2 boxes of Chex (one rice and one corn, or can use 2 corn or 2 rice)
1 lb sliced almonds
4 cups wide coconut
1 1/2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
2 cups light Karo syrup

In a ginormous bowl, (or brown paper sack works well too) combine cereal, almonds and coconut.

In a saucepan over medium heat, start melting the butter and then add the sugar and corn syrup. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Once bubbly, let it boil for 3 minutes, then remove from heat. Pour over the dry goods and stir to make sure all the sticky goodness spreads over all the cereal. Keep in a resealable container and enjoy!!

Home made Stuffing for stuffin' that Tom!

This is my SIL Courtney's Recipe

3 loafs of white bread all toasted, can either toast all the pieces and than cube them....or you can broil each side on a cookie sheet and get it done faster!

3 to 4 stalks of celery (chopped)
lg onion chopped
1 lb sausage brown with celery and onion
** can add mushrooms..which I love!
1 cube butter

poultry seasoning...gives it the taste...add slowly..tsp by tsp to taste

Mix everything up in a big bowl. the chicken broth is to moisten the mixture....so keep adding until it gets the right consistency...you dont want it soggy, so add a little at a time and mix.

chicken stock/broth prob like 6 to 8 cups (just depends) is to give moisture to the bread mixture.

Green Bean Casserole

I love Green Bean casserole and always get asked to bring it for the Holidays....

To fill a 9 X 13:
4 cans of green beans
2 cans of cream of mushroom
2 c cheddar cheese
dash of salt and pepper
2 dash of worchestershire sauce
1 (2.8 oz) can French’s french fried onion rings

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

*In a bowl combine cream of mushroom, worchestershire, and S & P.
*In a 9 X 13 pan drain green beans and place in pan...
*Add soup mix to green beans, add like 1/4 c of the fried onion to the mix and the cheese and bake covered for 20 min
*Remove the tin foil and add the rest of the fried onions for another 5 min to get them crispy

Pecan Pear Salad

**This recipe is from my friend Melanie**

Romaine lettuce 1 head
1 to 2 Pears(soft) diced
candied pecans (take a cup of pecan and toast them with sugar and butter
craisins 1 cup
Feta cheese (1 cup)
red onion 1/3 chopped
Avacados 1 to 2 diced

toss all together in a big bowl

DRESSING: mix blender
olive oil 1/2 c oil
red wine vinegar 4 T
sugar 4 T
pepper 1/4 tsp
splash of tobasco

Chile Verde

**This recipe is from my BIL Scott-T he is an excellent cook!**

3 lbs of 1 in ch pork (pork tenderloin) cut into chuncks
2 T oregano
1.5 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp cumin seed
2 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 can (60 oz) whole tomatoes, drained
1 can 7 oz green chilies
1 can 7 3/4 oz green chile salsa
1 bunch of cilantro chopped
6-8 green onions, chopped

Cook pork in 10 in dutch oven on high heat , top and bottom, for 2 to 3 hrs. Check periodically, adding hot water as needed if meat become too dry. When meat becomes tender, add spices and cook 30 min longer. Add remaining ingredients and simmer until meat and strings with fork.

Shis-Ka-Bobs

1/2 lb round steak
1/2 c tomatoe juice
1 tsp. vinegar
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp salt

Cut fat off the meat and cut into cubes. Mix tomatoe juice, vinegar, salt and pepper, and garlic... Marinate meat inmeat mixture and refrigerator

Alternate meat and veggies:
good with green and red pepper
zuchini
mushrooms
onions
pineapple

Ham and Cheese Bread Dip

** from my friend Mandy....delish

8 oz pkg cream cheese (can use fat free
1/2 c sour cream
1/2 c mayo
1/2 c green onions
1 tsp worchestershire sauce
1 c cubed ham (lunch meat)....chopped/diced
2 c shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all together bake in a french bread loaf (Rye bread or sour dough, never use white or wheat....use pumpernickle rye bread)
Bake @ 350 for 1 hour
**when done wrap in tinfoil to keep warm**

Scott-T's KICKn' Chicken Dip

This recipe is GREAT for the Superbowl. this picture is just the first layer....still need to top with cheese and bake!

4 chicken breasts cooked and shredded really well
8 oz cream cheese
8 oz Franks Buffalo Wing Sauce
8 oz ranch or blue cheese dressing

Combine all the ingredients and then place it in a 11x13 pan.
**Cover with desired shredded cheese. Bake in oven @ 350 degrees until cheese is melted and chicken is heated all the way through. Serve with chips

Texas Almond Sheet Cake

** Recipe is from my SIL Courtney

1 c butter
1 c water
melt together
2 c flour
2 eggs beaten
2 c sugar
1/2 c sour cream
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

Frosting:
1/2 c butter
1/4 c milk
1/2 tsp almond extract
4.5 c powdered sugar

sliced almonds on top to garnish

Bake at 350 for 15-20 min (until lightly brown) and stick a toothpick in it

Coconut-Pecan Filling and Frosting

**recipe is from my SIL Courtney

1 can evaporated milk
1.5 c sugar
3/4 c butter
4 egg yolks (slightly beaten)
1.5 tsp and vanilla
7 oz pkg coconut
1.5 c chopped pecans

MIx milk, sugar, butter, egg yolks, and vanilla in sauce pan. Cook and stir on med heat about 12 mnin, or turns slightly brown, Remove from hear and stir in coconuts and pecans

Beat until cool and spreading consisitency

Place on a German Chocolate cake (just use cake mix box and follow directions)

Chocolate Cream Pie

** From my SIL Courtney

Mix Together:
1.5 c sugar
1/3 c cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt

Beat together in a seperate bowl:
3 c milk
4 egg yolks

Mix all together, cook in microwave in 2 min cycles, stirring in between each cycle until thick (4 to 5 cycles)

then add 2 T butter
4 tsp vanilla
2 oz melted unsweeten chocolate (by the chocolate chips it is in a BAR)

cold but not set....put in pie crust.

Coconut Cream Pie Filling

**from my SIL Courtney

Mix together:
2/3 c sugar
1/4 c cornstartch
1/2 tsp salt

Beat together:
3 c milk
4 egg yolks

Then in a microwavable bowl: mix these 2 together, cook in microwave in 2 min cycles until thick...(prob like 4 to 5 cycles)

Then add:
2 T butter
2 tsp vanilla
3/4 c shredded coconut

make sure it cool down completely before you put it in the pie crust

Lemon Meringue Pie

**recipe given to me from my SIL Courtney

7 T cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
1.5 c sugar
mix together really good with a whisk and than add the water

1.5 c hot water

place in a microwave bowl do it in 2 min cycles....and stir in between each one, just do it until it is thick, (maybe like 10 min...or however long, like 4 or 5 cycles)

then add 3 egg yolks (save your egg whites) beaten and cook for 2 or 3 min longer ( this is what makes it yellow)

then add
2 T butter
1/2 c lemon juice
1 tsp lemon peel grated
whisk it in

cool in fridge until completely cooled or will make pie crust soggie... then pour into cooked pie crust

Meringue:

Beat 3 mores egg whites with 1/4 tsp cream of tartar, until frosty than beat 6 T sugar a little at a time. Beat until stands in peaks.

Bake @350 oven until brown about 15 min until it is golden...let it sit in the open air until cooled.

Let it cool before you eat it... so it doesnt make drips.

Pie Crust

recipe is from my SIL Courtney

1 c flour
1/2 c shortening
dash of salt
cut these together

than add the water slowly, may not use all of the 1/4 c
1/4 c ice cold water

Bake @ 400 for 10 to 15 min
Trick: to mix as minimum as possible (dont knead) Roll out and put in pie pan

tips

I totally stold this from my friend Stephanie but it had major tips that are GENIUS~

**Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to
pick the little 'stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it.
**Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
**Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
**Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
**Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
**Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef.
It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
**To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.
**Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
**Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.
**Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
**When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
**To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
**Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
**To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
**Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed

Pumpkin Bars

This recipe is from my friend Stephanie and they are divine! **note refrigerate**
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
1 16 oz. can of pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Beat together the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin. Then stir in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Once the cake has cooled you can frost with the cream cheese frosting. Recipe follows.

8 oz. cream cheese
1 cube butter
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
2 T milk

Mix the cream cheese and butter together till well blended then slowly add the remaining ingredients, until you reach your desired consistency.

Frost your cake and sprinkle with the walnuts (if desired). We have found these bars keep best if they are refrigerated!

Sticky Rice and Sauce

Sticky rice...is made with glutenous rice...I make about 3 C for my little family..
First thing you have to do is soak the rice in really hot water for an hour.Than just pour it in the basket over the Pot. cook on the first side for about 20 min. or until the rice on top all looks like it is coming together and have been steamed, you than flip the rice over so the top goes on the bottom and cook for another 10 min.




Sauce made to dip in is
equal parts of soy sauce and vinegar (like 1/2 to 1/2)
than equal parts of cilantro and green onion 1/2 c to 1/2 c)
just mix these enough to make it a little thicker.
than add garlic chili sauce, like a tsp or 2, if you like it spicier than like TB or 2

Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip

from my friend Kara

1 C mayonnaise
1 C sour cream
1 (1 oz) package ranch flavored salad dressing and seasoning mix
1 1 /2 c cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 c bacon, cooked and crumbled or shredded into small pieces

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream and seasoning mix; whisk to combine. Fold in cheddar and bacon. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve with assorted fresh vegetables or corn chips, or potatoe chips, if desired.