EASY CHEESY NACHOS

EASY CHEESY NACHOS
★★★★

GREAT FOR A QUICK SNACK

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
RESTAURANT STYLE TORTILLA CHIPS
PICANTE SALSA
SHREDDED CHEDDAR OR MEXICAN CHEESE


HOW TO MAKE IT:
PLACE TORTILLA CHIPS ON A MICROWAVABLE PLATE. LAYER PICANTE OVER CHIPS FIRST THEN COVER WITH SHREDDED CHEESE. MICROWAVE FOR 30 SECONDS OR UNTIL CHEESE IS MELTED. DON'T COOK FOR TOO LONG OR THE CHEESE WILL GET CRUNCHY.

EASY PEASY.

TIP: IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A LARGE BATCH, PLACE INGREDIENTS IN SAME FASHION ON A BAKING SHEET LINED WITH FOIL THEN COVER WITH FOIL AND BAKE AT 375 DEGREES FOR 5-8 MINUTES.

SPAGHETTI WITH MEAT SAUCE

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1 BOX WHOLE GRAIN SPAGHETTI
1 LB. GROUND MEAT
1 JAR SPAGHETTI SAUCE
GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE (OPTIONAL)
GARLIC POWDER (OPTIONAL)
SALT
PEPPER
1/2 YELLOW ONION (OPTIONAL)

HOW TO MAKE IT:
BROWN MEAT IN A MEDIUM-SIZED SKILLET WITH CHOPPED ONION. SEASON MEAT WITH SALT, PEPPER, AND GARLIC POWDER. DRAIN MEAT RETURN TO SKILLET, REDUCE HEAT TO LOW AND ADD IN SPAGHETTI SAUCE. ADD PARMESAN CHEESE TO SAUCE TO THICKEN. IN SEPARATE POT COOK PASTA ACCORDING TO PACKAGE INSTRUCTIONS.

TRY THIS: IF YOU'RE LIKE ME AND LIKE THINGS SPICY ADD IN SOME CHILI POWDER AND/OR TABASCO (SMOKED CHIPOTLE FLAVOR IS THE BOMB). THE TABASCO WILL CHANGE THE FLAVOR, BUT IT'S YUMMY.

CW CREATION

JESSICA'S PASTA SALAD

JESSICA'S PASTA SALAD
★★★★★

WHAT YOU NEED:
1 BOX SPIRAL PASTA
CHERRY OR GRAPE TOMATOES (WHOLE OR HALVED)
1 RED BELL PEPPER 
1 YELLOW BELL PEPPER 
1/4 CUP BLUE CHEESE OR FETA CHEESE CRUMBLES
ITALIAN DRESSING (I USE WISHBONE HOUSE ITALIAN)

HOW TO MAKE IT: COOK PASTA ACCORDING TO DIRECTIONS ON BOX. ONCE COOKED STRAIN AND RINSE WITH COLD WATER. LET PASTA SET TO REMOVE ALL EXCESS WATER. CHOP PEPPERS INTO 1 INCH BY 1/4 INCH STRIPS. IN A LARGE BOWL, ADD PASTA, PEPPERS, DESIRED AMOUNT OF CHEESE, TOMATOES AND DRESSING. STIR, COVER, AND CHILL IN FRIDGE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

BUFFALO CHICKEN SALAD

BUFFALO CHICKEN SALAD

★★★★★

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1 BAG OF SALAD 
RANCH DRESSING
FROZEN BONELESS BUFFALO CHICKEN
SHREDDED CHEDDAR OR BLUE CHEESE CRUMBLES
PICANTE SALSA
TORTILLA CHIPS

HOW TO MAKE IT: FILL BOWL 3/4 WITH SALAD, ADD A COUPLE TABLESPOONS OF SALSA, SPRINKLE WITH CHEESE, ADD DRESSING. CRUSH A HANDFUL OR SO OF CHIPS INTO THE MIX. HEAT FROZEN CHICKEN BASED ON PACKAGING INSTRUCTIONS. CUT CHICKEN INTO BITE-SIZED BITS AND ADD TO SALAD. THEN DEVOUR. (BECAUSE, YES, IT IS THAT GOOD.)

OREO TRUFFLES

OREO TRUFFLES
or "Snowman Poop" as we like to call them in Idaho. :)

★★★★★

WHAT YOU'LL NEED: 
1 16oz. PACKAGE OF OREOS
1 8oz. PACKAGE PHILADELPHIA CREAM CHEESE
2 8oz. PACKAGES OF BAKER'S SEMI-SWEET BAKING CHOCOLATE

HOW TO MAKE IT:  Remove all Oreos from container and place in a ziploc bag and close. Crush Oreos into fine pieces. Next, place crushed Oreos in a large bowl and add in the cream cheese and mix well. LET THE CREAM CHEESE SIT OUT FOR A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE MIXING SO IT'S SOFTENED UP. Once these two ingredients are mixed thoroughly, roll batter into several 1 inch balls. You will then need the BAKER'S chocolate melted. IT'S UP TO YOU HOW YOU WANT TO GO ABOUT MELTING IT. Once the chocolate is melted, dip the rolled Oreo/cream cheese balls into the melted chocolate using a spoon and then place on a wax-covered baking sheet. When finished with this step place baking tray in refrigerator or freezer to cool for 1 hour. To keep for longer, cover and store in fridge/freezer.

TIPS: You can also use other types of chocolate, like white chocolate, for dipping. Or be creative and drizzle lines over the top of truffles, (white chocolate over semi-sweet or vise a versa).

PUDDING CLOUDS

PUDDING CLOUDS

★★★★★

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1 Large pack of chocolate pudding mix
1 tub of cool whip
Chocolate sprinkles or chocolate powder

HOW TO MAKE IT: Make chocolate pudding according to directions on box. Before chilling in refrigerator, in a clear plastic cup or glass, pour about one inch layer of chocolate pudding and then add a one inch layer of cool whip and alternate layers until the container is full. Then top with chocolate sprinkles. Let chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Serve. Yum!

So, NOT my picture, but until I make them this will give  you an idea of what it look like. Except the ones I make have more layers. :)

BANANA BREAD

BANANA BREAD

★★★★★

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

3 ripe bananas
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
nuts or chocolate chips (if desired)

HOW TO MAKE IT: Peel and mash bananas, add in oil and eggs and mix well. Then add in flour, baking soda, and sugar until fully blended. Stir in chocolate chips or nuts if you choose. Pour batter in to two bread pans and bake in preheated oven at 350 ℉ for 30-45 minutes.

Yes, it was delicious.

I made one with Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, and one with  Toll House Swirled Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Morsels. (It's all about the Toll House, baby).

TIPS: ADD 1/2 TSP OF PURE VANILLA EXTRACT TO THE BATTER. Mmm, Mmm.