Chili in a Bag

1 can of favorite chili or homemade
Small 1 1/4 ounce bags of corn chips
lettuce
sour cream
cheese

Let guests serve themselves by opening 1 bag of corn chips.
Add about 1/3 cup chili, some cheese, lettuce and sour cream.
Mix and enjoy!

Delicious Ham and Potato Soup

This is the perfect soup for a cold winter day!

3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1/3 cup diced celery
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
3/4 cup diced cooked ham
3 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste
5 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk


Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.

In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.

Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately.

Recipe from allrecipes.com.

Holiday Pretzel Treats

Bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels
Hershey's Hug
M&M's candy

Heat the oven to 170 degrees. Set a number of bite-size,
waffle-shaped pretzels in a single layer on a cookie sheet
then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Hug.

Bake for 4 to 6 minutes until the chocolates feel soft when
touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from
the oven and quickly press an M&M's candy into the center of
each Hug. Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, then place
them in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes.

Sweet Tortilla Snowflakes

Recipe and picture from Family Fun

Ingredients:
6 flour tortillas
Canola or vegetable oil for baking
Confectioners' sugar
Edible glitter (optional)

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Warm the tortillas

(about 15 seconds) in the microwave. Individually fold

the tortillas in half once and then in half again, so that

you end up with a shape that resembles a wedge of pie

(it will be thick). Using clean scissors, cut triangle, circles,

or squares out of the edges, as if you were making

paper snowflakes. Unfold the tortillas. Lightly brush

the tops of the snowflakes with canola or vegetable oil

and place them on a cookie sheet slightly apart.
Bake them until lightly browned and crisp

(about 4 minutes). Sift confectioners' sugar on the

snowflakes while warm. For an extra sparkly effect,

you can sprinkle on a bit of edible glitter.

French toast Christmas tree

All you need to do is make your favorite french toast.

Cut the toast into triangles. Top with candy (like M&M's)

for ornaments.

Toffee Bars

My friend, Jennifer Fry, gave me this DELICIOUS and EASY recipe last week. I've already made 3 pans of them in the past few days(part of my neighbor/friend drop off plates). I took them to a get-together last night and everyone was asking me how to make them. Try them, I guarantee you'll love them! :)

1 sleeve Club crackers
2 sticks better, melted (salted butter)
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/8 t. baking soda
12 oz. bag of milk chocolate chips

Line a 10x15 pan with crackers. In a sauce pan, melt butter, add sugar and soda. Stir until completely combined. Pour gently over crackers and spread evenly. Bake at 350 for 7 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately pour choc. chips over pan. Let stand about 2-3 minutes, then spread chocolate evenly over other mixture. Put in freezer until set. Twist pan to break loose and then break into pieces. Keep covered in refrigerator.

Salt Dough Ornaments

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 325*. Mix together flour and salt. Add water, and knead until smooth - about ten minutes. I had to add extra flour as I was kneading. Mold into desired shape, or use cookie cutters. Add flour as needed. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until dry. Mine only took about an hour, so I'd check on them. Let cool, and decorate as desired.

Christmas Candy Corn

Pop 3 batches of plain popcorn.
2 pkgs. Marshmallows (12 oz. each)
1/2 lb. butter
1 c. red and green gumdrops
1 c. dry roasted salted peanuts
1 c. crushed peppermint (optional)

Melt marshmallows and butter in heavy
pan. Stir well. Pour over popcorn. Add
other ingredients and mix well.

Leftover Turkey or Chicken Enchiladas

3 cups shredded chicken or turkey (no skin)
2 cups sour cream
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup canola oil
12 corn tortillas
1 (16 ounce) jar medium hot salsa

In a bowl, mix chicken or turkey, sour cream, 2 cups shredded
cheese, and salt. Heat oil in an 8-to 10inch frying pan over low
heat. Dip the tortillas, one at a time, in the hot oil just until
limp, about 5 seconds. Fill tortillas equally with chicken mixture,
roll up, and arrange side by side, slit side down, in a 9-x13 inch
baking dish. Pour salsa evenly over top. Bake in a 350 degree
oven until heated through, about 20 minutes. If desired sprinkle
with more shredded cheese over hot enchiladas before serving.

Southwestern Turkey Soup

1/2 cups shredded, cooked turkey
4 cups vegetable broth
1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chili peppers
2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
salt and pepper
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
1/2 teaspoon dried cilantro

In a large pot over medium heat, combine turkey, broth,
canned tomatoes, green chiles, fresh tomatoes, onion,
garlic, lime juice, cayenne, cumin, salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 15 to 20
minutes. Stir in avocado and cilantro and simmer
15 to 20 minutes more, until slightly thickened.

Watergate Salad

This is a traditional Thanksgiving salad/treat at my house. . .

1 (3.4 ounce) package JELLO instant pistachio pudding mix
1 large(20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, with juice(I use about half the juice)
1 bag colored miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip

Mix together and chill overnight before serving.

Turkey pancakes

My boys would love this. I'm going make

these turkey pancakes for them next week.

Picture and idea from Little Nummies

Easy peasy pizza dough

A yummy and quick pizza dough recipe. You don't have to wait for the dough to rise!

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water

Combine flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Mix in oil and warm water. Spread out on a large pizza pan(or two small). Top with desired toppings. Enjoy!

Hot Caramel Apple Cider

This would be perfect for a cold day like today. :)

Picture from Our Best Bites

click here to get the recipe

Pumpkin pie bites

I think these pumpkin pie bites by Bakerella

are so cute. They would make for great

finger foods at a party or anytime. :)

Click here to get the recipe.