Hashbrown Casserole

I got this recipe from a friend of mine, Lesley Hocker. Aparently it tastes just like Cracker Barrel's. It's a great recipe for Sunday mornings, or a potluck brunch. You can also throw in some cubed ham, if desired.

2 lbs frozen shredded hashbrowns
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped onions
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom of a 9x13 in pan.

2. Combine soup, butter, salt, pepper, onion, and cheese. Gently mix in potatoes and pour into prepared pan.

3. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Chicken Pillows

The whole family is a HUGE fan of these! Not terribly healthy, so I can't make them all the time, but when I make them, they are gone fast! I got this recipe from realmomkitchen.blogspot.com

• 3-4 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
• 6 oz cream cheese
• 2-4 TBS green onion, diced

• 2 TBS butter, softened
• 1/4 tsp salt
• dash of ground black pepper
• 2 cans crescent creation sheets (you can find them next to the cans of crescent rolls and biscuits)
• seasoned bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 TBS mayo
• milk to consistancy preference

1. In large bowl, mix cream cheese, green onion, 2 TBS butter, milk, salt and pepper. Stir in chicken, set aside.

2. Carefully unroll crescent dough and divide each tube into 4 rectangles. Pour a heaping TBS (or two or three) on the divided crescent rolls, and fold over and seal. Dip in melted butter and dredge in bread crumbs. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

3. Meanwhile, In small sauce pan, mix cream of chicken soup, sour cream, mayo, milk, and seasonings until warm. When chicken pillows come out of oven, place on plate and top with cream sauce. Mmm mmmm good.

Meatloaf

I'm not a huge fan of meatloaf in general, but this one is pretty darn good. I've made it for company, and guests always go back for seconds. I found this recipe on allrecipies.com


1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 tsp ginger
3/4 cup finely crushed saltine crackers
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp worchestershire sauce
one piece of bread, torn into 1/2inch pieces

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 TBS worchestershire sauce

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease 5x9in loaf pan.

2. Tear piece of bread into small pieces, and place on bottom of loaf pan. (This helps soak up any additional grease.)

3. Mix beef, milk, eggs, salt, pepper, onion, ginger, saltines, garlic, and worchestershire sauce. Shape into loaf, and place in loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

4. Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine brown sugar, ketchup, and worchestershire sauce. Pour on meatloaf 20 minutes prior to the end of baking time (so after the meatloaf has cooked 40 minutes).

Meat and Cornbread Squares

There just aren't enough ground beef recipes, I swear. Anyways, here's a good one from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.

1 lb ground beef
1 TBS cornstarch
1 TBS dried minced onion
1-2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic salt
14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes

1 package cornbread mix (i.e. Jiffy)
cheese

1. Brown and drain ground beef in large skllet. Stir in cornstarch, onion, chili powder, and garlic salt. Stir in undrained tomatoes and most of the can of diced green chilies. Cook over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes more.

2. Prepare cornbread mix according to box directions. Add and handful of cheese and the remaining diced green chilies.

3. Pour half batter into greased square baking dish. Spook meat mixture on top, then top with reamining corbread mix. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Perfectly Chocolately Chocolate Frosting

I got this off the back of the Hershey's cocoa, and it's the best!

1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup HERSHEY's cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

1. Melt butter (microwave is fine)
2. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating on medium speed to spreading consistancy. Add more milk if needed. Stir in vanilla.

Makes about 2 cups.

My go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe

I have not been content with my chocolate chip cookie recipe for a while, so I went searching on allrecipies.com, and found an awesome one, I added a couple alterations and vio la! These are to die for.

4 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 (3.4oz) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups semisweet chocolate chunks
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. In small bowl, sift together flour and baking soda, set aside.
3. In LARGE bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in chips and nuts. Drop by rounded spoonfulls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Edges should be golden brown.

This recipe can easily be halved, but why on earth would you want to do that? :)

Why?

I love to try new recipes, and I have been trying quite a few new ones recently. I have a cookbook that I have created of my favorite recipes, but I thought an online format might be easier. Plus my dear sisters have requested some of my favorite recipes, so this is just an easy way to share. Look at as much or as little as you want.