Mexi Mac Skillet Recipe

I make this skillet dish when I'm in a hurry...it's nice to throw together for a quick hot meal. This fall has been a busy one! I usually always have the ingredients on hand, and that's always a plus too. Start to finish this takes about 30 minutes. The chili powder and oregano give it a nice flavor...you can adjust to suit your taste.





Mexi Mac Skillet

1 lb. hamburger
1 /2 c. chopped onion
1 can diced tomatoes
1 8oz. can tomato sauce
1 c. frozen corn
1/2 c. water
1 1/4 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. uncooked elbow macaroni
Brown hamburger and onion. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer until noodles are tender, about 20-30 minutes. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.

Oatmeal chip cookies

This recipe sounded so interesting, I gave it a try.  It has cinnamon and molasses in it....a combo you don't normally find in chocolate chip cookies. I couldn't stop eating them! The cinnamon and chocolate just kept calling my name. It called MANY times, I'm afraid. Chewy and delicious...I couldn't stop!

I didn't tell Brent they were different so when he bit into them he really didn't know what to think! He was expecting a regular chocolate chip cookie. After he got used to the unexpected flavors, I noticed them disappear quite fast!

Cinnamon Oatmeal Chip Cookies
{Susan Henry}

1/2 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. molasses
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour
1 c. quick oats
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. semi- sweet chocolate chips

Cream shortening and sugar. Beat in molasses,egg, and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture.. Stir in chips. Roll into 1 1/2 in. balls. {I flatten slightly} Place on greased cookie sheets 2 in. apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350. Cool 5 min. before removing from the pans to wire racks.

Mini Pound Cake

This recipe came from Cooking for 2.

It's just perfect. The perfect size, the perfect taste, the perfect dessert!

It was quick to whip up and made the whole house smell wonderful. We had the hardest time waiting for it to cool, it smelled so good.

But we did. And it was worth the wait. I like mine plain...just the buttery taste..nothing else. The rich, brown, buttery crust is the best part.

I ate that part last!

Brent on the other hand, likes to smother his with berries and cream. Lucky for him that I still had some frozen strawberries in my freezer that I had picked this summer!

Mini Pound Cake

1/4 c. butter, softened

3/4 c. sugar

1 egg

1/4 tsp. vanilla

3/4 c. flour

1/8 tsp. baking powder

dash salt

1/4 c. milk

In a small mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until crumbly. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients and add to mixture alternately with the milk.

Pour into a greased 5-3/4 in. x 3 in. x 2 in. loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 45 - 50 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Cool completely. 8 slices

Chicken Fajitas Recipe

It's, "I feel like fajitas tonight!"  Chicken to be exact. This morning I quickly threw a Ziploc bag full of this dry seasoning mix with some chicken strips, oil, and lemon juice to marinate while I was at work. All I had to do when I got home was slice the veggies and cook!

I like to double or triple the dry seasoning mix and store it in Ziploc bags. My mornings are sometimes hectic getting ready for work so this works well for me.



Chicken Fajitas

3-4 chicken breasts, cut into strips
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 Tbsp. oil

Dry seasoning mix:
1 1/2 tsp. seasoned salt {I use Lawry's}
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Mix and marinate chicken with oil and lemon juice 1-4 hours. {over night is OK too}

Saute in 2 Tbsp. oil:
1 green pepper, julienned
1 red pepper, julienned
1 yellow pepper, julienned
1 onion, sliced

Remove from pan and set aside. {keep warm} In the same skillet, cook chicken until no longer pink. Add peppers and reheat. Serve in flour tortilla's.

Banana Cream Pie Baking with Dorie

Today's Baking With Dorie is Banana Cream Pie. You can find the recipe here, or on page 342 of Baking with Dorie from My House to Yours.

This was a thick, creamy, rich tasting pie! I really liked the custard. The cinnamon added a nice flavor...one I never expected I would like in a banana cream pie. I also liked the addition of sour cream mixed in with the whipped cream.

I have to admit I still like my mom's pie crust recipe best. It's just so light and flaky...and I suppose what I am used too. It's made with shortening, not butter, like Dorie's. I think next time I make this I would try it with her crust!

You can find the links to check out the other bakers pies here.

Bacon Cashew Salad

This recipe came from a Taste of Home magazine. The dressing is very light with a sweet brown sugar flavor. It goes well with the cashews and bacon, and I like the added tang of the Swiss cheese. I love to munch on a big bowl of this!




Bacon Cashew Tossed Salad

4 c. torn romaine
1 c. shredded Swiss cheese
3/4 c. real  bacon bits
1/2 c. salted cashews

Dressing
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. water
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp. minced onion
1/4 tsp. poppy seeds
1/4 tsp. ground mustard

Shake well and pour over salad. Top with cashews, bacon and cheese.

Cinnamon Fruit Dip

Sunday nights I don't usually cook anything. My mom never did either. It was her night off I guess, and we often just had leftover roast beef sandwiches from Sunday dinner. We'd all watch the "Wonderful World of Disney." Sounds simple, I know, but what wonderful memories! I loved it.

I carried on the tradition with our family...cold meats and cheeses...crackers....popcorn...fruit...that was about it! We always sat together for meals at the table, but on Sunday nights you could sit anywhere. Usually we all sat in front of the T.V.

Brent and I still have popcorn on Sunday nights... in front of the T.V....but now we often add apples with this dip. It's a perfect Sunday night meal.


Cinnamon Fruit Dip

2 c. cool whip

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 tsp.cinnamon

Mix and serve with apple slices.