Homemade Play Doh Craft Recipe

Homemade Play Doh Craft Recipe

My kids love Play Doh, but at the rate at which they seem to dry it out, it gets ridiculous constantly purchasing it. This recipe makes more than your standard little cup of Play Doh, and you can customize it to the shade you want. This is a great recipe to have on hand when you want to do something and getting out of the house isn’t an option. It would also make a great gift for a little creative tyke.

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tspn cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil

Directions:
Mix dry ingredients
Add water and oil slowly, mixing all lumps out well
Microwave mixture for 1 minute then stir VERY well, repeat until there are no sticky spots
Cool
Knead well, store in zip lock bag, or air tight container

Lasts about 3 weeks.

Hint: Add a few drops of food coloring for different colors!

Hearty Chicken and Noodle Casserole

Hearty Chicken and Noodle Casserole

Ingredients:
1 can cream mushroom
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tspn ground black pepper
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups medium egg noodles, cooked and drained
1/2 cup shredded cheese

Directions:
Stir soup, milk, black pepper, parmesan cheese, vegetables, chicken and noodles in a casserole dish
Bake at 400* for 25 minutes or until hot. Stir
Top with cheddar cheese, turn to oven for an additional 5 minutes

Honey Garlic Chicken Crock Pot Freezer Meal Recipe

Honey Garlic Chicken Crock Pot Freezer Meal Recipe

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
3 garlic cloves
1 tsp basil
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup honey

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together inside a ziplock bag and freeze
Don't forget to label with cooking directions!
To cook, thaw overnight, cook in crockpot for 5-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high

*Hint, make a few bags of this and have dinner for multiple days. This is great served with rice.

Seasoned Salt Spice Recipe

Seasoned Salt Spice Recipe

Why buy seasoned salt when it is so easy to make at home? This is a simple recipe that can be used for a variety of dishes.

Ingredients:
8 tablespoons salt
4 tablespoons freshly ground pepper
1 tspn cayenne pepper
1 tspn dried sage
1 tspn marjoram
1 tspn rosemary
1/2 tspn ground cloves
1/2 tspn nutmeg
1/2 tspn cinnamon
1/4 tspn ground mace

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse to blend well
Store in an air tight jar away from heat and light

Biscuit Pepperoni Pizza Recipe

Biscuit Pepperoni Pizza Recipe

Maybe I am just a big kid at heart, but this is one recipe that I love. For one, its much easier to use biscuits than mixing, and rolling out a dough, and for two, I can make it much more quickly. I tend to stick with just cheese and pepperoni as my toppings, but you can use anything you wish.

Ingredients:
1 can biscuits
1/2 jar pizza sauce
Pepperoni slices (or other toppings)
Shredded cheese

Directions:
Spray a round pie pan with nonstick cooking spray
Break each biscuit into 3 pieces and lay on pan
When all biscuits are broken and in the pan, squish the broken biscuits together to make a dough
Spread dough with pizza sauce, top with pepperoni, or other toppings, and cheese
Bake at 350* until biscuits are fluffy and cheese is melted

 

*For a larger pizza, use a large can of flaky biscuits and a 9x13 pan, adjusting the amount of sauce needed to cover the dough

Simple Buttercream Icing Recipe

Simple Buttercream Icing Recipe

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter
4 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon vanilla

Directions:
Add all ingredients into mixing bowl and beat on high speed until smooth

This is a great buttercream icing to make adorable monster cookies:

(Sandwich buttercream between two sugar cookies, roll edges in sprinkles and add eyes and noses (we used mini M&Ms for the eyes)

Rice Crispy Peanut Butter Treat Bars Recipe

Rice Crispy Peanut Butter Treat Bars Recipe

Ingredients:
1 bag peanut butter chips
1 stick butter
6 1/2 cups rice crispy cereal
1 bag semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts, chopped

Directions:
Line a 9x13 pan with nonstick foil or parchment paper
Melt peanut butter chips and butter in a large bowl in microwave or in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until thoroughly blended and smooth.
Remove from heat, add cereal and stir until evenly coated.
Pour into prepared pan, spread evenly, then cover with wax paper.
Use another 9x13 pan, or book, to press the mixture into an even layer, then remove the wax paper.
Place pan in freezer about 10 minutes or until firm.
Melt chocolate chips as directed on bag. 
Add corn syrup and stir until well blended.
Spread chocolate mixture evenly on top cereal mixture then sprinkle with chopped nuts.
Using wax paper, lightly press the nuts into the chocolate.
Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
Cut, serve, enjoy!

(Recipe and photo from wdfood)

Beef Taco Skillet Dinner

Beef Taco Skillet Dinner

I’m a big fan of “skillet” dinners, but only if they taste good. Far too many skillet dishes are pre-packaged and just lack in taste. This recipe lacks nothing. The salsa gives it a nice taste that packaged skillet entrees cannot.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 can tomato soup
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup water
6 flour tortillas, cut into small strips
1/2 cup shredded cheese

Directions:
Cook beef in a large skillet wit about 1/4 cup water, drain grease, and break up any large chunks of meat. Return to skillet
Stir in soup, salsa, water, and tortillas. Heat to a boil
Reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes. Stir
Top with cheese

*To make this creamier, add in 1/2 cup sour cream with the soup

Mocha Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Mocha Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Ingredients:
Crust:
30 Oreos
1/4 cup hot fudge topping, not heated
Bars:
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold strong coffee
2 bricks cream cheese (16oz total) (softened)
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 bar bittersweet chocolate, melted
chocolate coffee beans (optional for garnish)

Directions:
Line a 9x13 baking pan with nonstick foil or parchment paper, draping some over the edges.

Prepare crust: Crush cookies, by hand or in a food processer, until they resemble fine crumbs. Add fudge topping to crumbs, blend to moisten.
Press firmly in prepared pan. Place in freezer while preparing the rest
Prepare bars: Sprinkle gelatin over coffee in a small saucepan. Let stand 2 minutes.
Stir over low heat until steaming and granules dissolve. Remove from heat
Beat cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with hand mixer on high speed until smooth. On low speed, beat in sour cream, the coffee mixture and chocolate until blended.
Pour into crust, cover, and refridgerate 4 hours or until firm
Using the foil or parchment paper draped over the edge of the pan, remove bars and cut into small squares.
Garnish with coffee beans

(Recipe and Photo from wdfood)

Three Ingredient Raziti Recipe – Freezer Meal

Three Ingredient Raziti Recipe – Freezer Meal

I’ve noticed that a lot of people who make freezer meals tend to make them in bulk. If you are making fancy dishes then it can be quite time consuming, but adding this one to the mix can give you more meals for less time. Its quick, and only has 3 ingredients. This is one of those meals where you can easily make more than one at a time.

Ingredients:
Rotini noodles
Spaghetti Sauce
Shredded Cheese

Directions:
Line an 8x8 pan with foil
Add noodles and sauce and top with cheese
Freeze, then remove foil "block" and freeze inside large ziplock bag* (Gallon size)
To cook, bake covered with foil at 350* for 30 minutes
Uncover, bake additional 30 minutes

*When freezing, be sure to label with cooking directions!

The EASIEST Freezer Meal Recipe EVER (Chicken and Rice)

I came across this recipe on Facebook and it sounded way too easy not to make. I was hoping that my family would love it so I can easily make 3-4 at a time to keep in the freezer.

Chicken and Rice (EASY!!!!) Freezer Meal Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 box Wild Rice mix
1 can cream chicken
1 can cream mushroom
1 can (drained) mushrooms
1 soup can water
6 chicken tenders (uncooked)

Directions:
In a large bowl mix all ingredients except the chicken
Pour into an 8x8 pan
Place uncooked chicken on top
Cover and wrap in foil, label with cooking instructions, and freeze
To cook simply thaw, then bake at 350* for approximately 1 hour or until the chicken is done and the rice is tender

(Meal below is uncooked, prior to freezing)

Spinach Vegetable Dip Recipe

Spinach vegetable Dip Recipe

Ingredients:
1 package frozen spinach, chopped
5 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 avocado, peeled and chopped
1/8 tspn hot pepper sauce, or to taste
1/2 cup watercress
8 ounces plain yogurt
1 1/4 tspn no-salt garlic seasoning
1/8 tspn freshly ground black pepper
1 purple cabbage

Directions:
Cook spinach, drain and wring out all juice
Using a blender, or by hand, combine spinach, onion, watercress and parsely. Set aside
Place remaining ingredients except cabbage in blender and blend until smooth.
In a bowl, combine the vegetables and yogurt and mix to blend well.
Refrigerate at least two hours to allow flavors to blend
Hollow out the purple cabbage to use as a serving bowl.

*Serve with stiff crackers, bread crumbs, or fresh vegetables.

Grilled Banana split S’mores Camping Recipe

 

Grilled Banana split S'mores Camping Recipe

The first time I made this recipe I failed to see the “wrap in foil” part and my bananas were one huge mess. I certainly don’t recommend making the same mistake I did! This is a great Summer recipe, but can be made year round - just use the oven instead!

Ingredients:
6 bananas, in the skin
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup mini marshmallows
6 large graham crackers

Directions:
Set grill to medium heat, or use a campfire
Make a long slit in each banana from end to end, through the skin and down to, but not through, the skin on the other side. Gently open the banana. Divide chocolate chips and mini marshmallows among bananas, pressing with your fingers to fit as much as possible.
Wrap each banana in aluminum foil and place on center of grill or around perimeter of fire.
Cook 5 minutes, or until chips and marshmallows are melted and banana is warm.
Serve immediately with graham crackers for dipping

Pineapple Nut Delights Cookie Recipe

Pineapple Nut Delights Cookie Recipe

This is one of those cookie recipes that is so good, it is gone before the cookies go bad. They are a perfect combination of moist, sweet, and crunchy flavors.

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tspn vanilla
4 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup canned pineapple crushed
1 tspn baking soda
1/2 tspn salt

Directions:
Mix together
Drop onto baking pan and bake at 350* for 10 minutes
Roll in powdered sugar to finish

Tamale Pie Freezer Meal Recipe

Tamale Pie Freezer Meal Recipe

As I was typing this recipe up to add here, I remembered I had already added it before. But it is just *that good* that I will list it again. After all, it is a freezer meal, and freezer meals seem to be pretty popular right now, and I guess you could say I jumped on that trend. When I started making my freezer meals, this was one of the first ones I made. Years later, I can still say that this recipe works, and makes a perfect “go to” dish. I like keeping this one in the freezer and making a single serve option of this.

Crust Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup cornmeal
2 tspn salt
4 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 cup water

Crust Directions:
In a bowl mix cornmeal with water
In separate pan boil 2 1/2 cups water and salt
Gradually stir in cornmeal mix
Reduce heat
Stir often, every 4-5 minutes
Stir in butter
Pour batter in pan/tins; Use approximately 1/4 cup per tin

Filling Ingredients:
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 can corn
1/2 can black beans
Enchilada sauce 1 can
1 lb chicken cooked/shredded
Shredded cheese

Filling Directions:
Mix all filling ingredients together
Pour over prepared crust
Top with cheese
Bake at 375* approximately 30 minutes

*You can freeze these in muffin tins and then pop them out and store as single serve pies.

Orange Barbecue Cocktail Sausages Appetizer Recipe

Orange Barbecue Cocktail Sausages Appetizer Recipe

Ingredients:
1 pound Lil' Smokies
1 cup Barbecue Sauce
1/4 cup orange marmalade

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a skillet and cook until heated thoroughly

*Cranberry sauce can be used in place of orange marmalade
*Recipe and image obtained from some random recipe card

Smokin' Succulent Grilled Chicken Recipe

Smokin' Succulent Grilled Chicken Recipe

Welcome to the beginning of Summer.. Grilled food and great parties are to come!

Ingredients:
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tspn chipotle chili powder
Chicken strips or breasts

Directions:
Blend first 5 ingredients
Set 1/2 of the mixture aside.
Grill or broil chicken, brushing with remaining mixture until thoroughly cooked.
Serve with any remaining mixture

Soft Baked Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Soft Baked Chocolate Cookies Recipe

These cookies bring back such good memories. Every time I see this recipe I instantly want to make them. For a person with a sweet tooth like mine, they are great. When cooked right, these cookies are pure perfection.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tspn vanilla
1 cup flour (self rising)
1/4 cup cocoa

Directions:
Cream butter
Add sugars and continue mixing
Add egg and vanilla, continue to mix well
Finally, add cocoa and flour
Mix well
Drop onto cookie sheet
Bake for 8 minutes at 350*

*The addition of chocolate chips makes these an ultimate chocolate chocolate chip cookie

Mississippi Mud Cake Recipe

Mississippi Mud Cake Recipe

I joke around that my middle child must have been switched at birth because he doesn't like cake. My entire family loves cake, except him... His birthday is tomorrow. Maybe I can convince him with this recipe ;)

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup butter
1 (4oz) semisweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
4 large eggs
1 tspn vanilla extract
3/4 tspn salt
1 bag miniature marshmallows
Chocolate Frosting (Recipe below)

Directions:
Place pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet
Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes or until toasted
Microwave 1 cup butter and semisweet chocolate in a large microwave safe glass bowl at HIGH for 1 minute or until melted and smooth, stirring evey 30 seconds
Whisk sugar and next 5 ingredients into chocolate mixture
Pour batter into a greased 15x10 jelly roll pan
Bake at 350* for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle evenly with miniature marshmallows, bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
Drizzle warm cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkle evenly with toasted pecans.

Chocolate Frosting Recipe:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/3 cup milk
1 (16oz) package powdered sugar
1 tspn vanilla extract

Directions:
Stir together first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted.
Cook, stirring constantly 2 minutes or until slightly thickened; remove from heat.
Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla and medium-high speed with hand held electric mixer until smooth.

*Recipe and image compliments of Southern Living

Damper Recipe (Bread)

Damper Recipe

Ingredients:
4 cups self-rising flour
1 tspn sea salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together very well
Form into a round loaf and place on cooking sheet
Bake at 425* for 25 minutes
Then lower temp to 350* for 5-10 minutes

*This recipe can be used as a bread bowl, just scoop out the inside and set aside, then fill with your favorite dip and use the bread crumbs to dig in