Baked Spagetti Casserole

Made this tonight!  Very yummy.  I like that you can make several and freeze without the onions on top!  Yummy quick meal for later! May try this with lowfat cream cheese next time, because its not the healthiest, but it is oh so good!  All three kiddos ate it, even Jacob! 8 ounces uncooked spaghetti 1 pound ground beef 1 large can spaghetti sauce (26.5 ounces) 1 tablespoon butter 1/2 cup chopped green peppers (can omit if you prefer) 1/3 cup chopped onions 8 ounces cream cheese 2 tablespoons milk Fresh grated Parmesan cheese French Fried Onions (small can) Directions Cook spaghetti according to directions on the package. Cook to al dente, drain and set aside. Brown ground beef. Drain excess grease. Add spaghetti sauce to skillet and heat. Combine onions, peppers and butter in small glass bowl. Cover and microwave 4 minutes on HIGH until soft. Add cream cheese and milk to vegetables and stir well. (If cream cheese is not soft, nuke it for 20-30 seconds to make it easy to spread.) Using a 10 x 6 dish, assemble in the following order: Thin layer of spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish. Spaghetti Cream cheese/vegetable mixture Spaghetti sauce Parmesan Cheese (amount subject to your own taste) French Fried Onions (added during last 5 minutes of cooking) Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Top with French Fried onion and continue baking 5 more minutes. (This is the secret ingredient–don’t let them burn.)

Andes Mint Cookies Recipe

This is a great recipe to let the kids help with.  Yummy too!  We ran out of mints and had three leftover cookies so we put some peanut butter chips on top and spread it around once they melted.  So good!

1 Devil's Food Cake Mix
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 package of Andes Mints

Mix cake mix, oil, and eggs together. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-9 minutes. Don't cook any longer than that! You don't want them to be overdone!
Take sheet out of oven and while the cookies are still very hot, place an Andes Mint on top of each cookie. In about 5 minutes, the mint will be melted. Take a spoon and smooth out each mint like frosting.

Red Lobster-Like Biscuits

Biscuits:

2 1/2 cups Bisquick

4 Tbsp cold butter

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

3/4 cup milk

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Butter Glaze:

3 Tbsp butter

1/2 tsp garlic powder

3/4 tsp dried parsley flakes

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease one cookie sheet; set aside.

Combine Bisquick with cold butter in a medium bowl using a pastry cutter or two forks. Don't worry about mixing too thoroughly; there will be small chunks of butter in the mix about the size of peas. Add cheddar cheese, milk, and garlic powder. Mix by hand until combined, but don't over mix.

Drop 1/4 cup portions of the dough onto the lightly greased or parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes in preheated oven or until the tops of the biscuits begin to turn light brown.

While the biscuits are baking, melt butter is a small bowl in the microwave. Stir in garlic powder and dried parsley flakes. Use a brush to spread the garlic butter over the tops of all the biscuits. Sprinkle a little kosher salt on the freshly coated biscuits. Makes one dozen.

Make it Yourself: Betty Crocker Cookie Pouches

I like to get out a bunch of freezer bags, write the instructions on the front and add each ingredient to the bags.  You can easily make 5 or 6 of each kind at a time and then you have the convenience of making cookies anytime!  You can store these in the pantry for 6 months or up to a year in the freezer. 


Fake Betty Crocker Oatmeal Cookies:

1 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Cup Rolled Oats
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
Optional: 1/2 Cup Raisins and/or Nuts OR Cinnamon Chips, YUM!

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag.  Write instructions on the bag to add:  1 Stick Melted Butter, 1 Large Egg, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract.  Mix, Refrigerate for 30 Minutes & Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes.

Fake Betty Crocker Sugar Cookies:

1 1/2 Cups Flour
3/4 Cup White Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag.  Write instructions on the bag to add:  1 Stick Softened Butter, 1 Large Egg, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract.  Mix & Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes.

Fake Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1 Cup Flour
1/4 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag.  Write instructions on the bag to add:  1 Stick Softened Butter, 1 Large Egg, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract.  Mix & Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes.

Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

• 1 1/4 cups warm milk (Put in your microwave for about 45 seconds.)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

1. Grease bread machine. Place all ingredients in order recommended by your bread machine manufacturer. (I just put them in the bread machine in the order the recipe goes.)
2. Start the dough cycle. (Mine takes about 1 1/2 hours on the dough cycle.)
3. When the dough cycle is complete put it on a floured surface.
4. Preheat oven to 375
5. Roll out to about 12 x 15″

Fill with the following:

1. Take 1/3 cup of softened butter and spread it on the dough.
2. Mix 1/2 cup of brown sugar with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and sprinkle over butter. Pat it down a little with a spoon or wax paper.
3. Begin to roll it tightly. You will have a long log. Cut into rolls. Will make 15-20 rolls. If you want to make them in the morning just wrap tightly with plastic wrap and keep the in the refrigerator.
4. Place rolls on a cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes. (could be less just check it after 15 minutes) Do not over bake because all the filling will come out the bottom and the rolls will be dry.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons milk (you can add more if you want it runnier)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Spread over hot cinnamon rolls and enjoy! You can reheat the cinnamon rolls in the microwave for 15-20 seconds and they will be just as delicious!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups rolled oats, quick cooking
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9X13 pan.
2. Mix the peanut butter, honey, egg, oil, and vanilla extract until well blended.
3. In a separate bowl combine oats, sugar, salt and mini chocolate chips; add to peanut butter mixture and mix for about a minute.
4. Press the mixture into a 9X13 pan.
5. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes. Let the bars cool completely before cutting. Store in air tight container.

No-Bake Cookies

Its been too hot to make cookies in the oven.  These have been yummy and fun to make!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup milk
3 Tablespoons cocoa
3 cups quick cooking oats
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:
Bring butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa to a boil for one minute. To make sure cookies set up properly wait until mixture comes to a complete FULL boil and then start the timer for one minute. Remove from heat.
 
Add peanut butter, vanilla, and oats. Stir well and drop spoonfuls onto waxed paper or parchment paper. Let them set up and cool.
 
Makes 24 cookies.