Praline French Toast Casserole

I was not the biggest fan of this recipe. If you like bread pudding and you like maple you will love this. I do not like bread pudding at all. This is about as close to bread pudding as you can get.

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 10-12 slices soft bread, 1 inch thick

Topping:

•  1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2/3 cup maple syrup
• 2 cups pecans, chopped

Directions:

1. Generously butter a 13 X 9 inch casserole dish;.
2. Mix the eggs, half and half, maple syrup, and sugar in a large bowl.
3. Place the bread slices in the prepared casserole dish and cover with the egg mixture: cover with plastic wrap and let soak overnight in refrigerator.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees; remove the casserole from refrigerator.
5. Make the Topping: melt the butter in a saucepan; add sugar and maple syrup and cook for 1 to 2 minutes; stir in pecans;.
6. Pour the mixture over the bread and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, allow to cool 10 minutes before serving, enjoy.

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Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup regular margarine or butter
• 1 6-10 oz. package regular marshmallows (about 40)
• 5 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal
  

Directions

• Spray a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan with no-stick cooking spray
• Measure margarine into 3-quart saucepan; melt over low heat.
• Add marshmallows and cook, stirring constantly, until marshmallows are melted and mixture is very syrupy. Remove from heat.
• Add Rice Krispies cereal; stir until well-coated.
• Spread warm mixture in the greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan. Using a spatula sprayed with non-stick cooking spray to press down your mixture.
• Cut into squares when cool.
  

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Cinnamon Buns from Heaven

I can't say enough about just how amazing these are. They taste just like Cinnabon, but you get 16 for the price of less than two. I normally use the dough setting on my bread maker to makes these. It takes me around 6 hours from the start to the end. You can't go wrong with these!!

Ingredients:

Dough

• 1 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
• 2 envelopes active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon plus 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup milk, heated to lukewarm
• 2/3 cup (1 1/3 sticks) butter, softened
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 7 cups all-purpose flour, or more as needed

Filling

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
  

Bread Machine Directions:

• Add Dough ingredients as recommended by your bread machine manufacture normally liquids then dry, and yeast on top
• Us your dough setting ... normally it takes 1.5 hours
• Then follow the directions listen below starting in red.
  
  
  

Directions:

• For the dough Combine the warm water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar in a cup and stir; set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the milk, remaining 2/3 cup sugar, butter, eggs, and salt. Stir well and add the yeast mixture.
• Add 3 1/2 cups flour and beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour until the dough is slightly stiff - it will be sticky.
• Turn out the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead for 5 to 10 minutes, adding just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking.
• Place in a well-buttered glass or plastic bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in volume, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch down the dough and let it rest for 5 minutes. Roll out on a lightly floured surface into a 15-by-20-inch rectangle.
• For the filling Spread 1/2 cup of the melted butter on the dough. In a small bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of the sugar and the cinnamon. Sprinkle over the dough, then sprinkle with the walnuts and raisins, if desired. Roll up like a jellyroll and pinch the edges together to seal. Cut the roll into 12 or 18 slices. If making 12 buns, use the remaining 1/2 cup melted butter to coat the bottoms of a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and an 8-inch square baking pan; if making 18 buns, use two 13-by-9-inch pans. Sprinkle the pans with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar.
• Place the cinnamon bun slices close together in the pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until the dough is doubled in volume, about 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the buns are nicely browned. Let cool slightly before glazing.
• For the glaze In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla. Add the hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you have a spreadable glaze. Spread the glaze over the buns and serve.
• Tip: To save time in the morning, make the rolls a day ahead up to the final rise, then let them rise slowly overnight in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before baking.
  Cook’s notes A simple dusting of confectioners’ sugar is a great topping for the buns, which are already so over the top that the glaze is almost too much. You can play with the filling ingredients: try golden raisins or currants, use pecans instead of walnuts, add some nutmeg or mace and a little grated lemon zest.

Cinnamon Buns from Heaven recipe by Nicki Cross, article by staff of the Portland Oregonian, November 2, 1999. Copyright © 1999 by Nicki Cross.

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Snappy Wacky Pasta Salad

This turned out really good.. quick and easy!

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups uncooked Wacky Mac or Regular Spiral Pasta
• 1 TBSP Minced Onion
• 1 TBSP Minced Bell Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Pepper or ground pepper corns
• 1/2 Cup Low Fat Three Cheese Ranch Dressing (I used Kraft)

Directions:

1. Cook Pasta as directed on the package. Don't over cook.
2. Rinse with cold water and set aside
3. Mix ground pepper in the dressing so that the pepper is well mixed in.
4. In a small bowl combine minced onion, minced bell pepper, pasta and dressing.
5. Over with plastic wrap and chill for 4-6 hours or speed set in the freezer for 10-15mins

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Italian Breadcrumbs

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain breadcrumbs (here's how to make them homemade)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, tossing to blend thoroughly.


2. Store in an airtight container and use in any recipe calling for Italian breadcrumbs.

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Breadcrumbs

I don't know about you, but I hate it when

I have a ton of bread left in the frig that turns or rock or no

one is willing to eat it. I don't like to waste it.

So what do you do with old bread... make bread crumbs!

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces bread (any)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil or veggy oil
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat a 400°F oven.
2. Dice and chop bread with crusts into 1/2 inch cubes.
3. Scatter diced bread in a large baking sheet or roasting pan.
4. Add rest of ingredients, tossing everything together with your hands.
5. Bake 11-15 minutes, or until it is crispy.
6. Cool at room temperature, and put bread and seasonings in a plastic bag.
7. Roll with a rolling pin, or before putting in plastic bag, use your food processor or blender to mix this up. I personally like using the blender!
8. Keep crumbs in sealed bag in fridge up to 1 to 2 weeks.

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Crock Pot BBQ Ribs

Ingredients:

• 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4 lbs beef ribs or you choice of ribs
• 3/4 (16 ounce) bottle barbecue sauce
• 1 Medium Can pineapple juice

Directions:

1. Combine the first 7 ingredients to make the rub
2. Mix well
3. Rub on all sides of ribs.
4. Place ribs meaty side up in crock pot.
5. Pour pineapple juice over the ribs
6. Cover; cook on low for 6 hours.
7. Drain the grease from the crock.
8. Place the ribs back in and cover with bbq sauce.
9. Cook for another hour.
   

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Chicken Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

• 3 Chicken boneless Breast
• 2 Eggs
• 1/2 Cup Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
• 1/2 Cup Flour
• 3-4 Cups Cooking Oil

Directions:

• Pre heat cooking oil in skillet
• With a meat cleaver pound each chicken breast until it's thined out evenly
• Scramble eggs until they are fluffy
• Combine flour and italian seasoned bread crumbs and mix well
• Take each breast and dreadge through the egg mixture then through bread crumb mixture
• Each chicken breast will need to be cook by it'self unless you have an extra large skillet
• When the oil is ready add a battered chicken breast to the oil let cook half way then flip and cook the other half of the chicken breast
• Repeat until all breast are done
  

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Creamy Burrito Casserole

This has such a nice flavor, it's easy to put

together, and it doesn't cost much! Yummy!

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1 (1 1/4 ounce) package taco seasoning
• 6 large flour tortillas
• 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
• 2-3 cups shredded taco cheese or cheddar cheese
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
• 4 ounces sour cream
• jarred hot sauce, if desired to spice it up (this adds a nice extra flavor)

Directions

• Brown ground meat/turkey and onion; drain.
• Add taco seasoning and stir in refried beans.
• Mix soup and sour cream in a separate bowl.
• Spread 1/2 sour cream mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish.
• Tear up 3 tortillas and spread over sour cream mixture.
• Put 1/2 the meat bean mixture over that.
• Add a layer of cheese.
• You could put some hot sauce on this now.
• Repeat the layers.
• Sprinkle cheese over the top and bake, uncovered, at 350°F for 20-30 minutes.

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Square Pan Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (or use salted and leave out the salt)
• 3/4 cup skim milk

Directions:

1. Combine flour, baking powder and salt.
2. Cut the butter into the flour using 2 knives or a pastry blender, keep cutting until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
3. With a fork stir in the milk, very gently, until a soft dough forms.
4. Don't over mix.
5. Place the dough in an Oblong Baking Dish; 2 quart (7" x 11")
6. Use a spatula or the dull side of a knife and cut the dough into 12 biscuits without actually cutting them apart.
7. Bake in 400F oven for about 15-20 minutes or until they are golden.
8. Transfer to a wire rack and; cool for about 10 minutes.
9. Serve with homemade fruit jam or anything else that takes your fancy.

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