Peanut Butter Bars

I got this recipe from my mom and it is so mmm mmm good!

15 graham crackers crushed
1 cup melted butter
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup peanut butter

mix together and put in a 9*13 pan

melt 1 1/2 cup choc chips and spread over top and refrigerate

minestrone soup

this is becoming a tradition for my husbands birthday...we will rename it 'mikes birthday soup'.
nothing is better this time of year than a warm bowl of soup, family and a birthday celebration!!

you can adjust this by adding more or less veggies/ sauce etc. depending on how many you are feeding

1-2 lbs ground sausage (i like to use regular and Italian)
break up and boil in 2 quarts water for one hour.
cool and place in fridge (i like to do this the night before)
remove the 'ring of fat' from water and break up sausage a little more.
add:
1-2 onions
1-2 garlic cloves
chopped- celery, carrots, green pepper
2-3 cans tomato sauce (14 oz)
3-4 bullion cubes
2 cans tomatoes
salt and pepper
basil and oregano
more water if needed
cook until veggies are soft

add:
1-2 cans garbanzo beans
1 can green beans
sliced mushrooms
1-2 cups any pasta
cook until noodles are soft.

serve with fresh Parmesan cheese and french bread
enjoy!!!

Easiest Homemade Ice Cream.

I made this Ice Cream for my kids this summer and they loved it. We experimented with different frozen fruits and flavors of pudding. Everyone came up with fun flavor combinations. I love using cheesecake flavored pudding and blackberries.
Makes around 2 1/2 cups.

Ingredients
8 ounces frozen blackberries
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 regular sized pkg. instant, sugar-free vanilla pudding (dry, as is)
Method
Pour frozen blackberries into food processor .
Pour all of the pudding mix over the blackberries. Pour the cream over that and process for about 20 seconds. Serve in ice cream cones or in a bowl and enjoy!

GRAPE SALAD

this one is one of my favorites...delicious for summer picnics!!!!

8 oz cream cheese
8 oz sour cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar (or to taste, don't get this too sweet, the brown sugar sweetens it a lot!!)
1 tsp vanilla
mix well until smooth and creamy
add:
red, purple, and green grapes. (remove from vine, rinse and remove excess water)
mix until grapes are covered
sprinkle with brown sugar
serve and enjoy...
this is sooo yummyyyy. thanks kristy's mom for this recipe...i LOVE it!!!

corn, bean, fritos, and more...salad

i know this doesn't look or sound the greatest but it really is DELICIOUS!!!

1 can corn
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 sm can sliced olives
3 diced roma tomatoes
3-4 green onions
2 cups catalina dressing

before serving add fritos (not quite one bag)
enjoy...

Apple Walnut Banana Bread

1/2 c. softened butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar

Cream ingredients together and then add...

2 lg. eggs
3 Tbls. sour cream
2-3 ripe bananas
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix the following dry ingredients together and slowly add to the cream mixture.

2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Then add...
2 lg. apples (skinned and chopped)
1/2 c. walnuts ( I substitute with chocolate chips)

Pour batter into 9x13 greased cake pan or 2 greased bread pans. Cook at 350 for 1 hour.

If you like Banana Bread, you will LOVE this recipe!!!

mexican meatloaf

by much request here is the recipe. i have to say first that i DO NOT like meat loaf. but i saw this recipe and thought it looked very tasty, so i gave it a try and I LOVE IT!! my husband was shocked when i told him what was for dinner because he knows how i 'love' meatloaf!!! he is a big fan of it too!! enjoy...

MEXICAN MEATLOAF

2 lbs. ground beef
2 cups crushed corn chips
1 cup grated cheese
2/3 cup salsa
2 eggs, beaten
1 packet taco seasoning

mix all together. ( i use my kitchen aide because i can not touch raw meat like that...yuck!!)
shape and place in casserole dish with a little room around the edges. (works better, then the grease doesn't float on top...thanks for the tip jamie)

bake at 350 for about an hour.

glaze:
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tbsp brown sugar
squirt of mustard
mix in small bowl and spread over meatloaf for the last 15 minutes

black beans are great as a side dish or mexican rice!!!
yummmmyy mmmm mmm mmmmm