Krista's Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe and the one I always use.

2 cups brown sugar

1 1/2 cup white sugar

2 sticks margarine

1 cup shortening

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

5-6 cups flour

1 pkg chocolate chips

Soften margarine. Mix all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in a large bowl and beat. Add chocolate chips. Roll into walnut size balls and bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes. This recipe makes over 100 cookies. The cookies freeze great!

Oatmeal and Jam Bars

A Grandma Tate classic that you have all been asking for:

2 cups oatmeal

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup oil

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

Jam (flavor of your choice)

Combine sugar, oil, egg and vanilla. Then add oatmeal, flour, salt and soda. Mix well. Divide into 2 parts. Cover bottom of 9X13 inch pan with half of the mixture. Press flat. Spread jam over mixture. Crumble remaining dough on top. Bake at 350 degrees until brown. Cool 15 minutes then cut into squares.

My experience has been that the bars are more set if you let them cool for a while. I find if I make the bars in the morning for something in the evening they are set up perfectly.

Potato Wedges

Wash potaoes.

Cut potatoes into wedges.

Toss with oil, butter, salt, pepper,and whatever else you like: galric, balsamic, spices etc.

Roast for 15 minutes.

Shake around. Stir.

Roast for another 20 minutes. Check them, keep cooking them.

When cooked to your liking remove from oven.

Sprinkle with herbs.

Serve immediately.

We have made these a number of times at our house. They are a great addition to any BBQ!

S'mores

1 12oz Box of Golden Grahams

6 cups of mini marshmallows

1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips

1/4 cup of corn syrup

1 tsp of vanilla

5 tbsp of butter

Melt butter, corn syrup, 5 cups of marshmallows and chocolate chips in microwave (usually 1 1/2 to 2 min), once melted add vanilla. Mix well. In another bowl mix the remaining cup of marshmallows with the Golden Grahams then add the marshmallow/chocolate chip mixture to the Golden Grahams. Mix well. Pour into a greased pan. Let set before serving. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Cheesy Sausage Zucchini Casserole

I got this recipe off of allrecipes.com. I love it, and so does everyone else in my family. I changed it a little from what is on allrecipes. Here is my version:
3/4 c uncooked rice
1 1/2 cup water
1 pound pork sausage
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced fresh tomato
4 cups cubed zucchini squash
1 can sliced muchrooms, drained
1 (8oz.) package shredded cheese
1 pinch dried oregano
1 pinch dried basil
1 pinch cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Combine the rice and water in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 20 min. or until tender. Remove from heat, and set aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 350
3. Cook sausage and onion in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring until evenly browned. Drain excess grease. Stir in zucchini and tomatoes, and cook until tender. Stir in rice, mushrooms, and cheese. Season with oregano, basil, cayenne, pepper, and salt. Spread into a 9x13 casserole dish.
4. Bake, uncovered, for about 15-20min until cheese is melted and starting to bubble.

Bruschetta Chicken Bake

1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1/2 cup water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

HEAT oven to 400°F.

COOK chicken in pan with a little salt and pepper, and oil.

MIX tomatoes, stuffing mix, water and garlic just until stuffing mix is moistened.

LAYER chicken, basil, cheese and stuffing in 3-qt. or 13x9-inch baking dish.

BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is cooked through. Enjoy now or cover and refrigerate. To reheat, microwave each serving on HIGH 2 to 3 min.

Poppy Seed Chicken

This is just another variation of chicken and sauce with rice, but it was a nice change.

chicken
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom (or cream of chicken)
1 cube of butter (I NEVER USE THAT MUCH, IN FACT, USUALLY I DON'T USE ANY!)
1 stack of Ritz Crackers, crushed
2 T. poppy seeds

Mix sour cream and soup. Pour over chicken in a 9x13 baking dish. Crunch crackers on top. Sprinkle with poppy seeds and drizzle with melted butter. Cook about 45 min at 350.
There is no picture because I didn't take one.

Basic Chicken Salad

So I know that everyone has chicken salad recipes that they like....my favorite is the one that Becky makes...I don't think that recipe is on here. We should get it on here.
I had a lunch/playdate with a friend and her kids today and was trying to think of something easy and yummy for lunch. Amy suggested chicken salad on flat bread pitas. It was delicious, and it was a nice change on the pita bread. The recipe that Amy gave me was from allrecipes.com. It is the Basic Chicken Salad. To be honest, I have never made chicken salad. I am not sure why. I guess I usually just wait for someone to make it for me. This recipe was really easy, but I am assuming that they are all really easy because this tasted just like most that I have had. I left out the fruit and nuts for lunch (we ate the leftovers for dinner and I added grapes and stuff then.) I also added onion and garlic powder.
Anyway, easy and delicious.

Basic Chicken Salad

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken meat
• 1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds
• 1 stalk celery, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Place almonds in a frying pan. Toast over medium-high heat, shaking frequently. Watch carefully, as they burn easily.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise, lemon juice, and pepper. Toss with chicken, almonds, and celery.

Baked Ziti

I know I posted this on my old blog. I hope I haven't posted it already on this one but I looked and can't find it. I made this the other night and forgot to take a photo. This is literally one of my family's favorites.

1 lb. dry Ziti pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 lb. lean ground beef of sausage (I use sausage, but not the spicy kind.)
If a pound is too much, use less.
2 (26 oz.) jars of spaghetti sauce
6 oz. Provolone cheese, sliced
1 1/2 cups of sour cream
6 oz. Mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tbls. Parmesan cheese, grated (I use a lot more than that.)

Cook your pasta until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain.

In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef or sausage over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pam a 9x13 baking dish.

Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated parmesan cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven or until cheeses are melted.

*This recipe makes a lot. For those of you with small families, I would definately cut it in half and bake it in a 8x8 dish.

Taco in a Bag

This isn't so much a recipe but more of an idea. A few years ago when we were at Lagoon, I ordered a "Taco in a Bag." It was one of the best meals I've had, mainly because I was starving. I loved the idea though of putting all your taco fillings into the bag of chips. A year later, I did this for our Blue and Gold banquet and the boys LOVED it! It's not very often you get to eat out of a bag! I also did this for dinner the other night as well. (It saves on dishes and the kids think it is fun.)

My pictures aren't the best, not that you really need to see what it looks like. Taco's at the Babcock's are pretty mild considering no one will eat the "good stuff." But, if I was making this for a group of people other than my picky children :), I would add rice, beans, olives, tomatoes, onions, guacamole and salsa. Just crunch up the chips and I usually cut an inch or so off the top of the bag.