Fruit Pizza

Chris and I were trying to decide what treat to take to our Superbowl Party. All the appetizers are filling, so I wanted to cook something light for a dessert, so this is what I will be taking to the party.



1 pkg. store bought sugar cookie dough. (18oz.)
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 c. Cool Whip
Fresh fruit (your choice)
Coconut (opt.)

Press cookie dough into large greased pizza pan. Cook dough according to pkg. or until light brown. Cool.

Whip cream cheese and cool whip until fluffly. Spread over cookie dough.
Add coconut (you can toast your coconut to make it look really pretty).

In a fun pattern arrange your fruit slices. I think this time I am going to buy strawberries, raspberries, kiwi, and blueberries. Enjoy!

Chilli Verde Mini Meatloaf

I wish I would have taken a picture of this last night when I made it. I am not a huge fan of meatloaf, especially when the top part is smothered in Ketchup. It just looks disgusting, but when I bought my mini loaf pans from The Pampered Chef, this recipe card came with it, and I LOVE this recipe. My husband says that this is one of his favorite meals, and who usually says that about meatloaf??

This is the chilli sauce I use in this recipe.

1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, pressed
2 pounds lean ground turkey (93-98% fat free)
2 eggs
1 cup chilli sauce, divided
3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Finely chop bell pepper and onion. Combine bell pepper, onion, garlic, raw turkey, eggs, 1/2 cup of chilli sauce, bread crumbs, and black pepper. (I use my hands until it's all mixed and stuck together).

I use my Pampered Chef Mini loaf pans, so this makes 4 mini loaves. I have never done it any other way, but I am sure you can use regular loaf pans, and try to get 2 loaves out of this recipe.

For each loaf (if making 4 mini's) shape about 1 1/2 cups meat mixture into loaf. Bake 30 minutes. Spread remaining chilli sauce on tops of loaves. Bake an additional 20-30 minutes. (Note: I like my meatloaf a little burnt around the edges to crisp it up, so I cook the second half for 35 minutes). Bake until meat is no longer pink or internal temp. reaches 180 degrees.

Remove from pan and let stand 10 minutes to cool. Serve with your favorite side dishes.

Low Fat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

My friend Lezlie gave me this recipe. I made a batch of these tonight for Sunday dinner tommorow. Everyone is on their New Year's diets, so I thought I would make these since they are low in fat.



2 Spice Cake Mixes
1 Lg. can Pumpkin
Bag Chocolate Chips

Combine the Spice Cake Mix with the Pumpkin. Stir chocolate chips in. Bake 375 for 14-17 minutes (it will vary depending on your oven, but these are very easy to underbake).

Makes 36-48 cookies-depending on how BIG you make them.

I was told that these are only 2 points per cookie-if anyone is doing Weight Watchers.

Magic Cookie Bars

I made a batch of these last night, so I could take them to a Young Women's activity tonight, the directions I gave my husband was "You can have a corner!!" I went downstairs a few hours later, to find an entire row missing. He's in so much trouble!



INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels ( I actually prefer 1 cup butterscotch and 1 cup Milk Chocolate)
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts



DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees for glass dish). Coat 13x9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
2. Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with a fork.
3. Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars or diamonds. Store covered at room temperature.


Variations

7-Layer Magic Cookie Bars: Substitute 1 cup (6-ounces) butterscotch flavored chips* for 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and proceed as directed above.
*
Peanut butter flavored chips or white chocolate chips may be substituted for butterscotch flavored chips.
*
Magic Peanut Cookie Bars: Substitute 2 cups (about 3/4 pound) chocolate-covered peanuts for semi-sweet chocolate chips and chopped nuts.
*
Magic Rainbow Cookie Bars: Substitute 2 cups plain candy-coated chocolate candies for semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Better Than Sex Cake

This goes with my previous post. I always have to have this for my BIRTHDAY, it's better than any store boughten birthday cake out there, and hello...the name says it all. There are a dozen different recipes for this cake, but once again I will claim....this one is the BEST!! And, I have to tell you a little story to go along with this. I made this cake for Chris's family one time. Ever since then, Chris's Grandma who is in her 80's always secretly says "Will you ask Melissa to bring that better than sex cake?" This cake really will make you smile, no matter what your age :O)



1 box chocolate cake mix
1 jar Mrs. Richardson's Butterscotch Caramel Ice Cream Topping
1 16 oz. tub Cool Whip
1 can sweetened condensed milk
6-7 Skor Candy Bards, cut up

Mix and bake cake as directed on pkg. Bake on a greased large cookie sheet instead of a 9x13 pan. Check cake after 15-18 min's. Insert toothpick, if it comes out clean, it's done. Cool COMPLETELY. With the end of a wooden spoon poke holes all over the cake. In a bowl mix sweetened condensed milk and ice cream topping. Blend well and pour over cake. Top with Cool Whip. Sprinkle Skor Bars over Cool Whip. (Note: I like to cut some of my Skor Bars up chunkier than others, that way there is a variety of sizes of toffee on the cake). Refrigerate. It's best if Refrigerated overnight, that way the caramel has time to seep through the cake and make it really gooey.

Relief Sociey Potatoes

Every year for my Birthday, my mom would make my favorite dinner. That included ham, Relief Society Potatoes, corn, hot rolls, olives, and Better than Sex Cake. Since my parents moved, I decided last week that I would make my own. It wasn't as good as my mom's, it never is. But, it was still a hit! I know there are lots of recipes out there for Relief Society Potatoes, but I will claim this is the BEST one!

2 Lb. bag frozen CUBED hash browns

1 cup margarine or butter, melted

1/2 cup chopped green onions (I love green onions, so I add a little more than that)

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 pint sour cream

corn flakes, crushed up (lots and lots)

Set out your hashbrowns to defrost.

Add soup, melted butter, sour cream, onions, cheese, salt and pepper. Pour into greased 13x9 pan. Crush cornflakes and sprinkle on top. Bake 40-60 min's on 350 degrees. If your potatoes are still a little frozen, it's more like 90 min's for baking.

Note: To make a lighter casserole, use only 1 cube of butter, fat free sour cream and 98% fat free cream of chicken soup. But for Birthday parties and special holidays....use the real stuff and enjoy!

Chicken and Shrimp Egg Rolls

Are any of you on Diets for your New Year's Resolutions? This is a great recipe that is Healthy and won't leave you starving 30 minutes later. We get together with Chris's whole family and make these. Usually we get together and make several batches. It's a fun get together activity and we freeze half the batch to pull out for emergency dinner nights. This is a great Light Recipe as long as you don't deep fry them. Although they are beyond delic if they are deep fried, I actually loved the baked version



1 6 oz. can chicken or 1 c. chopped chicken (I prefer the fresh cooked)
1 6 oz. can shrimp, or 6 oz. cut up cooked shrimp (We just buy the big bags of tiny deveined and cooked shrimp from Sam's CLub)
1 clove garlic
1/2 c. finely chopped snow peas (opt.)
1 Tbsp. oil
1 beaten egg
1/4 tsp. salt
1 pkg. egg roll skins
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup chopped water chestnuts
2 Tbsp. chopped green onion
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 cup fresh bean sprouts

Mix well and place in egg roll skins. Seal with egg mixed with water. Deep fat fry to golden brown or drizzle with a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Bake 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until crisp and brown.

To serve we drizzle Soy Sauce on Top! It's soo good!

Slush Cubes

It isn't New Years at the Hernandez house unless Chris's mom whips up a batch of these. These are so delicious, and your kids will luv them!!! Enjoy!

4 cups sugar
6 cups water
2 lemons
5 bananas
1 6 oz. can frozen orange juice, mix according to can directions
1 46 oz. can pineapple juice
4 qts. 7-up

Boil water with sugar just until sugar dissolves. Set aside. Mash bananas and lemon juiceand add orange juice and pineapple juice. Add sugar and water mixture. Freeze in ice cube trays (if you are doing a themed party, you could freeze these in shaped trays). When ready to serve, put desired amount of cubes in glass, add 7-up and serve immediately. We serve these with forks so you can crush up the cubes and let the drink get really slushy.

Note: Put cubes out a little earlier before serving, that way they are easy to crush up in glass. Otherwise, we stick our glass cup in the microwave for about 10 seconds to make the cubes a little easier to slush up.