Loaded Bacon Baked Potatoes

6 Baking potatoes
Olive oil, sea or coarse salt
1 lb. bacon
4 oz. shredded cheese
Butter, salt, pepper
8 oz. sour cream

Heat oven to 450*. Coat whole potatoes w/olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place on an open oven rack; Bake 45 min. or until knife runs through easily. Fry bacon crisp & break up into make bits. Serve potatoes with bacon bits and sour cream. Salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with tomato soup topped w/shredded cheese.

Pepper Steak w/ Glazed carrots

2 lbs. round steak
(1 Tbsp. paprika, 2 Tbsp. butter)
(Garlic powder to taste)
1 can beef broth
1 lg. green pepper
3/4 c. diced onions
(1/4 c. water, 2 Tbsp. cornstarch, 1/4 c. soy sauce)
2 14oz. cans diced tomatoes
(white rice)

Cut round steaks into 3" strips & season w/ paprika. In lg. skillet, brown steak in butter; add garlic and beef broth. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours until meat is tender. Add green peppers on onions; cook an additional 10 min. In mixing bowl, combine water, cornstarch, and soy sauce; mix until cornstarch is dissolved. Add to meat mixture & cook 5 min. Add tomatoes w/ liquid; simmer 10 min. Prepare rice per directions. Serve meat over rice.

Glazed Carrots

Boil mini carrots in water for approx. 10 min. or until tender. Drain and return to pan. Add butter & brown sugar. Stir to coat. Serve and enjoy!

Easy Potato Soup

32 oz. pkg. frozen hash brown potatoes
1 c. chopped onions
2-14oz. cans chicken broth
(2 c. water, 3 c. milk)
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
(salt and pepper to taste)
Shredded cheddar cheese

In lg. saucepan combine potatoes, onions, chicken broth, and water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover & simmer 30 min. Stir in milk and both cans of soup. Heat thoroughly. Salt & pepper to taste. Sprinkle with cheese if desired.

Serve with lettuce wedge and your choice of creamy dressing. Also serve with garlic bread. Yum!

Merry & Bright Butter Buttons

I found this recipe at Tongue-N-Cheeky with a cute story that will brighten your day, then inspire you to make these (or other cookies) with your kids. Enjoy!

Merry & Bright Brown Sugar Butter Buttons

When it comes to a cookie exchange, do you ever feel the kid in you sneaking a peek at the offerings? Scanning a table full of goodies, aren't your eyeballs always grabbed by the colorfullest of cookies? The frosted. The fluffy. The frilly.

Wanting to create the very type of cookie that children of all ages might adore, I attempted a butter cookie four times. Some were flat. Some were bloppy. Not a one held their shape through cooking, coming out of the oven like little mini-mounds of holiday happiness.

Until this recipe. This adorable little button of a cookie.

Then...imagine my surprise when I bit into one and discovered the cookies were not only flaky but surprisingly hollowed. Or is that hallowed? Somehow this trait makes them even more perfect for the cookie exchange table. A extra-unique recipe which holds a magical secret. Topped with a glimmering icing, I think you'll find these button cookies are among the first to be snapped up and swallowed down this Christmas. From my kitchen to yours. Merry, Merry Holidays!

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 c. powdered sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

dash of salt

1 c. flour

In a large bowl, use a fork to combine butter, sugars, vanilla and salt. Slowly add the flour, combining thoroughly until a thick dough is formed. Turn out onto countertop. Begin kneading until dough forms a ball. Roll until about 1/2" thick, cut into 1-inch circles. Bake at 300 degrees for 11-13 minutes, or just until the tops of cookies are firm to the touch. Remove. Cool. Frost with Sheeny Butter Icing.

*

Sheeny Butter Icing

Created to be the type of frosting which holds it place, and dries with shine, while still offering a mouthful of incredible flavor. Mission accomplished. You're going to love this frosting.

2 c. powdered sugar

2 T. butter, melted

1 tsp. vanilla

1 T. corn syrup

1 tsp. heavy cream

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients until well mixed. If a thicker consistency is needed, add powdered sugar by the tablespoon. If a thinner consistency is desired, add corn syrup by the teaspoon. Color with your favorite icing colors, pipe, and enjoy!

Twice Bake Potatoes

These looking absolutely delectable.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/07/twice_baked_pot/

New recipe blog

I just found a great place to go to create tantalizing dishes you and your family will die for. O.K. that was a little dramatic. I haven't actually tried these dishes, but my friend has and she AND her family of 4 young kids has loved their dinners since she started using these recipes. So look at the blog list on the side, and I'll put more on when I find more. (She had a LOT more recipes).

Burritos El Grande Madeover recipe at Kraftfoods.com

Burritos El Grande Madeover recipe at Kraftfoods.com

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