Hawaiian Chicken

 Easy and yummy.

Hawaiian Chicken

2 lbs. chicken breast, cut up

1 cup pineapple juice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup soy sauce

Mix all together in a crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Serve over hot rice.

Cool Whip Cookies

 

What a funny recipe!  It was just strange enough, I had to try it.  They were really good. They look like those crunchy crackle cookies, but they're soft and chewy.

Cool Whip Cookies

1 box cake mix, any flavor (lemon, chocolate, red velvet, spice, etc)

1 8oz tub of cool whip

1 egg

Mix together in a bowl.*  Put powdered sugar on a plate.  Drop spoonfuls of the very sticky dough into the powdered sugar, then place on a lined or greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.  Cool on cookie sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.

*Mixing was the hardest part.  The dough is so stiff.  Get your husband to do it.  That's what I did, or use a stand mixer.

Lunch Lady Brownies

Oh man, these were good!  This is a really good recipe and surprisingly easy.  I will be making these again and again.

 Lunch Lady Brownies

1 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup cocoa

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 Tablespoon vanilla

Frosting

1/4 cup butter, soft

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a 9x13, then put in parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine the butter, cocoa and sugar with a wooden or sturdy spoon.  Mix in the flour well.  Slightly beat the eggs and add them with the vanilla.  Mix until combined and spread the batter into the prepared pan.  Make sure you spread it into the corners.

Bake for 22-25 minutes or until toothpick in center comes out clean.  Frost the brownies while warm

For frosting, put the butter in a bowl and beat with electric mixer until fluffy.  Add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk.  Mix until creamy and fluffy.  Spread over the warm brownies.

I recently made a double batch for a family reunion.  They were a hit!

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

 How many times have I claimed that a recipe is THE BEST chocolate chip cookie?  I don't know, but I do know this one is really good.  Our cute neighbor, Erin brought some over when my husband was sick with COVID.  Oh my goodness, they were good.  I asked for the recipe and asked if I could share it here.  When she brought it over, I had to laugh at the title of the recipe, since I have claimed it so many times.  

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

2/3 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

Beat until light and fluffy, then add:

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Mix, then add

1 cup chocolate chips

Roll into balls and bake at 375 for 8 minutes

I doubled this recipe.

Easy Hamburger Pasta Casserole

 Easy, fast, and yummy.  We really like this casserole!

Hamburger Pasta Casserole

1/2 - 1 lb. medium shell pasta or other individual pasta of choice

1 lb. ground beef

2 cans tomato soup (if you use the full pound of pasta, you may want to add 3 cans)

1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese

1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

Optional seasonings:

Salt and pepper or season salt 

Garlic salt

Onion salt

Preheat oven to 375.  Spray a 13 x 9 pan (you can use a smaller casserole if using only 1/2 lb. of pasta)

Cook the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water according to directions to el dente.  Do not overcook.

While the pasta cooks, brown the beef and season in a large pan. Add seasonings of your choice: salt, pepper, garlic salt, onion salt, seasoning salt, etc.  Add the soups, pasta, 1/2 cup pasta water, and half of each of the cheeses.  Stir well and put in the prepared pan.  Top with the remaining cheese. Cover with foil or casserole lid.  Bake for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly.  Remove the foil and bake for 10 minutes more.  If you want browned cheese, remove the foil and turn on the broiler.  Watch closely!

Minestrone Soup

 

I recently revived my old recipe for minestrone soup.  It is easy and yummy and smells so good as it simmers all day.

Minestrone Soup

3 cups beef or chicken stock

28 oz. diced or crushed tomatoes

1 can white beans, drained (you can substitute small red beans)

2 or 3 carrots, diced

1-2 stalks celery, diced

1 onion, diced

1-2 cloves garlic, mashed

1 tsp. thyme

1/2 tsp. sage

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper

2 cups ditalini pasta cooked el dente

1 medium zucchini, diced

2 cups fresh spinach, chopped

Parmesan cheese for garnish

In a crockpot, combine all ingredients except pasta, zucchini, spinach, and cheese.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Thirty minutes before serving, add the zucchini and spinach.  Ten minutes before serving, add the pasta.  Serve with parmesan cheese.

Grandma Libby's Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

We (our daughters and Ken and I) read my Grandma and Grandpa Peterson's history written by my sister, Patty for our online book club.  Afterward, both Shonna and Michelle made these cookies.  The recipe was printed in the back of the book.  They both said they were delicious.  I can't wait to try them!

 Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups sugar

1 cup shortening

2 beaten eggs

2 tsp. baking soda

2 cups applesauce

4 cups flour

2 tsp. nutmeg

1 1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 cups quick oats

 1 cup raisins

2 cups nuts

chocolate chips (opt.)

Cream sugar and shortening.  Beat eggs and add to mixture.  Add soda to the applesauce and then add to the mixture.  Sift dry ingredients together and add to the wet ingredients.  Mix well.  Stir in oatmeal, raisins, and nuts.  Drop by Spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until desired doneness.  This is a double batch.

Grandma Libby