Cream Cheese Frosting

1 lb (2 8oz pkgs) cream cheese, softened slightly, cut into small pieces

½ c (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened slightly, cut into small pieces

1 ½ tsp vanilla

5 c sifted confectioners sugar

In a medium size bowl on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and the butter until smooth, about 3 minutes.  Add the vanilla.  Gradually add the sugar and beat until well incorporated.  This yields frosting for one 2 or 3 layer 9” cake, or a bunch of cupcakes. 

Submitted by Kathryn Myers, from the Magnolia Bakery cookbook

Mint Brownies

1 (20 oz) box of brownie mix

1 cup chopped walnuts - optional

12 oz chocolate frosting

 

Mint Frosting

 

5 T. softened butter

dash of salt

2 1/3 cups powdered sugar

1 T. light corn syrup

1/2 t. mint extract

food coloring

3 T. milk

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, prepare the brownie mix according to package directions. Once mix is combined thoroughly, add the walnuts and then spread batter in 9x13 pan. Bake according to package directions.

 

To make the mint frosting, combine butter, salt, corn syrup and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add mint extract and food coloring. Mix in and then add the milk gradually until frosting is a little more runny than cake frosting.

 

Spread the mint frosting over cooled brownies and then place in the freezer for a short time to stiffen. Take brownies out of freezer and carefully add a layer of chocolate frosting.

 

Shared by Judy Richins at Terrific Tuesday 2010

Cheesy Chicken Soup

2 cups carrots

2 cusp celery

1 lrg. onion

10 cups water

12 chicken bullion cubes

1 cup margarine

1 cup flour 1 lrg. bottle cheese whiz

2 cups cooked chicken

 

Boil carrots, celery, onion and bullion cubes.  In a separate pan melt margarine and then slowly add flour while stirring.  Take cap off of cheese whiz and heat in the microwave until warm.  Add cheese whiz to flour paste and stir until smooth.  Add chicken to vegetable mix and then add cheese paste a spoonful at a time.  Stir with a wire whisk until flour paste is mixed in well with no clumps.  Cook until it is heated all the way through. (If you are interested, this soup is only 7 WW points per cup!)

Shared by Meagan Smith at Terrific Tuesday 2010

Split Pea Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 (16 oz.) pkg. dried green split peas, rinsed
• 1 meaty hambone, 2 ham hocks, or 2 cups diced ham
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 ribs of celery plus leaves, chopped
• 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
• 1 tbsp. seasoned salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp. fresh pepper
• 1 1/2 qts. hot water

Preparation:

Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given; pour in water. Do not stir ingredients. Cover and cook on HIGH 4 to 5 hours or on low 8 to 10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off bone. Remove bones and bay leaf. Mash peas to thicken more, if desired. Serve garnished with croutons. Freezes well.
Serves 8.

Shared by Michelle Westerlind at Terrific Tuesday 2010

Salsa

3 cans petite diced tomatoes
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 small sweet yellow onion, chopped
1/2 lemon, squeezed
1 bunch cilantro - chopped
lots of garlic salt - to taste


submitted by Jeanette Pixton

Magnolia Bakery's Famous Banana Pudding

• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/2 cups ice cold water
• 1 (3.4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix (preferably Jell-O brand)
• 3 cups heavy cream
• 1 (12-ounce) box Nabisco Nilla Wafers (no substitutions!)
• 4 cups sliced ripe bananas

1. In a small bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the pudding mix and beat well, about 2 minutes more. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight, before continuing. It is very important to allow the proper amount of time for the pudding mixture to set.
2. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well blended and no streaks of pudding remain.
3. To assemble the dessert, select a large, wide bowl (preferably glass) with a 4-5-quart capacity. Arrange one-third of the wafers to cover the bottom of the bowl, overlapping if necessary, then one-third of the bananas and one-third of the pudding. Repeat the layering twice more, garnishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on the top layer of the pudding. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours - or up to 8 hours, but no longer! - before serving
   

(hints from the girl I got the recipe from:)

I always add more bananas than the recipe calls for.

I have always said the longer the pudding sits the better it is, even when the recipe says not to let is sit longer than 8 hours.

(my twist:)

I turned this into a trifle, adding strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and even blackberries to each layer, and used less bananas.....yummy :)

submitted by Adele Lamb

Best Meatloaf I Ever Made

1 TBSP butter
1/4 c minced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 lbs extra-lean ground beef
3 sliced bread, toasted and crumbled
7 buttery round crackers, crushed
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 1/2 TBSP sour cream
1 1/2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1 15oz can tomato sauce, divided
1/4 c milk (optional)
3 TBSP ketchup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion and garlic 5 minutes, until onion is tender.  Remove from heat, and season with salt and pepper.

In a large bowl mix the onion and garlic, beef, crumbled bread, crushed crackers, egg, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and 1/2 can tomato sauce.  Gradually stir in the milk 1 tsp at a time until mixture is moist, but not soggy.  Transfer the mixture to a 5x9 loaf pan.

Bake uncovered in the preheated oven 40 minutes.  Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees and continue baking 15 minutes, to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

In a small bowl, mix the remaining tomato sauce and ketchup.  Pour over the top of the meatloaf, and continue baking 10 minutes.

submitted by Kathy Bringhurts