Peanut Brittle

Dad always made this peanut brittle around Christmas growing up. Although I never liked peanuts, I do like the brittle part! :)

Peanut Brittle

2 cup sugar
1 cup karo syrup
3/4 cup water
2 cup peanuts
1/4 tsp salt
1 T butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking soda

Combine sugar, syrup, and water. Cook in saucepan until hard ball forms in cold water. Add peanuts, salt, and butter, cook until it is golden brown. Remove from heat, add vanilla and baking soda. Stir and pour into a buttered jelly roll pan, spreading thinly. When it has cooled, break into pieces.

Holiday Cut Out Cookies

Another staple growing up, I always loved it when my mom made these!

Holiday Cut Out Cookies

Cookies:
2 cup sugar
2 stick butter
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 tsp cream of tartar
4 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

Beat sugar, butter, shortening and eggs. Then add the rest of the ingredients and beat again. Chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, then roll out on a floured surface. Cut out cookies. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes.

Frosting:
1 T butter - melted
2 T milk
1 tsp vanilla
powdered sugar
drop food coloring

Mix butter, milk and vanilla. Add powdered sugar until it is a good consistency. Add food coloring, use to frost cookies.

Buckeyes

My mom & dad's recipe for buckeyes is delicious!

Buckeyes

1 LB powdered sugar
1 stick butter - softened
2 cup peanut butter
3 cup rice krispies
1 bag chocolate chips
1/3 paraffin wax - bar - shaved

Mix the butter and peanut butter together, then beat in the powdered sugar. Stir in the cereal. Form mixture into balls. Melt chocolate chips and wax in a double boiler. Dip balls into chocolate (not all the way - leave a small "eye") and place on waxed paper. Refrigerate.

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

These peanut butter blossoms are a classic.

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

48 Hershey's Kisses
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 T milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
dipping sugar

Remove wrappers from kisses. Beat together shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla and beat well. Add in flour, baking soda and salt. Shape dough into 1" balls. Roll in granulated sugar and bake 8-10 minutes at 375°. Immediately press a kiss into the center of each cookie. Place on rack to cool.

Chow Mein Cookies

My gramma used to make these cookies.

Chow Mein Cookies

1 bag chow mein noodles
1/2 bag chocolate chips
1/2 bag butterscotch chips

Melt chips together, stirring often. Mix in noodles and drop onto wax paper in small bundles to harden.

Italian Chicken Bake

I was looking for something to make that I could have an allergy free version and a regular version.  I had some chicken and was going through my recipes and came across the Chicken Parmesan Casserole.  I didn't have any croutons in the house though, so I made it without them and paired it with some tri-color rotini noodles.  It was fantastic!

Italian Chicken Bake

2 T olive oil
2 cloves garlic - crushed
dash pepper flakes
1 bag boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 tsp dried oregano
8 oz shredded mozzarella
4 oz parmesan cheese
12 oz tri-color rotini - cooked

Mix olive oil, garlic, and pepper flakes in the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish. Place chicken breasts in a single layer on top.  Pour spaghetti sauce on top, sprinkle with basil, top with the cheeses.  Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes, uncover and bake for 20-30 more minutes.  Serve with pasta.

For the allergy free version, omit the cheeses and pair with an allergy free pasta.

Pepperoni Pasta Salad

I do not usually like cold pasta salads, but I make an exception for this one.  It is delicious.  I got it from a church cookbook.

Pepperoni Pasta Salad

12 oz rotini tri-color pasta - cooked
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 head broccoli - cut and cooked
4 oz pepperoni - chopped
1 cup mozzarella cheese - shredded
15 grape tomatoes - halved or 1 tomato - chopped
1 bottle italian dressing

Mix ingredients, toss with half of the italian dressing. Refrigerate.  Just before serving add the remaining dressing and mix well.