Molasses Sugar Cookies...

I have a ton of recipes.  Some I have found from Pinterest, blogs, different cookbooks, but it seems that my favorites are the ones that are tucked away in my Recipe box.... The ones that are handwritten on recipe cards or a piece of paper.  And if they are in the original handwriting of the person whose kitchen it came from, that's an added bonus.  

Molasses Sugar Cookies.  You either love them or you hate them.  I never tasted a Molasses Sugar Cookie until after Brad and I got married.  This recipe came from his Aunt Mary and, even though it is copied on a sheet of paper, it is in Aunt Mary's handwriting so every time I make it, I think of her.

Molasses Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 3/4 Cup Butter flavored shortening
• 1 Cup sugar
• 1/4 Cup Brer Rabbit Molasses
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 Cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cooking Directions

1. Melt shortening in a saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and cool.
2. Add sugar, molasses, and egg; mix well.
3. Combine flour, baking soda, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl.
4. Gradually add to molasses mixture mixing well after each addition.
5. Form into 1" balls. Roll in granulated sugar and place on greased cookie sheet.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes...

Sloppy Joes are one of my favorite foods to make.  They are super easy and you can switch up the recipe to make them taste a bit different each time you make them.  So, when I saw this recipe in Gooseberry Patch's new cookbook, Mom Knows Best  and saw that it combined sloppy joes and BACON, I knew I had to give it a whirl.  We love bacon in our house!  They weren't any more difficult to make and even our oldest loved them.  She's kind of hard to please food-wise sometimes;)  I changed some things up a bit...the original recipe calls for turkey and I used beef.  It also called for pickle relish, but I used chopped green peppers instead.

Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon
• 1 pound hamburger
• 1/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 Tablespoon mustard
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 6 hamburger buns
• 6 slices Monterey Jack Cheese

Cooking Directions

1. In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp;set bacon aside on a paper towel.
2. Partially drain bacon drippings from pan.
3. Add hamburger and green peppers; cook until browned.
4. Stir in mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce; heat through.
5. To serve, top each bun with one cheese slice, one slice bacon, and some of the hamburger mixture.

Robert Redford...

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I'm sharing my valentine's favorite recipe of all time.  Robert Redford.  There are several variations to this recipe, and I even remember my mom using butterscotch pudding in it when we were little, but this is the recipe I have used for many years and the one he grew up with so it's not something to mess with.  Although, he seems to think the name, Robert Redford, is a little outdated and could stand a change...like to Angelina Jolie...but it just doesn't sound right, so Robert Redford it stays!

And just for fun, here is a picture of My Valentine and me!  I hope you all have a great weekend!

Robert Redford

Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup butter, melted
• 1/2 Cup chopped pecans
• 1 Cup flour
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 Cup powdered sugar
• 1 container cool whip, divided
• 1 5.4 oz instant chocolate pudding
• 3 Cups cold milk

Cooking Directions

1. Combine butter, pecans, and flour and press in a greased 9x13 pan.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cool.
3. Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1/2 container cool whip.
4. Spread on top of crust.
5. Mix together milk and pudding and pour over cream cheese layer.
6. Refrigerate until set. Spread remaining cool whip over chocolate.
7. Top with additional chopped pecans, if desired.

Ghoul Pretzels...

Last week was Fall Break for us.  We had a whole week with nothing planned!  More on that later in another post...hopefully!  We managed to create several crafts and one of the things we made were these adorable ghoul pretzels from Family Fun magazine...

All you need are yogurt pretzels, candy melts in the color(s) of your choice and various sprinkles.

Begin by laying the pretzels on waxed paper...

 Melt the candy melts according to package directions.

 Once the melts are melted;)...spoon into a plastic bag.  Allow it to cool for a minute or two...or five.  Caution: It's pretty warm!  Cut a tiny slit in one corner of the plastic bag and add the melt to the top two holes of the pretzels, then add sprinkles.

 So easy and fun!

 How cute are these?  On some, the girls decided that they just wanted to add one eye;)

Ghoul Yogurt Pretzels...

Ingredients

• Yogurt Pretzels
• candy melts, various colors
• sprinkles

Cooking Directions

1. Arrange the yogurt pretzels on waxed paper.
2. Melt candy melts according to package directions.
3. Spoon candy in plastic bag and allow to cool for a few minutes. Cut a tiny slit in one corner of the bag.
4. Add melt to the top two holes of the pretzels and add sprinkles. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.

Classic Buffalo Chicken Dip...

I love appetizers!  In fact, I could make a meal out of them and sometimes when I eat at a restaurant, I will order off the appetizer menu for my actual meal....unless they have pizza!    I recently made this for a family get -together that took place pool side.  I use the term 'recently' lightly because it was about a month and a half ago!  This was a big hit.  The best part, it was made in the crockpot!  I have always loved cooking in my crockpot, but since my crockpot menu has grown from only roast, potatoes and carrots in the last year or so, I love it even more!

So, I highly recommend this delicious appetizer for your next party.  Your guests will love it and will probably ask for the recipe.;)  The recipe came from Gooseberry Patch's new cookbook Slow-Cooker Fall Favorites- .

Classic Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients

• 2 10oz. cans chicken, drained
• 2 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 Cup cayenne hot pepper sauce
• 1 Cup ranch salad dressing
• 2 Cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Cooking Directions

1. Combine chicken, cream cheese, hot sauce, salad dressing, and one cup cheddar cheese in slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, on high setting for about one hour, or until cheeses are melted.
3. Turn heat to low setting;stir in remaining cheddar cheese until melted.
4. Serve with baguette slices, or tostitoes for dipping.

Strawberry Poke Cake...

It's still strawberry season in Indiana and I'm sharing this recipe for all of you to enjoy!  I made it for the first time a few weeks ago and my husband laughed when I said it was a light and refreshing dessert.  He didn't understand how a dessert could be light...and refreshing, but it is!  This would be great after any meal...maybe one from the grill!  A perfect dessert for summertime!

 Everyone in our house loved it especially our youngest, but she will eat anything!!!  Really though, it is delicious!!!

Strawberry Poke Cake

Ingredients

• 1 box strawberry cake mix
• 2 Cups strawberries, fresh, frozen (thawed), or store bought
• 1 3.4 ounce package vanilla instant pudding
• 1 Cup milk
• 3 Cups whipped topping

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, Grease a 9x13 baking pan.
2. Prepare, bake and cool cake mix according to directions on package.
3. Once cake is cool, poke holes 1" apart in top (I used a wooden handle from a spoon).
4. Puree thawed strawberries with juice in blender. (I used a potato masher to mash mine). Spoon evenly over top of cake allowing the mixture to soak into the holes.
5. For topping, combine pudding mix and 1 cup milk. Fold whipped topping into pudding mixture. Spread evenly over cake. Garnish with fresh strawberries. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. Keep refrigerated.

Kelly's Strawberry Glaze Pie...

We have strawberries coming out of our ears!!!!  We have only picked from our patch twice and have already picked about 100 quart!  We have made jam, halved some and froze them to enjoy on shortcake this winter, I have frozen them whole, made shortcake, sold them and am now in the process of making every strawberry recipe I can think of!  My friend, Kelly gave me this yummy recipe and it is so good!  So, if you have some fresh berries, whip up this pie.  I'm sure store bought strawberries would work too, but nothing beats garden fresh in my book!  Enjoy!!

Strawberry Glaze Pie

Ingredients

• 1 pre-baked pie crust
• 4 Cups Fresh strawberries, halved
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1 Cup Water
• 1/2 small package strawberry jello

Cooking Directions

1. Place halved strawberries in pre-baked pie shell.
2. Combine sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan and mix until most lumps are gone.
3. Add water and jello to sugar and cornstarch and bring to a rapid boil.
4. Boil until thick. (about 10 minutes)
5. Pour glaze over strawberries.

Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp...

It's rhubarb season in the Midwest!  I'm not really a fan, but my husband loves it, so I bought a plant a couple years ago and it is finally producing enough to do something with.  I saw a recipe for Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp and decided to give it a whirl.  I thought if it included strawberries, then I might like it and I did!  I even made it with only rhubarb one time and it was still delicious.  When I have ripe strawberries in my garden, I'm going to try it with only strawberries.  If you do this just add 4 Cups of strawberries or rhubarb, whatever you choose to use instead of 2 cups of rhubarb and strawberries.

Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Rhubarb cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 2 Cups Strawberries (hulled and halved or quartered)
• 1/2 Cup sugar
• 1 Cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 Cup Old fashioned oats
• 1/3 Cup Sugar
• 1/3 Cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 Cup (1 stick) butter

Cooking Directions

Filling:
In a bowl, stir together the strawberries rhubarb and sugar.  Pour in a 2 qt. greased baking dish and set aside.
Topping: 

 Melt butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Stir in flour, oats, sugars, cinnamon and salt until well blended and moistened crumbs form. Spoon the mixture over the top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Cookbook Giveaway From Gooseberry Patch!!!!!...

 This giveaway is now closed.  The winner was Tanya who commented:

AnonymousApril 16, 2014 at 11:12 AM

I work in town and I like to have Mississippi Roast in the crock pot waiting on me when I get home.

Tanya @ stpribb@ptsi.net

Thank you to everyone who participated!

If you've been following my blog the last few weeks, you have probably noticed that I have been sharing several recipes from Gooseberry Patch's 101 Super Easy Slow Cooker Recipes- ...

The title definitely doesn't lie.  Most of these recipes are very easy to make and they call for basic ingredients that you may already have stocked in your pantry.  I love cooking in my crock pot and there are so many other recipes that I haven't made from this cookbook yet, that we could eat out of our crock pot for weeks!
There is a picture for every recipe in the book.  I don't know about you, but I'm a visual person and I like to see something before I make it!  Gooseberry Patch has also divided the cookbook into different "chapters" based on the length of time needed to cook, such as 1 to 6 hours, 6 to 8 hours, 8 to 10 hours and make-ahead meals.

 The index is also separated by the type of dish it is, such as appetizers, desserts, and mains separated specifically by the type of meat in the dish...pork, poultry, veggie and seafood.  I also like how the cook book is spiral bound which makes the book lay flat when you are cooking.

If you have several crock pots, you could easily make a whole meal just out of this one cookbook!

Here are some of the recipes that I made from the cook book...

Sweet and Savory Beef Sandwiches...

Tex-Mex Taco Joes (a family favorite!)...

Smokey Hobo Dinner...

Susan's Slow-Cookin' Ribs...

Roasted Cajun Pecans...

Now let's get to the good stuff!  How would you like to win a copy of Gooseberry Patch's 101 Super-Easy Slow-Cooker Recipes?  Well, I have one to giveaway to one lucky reader!

Here are the details:

1) Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite thing to cook is in your crock pot.  Make sure to include your email address because that is the only way I have to contact you if you win!  

2) The giveaway ends on April 28th at midnight EDT.

3) A winner will be chosen at random.  I will notify the winner via email and the winner will have 4 days to reply.  If the winner doesn't reply in that time frame, I will draw another winner at random.

Gooseberry Patch did provide me with a cookbook, but all photos, reviews, and opinions are my own!