recipes

The following salad dressing recipes are the result of fine tuning over the years. They are a huge hit at our house. This first one is for Hidden Valley Ranch, and it is a dead ringer for commercial ranch, but creamier. HIDDEN...

This recipe gets five stars for two reasons...it is totally delicious AND super simple. As a matter of fact, it is one of the best crockpot recipes that I\'ve tried in a long time. You cannot get much simpler than this: brown the pork loin, cover...

This recipe is eye catching and tasty. It has several (easy) steps, but you can do most of them early in the day (or even the day before) and then finish it all up just before serving. For each "nest", you will need one circle of...

IT IS ZUCCHINI SEASON !!!Do you have a lot of zucchini this summer" If so, this is a GREAT way to use it. This treat is super chocolate-y, super moist (in fact it gets even more moist on day two), super easy to make and freezes very...

This is a big hit at our house. They are quick to fix (out of ingredients that are usually on hand) and they reheat well.   This super-simple recipe starts with a refrigerator biscuit that is rolled out flat and topped with a...

This is one of picky-picky hubbies all-time favorite things to eat (hands down!!). Wing sections baked in a soy sauce, brown sugar and pineapple mixture, this recipe is super simple and always a hit at parties. I\'ve been asked for this recipe...

I\'ve been making these beans for my family for 40+ years and they are always a hit. Now that we are empty nesters, I make a big pot (6 quart) of these and then freeze them in 2 cup containers for a quick and yummy side dish for any...

I don\'t know how many times I\'ve tried a copy cat recipe and later thought..."close, but no cigar".  But this one is the real deal !!! Not only is this cake made from standard pantry staples, but it is rich, buttery, very velvety...

This banana milk shake is my latest addiction, and for once, it is guiltless!! Toss some frozen bananas, fat free banana yogurt and some 2% milk in the food processor (or blender) and in 10 seconds you will have the thickest, creamiest milk shake...

As empty nesters, we are easily overloaded by a full size cheesecake, so I have been experimenting. I finally got it down to six cupcake size cheesecakes which suits us perfectly. These little guys ALWAYS turn out perfect.....no cracks, no...

SUPER EASY Have you ever cooked a whole turkey breast in the crockpot" It is fail proof and super moist and tender!!! It is so easy, that turkey and gravy won\'t be "just for Thanksgiving" any more!!   5 pound bone-in turkey...

This fast and fun recipe is a delicious chocolate sauce and when you put it on something cold, it turns hard like commercial "Magic Shell" (except a lot more budget friendly). Don\'t restrict it to ice cream though, how about frozen...

I kid you not, these chicken thighs are the BEST of the BEST and quick and easy to make. They are SUPER moist, SUPER tender and SUPER flavorful. We couldn\'t stop eating them and they are going straight to the TOP of my FIVE STAR recipe...

I don\'t know about you, but I have ruined a LOT of expensive shrimp over the years by not cooking it properly. I have been known to turn $20 dollars worth of beautiful raw shrimp into a bowl of shrimp that has the texture erasers!!  Very...

SERIOUS COMFORT FOOD!! We call this lasagna (which it isn\'t) but it qualifies as serious comfort food and has all of the rich, familiar lasagna flavors. 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef (browned and drained well) 4 cups of beef broth...

If you like Nutella, you will LOVE peanutella, just think of the possibilities!! Lets see, let me count the ways: on waffles, on pound cake, on warm scones, in a sandwich, with s\'mores, on waffles, as a dip for apples and oh yes...right...

We love this recipe, not only because it is easy and tasty, but because of it\'s excellent leftover possibilities. Green chile roast leftovers make great cold sandwiches or it can be torn apart and tucked (hot) into warm tortillas (with a little...

I have been tweaking this recipe for a few years and I finally have it just the way we like it. It is one of those easy recipes that you dump everything in the slow cooker and wait for the magic. Canned refried beans just don\'t "do it" for us...

 Buddy, our 5 year old Chiweenie, absolutely LOVES these treats. They are super easy to make (only 4 ingredients) and cost a fraction of most commercial treats.4 cups oats (processed in food processor to smaller texture)2/3 cup applesauce (I used...

I use a lot of dry herbs and spices; they are convenient. However, there are some spices that I don\'t use all that often. For example, that little $3.99 jar of rubbed sage gets used for a single holiday and then languishes on my spice rack, only...

Freezing chicken eggs is very easy and you can use them (thawed out) just like you would a fresh egg for baking cakes, cookies,casseroles, scrambled eggs, pancakes, quiche and baked custard type pies like pecan pie!!Here are a few easy tips and...

I often find myself without BBQ sauce in the pantry or (not enough) BBQ sauce left in the bottle. This recipe comes to the rescue and it is truly delicious. It tastes just like Sweet Baby Rays!!!The 1st time I made this, my picky-picky husband came...

 This sweet, soft, super easy and yummy cookie is something just a little different for your cookie jar. Dried cranberries and white chocolate are a GREAT combination!!1/2 cup butter (room temperature)1/4 cup cream cheese (room temperature)3/4 cup...

I have been making chocolate chip cookies for 45+ years; lets just say I\'ve tried a zillion recipes, but THIS recipe beats them all, HANDS DOWN!!!Some chocolate chip cookie recipes have great flavor, but produce a flat cookie that spreads all...

When I was a kid, my mother, bless her heart, made (what she called) fruit salad on special occasions. Her idea of fruit salad was a can of drained fruit cocktail with a little Dream Whip stirred in; if it was a very special occasion, she added a...

I have been making chocolate chip cookies for 45+ years; lets just say I\'ve tried a zillion recipes, but THIS recipe beats them all, HANDS DOWN!!!Some chocolate chip cookie recipes have great flavor, but produce a flat cookie that spreads all...

This is a "knock off" recipe for Subway\'s sweet onion chicken teriyaki sandwich. It is delicious, only about 370 calories and very quick to fix (as long as you make the sweet onion sauce a day ahead so the flavors blend and mellow...important...

The title, Easiest No-Bake Cake, is not an exaggeration,that\'s for sure!! It is easy, delicious, unique and a great addition to any holiday table.Before I give you the "recipe", let me just say that there really isn\'t a recipe. It\'s just...

I make a LOT of sourdough pancakes, but every once in a while John wants a simple (last minute) "late night breakfast". This recipe is perfect for that; it makes 4 super moist, super tender, super fluffy pancakes. They really "hit the...

This meat loaf is a great way to perk up any week night. It has lean ground beef, finely crushed corn chips, mild green chiles and cheese in it and then its "frosted" with refried beans + salsa before you bake it.I like to serve this with Spanish...

I call this recipe "pizza pockets" but actually, any flavor filling works well. The "magic" is in the dough; it is on the slightly sweet side but (as unlikely as it sounds) it compliments a savory filling perfectly..Originally, this was a dough...

Mini-desserts are an easy easier way to battle the mega-calories that a "big honking cheesecake" in the fridge tempts us with.Picky-picky husband LOVES all things maple, so I\'ve been searching for a good maple cheesecake recipe for a long...

These cookies STAY soft and fudgy and they are totally addicting beyond delicious!!! Everyone asks for this recipe!!!This is NOT a crispy cookie, it ismore like a brownie textureMAKES 3 DOZEN2  1/4 cups flour1 teaspoon baking soda1 cup butter (room...

 This is a GREAT recipe to have. It\'s super easy to make (2 bowls and a spoon) and the muffins are moist and super chocolate-y. It\'s my "go to" recipe for sure.In the 1st bowl, stir together:2 cups flour1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar1...

These hamburger buns received an instant "thumbs up" from my picky picky husband, which is rare. They are rich tasting, but light and fluffy. This recipe is defintely my new "go to" burger bun rcipe, that\'s for sure. I hope you try it.1 cup...

I\'ve tried dozens of goulash recipes over the last 40 years, but every time, there was just something missing. A few times, I got "close, but no cigar".Well, today, I tried it again, and with the very first bite, I heard my picky-picky husband...

There are a ton of lemon curd recipes out there and they are all basically made from fresh lemons, sugar, butter and eggs cooked together. The main difference between the recipes is the degree of sweetness.  We like our lemon curd a little on the...

This seasoned salt recipe exists because a recipe that I wanted to try, called for it and I didn\'t like the idea of buying a ready made "blend". I guess I\'m just cheap frugal in that respect.These ingredients go together in seconds and...

I\'ve tried dozens of meatball recipes over the years and, while some of them came CLOSE to what I was looking for, there was always something missing.Well, I\'m thrilled to say THIS meatball recipe is absolutely perfect in every way. First of...

If you are looking for a quick, easy and super tasty dessert, this is it: Mini Peanutbutter Cheesecakes!! These delicious little treats are nearly foolproof and they freeze well too.CRUMB CRUST3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs1 tablespoon sugar1...

This recipe is super quick and easy to make and it screams "comfort food" to me!! Hubby has a phobia about anything spicier than salt and pepper ? so THIS recipe is just for me (and I LOVE it).It\'s delicious at room temperature too !!?QUINOA...

This cookie is buttery, sweet, tender and  they melt in your mouth!! The cookie dough is formed into logs, chilled for about an hour, then sliced (abt. 1/4" thick) and baked at your convenience.  This recipe makes 4 nice big logs (each log...

Years ago, when our hungry teenage boys came home for dinner (with hungry friends tagging along) it was a challenge to feed them all with one pan of Sloppy Joe\'s. Unexpected guests at the dinner table were fun, but required some quick...

BISCUITS FOR 2Biscuits for two....what a great idea!! I can\'t tell you how many biscuits I\'ve thrown away because they were stale before we could eat a whole batch, but not anymore!!  This quick and easy recipe makes 4 delicious biscuits.1...

Cherry Mountain\'s are my Picky-Picky husbands all time favorite childhood candy and they are nearly impossible to find anymore. Some people call them Cherry Mash.                         CHERRY MOUNTAINThese finished candies can sit...