Housemade Ranch

I'm from Texas - we use Ranch like regular folks use ketchup.  Why let Hidden Valley corner the market?  Here's an easy recipe to make your own! 

• 5 tablespoons dried minced onions
• 6 teaspoons parsley flakes
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 4 teaspoons salt (I use Celtic)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
• Mix together and store in an air tight container.

Who needs chocolate when you can have Ranch? 

For dressing: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk or sour cream.

For dip: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 2 cups sour cream.

Mix up a few hours before serving, so the flavors all blend.

Nini's "Paula Deen in a jar"

I love banana pudding....and my favorite is Paula Deen's recipe. I have taken Paula's famous "Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding" and put it in a perfectly portion-sized Mason jar.  This gives me the decadent delicious recipe AND portion control at the same time.

Ingredients:  Bananas, Cool Whip, Chessman cookies, cream cheese (I used Neufchatel), condensed milk (I used fat free), and French Vanilla pudding.

This is my cat Cody....he is sunning himself while I'm making my delicious pudding concoction.

Whip up the pudding mix with two cups milk.

In a separate bowl blend cream cheese and condensed milk until smooth.

Fold the Cool Whip into the cream cheese/condensed milk. 

Fold the pudding into the cream cheese/Cool Whip blend.

Get your jars ready - making sure they're nice and clean.

Break up the Chessman cookies and sliced bananas and put into bottom of each jar.

It only takes one cookie and 2-3 slices of banana.

Pour banana pudding on the top. You will need to tap the jar on counter, allowing the pudding to get air bubbles out and slide down over the cookies and nana's....yum!

Pop the lids on and place them back in the carton. Great for storage in the fridge and easy to transport.

Enjoy!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/not-yo-mamas-banana-pudding-recipe/index.html

Turkey Legs

As hubby is working (fireman) July 4th, we plan to venture out July 3rd and find some fireworks and enjoy our independence a day early.....and we need a picnic.....and I thought of turkey legs....mmmm....

We buy our meat & eggs from a fantastic local farmer...(www.rehobothranch.com) and one day saw on the menu he had turkey legs....while they're not the healthiest option for you  they're definitely perfect for a summer evening July 3rd picnic!  I rubbed some butter flavored olive oil, and doused with lots of spices...Slap Yo Mamma, bit of salt, and garlic powder.....

Going on the grill...wood chips have been soaking up some water....

Done & ready for the picnic.

Flag Cookie Pizza

Working in a doctor's office - I have an entire gaggle of ladies I can try recipes on....with our two grown, and hubby working shift work (one on, two off - fireman), I do not have the mass audience I need when I get a cooking bug....thus the girls at the office are my laboratory. 

Today's creation is a Flag Cookie Pizza....a great way to celebrate; gives everyone a bite without going overboard, and lets me try my talents in the kitchen.  I of course found this lovely idea on Pinterest. 

This is what caught my eye -- gorgeous right!?! 

(thank you sabbyinsuburbia.blogspot.com/2010/07/happy-belated-4th-of-july.html)

I went yesterday and picked up my items.  Tube of sugar cookie dough, can of cream cheese frosting (sorry, didn't make my frosting), and fruit (strawberries, blueberries & bananas). 

Here's how mine turned out:

Bought huge pizza pan at Walmart (less than $4).

Frosted that baby up! 

Started loading the fruit.

Ready to serve!

Happy Birthday U.S.A.!!!

Hobo Cookin'

Loved doing this when I was a girl scout - now can do it in my backyard in the fire pit! Love the idea of everyone bringing something! 

http://www.cookingcomically.com/?page_id=183

Pineapple Coconut Slaw

This recipe is super fast; super easy; and super tasty!  Wonderful in summer when you're wanting a different salad than the norms. Stays crunchy for several days. A few times I have also added some macadamia nuts for a "Hawaiian feel."  Great with grilled chicken!

Drain pineapple and save liquid for dressing. In mixing bowl combine the salad dressing, pineapple juice and white sugar. Thoroughly whisk to combine. Mix cabbage, pineapple and coconut, then toss with dressing. Allow to chill in fridge for best flavor.

Ingredients:

• Couple bags of shredded cabbage
• 1 3/4 c salad dressing
• 3 tsp. white sugar
• 1-20 oz can pineapple tidbits
• 1 bag sweetened coconut

Shrek's Southwest O'the Swamp Mac & Cheese

While skiing this week in Colorado, my husband (known as Shrek) has been spoiling me by making dinner nightly.  This is last night's deliciousness. 

Ingredients:
1 box medium conch shell pasta (white or wheat)
1 can rotel
1 can cream of chicken
1 can cream of celery
1.5 lb. ground turkey (we used less and just did a tube, which I believe is 1 lb.)
Shredded cheese

Spices:
chili pepper (we used "Slap Your Mamma")
garlic powder
italian spices (we used McCormick's Perfect Pinch)
S&P

Cook pasta al dente and set aside (cool the pasta to prevent further cooking).
Brown turkey meat; add your spices.
Once turkey is cooked; add in Rotel.
Add cream of celery and chicken.
Add remaining spices if needed.
Stir in pasta.
Stir in portion of shredded cheese to your liking.
Place contents in baking dish.
To top off, we put some shredded cheese on top. 

It's ready to eat.  We had an activity so left it covered; came back and heated in oven at 400 for about 15-20 minutes and it was perfect!  Makes great leftovers! He added corn chips on the side, but a salad would be good too!  Shrek likes it really spicy so I added a dollop of sour cream on top of mine to cool it off a bit....enjoy!