COOKIES

I have not made cookies in awhile, and since my boys had a half day I thought I would make some so they would come home to a nice treat! These cookies have one little twist and by NO means are they "diet cookies". So I hope the kids gobble them up quickly so I do not have the temptation!!

Ingredients:
2 sticks butter or margarine
3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup regular sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups plain flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt1 small box [3.4 oz or so] vanilla instant pudding

1 -12 oz bag chocolate chips1 cup nuts- optional

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture. Add the box of pudding, chocolate chips and nuts. Mix well until blended. Drop on greased cookie sheets.

Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Note: I usually cook mine for about 8 or 9 minutes until they have a hint of browning and they stay very chewy and soft!

Wednesday's Dish~FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Tonight it is going to be Breakfast for Dinner...always a BIG hit for our Family. I have made this one before..this is just a slightly different recipe. I usually make this up the night before or first thing in the morning and throw in the fridge till ready to bake. I serve with Sausage and Strawberries..Yum Yum!!

FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

1 Loaf French Bread
8 eggs
2 C half & half
1/2 C milk
2 T sugar
1 t vanilla
1/4 t cinnamon
Dash salt

Topping
1 stick butter
1/2 c Brown Sugar
1/2 t cinnamon

Spray 9X13 casserole dish with non stick spray.
Slice bread into thick slices and arrange in bottom of dish. May have to overlap or cut to fit.
Mix next 7 ingredients in medium bowl and pour over bread.
Now you can do this 2 ways. Combine topping ingredients with fork, and dot over casserole. Cover with plastic wrap till ready to cook..of course throw in fridge.
Or wait to mix the topping till right before placing in oven and heat topping ingredients over stove top till melted and drizzle over casserole then place in oven. Either way it is Delicious!!

Uncover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until top is golden brown.
This recipe is also freezable if you wanted to make ahead.

Tuesdays Dish & Treat

Tonight we had pork chops, I seem to not be able to go wrong with meat..the kids love pork!! I did however try something new with these pork chops. It was not bad, gave it a little zing and the kids did not complain (much).

CRISPY PORK CHOPS

5 boneless pork loin chops

(1/2 inch thick)

3T Dijon mustard

1 1/2 Panko Bread Crumbs (you can find these at Meijer..I was shocked)

Pour Panko crumbs onto a plate..paper will do why dirty another dish!

Brush Pork Chops with must mustard and then coat with Panko Crumbs.

Place pork chops on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake at 425 for 25 minutes.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening ( 1 stick butter)

1 3/4 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. lemon juice

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1/2 cup chocolate bits (optional)

1 cup mashed bananas (2-3) The older the bananas, the better

Directions:Cream shortening and sugar in mixer. Add eggs. Add lemon juice to mashed bananas and stir into creamed mixture. Sift together dry ingredients. (I stir with a whisk) Add with nuts and chocolate bits to first mixture. Pour into well greased loaf pan or muffin tins which have been dusted with flour and bake at 325' for 1 hour or until done. About 30 mins. for muffins.

Doubled makes 12 extra large muffins or 24 small muffins.

Pumpkin Cappuccino Chip Muffins

I stumbled across these earlier and believe it or not I had everything on hand to make them. And if you read this blog you know I LOVE Pumpkin and Coffee well that is just a given. These turned out GREAT and even Mason gave them a thumbs up...he is my toughest critic!!

2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. milk2 eggs
1/2 c vegetable oil
1 packet Starbucks VIA (I used 2 tsp. Duncan Donuts Coffee~that is all I had)
1 c. mini chocolate chips (optional, but who are we kidding...everything is better with chocolate!)BruCrew Additions
1 c. canned pumpkin
2-3 tbsp. sour cream
4 tbsp. extra flour
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350*. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners.
Mix together dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and stir until combined. Do not over stir, batter should be lumpy. Add the chocolate chips...it isn't optional:-).
Fill muffin liners 2/3 full.
Bake for 22-24 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched. Cool on wire rack. Enjoy! Makes about 24 muffins.

Slow Cooked Shredded Beef Tacos

Tonight we are trying something new...We love Mexican and usually can not go wrong with Tacos...I think Mason could live off Taco Bell. But this just sounds so much better then good ol Taco Bell. Nothing against TB..I mean cheap and easy always scores!!

SLOW COOKED SHREDDED BEEF TACOS

2lbs Beef Roast
1 C Frozen Chopped Onion (I HATE Onions so I leave this out)
1 T Chili Powder
1 T Dried Oregano
1 t Crushed garlic (I just threw in a tad of garlic salt)
The recipe calls for 4oz can diced greed chilies and 10oz can diced tomatoes. I used a small can of diced tomatoes and a normal size can of Rotel (because I LOVE Rotel)..and I love spicy!!

Throw in slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours. Shred meat with 2 forks.

Serve on flour tortillas with cheese, sour cream, & avocado (optional) with chips and salsa. I hope it turns out as good as it sounds!!

If you wanted to prepare ahead..you could just place all the ingredients in large zipper big and when ready to cook that day throw everything into the slow cooker.

I plan on my meals for the week on Friday or Saturday and base my grocery shopping on that list. It makes life so much easier. I shoot for things I can make up ahead of time to throw in a crock pot or oven.

Taco Soup & Garlic Cheese Biscuits

This is GREAT for these COLD winter days. My kids are not Huge fans of this soup..because lets face it they are so dang picky and anything new, they are usually not willing to even try. Maybe your kids will love it, if not I am sure you will!
Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 14.5 oz can whole kernel corn
2 16 oz cans of ranch style beans (I only used one can because I'm not a bean lover & it was fine)* Maybe not everywhere but I know here - you find cans at the grocery store of ranch style beans. If you don't have those - substitute pinto or black or whatever you like.
3 cans of diced tomato's (maybe substitute 1 can rotel if you like spicy and I LOVE Rotel!!)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 pkg Hidden Valley dressing mix
Brown and drain meat. Saute onions for a few minutes. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Add chili powder, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer 1-2 hours. I topped it with shredded cheese!

Garlic Cheese Biscuits
2 1/4 cups bisquick
2/3 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp garlic salt

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken

5 boneless skinless chicken
breasts
½ C. teriyaki sauce
2 T lemon juice
2 cloves minced garlic
2 t sesame oil


Grill chicken on indoor grill or brown
in skillet until no longer pink

You can pre-assemble this to be ready to cook ahead of time. I am really into this since I am working and it makes dinner way less stressful.

Place all ingredients in a large zipper bag. Zip to
seal and squish around to mix.