Caramel Fruit Dip

Makes about 8 cups of dip

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese

1 cup brown sugar

1 package vanilla pudding

1 tsp vanilla extract

32 oz vanilla yogurt

Instructions

Combine all ingredients into a large bowl. Mix well with a hand blender until smooth and creamy.  

Serve with fruit!

Fettucine Alfredo

Serves 6-8

INGREDIENTS

• Alfredo Sauce:
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter
• 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 pint heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and ground black pepper
• 1 pound uncooked fettuccine

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Mix in the cream cheese. Stir in the cream and garlic powder. Increase the heat and bring to a boil. Decrease the heat and simmer, stirring often, while you cook the pasta. If the sauce needs additional thickening (for example if your're serving it as a dipping sauce with pasta), you may sprinkle in flour, 1 teaspoon at a time. Cook and stir for desired consistency.
2. Cook the fettuccine according to package directions; drain.
3. Stir the Parmesan cheese into the sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Toss the sauce and the pasta in a large bowl and serve immediately.
5. Serve with a tossed green salad and hot French bread or bread sticks.

NOTES

Variations:

For Chicken Alfredo, stir- fry bite size chunks of chicken in 1 Tablespoon olive oil until cooked and add to the sauce.

Or just use this sauce for dipping homemade bread sticks in. Mmmm...

Strawberry Shortcake

Preheat oven to 425 | Serves about 8 

Shortcake

2 1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 c butter, softened
2/3 c milk
1 egg

Whip Cream

2 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 c powder sugar

3 pints fresh strawberries
1/2 cup sugar

Instructions

• Slice the strawberries and toss them with 1/2 cup of white sugar. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease and flour one 8 inch round cake pan.
• In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons white sugar and the salt. With a pastry blender cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and add the beaten egg and milk. Stir until just combined.
• Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool partially in pan on wire rack.
• Slice partially cooled cake in half, making two layers. Place half of the strawberries on one layer and top with the other layer. Top with remaining strawberries and cover with the whipped cream.
• Whipped cream instructions: combine cream, vanilla and powdered sugar in a medium bowl - whip on high for several minutes with a handheld mixer.

Orange Julius

Remember standing in line at the Orange Julius stores in the mall for these drinks in the 90's? I totally do! :D These are a perfect summer treat to cool you down!

Makes 2 large or 4 small glasses

Ingredients

1 cup milk (whole, 2%, or skim)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 6-ounce can frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup sugar (or sugar substitutes, check package for equivalence)
1 1/2 cups ice

Equipment

Blender
Glasses

Instructions

1. Blend the milk and vanilla: Pour the milk and vanilla in a blender and pulse until combined.
2. Add the frozen concentrate: Add the frozen orange juice concentrate. Blend until fully combined with the milk.
3. Add the sugar and ice cubes: Blend until cubes are crushed and mixture has thickened. If things end up a little thick, just add a tablespoon of water and mix once again.
4. Pour and enjoy: Pour the drink into glasses. Serve with a straw and sip your way to blissful happiness.

Walking Tacos

Serves 4-6

(Double this recipe if feeding 8-10)

This is the perfect summer dinner for kids (and adults, let's be honest)! And the perfect dinner for camping!  Check it out...

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef*
1 packet of taco seasoning, or about 2 tablespoons
4-6 small bags of Frito chips (and/or Doritos!)

Toppings (all optional, put on whatever your heart desires ;) )

Cheese
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Olives
Guacamole/Avocados
Green or red onion
Sour cream
Salsa
Ranch
... the list goes on!

*ground beef with taco seasoning can be substituted by a couple cans of chili.

Instructions:

Brown beef in a large skillet, add taco seasoning.  Once cooked through, simmer on low for 10 mins. Open chip bag, add beef and toppings.  Stick a fork in it and tada!  Dinner!

Pull-Apart Bread Knots

Preheat oven to 375 degrees | Makes about 10

Ingredients:

1 tube refrigerated biscuits
3 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced (or 2 tsp dried parsley)
1 cup shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

Cut biscuits into fourths, and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter, garlic powder, parsley, and mozzarella, and mix with your hands, coating all of the biscuit pieces. Place the pieces in a muffin tin, 3 pieces per tin (you’ll have 2 extra—just use them in whichever tin you want). Bake for 15 minutes. Best served fresh out of the oven!

Zucchini Bread

Preheat to 350 | Makes 2 loaves

Ingredients:

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 cups grated zucchini

Optional add-ins: chopped nuts and/or chocolate chips

Instructions:

First prep zucchini and pans! Grate zucchini, set aside.  Spray 2 loaf pans with non-stick spray, OR even better: wipe the insides of each pan with shortening and then coat with flour by shaking it around (the kids know how to do this) - the bread will just pop out with this method!  And it makes the sides crispy.  Mmmm.

In a kitchen-aid or with a handheld mixer, beat eggs until foamy.  Add in sugar, oil and vanilla.  Mix well. Set aside.

In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients: flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon.

Slowly add dry ingredients into wet ingredients - also add in the zucchini!  Mix well, scraping down sides occasionally.

Separate batter into the two prepared loaf pans.  Bake at 350 for 50-60 mins, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Homemade Oreo Cookies

Preheat to 375 degrees.  Makes about 20 oreos.

Ingredients:

2 Devils food cake mixes

4 eggs

1/2 cup flour (or more, depending on how sticky they are when you try to roll them)

1 cup butter (2 cubes)

1 container cream cheese frosting

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together in a kitchen-aid or with a hand mixer.  Roll to ping-pong sized balls and place onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 9 mins.  Place baked cookies onto a cooling rack to expedite cooling.  Once completely cooled, frost two cookies together with a glob of cream cheese.  And tada!  You've got a homemade oreo.  Mmmmm.