Easy Chicken Paprikash

This is a nice easy recipe for the fall and winter.  I love anything with paprika in it.  My kids like anything that has sauce!

I used Penzey's paprika.  They have many different types!  I used a combination of half sharp and sweet.

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Slow Cooker Porter Pot Roast

Lots of ingredients here. I took a picture so those of you who don't live in western New York would know what beef culinary gravy was...notice the boxes on the left! The beer that was used is also pictured here.

Here is a photo of the finished product.  The meat just fell off the bone. 

I poured the au jus with the onions, garlic and flavor all over EVERYTHING!  YUM!

Cheesecake

This cheesecake has one VERY thick crust.  I think you may want to adjust it when you make it for yourself.  Marlene says she does some adjusting when she makes it.  A lot of people liked the thicker crust. 

All I know is that the center was creamy and delicious.  This is not a dry cheesecake!

Gooey Butter Cookies

I got this recipe from Chris Czuczman.  Her cookies came out nice and flat and VERY tasty. 

I followed her recipe and I got pudgy cookies...with the same flavor as hers!  I am not sure why they came out so different, but I guess, since they taste the same, it doesn't really matter!  I am going to blame it on my awful oven.  Have I mentioned that baking in my oven is like an experiment everytime I use it?  Someday, the oven fairy will drop a new oven right on top of that old one in my kitchen!!

Turtle Pumpkin Pie

I was sitting at a doctor's appointment waiting to get a KUB x-ray and I found this one as I paged through a magazine.  I think I may have found a new Thanksgiving favorite.

I loved how easy it was to make and the bottom of the graham cracker pie crust is covered with caramel syrup and chopped pecans.  YUMMY!  It has a great pumpkin flavor.  Nice change from your regular pumpkin pie.

Tortilla Soup

I can't believe I almost lost this one!!  I made this quite a few months ago.  It was totally delicious and freezes well.  I know this, because I defrosted some and ate it for lunch!  Thank goodness I did!  I love the cilantro in here.  When you serve it up, be sure to put crushed tortilla chips, cheese and sour cream on top,  Those items bring the soup to a whole new level of deliciousness!

Salmon Cakes with Fiery Red Bell Pepper Salsa

I can't even tell you how delicious these were!  I loved how lowfat this was....and easy!  Tom and TJ weren't sure about this dish at first, and then I made them try it.  The verdict is in and after EVERYONE had seconds we all agreed this one would be made again!!  YUM!

Mazetti

This is a nice easy quick dinner dish.  My kids loved it!   It tasted like spaghetti, but used wide egg noodles instead of spaghetti noodles. 

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

I already posted a pasta salad, but this one is a little different.  I love the artichoke hearts, peppers and black olives in this one with the hint of feta cheese.  I did think it needed a little salt.  I also added some Penzey's Greek seasoning to it. 

Banana Berry Muffins

This recipe makes exactly 12 muffins.  It is a great thing to do with those leftover almost black bananas!

They make your house smell delicious!

I love the added dried fruit option.  I often throw in more than is called for.

Easy Party Meatballs

These can be done in the crockpot or on the stove.  I did them in the crockpot and at the end I had to add a little water, because they seemed a little dry.  After adding the water, they perked right up.

Stick a toothpick in and you are on your way!  I had leftovers, and found that they make great little cold meatball sandwiches!!

Orange Shrimp Dip

I changed the name on this, because everyone should know there is a hdden flavor in there.  I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this one!  I first had it at Pattie Burke's house.  Pattie just calls it Shrimp Dip, but I really think you need to know there is orange in there.  It was a refreshing surprise!!  You definitely need the cracked pepper crackers pictured here.  They truly make this appetizer complete!

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

You have to love this cake if you love chocolate, coffee and peanut butter.....hmm....doesn't sound good mixed together?  You will give that a second thought after you try this cake.  It is moist and delicious!

I dare you not to want a second piece!

Peanut and Berry Munch Mix

How could you not like this!  It is filled with shredded wheat, peanut butter, some honey, peanuts, and mixed dried berries!  Tanner is allergic to tree nuts, but not peanuts.  He loves this stuff and I have to bring it to him when I visit him at school.  I used to make a different version for Grandpa John.....he loved it too!!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

This could be served as a salad or a dessert.  I love the pretzel bottom.  I have made this one before.  The best part about this dish is that it can be made year round.  It uses frozen strawberries and last time I checked, pretzels are always in season!!

BBQ Spare Ribs

This recipe is very mild and has lots of tomato sauce and onions in it.  I made it in the oven and it took about 4 or 5 hours to complete.  I probably could have taken it out at 4 hours, but I wanted to let the sauce thicken up some more, so I left it in the oven a while longer.

Gazpacho Soup

Now I thought this soup was red, but I guess I was wrong.  Maybe it was the giant cucumber I put in here, or the fact that I made it in November, not exactly tomato season!  It really doesn't matter though, this soup was REALLY delicious.  You can't help but feel good eating all those vegetables in a martini glass!!

Tortellini Picnic Salad

I got this one from my mother-in-law.  It is really good and a great summer salad.  I love all the colored tortellini.  You could just use white ones if you wanted to. 

Crab Dip

This is a super easy and yummy recipe.  Mix everything in one pan, bake for 15 minutes and you are ready to party!!  No, you do not have to be 50 to eat this, but the picture will help you remember to use it at any type of party!

Summer Squash Casserole

This was soooo good!  Totally a comfort food and what a wonderful way to use squash. 

The recipe called for summer squash.  I used zucchini and yellow squash. 

I bet you want a bite don't you?

Grilled Cheesy Banana Peppers

I was a little leary of attempting peppers again, but was very surprised at how easy these were.  I love that the peppers are cut open.  It made it so easy to stuff them.  Just put them on the grill on a medium to low heat and about 10 to 15 minutes.....

they are done!  The recipe made 20 peppers, but you don't have to cook them all right away.  You can freeze some for use at a later date.  You can also bake these in the oven.

Beef Stroganoff

This has to be one of the best beef stroganoff recipes I have ever tasted!    Ever so simple and oh so tasty.  I know you will make this over and over!

Chocolate Chip Cookies from Kelly Law

I found that using a scooper worked really well with these cookies.

Nicely spaced ... don't you think?

Who doesn't like chocolate?

Need a closer look....can't you just smell them...come on over and get a bite!

Baked Eggnog French Toast with Apples and Apricots

My sister Karen made this for us last year when we were at her house. It is made with french bread and eggnog.  I had a terrible waiting for eggnog to come out again in the supermarket.  I know you can make your own, but I wasn't about to do that. 

The bread is topped with and apple and apricot mixture.  I bet golden raisins would also be good in here. 

The whole mixture is topped with nuts.  If Tanner was home, I would have to leave those off!  Karen did leave them off when she made it, but this time, I got to try it WITH the nuts.  It was good both ways. 

Looks good doesn't it?

Get a fork....I promise I will share!

Sweet Potato Casserole

This was so easy to make.  It is just cooked and cubed sweet potatoes with a lovely golden raisin glaze topped with some slivered almonds.  (I had to do those by hand...forgot to buy them!!)

Banana Snackin Cake

I might call this a glorified Hello Dolly bar but in a cake form! 

It was moist and delicious....yes, I had TWO!