A New Kind of Pico De Gallo

1/2 cup lime juice
chopped garlic (to taste)
1/2 jalapeno (or to taste)
Blend these first three ingredients in a blender and set aside for the dressing.

1/2 to 3/4 Head of cabbage chopped bite size.
1 Onion, chopped fine
2-3 tomatos,chopped (optional)
1/2 to 1 bunch cilantro, chopped fine
Toss these in a large salad bowl and add the dressing, toss together.

Serve with 16 oz. softened cream cheese and plain taco chips. Dip chip into cream cheese, scoop some pico de gallo on top and enjoy!

-Missy Earl

Hawaiian Haystacks

1 Family size Cream of Chicken soup
2 c cooked and cubed chicken
1 c chicken broth
Mix these ingredients and heat through.

Pan of cooked rice

Toppings:
Tomatos, chopped
Green onions, chopped
Cheddar cheese, grated
Chow mein noodles
Celery, chopped
Pineapple chunks
Slivered almonds
Green pepper, chopped
Coconut

Serve the rice first then the sauce and then top with any/all toppings.

Savory Sandwich Ring

2 pkgs. 11oz. each Pillsbury French Bread Dough
1 egg white, lightly beaten
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tsp Italian Seasoning Mix
1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 tomato, thinly sliced
1/2 c pitted ripe olives, sliced
8 oz. thinly sliced deli meat such as: salami, turkey, ham or bologna
4 oz. thinly sliced cheese such as: swiss, american, mozzarella, cheddar or jack
2 c thinly sliced lettuce
1/4 c plus 2 Tbls Italian salad dressing, divided

Preheat oven to 350
Place dough seam side down on baking sheet.
Join ends of dough together to form on large ring.
Make 8 diagonal cuts, 1/2 inch deep on top of dough.
Combine egg white, garlic and Italian seasoning.
Brush over dough.
Bake 26-30 minutes or until deep golden brown.
Remove bread to cooling rack and cool completely.
*It can be wrapped in plastic wrap at this point and saved to be used the next day.
Cut loaf in half horizontally.
Place bottom half on a large serving platter.
Arange meat and cheese evenly over the bottom half of the bread.
Top with lettuce.
Drizzle 2 Tbls of dressing evenly over lettuce.
Top with bell pepper, onion, tomato and olives.
Brush cut side of top bread layer with remaining dressing.
Place over the bottom half.
Cut into serving sizes.

-Colleen Britt

Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken

4-6 boneless chicken breasts (can be frozen)
1 pkg. cream cheese
2 cans cream soup (chicken or mushroom)
1 1/2 c milk
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
Throw in various fresh or frozen veggies. Broccoli, peas, mushrooms, cauliflower, carrots etc.

Mix together everything but the chicken and veggies until smooth.
Stir in the chicken and veggies and cook on low setting 6-8 hours.
Serve over cooked rice or noodles.

Chicken Pot Pie

2 c cooked chicken, cubed
1/3 c butter
1/3 c flour
1/3 c onion, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 3/4 c chicken broth
2/3 c milk
1 c frozen peas
1 c cooked carrots
1 1/2 c mushrooms, quartered
2 unbaked pie crusts

Place one crust in bottom of a casserole dish.
In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat.
Blend in flour, onion, salt and pepper.
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly.
Remove from heat.
Stir in broth and milk.
Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
Boil and stir one minute.
Stir in chicken, peas, carrots, and mushrooms.
Pour into pastry lined pan.
Place other piecrust over filling.
Flute edges and cut slits in center.
Bake uncovered @425 for 30-35 minutes.
Cover fluted edges for the last 10 15 minutes to prevent over browning.

Note: The types of pans I have used are: 9 inch square or a deep dish pie pan.

Soft Oreos

2 boxes Devils Food cake mix
4 eggs
3/4 c oil

Mix all ingredients and roll into 80 even sized balls.
Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 2/3 c powdered sugar

Spread frosting between two cookies.
Makes 40 cookies.

-April Homer

Fruit Pizza

1 pkg. Pillsbury sugar cookie dough
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c sugar
Assorted fresh or canned fruit.
I use fresh strawberries, kiwi, bananas, and grapes

Press cookie dough into a 9x13 pan or on a round pizza pan.
Bake according to package directions.
When cool spread with cream cheese and sugar mixture.
Arrange fruit on top.

Option: Make single sugar cookies and let cool. Spread frosting on top of each individually and top with a few pieces of fruit.

Peanut Butter Cups

1 c chunky peanut butter
2 sticks butter, softened
3 1/2 c powdered sugar
12 whole graham crackers, crushed
1 bag of chocolate chips

Mix peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar.
Add crushed graham crackers.
Spread in 9x13 pan.
Top with chocolate chips.
Bake @ 325 for 5-8 min.
Spread chocolate and cool completely

Coconut Pecan Frosting and Filling

4 eggs yolks
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c sugar
3/4 c butter
2 2/3 c coconut flakes
1 1/2 c chopped pecans

Beat egg yolks, milk and vanilla in large saucepan with wire whisk until well blended.
Add sugar and butter;
Cook on medium heat 12 minutes or until thickened and golden brown, stirring constantly
Remove from heat
Add coconut and nuts,
Cool to desired spreading consistency.

Makes about 4 1/2 cups. Enough to frost top and sides of 3 8 or 9 inch cake layers, tops of 2 13x9 inch cakes or 36 cupcakes.

-Kacie Sanders

Sweet German Chocolate Cake

1 pkg. (4oz.)Bakers German Sweet Chocolate
1/2 c. water
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 c (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 c sugar
4 eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla
1 c buttermilk
Coconut Pecan Filling and Frosting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Cover bottoms of 3 (9 inch) round cake pans with wax paper.
Grease sides of pans
Microwave chocolate and water in large microwavable bowl on High 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 1 minute.
Stir until chocolate is completely melted.
Mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside
Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
Blend in melted chocolate and the vanilla.
Add flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, beating until well blended after each addition.
Beat egg whites in small bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form.
Gently stir into batter.
Pour evenly into prepared pans.
Bake 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean.
Immediately run small metal spatula around cake layers.
Cool in pans15 minutes; remove layers from pans to wire racks. Discard wax paper.
Cool cake layers completely
Spread Coconut Pecan Filling and Frosting between cake layers and onto top of cake.
Substitute: If you don't have buttermilk, just add 1 Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup milk; let stand 10 minutes

-Kacie Sanders

Note: When Kacie made this for my birthday she used the coconut pecan frosting for the layers and the top and chocolate frosting for the sides of the cake. Perfect!

Cheesy Chicken Chowder

Ingredients:

3C water

3 bouillon cubes

2 Cups diced, peeled, potatoes

1 Cup diced carrots

1 Cup chopped celery

1/2 Cup onion

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 Cup butter

1/3 Cup flour

2 Cups milk

2 Cups shredded cheese.

Directions:

In 4 quart pan, bring to a boil, the water & boullion cubes and veggies.
cover... and reduce heat to a simmer until the vegetables are tender.
Meanwhile: Melt butter in a saucepan, add flour and mix well (it kinda makes a thick paste known as a roux).
Gradually add milk and cook over low heat until slightly thickened.
Stir in cheese and cook until melted.
Add cheese mixture to vegetables and stir.
Add 2 cups diced cooked chicken.
Make sure it's heated through and eat!

-Kacie Sanders

Phil's Birthday Cake (Mud Pie)

1/2 c butter, softened
1 c flour
1/2 c chopped nuts
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
small and medium tub of Cool Whip
2 small pkg. instant chocolate pudding mix
2 1/2 c. milk

Mix flour and butter and press into bottom of 9x13 pan.
Press chopped nuts evenly into mixture.
Bake @ 350 for 10-14 min.
Cool completely.
Mix thoroughly cream cheese and powdered sugar
Fold in medium tub of Cool Whip.
Spread cream cheese mixture over cooled crust.
Mix pudding and milk.
Pour over cream cheese mixture.
Spread small tub of cool whip over top.

-Nicole Boal

Snowman Balls

1 pkg. oreos
1 8 oz. box cream cheese
White almond bark

Crush oreos in food processor
Add cream cheese and combine.
Roll into balls and dip into melted almond bark
Place on wax paper in a cookie sheet
Let cool in refrigerator

-Kacie Sanders