Cranberry Orange Relish

• 1 package of cranberries
• 1 orange or 4 Cuties
• 1 cup of sugar

1. Rinse cranberries and chop in food processor until the pieces are about the size of pea. 
2. Transfer berries to mixing bowl. 
3. Peel orange or Curies.
4. Transfer to food processor and chop.
5. Add orange bits to mixing bowl.
6. Add sugar and stir well.
7. Cover and refrigerate at least a few hours.
8. Serve and enjoy.

Krispy Rice Squares

If you have ever followed the official recipe from a large nationally known cereal company for a treat and eagerly tasted the results, but were somewhat disappointed, you weren't alone.  Yet I have purchased the actual treats made by them and they were delicious.  I suspect that they are not using the same recipe that has been published for many years.  So after a little investigation and hoping to get better results, I came up with this recipe and hope you like it as much as our family did.  

• 1 box crispy rice cereal
• 1 stick butter
• 2-10 oz. packages marshmallows
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon salt

1. Grease a 10 x 13” glass baking dish using part of one stick of the butter.
2. Put all the remaining butter in a 2-quart saucepan and melt under medium low heat.
3. When melted, add the salt and stir.
4. Add the marshmallows and stir constantly until they are all melted. 
5. Add the vanilla and stir.
6. Remove from heat and add the cereal in phases, alternately adding and stirring. 
7. When all the ingredients have been mixed well, pour into the baking dish and press down, using either aluminum foil or wax paper. 
8. When cooled, cut into squares and serve.  

No Mess Bacon

• 1 package of center cut bacon, regular thickness

1. Arrange bacon slices on the rack of a baking pan.
2. Place on the bottom rack of a cold oven.
3. Turn oven on to 400 degrees.
4. Bake for 33 minutes. 
5. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. 
6. Remove the slices and place on a paper towel to dry before the bacon cools off too much.  As it cools, it will become more difficult to move from the rack without breaking the slices. 
7. Enjoy. 

Pineapple Pretzel Salad

Bottom Layer

• 1 ½ sticks butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups crushed pretzels

Middle Layer

• 1-8 ounce cream cheese
• 1-8 ounce cool whip
• ½ cup sugar

Top Layer

• 1 15 oz. can crushed pineapple drained
• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
• ¼ cup sugar

Directions

1.  Cream the sugar and butter of the bottom layer ingredients together.  Add the crushed pretzels and mix well.  Spread across an 8 x 8 inch pan.
2. Mix the softened cream cheese and the sugar together of the middle layer.  Fold in the cool whip and spread it over the bottom layer. 
3.  Heat the crushed pineapple of the top layer stirring in the cornstarch.  Stir constantly until thickened.  Add the sugar of the top layer towards the end and stir well.  Let cool.  Then spread over the top of the other two layers. 
4. Chill for several hours in the refrigerator. 
5. Cut into 9 pieces.  Serve and enjoy.

St. Patrick's Day Brownies

Brownies

• 1 pkg of brownie mix
• 2 eggs
• Bailey’s Irish Crème original (enough to replace the water in the package instruction)
• Cooking oil (as called for in the instructions)

1. Mix and bake brownies according to package instructions, only replacing the water with Bailey’s Irish Crème original. 
2. Cool for an hour.
3. Spread icing on the brownies and cut. 

Icing

• ½ stick butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons Bailey’s Irish Crème original
• 3 drops green food coloring
• 5 drops of mint flavoring 

1. Cream butter and powdered sugar together.
2. Stir in the Bailey’s. 
3. Add the green food coloring and mint flavoring. 
4. Stir until smooth.

Potato and Bacon Tart

• 2 – 12 oz. packages of center cut bacon
• 4 medium potatoes
• 12 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Salt
• Pepper
• Onion powder

Here is a dish for those who don’t like cabbage to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  Any other time it would also be delicious.  I was a little worried that it would make a mess in the oven, but it didn’t.  Nor did it smoke up the house, which I have heard some people claim to be a problem when they put bacon in the oven. 

Fan slices of bacon around a glass deep dish pie plate.
Sprinkle a layer of cheese over it.
Slice potatoes thinly and put a layer on top of the bacon.
Sprinkle with onion powder, salt and pepper.
Repeat steps 2-4 two more times, using up all the potatoes. 

Sprinkle the rest of cheese over the layers.
Flip the bacon ends up over the mixture and fan it all the way around the tart. 

Set the oven rack mid-oven height and bake for 2 hours on 325 degrees.  No need to preheat the oven.

Remove dish and blot the top of tart with paper towels to absorb some of the drippings. 

Let sit for 5 minutes. 

Put a plate on top and flip the tart onto it. 

Blot the top of it again with paper towels to absorb the drippings.

Let sit a few minutes. 

Repeat 2 more times the flipping between plates and blotting to absorb as many drippings as possible.

Sprinkle onion powder, salt, and pepper over the layer of potatoes. 

Slice into wedges and serve. 

Enjoy. 

Swiss Steak (Slow Cooker)

• 3 lbs. of round steak, trimmed
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup olive oil

• 4 green bell peppers, washed, seeded and cut in strips
• 4 onions, cleaned and sliced, and separated into rings
• 4 cans of tomato soup
• 1 soupcan of water
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic (the refrigerated kind in a jar)

1. Heat the oil on medium high.
2. While waiting for the oil to heat, spray a large slow cooker with olive oil.  
3. Meanwhile, combine the flour, salt, and pepper in a ziplock bag.
4. Put pieces of steak in the bag, close it, and shake until the steak pieces are coated well.  
5. Brown the pieces in two batches in a skillet, just long enough to make them a nice color.
6. Remove the steak pieces from the skillet and transfer to the slow cooker.  
7. Add the green bell peppers, onions, tomato soup, water, and minced garlic to the slowcooker.  Stir until mixed.  
8. Cook for 6 hours on high.  
9. Serve with mashed potatoes or cooked rice.   

Chicken Bruschetta Pasta

• 1 dry pint grape tomatoes, washed and chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ¼ cup fresh chopped basil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 ¼ teaspoon refrigerated minced garlic (or four cloves of fresh minced garlic)
• 6 ½ ounces spaghetti, boiled (½ box)
• 1/3 bag of Tyson chicken strips (not the breaded kind)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ cup shredded fresh parmesan cheese

1. In a bowl combine the first six ingredients (tomatoes, olive oil, basil, salt, pepper, and garlic).
2. Let sit for 15 minutes
3. Boil spaghetti until al dente stage.
4. Put two tablespoons olive oil in skillet, lightly brown on medium heat the chicken strips, about 10 minutes. Stir and turn frequently to prevent burning.
5. Add the Italian season and stir.
6. Remove from the fire.
7. Drain pasta and add to the skillet.
8. Add the tomato mixture and toss.
9. Add the parmesan cheese and toss again.
10. Plate and enjoy.

White Lasagna

• 9 lasagna noodles
• 1 pound ground sausage
• 2 celery ribs
• 1 medium onion
• 3 teaspoons refrigerated minced garlic
• ½ cup white whine
• 1 quart half and half
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• ½ teaspoon sage
• ¼ teaspoon salt (this doesn't seem like enough, but salt in cheese gives a lot of flavor)
• 3 ounces cream cheese, cubed
• 1/3 cup minced fresh basil
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
• 1 ½ cups (12 ounces) 2% cottage cheese
• 1 8 ounce package of shredded mozzarella
• 8 ounces shredded Gouda cheese

This recipe is for using the lasagna noodles dry.

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Spray 13 x 9” baking dish with olive oil.
3. Chop onion and celery to a fine point in food processor.
4. Brown the ground sausage, stirring frequently.
5. When browned, blot the sausage with paper towels to eliminate excessive oil.
6. Add the celery and onion and cook to a sweating stage.
7. Add the refrigerated minced garlic the last minute so as not to burn the garlic.
8. Add the white whine and stir and cook another 3 minutes.
9. Add 1 cup half and half, cream cheese, herbs, pepper, and salt. Stir until the cream cheese is melted.
10. Remove from fire.
11. In a medium sized bowl, combine egg, cheddar and cottage cheese. Stir well.
12. Pour a small amount of the remaining half and half in the baking dish, add three of the lasagna noodles, half the meat mixture, and spread. Then spread half the cheddar cheese mixture and spread and a third of the mozzerella. Pour another cup of the half and half over the mixture. Repeat that set of layers. Add the three remaining noodles. Distribute the final third of mozzarella and all the Gouda over the top. Pour the remaining half and half over the noodles.
13. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and return to the oven for 10 minutes or until slightly brown. Remove from oven and let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

Enjoy.