Halloween treats!

Didn't make this but we all know how to make bread: how about a mummy filled with dip!
I didn't make these either but how cute for halloween, just a marshmellow with a soft frosting and chocolate chips.

Cookie Bars

I can't be the only one not to post... Even though I was the last one. So here is a Pato recipe for you. We got tired of having to bake so many trays of cookies, so we decided to make cookie bars. A big hit at our house.

Disclaimer: Pato rarely uses recipes and he slightly changes the ingredients pretty much every time; but here is the base recipe.

3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter (one stick)
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup oats
1tsp salt
1tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder (if you feel like it, it's not necessary)
Chocolate chips (we mix in a few butterscotch chips sometimes too)

Standard cookie recipe here. Cream butter, shortening and sugar. Add eggs and mix. Add dry ingredients and mix. Tip: Mix in the chocolate chips by hand, a Kitchen aid will just smoosh them between the bowl and the mixing paddle. Take a small portion of the dough and give to any kids that helped.

Baking: This is where the fun begins. We have a convection oven and Pat cooks it at 320 degrees for about 25-28 minutes, depending on how it looks. I'm guessing that for a regular oven you could put the temp to 325 degrees and bake it for about 32-35 minutes or so (pull it out earlier if it burns).

Voila!! Cookie bars.

Jessies Meatloaf S'meatloaf

I feel like I have always been a fan of Meatloaf... some are better than others though.

I decided one day when I was making them that I was going to try a bunch of different things in it. I have to admit.

I really just eyeball this recipe (which I do a lot in my cooking) but I will try to write it down.

This goes fast in our house, and when there is leftovers, I eat them all gone before Alma gets home the next night.

1 pound ground beef
2 eggs

1/4 cup bbq sauce ( i am guessing on bbq and ketchup more of eyeball it)
1/4 cup ketchup

1 slice of bread broken into crumbs and some dry oats
(sometimes just one or the other or both)

garlic powder
onion powder

salt
pepper

Maple syrup/brown sugar-which ever one I am in the mood to do.
Shredded Cheese (We like Motz)

Mix all together. If too dry add more BBQ

Place on flat sheet (we like the cooked edges better so we do this to get more than in a bread pan or 8X9 pan)

Coat top with more BBQ
I like the Honey BBQ -I like a sweeter Meatloaf

Add anything else you would like, Bacon, Onions, Peppers... We don't.

Bake for around 45-60 mins on 350

Also pictured:

Roasted Red Potatoes with Bacon & Cheese from Kraft Foods
What You Need

1/2 cup KRAFT Light Ranch Dressing
1/2 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/4 cup OSCAR MAYER Real Bacon Bits
2 lb. small red potatoes (about 6), quartered

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Make It

HEAT oven to 350°F

MIX first 3 ingredients in large bowl.

Add potatoes; toss to coat.

SPOON into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover.

BAKE 55 min. or until potatoes are tender, uncovering after 40 min.

Sprinkle with parsley.

Creamy Bowties

This is The Bates Favorite Meal

Alma and I made up this meal using some of the things we loved about other meals.

Anyway, I know if I make this Kaitlyn will eat... A lot.

So when I know she needs to eat a good dinner, this is it! We all love it tons and it is super easy!

Boil your favorite Pasta

Bowtie :)

Cut up and cook Chicken in a pan with butter and Lemon Pepper

in another saucepan measure out

(this is for my family of three)

3/4 cup of chicken bullion

4 oz of cream cheese

Stir with Wisk over med-high heat until it thickens and makes a sauce

Pour over pasta, top with Cheese, Bacon, I like Sauteed Onions and Peppers

(and one thing that I absolutely love on it is Cherry tomatos, but they are not in the picture above)

Pour sauce over pasta and mix in all other ingredients

Super Yummy and easy.

Kacey CAN Cook!!!

For all of you waiting for my debut recipe, here it is! It can be a little tricky, but follow the directions and I promise it will turn out good.

Ingredients:
Bread (not white though, it toasts too fast!)
Stuff to put on top
Knife to spread the stuff

Take a piece of bread and place it in the toaster. Set the darkness dial to a setting that won't burn the toast, but will make it nice and pretty, but not too light either (this is where it's tricky).


When it pops up, make sure it looks good; if it pops too soon, press down again!

Spread the stuff on top of the toast.

Enjoy!!!

Yeah, TOAST!!!

Creamy Mac and Cheese

At HEB I got a free bag of Kraft Homestyle Macaroni and Cheese and I didn't want to make it just plain so I looked up this Recipe on Kraft Foods website. We loved it and it reheated great for Kaitlyns lunch the next day. It was creamy and tasted great. I would love to add Chicken or something to it too next time, but even then, easy and yummy last minute meal.

So if you find yourself with this Mac and cheese bag and not sure what to do with it, Cough Cough Mom.... Here ya go!

What You Need

1 pkg. (12.6 oz.) KRAFT HOMESTYLE Macaroni & Cheese Dinner

2 Tbsp. soft margarine

2 green onions, chopped

1/2 cup fat-free milk

1/2 cupBREAKSTONE'S FREE or KNUDSEN Fat Free Sour Cream

1/2 cup KRAFT FREE Shredded Non-Fat Cheddar Cheese

Make It

COOK Macaroni in large saucepan as directed on package.

Remove from pan; drain.

MELT margarine in same pan on medium heat.

Add onions; cook and stir 2 min.

Stir in contents of Seasoning packet, Cheese Sauce Mix and milk.

Add macaroni; mix lightly.

Stir in sour cream. POUR into 1-1/2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray.

Top with shredded cheese and Crumb Topping.

BAKE 10 min. or until macaroni mixture is heated through and shredded cheese is melted.

Lemon Sorbet

This year instead of cake, Jayna wanted Lemon Sorbet for her birthday dessert. And who could blame her? This tastes like a refreshing, frozen lemonade. It takes a few hours to freeze, but only a few minutes to whip up nice and creamy. With only 3 ingredients, you probably have everything to make this right now.

3 cups sugar

5 cups boiling water
2 cups lemon juice

Combine sugar and water, stirring until sugar dissolves. Stir in lemon juice. Pour into a shallow pan (I use a 9x13) and freeze overnight. {Since there's alot of sugar, it won't freeze completely hard.} When frozen put chunks into a food processor or blender and blend until fluffy. You can serve it now, or refreeze. Makes about 8 cups.

UPDATE: We have started using our ice cream maker to make this in, and it has turned out better than ever! 

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Poundcake

Cake:

Chocolate Cake Mix + 3 T. flour
4 eggs
3/4 cup hot water
3/4 cup oil
1 sm pkg instant chocolate pudding
1 cup sour cream
6 oz chocolate chips


Blend all ingredients except sour cream and chocolate chips at medium speed for 4 minutes.
Add sour cream and chocolate chips. Pour into greased bundt pan Bake at 375 for 45 -50 minutes.


Glaze:

1/4 cup cocoa
3 T. water
2 T. shortening
3 T. light corn syrup
2 cups Powdered Sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla



Combine cocoa, water, shortening and corn syrup in medium sauce pan. Stir over low heat until shortening melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and beat in sugar and vanilla. Drizzle (or spread) over cake.

Cream Cheese Enchiladas

I made these the other day, and even though they didn't turn out quite how I wanted they were super good.

Green Chile Enchiladas

Chicken cut up

8 oz package Cream Cheese

1 can of Green Chiles

1 Can of Green Chile Sauce

Motz. Cheese

Cook chicken in pan

Mix in Cream cheese and stir until smooth

( I did add a little bit of water- 1/4 cup)

Add Green Chiles

Scoop chicken with sauce into tortillas

Roll up and place in 13X9 pan

Pour Green Chile Sauce on Tortillas and Sprinkle with Cheese

and Bake at 350 degrees for 20 Min

I actually had a lot leftover and I ate them for the last couple days.

Usually not a fan of things with Chicken warmed up but this was still super good days later.

Enjoy!

Beef Stew

Today looks like this . . . with a lot of this . . .

so for dinner we had this . . .

Beef Stew

I've been making this recipe for 8 years. It's nice to put it all in the crockpot and come home to a yummy smelling house. {I know, it's a lot of ingredients, but it's not too bad, I promise.}

1 pound stew meat

1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 medium carrots, peeled and thinly sliced

2 large potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch chunks

1 can green beans (you can use fresh if you prefer. I don't)

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp thyme

3 cups beef stock

2 Tbs brown sugar

3/4 tsp salt

2 tsp worcestershire sauce

pepper to taste

Put above ingredients in a slow cooker; stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until beef is tender and potatoes are fork tender.

About 30 minutes before serving, transfer a ladleful of broth to a small mixing bowl. Add:

3 Tbs flour

2 tsp tomato paste

With a whisk, stir until smooth. Stir mixture into stew and cook for remaining 1/2 hour. Makes 6 -8 servings.

Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies

I thought I'd make a recipe card for Jessie's cookies. If you click on it, you should be able to read it better or print it. {Just an experiment. I won't be doing this with other recipes I post.} But I can send you the blank template and you can use them to print your recipes on if you want.

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

I did it!! I made something and even remembered to take a picture. Dad hated it... no surprise, he hates everything, but he did get a 2nd helping.

Cheesey Chicken Pot Pie

3 cups cooked chicken - I used the crock pot to cook the chicken and then shredded it

1 package frozen vegetable blend

1/2 lb or 8 oz velveeta cut up (i used 2 cups shredded cheese)

1 can cream chicken soup

1 8oz can crescent rolls

1. 375 degree oven
2. Combine the first 4 ingredients in 9 x 13 pan
3. Place unrolled dough over chicken mixture
4. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden

Breakfast Bake

I Love this easy Breakfast! I told Mom about it and she loves it too!! So I know some of you have probably already had this but I made it for Conference Weekend. We Love it and I sometimes make it on Sunday nights so Alma can just warm them up in the mornings and have a hot breakfast. It warms up great!

Kaitlyn can't get enough of these babies!

What you need:

1 can 8 oz of refridgerated Crecent Rolls (spend money on the good kinds tastes 1000X better)

Oscar Mayer Ham

I actually use this and the leftovers I use for Ham Fried Rice so good and so easy to use!

6 Eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp Pepper

Motz and Cheddar Cheese Sprinkled on top

Heat Oven to 350

Unroll Dough on 13X9 Pan

(Press firmly on bottom selaing all seams)

Ham over crust

Whisk eggs milk and pepper until blended

Pour over crust and ham

Add Cheese on top

(a few times I have done just sausage or sausage and ham or just ham) All are very good

I also think Peppers and Onions would be great in it also, but I have not tried that yet.

Fruit Smoothies

I have been loving SmOoThIeS lately and all the ones I used to make were made with Orange Juice and Ice. But I found this one and I love it much more than all the others I have tried.

Makes amount shown below:

1/2 cup of frozen fruit

1 banana

1/2 cup of yogurt

(I like the vanilla flavored)

1/4 cup of milk

AND if desired, which I do! 1 Tbs of sugar

To be honest: I lost the recipe (just wrote what I think it was) that I used the first time so I kind of just eyeball it now whenever I make it but I do know it was these ingredients and about how much. But you can gage and decide for how many people you want to make it for. Just try to use a lot of fruit. I tried it the other day with hardly any fruit but lots of milk and yogurt. Was not bad, but was not nearly as good!

Again I love that there is no ice in this recipe or juice! Tastes so different to me!

ENJOY!