Pillsbury Pinwheels

yields 16 pinwheels

Ingredients:
8 oz crescent rolls
2 T ranch (I substituted Caesar dressing)
1/4 c (or 4 pieces) cooked, crispy bacon, crumbled
1/2 c shredded Cheddar
1/4 c chopped green onion

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Unroll dough; separate into 2 long rectangles. Press each of the inch rectangles, to seal where it's perforated.

2.  Spread dressing over each rectangle to edges. Sprinkle each with bacon, cheese and onions. Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle; press edge to seal. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 8 slices; place cut side down on ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 12-17 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet (or those suckers will stick to the sheet.)

Protein Drink-a-ganza

Pumpkin pie protein shake

1 cup milk (cow, soy, or almond)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/4 pumpkin puree 
1/4 cup vanilla yogurt or frozen light cool whip 
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (add more according to preference)
1/2 cup crushed ice or 6 ice cubes 

Blend in blender (add the puree and cool whip closest to the blade so it doesn't get stuck at the top). 


Raspberry Banana Avocado Smoothie
 
 1 c frozen raspberries
1 avocado
1 frozen banana, optional*
1 c  plain yogurt
honey / Stevia / sugar / whatever sweetener you like
milk, optional
* Peel and cut the bananas into chunks (5-6 or even small pieces if you're in a hurry), place in a baggie and then freeze.

If you like your smoothies thinner than use half milk/ half yogurt. Blend all ingredients in your blender. Add sweetener to taste. I add about 1 tablespoon of honey. Yields one large serving or two smaller ones.

Blueberry Smoothie
1 c milk
6 oz vanilla yogurt
1 c blueberries
1 T flaxseed oil
1 cup ice

Place milk, yogurt, and the fresh blueberries into the blender with the ice, blend until mostly smooth, then add flaxseed oil.


Cantaloupe Smoothie

10 large romaine lettuce leaves
2 c chopped cantaloupe slices
1 c frozen strawberries
6 ice cubes

Place everything in the blender and blend until smooth. (I promise you can't taste the lettuce, but it gives a nice natural energy boost!)


The Green Monster

1 frozen sliced banana
1 Tablespoon peanut butter
1/2 c Vanilla Greek yogurt
1 cup Unsweetened almond milk (or other kind of milk)
4 cups baby spinach (or more, or less)

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. (yum yum yum! This is one of my fav's)

Loveli CCC's

The best chocolate chip cookies EVER.

Mix together for a long time...
1 1/2 c butter
2 c brown sugar
2 c white sugar
4 eggs
2 T vanilla

Mix first on low, and then medium high.

Mix in bowl...
6 1/2 c flour
2 t salt
2 t baking soda
2/3 c chocolate chips

Turn mixer back to low and slowly add flour mixture. Dough should be a little sticky.

Preheat oven to 375F
Make into balls
Bake 8-10 mins or until barely golden brown (if baking 2 sheets at once, switch at about 6 mins).

Cranberry Scones

Ingredients:

BUTTER:
1 1/2 c butter (no substitutes), softened
1/2 c fresh or frozen cranberries
2 T confectioners' sugar
1/2 t grated orange peel

SCONES:
2 1/2 c flour
2/3 c sugar
2 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
3/4 c butter (no substitutes)
1 c fresh or frozen cranberries
1 c white chocolate chips
3/4 c butter milk

Directions:
In mixing bowl, cream butter. Stir in cranberries, sugar, and orange peel; mix well. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Meanwhile, combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles course crumbs. Add cranberries and white chocolate chips. Stir in buttermilk until just moistened. Turn onto lightly floured surface; gently knead 6-8 times. Divide in half. Pat each into 8 inch circle. Cut into 8 wedges. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400F for 15-18 minutes or til lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks. Serve warm with cranberry-orange butter.

Scalloped Corn

Just like my Grandma Lock's (got this one from my awesome cousin, Donna)!!

Ingredients:
3 cans (11 oz.) vacuum-packed corn, drained
4 lg eggs
1/2 c milk
1/2 stick butter, melted
2 T sugar
2 T all-purpose flour
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper

Directions
1. Heat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 1 1/2 qt shallow baking dish.
2. Put 2 cans of corn and the remaining ingredients in a food processor (or blender). Process until well blended. Stir in remaining can of corn and pour into prepared baking dish.
3. Bake uncovered 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

TIP - Can be prepared through step 2 up to 1 day ahead. Refrigerate covered and bring to room temp before baking.

Pfeffernusse!

makes about 3 dozen

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c molasses
• 1/4 c honey
• 1/4 c shortening
• 1/4 c margarine
• 2 eggs
• 4 c flour
• 3/4 c white sugar
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 1 1/2 t ground cardamom
• 1 t ground nutmeg
• 1 t ground cloves
• 1 t ground ginger
• 2 t anise extract
• 2 t ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 t baking soda
• 1 t ground black pepper
• 1/2 t salt
• 1 c confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions:

1. Stir together the molasses, honey, shortening, and margarine in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until creamy. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in the eggs.
2. Combine the flour, white sugar, brown sugar, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, anise, cinnamon, baking soda, pepper, and salt in a large bowl. Add the molasses mixture and stir until thoroughly combines. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Roll the dough into acorn-sized balls. Arrange on baking sheets, spacing at least 1 inch apart.
4. Bake in preheated oven 10 to 15 minutes. Move to a rack to cool. Dust cooled cookies with confectioners' sugar.

German Apple Cake

from my friend Michael

Serves: 24
 
Ingredients:
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 cups apples – peeled, cored and diced
 
Directions:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour one 9x13” cake pan.
• In a mixing bowl, beat oil and eggs with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat well.
• Combine the flour, salt, baking soda and ground cinnamon together in a bowl. Slowly add this mixture to the egg mixture and mix until combined. The batter will be very thick. Fold in the apples by hand using a wooden spoon. Spread batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until cake tests done. Let cake cool on a wire rack. Once cake is cool, serve with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar or with a cream cheese frosting.