Quick & Easy Taco Salad

This one comes from my mom. Super simple, fast, and easy! Just the way we like it, right?!

*1lb Cooked & drained hamburger
1pkt Taco Seasoning
1 Head lettuce
2 Roma Tomatoes diced
1 pkg Shredded Mexican Cheese
1000 Island Salad Dressing
1 Bag Doritos
Sour Cream

If you haven't already cooked and frozen your hamburger so it's ready to use then you'll have to cook your hamburger and season it now with the Taco Seasoning. Otherwise take your bagged frozen hamburger out open it and add the taco seasoning and then nuke it for 2½mins. Shake to mix the seasoning in and around and nuke again for 2½mins again. Hamburger should be thuroughly heated. If not continue to cook for 1 min incriments.

Shred or cut your lettuce up for the salad and place into a large bowl.

Dice your roma tomatoes and add to the salad bowl. Roma tomatoes have less seeds and "juice" which make them ideal for this.

Add to the salad bowl the seasoned hamburger, shredded cheese (reserve some for toppings) and 1000 Island salad dressing and mix well.

Crush the Dorito chips and add to the salad before serving and stir again.

Serve with a dollup of sour cream and a sprinkle of cheese and you are set!

This was one of my favorite dinners my mom made and now it's one of my kids favorites.

*Change it up with some chicken instead of hamburger and make it a little healthier and add a different taste.

(picture coming soon)

Pumpkin Spice Apple Dip

1 can (15oz) Canned Pumpkin
8oz Cream Cheese or Cream Cheese Alternative
2 Cups Confectioners Sugar
3 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1tsp Vanilla
½ tasp Ground Ginger * optional



Cream together the Cheese and Powdered Sugar.
Slowly add the Pumpkin, until blended well.
Add spices and vanilla, and beat until smooth.

Serve with sliced apples, pears or other fruits.

Chill remainder.

Butter Cream Cookies and Icing

Buttercream Cookies

1 Cup Butter softened (or margarine)
1½ Cup Powdered (Confectioners) Sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp Vanilla

Mix together Butter, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla.

2½ Cups flour
1tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Cream of Tartar

In a smaller bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar.

Blend together the four mixture with the butter mixture.

Chill overnight (minimum of 2-3 hours)

Roll dough, and use cookie cutters.

Bake at 375º for 6-8 minutes or until the edges just start to prown.

Makes about 2-4 dozen depending on cookie sizes.

Butter Cream Icing

Equal Parts Shortening to Butter
Add Powdered Sugar to consistency
Pinch of salt
splash of Vanilla
Milk to thin or to consistency.

Peanut Butter Balls

1 Cup Softened Butter
1 Cup Peanut Butter (cheaper brands work the best for this)
1 lb Confectioners Sugar

Cream butter and peanut butter together. Add powdered sugar a little at a time. You may have to add more powdered sugar if your peanut butter is too creamy.

Chill overnight.

Form into about ½" - 1" balls.

Dip in favorite Chocolate. We prefer Merken's chocolate or Dove.

Meringue Cookies

3 Egg white room temp
1 Cup Sugar
¼ tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla
¼ tsp Cream of Tartar

Pre Heat oven to 300º

Whip egg whites with cream of tartar until stiff.
Add sugar slowly, then add the salt and vanilla.

Line cookie sheet with a brown paper bag (or brown packaging paper) Cut down to a single panel.

Drop spoonfuls of meringue onto the paper. Or you can pipe it in small mounds.

* optional * Add a piece of walnut unto each cookie.

Bake at 300º for 12-15 minutes.

*** You must do this on a low humidity day and a dry household. Too much moisture in the air can make the cookies too soft.

I swear only my mother knows how to make these. I am just horrible at it.

Chocolate Mint Snow Top Cookies

1½ Cup Flour
1½ tsp Baking Soda
¼ tsp Salt

Combine in a small bowl and set aside.

1 -10oz Pkg Mint Chocolate Chips
¾ Stick Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1½ tsp Vanilla
2 Eggs
Powdered Sugar

In large bowl cream butter and sugar.

Melt 1 Cup of mint chocolate chips.

Add melted Chocolate to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix together. Add vanilla and eggs. Blend together.

Add flour mixture in 3 parts, mixing after each addition. Add remaining Chocolate Chips.

Wrap dough in plastic and freeze for 20 minutes.

Shape dough into balls and coat with powder sugar.

Bake for 10-12min at 350º

Church Windows

1 Stick of Butter
1 -12oz Pkg Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 -10oz Pkg Colored Marshmallows
Shredded Coconut

Melt Chocolate chips and butter together carefully.

Remove from heat and add marshmallows.

Place on Wax paper that is coated with the shredded coconut. Form into a log.

Chill 1 hour in fridge or 30min in freezer.

Peel paper off and slice.

**Coconut optional - You may also use finely chopped Cashews or a favorite nut.**

Caramel Brownies

1 Pkg Yellow Cake Mix
1/3 Cup Evaporated Milk
¼ Cup Melted Butter
1 -12oz Pkg Chocolate Chips
4-5 Caramel Wraps (Or 40-50 Kraft Caramels with 1/3 Cup Evaporated milk melted and mixed)

Mix cake with 1/3 Cup Evaporated milk and melted butter.
Press half of the mixture onto the bottom of a greased and floured 9x13 baking dish.
Bake at 350º for 6 minutes.

Remove from oven and sprinkle choclate chips on the hot dough. As it melts spread chocolate. Add caramel on top of the chocolate. Add remaining dough on top of the caramel. (you may need to add some extra evaporated milk to thin the mixture a bit)

bake at 350º for 12-15 minutes.
Remove from oven and score before cooled.

Cool completely - at least 1½ hours before cutting completely.

7 Layer Cookies

In a 9x13 greased pan layer the following.

1 Cup of Graham Cracker Cumbs
1 Stick of melted butter
*blend together in bottom of pan slightly
1 -12oz Pkg Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 -12oz Pkg Butterscotch Chips
1 Cup Coconut
1 can Sweetend Condensed Milk
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts

Bake for 25-30 Minutes at 350º