Killer Krunch Brownies

1 cup butter - soft
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
6 Tbsp cocoa
1 cup flour
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 small jar marshmallow creme
1 pkg semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
3 cups Rice Krispies

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs. Stir in cocoa, flour, vanilla and salt. spread in greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Spread jar of marshmallow creme over top (gently) (helps to stick it back into the oven for a minute and then spread) Melt 1 pkg chocolate chips and 1 cup peanut butter. Stir in 3 cups cereal. Spread over top of marshmallow creme. Refrigerate and cut. -Shan

Foolproof Vodka Pie Crust

1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
6 Tbsp cold unsalted butter
1/4 cup cold vegetable shortening
2 Tbsp vodka, cold
2 Tbsp water, cold

Process 3/4 cup flour, salt and sugar in a food processor. Add butter and shortening and pulse for 10 seconds. Scrape down sides and add rest of flour and pulse. Trasnfer to bowl and add vodka and water. Flatten to a disk and refrigerate 45 minutes. Remove and roll into pie crust. (dough can be refrigerated up to two days) -shan

No Bake Cookies

1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
3 Tbsp cocoa
2 cups sugar
1 cup peanut butter (creamy)
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 cups quick cook oatmeal

Melt butter, milk, cocoa and suagar. Bring to boil and let boil for one minute. Turn down to a simmer. Add peanut butter and stir until melted. Turn heat off then add vanilla and oatmeal. Stir well. Drop by Tbsp onto cookie sheet or wax paper. Cool and store in an airtight container. -Shan

Frozen Fruit Cups

1 6oz can frozen lemonade
1 6oz can frozen orange juice
16 oz frozen strawberries
1 small can crushed pineapple in juice
3 diced bananas
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup sugar

Mix altogether and put into clear solo punch cups. Place small piece of freezer press and seal on top of each cup nad freeze. Makes 11-12. (I always make a double batch of these b/c we eat them ALL the time! If you're on weight watchers, these are 1 plus point each! -Shan

Cheerio Bars

6 cups Cheerios
3 Tbsp margarine
10 oz bag marshmallows
1 small/reg pkg dried cranberries

Melt margarine. Add marshmallows. Once melted, add cheerios and dried fruit. Lightly press into a sprayed 9x13 pan. -Shan

Butterscotch Coffee-Cake

1 box yellow cake mix
1 box instant vanilla pudding mix (small box)
2 eggs

Topping:
1/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350. Mix pudding as directed and set aside to set. Add cake mix and eggs to pudding mixture and mix until blended. pour into greased jelly roll pan. Mixi ingredients together for topping and sprinkle on top of the cake.
Bake for 30-35 minutes. - Shan

Cranberry Snack Mix

1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup corn syrup
1 tsp soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 pkg quaker oats squares cereal - cinnamon flavor
1 bag dried cranberries
1 large package whole pecans

Microwave butter, sugar and syrup for one minute. Stir. Repeat this twice. Add soda and vanilla. Pour over cereal, cranberries and pecans. Stir. Bake at 250 on a foil-lined and sprayed pan for one hour. Stir every 15 minutes. Cool on wax paper and store in airtight container. -Shan

Italian Appetizer Bites

2 8oz pkgs crescent rolls
1/2 lb deli salami; sliced
1/2 lb deli sliced provolone cheese
1/2 lb deli ham
7 eggs
1 cup grated parmesan
2 6oz jars roasted red peppers; drained

Heat oven to 350. Spray 9x13 glass dish. Spread 1 pkg crescent rolls into pan and pinch seams together. Layer 1/2 salami, provolone, ham. Lightly beat 6 eggs with cheese. Pour half over top. Top with 1/2 peppers. Repeat layers. Top with last package of rolls (I usually press seams together and then gently put the top layer on) Lightly beat 1 egg and brush on top. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 30 minutes. Cool one hour. Cut into 32 quares and serve.
Brought this to the winery over the summer and they went over VERY well! -Shan

Rotel Chip Dip

1 brick cream cheese
1 can rotel
1 pkg Jimmy Dean sausage; browned
cheddar cheese

Spread layer of cream cheese onto oven-proof serving dish. Drain can of rotel and put over cream cheese. Sprinkle browned sausage on top. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes. Serve with chips. -Shan

FAVORITE Cowboy Caviar

15 oz white shoepeg corn; drained
15 oz canned black beans; rinsed and drained
2 medium avocados; diced
1 cup tomato; diced
1 cup scallions; diced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
4 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp cumin

Stir altogether and serve with chips. Refrigerate leftovers (but tastes best the day it's made) -Shan

Cheese Ball

8 oz cream cheese
4 oz sharp cheddar cheese
2 oz blue cheese; crumbled
2 Tbsp onion; grated
1 garlic clove; minced
4 dashed Worcestershire sauce
1 (2 1/4oz) can green olives
1/2 cup pecans; chopped small

In food processor, mix cheeses, onion, garlic and pulse into small chunks. Shape into ball and refrigerate. Roll ball into pecans and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Serve with crackers. GREAT with wine!! -Shan

Vodka Strawberry Lemonade with Basil

10 lemons
3/4 cup superfine sugar
4 cups water
8-10 strawberries
1/3 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup vodka

Juice lemons. Add sugar and water. Add berries and basil and blend with immersion blender. Add alcohol. Serve with ice. To die for!! -Shan

Bacon Wrapped Poppers

Jalapenos
Pineapple flavored cream cheese
bacon

Hollow out jalapenos. Fill with cream cheese. Wrap 1/2 slice bacon around and insert toothpick. Grill. -shan

4 Minute Spicy Garlic Shrimp

12 Shrimp (Jumbo sized, peeled, deveined and tails in tact)
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves (crushed)
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp Montreal Steak seasoning
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)

Heat large skillet over medium high heat. Add olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes and shrimp. Seasom with grill seasoning or salt and pepper. Cook shrimp 3 minutes or just until pink. Toss with lemon zest, juice and chopped parsley. Remove shrimp to serving platter and serve. -Shan

Vanilla Milkshake Alcoholic Drink

1 shot Pinnacle whipped cream vodka
1/2 shot vanilla Kahlua
1/2 and 1/2 to fill line of small martini shaker

Fill shaker with ice. Add ingredients and shake and serve over ice. My fave! - shan

Favorite Peanut Clusters

1 lb chocolate almond bark
1/2 bag milk chocolate chips
1 bag toffee chips
1 container honey roasted peanuts

Melt bark and chips in microwave. Add nuts and drop onto wax paper to dry. -Shan

Candied Popcorn

3 - 3 1/2 batches popped popcorn (1/2 c kernels per batch)
1 cup butter
1 1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup

Pop popcorn. Melt butter. Stir in sugar and syrup. Stir until dissolved and allow to bubble for one minute. Drizzle mixture over popcorn in batches to coat evenly. Allow to dry for a little whilte then store in an airtight container. (don't have to use all fo the coating/mixture. I sometimes use it all, and sometimes I don't!) This is requested often by my family ! - Shan

Country Vanilla Homemade Ice Cream

4 eggs
2 1/4 cup sugar
1 qp whipping cream
4 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
5 cups milk

Beat eggs with mixer until frothy. Gradually add sugar, beating until mixture becomes thick (about 5 minutes). Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into freezer can (1 gallon) and freeze as directed. Let ripen in freezer overnight. Very good! -Shan

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

4 cups fresh rhubarb - 1 inch diced (4-5 stalks)
4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup grated orange zest
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 cup flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup quick cook oats
12 Tbsp unsalted butter; diced (1 1/2 sticks)

Preheat oven to 350. Toss rhubarb and strawberries, 3/4 cup sugar and orange zest in large bowl. In measuring cup, dissolve cornstarch in orange juice, then mix into fruit. Pour into 8x11 baking dish and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
For topping, in a bowl/mixer, combine flour, the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar and salt and oatmeal. With mixer on low speed, add butter and mix until dry ingredients are moist and mixture is in crumbles. Sprinkle over fruit. Bake for one hour until fruit is bubbling and top is golden brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream - YUMMO! -Shan

Butterfinger Dessert

1 prepared angel food cake
1 pkg fat free/sugar free pudding
2 8oz containers cool whip free
4 regular sized Butterfinger candy bars

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Tear angelfood cake into bite sized pieces. Prepare pudding with 1 1/2 cup skim milk and mix with two containers of cool whip free. Crush candy bars. Layer half cake, half of pudding mixture, half of butterfinger candybars. Repeat layers.

This is actually a weight watcher recipe! If you assume this serves 15, it would equate to 4 pluspoints per serving! -shan

Crunchy Apple and Grape Salad

Dressing:
1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup mayo
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Fruits:
4 apples, cored and diced
1 pear, cored and diced
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup walnuts; chopped
2 cups seedless grapes, halved

Mix all the dressing ingredients together in a medium sized bowl. Stick this in the fridge while you make the salad. Once you have all the fruit and nuts chopped up, pour the dressing and stir gently to coat. Refrigerate any leftovers. -shan

Favorite Chocolate Cake

2 cups sugar
1 tsp soda
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup coffee (brewed)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup boiling water
Mix all ingredients together. Bake in lightly sprayed 9x13 pan at 350 for 30 minutes. Don't really need to frost this cake as it's very moist - can dust with powdered sugar or serve with cool whip.

Pecan Crusted Salmon

Salmon Fillets
1 cup crushed pecans
1 small can fried onions
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp BBQ seasoning (like Lawrys)

Crush ingredients in a baggie. Oil the salmon fillets with olive oil. Pat the crushed mix into the salmon on both sides. Grill salmon for 20 minutes (do not flip the salmon) Enjoy! -shan

BLT Dip

8 oz cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayo (I use Hellmans)
1 cup plain yogurt
bacon to taste (fried and crumbled)
4 green onions, chopped
1 large tomato (or one can drained rotel)
1 3cup bag of shredded cheddar

Mix altogether and refrigerate. Serve with crackers and bread pieces. -Shan

Breakfast Strata with Spinach and Mushroom

14oz French Bread, sliced 1/2 inch thick
9 Tbsp unsalted butter; softened
8 medium shallots, minced
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
20 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 cup dry white wine
12 oz havarti cheese, sliced thin, or 12 oz grated gruyere cheese
12 large eggs
2 1/2 cups half and half
salt
ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 225. Arrange bread slices in a single layer on two large baking sheets and bake until dry and crisp. (about 40 mins, turning slices over half way through drying time) When cooled, butter slices on ONE side. Set aside.
Heat 3 1/2 Tbsp butter and saute shallots and mushrooms until shallots become fragrant and translucent (about 3 minutes)
Add spinach to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach and shallots are combined, about three minutes. Transfer to bowl and set aside.
Add wine to skillet. Increase heat to medium high and simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup (3-4 minutes). Set aside.
Butter a 9x13 pan. Arrange half of the buttered bread slices, buttered side up, in a single layer in the dish/pan. Spread haf of the spinach mixture, then lay half of the cheese mixture. Arrange remaining bread slices in single layer over cheese, spread remaining spinach mixture and the remaining cheese on top.
Whisk eggs in bowl until combined. Whisk in reduced wine, half and half, 2 tsp salt and pepper to taste. Pour mixture evenly over bread. Cover surface with plastic and weigh down and refrigerate at least one hour or up to overnight.
Remove from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes. Heat oven to 326. Uncover and bake until both edges and center are puffed and edges ahave pulled away slightly from sides of dish. (60-70 minutes) Cool on wire rack 5 minutes. Serve.
One of my most favorite breakfast casseroles - taken from Cooks Illustrated. -Shan

5 Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup oatmeal (I used quick oats)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup each milk chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white baking chips and butterscotch chips

Directions

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chips.
• Drop by rounded Tablespoons 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 1 minute before removing to wire racks. Yield: 4-1/2 dozen.

(Reduced-fat peanut butter is not recommended for this recipe.  And really – this isn’t a low-fat recipe, so just enjoy the extra calories – life is short!  J)

Apple Crisp

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups rolled oats

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cups butter

2 quarts peeled, cored and sliced apples

 

Directions

 

Antipasti

Veggies & Meats

Artichokes – unmarinated & drained

Fresh Asparagus/Fresh Green Beans – steam lightly then cold bath

Zucchini/Yellow Squash – cut into strips

Mushrooms

Pepperoni/Hard Salami

Marinate these veggies in Ziploc baggie

 

Marinade

4 pkgs. Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing Mix (dry)

4 cloves garlic – crushed

2 times the oil on packet (4 cups for 4 pkgs.)

Salad Vinegar to equal water & vinegar on packets (2 ¼ cups for 4 pkgs.)

(No water is added)

*2 times this marinade will marinade veggies for approximately 30 people.

Arrange marinated veggies & meats on top of lettuce leaves.  Also add:

Variety of cubed cheeses

Tomatoes

Black & Green Olives

Drizzle extra marinade over top.  Serve.

Lemony Light Cooler

3 c white grape juice, or 1 bottle dry white wine, chilled

1/2 to 3/4 c sugar

1/2 c lemon juice

1 liter club soda, chilled

Strawberries or plum, peach, or orange slices, or other fruit