Baked Carrots

18 small carrots
1/2 c. sugar
1/3 t. cinnamon
1/3 c. butter
1 t. salt
1/3 c. boiling water

Scrape carrots and cut into strips; place in casserole dish. Cream butter, sugar, salt, and cinnamon together. Add water and blend well. Pour over the carrots. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 90 minutes.

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

Party Potatoes

4-5 potatoes, cooked, drained, peeled & chopped
1 stick butter
2 T. sour cream
2 T. cream cheese with chives
1 1/2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
Milk
Salt & pepper
4 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled

After potatoes are cooked and drained, pour them back in the pot, adding butter, sour cream, cream cheese, and cheese. Blend until all lumps are gone and then add milk, salt and pepper. Top with bacon and more shredded cheese. If serving later, bake at 250 degrees for 45-60 minutes.

Serves 6-8

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

Fruitcake Cookies

1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. light brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/4 c. buttermilk
1 1/2 c. self-rising flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. ground allspice
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1 c. candied cherries, chopped
1 c. candied pineapple, chopped
1 c. dates, chopped
1 1/2 c. raisins (optional)
2 c. pecans, chopped

Combine butter and sugar, creaming until light and fluffy. Add egg, buttermilk, flour, baking soda, and spices; mix well. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop by the teaspoonful onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes.

Yields 7 dozen

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

White Bean Chili

2 cans Great Northern beans, drained
1 can Cannelli white beans, drained
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
2 medium onions, chopped
1 T. olive oil
2 large cans green chilies, chopped & drained
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 t. ground cumin
2 t. dried oregano
7 c. chicken broth
1 whole chicken, boiled & de-boned
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/2 bunch cilantro (chopped in food processor with jalapenos)
5 dashes chili powder
5 dashes cayenne
1 large jalapeno, chopped
1 c. Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded
1 bag Fritos chips

Saute onion in hot oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until tender. Add green chilies and next five ingredients, beans, corn, and chicken that has been torn or shredded in small bite-sized pieces. Add 1 large cup of Monterrey Jack cheese and stir until well-blended. You can simmer this for a couple of hours over low heat in Dutch oven or Crock Pot. Serve over Fritos topped with Monterrey Jack cheese.

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

Hash Browns & Chicken Casserole

1 chicken, cooked & shredded
1 (32 oz) bag frozen hash browns, thawed
1 can cream of chicken
1 lb. cheddar cheese, shredded
1 pint sour cream
1 small onion, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste
1/2 c. butter, melted
2 c. cornflakes

Mix together chicken, hash browns, cream of chicken, cheese, sour cream, onion, salt and pepper. Place in 9 X 13" baking dish. Combine melted butter and cornflakes. Sprinkle over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. This may be halved for smaller amounts.

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

Snicker Cookies

2 sticks butter
3 1/2 c. flour
1 c. peanut butter
1 t. baking soda
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 c. sugar
1 pkg. Snickers miniatures
2 eggs
2 T. vanilla

Combine butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar using a hand-held mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Slowly add eggs and vanilla; mix until thoroughly combined. Mix in flour, salt and baking soda. Cover and chill the dough for 2-3 hours. Unwrap Snickers and divide into 1 tablespoon balls and flatten. Place Snickers in center of dough and wrap around dough. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let cookies cool on wire rack.

Yields 5 dozen cookies

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

Party Cheesecakes

24 vanilla waffers
2 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 T. lemon juice
1 t. vanilla
1 (22 oz) can cherry pie filling
Whipped cream, optional

Place cupcake paper liners in 24 muffin cups. Put one vanilla waffer in the bottom of each. Combine cream cheese, sugar, eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla; beat until smooth. Pour into muffin cups to fill 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Chill overnight. Just before serving, spoon cherry pie filling on each mini cheesecake.

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

Chex Muddy Buddies

9 c. Chex (Corn, Rice, or Wheat)
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. butter
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Pour cereal in a large bowl and set aside. Combine chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter in a 1-quart microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for a minute or until smooth; stirring. Stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture over Chex; stirring until all pieces are evenly coated. Pour cereal mixture into a large freezer bag with powdered sugar; seal; shake until all pieces are well coated. Spread on wax paper to cool.

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

Cowboy Casserole

1 lb. ground beef
1 t. salt
1 (16 oz) can Ranch-style beans
1/2 c. BBQ sauce
2 T. brown sugar
1 t. minced onion
1 can refrigerated biscuits
1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

Brown meat and drain. Stir in salt, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and onions. Pour into 9 X 13" baking dish. Split biscuits into two parts and place on top of meat mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

Cowboy Casserole

1 lb. ground beef
1 t. salt
1 (16 oz) can Ranch-style beans
1/2 c. BBQ sauce
2 T. brown sugar
1 t. minced onion
1 can refrigerated biscuits
1 c. cheddar cheese

Brown meat and drain. Stir in salt, beans, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and onions. Pour into 9 X 13" baking dish. Split biscuits into two parts and place on top of meat mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

Dorito Casserole

1 large bag Doritos chips
2 lbs. beef, browned & drained
1 can cream of mushroom
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can Ranch-style beans
2 t. chili powder
Mild cheddar cheese, shredded

Grease the bottom of 9 X 13" baking dish. Crumble Doritos to cover the bottom of the dish. Mix the other ingredients (except cheese) together and put on top of the Doritos. Top with shredded cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until heated through and cheese melts.

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

Monkey Bread

This is one of favorite goodies. I love Monkey Bread!

3/4 c. sugar + 1 c.
1/2 t. cinnamon + 1 1/2 t.
1/2 c. pecans
4 cans refrigerated biscuits
3/4 c. butter

Combine 3/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut biscuits into four pieces and shake in sugar mixture. Place in greased bundt pan. Sprinkle pecans on top. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 3/4 cup butter; bring to a boil. Pour over the top of biscuits and pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

From the kitchen of ... Cindy

Sausage Balls

3 c. Bisquick
1 pkg. Owens hot sausage, room temperature
1 pkg. Owens regular sausage, room temperature
3 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

Mix Bisquick and cheese in a (very) large bowl until well-blended. Work in the sausage (with your hands) until the mixture is well-blended. After blended, form into small/medium-sized balls and place on well greased cookie sheet (these do not rise). Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until golden brown. These freeze beautifully.

Yields 2 cookie sheets

From the kitchen of ... Cindy