Homemade Irish Cream

This is a great recipe that tastes just like the store-bought stuff for a fraction of the cost. It makes a wonderful gift and tastes heavenly in coffee!

INGREDIENTS :

1 cup heavy cream (or half and half)
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup Irish whiskey (or whatever's handy- I used rum with good results)
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

DIRECTIONS:

In a blender, combine heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, Irish whiskey, instant coffee, chocolate syrup, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
Blend on high for 20 to 30 seconds.
Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Shake well before serving.

Slow Cooker Chili

1 can (15 oz.) dark red kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (15 oz.) light red kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1-1/2 cups mild salsa
1 can (16 oz.) tomato sauce
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
1 onion, chopped
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

COMBINE beans, salsa, tomato sauce and chili powder in slow cooker. Top with chicken, onions and corn. (Do not stir.) Cover with lid.
COOK on LOW 6 to 8 hours (or on HIGH 4 to 5 hours).
STIR just before serving. Serve topped with cheese and sour cream. I like to serve ours over steamed rice.

Minestrone

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
undrained 1 32-ounce container vegetable or low-sodium chicken broth
1 15-ounce can cannellini (or other white) beans
1 15-ounce can kidney beans (optional)
1 9- or 16-ounce package frozen green beans
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 5-ounce bag fresh spinach or one 10-ounce box frozen spinach, thawed
1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated Parmesan
Crusty bread

In a large pot, over medium heat, bring the tomatoes and their liquid to a simmer. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the broth, white beans, and kidney beans (if using) and bring to a simmer. Add the green beans and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, and spinach and stir until wilted. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Serve with the bread.

Great Aunt Ruby's Coca-Cola Salad

1 (16 oz.) can pitted cherries
1 small can crushed pineapple
1 box black cherry gelatin
1 box red raspberry gelatin
(or any two flavors of gelatin you have in the pantry)
1- 3 oz package of cream cheese, softened
2 small bottles of Coca-Cola® (or one 12 oz. can)
1 cup chopped nuts

Drain fruit juice and add enough water to make 1 1/2 cups into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and pour over the gelatin. Stir in the cream cheese. Let cool, add cherries, pineapple, nuts and Coca-Cola. Chill until thickened.This was my Great Aunt Ruby's recipe. Since the recipe calls for two small bottles of Coke, that should tell you how long it's been around. No worries- a 12 oz. can works just as well.

Oh-So-Good Cookies

Here's a cookie/cluster/granola bar concoction that you can customize with your own mix-ins. They're both healthy and yummy - I made them for the debate team and not a crumb was left. Hint: they are much better with the coconut than without.

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup oatmeal
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup coconut (optional, but gives great flavor)
¼ cup flax seed, crushed
¼ cup wheat germ
1 tablespoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
2/3 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ cup mix-in of choice (or two, or three…)

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease large cookie sheet or use a silpat. In bowl, mix first 11 ingredients with a wire whisk. In mixing bowl at medium speed, or by hand, add remaining ingredients (except your mix-ins) until blended; add flour mixture and your mix-in ingredient(s) and stir until combined. Drop the dough using a small cookie scoop about 1 level tablespoon. Bake about 12 minutes and cool on a wire rack. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Mix-In Options

Add ½ cup of the following: Chocolate chips; coarsely chopped walnuts; white chocolate chips; peanut butter chips; dried pineapple; dried mango or your favorite

Black Forest Muffin Cakes

1 box Betty Crocker Double Chocolate Muffin Mix
1 can cherry pie filling
1 egg
whipped topping
12 marachino cherries

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place paper baking cup in each of 12 regular size muffin cups.

In a medium bowl, stir muffin mix, pie filling and egg until blended.

Divide batter among muffin cups.

Bake 28 to 30 minutes until tops spring back when touched. Serve each with a dollop of topping and a cherry.

Chicken Caesar Salad

8 oz dry rotini pasta, cooked according to package directions and drained
2 cups diced cooked chicken
1 bag Birds Eye Broccoli Florets, Cauliflower and Carrots, cooked according to package directions and drained
1 cup Caesar salad dressing
3/4 cup chicken broth
Grated Parmesan cheese
Caesar flavored croutons
Combine cooked rotini, chicken, vegetables, salad dressing and chicken broth in a large pan and cook over MEDIUM-HIGH heat until heated through.

Top with Parmesan and croutons.