Some really neat links. Try some new things!

http://www.homemademamas.net/2010/10/breakfast-banana-splits.html

http://meandmypinkmixer.blogspot.com/2010/10/pumpkin-spice-granola.html

http://smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com/2010/10/caramel-apple-cookies.html

http://prairiecottagerose.blogspot.com/2010/09/toffee-mocha.html

http://sweetbeebuzzings.blogspot.com/2010/10/so-corny-fabric-candy-tutorial.html

Creamy Potato Soup

I made this for Sunday afternoon dinner. 

I planned ahead, and  used my crock-pot the night before to boil the potatoes. 

I wash mine, cut an x in them, cover them with water, and turn the crock pot on high.  They were actually cooked by morning and I just unplugged the crock pot.  

You need:

• 10-12 boiled & cubed potatoes -- you could do less if you think this is too much, but it was enough to feed our family of five and have enough for seconds or leftovers.
• Either 2 cans of cream soup ( cream of mushroom or chicken), or make the equivalent home-made (click here for a home-made recipe)
• 8 ounces sour cream
• bacon bits (real or imitation/soy).  I used half the bag.
• milk or water (to add at the end to get the consistency you like)

Mix the cream soup (I made a home-made cream gravy) & sour cream into a large soup pan. Add the cubed potatoes & bacon bits. Add milk or water to get the desired consistency.  Salt and pepper to taste.     Very easy and very tasty.

Easy Home-made Pizza, using Self-Rising Pizza Crust

This is an extremely frugal meal if you just use cheese and sauce.  :-)

Self-Rising Pizza Crust (from HillbillyHousewife.com)

2 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dry yeast

3/4 cup water

1/4 cup oil

I doubled the recipe, making a giant pizza on my giant cookie sheet.  If you don't have a giant cookie sheet, you can make 2 pizzas if you have extra pans and pie pans and such.

 The recipe above (undoubled) makes a 9x13 size.

In a medium sized bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and yeast.  Stir it up to distribute the salt and yeast evenly.  Add the water and oil.  You may need a spoonful or two more of water if the day is dry.  Mix he dough with a wooden spoon until it forms a big ball in the middle of the bowl.  It will be a little stiffer than biscuit dough.  Knead the dough about 10 or 12 times and then form it into a ball.  Place the ball in the center of a 16 inch pizza pan or a 9 x 13 inch rectangular pan.  Use your hands and a rolling pin, to press the dough into the pan.  I find a rolling pin most effective in this effort.  The dough will be a medium thickness.

For rolling out the dough, I use a mat I found at Walmart in the kitchen utensils section (near the cake pans).  It is  made by Wilton used to roll out pie crusts.  It is great for rolling out doughs.  You roll it up and dump the excess dough and flour into the garbage.  Hand wash on the counter with soap and water. Easy clean up!  I have found that I am more likely to do from-scratch dough recipes when I have an easy way to clean up.  I highly recommend it. Click here to see what it looks like.

 Top the crust with a sauce and toppings of your choice.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. 

Extra chewy Granola Bars

Extra Chewy Granola Bars

Ingredients:
4 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup of flour (I use wheat)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup of butter, softened
1/2 cup of honey
1/3 cup of packed brown sugar
2 cups of choc chips (or raisins, dates, you could also add nuts)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Lightly grease a 9x13 inch pan.  In a large mixing bowl combine ingredients.  Pat into pan and bake for 18-22 minutes.  Let it cool for a few minutes; cut into bars.  These could  wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen.
Mine never last long enough though to do that.  They get devoured!  A good idea would be to make a double batch if you wanted to freeze them. :-)

My favorite quiche recipe

Easy Bacon Quiche

Pie crust  - put it in the oven while preheating to prevent sogginess
3 eggs
1 cup of cheese
1 1/2 cups of milk
1 package of real bacon bits (I like real bacon bits, but you can also do the soy kind and they are tasty too)
1/4 tsp pepper

Mix all together and pour into pie crust.  Bake at 425 degree for 10 minutes, and then lower the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 45 minutes. 

If you are serving for dinner, add salad & fruit on the side.  Yum!
This is enough for one pie, but I always double this recipe and bake in a 9x13" pan.
Quiche is very versatile.
 Another favorite is to add asparagas or mushrooms, if you like those types of veggies (my favorites!).

Fudgy Buttons

These taste a lot like a Resee cup!

Fudgy Buttons
Ingredients



Click here to see a picture at allrecipes.com
2 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 teaspoons baking cocoa

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon milk

2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

Directions

1.In a small saucepan, melt the butter; remove from the heat. Add cocoa and mix well. Stir in sugar. Add milk and stir until smooth. Add peanut butter and mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper; flatten tops and shape into 1-in. patties. Refrigerate until serving.Ingredients


2 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 teaspoons baking cocoa

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon milk

2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

Directions

1.In a small saucepan, melt the butter; remove from the heat. Add cocoa and mix well. Stir in sugar. Add milk and stir until smooth. Add peanut butter and mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper; flatten tops and shape into 1-in. patties. Refrigerate until serving.

Edible play dough recipe

Here's a fun alternative to play dough.  It's edible!  I made this with Ryan yesterday and he loved it.  Put it in the refrigerator when you aren't using it and it will keep.

Yes, that's a Kool-Aid smile (actually it's a Crystal lite smile!)

See my snake?

He and I both ate a few bites.  Its SWEEEET.

Tasty Clay
from  McCormick



INGREDIENTS1/3 cup margarine, softened, or shortening




1/3 cup light corn syrup



1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract or 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Peppermint Extract (I used Maple)



1/4 teaspoon salt



1 package (16 ounces) confectioners' sugar



McCormick® Assorted Food Colors and Egg Dye or McCormick® Assorted NEON! Food Colors and Egg Dye



DIRECTIONS

1. Mix margarine, corn syrup, extract and salt in large bowl. Add sugar; mix with hands until well blended. Add additional corn syrup if mixture is too dry.







2. Divide the mixture into as many portions as you would like to color. Add food color to each portion; knead well.







3. Shape into flowers and other stuff you can eat! Store in an airtight container.