PUMPKIN PIE PLAYDOUGH

This is our standard PLAYDOUGH recipe. We use this alot when it is raining or too cold to play outside. It is a favorite when the cousins are over too. Plus it smells so good!!

5 1/2 cups flour
2 cups salt
8 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 cup oil
1 container pumpkin pie spice

food coloring

Cook and Stir all ingredients over medium heat
When combined, dump on counter and knead until smooth
Play Play Play!!

CASHEW SALAD

I first had this salad at my sister's baby shower. I never knew I would like the nuts with swiss cheese....but surprisingly, they fit together great!!

1/3 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoon grated onion
Dash salt
1 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon poppy seeds
1 head romaine lettuce
1 cup cashews

1/2 bag shredded Swiss cheese

Combine the vinegar, sugar, mustard, onion and salt;

(I use a stick blender, works wonderfully!)

Mix until well blended.

Stir in poppy seeds.

In a salad bowl, combine the romaine, cashews and Swiss cheese

Toss with dressing right before serving

*regular mustard tastes MUCH better than brown mustard

HomeMade Pancakes

This is our homemade pancake recipe. We love 'breakfast for supper' I usually make eggs, bacon, and sausage free gravy with toast on those nights. A favorite of ours!!

1 cup flour

1 tbsp sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 beaten egg

1 cup milk (or buttermilk)

2 tbsp oil

1 cup blueberries or chocolate chips if desired

The key to making pancakes fluffy: Mix all ingredients until just moist...don't overmix.

Spoon over hot griddle ( we use a large electric griddle, that way you can make 8 pancakes at the same time ) I have to eat pancakes "piping hot" Wes loves Maple Syrup with his.

OATMEAL COOKIES

I found a great recipe for Oatmeal cookies. They are crisp on the edges and chewy in the middle...thanks to an addition I came up with: coconut

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups quick cooking oats

* you can add 1 cup coconut if desired

Bake 350 10-12 minutes on parchment paper.

I leave out the cinnamon, and the original recipe only called for 2 eggs, but I have been adding an extra egg to give the cookies a bit more body. I also add another 1/4 cup or so of flour.

Yum Yum

CHICKEN N DUMPLINS

I got this recipe from Wes' Grandma years ago. It has turned into a family favorite. My sisters LOVE it!!

Fill a stock pot with either a whole chicken or a few chicken breasts
add some chicken boullion
add some Mrs. Dash
Bring to a boil and simmer for a couple of hours (or until chicken is soft)

Remove chicken and place on a plate to cool
Bring chicken stock to a boil
Get a package of Butter Tastin Biscuits (Pillsbury brand) and pinch off little bits, throw them into the boiling stock. They will puff up, then cook down. Stir constantly, sometimes they stick.

Reduce heat, cook 6-7 minutes until dumplins are no longer doughy in the middle.

Tear up chicken into bite size pieces and add back to the pot.

Salt and pepper to taste.


*You can also put in celery and carrots for more color
*You can use any kind of refrigerated biscuit, we like the flavor of the butter biscuits the best
*Serve as a soup, or (our favorite) over mashed potatoes!!!

EASY PEPPERMINT BARK

This has been Wes' specialty for the cookie tins over the past few years.

He melts the leftover almond bark/chocolate from the pretzels.

Place a few candy canes in a doubled ziplock bag and break them with a rolling pin.

Stir the broken peppermint into the melted chocolate.

Spread out the mixture on a sheet of waxed paper.

When cooled, break into misc. chunks!!

Easy Easy Easy!!

KID'S FAVORITE...CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS

These are so easy!! The girls worked on these all by themselves this year.

Get a big block of white almond bark, melt in a glass dish, dunk in the pretzels and dry on a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper.

You can also use the chocolate glaze and drizzle over the top.

If you like the large ROD pretzels, you can dip 3/4 of one end, then sprinkle with your choice of festive sprinkles!! (these are called princess wands in one of our little girl cookbooks)