Homemade Marshmallows

These are perfect in your hot chocolate this time of year

1 1/2 cup water
1 1/4 cup Light Corn Syrup
3 cups sugar
4 envelopes unflavored gelatin (Knox brand)
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
Electric mixer with whisk attachment - Kitchen Aids work great

Combine 3/4 cup cold water and 4 packs of gelatin in mixing bowl and set aside.

Combine 3/4 cup water, sugar syrup, and salt in a pan. Cook over high heat stirring until sugar is dissolved and a rolling boil begins. Boil, without stirring, for 1 full minute or until temp is 238...this took me more than 1 minute. Slowly pour hot mixture into mixer on low speed. Gradully increase spead to high and mix (with whisk attachment) for 6 minutes. Slowly add extract and beat for 6 more minutes.

Pour into greased 9x13 pan and let sit at least 3 hours until set. cut into squares on a surface covered in powdered sugar and then toss in bowl to fully coat. ENJOY!

Cut-out Sugar Cookies

This is the best recipe I've ever tried...it is our old family favorite. We baked these for Santa every year. I ate more than Santa!

1/2 cup butter, room temp

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 tsp vanilla

1 egg

2 cups sifted flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

pinch salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and egg. Sift flour soda and salt together. Mix into butter mixture. Dough will be stiff. Work with a small amount of dough at a time, roll out on floured wax paper about 1/8 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes and place on greased cookie sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350.

Icing: 2 cups powdered sugar

4 Tbs milk

1 Tbs butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Mix and adjust amouts for desired thickness. Ice cookies.

Crockpot Roast

I made this recipe up after checking out a few others and it turned out so very tasty!

1 3-4 lb boneless roast
1 cup beef broth (I didn't measure this either but had at least 1/2 a can)
1/4 to 1/3 cup red wine (I didn't measure)
flour
salt and pepper
1 onion
1pkg ranch dip or dressing mix
1 pkg brown gravy mix
2 tbs oil
carrots (optional)
potatoes (optional)

Lightly flour and salt and pepper the roast. Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat and brown both sides of roast. Transfer to crock pot. Slowly add beef broth and wine to skillet and deglaze removing all the stuck on brown bits. Add both flavor packages to liquid mix and stir until combined. Pour over roast. Rough chop onion and and add to crockpot. Cook on low for 8 hours and enjoy. I cooked the onions all day, but if you add carrots and potatoes it would be so good with the beef broth flavors but I wouldn't add until the last 2 hours. My mouth waters just thinking about it!

Sopapilla Cheesecake Dessert

This is so good, a must try...great warm or cold. THanks Amy for sharing the recipe and adding a few lbs to my hips!

2 softened 8 oz blocks cream cheese
2 cans crescent rolls
1 cup sugar
1 Tbs vanilla
1 stick butter
2 Tbs sugar combined with 1/4 tsp cinnamon (I used a little more)

Press one can of crescent rolls in a 9x13 baking dish. I just used my fingers to seal the seams.

Combined the cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, and vanilla with a mixer until smooth. Spread evenly over bottom layer of crescent rolls. Place 2nd layer of crescent rolls on top of cream cheese mixture, sealing the seams with your fingers before placing.

Melt butter and pour over top, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes in pre-heated oven.

Sarah's Crockpot Taco Chicken

My bff Sarah made this for me on my recent trip to Nashville to visit. It is soooo good and soooo easy. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing, but this is one you want to try.

1 pkg boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 large jar salsa/picante (I used Medium Pace)
1 pkg low sodium taco seasoning

Mix 3 ingredients in crockpot and cook all day on low. The chicken will fall apart. Top with cheese and sour cream and you will be so happy you did.

I also think this would make super chicken enchilada filling.

Nieman Marcus Cake

Mix together:
1 box yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1 stick melted butter

Mix above together and pour into 9x13 inch greased and floured pan.

Mix together:
1 box powdered sugar
2 eggs
8 oz softened cream cheese
Pour onto other batter. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes to 1 hour.

Granny Brown's Banana Pudding

1/3 cup flour
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 small can Evaporated Milk
2+ cups of milk (Measure 3 cups total including the Pet Milk)
2 Tbs butter
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 bananas
Nilla Wafers

Combine the first three ingredients in a pan over the stove. Slowly stir in milk mixture(3 cups total). Cook over medium/med high stove for approx 20 minutes until thickened to the consistency of pudding. Do not boil. Stir constantly. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.

Layer pudding, sliced bannas, and Nilla wafers, repeat and Enjoy!Store in the fridge.