Zucchini Casserole

2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 lb of zucchini, slice
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 onion diced
1  teaspoon dried basil
1 can diced tomatoes. drained
1 cup Hellman's mayonnaise
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Sautee' zucchini and onions in olive oil. Add one can of diced tomatoes. Add salt pepper garlic powder and basil. Cook until onions are done. Pour into a casserole dish that has been sprayed with Pam. Mix one cup of Hellman's mayonnaise with one cup of Parmesan cheese. Spread on top of zucchini mixture until it covers the entire dish. Cook at 350 degrees until cheese is golden brown.  About 30-45 minutes. Let it set a few minutes before serving.

Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup of softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup coconut
2 cups self rising flour
1 teaspoon almond flavoring and 1/2 cup chopped almonds both optional.  I added both.
Cream butter.  Add ingredients in the order listed.  Drop with a spoon onto a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with PAM.  Bake at 350 degrees till golden brown.  For me it was 14 minutes.  

My Version of Hashbrown Casserole

There are only a few slight differences from the original recipe but they make a huge difference
1 bag of Alexia shredded hashbrown potatoes
1/2 onion diced
1 can cream of chicken soup
16 oz sour cream
1 stick butter
2 c. grated cheese
1 tube ritz crackers
1/2 stick butter
Let the hashbrowns thaw. Meanwhile, melt stick of butter and add diced onion. until onions are cooked.
In a bowl mix sour cream and cream of chicken soup.  Add the cheese and then the thawed hash browns.  Lastly fold in the melted butter and onion.  Pour into casserole dish that has been sprayed with PAM. Melt the half stick butter and add the tube of ritz crackers that have been crushed.  Stir until crackers absorb butter. Sprinkle on top of the casserole.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until it's bubbly and cracker topping is golden brown.
NOTE...be sure and use the Alexia potatoes.  They are made with Yukon Gold potatoes and are already seasoned. Trust me, it makes a difference.

Jalepeno Poppers

18 jalepenos
16 oz roll of sausage
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup motzerella cheese
Wash peppers. Cut ends off. Slice in half lenthwise.Remove seeds and membrane. Place halves on a baking sheet.
Brown sausage in a skillet and drain. In a bowl cream together softened cream cheese sour cream and mozzarella. Fold in the cook sausage. Stuff the jalapeno halves with the sausage mixture. Top each one with a little extra mozzarella. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
I haven't tried this yet, but I believe this mixture would also work good with stuffed mushrooms.

My Pimento Cheese

I'm kind of a purist when it comes to pimento cheese and quacamoli.  I add very few ingredients to either.  With all the interest in a new "store bought" pimento cheese, I decided it is time to post my recipe.

1/2 cup mayonaise
smallest jar of diced pimentos
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8 oz bag of finely grated sharp cheddar cheese.

Add black pepper and the whole jar of pimentos, juice and all, to the mayonaise. Stir.
Fold in the grated cheese.
That's it!  Ready to go.
Use your favorite mayonaise, I prefer Dukes, and by all means grate block cheese, if you wish.  I'm just all about doing things the easiest way.

Baked Spaghetti

Half box angel hair pasta, cooked and drained
Jar of your favorite pasta sauce
1 pound of Italian sausage
1 small Onion diced
small package of sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup (or more) shredded motzerella-enough to cover
1 cup (or more) shredded parmesan-enough to cover
4 oz softened cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
Spray a deep casserole dish with PAM.  Add the cooked noodles.  Cream together the cream cheese and sour cream and spread on next.  Springle the parmesean cheese on next. Cook the sausage, onion and mushrooms together until the sausage is no longer pink. Drain and then add the pasta sauce.  Mix well and then pour into the casserole.  Top with the motzerella cheese.  I baked it cover on 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, then I removed the top and let it cook a little longer till the cheese is completely melted and maybe even a little brown, if you like it that way.
I've eaten baked spaghetti before but the cream cheese/sour cream in this made it special.

Caramels

Home made caramels made in the microwave.  Just like the peanut brittle recipe, homemade goodness done easy.

1 cup butter

2 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup light Karo syrup

1 14oz can Eagle brand milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Butter a 9x13 pan and set aside

In a large microwave safe bowl, melt butter.

Add all the remaining ingredients except vanilla and mix well

Microwave on full power 4-5 minutes. 

Remove from microwave and wisk.

Microwave another 4-5 minutes

Remove from microwave and wisk.

Return to microwave and cook another 4-5 minutes.

Remove and wisk while adding vanilla.

Pour into buttered casserole dish and let cool for 2 hours. 

Cut into pieces and wrap in wax paper.

Recipe says to keep in the refrigerator but I find that makes them hard.  I like chewy.  So, if you aren't planning to eat right away, refrigerate them but take them out and let them soften up before you serve.