Meat balls

As I have needed a quick recipe for Christmas gatherings, it brought to mind an EASY appetizer.  We used it often when catering.  The first time I made it I made my own meatballs.  The second time I tried frozen ones and could tell no difference.  I always used the ones from Sams.

1 jar of Chili sauce
1 jar of grape jelly
Bag of frozen meatballs

Mix the Chili sauce and grape jelly in sauce pan.  Add the frozen meatballs. When they are warm, they are ready so you can remove these and add more if you need a larger amount or just let them sit in the warm sauce until ready to serve.

Cream Cheese Poundcake

Also from ladies bible study last night....

Mama's recipe
3 sticks of margarine (I used real butter)
8 oz of cream cheese
3 cups of sugar
6 eggs
3 cups Swans Down Cake Flour
3 Tablespoons of  vanilla

Cream together cream cheese, butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time.  Add vanilla.
Add flour a little at a time until all is smooth.  Pour into a bundt pan or a pound cake pan that has been sprayed with Pam.  The kind for baking is best but if you just have regular Pam make sure you spray it well including the center part.  Bake at 300 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or until your tester comes out clean.

Chicken Pot Pie

Had my ladies bible study group at my house last night and I cooked Chicken Pot Pie.  This ones for you ladies.

Spray a casserole dish with Pam.  Add each layer in the order listed and do not stir.

Layer 1
2-3 chicken breast, cooked, cooled and torn into bite size pieces.  Cover the bottom of the dish.
Layer 2
After I removed the chicken from the pot I add a to the broth a family size bag of frozen mixed vegetables.  Let them simmer while you melt a 1/4 stick of butter and add a diced onion.  Cook till the onion is tender.  Drain the vegetables and spoon them over the chicken.  Then spoon the onions on next, butter and all.  At this point I seasoned with salt and pepper.
Layer 3
I take a can of cream of celery soup (cream of chicken if you'd rather) and add a can of chicken broth.
mix well and pour over the vegetables.
Layer 4
Melt a stick of butter.  Add a cup of milk.  remove from heat and add 1 1/2 cups of Pioneer baking mix.  Stir until well blended.  Pour on top.  Use the back of your spoon to spread it to all the edges but don't stir.
350 degrees until golden brown.  About 45 minutes.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

My friend Paulette confessed to me recently that she loves cupcakes.  Tonight for our life group I decided to make my Red Velvet Cupcakes.  They are as good as those from a fancy cupcake store but ridiculously easy to make.

1 Box Duncan Hines Red Velvet cake mix
1 package (3.9oz) Jello Chocolate instant pudding
1 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
1 stick of butter, softened
1 16 oz package of powdered sugar
1 cup of cool whip

Prepare the cake mix according to directions.  Stir pudding mix into the batter at the end.  Spoon into paper lined muffin tins.  Bake at 350 until done.  16 minutes worked in my oven.
Meanwhile, cream together the cream cheese and the butter.  Add Powdered sugar a little at the time until you add the whole box. Stir until smooth and then fold in the 1 cup of cool whip.  Let the cupcakes cool completely.  Inject some of the icing into the center of each cupcake, then use the remaining icing to ice the cupcakes.  You can shave white chocolate on top or sprinkle with pecan pieces.

White Enchiladas

10 white tortillas
2 cups of cooked and shredded chicken
2 cups Monterrey jack cheese
3 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
4 ounce can of diced green chilies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with Pam.  Mix chicken and 1 cup of the cheese.  At this point I added diced onions, because I love onions.  Divide the chicken mixture between the 10 tortillas and roll up and lay them in the pan seam side down.  In a sauce pan melt the butter then add the flour.  Cook for about a minute.  Add the broth and whisk until it's smooth. Cook over medium heat until it's thick and bubbly. Don't let it come to a boil.  Remove from heat. Add the sour cream and the green chilies.  I love the Tame Jalapenos.  You add what suits you.  Pour this over the enchiladas and top with the rest of the cheese.  Bake for 22 minutes.  Remove from oven and switch to broil.  Broil for 3 minutes or until the cheese is slightly brown.  

FYI...if you want to make this SUPER easy make these changes.  Buy Curlies pulled chicken without sauce.  Use 1 can cream of chicken souped thinned with 1/2 cup chicken broth (instead of cooking the butter, flour, chicken broth sauce)  still add the cup of sour cream and the chilies.

Peanut butter fudge

Found this recipe today and went straight to the kitchen to try it.  It was unbelievably easy and so good.

1 Cup creamy peanut butter
2 sticks of butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 box of confectioners sugar

Melt butter and peanut butter and stir until smooth. Add the vanilla.  Add the box of confectioners sugar and stir until blended.  Quickly press into a 8x8 or 9x9 buttered pan.  Chill until firm then cut into squares.

French Coconut Pie

This is my Mama's recipe and she was the BEST cook.

1 1/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup buttermilk
3 eggs
1 3/4 cup angel flake coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 unbaked frozen shell

Cream sugar and butter together.  Add Buttermilk.  Beat eggs slightly and add.  Stir in vanilla. Add coconut and then pour into unbaked pie shell.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes then lower the heat to 300 and cook until golden brown and firm to touch in the center.  About 35-40 minutes.