Basic Cream Soup Recipe

We had a special guest for dinner last night.  It was just something I felt I should do knowing that his wife was out of town and he was living the bachelor's life for awhile, Saturday, we invited him to join us for Sunday dinner.  When I invited him, I didn't know what I was going to make for dinner, and I didn't know that Sunday was his BIRTHDAY.  I found that out bright and early Sunday morning on facebook (good ol' facebook).

We started in on the birthday cake.  That was easy.  It was the figuring out what to make for dinner that was a little more tricky.

I decided that I'd make the bread bowls and a soup.  I found a recipe online, but didn't have all that it asked for, so I did my own thing.   As I made it, I realized that the base of this soup can really be used with any ingredients, so here's what I did, but you can throw in anything you want.


Basic Soup
Throw the following into a crockpot:
1 large bag frozen vegetables--I used a Tuscan mix--peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, etc.
You can use fresh veggies too, but if you do, saute them in a pan first until they're tender, but not soggy.
cooked meat--I used chicken that I chopped and shredded, but you could use browned ground beef, or probably some chopped up pork (I'm not sure about beef, but what do you have to lose? Give it a shot.)
spices--I used thyme and paprika
salt and pepper to taste
you could probably also throw in some onion or garlic for flavor

Now, for the yummy part:
Make a cream sauce with equal parts butter and flour--I used (for our large group) 1 C. of each, but a more practical amount would be 1/4 C. of each.
Gradually pour in chicken broth.  I used four cans, and I threw in a can of cream of chicken soup to boot, but if you do 1/4 C. of butter and flour, use 1 C. chicken broth.  The cream of chicken is completely optional.
Stir this sauce into the veggies and meat.

If you'd like, grate some cheese into it or do it before you serve it.

You can also throw in some pasta, but cook it slightly before you do, or throw cooked pasta in right before you serve it.  I think the second option is the one I'd choose.  I always seem to end up with soggy, nasty pasta if I cook it in my crockpot.

Let the soup cook on low for about three hours.


I highly recommend this soup served in the bread bowls.  We served this with a Caesar salad.  It seemed to be just right for a Sunday night.  By the way, we have afternoon church, and we get out at 4pm, so I made the bread bowls around 12:30pm and let them rise while we were at church and set the soup to cook at that time too.  It was all ready to go when we got home.

Hope you try it and hope you love it.  If you try some good combinations, let me know.  I'd like to try your creations too.  Enjoy!

HUGE Faux Pas

Kaffrin's here today, so we're making cookies.  Last week, it was ginger snaps.  The week before, it was sugar cookies.  Today, I decided we'd do just plain ol' chocolate chips cookies.  I'm always in search of the best chocolate chip cookie recipe, but to date, nothing matches my mom's.

So, I pulled out my handy dandy all inclusive (or so I thought) cookbook--Madhouse Masterpieces of Mastication.  I searched and found two different chocolate chip cookie recipes, but my mom's WASN'T there.  NOOOOO!!!!

So, for your cookie making pleasure, here it is for you:

Ruth Hamm's Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 C. shortening
1 C. sugar
1 C. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. water (I left this out today)
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/4 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 pkg. chocolate chips

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.  Beat the first five ingredients until creamy.  Add the eggs and the dry ingredients and mix well.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Bake at 375^ for 10-12 minutes.  (I like mine soft, so I go with 8 minutes).

My mom's recipes says to sift the dry ingredients.  Truth be known, I rebel against sifting (and ironing--just thankful it didn't ask me to iron anything; the guilt of not sifting is enough).  I figure I've got better things to do with my time (and my wrist).  The cookies today turned out a little bit flatter than I remember them, but that might just be a consequence of my rebellion.

The chefs

One other thing I'm trying today for the first time is something a friend shared with me YEARS ago.  I've now baked three dozen cookies.  That's really all we need for today.  I have an empty juice can that I've washed out.  I'm stuffing a bunch of the dough--as much as'll fit--into the can.  I'm going to cover it with foil, tape it down and put it in the freezer.  Oh yah, and if you do this, don't forget to mark what it is in the can, or you might get quite a surprise the next time you're thinking of making apple juice; although, the foil might just give it away that something's amiss.  I'm also jotting down the baking instructions so I don't have to look them up when the time comes.

Next time we want cookies, we pull the can out, use a can opener to open the other end and push the dough out as we cut the cookies onto a cookie sheet.

The leftover dough will take at least two cans, and I only have one, so I may take the rest, put them on some wax paper in little balls and then wrap them in foil, and put them in the freezer to wait until next time.

There you have it.  Enjoy!!!

Update on Much

My friend Joanna asked about how this recipe turned out.  It was FABULOUS!

When I wrote the post, it was still in my mind, but now that I've made it, let me turn back the clock a bit and run you through the steps exactly as I did them.

Ingredients:

• 1 baguette (or, if you live in a madhouse like mine, 2)
• butter or margarine (enough to butter the bread)
• cooked chicken breast, shredded
• deli sliced ham, or it might be yummier to have some ham left over from dinner that you shred like the chicken, shred or slice it
• cheese, I used cheddar (I always have that on hand), but Swiss might be more true to the recipe
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 C sour cream (or enough to make the sauce a pouring consistency)
• 1-2 Tbsp. lemon juice (I love the flavor that it gives the sauce, so I just pour some in

Instructions:
Cut the bread right down the middle, so you look like you have an enormous hot dog bun.  I guess if you wnat to make smaller sandwiches you could slice it like a normal loaf of bread.  Butter the inside.  Place chicken on top of the butter and ham on top of the chicken on one side of the bread.  Layer with slices of cheese.  Place under the broiler and let the bread toast and the cheese melt.  While this is going on, make the sauce.
For the sauce, put soup, sour cream and lemon juice into a sauce pan and cook and stir until warm and well blended.  Should be smooth and creamy.  Ahh.  Really, is there anything better than smooth and creamy?
When the bread is all toasted and the cheese all melted, remove them from the oven and drizzle the sauce over the meat and cheese.  Place the naked half of the bread on top of the other.
Slice the sandwich into sections and serve.

I hope you get to make it and that you love it.  If you do, please leave me a comment.  I'd love to know if you switched it up at all and just how it turned out.  Oh yah, and as with the bread, if you live in a madhouse, or even a mellow house with a lot of people in it (is this possible?--if so, please comment, I want to read your blog), you're going to want to double everything but maybe not the sauce.

I had extra sauce, so I made it into a cheese sauce by adding cheese and milk to it and served it over broccoli the next night.  You might also want to serve it in the Chicken and Broccoli recipe on page 20 of my cookbook.  That would be YUMMY.  The lemon juice gives it just enough of a tang to make it a bit different than the norm.  And, of course, there's nothing wrong with being different from the norm--tends to give life some variety, right?

Speaking of which, I had an interesting experience yesterday.  I was involved with a conversation with two women.  They were full-time working moms who each had only one child.  I started out in the conversation but quickly decided that it was fascinating and I just sat and listened.  Wow!  What would that life be like?  I decided that I don't want to know.  I like love mine just the way it is--monstrously beastish van and everything.

Okay, so another update but with no solution....Remember this post?  This has become a pretty common occurrence.  This morning, it was just a really quick tipping of my head down and the sensation started.  I have no idea what's causing it, but I think I've come to the realization that it is getting worse, so it's probably time to go see a doctor.

Why do I hate seeing doctors so much?  I don't mind it once I'm there, but it's all the getting there, I think, that turns me off.  Anyway, it can't be avoided.

If this has ever happened to you, and particularly, if you know what causes it and how to solve, it, please comment, I'd love to know what it is and how to deal with it.  Thanks!

One last update....minimalism.  Oh my goodness.  I have learned one huge thing.  You HAVE to be completely together to do this and not let it make you crazy.  I'm hanging in, but I couldn't find a full set of pajamas last night.

A week ago, I pulled a shirt out of the box for a cross country meet because the coach asked us to wear a blue shirt to match our team.  I happened to have one, so life was good.  Since then, I've inherited another from volunteering at yesterday's cross country meet (#1 came in 11th, by the way--yeah!).

So, I'm learning I HAVE to do laundry everyday.  I have to have the dishes done every night, and I have to make sure the dishes are all present and accounted for.  That's where it becomes a bit frustrating.  I also have to keep a certain big guy in my home from getting into the box of dishes and getting more dishes out.

Oh yah, and I finally pulled two more pairs of underwear from the box too.  Not only do you have to have the laundry done everyday, you have to fold it and have it put away in order to find what you've taken the time to wash.  While I'm confessing...I also pulled a more practical pair of shoes out for a meeting I went to the other day.  It was at someone's home, and I knew I would be taking my shoes off.  My sandals are going into the garbage very soon.  I will miss them greatly.  They've served me well.

As you can see, I sometimes let life run me instead of me running it. With seven kids, that's what happens.  Frequently, their needs take precedence over things like folding laundry, and before you know it, the day is over, you're pooped and that's all she wrote for the day.  All you have energy for is washing your face, brushing your teeth, and climbing into bed in half a pair of pajamas--the other half working on some good wrinkleage in a basket somewhere.

Okay, I told you that was the last, but I lied....

I'm absolutely swimming in cookbooks.  They're almost done.  I refused to print the labels available through PayPal.  This was much too personal a project than that, so I've been hand-addressing them.  I hope, if you ordered one, you know how much it meant to me that you placed your trust in me on such a gamble.  Honestly, I knew I could have backed out at any time or something could have gone wrong and made the trip impossible, but it never did, and I'm, at this point, left with a heart full to brimming with gratitude.  Thank you!  Monday is the big day to ship these out of my house.  I hope you love them.

Well, the little girl is awake.  I was just greeted with the words, "Momma...poop," so I guess I'm off to let life run me a little bit....See what I mean?

Chicken Cordon Bleu on a Baguette--The Evolution of Dinner

Fred Meyer has baguettes and chicken on sale this week.  I put the chicken in the crockpot when I got home.  The baguettes were warm when I bought them and smelled so good.  The boys had cheese and ham for snack after school.  So, there you go, that's how this dinner idea evolved.

I'm going to reheat the baguettes in the oven before I serve them, but I'm going to cut them into pieces large enough for a sandwich for each family member. 

When the chicken is done, I'm going to remove the meat from the bones and coarsely chop it to go on the bread.  I'm also going to chop up the ham and put it on top of the chicken.  I will then layer cheese on the top.  I don't have Swiss, but I'm sure that would be a little more cordon bleu-ish.  I'm then going to drizzle some of the usual cordon bleu sauce over the top and put the top on the sandwich.

Here's the sauce I'm going to use:

2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 C. sour cream
1 or 2 tsp. lemon juice

Warm it together in the pan and it should be good to go.


So, this may turn out really nasty, or it could be really good.  I guess we'll see.

Planning Day

This was an old post that I started yet never published a long time ago. Here it is, months later, finally posted:



Do you ever blame everything that is going wrong in your life on one thing?  It seems like lately school has become my excuse for everything.  Well, I've decided that it's time to get back on board.

I started out today with a roast in the crockpot.  I stirred 1/2 C. of soy sauce and sugar along with two 8 oz. cans of tomato sauce and 2 tsp. of dry mustard together and poured them over the meat.  It cooked on high for 3-ish hours.

My sister makes these crescent rolls that are TO DIE for!  She shared the recipe with my mom, so my mom used to make them for us kids.  I mixed up a batch and made them to go with the meat.

So, there you have it.  Voila!  Dinner.  I think my kids had forgotten what it was like to have mom cook and cook something yummy.

On Sunday's we have dinner for lunch.  It was that way at my house growing up.  In the evening, we'd have a simple snack of some kind as our meal, at least that how it was growing up.  Now, in my own home, we have more than a snack.  The Warden usually makes these huge omelets.  They're AMAZING!  It's become a fun tradition. 

Caitlin Carter's Banana Bread

This may very well be THE most shared recipe in our ward.  I wrote about making it in my status on facebook, and it cracked me up how many women in the ward commented about how they make it and how yummy it is.  It really is!  Caitlin said I could share it here, so for your eating pleasure.....

 Banana Bread

1 ½ cup flour

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

¾ cup sugar

½ cup butter, softened

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup banana (about 3 bananas)

Milk chocolate chips (optional-about half a bag)

In a small bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt together.  In a mixing bowl, combine sugar and butter and mix well.  Add egg and vanilla and mix well.  Add bananas and mix well.  Add dry ingredients to mixing bowl and mix well.  Mix in chocolate chips, if desired.  Pour into greased bread pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.  Then cover lightly with foil and bake for another 10 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

***Suggestion:  When counter-top bananas turn brown, freeze them.  Bananas defrost quite quickly and are ready for use in the bread.

ENJOY!!!

Let Me Share Her with You

Today is HER day!  She was born May 8th, 1927.  She is my HERO, and I miss her.

First some photos for you:

Pictured in the middle with her parents shortly before her mother's death.

With Uncle Fester...oops, I mean chunky little me.

On her wedding day--they were 19 years old.

In Florida for their 50th anniversary.

The family she raised and was so proud of

A little bit about her early life.  (Please click the links).

Recipes she would share with you if you knew her (Again, click on the colored words; they'll take you there):
Corn Chowder
Ginger Snaps
Sugar Cookies

Little bits and pieces about her:
December 2008
September 2008
September 2008

How she still touches my life.

What I feel now:
November 2008
March 2010

The bottom line.


I always thought it was fitting that my mom's birthday ended up on Mother's Day so often.  It just fits!  She should be celebrated TWICE in the same day!  Wish she was here, I'd introduce you.  You'd love her too.

Too Many M&Ms

I WAY over bought for Easter.  WAY!  I didn't even blink twice when I threw packages of M&Ms in these cookies.  Can't wait for FHE tonight!

Easter Breakfast Casserole

I shared this link in my last post.  It ended up so good, but I changed it so much it doesn't resemble that link any more, so here's the recipe for you. 

In place of the cheese, I put this:

I got it with a coupon.  I wasn't sure what I was going to use it for, but it made this SO GOOD!

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. frozen shredded O'Brien hash browns with onions and peppers
• 1 pound ground pork sausage
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 pkg. Philadelphia Italian cheese and herb cooking cream
• 12 eggs, lightly beaten

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
2. Cook and stir sausage in a medium saucepan over medium heat until evenly browned; drain.
3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir hash browns into saucepan, and cook until potatoes are browned and onion is tender, about 10 minutes. Place potatoes in the prepared baking dish. Cover with sausage. Spoon cooking cream over and top with eggs.
4. Bake 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until eggs are fully cooked.

Pudding Chip Cookies

I'm trying very hard to get the frequently-made recipes typed up here.  I'm hoping to make all of this into a book someday.  It's also nice to have the recipes all in one place, so all I have to do is sign in and find the recipe I want.

Here's one from my mom.  It's in my cupboard written on the back of an envelope.  It's about time it was typed up.  It's another one I always double.

Pudding Chip Cookies
Cream:
  1 C. butter
  3/4 C. brown sugar
  1/4 C. sugar
Add:
  1 small pkg. vanilla or chocolate pudding
  2 eggs
  1 tsp vanilla
Mix in:
  2 1/4 C. flour
  1 tsp. baking soda
Stir in 1 pkg. chocolate chips and 1 C. nuts if desired.

Bake at 350 for 10 mins.

Today I made them with chocolate pudding and poured in 1 big bag of peanut butter M&Ms along with half the amount of chocolate chips.  You know this health food thing I got going on.  Eeek!

Pistachio Salad Recipe

This is a favorite at our house.

1 can Mandarin oranges, drained
1 small can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 pkg. pistachio pudding (just the powder, don't make it into pudding)
1 pkg. Cool Whip (the regular size container)
1 C. mini marshmallows

Fold ingredients together in a bowl.  Chill and serve.

I double this one EVERY time. 

What are You Going to Do with Your Day Off?

Tomorrow is President's Day.  No school!!!  We knew we wanted to do something together as a family day but have to wait until #2's basketball practice is over.  I also have a little shopping for a fancy dress experience planned.

Just like last time we had a day off, we drew some family activities from our little bowl during family council today.  I'm putting these here, so if you've come up with that quandary of what to do, you can use any of these ideas if you'd like.

Each child picked one randomly with his/her eyes closed.  We ended up with family karaoke, hike to Council Crest, Skateworld, visit to Grandma's house (not possible), Valley Theatre, Voodoo Donuts, pictionary with playdough, and the Jantzen Beach Carousel.

We all decided that the Valley Theatre was out because all that they're showing tomorrow that would be appropriate for our family was Yogi Bear.  Umm...no.  Worth spending that much money on?  I don't think so.  That narrowed us down to six choices.  We could even do a combination of them.

After voting, we decided on the carousel.  Here's the low-down on the Carousel.

If we had decided to do the playdough thing, I was going to make playdough for us to use.  The store-bought stuff gives me a headache.  If you choose to do that one, here's my recipe (super easy, but that's what I'm all about):

Playdough
In a pan, mix:
  1 C. Flour
  1/2 C. salt
  2 Tbsp. cream of tartar
  2 Tbsp. oil
Slowly add:
  1 C. water
  Food coloring as desired (optional)
Cook over medium heat, stir til dough is stiff.  Turn onto wax paper and let cool.  Knead til proper consistency.


Happy President's Day to you!  Hope you enjoy your time with your family.

Homemade Waffles with Pumpkin Pie Syrup

Got a bit adventurous this morning.  We had waffles:

Waffles
3 1/2 C. flour
4 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. baking powder
4 eggs
3 1/2 C. milk
1 C. oil
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl.  Slightly beat the eggs in another bowl and add the milk, oil and vanilla.  Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until all is moist.  The batter will be lumpy.  Cook in a waffle iron.  Should make about 16 waffles, but it depends on the size of your iron.


I have posted this syrup recipe before, and I really lean on what I've put in this blog to find my recipes, but my search thingy doesn't work (very frustrating), so I couldn't find it.  If anyone knows how to change my setting so it'll work, please advise.  Anyway, I LOVE this syrup recipe.  Very easy and oh, so yummy!  It's really a cinnamon syrup, but today I put in pumpkin pie spice instead, so thus the title of this post.

Cinnamon Syrup
1 C. sugar
1 C. brown sugar
4 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (I also bought apple pie spice, I'm thinking that might be fun to have on top of some apple waffles or put some apples in the syrup and cook them just until they're a bit soft)
2 tsp. vanilla
2 C. water

Stir all together in a saucepan over heat.  Cook to a boil and keep stirring until thickened.

Oh SOOOO yummy!  Enjoy!

Chicken Nuggets in the Crockpot

A number of months ago, I decided to start using my crockpot more.  Actually, I was going to use it everyday.  There was one other time in my life when I did that.  It was after the spring break of three children ago.  I purchased this book (to the left) at the Hatfield Marine Science Center Gift Shop.

What exactly do crockpots and sea creatures have to do with each other?  I don't know either, but that day I put a little extra money toward the aquarium's services, and I got jazzed about the recipes in the book.

I spent most of my time in the car that day using little post-it notes to mark every recipe I wanted to try.  I scheduled in dinners for months.  It was GREAT! 

So, to solve the problem of dinner stress this past fall, I decided that the crockpot was going to be my only chance at peace.  That it was!

Last night, I decided to try chicken nuggets in the crockpot just because I was intrigued.  I found the recipe at this site.  If you're thinking of doing something in your crockpot, this is the site to use.

They turned out SO GOOD!  As I was making them, I couldn't help thinking about buying a package of chicken nuggets at the store, throwing them on a pan and letting the cook away in the oven.  I thought, what the heck am I doing here?  It was pretty time consuming.  To save on time, I threw the chicken pieces (as many as would fit) into the egg mixture and then transferred the pieces into a ziploc bag with the breading mix in it.  I shook them around to coat them, poured them out and placed them in the crockpot .  I layered them with poked pieces of foil between the layers.  After all was said and done, I will TOTALLY do this one again.  So much healthier and yummier than those frozen jobbers.

They practically melted in our mouths.  I used chicken tenders (no, I don't want to know what part of the chicken that is.  Hah.a) and cut them into bit-sized pieces.  I used seasoned bread crumbs and added a bit of garlic powder and a bit of seasoning salt to them, but I wish I would have added more.  The breading was kind of boring.  I didn't follow the recipe on the website.  Next time I will.

It sounds like Stephanie (the owner of "A Year of Slow Cooking") likes her chicken nuggets crispy.  I don't mind mine a bit softer.  These were definitely worth the time and effort.

Bread in a Crockpot

This is amazing.  I had no idea you could make bread in a crockpot.  I had never heard of it.  I found it in a ward cookbook from my sister.  From beginning to end, this takes about three hours.  You have to have one of the more oblong crockpots--one that holds a bread loaf pan.

The first thing you want to do is preheat your crockpot on high for 30 minutes.

1 pkg. dry yeast
1/4 c. warm water
1 egg
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1 c. lukewarm water
1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. sugar
3 1/2 - 4 c. flour

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and 1 tsp. sugar in 1/4 c. warm water.  Let it stand for a little bit until it foams up a bit.  Add egg, oil, lukewarm water, salt, 1/4 c. sugar, and 2 c. of the flour.  Beat with an electric mixer for 2 mins.  With a wooden spoon, stir in remaining 1 1/2 to 2 c. flour til dough leaves sides of bowl.  Place dough in well-greased bread pan; cover very loosely (I used foil).  Place pan in pre-heated crockpot.  Cover and bake on high for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until the edges are browned.  Remove from crockpot and uncover.  Let stand five minutes and then tip out of pan.

Cake Mix Bar Cookies

Inmate #5 has a soccer party tonight. I think over the years I've become very opinionated about soccer tradition. I think trophies are for the birds--get the kids a sweatshirt or something they can use to commemorate the season. I think snacks after games should end at about the age of 8 or 9.

Team parties, though, simple is SO much better in my book. Tonight's is the best plan I've ever heard of, though. The coach's wife is having the kids over to their house for a potluck. She assigned each family to bring something in a certain category. We're dessert--I'm taking cinnamon rolls and cookies from the following recipe. The coach's family is providing hot dogs with the fixings.

Ahh! I'm so happy not to be spending a million bucks on pizza and going to a crazy place where you're chasing you don't know where your kids are half the time and the other half you're chasing them around just trying to get them with the rest of the team. YAY!!! So happy for tonight's party.

So, I'm sick of hunting this recipe down, so I'm posting it for future reference. It came form this link.

Bar Cookies from Cake Mix
* 1/2 cup butter
* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons water
* 1 egg
* 1 package yellow or white cake mix (you can use any flavor--our fave: lemon cake mix and pour in white chocolate chips)
* 1 cup chopped walnuts
* 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9"x13" baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in water and egg, then stir in cake mix. Finally, mix in nuts and chocolate chips. Spread mixture into pan.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Yes folks, this means the season is almost at an end!  We survived!  We're all still in one piece.

Cinnamon Roll Recipe

TOP SECRET

CINNABON® CINNAMON ROLLS

from Mandy Oyama

ROLLS (I've altered this from how I received it from Mandy.  This is in order of how I put it in my bread machine).

1 c. warm milk (105 to 110*)                                

1/3 c. margarine, melted

2 eggs

4 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

½ c. sugar  

1- ¼ ounce pkg. active dry yeast

FILLING

1 c. packed brown sugar                                    

2 ½ Tbsp. cinnamon

1/3 c. margarine

ICING

8 Tbsp. (1 cube) margarine, softened    

¼ c. (2 ounces) cream cheese   

½ tsp. vanilla extract         

1 ½ c. powdered sugar                                      

1/8 tsp salt

1. For rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl.

2. Add sugar, margarine, salt, eggs, and flour, and mix well.

3. Knead the dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour. Put in a bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.

4. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough flat until it is approximately 21 inches long and 16 inches wide. It should be about ¼ inch thick.

5. Preheat oven to 400*

6. For filling, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Spread the softened     margarine evenly over the surface of the flattened dough. Then sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar evenly over that.

7. Working carefully from the top (long side), roll the dough down to the bottom edge.

8. Cut the rolled dough into 1 ¾ inch slices and place 6 at a time, evenly spaced, in a lightly greased baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes, or until light brown on top.

9. While the rolls bake, combine the icing ingredients. Beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy.

10. When rolls come out of the oven, coat each one generously with icing.

MAKES 12 ROLLS

*You can use a bread machine to make it easier. Add the “ROLLS” ingredients to the bread machine and select the dough option. Then you will need to begin at #4 when it is done. *

Enjoy!!!

Robert Redford...the Recipe

This is a recipe my mom got from somebody at church. I've also heard it referred to as "Sex in a Pan." I found, as I was going through my mom's recipes, that there are many that have been neglected. This is one of them.

I made this for our family's Christmas Eve dinner this year. Immediately upon tasting it, the kids started chiming in with, "Mom, you know how you make us cake or pie or whatever for our birthday dinner dessert? Well, this is the one I want this year."

I think we've now settled on everyone having the same birthday dinner and dessert every birthday. Each kid has wanted the same main course dish and now the dessert will be added to that. Simple. Yay! No more guess work as to who wants what.

So, for your enjoyment, here's the recipe for you! Hope you love all the creamy, gooey, richness of it!

The Next Best Thing to Robert Redford

Bottom layer - Mix until crumb-like:
1 c. flour
1 c. finely chopped pecans
1/2 c. margarine, softened
Press mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min. or until lightly golden. Cool.

Middle layer - Beat the cream cheese with the sugar until smooth. fold in half the Cool Whip:
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 c. sugar
1 12 oz. Cool Whip, divided
Spread the mixture over the cooled crust.

Top layer - Beat the milk into the pudding mixes until smooth and thickened:
1 lg. pkg. vanilla instant pudding
1 lg. pkg. choc. instant pudding
3 c. cold milk
Spread over the middle layer.

Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the top. (A grated choc. candy bar--my mom usually used a Heath or Skor bar but she used crushed candy canes during the holidays--may be sprinkled over the top, if desired, but watch out: This may make it better than Redford). Cover and refrigerate over night.

Something For You to Try

Here's one for you--sooo easy. We make these for school lunches.

Cake Mix Cookies

1 cake mix

1/3 c. oil

1 egg

Mix together by hand until blended. Drop by teaspoon onto cookies sheet and bake at 350 for 6 mins.

You can also roll them in powdered sugar or throw in chocolate chips or nuts or whatever.

PIE!!!

I am sooo trying this today. Looked easy. Thought I'd share.