Shortbread Hershey Kiss Cookies

I love these cookies! Let me say it again, I LOVE THESE COOKIES! My sister-in-law gave me this recipe several years ago and it quickly became one of my all-time favorites. I really hope you try these. I am sure you will love them as much as I do.

1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup flour
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 bag Hershey Kisses
powdered sugar for rolling

Cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla
Gradually add flour
Add nuts
Chill dough for 1 hour

Spoon dough by about 1 Tablespoon. Mold dough completely around a Hershey Kiss. Place on baking sheet. Bake @ 375 for 12 minutes.
















Let cool slightly. Roll in powdered sugar while still warm.

Chicken Broccoli Penne

I absolutely love this recipe! For any pasta lovers out there this is a definite must try. It's easy, fast, and very delicious! This is one of those dishes that keeps very well. In fact I might like it even more the next day after it has been in the fridge. Make sure to try the homemade Alfredo sauce, it really makes the dish!

Ingredients:
1 box penne
1 bag frozen steamfresh broccoli
1 chicken breast chopped into pieces
1 bag shredded Italian cheeses
Alfredo Sauce
1/4 cup butter
4 oz cream cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup milk
3 oz parmesean cheese(the powder kind)
Salt and pepper to taste
Melt butter and cream cheese in pan whisk until smooth.
Add milk, garlic powder, salt and pepper
When its boiling add parmesean and whisk

Sautee chicken breast and cut into small pieces
Boil penne noodles until tender
Steam broccoli in microwave for 5 mins
Combine everything in 9x13 pan and mix in alfredo sauce til everything is covered

Sprinkle the top with the shredded Italian cheese mix ( the more the better)
Broil in oven until cheese is all melted and light brown

Red Velvet Seven Layer Bars

I love red velvet! I have made red velvet cheesecake, red velvet cake ball and red velvet cookies. If it has red velvet I'm bound to try it. I found this recipe from Red Velvet Lover's Cookbook and I knew it was a must try. If you like red velvet, you will love these. Here is what you will need.

1 1/2 C All-Purpose Flour
1 Tbs Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 C Unsalted Butter, Softened to Room Temperature
3/4 C Sugar
1 Large Egg
1/2 Tsp Vanilla
1 Tbs Red Food Coloring
1 1/3 C Shredded Coconut
1 C Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 C White Chocolate Chips
1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 C Chopped Pecans


Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl beat butter for 1 min at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add the sugar and beat for until fluffy and light in color. Add egg and vanilla and beat on high until combined. Add your food coloring.

Change the speed on your mixer to slow and add your dry ingredient to your wet slowly. Mix until wet and dry ingredients are combined. Your red velvet dough will be very sticky. With a rubber spatula remove the dough from your bowl and to your baking pan. Work the dough into an even layer  in your pan. Be patient its really sticky.

Bake in the oven for 8 mins. After eight minutes add your coconut followed by your chocolate chips. Then add your condensed milk, followed by your pecans. Put back in the oven to bake until set, usually about 25 mins. Let cool before serving. Enjoy!

 

Lasagna

At the Wasden household we do not eat leftovers, with the exception of Lasagna. I always make a big pan and it always gets eaten. You can make this ahead of time and freeze it or whatever left over you have you can freeze as a single serving for a quick lunch. The sauce it thick and creamy and its loaded with extra cheese. I hope its as big of a hit at your house as it is at mine. Enjoy!

-Heidi

2 lbs Ground Hamburger
1 Onion (diced)
1 Green Pepper (diced)
2 Cans Tomato Soup
1 Small Can Tomato Sauce
1 Can Mushroom Soup
1 lb Mild Cheddar Cheese
1 lb Monterey Jack Cheese
8 Lasagna Noodles cooked to box instructions

Brown together hamburger, onion, and pepper. Drain any excess liquid

Add to Hamburger mixture tomato soup, tomato sauce, and mushroom soup.

To hamburger mixture add these spices:

1Tbs Parsley
1 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1 Bay Leaf
1/2 tsp Oregano
1/2 tsp Garlic

In a 9 x 13 pan layer noodles, sauce, and cheese. Repeat process until you have used all ingredients.

Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 30 mins until cheese has melted.

Zucchini Muffins

When it comes to muffins there is one that stands above the rest. I know when you hear zucchini and muffin together you might question what that tastes like, but trust me it is divine! It is cinnamon, sugar, and zucchini at its finest. The streusel on top is the best part! My grandmother has made these muffins for as long as I can remember. She is one of the best cooks/bakers I know. The best days were the ones she would come over and surprise us with these muffins! I now get to make them for my kids and they always get excited when they see me making them. My Grandma Sally was kind enough to let us share her fantastic recipe with all of you. Thank you Grandma! I hope you and your family enjoy these as much as I do.

Ingredients:
1 cup oil
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 Tablespoons vanilla
2 cups peeled grated zucchini
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Streusel:
1/2 cup Flour
1/2 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Margarine
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon


Directions:
Mix together in mixer the Oil, Sugar, Vanilla and Eggs(add the eggs one at a time)
Stir in the grated Zucchini.
In a separate bowl sift together the Flour, Cinnamon, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, and Salt.
Add the second mixture to the first mixture. Mix gently until mixture is just moist.
Fill cupcake cups 3/4 full.
In separate bowl make the streusel topping. Mix all ingredients together until crumbly. DO NOT MELT THE MARGARINE. The Margarine should be soft and at room temp. It is what will make it crumbly.
Sprinkle Streusel on top of muffins and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 mins.

First mixture

 

 

Second Mixture

 

Streusel

 

 

 



Baked Honey Lime Chicken Taquitos

I am always looking for ways to get my 4 year old to eat. I have found that he likes foods that are fun and easy to eat. The only problem is that most finger foods that fit this description are usually not that healthy. While I was looking for some fun new recipes to mix it up I came across this one from www.lovelylittlekitchen.com. This is such a great site if you are looking for some healthy recipes. These taquitos are delicious, and yes my 4 year old loved them! I am sure you and your family will too!

-Heather

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked shredded chicken (I used a rotisserie)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/3 cup of honey
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups shredded cheese
Soft taco sized flour tortillas
Cooking spray
Cilantro Lime Cream:
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup green taco sauce(mild)
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Directions:
1-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2-In a large bowl combine chicken, lime juice, honey, chili powder, and garlic. Mix to coat.
3-Divide chicken evenly on the center of each tortilla. Top each one with cheese.
4-Roll each tortilla lightly leaving the ends open, Place them on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick spray or olive oil.
5-Spray the tops of the taquitos and sprinkle with salt.
6-Bake for 10 mins then serve with the Cilantro Cream.
Cilantro Lime Cream
1-In a food processor or blender combine all ingredients and pulse until smooth.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

I got my mail the other day and while browsing through the grocery store ad I saw this:

 I wanted to die. $8 for 6 strawberries!!!! Are you kidding me??? I have debated even putting this post on here because I feel silly. It is something so easy that it is hard to even call it a recipe. But when I saw this ad I knew I had to do it. I can't let anyone pay over a dollar for each strawberry when you can make them yourself. I love to do this because the kids can have some and there are still plenty for Jake and I to share. It is SO easy and fast. Really. I promise. Anyone can do it. Anyone.

Here's what you need:
Strawberries
Chocolate chips (I prefer Guittard for the smoother finish)
White Chocolate chips (optional)

And that's it.

Wash the strawberries and dry them well. You don't want them wet at all when you dip them.

Place milk chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Melt chocolate in microwave for 30 seconds at a time. Stir in between. Continue until smooth.

Dip your strawberries in chocolate and place on wax paper. Let set. Don't put them in the freezer because your strawberries can turn mushy and your chocolate might get white spots on it if left too long. They will set up on your counter just fine. You can refrigerate them if you are on a hurry.

Place 1/4 cup white chocolate in a ziploc bag. Remove all air and seal. Melt in microwave for 30 seconds at a time until completely melted.
Snip of a very tiny corner at the bottom of the bag. I mean tiny. You want your chocolate stream to be small.

Drizzle over strawberries. It is ok to be messy. Once the are set and you move them to a serving plate the additional white chocolate pops right off.

Enjoy. I hope you and your sweetheart can enjoy a romantic evening this Saturday with these beautiful strawberries close by.