snickerdoodles...

1 & 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar, + 2 tablespoons for rolling cookies
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°. Line or grease baking sheets and set aside.
Combine flour, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Beat butter and 1/3 cup sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients until smooth.
Mix together cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Pinch dough into walnut-sized pieces and roll into balls. Roll each ball in cinnamon/sugar mixture, and place on baking sheets.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for one minute, then cool completely on a wire rack.
Makes about 32 cookies.

These are easy, and oh sooo good. They remind me of a cinnamon sugar doughnut. They look a little different from traditional snickerdoodles, but that's what I loved about them.
I got the recipe from a great site, Bake or Break. She even does a chocolate version of these cookies. YUM!

4 bean chili...

12 oz extra lean ground beef

1 small onion, minced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 can kidney beans; drained & rinsed

1 can black beans; drained & rinsed

1 can great northern beans; drained & rinsed

1 can chili beans (do not drain)

2 15oz cans tomato sauce

2 Tbsp chili powder

1/2 tsp pepper

Brown ground beef & onions. Add garlic & cook about 30 seconds. Add beans & tomato sauce & stir to mix well. Add chili powder and pepper. Simmer over med-low heat 20-30 min until beans are tender. Serve with grated cheese, sour cream, green onions, etc.

Make a little cornbread, cozy up by a fire & enjoy!

Perfect for Fall!

(1 1/2 cups-7pts)

fall snack mix...

Crispix cereal

pretzles

peanuts

pecans

candy corn

marshmallows

m&m's

Mix together. Store in an air-tight container (if there's any left!)

This is just an idea of many variations to this mix. I just put in the stuff we like in ours. Throw in some raisins, craisins, chocolate chips, etc. This is such a great snack to have on hand for the kids & neighbor kids that go in and out of the door all afternoon...Also perfect for a weekend in front of the tv ;). Perfect for kids Bingo!!

thai peanut noodles...

1 cup julienned carrots

1 small onion; sliced

3 green onions; sliced into 2 in pieces

1 Tbsp canola oil, divided

2 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

3 Tbsp rice vinegar

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/2 cups snow peas

1 lb pasta, cooked

1/2-1/4 cup peanuts

Heat 1 tsp oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the ginger and minced garlic; saute 30 seconds. Add chicken broth and the next 5 ingredients; stir until well blended. Reduce heat and simmer 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm. Meanwhile, cook pasta until al dente. Heat 2 tsp oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add carrots and onions, season with salt & pepper and cook until almost tender. Add snow peas and green onions and cook 1-2 min more. Toss vegetables, pasta and peanut sauce together and sprinkle with peanuts.

This was a nice change from the usual pasta. My kids DEVOURED this...and they don't really like peanut butter that much! Was it good...yes. Is is a new favorite...probably not. I would like to tweak the peanut sauce a little. As it cools down the peanut butter starts to solidify back to it's normal state. That consistency bugged me a little, but it still tasted really good.

(1 cup 7pts)

Chef Barbie...

I want this Barbie.

I LOVE Barbie.

I've been trying to think of a good reason to buy this.

I'm too old.

My baby girl is too young.

I think I have it in my head that if Miss TV Chef Barbie enters my home she can cook a little something up for the family because I've had serious recipe block lately.

What do you think?

(I think I really just want her cute little red Kitchenaid!)

baked pasta...

1 pound extra-lean ground beef

16 oz uncooked, short cut pasta (shells, penne, macaroni, etc)

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 bag (2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook pasta for about 6-8 min. Brown ground beef & drain off any excess fat. Combine beef, drained pasta & spaghetti sauce. Place in lightly greased 9x13 pan. Top with shredded cheese. Bake, covered at 350 degrees for 15-20 min.

This is so easy that I'm almost embarrased to share it. If it wasn't so good...and so easy, I wouldn't have!

(7 pts for 1 cup)

turkey, avocado blt...

The name says it all!!