Peanut Butter Cake Bars

Celebrate any occasion with delicious this recipe suitable for all ages!

PEANUT BUTTER CAKE BARS
2/3 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup peanut butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package (11-1/2 ounces) milk chocolate chips

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.
• Spread into a greased 9"x13" baking pan. Bake at 350-degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.  Cut into bars.
• Notes: reduce baking time to 35-40 minutes if using a glass baking pan.  In the photo above I used a mixture of half-chocolate and half-peanut butter chips, which is what I had on hand.

YIELD: 24 bars

SOURCE: www.tasteofhome.com

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Make these savory biscuits for your next meal!

CHEDDAR BAY BISCUITS
4 cups Bisquick baking mix
3 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
1-1/3 cups water
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon dried parsley

• Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. (I used muffin top pans).
• In a mixing bowl, combine the baking mix, cheese and water. Mix until dough is firm. Place dough on the prepared pan using a small scoop.
• Bake 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, combine the melted butter, garlic powder, salt, onion powder and parsley. Brush over baked biscuits immediately upon removing from oven.

YIELD: 20 biscuits

SOURCE: www.allrecipes.com

Chili Beans Chili

Plenty of tomato flavor, no tomato chunks for your picky eater.  Strictly meat and beans!

CHILI BEANS CHILI
1 pound ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 pieces celery, chopped
2 cans (16 oz. each) Bush's Chili Beans, undrained
2 cups water
1 teaspoon chili powder (or to taste)
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or hot pepper sauce (I use a hot sauce packet from Taco Bell)

• In a large non-stick skillet, cook beef until lightly browned.  Push to one side of pan. 
• Add onion, garlic and celery. Cook until soft. Drain excess fat. 
• Mix in remaining ingredients and simmer 30-45 minutes. 
• Add salt and pepper to taste. 

YIELD: 6-7 servings

SOURCE: www.bushbeans.com

Sugar Cookies

No one does it better than Betty Crocker for cut-out cookies!

SUGAR COOKIES
1.5 cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg
2.5 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Granulated sugar
Sprinkles and frosting, if desired

• Mix powdered sugar, margarine, vanilla, almond extract and egg. Stir in remaining ingredients except granulated sugar. 
• Cover and refrigerate at least two hours.
• Heat oven to 375-degrees.  Grease cookie sheet lightly (I used parchment paper).  
• Divide dough in half. Roll each half 1/4-inch thick on lightly floured surface. 
• Cut into desired shapes with 2-2.5" cookie cutters. Sprinkle with granulated sugar (or use colored sugar to decorate). Leave plain to frost cookies after they are cooled.
• Place on cookie sheet. Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are light brown; cool.

YIELD: about 5 dozen cookies

SOURCE: Betty Crocker's 40th Anniversary Edition Cookbook, page 121

Owen and I used this recipe to make 86 decorated cookies for his First Grade Valentine Party.

Seven-Layer Salad Trifle

Delicious recipe + beautiful presentation = many compliments!

SEVEN-LAYER SALAD TRIFLE
2-3 cups lettuce, chopped
1-2 tomatoes, chopped
2-3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1-2 cups frozen peas, thawed
1-2 cups shredded cheese
Mayonnaise (I use Miracle Whip Light)
Sugar
Bacon Bits

In a clean trifle or clear serving bowl:
- layer lettuce, tomato, egg, peas.
- make the dressing by mixing mayonnaise and sugar to your liking. Spread on top.
- sprinkle cheese then bacon bits.
- cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

(other substitutions or add-ons: chopped turkey or chicken, celery, cucumber, green or black olives, red onion, sunflower seeds, croutons)

SOURCE: My mama Janet Glaser :o)

Barbequed Beans

A picnic classic - and it won't overheat your kitchen in the slow cooker!

BARBEQUED BEANS
1 can pork and beans, undrained
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can kidney beans, drained
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup ketchup
1 onion, chopped

• Mix all ingredients in a 4-quart slow cooker and cook on low 3-4 hours.

YIELD: 14 (1/2 cup) servings

SOURCE: Fix-It-And-Forget-It Five-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cookbook (page 97)

Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Don't expect leftovers with this one!

IMPOSSIBLY EASY CHEESEBURGER PIE
1 pound lean (at least 80%) ground beef (I use ground sirloin 93%)
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Original Bisquick Mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs

• Heat oven to 400-degrees. Spray 9" glass pie plate with cooking spray.
• Use a 10" skillet to cook beef and onion over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in salt. Spread in pie plate. Sprinkle with cheese.
• In small bowl, stir remaining ingredients with fork or wire whisk until blended. Pour into pie plate.
• Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

YIELD: 6 servings

SOURCE: Bisquick mix box (www.bisquick.com)