Tasty Dishes for your Labor Day "Last Hurrah"

Here's a great lineup of sides and desserts you could make for the last big BBQ of the season!  Enjoy each scrumptious bite!

Homemade Copycat KFC Coleslaw

Fritos Corn Salad

All taste testers will go wild over these baked beans.  They are simple and are the bomb-diggety when it comes to bean dishes!  YOWZA!! 

Winning Baked Beans

Tasty Three Bean Salad (make ahead)

Tasty Deviled Eggs

Kansas Cucumber Salad

Peanut Butter Sheet Cake

Brookies (Cookie topped Brownies)

Special Sugar Cookies

No Bake Payday Bars (Sugar free option)

Simple (Garlic) Ranch Pretzels - Addictive!

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Leader Enterprise - Dec 19, 2018 - Party Helps

It's party time! December is known as the month when we spend money left and right. I'm here to help you with some easy and somewhat frugal menu ideas. 

The secret to great entertaining? It doesn't have anything to do with the foods you prepare, the drinks you serve, or the music you play. It's all about being friendly and adding that spice of personalized imagination to each and every little piece of celebration. You should be happy and joyful when your guest come to the door. Don't stress about what you have to offer, stay within your budget and you will have the best party ever. Make your guests feel like they are part of something magical. It is the holiday season, of course.

Crockpot Cranberry Sauerkraut Meatballs

These meatballs are a favorite holiday dish. Even folks who think they don't like sauerkraut end up loving this dish too. Recipe is easily doubled. 

CROCKPOT CRANBERRY SAUERKRAUT MEATBALLS

1 (14 ozs) can whole-berry (or jellied) cranberry sauce

1 (14 ozs) can sauerkraut, rinsed and drained well

1 (12 ozs) bottle chili sauce

3/4 c. brown sugar

1 (2#) pkg. frozen fully cooked original meatballs

In 4-qt.slow cooker, combine cranberry sauce, sauerkraut, chili sauce, and brown sugar. Stir in meatballs; cover and cook on low 3-4 hrs. or until heated through. Yield: 5-1/2 dozen delicious meatballs!!

I know I've shared this pretzel recipe before, but it's too good to pass up when feeding a crowd.  Very simple recipe and can be made ahead. Addicting! Is perfect for gift giving also. 

Ranch Pretzels (3 Ingredients)

RANCH PRETZELS    

2# mini pretzels (or 2-20 ozs. bags)

1 (12 ozs) bottle Orville Redenbacher butter-flavored oil

1 pkt. (1 oz) ranch dressing mix, dry

Place pretzels in large 2 gal. ziploc bag (I use a clean 13 gallon garbage bag) and pour oil over pretzels. (I place the bag in a pan to keep the oil from going through the bag onto the counter). Shake bag to cover pretzels evenly with oil - sprinkle dressing mix over and shake again until mixed well. Shake bag about every 2 hours for several hours.  Let set overnight - keep in a sealed container. They keep well for several weeks stored in sealed container. 

PECAN PIE MINI MUFFINS 

1 c. packed brown sugar

1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 c. chopped pecans

2/3 c. butter (no substitutes), softened 

(not melted)

2 eggs  

Preheat oven to 325. Combine sugar, flour and pecans; set aside. In large bowl, combine butter and eggs; blend with mixer or whisk, until well blended. Stir both mixtures together until moistened. (I blend by hand). Fill greased and floured or paper-lined mini muffin cups 2/3 full.  Bake 16 - 18 minutes. Yield: about 2-1/2 dozen 

Crockpot Candy (for a crowd)

CROCKPOT CANDY

1 (20 ozs) pkg. white almond bark

1 (4 ozs) box German chocolate baking squares

1 (12 ozs) bag semi sweet chocolate chips 

1 (16 ozs) jar dry roasted peanuts

1 (16 ozs) jar unsalted dry roasted peanuts 

Turn crockpot on high.  Break almond bark into pieces and place in crockpot. Break German chocolate baking squares on top of almond bark, then add semi sweet chocolate chips.  Place lid on crockpot. (Tip: Place a paper towel under lid to catch moisture) DO NOT STIR FOR FIRST HOUR. Then, turn crockpot on low. Pour in the peanuts and stir. Place the lid on and stir candy every 15 minutes for the second hour.  Turn off crockpot.  Drop candy by tablespoonsful onto waxed paper and let cool until firm.  Store in airtight container.  Keeps well in refrigerator for weeks. Yield: about 30 - 40 pieces

MINI BROWNIE TREATS  

1 box (9" x 13" pan size) fudge brownie mix

48 striped chocolate (peppermint) candy kisses, unwrapped 

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions for fudge-like brownies. Fill paper-lined miniature muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool about 30 seconds, then top each with a chocolate candy kiss. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 4 dozen yummy little treats

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas" ~ Peg Bracken 

Brownie Monster Cookies (MMMM!)

Yes oh yes please!  

These thick and chewy treats are so easy to make and so quick to be eaten up!

Using a boxed brownie mix and adding oats, butter, an egg, a TB. of water, chocolate and pb chips, plus M & M candies, you'll have a wonderful treat in no time flat.  

And they're oh so chocolatively wonderful! 

These make a special treat for school lunches or after school snacks!! 

I always love the recipes I find at Kitty's Kozy Kitchen. Kitty and I

not only share taste buds, we share apron strings and heart strings as well!

She's a dear blogging bud that I do hope to meet face to face one day. 

She found this recipe at Betty Crocker - it's a sure-fire winner! 

Hope you'll enjoy soon! I do love recipes when I don't have to drag out the mixer...this one is stirred by hand!

BROWNIE MONSTER COOKIES 

1 box (1 lb. 3 ozs.) fudge brownie mix

1/2 c. quick oats

1/2 c. butter, melted

1 Tb. water

1 egg

3/4 c. M & M candies

1/2 c. peanut butter chips

1/2 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or silpat. 

In large bowl,  blend brownie mix and oats.  Add melted butter, water and egg; stir until well blended.  Add in chips and candies. 

Shape dough into 2" balls (I make mine a little bigger). Place on cookie sheet about 3" apart; pressing each ball slightly to flatten.  (I like adding a few M & M's to top of cookie before baking too). 

Bake about 12 minutes or until tops of cookies no longer look wet.  Allow to cool 5 minutes before removing to cooling rack.  

Makes about 2 dozen, depending on size

Linked to 
Meal Plan Monday



You may also enjoy these cake mix creations...


Chocolate Caramel Cookies (with Rolo candies)

Individual Cheese Cake Cups

Gooey Bars

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Leader Enterprise - Feb 7, 2018 - Chocolate = Love

Here's a sweet notion: Eat a little chocolate each day and you could be doing your heart a favor. Chocolate really can be part of a healthy diet! A study published in the journal Heart found that habitual chocolate eaters had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes compared to people who didn't eat chocolate.

I found these thoughts at http://www.healthline.co m/ - "Studies also show that  people who eat dark chocolate 5 or more times per week are less than half as likely to die from heart disease, compared to people who don't eat dark chocolate. There are also some studies showing that dark chocolate can improve brain function, and protect your skin from damage when exposed to the sun".

So enjoy some guilt-free dark chocolate to help you celebrate this special holiday. (Sounds like a great plan to me!) 

Hope you get a kick out of these quotes about chocolate. Enjoy a wonderful Valentine's Day. Take time to let a friend or family member you care about them...and share some chocolate.  

Strength is the capacity to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces.~JUDITH VIORST, Love & Guilt & The Meaning

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.~DAVE BARRY, attributed, Chicken Soup for the Chocolate Lover's Soul

Flowers wilt, jewelry tarnishes, and candles burn out ... but chocolate doesn't hang around long enough to get old.~ANONYMOUS, Heavenly Humor for the Chocolate Lover's Soul

There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles.~ANONYMOUS

These single-serving sized scrumptious bites are the bomb! 

German Chocolate Brownie Bites

GERMAN CHOCOLATE BROWNIE BITES

brownie mix for 9x13 inch pan 

ingredients to make brownies (water, oil and eggs)

1 tub (16 ozs.) coconut-pecan frosting

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix brownie batter according to package directions.

Spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Spoon small amount of brownie batter into muffin pan, enough to fill 1/3 to 1/2 full. Spoon about a teaspoon of frosting onto each cup of brownie batter.

Top with more brownie batter, filling a little more than 3/4 full. Bake for 15 minutes. Yield: about 36 brownie bites.

Here's a special treat for two. You might have to make 2 batches. 

MICROWAVE NO BAKE COOKIES

1/3 c. granulated sugar 

2 tsp. baking cocoa

2 Tb. milk

2 Tb. peanut butter, crunchy or creamy

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. quick cooking oatmeal 

In medium microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar (or xylitol for sugar free), baking cocoa and milk. Microwave on high for 1 minute 15 seconds, or until it boils, stirring once.   (If using xylitol, cook for 1 minute 30 seconds). 

Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth. (I used a whisk). Add oats and stir until blended. Drop by spoonsful onto wax paper lined plate, to make 6 cookies. Chill in refrigerator for about 10 minutes before enjoying.  

I've gotten lots of raves about this special cookie. And requests for the recipe too. 

Wendi's Awesome Chocolate Chip Cookies

WENDI'S AWESOME CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 

2/3 c. shortening 

2/3 c. oleo, softened 

1 c. white sugar

(I use 3/4 c.) 

1 c. brown sugar (packed)

(I use 3/4 c.) 

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

3 c. all purpose flour 

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 c. chopped nuts, optional

1 (12 ozs) bag chocolate chips 

Preheat oven to 375. In large bowl, mix shortening and oleo with sugars, eggs and vanilla; combining until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonsful 2" apart onto an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 8 - 9 minutes or until golden brown, and not quite 'set'. 

Remove from oven and let stand to finish 'baking' for 2 minutes before removing to cooling rack. 

Yield: about 5 dozen 

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.~Charlies Schulz, attributed, The Red Hat Society Cookbook