Strawberry Dessert

My mother-in-law fixes this pretty often. She says it so simple and quick. She had one fixed and sent some home with Dewayne for me. I am a big strawberry fan and loved it. If you would rather have blueberry, you can use blueberry pie filling instead of the sliced strawberries and glaze.

Ingredients:

~Crust:

*2 1/2c. graham cracker crumbs  

*1/2 c. sugar

*1 1/2 sticks butter

~Filling:

*1 (8-oz.) container cream cheese 

*1 lb. tub Cool Whip

*1c. sugar

~Glaze:

*sliced strawberries 

*1 pkg. strawberry glaze

Directions:

*To make the crust, combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a 13x9 in. glass pan. Drizzle melted butter on   top and stir to coat the crumbs and sugar. Pat crust out evenly in pan.

*Using a mixer combine the filling ingredients until smooth and spread over crust.

*Combine the sliced strawberries and glaze. Spread evenly over filling.

Tuna Log

Dewayne goes on an annual fishing trip with some of his family every January. Weston & I packed up and went to mom's for the night. She fixed plenty of goodies. I love party food and this is one that is on the top of my favorite list. Mom got this recipe from my stepdad's neice Amanda years ago. We have fixed it many times since and it is still just as good as the first time I tried it.



What you will need...
*2 (6-oz.) cans tuna, well drained
*1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese
*1 tsp.liquid smoke
*1/2 med. onion, finely chopped
*parsley flakes

What you will need to do...
Mix all of the ingredients together, except the parsley flakes. Mix well and form into a log shape. Sprinkle with parsely flakes and refrigerate. Serve with Ritz or Club crackers. Hope you follow in our tastebuds footsteps and add this to your favorites list like we did many years ago.

Baking Bacon

Found this great idea at Kevin & Amanda's Recipes. I love it!!! Baking makes bacon so much easier and alot less messy. You just put your bacon in the oven forget about, get it out, drain the grease and tastes just as good if not better.

Instructions:
Cut your bacon in half and lay in two 9x13-inch glass baking pans (you may have to cram a few pieces in there tight). Place your bacon filled baking dishes in a cold oven and turn the heat to 400 degrees. Don't think another thought about bacon for 25 minutes, check on it and if isn't the way you like it close the oven door and check on it every 3 to 5 minutes, until you are satisfied and your bacon is just the way you like it. Drain on paper towels.

Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake

WARNING!!! EXTREME RICHNESS, EXTREME CHOCOLATE!! This recipe came from Kraft Foods. I have been wanting to try it for years and just now got around to it. This cake is so easy to make and is a must try for Chocolate Lovers. It tastes like a cake you would find in a deli and pay $3 or $4 for one slice.

Ingredients:
*1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided
*1 pkg. (2-layer size) chocolate cake mix (I used chocolate fudge)
*1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
*4 eggs
*1 cup Sour Cream
*1/2 cup oil *
1/2 cup water
*1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP (Do not thaw.)
*2 Tbsp. PLANTERS Sliced Almonds

HEAT oven to 350°F.

CHOP 2 chocolate squares. Beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil and water in large bowl with mixer on low speed just until moistened. Beat on medium speed 2 min. Stir in chopped chocolate. Pour into 2 greased 9-inch round pans.

BAKE 30 to 35 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 min. Loosen cakes from sides of pans. Invert onto racks; gently remove pans. Cool cakes completely.

PLACE COOL WHIP and remaining chocolate squares in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 1 min. Let stand 15 min. to thicken. Stack cake layers on plate, filling and frosting with COOL WHIP frosting. Garnish with nuts. Keep refrigerated.

Cake Ingredients


Baker's Semi-Sweet


All chopped up (I did mine really fine)


Ready for the oven.

Frosting just out of the microwave and

stirred well.

Finished and ready to eat.

Oreo Dessert

Another recipe from the cooking queen Carolyn. I have been making this for years and it seems that alot of people make this dessert or something similiar. This is my husband and little brother's favorite. If you want lemon dessert instead of Oreo, use lemon lemon cookies in place of the Oreos and lemon pudding in place of the chocolate.

Ingredients:

*1 stick butter, melted

*2 rolls Oreo cookies (will need a few extra for layer & garnish)

*2c. powdered sugar

*1 (8-0z.) pkg. cream cheese

1 (8-oz.) container Cool Whip (will need additional Cool Whip to cover top)

*2 sm. pkgs. instant French vanilla pudding

*2 sm. pkgs. instant chocolate pudding

*4c. milk, divided

Instructions:

Layer the bottom of a 13 x 9 inch dish with butter and two rolls of cookies. Press down to make a crust. Mix powdered sugar, cream cheese and Cool Whip. Spread over crust. Mix chocolate pudding and 2 cups of milk. Spread over cream cheese mixture. Crumble a layer of cookies over this. Next combine vanilla pudding and remaining milk. Spread over cookies. Top with Cool Whip and garnish with crumbled cookies.

Crust

Powdered Sugar, Cream Cheese,

Cool Whip Layer

Chocolate Pudding Layer

French Vanilla Pudding Layer

Zucchini Pie

This recipe came from my aunt Pauline. Mom fixed it the last time we had dinner there and I went back for seconds, maybe thirds and then brought leftovers home for the following day. This is a delicious dish and I can't wait to have it again.

Ingredients:
*4c. thinly sliced unpeeled zucchini
*1c. chopped onions
*1/2c. margarine
*1/2tsp. black pepper
*1/4 tsp. salt
*2 well beaten eggs
*2c. shredded mozzarella cheese
*1 pkg. crescent dinner rolls (use only Pillsbury)

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
*In a skillet cook zucchini and onions in the margarine until tender (about 10-15 minutes). Stir in salt and pepper.
* In a large bowl, blend beaten eggs and cheese. Stir vegetables into egg & cheese mixture. *Spread crescent rolls into pie or casserole dish to form a crust. Pour filling into crust and bake 18 to 20 minutes.

Zucchini Relish

I know it is the time of year for zucchini and alot of people who raise them end up with an abundance, therefore I will try and post a few tried & true zucchini recipes I have collected over the years. This is another recipe that came from my aunt Brenda and my whole family just loves this stuff year round. Mom doesn't go a summer without making enough to last all of us through the winter. Great for hot dogs, potato salads, deviled eggs, pinto beans or just straight out of the jar.

Ingredients:

*5c. zucchini, chopped

*3c. celery, chopped

*2/3c. green pepper, chopped

*3c. onion, chopped

*6 c. water

*1/4c. salt

*6 c. sugar

*3 c. white vinegar

*2T. mustard seed

*1T. celery seed

*1tsp. turmeric

Directions:
Mix together zucchini, celery, green pepper, onion, water and salt: let stand one hour. Drain. Add sugar, white vinegar, mustard seeds, celery seeds, and turmeric. Cook 10 minutes on medium heat. Pack in hot jars, seal. (Keep jars & lids in hot water on the stove.)