Best Sugar Cookies

The best, most mouthwatering sugar cookies.  Usually I just scoop them onto the cookie sheet.  Today I will try  crushed candy canes in them. =)

1 1/4 Cups sugar
1 Cup butter flavored shortening
2 eggs
1/4 Cup light corn syrup or regular pancake syrup
1 Tbsp. vanilla
3 Cups all purpose flour (plus 4 Tbsp divided)
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
 1/2 tsp. salt

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Combine sugar and shortening in large bowl.  Beat at medium speed until well blended.  Add eggs, syrup and vanilla.  Beat until fluffy.

3. Combine the 3 cups flour, baking powder,  baking soda and salt.  Add gradually to cream mixture at low speed.

*Here is where I scoop this deliciousness onto parchment-lined cookie sheets and bake for 10 minutes usually. =)

For cookie cutters:

1. Divide dough into 4 quarters.  (If dough is too sticky or soft, wrap each quarter in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a least 1 hour.)

2.  Spread 1 Tbsp. flour on waxed paper place 1/4 of dough  on paper and flatten slightly.   Cover with another sheet of waxed paper and roll to 1/4 thickness.

Cut with floured cutters, transfer to cookie sheet, and bake at 375 degrees for 5 to 9 minutes.  Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet.

Makes 3 to 4 dozen

The only way my kids will eat zucchini...sigh.

Zucchini Brownies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups shredded zucchini
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

frosting

• 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the oil, sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, 1/2 cup cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Fold in the zucchini and walnuts. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies spring back when gently touched. To make the frosting, melt together the 6 tablespoons of cocoa and margarine; set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, blend together the confectioners' sugar, milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in the cocoa mixture. Spread over cooled brownies before cutting into squares.

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 209 | Total Fat: 8.6g | Cholesterol: < 1mg

Peach Cream Pie

Yummy peach pie I always make when I have fresh peaches. =)  Which is today!  Lucky me!!!!

Crust:
1 1/2 cups AP flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter

Filling:
4 cups peaches, sliced
1 cup sugar, divided
2 tablespoons AP flour
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup sour cream

Topping:
1/3 sugar
1/3 cup AP flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter

Crust:
Combine flour and salt.  Cut in butter until crumble.  Press into a 9 inch pie pan.

Filling:
Place peaches in a bowl; sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar.  Combine flour, egg, banilla , salt and remaining sugar; fold in sour cream.  Stir into peaches; pour in to crust.  Bake at 400 degrees F. for 15 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350 degrees.  Bake for 20 minutes

Topping:
Combine sugar, flour and cinnamon in a small bowl.  Cut in butter until crumbly.  Sprinkle over the pie.  Return oven temp to 400 bake 15 more minutes.


YUM!!
(I don't necessarily use the crust part, but I have (I think) and it is good.)

Smoothie Pops!

Getting my kids (especially my youngest) to eat fruits and veggies is like pulling teeth, and then trying to replace them...

But he loves green!  So the smoothie pop was born.  It is just smoothies poured into popsicle molds and frozen.

The green is spinach.  Spinach is the most amazing good for you food; at least that's what they taught me in nutrition class 2,000 years ago.  So I take frozen spinach and blend it in a blender with everything and yes, it turns everything green.  Sometimes it tastes like grass, too, (but my youngest eats it anyway because it is green) but yesterday it did not taste like grass. Here's how:

1/2  bag of frozen spinach (12 oz.) (blend in blender with some water or milk until fine)
1 tub plain yogurt (32 oz.)
1/2 cup sugar
enough milk or water to blend easily.

Freeze in popsicle mold.

Voila!!  Nutrition for my little man!

Potato Casserole

I don't know that I've ever done this as written.  Always a variation, like ham or lunch meat instead of bolongna; never measured the peas, potatoes, or cheese.  Today, I didn't use the can of soup at all--just the milk and about a tbsp. of flour and some garlic salt and adobo powder and no sage.  But here's the recipe anyway, in all it's unvaried glory:

3 cups bologna, cubed
4 medium potatoes, sliced
10 oz. frozen peas
1 can cream of (mushroom, celery, or cheddar cheese)
3/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon grated onion
1/2 tsp. sage
1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Combine potatoes and meat in a 6 cup casserole dish.  Cook frozen peas, add soup, milk, onion and sage.  Bring to boil; stir in cheese.  Pour over meat & potatoes.  Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.


Pretty easy!

Best Banana Bread

I've used this recipe for years--so moist!!

3 or 4 ripe bananas
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup melted butter

Bake at 325 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes in sprayed loaf pan.  (I go 60.)  Makes one loaf.

*Last time I did this I added 1/3 to 1/2 cup dry cocoa, and put it in cupcake liners and called it cupcakes.  Kids loved it!

*Also you can add chocolate chips.

Crockpot Chicken--my fav!

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I have used 4-6 breasts, also thighs)
1 pkg. dry zesty Italian dressing mix
1 cup chicken broth
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup

Put chicken in Crockpot with 1 cup chicken broth.  Sprinkle zesty Italian dressing mix over the tip.  Cook 2 hours.  Remove chicken and cut it up.  With chicken aside, add cream cheese and cream of chicken soup to the Crockpot.  Cook until bubbling.  Add chicken.  Serve over noodles or baked potatoes.