Oatmeal Cake

I don't like coconut but I LOVE this recipe.  This is the most moist cake you will ever eat.

Cake:
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease and flour a 9x13 pan.  To prepare cake, pour 1 1/4 cups boiling water over oats in a small bowl.  Let stand 20 minutes.  Cream butter and sugars with a mixer.  Add oats; mix well.  Add eggs and vanilla; mix well.  Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  Add to oat mixture; mix well.  Pour into pan.  bake 30 to 35 minutes, until browned.  Preheat boiler.

Topping:
1/2 cup butter softened
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut

To prepare topping, combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; mix well.  Spread evenly over warm cake.  Place cake under broiler 2 inches from heat source.  Broil until lightly browned, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.

Chex Muddy Buddies

9 cups Rice or Corn Chex
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.  In 1 quart bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minutes; stir.  Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth.  Stir in vanilla.  Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.  Pour into 2 gallon resealable food storage plastic bag.  Add powdered sugar.  Seal bag; shake until well coated.  Spread on waxed paper to cool.  Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

HO HO Cupcakes

• 1 milk chocolate cake mix

Bake as directed on the box for cupcakes.

Filling:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup Crisco
• 1 stick butter
• dash salt
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk (5 oz)

1. Beat this together until fluffy and pipe into cupcake from the top.
2. Warm one can milk chocolate frosting and spread on top of each cupcake to cover up the hole from the filling.
3. Cool and enjoy.

Chocolate Dips

This recipe comes from a friend that doesn't cook much but when she does - OH it is so good!!!

1 stick butter (melted)
2 cups chunky peanut butter
1 lb powdered sugar
3 cups of  Rice Krispies
1 6 oz bag of milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup of paraffin (wax)

Mix together butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar and Rice Krispies.   Form into small firm balls.  Melt chocolate and paraffin.  (I melt the paraffin by it's self than when it is melted, I add it to the melted chocolate chips)  I also melt the chocolate  chips in a double boiler so it doesn't scorch.  Dip balls in melted chocolate chips and place on wax paper till cool.

Queso Dip

• 2 lb package Velveeta
• 16 oz sour cream
• 2 cup's Carlo's O'Kelly's Salsa

1. I usually put this is in the crockpot on low and just let it all melt together.  So very simple and so GOOD.  Serve with tortilla chips.

M & M Bars

I really am not for sure where this recipe came from.  I believe it came from a good friends mom who used to do a lot of baking.  Over the years we have changed the name but I still call them M & M bars as I just love me some M & M's.

2 cups oatmeal (quick)
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup M & M's plain
1 cup chocolate chips semi sweet
1 cup toffee chips

Combine oats, flour, nuts, sugar, soda and salt.  Mix well, add butter, mix until dry ingredients are moistened and mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Reserve 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture.  Press remaining mixture into bottom of greased jellyroll pan.  Bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees.  Combine condensed milk and peanut butter in small bowl mixing until well blended.  Spread over partially baked crust.  Combine reserved crumb mixture and candies.  Sprinkle evenly over condensed milk, mixture, pressing in lightly.  Continue baking 15-17 minutes at 350 degrees.

Banana Bread

5 large bananas
4 eggs - well beaten
1 cup butter
2 cup white sugar
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp soda
1 tsp salt

May add nuts, if desired... I used 1/2 cup walnuts for the one loaf.

Beat bananas to liquid, add beaten eggs.

In separate bowl, cream butter gradually adding sugar and beat until fluffy.  Add banana and egg mixture to this and mix well. 

In another bowl, combine flour, soda and salt and add to #2 mixture beating well. 

Pour into 2 well greased large sized loaf pans.

Bake at 300 for 1 1/4 hours until toothpick comes out clean.

Veggie Pizza

Crust:

• 2 tubes crescent rolls

Spray cookie sheet and spread dough in a pan like a pizza crust.  Bake at 400 for 7-8 minutes or until light golden brown.  Let cool.

Spread:

• 1 8oz cream cheese - room temperature
• 1/3 cup miracle whip
• 1/2 tsp dill weed
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp ranch

Mix well spread on cooled crust

Add anything you want for toppings:

• carrots
• cucumbers
• celery
• green pepper
• red pepper
• shredded cheese
• radish
• broccoli
• cauliflower

I cut each of the vegetables into small bites and add to pizza.

Monkey Bread

16 frozen white dinner rolls
3 oz butterscotch cook and serve jello
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 tsp cinnamon

Spray bundt pan.  Place frozen rolls in pan.  Put pudding mix, brown sugar, cinnamon in a small bowl.  Scatter over the dough.  Melt butter and pour over top.  Let rise at room temperature overnight.  In the morning, cook at 350° for 30 minutes.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes.   Turn pan onto a serving platter to serve.  Serve by pulling apart in chunks.

Peanut Butter Frosting

My grandma Lucie used to make the best peanut butter frosting.  I would love to go to her house and eat chocolate cake with fresh peanut butter frosting.  Oh the memories.  This is not her recipe as she just threw the ingredients together and never measured, but it is pretty close.   That is why her frosting  was so good cause it was made with love.

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter - softened to room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
3 Tbsp milk - as needed
2 cups powdered sugar

Place the butter and peanut butter into a medium bowl, and beat with an electric mixer.  Gradually  mix in the sugar, vanilla, salt and when it starts to get thick, incorporate milk one tablespoon at a time until all of the sugar is mixed in and the frosting is thick and spreadable.  Beat for at least 3 minutes for it to get good and fluffy.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad or Dessert??

This is Mariah's absolutely favorite salad or dessert.  Not really for sure what to call this.  We can never agree if it is a salad or dessert so you can make it and decide.  It has the sweet and the salty that always goes well together!!

1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
4 1/2 Tbsp sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
2 8 oz cream cheese - room temperature
1 12 oz cool whip - room temperature
1 6 oz strawberry jello
2 cups boiling water
16 oz frozen strawberries

Preheat oven to 350. Mix together the pretzels, 4 1/2 tablespoons sugar and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Bake for 10 minutes or lightly toasted. Set aside to cool completely.
In a medium bowl, beat the sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread evenly over the cooled crust. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.
In a medium bowl, stir together the gelatin mix and boiling water. Mix in frozen strawberries, and stir until thawed. Pour over cream cheese mixture in pan. Refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 1 hour.

Adams Dip

This is my nephews favorite tortilla dip.  I really don't know the name of it so I am naming it after him!

1 cup salsa
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
8 oz cream cheese softened
1 cup sour cream

Mix all together and serve with tortilla chips.

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz cream cheese - softened to room temperature
1 stick butter - softened to room temperature
1 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
2 cups powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, add milk, vanilla and salt.  Mix until incorporated.  Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until smooth.

Pumpkin Bars

This recipe came from a good friends mom.  I was never a big pumpkin eater, but let me tell you these are SO good.  Of course Betty always had a great cream cheese frosting to put on top.

2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 15 oz can pumpkin
1 cup oil
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
chopped nuts (optional)

Mix sugar, oil, eggs and pumpkin.  Mix in dry ingredients.  Mix and blend in nuts.  Bake in 10x15x1 pan.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Add cream cheese frosting.

Broccoli Salad

I don't care for broccoli but I do love this salad.

1 bunch or more cut up broccoli - peel and cut up - stem also
1 package bacon bits - or you can cook up a 1/2 lb bacon crumbled up
1 cup red grapes - cut in half
1 cup craisins
1 cup green onions - top and all cut up
1/3 cup silvered almonds or sunflower seeds

Dressing:

1 1/2 cup Hellmann's mayo
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar

Still all together and chill.  Add dressing to salad right before serving

Grandpa Kuhlmann's Pancakes

These are absolutely the best pancakes.  This recipe has been handed down from generation to generation.  It isn't an Eich breakfast if these pancakes aren't served.

2 cups (heaping) flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
1 quart buttermilk (room temperature)
2 heaping Tbsps butter
2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp (heaping) baking soda

Mix all ingredients together in a big bowl.  Use 1/4 cup to spoon onto the griddle.  Cook until bubbles appear. Flip over.  When golden brown take off the griddle.

Stuffed Steak

I believe this is one of De Anna's favorite entrees. I really can't take the credit as it comes from the cookbook of The Machine Shed, Farm Style Cooking.

Stuffing:

• 2 tsp butter
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onions
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp garlic
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups breadcrumbs
• 1 c Swiss cheese, shredded

1. Saute all ingredients together except for bread crumbs and Swiss cheese. After sauteing, add breadcrumbs. Let cool. Then add Swiss cheese. Cut 4 thick steaks, cook to slightly under your desired doneness. Stuff by cutting a pocket in the middle of them and bake in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Top with sauce. Serves 4.

Cattleman Sauce:

• 1 T flour
• 1 T thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 T butter
• 1 T basil leaves
• 1/2 tsp Kitchen Bouquet
• 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• 1 pt heavy cream

Combine butter and garlic in a small saucepan. Simmer for one minute. Add flour and blend well. Add all remaining ingredients and cook until reduced by one-fourth volume.

Note:
I don't stuff the steaks. I just serve the stuffing and sauce and let each person add their own.

Caramel Rolls

I got this recipe from my niece Kris.  This is a warning that these are rich but OH so DELICIOUS!!

2 packages Buttermilk Grand Biscuits in a tube (8 per package)

Place biscuits in a greased 9 x13 pan.  Only 15 will fit into pan.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.

1 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter
1 cup vanilla ice cream

Put above ingredients into a sauce pan and cook on medium heat.  Stir constantly.  As soon as mixture begins to come to a boil, put over biscuits.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.  You may also sprinkle chopped pecans over the caramel if you wish. 

Once you remove from oven, turn upside down onto a platter or cookie sheet to serve.

Cheesy Potatoes

This is one of the most requested recipe from my kids.  They love cheesy potatoes.  In fact we made them for  my daughters wedding.  They were a big hit.  Hope you enjoy also!!



Ingredients:

1 bag shredded hash browns (thawed)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 stick butter melted
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups cheddar cheese
8 oz sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together except hash browns.  Stir well.  Add hash browns and stir all together.  Put into a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Cook at 350 for 45-60 minutes.  I usually stir about half way through cooking time.

Rice Krispie Treats - The Minnesota Way

1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 pkg butterscotch chips

Melt peanut butter and butterscotch chips together. 

Add 6 cups of Rice Krispies.   Stir until combined. Press into 9 x 13 pan.   Refrigerate only till firm.

Melt one package milk chocolate chips.  Spread on top.  Refrigerate until firm.