Pizza Egg Rolls

Easy to make, just three ingredients...

Pepperoni
Mozzarella Cheese
Egg Roll Paper

Roll, spray with oil, and bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until golden...

Tips...cheese will melt and grease will come out so take them out and put in a new pan, flip them over and pop them back in the over for another 10 minutes...

Cinnamon Rolls

Dough:

• 2 Tablespoons of yeast (or 2 packages)
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 cup butter (2 sticks)
• 3/4 cup warm milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg 
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 1/2 cups flour

Filling:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons of cinnamon (can be more or less - depending on how cinnamony you like it)

 Dissolve the yeast in the warm water and tablespoon of sugar - let it sit.

Melt the butter and mix with the warm milk - test the temperature on your wrist, too hot will kill the yeast and too cold and it will not rise properly. When the temperature is right, add the yeast to it.

Place in mixer (on low) and add the sugar, egg, salt and slowly add the flour slowly (1/2 cup at a time).  If the mixer kneads, then let it do the hard work for a couple of minutes, otherwise, put dough onto floured counter top and start kneading till it doesn't stick. Don't over knead or add too much flour. 

Form dough into a ball and cover - let rest for about 1 hour.

Punch down (this part is fun) and roll into a not too thin rectangle (sort of).

Spread the butter over the dough and spread the sugar and cinnamon mix over it.

Roll into a log and cut into slices (use dental floss to slice the cinnamon roll so they don't get flat)

Place rolls on greased baking pan (i use a generous amount of shortening - butter flavor is better). Place in warm place to rise.

 Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes or until done. Remove and let cool.

If you like them with frosting (that makes them a bit too sweet for me) mix 3 cups of powdered sugar, vanilla extract and add milk - a tablespoon at a time - till it's at your desired consistency. Drizzle over then buns. 

Let them cool. Enjoy!

Lacey Cookies

These are one of my favorite cookies.

• 2 cups quick rolled oats
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 lb (1 stick) butter or margarine
• 1 egg

Mix oats, brown sugar and baking powder in a bowl.

Melt butter and add to oats mixture. Add the egg (beaten) and mix well.

Drop by teaspoons on greased baking sheet. Bake at 350° for about 8-10 minutes.

Tips - These cookies spread (a lot) so don't place them close together or you will end up with one big cookie instead of many.

Wait about a minute - but not much more than that - before taking the cookies or they will break. I line the cookie sheet with parchment paper as it makes it easier to pull the cookies from the pan.

Pesto Ranch Chicken

This recipe combines two of my favorites: pesto and ranch! The only other ingredient is the chicken. and it's done in the crockpot! Can you hear the angels sing? cause there is no easier or better recipe for chicken.

• 1 jar of pesto (about 6 oz) - homemade pesto is even better.
• 1 bottle of Ranch (16 oz)
• 6 chicken breasts - cut into pieces

 Place everything in the crockpot and give it a stir so it's combined. Cook on low for about 6 or 7 hours. (you can, of course, cook it on high and it should take about half the time)

Neiman Marcus cookies

• 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 bag (12 oz) chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups nuts - chopped

Put oatmeal in a blender and blend until it becomes dust or like flour.

Cream the butter with the sugars.

Add the eggs and vanilla.

Add the oatmeal, flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Mix well.

Add the chocolate chips (I don't like chocolate that much so i don't put the whole bag - but that's what the $300 Neiman Marcus cookies recipe was supposed to call for)

Make small balls and place in a cookie sheet to bake for about 10 minutes at 375°

I don't know if the story is real or not or if they are really Neiman Marcus recipe - to be honest i don't really care, These cookies are YUMMY!!!!

Best No-Bake Cookies

I had to admit I didn't believe Paul when he said these cookies were delicious. I don't like chocolate or peanut butter and had tried no-bake cookies before that, well, didn't deserve to be called cookies.  But these are AMAZING!!!! I almost had to be forcefully removed from the kitchen cause i was not giving them time to cool. YUM

• 2 cups sugar (you can also use 2 cups of Stevia or 1 cup Stevia and 1 cup sugar)
• 1/2 cup milk (low fat works just fine)
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups of quick cooking oats

In a pot melt the butter. While on the fire, add the sugar/Stevia, cocoa and milk and cook for a minute - mixing so it won't stick.  Add the peanut butter to mixture while it is still hot and mix till the peanut butter melts.

Take it off the fire and add a teaspoon of vanilla and the 3 cups of oats. Mix quickly as it will start to thicken.

Put tablespoons of the mixture on waxed paper to cool.

Enjoy!

Sweet K

• 6 cups Special K 
• 1 cup pecans - chopped
• 1 cube margarine and 1 cube butter (or omit the margarine and use 2 sticks of butter)
• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Melt margarine/butter and sugars, add marshmallows. Boil whole mix for 3 minutes (mixing so it won't burn). Remove from heat

Add vanilla

Pour over Special K and chopped pecans. Mix in big bowl. Spread over wax paper.

(this is definitely amazing - doesn't look like much but once you take a bite, you are addicted.)

Easy Tres Leches

Some people make this cake from scratch but I like EASY so I use a cake from a box - yes, from a box and use just the basic cake instructions - no pudding or anything else added. Oh, we like a White Cake mix better but yellow works too.

• cake mix (and what the cake calls for, eggs, oil & water)
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1 can condensed milk
• 1 pint of cream - or a can of "crema" 
• 1 tsp of vanilla

Bake the cake according to the package directions.

While the cake is baking mix the 3 milks and vanilla. As soon as the cake is done remove from oven and pock holes all over, slowly pour the milks on the cake so that it's absorbed.

Cool.  Once it's cold, we can frost it with cool whip mixed with a bit of vanilla.

It is DELICIOUS!!!!

Tamales a'la Talierci-Olivo

Recipe makes about 35 tamales...

Tamale Prep Ingredients
1 bag of pre-made "Masa"
16 oz of Lard
Salt
1 bag of corn husks (a bag can make up to 100 tamales)

Mole ingredients:
2 lbs of skirt steak
2 cups of Flour
1/4 cup of cooking oil
Chili paste (see Chili paste ingredients)

Chili Paste ingredients:
1 bag of dry hot chili's
1 bag of dry mild chili's
1 small bag of "Chile de Arbol"
Garlic Powder
1 onion (1/2 will be used to boil with the steak)

Preparation Instructions:

Place the corn husks in a bucket of water at least 8 hours before using them. The husks will be dry and they need to be immersed in water to use them when they get soft.

In a pot, boil the chili paste ingredients in a pot. Boil about 10 of each dry chili and half of the onion, this makes a nice balance so they are not too "hot". The chili's will get soft, once they are easy to penetrate a fork in them, you will use a blender to puree all of the chili's to make a paste. Taste the chili paste to make sure its the right "hot" level. Use the water left in the pot to add to the spiciness. Make sure it's a "paste" not a sauce. Set a side for later use.

Next, boil the skirt steak in a separate pot with the other half of onion, garlic powder and salt to taste. Boil until the steak is easy to shred with just using the fork. When done, shred the steak and place in a bowl, set a side for later use. Save the beef broth, you will need it for the mole.

To prepare the mole, in a clean pot large enough to fit the shredded meat, add 1/4 cup of oil. Heat to medium then blend in the flour until it becomes the consistency of peanut butter. Make sure the flour and oil do not burn. While mixing, and you will need help for this, strain the chili paste into the cooking flour. Use the beef broth to add to the chili paste for straining. While someone is mixing the strained chili paste into the flour, someone else is pouring beef broth through the strainer with the paste. Mix this until the pot is filled half way with liquid. Once you made what looks like a chili gravy, add the steak and mix it together.

Let the mole cool down before using for the tamales at least 1 hour.

Finally, prepare the masa with melted lard and about 1/2 cup of salt. Mix the ingredients until the masa is the consistency of a spreadable dough.

Spread the masa on the soft side of the corn husk. Once it is spread evenly on the whole husk, add about a spoonful of beef mole in the center and fold. Fold the short end first and then roll into a small buritto-like shape.

In a large pot, place about 2 inches of water and use a metal rack to steam the tamales. They will steam for about 2 hours before ready to eat.

Enjoy!

they can be made ahead and frozen

Snickerdoodle Cookies

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 4 Tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Beat the butter, add 1 cup of sugar, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Blend in the egg and vanilla.

Add one teaspoon of cinnamon and the flour, mixing it well.  (the cinnamon in the dough is the what makes these cookies the best)

Form into a ball, cover with plastic and chill for about 1 hour.  (we don't always have the time - or patience - for this part)

Preheat the oven to 375°.

Mix the 4 tablespoons of sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon in a bowl. Form the dough into balls and roll in cinnamon sugar to coat. 

Place the balls about 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 10 or 11 minutes (till the edges start to take a golden color)

Remove from pan to cool.

Enjoy!

Aji de Gallina - Peppered chicken?

We visited Lima and Machu Picchu this year and had an amazing time. We also gained a few pounds cause the food there was DELICIOUS. Carmen was our host and cook most of the time and her food was even better than at restaurants. She was kind enough to share some of the recipes with us. The Aji de Gallina was Jason's favorite.

Ok, so some of the ingredients(for this one, mainly the peppers) were difficult to find so we replaced them, still it came out pretty good.

• 1 chicken breast
• 4 aji amarillo - yellow Peruvian pepper or yellow/orange chili peppers
• 1 small onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 can of evaporated milk
• bread (about 6 slices of a loaf of white bread - remove the crust)
• turmeric or  Spanish saffron
• chicken broth
• Parmesan cheese

Cook the chicken in broth, save the broth. Shred the chicken

Soak the bread in the evaporated milk

Fry the onion with the aji amarillo, garlic and salt. Once cold, put in blender with turmeric,  the bread and evaporated milk, and about 1 cup of broth.

 Put in a pan over low heat, add the chicken, and Parmesan cheese.  We ate it served over rice or potatoes but I'm sure it will be good over pasta as well.

Baklava

This is a delicious and easy recipe but time consuming so I don't make it too often. But we normally have it for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

• 1 package phyllo dough (16 oz)
• 1 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans (or walnuts)
• 1 cup coconut
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup butter (or margarine) melted
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 Tbp honey
• 2 tsp lemon juice

Thaw the phyllo dough and cut the sheets in half (crosswise - to have rectangles about 13x9"). It is important to cover the sheets with a damp dishtowel or the phyllo sheets will dry out and crack.
In a bowl mix the chopped nuts, coconut, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
 Butter the bottom of a a 13x9 pyrex and put one sheet of phyllo in the pan, immediately brush with the melted butter - use a soft brush or i use 2 or 3 cotton balls (if using cotton balls they have to be replaced more than once).
Keep adding phyllo sheets one at a time, buttering the sheets immediately after.

After about 15 sheets (I never really count them but we need 3 layers of dough) spread half of the nut mixture over the phyllo in the pan.
Repeat the process with another 15 sheets - the first one after spreading the nut is kind of tricky so be careful not to tear the phyllo too much.
Spread the rest of the nut mixture and repeat the process with the rest of the phyllo dough so it ends with phyllo.
Cut the phyllo into diamonds - yes, before cooking. It doesn't need to go all the way to the bottom, just to about the top layer of the nut mixture.
Bake at 350º for about 40 to 45 minutes ot till gold-soft brown
While doing the dough layering, put the white sugar, water and honey to boil, simmer for about 10 minutes (it thickens a bit). Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice.
While still hot (or warm) pour the syrup over  the pastry.
Finish cutting along the diamond line to allow the syrup to reach every piece.
Cool and enjoy


This recipe freezes well - if you have any leftovers.

Worlds Greatest Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies!!

Total Time: 30 mins
Makes: 2.5 dozen

I actually created this recipe myself using a combo of 4 different cookie recipes!!! Hope you enjoy my masterpiece! -Amanda

You need:
*3/4 c peanut butter
*1/3 c sweeten condensed milk
*1/2 c shortening
*1/3 c white sugar
*1/2 c brown sugar
*1 egg
*1 tsp vanilla extract
*1 1/2 c flour
*1tsp baking soda
*desired amount of chocolate chips

To Do:
*Pre-heat oven to 375.
*Combine all wet ingredients in one bowl.
*Combine dry ingredients in another bowl.
*Add the dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix well.
* place on greased pan and cook for 8 mins exactly

*Let cool and ENJOY!

Easy, Tasty Meat Lasagna

Total Time: 1hr 45mins

You Need
* 2 lbs ground beef
* 24-32 oz tomato sauce
* 1 lb cottage cheese
* 1 lb sour cream
* 16 oz mozzarella cheese shredded
* 1 c Parmesan cheese
* 1 box oven ready lasagna noodles
* 11x15 pan

  Pre heat oven to 350° 

 Brown ground beef in pan with desired seasonings (I use garlic salt, oregano and stake seasoning).

In large pot put tomato sauce (make sure it is big enough to add meat in) and desired seasonings (I use oregano, minced garlic, pinch of salt, pepper, parsley, and a little sugar).

When meat is cooked add to sauce making sure to first drain grease.

Combine cottage cheese and sour cream in bowl, mix well.

Put a little of meat sauce on bottom of pan (just enough to cover bottom)

Then make layers in this order:

1.      noodles

2.      half of cottage cheese mixture
3.      mozzarella and Parmesan cheese
4.      half of meat sauce
5.      repeat 

 On last layer of meat sauce put lots of (or what remains of) the mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

 Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour.

Remove foil and bake for 15 more mins.

Serve with garlic bread and enjoy!

Almond Poppy seed Cake

• yellow cake mix
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup oil
• 4 eggs
• 1 pck vanilla instant pudding
• 2 tablespoons poppy seed
• 2 tablespoons almond extract

Mix all ingredients together till is creamy. Pour into greased and floured pan and bake at 350˚ for 45-55 minutes or till it's done.

Carrot & Pineapple Cake

• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups oil
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 cups grated carrots (I put the carrots through the juicer and then mix them back again)
• 1 (8 1/2 oz) can crushed pineapple - drained
• you may add chopped nuts if you like - about 1/2 cup

Beat the eggs and sugar very well. Add oil, carrots, pineapple and nuts. Add the flour, baking powder, soda and salt and pour into greased and floured cake container.
Bake at 350˚ for 50-60 minutes or till cake is ready.

Broccoli Casserole

• 2 (10 oz) pkg frozen chopped broccoli
• 3 cups cottage cheese
• 3 eggs
• 6 tablespoons margarine
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 (8 oz) can corn
• 1/2 lb cheddar cheese (or any other cheese you like)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Cook broccoli and drain. Meanwhile mix cottage cheese, eggs, 4 tablespoons of margarine (ok, if you put all 6 tablespoons is no big deal but you are going to need 2 more later) and the flour in a bowl - mix till cottage cheese is smooth and creamy. Add the broccoli, chopped onion, drained corn, cheese, salt and pepper. (if you like hot/spicy food, this is the time to add a teaspoon or two of hot sauce).

Pour into a greased casserole. Top with a couple of tablespoons of parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, fried onion crumbs, or any other topping you like.

Bake at 350˚ for about an hour or till it is set.

Cowboy Caviar

1 can shoepeg corn, drained
1 can black-eyed beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 or 2 tomatoes
1 bunch cilantro
1 small bunch of green onions
2 avocados
1 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp salt
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic

Pour the corn, peas, and black beans into a large bowl. Chop the tomato, cilantro, green onions and avocados and add to bowl. Add the cumin, salt and garlic to the bowl. Pour the vinegar and oil into the bowl. Mix and serve.

I learned this one at Relief Society night, it's an easy and great appetizer.

Ramen Noodle Cabbage Salad

Mix
½ head of cabbage, shredded
5 green onions, chopped
¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted
¼ sesame seeds, toasted
1 pkg chicken flavor ramen noodles

For the dressing mix
¼ cup vinegar
¼ cup oil
Ramen noodle seasoning packet

After mixing toss with cabbage mixture

Spinach Puffs

Four 10 oz. packages frozen chopped spinach
4 cups herbed stuffing mix
4 large onions, finely chopped
12 eggs, beaten to blend
1 1/2 C. butter, melted
2 C. grated parmesan cheese
2 T. garlic salt
1 t. thyme
2 T. pepper

Thaw spinach and squeeze dry. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Form mixture into 1 inch balls. Place on a greased baking sheet. Freeze until firm. Place in plastic storage bags until ready to use.

To serve:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Place spinach puffs on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 -25 minutes until puffed and golden.

Best No Crust Cheesecake

• 2 pkg cream cheese (8 oz each)
• 2/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 8 oz sour cream

Beat together cheese, 2/3 cup sugar, eggs, and 1/2 tsp vanilla.
Pour into 9" buttered pie plate. Bake at 350˚ for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool cake for 20 minutes on wire rack.
Mix together sour cream, 3 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Spread on top of cake. Bake again at 350˚ for 15 to 20 minutes.

Artichoke appetizers

• 2 cans crescent dinner rolls
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (I tend to put 1 cup)
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (or the mix of parmesan and romano)
• 1/2 cup miracle whip
• 1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts - drained and chopped
• 1 small can of chopped green chilies - this is optional

Unroll crescent rolls on a cookie sheet and pinch triangles together so there are no holes. Bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes. Meanwhile combine everything else. Spread over crust and bake at 375 for another 15 minutes and cheese is melted.

Thanksgiving Salad

• 1 pkg cherry gelatin (6 oz)
• apples (2 or 3) green or red, grated
• 1 cup chopped pecans (can be omitted)
• 1 can of cranberry sauce
• 1 pkg cream cheese (8 oz)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 can crushed pineapple (drained)
• 1 cool whip (8oz)
• 1 tsp vanilla

Disolve the gelatin in 2 cups boiling water. Cool to room temperature and add the grated apples, pecans and cranberry sauce. Pour in a 13 x 9 pirex and refrigerate till firm.

Cream the cream cheese, add the sugar and drained pineapple, mix the vanilla and add the cool whip. Spread over the jello and put back in the fridge till ready to eat.

(I don't always put the cranberry salad or the pecans)

Easy cobbler

1 box cake mix - we normally use yellow cake mix but it can be any flavor.

1 stick of butter (or margarine)

1 can of crushed pineapple (or sliced peaches)

Grease 9x13 pan and pour fruit - juice and all - in it.

Spread the box cake mix over it - try to make it evenly - and there is no need to mix it with the fruit.

cut and dot the butter over the cake mix.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes.

It's easy, cheap and very good! You can put some vanilla ice cream on top to make it even better

Cheese Pasta Bake

• 1 pkg (16 oz) bow ties (penne, rottini, etc)
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella - shredded
• 1 1/3 cups grated Romano cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup minced parsley.

Cook pasta and drain the pasta.

Drain tomatoes but keep separate about 1 1/4 cups of the juice.

In saucepan melt butter, stir in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth; add - slowly - the milk and the tomato juice. Boil - stirring - for about 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat.

Add the sauce and tomatoes to the drained pasta.

Stir in cheeses and parsley.

Transfer to a greased baking dish and bake - uncovered - at 375 for 30-35 minutes.


To make it a full blown casserole, we can add cooked pieces of chicken to the pasta before baking it.
YUMMY!!!!

Creamed chicken

• about 3 lbs of chicken pieces (not too big not too small)
• 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
• 2 tablespoons dry Italian salad dressing (1 pkg.)
• 1 can condensed chicken soup
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese - cut in chunks
• 1/4 cup chopped onion (at times I use 1/2 an envelope of dry onion soup)

Place the chicken in the crockpot, pour butter on, mix. Mix the soup, onion, dry italian dressing and the chunks of cream cheese.
Put on top of chiken and cook on low for about 7 – 8 hours (if cooked in the oven, cover the pan and cook until chicken is ready).

Sopapilla cheesecake

The first time I made this recipe, Jason - my recently married son, said "mom, how come you never told me you knew how to cook!" so it's yummy and super easy.

• 2 cans of Pillsbury crescent rolls (I tried the supermarket brand but somehow they didn't come out the same)
• 2 packages of cream cheese
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 tsp of vanilla
• 1/2 cup butter melted
• 3/4 cup of sugar (yep, more sugar)
• 1 tsp of cinnamon (I don't measure it, it could be a bit more or less - according to taste)

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray
Unroll and spread one of the cans of crescent rolls on the baking dish - try to patch the holes so the cream is on a solid base.
Beat the cream cheese with the sugar and vanilla.
Spread the cream on the dough
Unroll and place the other crescent roll can over the cream.
Pour the melted butter on top of the whole thing.
Spread the cinnamon sugar on top of the melted butter.
Bake at 350˚ for about 1/2 hr.

Cheesecake covered brownies

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg brownie mix plus the ingredients required to make it
• 1 pkg cream cheese (8 oz)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 egg
• 1 can condensed milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Prepare the brownie mix as directed in the package. Pour mix in a greased pan and set aside.
In a bowl mix the cream cheese, butter and the cornstarch till smooth and fluffy. Add the egg, condensed milk and vanilla flavoring, mix a bit more.
Pour cream cheese mix over the unbaked brownie mix.
Bake at 350° for about 40 minutes.

Crepes

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups of milk
  
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  

In a bowl, mix milk, flour, eggs, oil and a pinch of salt.  Heat up and grease a 6-inch skillet.  I used about 1/4 cup per crepe, but you just want it to cover the bottom of skillet.  Tilt the skillet so the bottom is well covered.  Cook until batter is dry, about 2 minutes.  No need to cook

other side, just flip it onto your plate.  When I made it, I tripled the recipe. You can always store the leftovers in the freezer, with wax paper between the crepes.  It does take a little time to make all the crepes, especially if you only have one skillet, which is why I make so many extra and freeze them.  

These are really good with Dulce de Leche spread on top and then rolled.  YUMMY!

Dulce de Leche

Ingredients:

• Sweetened Condensed Milk
  

Remove paper wrapper around can.  Place can(s) in pot and fill with water, so water level is 1 inch higher than top of can.  Boil for 2 hours, adding water every 1/2 hour.  Do NOT let water level fall below top of can.  (Or you will have a very large and sticky mess to clean up.)  Lower heat so that it still boils, simmering.  After two hours remove from pot and let cool overnight.  DO NOT open until it has cooled.  (You will need to go to the hospital if you open it sooner.)  You can speed up cooling process by placing can in fridge.  

Enjoy on crepes, toast, cakes, instead of peanut butter, or on anything you want to sweeten up.

Cheese & carrot chowder

Ingredients:

• 2 carrots shredded (I use the juicer and then put the pulp and juice together)
• 1 onion chopped
• 1/2 stick of margarine or butter
• 2 big tablespoons of cornstarch (or you can use flour but you will need a bit more)
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups broth
• 1 can tuna (squeeze liquid out and then flake into little pieces)
• 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar is the best)
• 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce.

Melt margarine in a pan, add the carrots and onion. Cook till tender - don't let it brown cause it won't look good in the chowder. Add the cornstarch (or flour) and cook a minute more.

Add the milk and broth and cook mixing till it gets thicker. Add the Worcestershire sauce and the tuna and the cheese. Mix till the cheese melts.

Remove from the fire and enjoy!

(even my finicky boys love this one - of course I don't tell them it has tuna or carrots)

Caffeine free diet pepsi salad

Hey, it's My salad, I can call it whatever I want.

Ingredients:

• 1 (6 oz) box cherry gelatin
  1 (3 oz) box lime gelatin
  1 can crushed pineapple
  2 cups of caffeine free diet pepsi (or any other "cola")
  about 1/2 cup chopped nuts (most of the time I forget to put them in)

Mix the gelatin with the crushed pineapple in a saucepan and cook in medium heat till boiling and the gelatins dissolve. remove from fire. Add the pepsi and nuts and mix gently.

Put in refrigerator to set. Eat!

(this is a thick jello salad, so it can be cut for portions)

Oreo cheesecake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups oreo cookies crushed
  1/2 stick of butter or margarine
  3 pkg cream cheese (8 oz ea.)
  1 can condensed milk
  3 eggs
  2 tsp vanilla extract

Mixed the crushed cookies with the softened butter. Press onto baking pan.

Beat cream cheese (if you don't do this first, you will end up with lumps), add the condensed milk, vanilla and eggs until mixed.

Pour over cookie crust. Bake at 300˚ for about 45 to 50 minutes until set. Cool

Variation: if you are a die hard chocolate lover, you can melt a bag of chocolate chips and mix it with half the cream cheese mixture. Pour the plain cream cheese mixture first and then drop the chocolate by tablespoons and swirl.

Variation 2: If oreos are "your" cookies, then you can add some crushed oreo pieces to the cream cheese mixture before baking.

Caramel Bars

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup margarine
• 3/4 cup nuts (chopped)
• 24 soft caramels (I use Kraft caramels)
• 1 can condensed milk

combine flour, sugar and egg. Add 1/2 of the margarine until crumbly. Mix in the chopped nuts. Separate about 1 1/2 cups of mixture to sprinkle on top and press the rest on a greased baking pan. Bake 15 minutes at 350˚.

While it bakes, put the condensed milk, the rest of the margarine (1/4 cup) and caramels in a pan over low heat until the caramels melt. Pour over the baked crust and sprinkle the saved crumb mixture over it.

Place back in oven and bake another 30 minutes. Cool, cut & enjoy!

Flan

Ingredients:

• 2 cans condensed milk
• 8 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 cans of water (use the empty milk cans)

Caramelize a bundt cake pan - about 3/4 cup sugar and a bit of water, until it thickens and takes color (the lighter the color the sweeter it is).

Mix eggs, add condensed milk and vanilla. Add the water and mixed till blended.

Pour in caramelized pan. Place that pan in a larger pan with water in the oven. Bake at 350 between 1 and 1 1/2 hrs - depends on your oven.

Cool in the fridge, unmold and enjoy