plate, fill with desired filling, then roll out top crust. Put on top of pie, brush with milk and sprinkle with Cinnamon and Sugar then bake at 400 for 30 minutes until edges are light brown.