Ground Beef Stroganoff

Katie (a little girl in our neighborhood/ward) asked her mom if she could come over to my house to play.  I decided that we could make dinner for all her little siblings and dessert too.  I printed out several different pictures and let her choose.  She choose Beef Stroganoff.  When we were going to Safeway to get the last few ingredients, she said I have had this before but it was from the box with big white glove on it.... Hamburger Helper.  When we were done with dinner, I told her we needed to taste it to make sure it was good enough for her family.  She said.... it was better than Hamburger Helper!  Success!

I should have taken a picture of her in the kitchen making it!

Ground Beef Stroganoff

PB and Banana Choc Chunk Cookies

I tried to make these but they weren't a big hit.


Peanut Butter and Banana Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Banana Bread Brownie Cupcakes

Brownie Banana Bread Cupcakes is what the recipe calls these.  I would rename them though and call them Brownie Bottom Banana Bread with chocolate chips and Brown Sugar Frosting Cupcakes.  YUM!

Mexican Pizza

Had a successful dinner last night.  Found this recipe on pinterest and had gotten the ingredients so it was time to try it.  I think this would be a fun one to make everything in advance if I was having friends over and then everyone could assemble their own....

http://www.lifesambrosia.com/2009/02/mexican-pizza-recipe.html

Are you on Pinterest? Are you loving it?

I tried this recipe and it was a winner.

BANANA cake with cream cheese frosting.
All of the Cunninghams get to pick an item that I will make for them for their birthday. As Jasmine said "those Cunninghams sure do love their banana pastries". We have made banana muffins, banana bundt cake, black bottom banana bars and banana bread. When I found this banana recipe, I wanted to try it for Hayden's birthday.

It was a winner. And just so you know it is super banana-ie.


http://www.bakeorbreak.com/2011/12/banana-cake-with-cream-cheese-frosting/

A sweet friend, Laura - made us a YUMMY cheese ball for Christmas. She even gave it to us in a pretty bowl with a sleeve of ritz crackers. We had everything we needed to dig in. Bret loved it - he said you have to find out how she made this.

So I asked her for the recipe and I thought I would surprise him and make it for the Superbowl.

There is an item that is hard to find here in the valley. Fry's is the only place that she has been able to find the Kraft Roca Cheese spread. When I went they were discontuining it and so I bought several jars for both of us.

12 oz cream cheese
1 jar Kraft Roca blue cheese spread
2 jars Kraft Old English cheese spread
2 Tbl minced onions
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 cup chopped walnuts

Blend softened cheeses together and other ingredients. Refrigerate over night.
Form into a ball.
Top with chopped nuts if desired.

I grew up with Diana - she was our neighbor and good friend.
One thing that she made that I thought was so yummy was Chicken 'n Dumplings.
My mom had never made any such thing.

For years I have tried to make her recipe but failed.
Last night, I tried a recipe from pinterest and really liked it.

Now I have my own Chicken 'n Dumplings recipe!

http://www.polishthestars.com/2011/11/slow-cooker-chicken-dumplings.html

These cookies that Sarah makes are amazing. You have to try them - they don't taste pumpkin-ie at all.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies with Brown Sugar Icing

Cream together:

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

Then add:

1 cup pumpkin

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

Sift together dry ingredients then add to above wet mixture.

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp salt

Add 1 cup milk chocolate chips.

The dough we be very wet still. Bake cookies at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes depending how large your cookies are. I cook all my cookies on parchment paper. Allow to cool then frost.

Icing:

3 T butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. milk

2 c. powdered sugar

Icing:

In saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar over medium to med-high heat until bubbling and thick. Cool 10 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup milk. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth.

I want to try this!

http://thimbleanna.com/recipes/rasppie.html



Raspberry Lemon Pie

This totally worked. Love this new trick!


Do you have a KITCHENAID?

http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/2011/11/how-to-shred-chicken-in-less-then-a-minute.html#.TsaHT2iZy_k.facebook

My new favorite chicken noodle soup

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/grandmas-chicken-noodle-soup/detail.aspx

It was easy and flavorful.

Want to make these - they look yummy!

Mini Apple Pies
http://www.littlebitfunky.com/2011/10/what-i-made-for-monday.html

Yummy Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Icing


http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_/

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/maple-cream-cheese-frosting/detail.aspx




Alex gave these cinnamon rolls a 9 out of 10.
He said that Mrs. G and Sister Bale still has better rolls than me.

Bret asked me to make brownies for his young men yesterday at 7am. So I quickly made them. I wanted to make my yummy frosting recipe (http://thekitchenofk.blogspot.com/2011/04/httpallrecipes.html)
BUT I didn't have any chocolate chips left in the house.

So, I found a new recipe and I love this one too!

Creamy Brownie Frosting
3 Tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
3 Tablespoons Hershey's Cocoa
1 Tablespoon light corn syrup or honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

Beat butter, cocoa, corn syrup and vanilla in small bowl until blended. Add powdered sugar and milk; beat to spreading consistency. Makes about 1 cup frosting - perfect for 1 batch of brownies.

The boys loved this one.

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1737,144174-249200,00.html

SNICKERS bar pie