No Fuss Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe creates moist, delicious chocolate chip cookies with little hassle. Delicious.

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup butter, melt & cool
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips


DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
2. Combine flour and baking soda. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine meltled and cooled butter and brown sugar. Mix well.
4. Stir in egg and vanilla extract until well blended.
5. Add flour mixture and stir until just combined.
6. Stir in chocolate chips.
7. For each cookie, drop a heaping tablespoon of dough onto a cookie sheet, leaving about 2 1/2 inches between each. Bake at 350 F for 9-11 minutes or until edges harden and centers are still soft.

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Simmer

This Velveeta recipe is delicious! It's a great way to get those veggies in and your kids won't even realize they're eating them. I'd double the sauce and veggies part (it's a bit skimpy).

INGREDIENTS

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1/4 cup milk
1/4 lb. (4 oz.) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 cups frozen broccoli florets
1/4 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cover skillet. Cook 5 to 7 min. on each side or until chicken is done. Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm.
2. Add milk, Velveeta, broccoli and 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese to skillet. Cook, uncovered, on medium heat 4 min. or until Velveeta is melted and broccoli is heated through, stirring occasionally.

3. Return chicken to skillet. Cook and stir 1 min. or until chicken is coated and heated through.

4. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.

Sausage Supper

This is a flavorful and delicious meal that doesn't take much time. I'm sure you could throw in a variety of whatever vegetables you have on hand (next time I make it, I'll add potatoes). The basil and oregano add a sophisticated and professional flair.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. sausage

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 can (16 oz) tomatoes--juice and all

1 can (4 oz) mushrooms

2 TB flour

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp basil

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp pepper

1 tube (7 1/2 oz) refrigerator biscuits

1/2 diced green pepper

1 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Brown sausage and onion in a large onion-proof skillet (I don't have one, so I transferred ingredients into casserole dish when time to bake). Drain.

2. Add tomatoes, mushrooms, and seasoning. Mix well.

3. heat until hot and bubbly. Stir until slightly thick. Reduce heat.

4. Simmer while preparing dough. Cut each biscuit into four pieces. Arrange biscuits over hot meat mixture. Sprinkle with cheese.

5. Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.

*Note: at Christmas time, you can arrange green and red peppers like a wreath on the top. This is Grandma Guymon's recipe from the family cookbook, so leave it to her to be so festive.

Banana Bread (Low Fat and Delicious)

I was shocked when I tasted this banana bread because it's supposed to be so healthy-tasting and I couldn't stop eating it! I didn't even feel guilty, because there's no butter, oil, or crisco. It was moist and delicious.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar

2 slightly beaten egg whites
1 cup mashed banana (about 2-3 extra ripe)
1/4 cup applesauce (or cooking oil)
Non-stick spray coating

DIRECTIONS

(Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees)
1. In medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients
2. In larger bowl, mix egg whites, banana, sugar, and applesauce
3. Stir flour mixture into banana mixture until moistened
4. Spray an 8x4x2 loaf pan with nonstick spray and spread batter into pan.
5. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45-50 minutes

*Note: Makes one loaf. Double or triple recipe if desired.

Friendship Fudge

This is a versitile, decadent, fun, and did I mention DELICIOUS treat. It's perfect for family gatherings, camp, family home evening, or whenever you need that chocolate fix.


The first time I had it was at a leadership girl's camp outing. We all took turns squishing the ingredients in a bag while we told something unique about ourselves. By the time we were done, it was the right consistency to roll into a log and cut into slices. Yum!


INGREDIENTS

4 cups powdered sugar
3 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 cup softened margarine
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)



DIRECTIONS

1. Mix ingredients together by squeezing the bag and passing it around the group (you can have fun with games, get-to-know-you activities, etc)
2. When it is mixed together, roll into a log and sprinkle nuts if you choose.
3. Slice and enjoy!

*Note: you may need extra powdered sugar or eat with spoons. You may want to double or triple the batch if you have more than a few people--believe me, you'll want lots of extra.

Mandarin Orange, Spinach, & Almond Salad

This is the perfect zesty salad that cools off a hot summer day. If you like the ingredients, you'll love the salad.

INGREDIENTS

10 oz. bag fresh spinach, washed and drained

11 oz. can mandarin oranges, 2 TB juice reserved

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 TB balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup honey roasted almond slivers

DIRECTIONS

1. In large salad bowl, combine spinach and mandarin orange segments

2. In another bowl, wisk together olive oil, vinegar, and mandarine orange juice

3. Pour dressing over spinach and oranges and toss gently

4. Top with almonds

To make almond slivers

1. Combine alminds, 3 TB sugar and 1 TB water over low heat, stirring occasionally. Continue to cook until almonds are coated with sugar and appear dry. Cool on a paper towel.

Homemade Sloppy Joes

I've never had homemade sloppy joes before this recipe, but I was impressed. It had a sweet, home-cooked flavor. For those of you who aren't too fond of the typical Manwich joes (Brandi), this is a must-try.


INGREDIENTS


1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp prepared yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
3 tsp brown sugar
salt to taste
black pepper to taste


DIRECTIONS


1. Brown ground beef, onion, and green pepper in medium skillet. Drain off liquids.
2. Add garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar. Mix thoroughly.
3. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Serve on buns (I like them toasted) and enjoy!

Beef Taco Skillet

A Campbell's 1-2-3 Dinner recipe that is quick, easy, and absolutely delicious! As I was eating it, I kept thinking, "Wow, I can't believe this tastes so good and was so easy!"

INGREDIENTS

1 lb ground beef

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) tomato soup

1 cup Pace chunky salsa or Picante sauce

1/2 cup water

8 flour or corn tortillas (6 inch), cut into 1-inch pieces

1 cup shredded cheddar cheesee

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook beef in skillet until browned. Pour off fat.

2. Add soup, salsa, water, tortillas, and HALF the cheese. Heat to a boil. Cover and cook over low for 5 minutes or until hot.

3. Top with remaining cheese.

Makes 4 servings.

"cran-tastic" baked pear slices

Ok my pictures don't really do this justice. I don't know if any of you have heard of this website/cookbook, but its my new absolute favorite! It is www.hungry-girl.com. The cookbook I have is 200 recipes all 200 calories or less. I've tried a few recipes now and LOVED all of them- this is just the only one that I have stopped to take a picture of :) So here is the incredibly east recipe straight from the book!

Ingredients:
-4 med. pears, sliced
-1 1/2 cups Diet Ocean Spray Cranberry Spray
-Dash Cinnamon

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees
-Spray a large baking dish lightly with nonstick spray. Lay pear slices flat in teh dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon and pour cranberry drink on top.
-Bake 45 minutes, or until pear slices are soft.
Remove from teh oven and let pears sit in the "juice" for at least 30 minutes.
-Drain any excess liquid from pears. Enjoy hot, cold, or anywhere in between!

A serving is one whole pear. Per serving: 98 calories, 0g fat, 20 mg sodium, 26g carbs, 5g fiber, 17g sugars, 0.5g protein.