Easy Butter Cookies

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These cookies are absolutely wonderful. As you know, I LOVE short cuts in the kitchen. The secret ingredient? Boxed cake mix! Since my couponing adventure started two years ago, there seems to be a deal 2-3 times per year where I've been able to score cake mix really cheap, if not free. This is the perfect way to use up those cake mixes you have laying around! Paul honestly had no idea there was cake mix in them until I told him. You have to try!

Easy Butter Cookies

Passionate Penny Pincher

1 box yellow cake mix

8oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter

1 egg

1/4 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

Cream together butter, egg, cream cheese, and vanilla with an electric mixer. Stir in cake mix until well combined.

Pour confectioner's sugar into a shallow bowl. Roll cookie dough into 1 inch balls and coat in confectioners sugar.

Place on GREASED cookie sheets and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. (Watch these carefully, they burn easily).

Yum!

Linking up to: Savvy Homemade Monday, Making Monday Marvelous, Homemaker Monday, Just Something I Whipped Up, Meatless Monday, Makin You Crave Monday, Southern Fairytale, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Inspiration Board, Too Cute Tuesday, Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Tuesday Confessional, T Time, Tuesday Talent Show, and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.       

  

Menu Plan Monday 1/30

On the menu this week: Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps

Let me fill you in on what's been going on in my life the past few days. Thursday night I went to bed after eating some fast food (should have stuck to the meal plan!) and woke up with another attack of what I thought was severe indigestion. I had been having these "attacks" off and on for about 2 1/2 years, they started right after Silas was born in February of 2009. The pain would be all in my upper abdomen, through to my back and while it was unbearable, only lasted at most 20 minutes. Well this attack on Thursday morning did not get better. And it did not go away. So I woke Paul at about 5:30am and informed him I was driving myself to the ER.

Long story short, I was wheeled into surgery around 2pm that same day to remove my gallbladder. An ultrasound in the ER revealed I had over 20 (!!) gall stones.

So now I'm sitting at home recovering and doing much better. Needless to say, I didn't quite stick to the menu plan because I've been trying to eat light for right now. I was SO proud of Paul because he asked me several times if there was something he could just stick in the Crock Pot. I pulled up my slow cooker bookmarks and we put together this Cream Cheese Chicken, which everyone said was delish. I'll have to make it again soon so I can try it!

Anyway, here's our plan for this week. I think you'll understand all the carry-overs!

Monday- Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps

Tuesday- Bubble Up Enchiladas

Wednesday- Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole

Thursday- Crock Pot Country Chicken

Friday- YOYO (you're on your own!)

Saturday- Hot Bacon Cheese Dip

Sunday- Crock Pot Lasagna

Linking up to Menu Plan Monday.

 

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

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I don't know about you, but the chilly weather outside has made me fall in love with my Crock Pot! It really is starting to become my favorite kitchen appliance, next to my Kitchen Aid mixer of course. I just love how most recipes you literally dump all the ingredients in the crock, turn it on, and there's your meal. In our house, chicken and the crock go hand in hand. I totally throw those bad boys in still frozen and it's always turned out great. This particular recipe I came across and put it on the menu that same week. I had two half full bottles of BBQ sauce in the fridge and this was the perfect way to use them up. Pair it with some mashed potatoes and you've got a great meal.

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

from Stick A Fork In It

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 bottle BBQ sauce

1/4 cup vinegar

1/4 cup brown sugar

generous dash of garlic powder

Throw chicken in the crock pot. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients.

I used up some leftover Bull's Eye BBQ sauce from the fridge. LOVE recipes like that!

Pour over chicken in crock pot. Turn chicken to coat.

Cook on low for 8 hours/high for 4 hours.

Linking up to: Just Something I Whipped Up, The Gunny Sack, Makin You Crave Monday, Southern Fairytale, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Mangia Monday, Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Tuesday Confessional, T Time, Tuesday Talent Show, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Take A Look Tuesday, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, The Inspiration Board, Too Cute Tuesday, Tuesday Time Out, Show Me What Ya Got, Tuesday Treasure, Totally Tasty Tuesday, and Cast Party Wednesday.     

  

Menu Plan Monday 1/23

Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole

Well last week was a bit of a crazy one! I was able to stick to the menu mostly, though we did get pizza delivered one night. I figure if I at least have a plan, it's no biggie if we order out of convenience once in a while. Hopefully we won't make it a habit! Here's the plan for this week:

Monday- Italian Pockets (new recipe)

Tuesday- Crock Pot Clam Chowder

Wednesday- Bubble Up Enchiladas

Thursday- Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole

Friday- YOYO (you're on your own!)

Saturday- Hot Bacon Cheese Dip with crusty bread

Sunday- Crock Pot Lasagna

Linking up to Menu Plan Monday. Have a blessed week!

  

Cinnamon Stick Cookies

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There are many reasons why I absolutely adore these cookies. One batch makes a ton of cookies (75 sticks). They remind me of really good shortbread cookies. They taste FABULOUS dipped in coffee. I could have a few right now! I'm planning on making some for an upcoming party with a chocolate fondue. OH YEAH!

Cinnamon Stick Cookies

Joyful Homemaking

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar

milk

In a stand mixer, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, and eggs until creamy. Mix flour, baking soda, and cinnamon in a medium bowl until well combined. Gradually add dry ingredients to sugar mixture. Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap and press cookie dough into pan. Try to be as even as possible. Refrigerate 1 hour until firm. Remove cookie dough from loaf pan using plastic wrap to lift.

Slice cookie dough in 1/2 inch slices. Then cut each slice into 1/2 inch strips.

Lay strips on GREASED cookie sheets about 1/2 inch apart. Bake  until lightly browned at 325 for 11-13 minutes. Cool on wire racks. While cookies are cooling, mix powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons milk. Keep thinning out with milk until icing easily slides off a spoon. Drizzle icing over cookies.

Linking up to these fabulous parties. Check them out for more recipes and DIY ideas!

   

Menu Plan Monday 1/9/12

Taco Mac Casserole

Wow I REALLY don't feel like making a menu plan this week! Last Monday night I came home feeling funny. Well that turned into the full blown flu and I'm still suffering from it today! I'm still not myself and I can't taste anything right now, so I think you can understand why I don't even want to think about cooking! Last week I sent Paul to the grocery store to get enough stuff for them for the week, which pretty much consisted of soda and Tombstone pizzas lol. I guess he's finally sick of the frozen pizzas because he asked me if I would need the grocery money today *hint hint*. So here's the plan, even though none of it sounds very appetizing to me at the moment!

There are LOTS of carry overs from last week since I only made one dinner the entire week! GASP!

Monday- Broccoli & Cheese Twice Baked Potatoes

Tuesday- Taco Mac Casserole

Wednesday- Italian Rotini w/ Sausage, Garlic Crescent Breadsticks

Thursday- Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

Friday- YOYO (You're On You're Own)

Saturday- Cheesy Potato Soup

Sunday- Crock Pot Lasagna

Linking up to: Menu Plan Monday.

   

Tuna Melt Quesadillas

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I went to make Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps last week and I realized I was completely out of ground beef! Not surprising to me, though. I rarely buy ground beef anymore because the prices are outrageous right now! I came up with this on the fly and they turned out fabulous.

Tuna Melt Quesadillas

 

4 large tortillas

2 cans tuna, drained

3 tablespoons mayo (more or less to taste)

1 capful vinegar (is this a real measurement? LOL It's the way mom taught me.)

1 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp dried minced onion

2 tomatoes, sliced

shredded cheddar cheese

Heat griddle over medium heat. Meanwhile, mix tuna, mayo, vinegar, garlic powder, and minced onion in bowl.

Spread half of tuna over one tortilla. Top with tomato slices. Sprinkle tomato slices generously with cheddar.

Top with another tortilla. Repeat steps to make 2nd quesadilla (you can easily halve the recipe if needed). Place quesadillas on griddle for about 4 minutes. Flip and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes. Slice and serve!

Linking up to: Cast Party Wednesday, Women Living Well, The Mommy Club, This Chick Cooks, Sugar and Spice, Wow Me Wednesday, Whatever You Want Wednesday, Show Off Your Stuff, Share the Wealth Wednesday, House of Hepworths, Church Supper, What's Cooking Thursdays, Thrifty Thursday, It's a Keeper Thursday, and Tastetastic Thursday.    

 

Menu Plan Monday 1/2/12

Happy New Year! I'm so excited for this year to begin. The oldest bugger is getting so smart with number and letter recognition, he learns something new every day! The littlest bugger is just about crawling already and is just starting solid food. By New Year's 2012 he'll be walking all over and talking too, I can't believe it. Our plans this year include paying down our debt (hopefully paying off our car loan), going on a Mommy-Daddy weekend vacation to DC, and taking a family vacation to Ocean City, NJ this summer. I'm MOST excited that towards the end of April I will be an AUNT! God has amazing things in store for our family this year and I can't wait.

All last week I participated in the Countdown to 2012 Best Recipes hosted by Joy In My Kitchen. It was so much fun! I highlighted:

• Best Breakfast Recipes
• Best Main Dish Recipes
• Best Crockpot Recipes
• Best Dessert Recipes

I made some resolutions for the New Year as I was perusing through all the yummy new recipes I've made. Most of all, I'd like to cook less with meat and more with my Crock Pot. I'm definitely going to have to start slow with my Meat Eating Man, so this week I'm focusing more on Crock Pot meals since chicken is basically on sale everywhere. (By the way, I'm on the lookout for some tasty non-meat Crock Pot meals. Let me know if you have one!) Here is the plan:

Monday- Cheeseburgers

Tuesday- Crock Pot Lasagna

Wednesday- Broccoli & Cheese Twice Baked Potatoes

Thursday- Crock Pot BBQ Chicken with Cheddar Herb Biscuits

Friday- YOYO (You're On Your Own!)

Saturday- Cinnamon Pumpkin Pancakes

Sunday- Crock Pot Salsa Chicken


Linking up to: Menu Plan Monday. Have a wonderful week!