Granny Kay's Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients:

1 cup butter (2 sticks)

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup Karo syrup

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Bring first three ingredients to a boil, then add can of milk. Stir constantly. When it reaches a soft-ball stage, add 1 tsp. vanilla and remove from heat.

Pour over popcorn. Note to self: I think today I made 4 batches of popcorn, and it made enough caramel for one large bowl and large square tupperware perfectly.

Chow Mein Haystacks

2 bags small chow mein noodles

3/4 c. peanut butter

1 bag butterscotch chips

1 c. marshmallows

Melt the peanut butter over medium heat, then add butterscotch chips. Remove from heat and add chow mein noodles. Then after that is thoroughly mixed and it's cooled a bit, add marshmallows.

***Do NOT add marshmallows while sauce is still hot or it will just melt the marshmallows.

Spoon onto waxed paper.

Honey Lime Enchiladas

Before

After Another great one from here.

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Honey Lime Enchiladas

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1/4 lbs. pork or chicken, cooked and shredded

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Sauce:

1/3 c. honey

1/4 c. lime juice

1 Tbs. chili powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

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2 (10 oz) can green enchilada sauce

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equal parts mixed together of:

shredded mozzarella cheese

shredded cheddar cheese

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flour tortillas

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Mix together sauce ingredients then add to shredded meat. Let the sauce soak into the meat for about 30 minutes.

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Lightly spray 2 pans with non-stick baking spray. Pour green enchilada sauce into pans to coat the entire bottom. Fill tortillas with shredded meat and desired amount of cheese. Roll and place in dish.

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Pour remainder of sauce over enchiladas and sprinkle more cheese on top. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Then turn on broiler and place enchiladas nearer the top of oven. Let it broil until cheese is slightly brown and crispy.

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I served it tonight with spanish rice and black bean salsa.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

2 cans black beans, drained

1 can diced tomatoes, drained

1 can shoepeg or white corn, drained

diced jalapenos

2 Tbs. olive oil

1/4 c. diced red onion

1 bunch cilantro, diced

3 Tbs. redwine vinegar

1 cup salsa

salt and pepper

Drain beans, corn, and tomatoes. Mix together. Add cilantro 1-2 hours before serving. Keep chilled.

I don't think you can go wrong with this one. It's a pleaser.

Banana Bread for Joey

My middle child, Joey, is about as funny as they come. And he is sharp as a tack--he remembers random things forever. About a year ago, my friend Christiana had made some banana bread and had offered Joey a piece. He loved it, and he still talks about it every time her name comes up. And whenever we see her, he asks her if she has any banana bread.

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So on the first day of school I made sure to have some banana bread waiting for him when he got home. I was worried that I overcooked it, but Joey gobbled up all three pieces, then ate 3 more so I guess it was okay!

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This is the recipe that I used. It will make either 1 larger loaf or 2 small loaves. I made 2. If you make 1 I think you should cook it a little longer.

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Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1/2 c. shortening
2 eggs--cream together
3 very very ripe bananas
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt

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Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Chek if done by putting toothpick in the middle--if it comes out clean it's done.

Granary Bread

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Tbs. yeast

3 1/2 cups warm water

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup molasses

1 Tbs. salt

1 1/2 c. quick-cooking oats

1 1/2 c. wheat germ

1/2 c. soy flour (I forgot to buy this so I just added an extra halt cup of wheat flour)

4 1/2 c. whole wheat flour

2 c. white flour

Directions:

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add oil, honey, molasses, salt, oats, cracked wheat, wheat germ, and soy flour. Beat well. Gradually add whole wheat and white flours to form stiff dough. Knead till smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl; cover and let rise till double in bulk. Punch down, divide into thirds, and mold into loaves. Place in greased loaf pans.

*At this point I had the idea to brush the tops with water and add some oats before I cooked the bread. It made it look pretty, and they toasted in the oven, giving it a nice added flavor.

Let rise till double. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes 3 loaves.

From the cookbook Christmas Recipes from the Lion House

Menu Plan

Sunday: Spaghetti Chicken, Granary Bread from Lion House cookbook

Monday: Lasagna

Tuesday: Chicken Amandine

Wednesday: Dance Convention, dinner at the drive-through on the way home

Thursday: First Day of School!!!! Chicken Ranch Crockpot Dinner, Banana Bread

Friday: Happy Anniversary to us! 13 years!!!

Saturday: Leftover buffet