Chocolate Chip Banana Bars

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2/3 cup shortening

2/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

2 ripe bananas, mashed

2 cups chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients. Mix well. Spread batter into greased 9 X 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Hillstead Sloppy Joe's

This is a Yummy Recipe that Lynette Hillstead shared with me. Both of Lynette's Granddaughters have worked as receptionist at our salon. I just love the whole family!

Sloppy Joes

1 lb hamburger

1 can tomato soup (no water)

2 TBLS. pickle relish

2 TBLS. ketchup

2 TBLS. BBQ sauce

Brown and drain the hamburger. Combine the rest of the ingredients and simmer. Serve on Hamburger Buns.

Fresh Fruit Pudding Milk Mixer

3 1/2 c. milk
1 pkg. instant pudding (use your favorite flavor.)
1 medium banana, ripe
1/2 c. berries

Place all ingredients in blender; cover. Blend 1 minute or until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings. My kids love this for an after school snack.

Chocolate Revel Bars

This recipe comes from the Greenville Elementary "Recipes to Remember" cookbook.

1 c. butter

2 1/2 c. flour

2 c. packed brown sugar

2 eggs

4 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

3 c. oats

12 oz. chocolate chips

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 Tbsp. butter

1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Beat 1 cup of butter for 30 seconds. Add 1 1/4 cups flour, eggs, sugar, 2 teaspoons of vanilla, and baking soda. Beat until combined. Add remaining flour and oats. Cook chocolate chips, condensed milk, and 2 tablespoons butter until melted. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla and nuts. Pat 2/3 of the oatmeal mixture on the bottom of a buttered 15x10 inch pan. Spread chocolate mixture on top of it. Dot with remaining oat mixture. Bake at 350* for 25 minutes.

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!