Crunchy Choco-Caramel-Corn {from Lynnie}

(If you like crunchy caramel corn, you could increase the sauce a teeny bit and stop after step 3. I personally prefer mom's amazing gooey caramel corn, but for crunchy, this recipe is pretty tasty and would be good with  just the popcorn.)

4 cups popped kettle corn

1/4 c brown sugar

2 tbsp butter

1 tbsp corn syrup

1/8 tsp baking soda

¾ c mini marshmallows

¾ c m&ms

¼ c chocolate chips

¼  c butterscotch chips

¼ c creamy peanut butter

1.       Pour measured popcorn into large microwaveable bowl.

2.       Line cookie sheet with waxed paper

3.       In small microwaveable bowl, microwave brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup uncovered on high for 45 seconds, stir, and cook for 1 more minute. Stir in baking soda until dissolved. Pour over popcorn, stirring until evenly coated. Microwave on high for 45 seconds, stir, microwave 45 seconds, stir, microwave 45 seconds, stir. Spread on cookie sheet. Cool. Break into bite-sized pieces.

4.       Sprinkle marshmallows and m&ms over popcorn.

5.       In small microwaveable bowl, microwave chocolate and butterscotch chips for 50 seconds. Stir. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. If close to being melted, add pb and microwave another 20-30 seconds. Stir. Continue to heat if needed, until chips and pb and completed melted and mixed well. Drizzle over popcorn.

6.       Chill in fridge until set.

7.       Break apart and store in tightly covered container.

Smoky Mac & Cheese {from Lynnie}

3 cups uncooked shell pasta

2 ¼ c whipping cream

1 ½ tsp Dijon mustard

½ tsp ground red pepper (cayenne)

¾ tsp course (kosher or sea) salt

2 cups shredded cheese

½ c shredded cheese

¾ lb ground sausage, cooked and drained

¾ c diced onions and green peppers, sauteed

1 or 1 ½ cans diced tomatoes, drained

¼ c sliced green onions

½ c grated parmesan

½c bread crumbs

2 tsp olive oil

1. Cook pasta. Drain, return to saucepan, cover to keep warm
2. Meanwhile, heat oven to 375*. Spray 13x9 glass baking dish with cooking spray.
3. In saucepan, heat whipping cream, mustard, salt, and red pepper to boiling. Reduce heat and stir in 2 c cheese with whisk until smooth. (We couldn’t taste the red pepper, so we might just leave it out next time…or ad more.)
4. Pour sauce over macaroni. Stir in tomatoes, green onions, sausage, and onion/pepper mixture. Pour into baking dish. Sprinkle ½ c cheese on top.
5. In small bowl, mix parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Stir in oil (opt – I didn’t use this). Sprinkle over top of macaroni mix.
6. Bake uncovered 15-20 min or until edges are bubbly and top is golden brown

Grace's Cheese Ball

16 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 package of Italian Seasoning (dry mix)
Mixed Nuts

Combine cream cheese with the seasoning. Mix well. Place in plastic wrap. Cover with wrap and form a ball. Place in refrigerator until firm. Put nuts in bowl and roll around cheese ball until covered with nuts. Place on plate and serve with ritz crackers.

Broccoli & Cheese Casserole {from Grace}

2 bags frozen broccoli
1 lb. Velveeta cheese
1 c. margarine
1 pack of ritz crackers crumbled

Cook broccoli in microwave until edible. Drain water, put into a 9x13 pan. Melt cheese and margarine together over med/low heat. Drizzle cheese on top of broccoli. Sprinkle crackers on top. bake for 15-20 minutes, at 350 degrees, or until bubbling.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole {from Grace}

6 breasts of chicken
8 thin slices of ham
8 slices of Swiss cheese
1 1/2 cans cream of chicken
1/2 c. melted butter
2 cups stovetop stuffing mix

Put chicken in baking dish. Cover with ham, then cheese, the cream of chicken. In small bowl mix butter and stuffing. Spread on top of chicken. Bake for 1hr at 350. (cover last 15 min if stuffing is too brown)

Taco Pie {from Mom}

1 (8 oz.) package refrigerated crescent rolls

1 lb. ground bef

1 (1 oz.) package taco seasoning mix

1 (16 oz.) container sour cream

8 oz. shredded Mexican-style cheese blend

1 (14 oz.) bag tortilla chips, crushed. 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Lay crescent dough flat on the bottom of a square cake pan and bake according to package directions.
3. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the taco seasoning and stir together well. When dough is done, remove from oven and place meat mixture on top, then layer with sour cream and cheese, and then top off with the crushed nacho chips.
4. Return to oven and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

Butterfingers {from Mom}

1/4 cup butter         2 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 cups flour       1 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar              2/3 cup milk

Heat oven to 425. Put butter in 9x9 square pan and put in oven while it is heating to melt...remove.
Mix dry ingredients. Add milk and stir to form dough. Turn dough on floured surface and next 7-8 times.  Roll into 8 inch square and cut in half, then cut each half into nine - 4" strips. Dip each strip in melted butter, turn over and put in pan, strips close together. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

*I half this for Dad and I and bake in a bread pan because they aren't that good left over. When everyone was home I 1 1/2 the recipe.