Golden Baked Chicken

The best tasting chicken ever!! It really fast to put it to together and then you have a whole hour while it bakes to do other things.

2 C. mashed potato flakes

3/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese

2 Tbsp dried parsley flakes

1 Tbsp paprika

3/4 tsp garlic salt

3/4 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp pepper

3 broiler/fryer chickens (3 to 4 pounds each) cut up and skin removed

1 C. butter or margarine, melted

• In a large zip lock bag, combine the potato flakes, Parmesan cheese, parsley, paprika, garlic salt, onion powder and pepper.


• Dip chicken into butter, then into potato flake mixture.


• Place on two greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans.


• Bake at 375* for 50-60 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. Yield: 12 servings

Valentines Sugar Cookies

These are the best tasting sugar cookies I have eaten. They are soft and mildly sweet. They are a lot like the ones you can buy at Walmart.
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup milk
4 tsp. baking powder
6 cups flour
1 tsp. salt

• Cream the butter and the sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Alternate milk and the flour mixture to the batter. Refrigerate before rolling out dough. (I roll out onto parchment paper so I don't have to add more than a sprinkling of extra flour).


• Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. When cool, ice with your favorite icing and decorations.

Icing

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp. milk

2 tsp. corn syrup

Food coloring of your choice

Mix powdered sugar and milk together, add corn syrup. Stir until smooth. Add food coloring one drop at a time until icing becomes desired color.

M&M Cookies

I was really tired out after work but wanted to make something for dessert so these cookies were just the thing. They are quick to make and are so yummy hot off the pan! I used red M&M's for Valentines Day. You could use any color or kind. Have fun and experiment!

Prep/Total Time: 35 min.
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups candy-coated milk chocolate pieces

• 
  In a large bowl, mix sugar, eggs, shortening, and vanilla thoroughly. Add flour, salt, and baking soda to creamed mixture. Blend well. Add 3/4 cup of M&M candies.
  
• Drop dough by teaspoonful onto cookie sheet. Slightly push a few candies on top of each dough ball with remaining candies.
  
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 9 to 11 minutes, to your liking. Yields: 5-6 dozen

Sloppy Joes

These sloppy joes have a really well balanced flavor, not too tangy and not too sweet, just right! This is also a really hearty and filling dinner.

Prep/Total time 30 min.

2 lb ground beef

1/2 C. fresh onion

2 tsp. dry mustard

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

2-8oz cans tomato sauce

1 Tbsp. vinegar

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

3 Tbsp. brown sugar

• In a skillet brown hamburger. Drain grease.
• Add all other ingredients. Mix well. Simmer for 20 min.
• Serve on hamburger buns. Top with cheese if desired. Yields: 8-10 servings.

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

This version is a little healthier then the common alfredo sauce since it uses cream cheese or whipping cream and this recipe calls for milk. You can use low fat or soy milk too. I didn't have fettuccine noodles so I just used what I had. It still tastes just the same either way!

12 oz. fettuccine noodles, cooked and drained

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts or thighs

2 C. milk

1 Tbsp. corn starch, thinned with milk

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

3/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp. salt

• Cook noodles, drain & set aside.
• In a frying pan over medium heat add 1 tsp. oil when hot cook chicken until juices run clear. You can cut the chicken into cubes, strips or just leave it whole.
• In a saucepan over medium heat combine milk & corn starch stirring constantly until simmering. Add pepper, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt & Parmesan cheese. Keep stirring so it won't stick and burn on bottom of pan. Simmer until sauce has thickened.
• Stir noodles, chicken, and sauce together and serve hot. Yield: 6 servings

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Five stars on this recipe! I used mozzarella cheese since I didn't have cheddar and you can experiment with what ever kind of cheese you like. I also added some Lawry's and Nature's seasoning to the sauce.

Prep/Total Time: 35 min.

8 ounce box of elbow macaroni

4 Tablespoons of butter, divided

2 Tablespoons of cornstarch

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried mustard

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 cups of milk

1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 Tablespoons dried breadcrumbs

• Cook and drain an elbow macaroni. Pour the cooked noodles into a large casserole dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• Pre-heat oven to 350*.
• In a large saucepan, melt 2 Tablespoons of butter. Mix in cornstarch, salt, dried mustard and black pepper. Let it cook for just a couple minutes, then stir in milk. Stirring constantly, bring the milk mixture slowly to a boil over medium heat. Let it gently boil for a few minutes until it's thick and creamy.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in cheese. Once the cheese and white sauce are evenly mixed, pour the sauce over the macaroni. Stir it, so everything is evenly dispersed. Set aside.
• In the saucepan melt the 2 Tablespoons of butter. Once it's melted, stir in a few tablespoons of seasoned dry breadcrumbs. It should form a crumbly texture.
• Sprinkle the buttered breadcrumbs over the top of the casserole and bake it (uncovered) at 350* degrees for 25 minutes. Yield: 4 servings