TIE-DYE CAKE

TIE-DYE CAKE

★★★★★

WHAT YOU'LL NEED: 
1 box of vanilla or white cake mix
ASSORTED food coloring (the more the colors the more awesome the cake)
CAKE FROSTING (OF YOUR CHOICE)

HOW TO MAKE IT: Mix all batter components according to box cake instructions, then evenly separate the batter into bowl or containers, (one container for each food coloring color you have). Next, drop enough food coloring into each bowl and mix until the batter is (red, orange, green, blue, purple, etc.). The more food coloring, the brighter the color. Obviously. Next, get a spoon for each color of batter and spoon out a little at a time into the baking pan you're going to bake the cake in. You'll continue to do this until the whole bottom of the pan has batter, then you'll layer the batter with a different color on top of the color underneath it. (I know, I'm terrible at explaining things. I'll be sure to post pictures with this one). After the whole pan is filled, bake like usual, and then frost once cake has cooled. This cake takes a while to make, because you have to layer all the batter, but the results are pretty awesome.

This is what your first layer should look like.

The batter and all the different colors. My friend Milae decided to use knives instead of spoons.  Whatever floats your boat, but honestly, we probably didn't have any clean spoons. That semester I honestly think we had MAYBE 5.

And the final product! Isn't that awesome?!

CREAM CHEESE BROWNIES

CREAM CHEESE BROWNIES

★★★★★

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
8 oz. cream cheese (packet not out of tub)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
1 box of brownie mix

HOW TO MAKE IT: Mix brownie batter according to box instructions and pour into 8x8 baking pan. With a mixer mix cream cheese, vanilla, egg, and sugar. Then drop spoonfuls of the mixture randomly over brownie mix in pan. Next take a knife and slowly swirl the mixture to make a "swirly" design. After everything is in the pan and ready, bake in preheated oven at 350 ℉ for about 30 minutes. You might need more or less time if you use a different sized pan. Once brownies are baked allow for them to cool completely before cutting.

Thank you to my sister, Haley Pendergast, for the recipe. This is her specialty.

First put the brownie mix from the box into pan.

Then add the cream cheese mixture.

Swirl around with a knife. You get this awesomeness.

And presto. The final product ready to be chowed down.

OREO MILKSHAKE

OREO MILKSHAKE

★★★★★

What you'll need: 
2-4 scoops Vanilla ice cream
2-4 Ice Cubes
4-6 Oreos
1-2 cups milk
(I guessed on all this cuz I haven't made one of these in ages)

How to make it: Depending on how much you want to make add in a couple of scoops of ice cream, ice, and a few Oreos, pour in about a 1/2 cup-1 cup of milk (enough so that everything will blend without the blender blades getting stuck). THE AMOUNT OF INGREDIENTS Kind of just depends how thick and Oreo-ey you want it.:)

Tip: You can use Cookies and Cream ice cream instead of vanilla to save the trouble of getting Oreos.

COOKIE SALAD

COOKIE SALAD

★★★★★

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
2 (3.4oz.) vanilla pudding mix
1 pint buttermilk
16 oz. tub of cool whip (thawed)
2 (11oz.) cans madrin oranges (drained)
1 (20oz.) package of fudge-striped cookies

HOW TO MAKE IT: Mix vanilla pudding mix with buttermilk, fold in cool whip, cookies, and madrin oranges. Cool in refrigerator.

TIP: Adding pineapple to the mix is good, too.

CHOCOLATE/BANANA CARNATION BREAKFAST DRINK SMOOTHIE

CHOCOLATE/BANANA CARNATION BREAKFAST DRINK SMOOTHIE

★★★★★

What you'll need: 
Carnation Breakfast Essentials Chocolate flavor
1-2 cups milk
banana
1-2 tbsp. peanut butter
2-3 ice cubes

How to make it: Blend desired amount of chocolate powder, milk, half a banana, and a couple tablespoons of peanut butter, and ice in a blender. Delicious way to start your morning.

LLAPINGACHOS

LLAPINGACHOS

★★
I made these for my spanish class my freshman year of high school- biggest pain ever to make, but sort of tasty. lol

What you'll need: 
4-6 whole potatoes
1 bag shredded cheddar or mexican cheese.

How to make it: Wash and peel potatoes (4-6). Cut potatoes into fourths and boil until soft all the way through. Mash up potatoes enough so that a small bit can be rolled into a ball. Take mashed potatoes and roll into 1-2 inch balls. Push a hole in the middle of each ball with your thumb so that it forms a bowl. Fill hole with shredded cheese and cover top of hole with mashed potatoes. Use your hands to flatten ball into an oval shape to prevent it from rolling around in the pan. Make as many as supplies will allow. Next in a pan pour a thin layer of vegetable oil to fry filled potato ovals. Over medium to light heat fry llapingachos until light brown. Fry each side.

Warning: Be careful not to burn your self with the oil! It tends to splash.

Note: This is a traditional Ecuadorian food. The process is long for such a simple food. But they're a fun way to just spend time with someone. I thought about adding bacon bits or chives but haven't tried it yet.

PANANACAKES

PANANACAKES (Banana Pancakes)

★★★

What you'll need:
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg (beaten)
1 cup milk
2 tbs. vegetable oil
2 ripe bananas mashed

How to make it: Mix wet and dry ingredients separately. Then combine the mixtures. Batter will be lumpy. Cook on pan sprayed with non-stick oil. Cook on medium heat.

Tip: Eat with peanut butter spread over pancake or drizzle with chocolate syrup.

CHICKEN ALFREDO NACHOS

CHICKEN ALFREDO NACHOS

★★

What you'll need: 
1 bag Tortilla chips
1 rotisserie chicken
1 can drained and rinsed black beans
1 can jalapenos
1 jar of alfredo sauce.

How to make it: Cover a baking sheet with foil. Spread tortilla chips out on baking sheet over foil. Cut up rotisserie chicken in to small pieces and top the tortilla chips. Add beans and jalapenos, top everything with alfredo sauce. Bake in preheated oven at 375 ℉ for 10-15 minutes, and then broil for a couple minutes to make extra crispy.

Tip: Play around with this one. Add more ingredients that you enjoy. Also, this is a great way to use the leftovers from a rotisserie chicken. I know we never eat the whole thing at my house. :)

BERRY SMOOTHIE

BERRY SMOOTHIE

★★★★★

What you'll need: 
1-2 cups Frozen strawberries or other frozen berry mix
2 tbsp. honey
1 tsp. cinnamon
juice (I usually used apple)
1/2 cup plain yogurt

How to make it: Blend all ingredients in a blender. Add more apple juice if too thick. I usually add a generous amount of honey and about a teaspoon of cinnamon. Depending on the blender size, just eye the ingredients.

Tip: You can substitute plain yogurt with flavored yogurt or flavored frozen yogurt. Or add half a banana.

BETTER THAN SEX CAKE

BETTER THAN SEX CAKE

★★★★★

What you'll need: 
1 box of chocolate cake mix (and ingredients to make)
1 can condensed milk
1 small jar caramel dessert topping
crushed heath bar
1 160z. tub cool whip

How to make it: Bake cake according to directions on box. Once the cake is baked, while still warm use a fork to poke holes throughout the cake, then pour 1 can of condensed milk over the cake along with the carmel topping. Then place cake in fridge to cool. After cake has cooled, top with cool whip, drizzle caramel over cool whip, and then sprinkle crushed heath bar over the whole cake. Dig in!

VIRGIN SANGRIA

VIRGIN SANGRIA

★★★★

What you'll need: 
1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 can frozen passion guava juice concentrate
1 liter of Sprite
chopped strawberries/orange/pineapple/limes/lemon or other fruit.

How to make it: Mix concentrated juices with one liter Sprite. Slice up (and peel if necessary) desired fruits and add to mixture. Drink up!

STIR FRY

STIR FRY

★★★★

What you'll need: 
Rice
meat of your choice (I use chicken)
bag of mixed frozen vegetables of your choice (I like to used a bag of broccoli florets, carrots, and green beans)
stir fry sauce

How to make it: If using frozen meat first defrost and cook thoroughly. I LET MY CHICKEN DEFROST THEN BOIL IT IN WATER. Prepare rice in a separate pot/RICE COOKER- HOW MUCH YOU MAKE DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH YOU PLAN TO EAT. When rice is cooked place rice, cooked meat, frozen vegetables, and sauce in large frying pan. Cover and heat to a simmer. Let sit for about 10 minutes, stir occasionally.

Tip: Stir fry is a great way to use left over chicken or steak. Also, a great addition to the stir fry is to crack an egg or two in with the mixture while it cooks.

JELLO CAKE

JELLO CAKE

★★★★★

What you'll need:
1 box white cake mix
1 large pack of jello flavoring of your choice (I prefer strawberry)
1 16oz. tub of cool whip.

How to make it: Bake cake according to box instructions. Let cake cool a few minutes after baking. While it's cooling mix jello according to box instructions but do not cool in fridge. With a fork then poke holes throughout the cake, all the way to the bottom. Next pour jello mix (NOT COOLED) all over cake. Let the cake soak up the all the liquid. It will look like too much jello mix, but trust me you'll use the whole thing and it'll be fine- just as long as it's distributed equally. Last, layer the top of the cake with cool whip. Simply delicious. Place and keep cake in fridge to cool until ready to eat. :)

TIP: Feel free to add strawberries or your favorite fruit to the top of the cake. Or make the cake half strawberry half raspberry flavored!

TACO SOUP

TACO SOUP

★★★★★

What you'll need: 
1 Bag of tortilla chips
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 cans of corn
2 cans kidney beans
1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey (or other meat)
1 packet of Taco Seasoning
shredded cheddar cheese

How to make it: Defrost ground meat. Add everything (except tortilla chips) to a big pot without draining canned veggies. Cover and heat to a boil then simmer on medium-low. Cook for 30 minutes or until meat is fully cooked. Crush up tortilla chips in a bowl, add soup and sprinkle cheese over the top. Enjoy!

TIP: Add some of your other favorite veggies! Or add a freshly diced onion! :)

WOLF CHILI CHIP DIP

WOLF CHILI CHIP DIP

★★★★★

What you'll need: 
1 can Wolf Brand Chili (Beanless)
1 8oz. pack cream cheese
tortilla chips

How to make it: For microwave put can of chili and cream cheese in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 2 minutes or until cheese mixes with chili when stirred. On stove, do the same but in a pot. :) Melt either half or a whole pack (not tub) of cream cheese in the chili. Wahlah. Dip chips and enjoy.

TIP: Add Smoked Chipotle Tabasco to the dip to spice it up. (I love that stuff!)

STUFFED HOT DOGS

STUFFED HOT DOGS

★★★

What you'll need: 
1 Pack of hot dogs
mustard
mashed potato mix
shredded cheddar cheese.

How to make it: Follow instructions for mashed potatoes from box. Cut hot dogs long ways down the middle, but not all the way through. Place hot dogs evenly space on a baking sheet. Squirt mustard down the middle of the cut part of the hot dogs. Then, scoop cooked mashed potatoes into the center of each hot dog where you made a slit. (Don't worry, the mashed potatoes are meant to over flow). Sprinkle cheddar cheese over mashed potatoes on hot dogs. Bake in preheated oven at 375 ℉ for 10-12 minutes, then broil to crisp the top.

TIP: Add Bacon Bits to mashed potatoes for some extra flare.

RITZ CRACKER CHICKEN

RITZ CRACKER CHICKEN

★★★★★

What you'll need: 
4 Boneless chicken breasts
1 SLEEVE RITZ crackers
1 PACK swiss cheese slices
1-2 CANS cream of mushroom

How to make it: Defrost chicken if needed and place in a baking pan. Place swiss cheese slices over chicken so that all the chicken is covered. Spread 1 large can of cream of mushroom over the cheese slices. Crumble RITZ crackers over the cream of mushroom. Cover with foil and place in preheated oven at 275 ℉ and cook for 1 1/2 hours. (Or if you're like me, crank up the heat to 375 ℉ and cook for 30-45 minutes) :)

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

★★★★★

What you'll need: 
1 pack flour tortillas
3-4 boneless chicken breasts
shredded cheese
sour cream
enchilada sauce
jalapenos (if desired)

How to make it: Boil chicken in water until cooked all the way. Let chicken cool then shred into small pieces. In bowl mix a small amount of sour cream and enchilada sauce to shredded chicken to. You want the chicken coated, but not runny or too dry. Next, spoon desired amount of mixed chicken into the center of each tortilla. Roll tortilla with "flaps" facing down and place in baking pan. Place as many tortillas that will fit in the pan. Then pour desired amount of enchilada sauce over fixed tortillas. (I like a lot of sauce, but too much sauce will make the tortillas soggy and take longer to cook). After this, sprinkle shredded cheese over tortillas. (Again, I like a lot). Then if you like place jalapenos on top of cheese. Cover pan with foil and place in oven preheated to 375 ℉. Cook for 25-35 minutes or until cheese is completely melted and food is warm all the way through. Keep pan covered with foil to maintain heat while serving or keep in oven on low.


Tip: Eat with sour cream or add black olives!

SNICKERDOODLES

SNICKERDOODLES


★★★★★

What you'll need:
1 1/2 cup sugar 
2 eggs
1/2 cup butter 
1/2 cup shortening
(you can use whole cup of butter instead of half butter and half shortening)
2 3/4 cup flour 
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp bkg soda 
1/4 tsp salt


For coating:
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

How to make it: Mix 1 1/2 cup sugar, butter, shortening, and eggs. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Roll into 1 inch balls and then roll in the 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon mixture to coat each ball. Bake in preheated oven at 400 ℉ for 8-10 minutes.

PUMPKIN COOKIES

PUMPKIN COOKIES


★★★★★

What you'll need:
1 1/2 cups sugar 
1/2 cup butter or shortening
1 egg 
1 cup pumpkin
2 1/2 cups flour 
1 tsp baking pwder
1 tsp baking soda 
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon 
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt

How to make it: Mix sugar, eggs, and butter together. Then add the pumpkin and vanilla, then the rest of the ingredients. Roll into 1 inch balls. Cook in preheated oven at 375 ℉ for 10 minutes. 

Tip: Add chocolate chips or raisins for an even tastier treat.

WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

★★★★★

What you'll need:
1 tbs veg oil or olive oil
1 large yellow onion - chopped
2 tbs JARRED minced garlic (or use less if using fresh garlic cloves) if you like more garlic, add garlic powder
2 cans 10-12 oz. chicken meat (white/breast or white/dark combo) drained OR 3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
2 cans 15 1/2 oz. great white northern beans or white cannelini beans (rinsed and drained)
1 can sweet yellow corn (drained) 
1 can southwest flavored diced tomatoes 
1 small can green chilis
8 oz. chicken broth - can add more depending on desired consistency of chili
1 tsp salt (add more to taste)
1 tsp pepper (add more to taste)
1 tsp oregano
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup sour cream
shredded cheddar cheese
prepared white rice

How to make it: Mix all the ingredients (Except the rice and cheese) in a large pot or cook in a crock pot. Heat to a boil and then let simmer. Pour chili over white rice sprinkle the top with cheese and add a dollop of sour cream. Enjoy!