Cherry Dream Bars

I found this recipe on chef in training posted from another food blogger and it looks like something I would like.  I have not tried it yet so I will let you know if it is a keeper or not. It was for Valentines Day!

Cherry Dream Bars
Ingredients
For the Bars:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling

For the Glaze:
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 Tblsp milk

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Line an 8 x 8 baking pan with aluminum foil.  Spray with Pam. Set aside
In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar for 1 - 2 min.  Add salt, eggs, and vanilla and continue stirring until fully incorporated.  Add flour and baking powder and mix until just combined.  Reserve 1/2 cup dough.  Press remaining dough into prepared baking pan.  Top with cherry pie filling.  Drop remaining batter (1/2 cup) in small pieces over the cherry pie filling.
Place in the oven and bake for 50 - 60 min or until golden brown.  Remove from the oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool.  Once cooled , prepare glaze .  Whisk together glaze ingredient and drizzle over bars.  Cut into 12 squares.

Creamy Cheesy Carrot Casserole

I got this recipe from chef in training , it is her family favorite!
I love carrots, this is a way to get your kids to eat carrots!

Creamy Cheesy Carrot Casserole

Ingredients:
3 cups peeled and sliced carrots
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half and half
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1 1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp celery salt
6 - 7 slices white bread
8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 Tbsp butter
Instructions:
Make white sauce:  In a large sauce pan, melt butter in saucepan, add flour, and stir to combine.  Once you have your roux, add half and half and stir constantly until sauce thickens.  Remove from heat and stir in salt, onion powder, dry mustard, pepper and celery salt.
In a 9 x 13 pan, layer peeled and sliced carrots, then white sauce, then evenly sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar cheese over white sauce.
Place slices of white bread in blender and blend until it turns into bread crumbs.
In a skillet, heat 3 Tbslp of butter and then saute bread crumbs in the butter until golden in color.
Evenly sprinkle bread crumbs over shredded cheese on the casserole
Cover casserole with foil and Bake at 350 degrees for 20 min.  After 20 minutes, uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

I found this recipe on the favorite ones of chef in training's hubby.  I have not tried them yet but plan to, and will post this on my site for now as I have no doubt they are out of this world.  Can find his comments herehttp://www.chef-in-training.com/2012/12/creamy-scalloped-potatoes/

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients:
10-11 small red potatoes
2 (5.2 oz) package Boursin cheese , I use the Garlic and Fine Herb Flavor  (found at Sam's or Costco)
1 pint heavy whipping cream
grated Parmesan Cheese
salt
Instructions:
Scrub potatoes and cut off the ends.  Thinly slice them in a food processor or by hand if you don't have one.  The thinner the better.
Mix together Boursin cheese and heavy whipping cream until evenly combined.
Spread a layer of potatoes in 9 x 13 baking dish.  Salt lightly.  Pour some of the cream/cheese mixture over the potatoes.  Compress by mashing with hand.  This helps the cream/cheese mixture get in all the cracks and spaces of the potatoes.  Sprinkle lightly with parmesan cheese.
Continue this layering process with the salt, cream /cheese mixture and parmesan cheese, mashing between each layer.  I typically get about three different layers.
Bake at 350 degrees until done (about 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes)

Crock Pot Honey Maple BBQ Ribs

I love ribs more than anything.  And juicy sweet tender fall off the bone ribs even more!  Here is a recipe I found at chef in training, the link is here    This was on her hubby's favorites list so I am sure they are out of this world.

Slow Cooker Honey Maple BBQ Ribs

Ingredients:
3 lbs baby back pork rib rack
salt and pepper
1/3 cup honey
3 Tblsp mustard
1/4 cup real maple syrup
1 cup honey BBQ sauce, I love Sweet Baby Ray's
Additional honey BBQ sauce for after ribs are cooked

Instructions:
Season rib rack with salt and pepper
Place and line the rib rack (height wise) in slow cooker, Place the meaty side facing the outer wall of the slow cooker.  Rib rack should curve with the wall of slow cooker.
In a medium bowl, combine honey, mustard, real maple syrup and honey BBQ sauce and stir until well combined
Take a pastry brush, or smear/spread with spoon, and pour and coat evenly entire rib rack, making sure to get both sides and all edges of the rib rack.
Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours, until meat is done and tender. 

Once cooked, remove from slow cooker and layer on extra BBQ sauce.

Turkey and Cranberry Sub Sandwich

I love turkey and cranberry sandwiches, especially the one at Kneaders.  I found this copy cat recipe for a Downtowner sandwich from chef in training at this site:  It sounds like the same sandwich I love so I am posting it here in my favorites!

Turkey and Cranberry Sandwich aka Downtowner Sandwich

Makes one sandwich

Ingredients:
1 6 inch sub sandwich loaf (sometimes you can buy bread from Subway or Nikki
             says to buy it from Sam's-the 12 in loaf and cut that in half)
4 Tblsp softened cream cheese (can use the spreadable kind)
1/4 tsp dill
4 to 5 thin slices Turkey Breast
2 slices Swiss or Provolone Cheese
2 Tbsp cranberry sauce
1/2 avocado (sliced thinly)
1/2 cup shredded lettuce
Instructions:
Cut sub sandwich loaf in half length wise to create a top and bottom half of sandwich
Spread about 2 Tblsp of cream cheese on the inside of each sandwich half
Sprinkle the top of the cream cheese lightly with dill
Place turkey slices on bottom half of sandwich and place the two slices of cheese over the top of turkey
Place sandwich halves on microwave safe plate and microwave the sandwich halves for about 30 sec or until cheese begins to melt
Smear cranberry sauce over the top half of sandwich.  Place avocado slices over the top of the cranberry sauce.  next place shredded lettuce evenly over the top of the avocado
Place the two sandwich halves together and enjoy!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pillows

This is similar to the chicken pillow pockets but a little better with ham and bacon and swiss cheese and a delicious homemade sauce instead of the cream of soup and sour cream.  This came from Chef in Training and can be found here:

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pillows

Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 Tblsp butter, softened
2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
1/2 cup cooked and diced ham
6 pieces cooked and diced bacon
1 cup swiss cheese
1 can Pillsbury Grand Crescent Rolls
1 egg
1 cup plain bread crumbs
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
2 Tblsp  dried parsley flakes

Sauce:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half and half
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 cup swiss cheese

Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and butter and stir until well combined.
Add chicken, ham, bacon, and swiss cheese to the cream cheese mixture and evenly stir into the mixture.
Lay out the 8 crescents on a cookie sheet .  Stretch the crescent out width wise.
Place a couple large spoonfuls of the creamy chicken mixture into the center of the crescent to fill it.  Then fold the crescent around the mixture so that all the cream cheese mixture is sealed off by the crescent roll.  I'll call this the "pillow"
In a separate smaller bowl, put the egg and a little bit of water, maybe a couple Tablespoons worth and beat together.
In another separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, panko bread crumbs and dried parsley flakes.
Dip the "pillow" into the blended egg,   After dipping into the egg, proceed to dip it into the bread crumb mixture and place on greased cookie sheet.  Repeat for the remaining 7 crescents.  Cook the pillows at 400 for 20 min.  Keep an eye on them as your oven may cook them quicker, don't burn them!
For the Sauce:
To make sauce melt butter in a large sauce pan.  Once melted add flour and stir for a minute or two to make a roux.  Once roux is made, add half and half slowly, stirring constantly, until all has been added and sauce thickens to desired consistency.  Remove from heat and add garlic salt, onion powder.  Stir in Swiss Cheese until melted into sauce
Drizzle each pillow with sauce.

(I, Sandee, have not made this using one triangle, I have always had to use two triangles, so you may want to buy 2 cans of the rolls, I like to make these bigger)

Baked Cream Cheese Rangoons

I love cream cheese wontons and found this recipe at chef in training, the picture and link is here

Baked Cream Cheese Rangoons

Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/8 tsp minced garlic
1/8 tsp salt
1 Tblsp chopped green onion
1 egg
24 wonton wrappers

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, garlic, salt and green onion until well mixed
Whisk egg until well beaten in a small bowl
Place one teaspoon of cream cheese mixture into the center of one wonton wrapper
Dip your finger into the beaten egg and lightly coat the outer edges of the wonton wrapper
Bring all the corners of the wonton together up to the center and pinch. Pinch all the sides together to form an "X" or star appearance.  Place on greased cookie sheet
Repeat for remaining wontons
Lightly spray the tops of the wontons with cooking spray
Bake at 400 degrees for 7 to 12 min or until tops are golden brown in color.

Dip into sweet and sour sauce and enjoy!

Sweet and Salty Trail Mix

The combination of sweet and salty is really good, I have seen different versions put together and I like this one from chef in training at this site:

Sweet and Salty Trail Mix

Ingredients:

1 (18.75 oz) bag Chex Mix Traditional Snack Mix

2 1/2 cups Bugles

2 1/2 cups Chocolate Chip Teddy Grahams

1 1/2 cups M & M's (pretzel or peanut or regular)

1 cup licorice bits

1 1/2  cups Sweedish Fish

1 1/2 cups Gold Fish Crackers

YUMMY!

Orange Fluff Jello Salad Recipe

This recipe is from six sisters and you can see it at this following site:   It is very yummy and the kids love it!

Orange Fluff Jello Salad Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 large package Cook and Serve vanilla pudding (4.6 ounces)
1 large package orange jell-o (6 ounces)
2 cups water
1 16 oz Cool-Whip (lite or fat-free is fine)
1/2 bag mini marshmallows

20 ounce can pineapple tidbits (drained)

22 ounces mandarin oranges (drained)

2 to 3  bananas, sliced (Optional, put in before serving so they don’t turn brown in the fridge)

Directions:
Mix together pudding, Jell-o, and water over medium heat until it boils. Remove from heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Refrigerate until mixture has thickened (about an hour). Beat until creamy. Fold in Cool Whip, marshmallows, and fruit. Chill about an hour before serving.

Meatballs with Cream Sauce

Okay, I made this recipe today for Shauna who just had a baby.  I love this recipe, the meatballs are so good and so easy to make using the oven!  I got this from mel's kitchen cafe at this site:  she has great recipes!
Meatballs with Cream Sauce

INGREDIENTS

Meatballs:
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 T. ketchup
• 1 t. Worcestershire sauce
• 3/4 cup quick oats
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
• 1 t. salt
• 1/4 t. pepper
• 1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef or lean ground turkey
• 3 T. flour
Cream Sauce:
• 2 T. butter
• 3 1/2 T. flour
• 1/4 t. dried thyme
• 1/4 t. salt
• 1/8 t. pepper
• 14 oz. can chicken broth (If you want your sauce thicker, cut down the chicken broth to 1 cup)
• 2/3 cup milk
• 2 T. minced fresh parsley

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine all of the meatball ingredients EXCEPT the beef and flour. Add beef and mix well. Shape into balls. Roll in flour, shaking off excess. Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet and bake, uncovered, at 400 for 10 minutes. Turn meatballs, bake 8-10 minutes longer or until no longer pink.
2. Meanwhile, for the sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, thyme, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add broth and milk; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, until slightly thickened. If using the full can of chicken broth, the sauce doesn’t thicken overly much, but it is delicious that way. If you want it slightly thicker, cut down the chicken broth to 1 cup.
3. Drain meatballs on paper towels; transfer to a serving dish. Top with sauce and parsley. Serve over rice or egg noodles (I used egg noodles and loved the result!).

For the nourishment of the soul:

"To really have a true love, you have to understand your relationship to the Savior and the love that emanates from Him.

BBQ Bacon Ham French Bread Pizza

Okay, this recipe came from chef in training at this following web site   Her husband picks his favorites and this one is really good and easy as well, I would like to put it with my favorites!

BBQ Bacon Ham French Bread Pizza
Ingredients:
1 loaf french bread, sliced in half lengthwise
8 slices of deli ham, more or less depending on size of loaf
Favorite barbeque sauce (she likes Sweet Baby Rays, so do I)
8 slices Colby Jack cheese
12 pieces cooked bacon
1 green onion, diced

Honey Dijon Sauce:
6 Tblsp Grey Poupon mustard
9 Tblsp mayo
3 tsp yellow mustard
3 tsp honey

Instructions:
Make honey dijon sauce and set aside
Toast the french bread under the broiler until desired toast
Spread the mustard sauce over the toasted bread 
Layer sliced ham generously over the sauce
Drizzle barbeque sauce over the ham
Cut bacon into bite size pieces and sprinkle over barbeque sauce
Place cheese over bacon and broil until cheese is melted
Garnish with green onions

Side note from Sandee:  I like to leave out the ham and use chicken that I have previously cooked and is in bite sized pieces, yum!

and now for the nourishment of the soul:
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out"

Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake

I recently helped with a baby shower for my daughter Jenna in which we made muffins but I also ended up making coconut bread and lemon bread.  It was then that I got to thinking it would be nice to have several other breads to choose from as the muffins dont seem to go over as well as sweet breads do. .. so instead of my lemon blueberry muffins, I found this lemon blueberry poundcake from chef in training, she has the best recipes, you can find a picture of this bread here

Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake (Bread)
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 3/4 cups sugar
zest of one lemon
3 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 cups fresh blueberries
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Lemon Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 Tblsp lemon juice
1 Tblsp lemon zest
1 Tblsp milk
1/4 tsp vanilla

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In large bowl, cream butter, sugar and lemon zest together for 3 to 5 minutes.
Add eggs one at a time and beat an addition of one min per egg
In a separate large bowl, mix and combine dry ingredients together.
Add dry ingredients alternatively with the buttermilk to the butter/sugar/lemon zest/egg mixture
Fold in blueberries
Grease and flour either 2 large bread pans or 3 small bread pans
Pour batter and bake at 350 degrees for 55 - 60 min
Let loaves cool and pour glaze over them
For LEMON GLAZE:
Whisk  glaze ingredients together until smooth


Yay for delicious bread, it is easier than having to scoop batter into individual cups.  Love chef in training web site!

And for nourishment of the soul  here is a saying I found on faceboook:

"Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination.  The best is yet to come"

also "The moment I stop comparing myself to others is the moment I find my true strength"