Turkey Sugar Cookies

(Photo via http://puppycove.blogspot.com)

Here's a cute idea for the kids just in time for Thanksgiving. Let your little turkeys make these cute cookies to take to your Thanksgiving host or let them decorate while the adults visit. You can get the complete details and recipe over at the Puppy Cove blog.

Corn Chowder & Bread Bowls

Natalie's Corn Chowder

From my very own kitchen!

½ Onion
3 Potatoes

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
2 T. Butter
1-2 cans Corn with the juice
Crumbled Bacon

1 ½ t. Dill Weed
2-4 cups of half & half (depending on how much soup you want to make)


Chop up the onion and sauté it in the melted butter and dill weed until the onion is clear. Add the potatoes to the onions and let cook for about five minutes. Pour in the entire can(s) of corn including the juice into the onions and potatoes. Add your cream of chicken soup to the mixture. Add half and half to that to make enough for your family. I usually pour in enough half and half to make dinner for that night and leftovers once. Let the soup simmer for about ½ hour to 45 minutes. (Closer to 45 minutes if you used real potatoes.) Once your soup and potatoes are cooked all the way through, sprinkle bacon on top of the soup and serve.

Bread Bowls
1 Loaf Rhodes Wheat Bread Dough, thawed (one loaf makes 3 bread bowls)

Thaw the dough until it’s soft (about 3 hours at room temperature). Cut the loaf into thirds and form each third into a ball. Place on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed, generously, with a non-stick cooking spray. Cover the dough with plastic wrap that has also been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Let the dough rise until it’s double in size (about 2 hours). Remove the plastic wrap and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Allow the bowls to cool and then slice off the top. Hollow out the bowls and fill with soup. The bread that you’re not using as a bowl is great for dipping.

Cupcake Pops

(Photo & recipe via http://bakerella.blogspot.com)

I ran across these darling cupcake pops at Bakerella today. I think they'd be darling to make for a little girl's birthday party or for a neighbor or friend. I'd love to receive these. You can visit Bakerella here for the complete recipe and step by step pictures and instructions. Enjoy!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

(Photo via http://www.bakingbites.com/)

This is the recipe I use to make our own pumpkin seeds each year...

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

2 cups pumpkin seeds

1 tbsp melted butter

2 tbsp worcestershire sauce

Garlic salt

1-Rinse the pumpkin guts off the seeds and pat dry. The seeds need to be as dry as possible.

2-Place them on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 250 degrees for 15 minutes to dry them out so they'll absorb the sauce.
3-Melt the butter and combine with worcestershire sauce.
4-Put the seeds to a bowl and pour liquid over the top. Mix well.
5-Return seeds to cookie sheet. Bake at 275 degrees for 30 minutes, then turn them over with a spatula.
6-Sprinkle with garlic salt. Then bake for another 30 minutes or until crunchy.

The Tastes of the Season

Last night after dinner at my in-laws' home, I tried the most delicious, yummy Dreyer's Apple Pie Ice Cream. It was divine. It made me realize another reason I love this time of year. There are so many delicious delectables that can only be found when the weather gets cooler. Here are a few of my favorites...

1. Dreyer's Egg Nog Ice Cream, Peppermint Ice Cream and Apple Pie Ice Cream

2. Brach's MilkMaid Candy Apple Candy Corns (Oh my...deliciousness...so yummy I bought 4 bags!)

3. Pumpkin Pie

4. Pumpkin Pie Shakes (I know Arctic Circle has been advertising them)

5. Egg Nog (I saw some in my local grocery store this weekend)

6. Egg Nog Milkshakes (McDonald's starts to sell these pretty soon and they're quite good)

What seasonal foods do you love this time of year?

Seasoning Chicken

(Photo via www.spiceideas.com)

I've compiled a list of some simple ideas for seasoning and flavoring your chicken.
1. Marinate in BBQ sauce
2. Rub with salt, pepper and season salt
3. Marinate in teriyaki sauce
4. Season with lemon pepper
5. Marinate in orange juice and ginger
6. Marinate in honey and mustard
7. Sprinkle with olive oil, chili powder, cayenne pepper and garlic powder
8. Use a premade marinade like Lawry's (they come in lots of flavors)
9. Marinate in italian dressing
10. Marinate in caesar's dressing
11. Marinate in Worchestershire Sauce and honey
12. Sprinkle with olive oil, garlic, basil and lemon juice

Do you have a favorite seasoning for your chicken? Share it with us!

Yummiest Caramel Apples

(Photo via www.gourmetchocolatefoods.com)

I got this from my friend Cheree who got it from her friend Brooke. Anyway, you know the recipe has to be good if it keeps getting passed along. I made some of these last year and I plan to make them again very soon. So yummy!

CARAMEL APPLES

4 large, firm green apples(store at room temperature)
1 bag white chocolate chips*
1 1/2 Tbls. Crisco1 (14 oz.)
1 bag Kraft caramels (comes with sticks)
2 Tbls. room tempurature water
parchment paper
Rice Krispies*
Cinnamon and Sugar

Wash and dry apples and remove stems. Push stick through top center of apples about 1/2 way down. Unwrap caramels and combine with water in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 second intervals, stirring each time until creamy. Immediately roll apples in caramel, coating completely. Place on parchment paper.

Melt chocolate chips and shortening also in a microwave-safe bowl for same 30 second intervals, stirring each time. Roll apples, covered in caramel into Rice Krispies, then in the white chocolate chips, then cover with cinnamon and sugar. Place on paper in the fridge until serving. Cut into slices for easier serving and eating.

*You can also use milk chocolate, peanut butter or mint chocolate chips. Can also top with nuts, sprinkles, cookie crumbs, M&M's, Reeses Pieces.

30 Minute Almond Chicken

I got this recipe in my email from Kraft Foods last week and thought it looked delicious.

It calls for:
8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1 cup chicken broth
2 cups green beans, trimmed, halved
1 cup instant white rice, uncooked
1/4 cup PLANTERS Sliced Almonds

You can find the complete recipe here.

Blueberry Scones

I ran across this recipe for blueberry scones made with sour cream on Vanilla Joy. Go check out the recipe here. I think it looks and sounds delicious!

8 Creative Pizza Toppings

I've been using my bread machine dough setting to make homemade pizza dough lately. You can put almost anything on your pizza and it tastes yummy. I wonder why that is? Here are some of the creative pizza combinations and toppings I think I'd like to try...

1. Spinach, bacon, artichoke, and garlic sauce pizza (a la Papa Murphy's)
2. Bacon cheeseburger pizza with ground beef, bacon, cheddar cheese, onions and tomatoes
3. BBQ chicken pizza with grilled chicken, cheese and BBQ sauce
4. Macaroni & cheese (a la CiCi's Pizza)
5. Taco pizza with taco with seasoned ground beef, cheddar & mozzarella cheeses, tomatoes, onion, lettuce, olives and sour cream
6. Hawaiian pizza with ham and pineapple
7. Alfredo pizza with alfredo sauce instead of pizza sauce and spinach, mushrooms, bacon and onions
8. Ham & cheese pizza like a ham and cheese sandwich only on a pizza crust

5-Minute Southwest Layered Salad

(Photo courtesy of www.kraftcanada.com)

I bookmarked this salad a while ago because I thought it sounded so yummy and easy and I'm all about easy when it comes to cooking! It's made with black beans, corn, salsa, cheese, lettuce, Kraft Rancher's Choice dressing, and tortilla chips. Easy! You can view the full recipe here.

Yummy Smoothies

(Photo courtesy of http://www.bhg.com/)

The hubby and I have been making smoothies all summer long. They make for a great breakfast. Here's the recipe for the smoothies we've made:

Fruit Smoothies

Ingredients

1 -1/1/2 cups frozen fruit (see combinations below)

3/4 cup vanilla yogurt

1/3 cup vanilla soy milk

1 scoop vanilla flavored protein powder

Pour everything into a blender and blend until smooth.

Fruit Combinations:

Strawberry Banana

Blueberry Banana

Mixed Berries & Banana

Mango Raspberry

Raspberry Banana

Strawberry Mango

Peach Strawberry

Enjoy!

Grandma's Peanut Butter Fudge

The kids went back to school today. So, I'm making a batch of my grandma's yummy peanut butter fudge to eat with my son this afternoon while he tells me about his first day. Here's the recipe:

Grandma's Peanut Butter Fudge

5 c. sugar
1 stick butter
1 can evaporated milk (NOT sweetened)
1 t. vanilla
½ large jar of marshmallow cream (or 1 full small jar)
1 c. peanut butter

Cook the sugar, butter and evaporated milk to a soft ball stage (240 degrees). Remove from heat and add the vanilla, the marshmallow cream, and the peanut butter. Put the pan in a sink full of cold water and whip it until blended. Pour into a greased dish. *Makes about 70 pieces.

Pudding Pops

Does anyone else miss Pudding Pops? I used to love them. My grandma always kept her freezer stocked with the frozen yumminess. My favorite was the swirl flavor. I can't find them any more.

I ran across this thread the other day about making Peach Pudding Pops and I thought it sounded scrumptious! I also found this version that would be super simple. I think I'll be making my own in the very near future...and I might even share with the kids!