Paradise Dessert

Mike requested this for his birthday this year, and it is perfect for those hot summer months! There are a lot of layers, but this comes together in a snap.

Crust:
1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/2 c. melted butter
1/4 c. sugar
Mix and press into 9 x 13 pan and put in freezer to harden for 10 min.

Layer 1:
2 (8 oz.) pckgs cream cheese, softened
1 c. sugar
Beat until well blended, spread over graham cracker crust

Layer 2:
20 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
Top cream cheese layer with pineapple

Layer 3:
4 large sliced bananas
Layer over pineapple-I like to drain the pineapple juice over the bananas, it helps keep them from turning brown, just make sure to drain the bananas well.

Layer 4:
2 (4 serving size) pckgs of instant vanilla pudding
2 c. cold milk
2 c. thawed cool whip, divided
1 c. chopped nuts
Pour milk in bowl, add pudding mixes. Beat 2 min, then stir in 1 c. of the cool whip. Spread over bananas. Top with remaining 1 c. cool whip and chopped nuts. Refrigerate 5 hours.

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

This is my family's favorite version of this classic recipe, just plain and perfect when you are sick. we like to use the frozen homemade egg noodles, they make it spectacular!

2 lbs. chicken pieces
4 c. water
4 c. chicken broth
1 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 small onion chopped fine
1 carrot, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 tsp marjoram or basil
1 bay leaf
noodles

Place all ingredients except noodles in crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours. Remove chicken and bay leaf from pot, dice meat and return to pot. Cook noodles and add. Can add additional broth if needed.

Honey Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

Delicious, fast and easy. Makes great breadsticks too.

1 Tbsp yeast
1 c. warm water
1 Tbsp honey
2 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 c. wheat germ, or can sub extra wheat flour
1 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, sdissolve yeast in warm water with honey. Let stand until creamy, about 10 min. In large bowl combine flour, wheat germ, and salt. Make a well in the center and add yeast mixture. Stir well to combine. Cover and set in a warm place to rise for 15-30 min. Roll dough on floured counter, sprinkle pizza pan with cornmeal and place crust on top. Poke all over with fork. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 min, then put toppings on and bake additional 10-15 min depending on thickness. Tastes great with the Southwest
Chicken on it with cheese on top. Hearty and filling! Makes about 2 round pizzas

Simple Berry Sauce

This is excelent on waffles or pancakes, or ladled over ice cream or pound cake or scones(the biscuit type)with whipped cream. It has a lot less sugar than syrup does too!

1 c. frozen berries(we have used mixed berries and frozen peaches with juice)
1 TBSP to 1 c. splenda or sugar, depending on sweetness of fruit
2 TBSP. cold water
1 TBSP cornstarch

Put berries in a pot over medium heat, do not add water. Stir in sweetener and cook stirring until berries are thawed and sugar dissolved, about 5 min. Whisk together cold water and cornstarch, add to berries and simmer and stir until thickened about 5 more min. Can be doubled or more. Yield 1 1/2 c.

Hot Fudge Sauce

This is the BEST sauce, and we usually always have the ingredients in our pantry. I makes about 1 c. and it is delicious on ice cream or served on a bundt cake.


6 TBLSP butter
1/4 c. cocoa powder
1/4 c. milk
2 c. powdered sugar

Melt butter over low heat, stir in cocoa and milk. Cook the glaze, stirring until it thickens and comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in confectioners sugar with a whisk, can add more milk to make thinner or powdered sugar to make thicker. This will thicken as it sets though.

Chocolate Chip Cookies of the Moment

These cookies are from the sister's cafe website, and they are my kids favorite right now. They make a ton, I usually half the recipe or freeze the other half in ready to bake balls. We love to eat these hot out of the oven with ice cream and homemade chocolate sauce. I also love that they don't have any shortneing in them! Don't try to bake without refrigerating first, they don't turn out as well.

Laura's Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups butter
2 c. white sugar
2 c. brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
5 c. oatmeal-measure then blend to flour in food processor
24 oz. chocolate chips

Mix butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Blend all ingredients in a separate bowl. Add to wet ingredients and mix until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Chill for an hour or so. Bake in a preheated 375 oven for 10 min. It is important not to overcook, I bake mine until barely brown.

Cinnamon Roasted Almonds

These are so yummy and easy, and make great gifts for teachers and neighbors. You can also use a mix of different nuts, and I find that Sam's Club had the best price for buying this many nuts. The recipe is from the Sisters Cafe.

1 c. sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
Combine and set aside

1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla
4 c. almonds

Heat the oven to 250 degrees f. Cover a 13x17 pan with parchment or grease the pan well. Beat egg white and vanilla until frothy but not stiff. Add almonds, stir until well coated, then add cinnamon mixture and stir until evenly coated. Spread evenly on pan and bake 1 hour, stirring halfway through. Allow to cool.