Pizzokies

Thanks to Dena for sharing this great recipe!

1 package pre-made cookie dough (Pillsbury is great)
1/2 gallon ice cream (choose your favorite)
caramel sauce
hot fudge sauce

Preheat oven to about 375.
Fill four (3 or 4") ramekins halfway with cookie dough.
Bake 12-18 minutes till golden brown, but still a little soft in the center. Don't overcook/burn.
Do not remove from ramekins. Top with a scoop of ice cream while they are still warm.
Drizzle with chocolate syrup/caramel... and dig in.

Maddox 1,000 Island Dressing

For any of you locals that like Maddox Resuraunt here is a greast Thousand Island dressing recipie my mom made for us all the time growing up. It's always nice to shake up the ranch routine a little.

2 C. Miracle Whip
1 Can Tomato Soup
1 tsp. Minced Dry Onion
1/4 tsp. Paprika
1/3 C. Vinegar
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 C. Sugar
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
2/3 C. Salad Oil

Mix together with beaters. Makes 1 quart of dressing.

Cheesy Bacon and Egg Brunch Casserole

This morning the kids and I made a new breakfast casserole. I had unexpected surgery on my knee last weekend so we have not been cooking much this week, but today since we were not in a hurry to get anyone out the door decided to try something new. The kids were great helpers and Taylor (my 8 year old) took pictures of the finished product. It was delicious and we'll be making this one again!

Ingredients

8 bacon

2 green onion, diced

1 (8 oz.) Italian bread, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

8 eggs

1 1/2 milk

1 tsp ground mustard

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the drippings. Drain bacon on paper towels; crumble and set aside. Add onion to drippings in skillet; cook and stir 3 minutes or until softened.

Spread 1/2 of the bread cubes in 13x9-inch baking dish. Layer with 1/2 each of the onion, bacon, Cheddar cheese. Top with remaining bread cubes, onion, bacon, Cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese.

Beat eggs in medium bowl until foamy. Add milk, mustard, salt and pepper; beat until blended. Pour evenly over top. Press bread cubes lightly into egg mixture until completely covered. Let stand 10 minutes. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until center is set and top is golden brown.

Make Ahead Tip: Casserole can be assembled 1 day ahead. Prepare as directed, increasing milk by 1/2 cup.

Chocolate Nutella Cookies Recipe

I found this recipe awhile back and tried it with my eight year old for a homework project where he had to find and make a new recipie. They were good. If you've never tried Nutella before, this is a great place to start.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, room temperature


• 3/4 cup of brown sugar


• 3/4 cup of white sugar


• 1 cup of Nutella


• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla


• 2 eggs


• 2 cups, plus 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour


• 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa


• 1/2 tsp baking soda


• 1/2 tsp salt


• 1 cup of chocolate chips


• 1/2 cup of chopped hazelnuts

Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugars and Nutella then mix well, scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 30 seconds between each. Add the vanilla and mix for 10 seconds. Sift together the flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda Add to the butter mixture, fold in the chocolate chips and hazelnuts and refrigerate the dough for ten minutes. Spoon tablespoon-sized drops of dough onto cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool on the sheets for a minute or two before transferring to a rack to finish cooling.

Makes 6 dozen.

Popcorn Balls

1/2 C. margarine
2 C. Brown Sugar
1 C. Karo Syrup
1 Can Condensed Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 1/2 gallons of Popcorn

Combine butter, sugar and syrup in a sauce pan, stir well and bring to boil over medium heat. Stir in milk and simmer stirring constantly until it comes to a "soft ball" stage. The pour over popcorn and still well, the form into balls, and wrap in plastic wrap to keep soft.

Tip: Add a few drops of food coloring to make the balls perfect for any occasion.

Ande's Mint Cookies

These are a fun new cookie to try if you like mint. I love getting the Ande's mints when you leave Olive Garden and melted on these cookies they are really good too.

3/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. water
1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat ingredients in a small saucepan until chocolate chips are melted, then add:

2 eggs
2 1/2 c. flour
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Shape rounded tablespoons into balls and place on a cookie sheet. Lightly press each ball to flatten. Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes. Right when removing from the oven, while still hot, place an Ande's Mint on top of each cookie. When they melt smooth the chocolate evenly over the top. Cool completely before serving.

Strawberry Peach Crisp

Tonight we picked the last few peaches off our trees and made a yummy crisp for dessert. It was divine. Especially with a little vanilla ice cream melting on top. Good stuff!

6-8 medium peaches
12 strawberries (cut in fourths)
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp almond extract
3/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 cup flour
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 1/4 cups oats
vanilla ice cream

Peel and slice peaches, mix lemon juice and almond extract pour over peaches and stir. Add the strawberries to the peaches. In a separate bowl melt butter and add flour, brown sugar and oats, mix well then drop mixture over fruit. Bake in 350 oven for 35-40 minutes. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before serving with vanilla ice cream.

Cookie Dough Truffles

The verdict is still out at our house on whether the cookie dough or the cookie itself is the best part. These truffles take that debate to a whole new level. Yummo! Thanks Paula Dean.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate morsels
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1 1/2 pounds chocolate bark candy coating, melted

Directions

In a large bowl cream butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add vanilla. Gradually beat in flour and add milk. Add chocolate morsels and pecans, mixing well. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place on waxed paper; chill 2 hours.

*Cook's Note: Since the dough is sticky, roll your fingers into flour. This will make it easier to roll.

Melt chocolate bark candy coating in a double boiler. Using 2 forks, dip cookie balls into candy coating to cover. Place on waxed paper and chill to set. Store in the refrigerator for at least 1 our.

Letter Pretzels

These are such a fun and easy snack to make after school. The kids love making them into their initials. You can eat them with plain salt or go the cinnamon sugar route, both are super yummy.

1 T yeast

1 ½ c warm water

1 t salt

1 T sugar

4 c white flour

Egg

Coarse salt

Dissolve yeast in water and add sugar and salt. Stir flour into mixture. Knead and roll dough and cut into small pieces. Shape into letters.

Brush with beaten egg, sprinkle with coarse salt and place on foil lined cookie sheet. Bake at 425 for 12-15 minutes.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

I am constantly trying to find ways to use my abundance of zucchini (or yellow squash this year) this is one sweet way to use them.

1/2 C. Butter
1/2 C. Oil
1 3/4 C. Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 C. Sour Milk or Buttermilk (I used sour cream and added some milk to make it thinner)
2 1/2 C. Flour
1/2 C. Cocoa
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
2 C. Shredded Zucchini
1 1/2 C. Chocolate Chips
1/2 - 1 C. Chopped Walnuts (optional)

In a mixer, cream Butter, oil and sugar. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and sour milk. Then add the Zucchini and dry ingredients along with 1/2 C. chocolate chips. Pour batter into a greased 9X13 pan. Sprinkle chopped walnuts and remaining 1 C. of chocolate chips on top of the cake. Bake at 325 for 40-45 minutes.

Personally I prefer it without the chocolate chips and without any glaze, but you could easily make a glaze out of powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. It really just tastes the best with vanilla ice cream, that's not just my opinion that is a fact :)

Ginger Snaps

These are fabulous, and easy to make, not to mention they will make your house smell great! I love how soft these are compared to the store bought kind. This is one recipe you won't be sorry you tried. Thanks mom for yet another great recipe!

3/4 C. White Sugar
2 1/4 C. Shortening
3/4 C. Molasses
3 Eggs
6 C Flour
1 tsp. Salt
3 Tsp. Cinnamon
3 tsp. Cloves
3 tsp. Ginger
6tsp. Soda

Cream Sugar and Shortening and Molasses well. The mix in remaining ingredients and mix well. Mold into balls approximately 1 inch around, then roll in sugar. Place on lightly greased baking sheet and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.