No Bake Cookies

This is for you, Corianne!

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup butter (one stick) or margarine
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups oats ( we like quick oats better)

Cook the sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk until it it comes to a full boil. Take off heat and add the peanut butter ( stir for a minute to let it melt in), vanilla, and oats. Stir until all mixed together well. Spoon onto waxed paper on a cookie sheet and let cool completely (I put mine in the fridge to help it cool faster). Then eat!

Chicken Enchiladas

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law and after trying it, my husband and I both prefer these to the ones that I usually make with cream of chicken soup and sour cream.

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 small can of diced green chiles

1 jalapeno, diced (optional)

olive oil

1 block of cream cheese

2 c. shredded cheese

1 cup of water or chicken broth

3-4 chicken breast

Tortillas

A can of red enchilada sauce

half & half or heavy whipping cream

Boil chicken in a pot of water, or chicken broth until cooked. Let cool and shred, set aside. In a large skillet, saute the garlic, chiles, and jalapeno in olive oil until it is fragrant. Add cream cheese and 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Stir until melted. Slowly add the water or chicken broth and continue stirring. Add shredded chicken to mixture.

Roll mixture in tortillas and place in pan. Pour enchilada sauce and half & half/whipping cream over the top. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

*My sister-in-law says that this makes enough to fill a 9x13 pan and a 8x8 pan, but given my small family, i only made it with 2 chicken breast and it filled one 9x13 pan, so depending on your family size, you can decide how much to make.

Danish Cheese Squares

These are delicious as part of a breakfast or brunch.

2 tubes of crescent rolls (ok to use lowfat)

2 blocks of cream cheese *at room temp (ok to use lowfat)

1 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg yolk (save the white)

Topping:

1/2 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 egg white (whipped)

1. Spread one package of rolls into a 9x13 pan.

2. Mix the cream cheese blocks, 1 cup sugar, vanilla, and egg yolk. (Make sure that the cream cheese is at room temp, or there will be lots of lumps.) Spread mixture over the rolls.

3. Spread second package of rolls over cream cheese mixture.

4. Brush whipped egg white over the top. (Don't feel like you need to use it all, just make sure it is covered evenly.)

5. Mix the 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon together with the nuts. Sprinkle over the top, so that it is all covered.

6. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

7. Allow to cool and then serve.

This is good heated up, at room temp, or cold. I served it with fresh strawberries, but you can also serve it with cool whip or ice cream and have it as a dessert. Or just serve it plain. It is way yummy!!

Mrs. Phillips' Carrot Cake

Don't let the baby food scare you. It make it easy (no shredding carrots) and moist! This recipe converted me (and a few others) to actually enjoy carrot cake. Delicious! I got this recipe from a patient at the physical therapy clinic I worked at 8 years ago...so thanks Mrs. Phillips!

4 eggs well beaten
2 c. sugar
3/4 c. oil
12 oz. carrot baby food
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. flaked coconut

Mix ingredients together, pour in a sprayed pan, bake at 350 for 25-30 min.

Frosting:
Soften one 8 oz. pkg. of cream cheese and one stick of butter. Blend well. Add 2 cups powdered sugar and blend.

Strawberry Topped Cake

I LOVE this cake. A good one for a Mother's Day family gathering.

Bake one white cake mix according to instructions and let cool completely.

In a bowl mix:
8 oz. cream cheese
2 c. powdered sugar
2 c. whipped topping (1 tub cool whip)

When cake is cool frost with the cream cheese mixture.

In a pot: Make 1 box of strawberry danish dessert according to the pie glaze directions (using only 1/2 c. water). Let cool slightly and add frozen strawberries. Spoon on top of cream cheese mixture. Store in fridge.