Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars

Last Thursday, we had the final luncheon for our ladies Bible study that has been meeting this fall. I brought a dessert- Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars. They were delicious! So, as part of my 30 Things, here is my new recipe for December:

Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® oatmeal cookie mix
1/2 cup firm butter or margarine
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 can (21 oz) apple pie filling
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
2. Place cookie mix in large bowl. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly and coarse. Reserve 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture; press remaining crumbs in bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla and egg with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
4. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over partially baked crust. In medium bowl, mix pie filling and cinnamon. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle reserved crumbs over top. Sprinkle with walnuts.
5. Bake 35 to 40 minutes longer or until light golden brown. Cool about 30 minutes. Refrigerate to chill, about 2 hours. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Not only did they taste good, but they really were not that difficult to make! I will definitely be repeating this recipe in the future!

Picture and recipe from Bettycrocker.com

Honey Garlic Pork Chops and Grilled Asparagus

I tried a new recipe a couple of weeks ago that was really good. Best of all, it was quick and easy! I served it with grilled asparagus and sweet corn. It was a pretty healthy meal!

You can find the recipe and nutritional information for the Pork Chops here.

As for the asparagus, brace yourself...it is pretty difficult!


Grilled Asparagus:

bundle of fresh asparagus
olive oil
spray butter
Mrs. Dash (original blend)

Wash asparagus and cut the ends off. Spread asparagus in a single layer on a long piece of tinfoil. Sprinkle olive oil and spray butter over asparagus. Then sprinkle Mrs. Dash over asparagus. Fold up foil into a pocket over asparagus. Grill on the top shelf of grill ~20 minutes or until it reaches the desired tenderness. Enjoy!

This can also be done in the oven. Preheat the oven with the pan in it. Then layer the asparagus on the heated pan. Bake ~10 minutes or until desired tenderness.

Last week, I used the marinade again for pork for kabobs we did for our Memorial Day cookout with the family.

For more recipe ideas, click the Saturday Stirrings button at the top of this post.

Menu Plan Monday- Or Not

Well, it is time for menu Plan Monday again, but I am not really planning anything this week. Andrew will be out of town from Tuesday morning until Thursday night for work. So, I will pretty much be on my own. I figured I would probably try to finish up some of our leftovers from the weekend, eat at my parents one night, and clean out the pantry.

However, I did want to share a really good recipe that we tried on Saturday night. It is for Meatball Subs. They were really simple and delicious!

We deviated slightly from this recipe. We used Hoagie buns insteat of hot dog buns. I also used shredded Parmesan cheese instead of grated in the meatballs. I used Garlic Herb Spaghetti Sauce for some added flavor. I also sprinkled some oregano on my sub as I made it.

I would highly recommend this recipe. Andrew loves Meatball Subs from Subway, and these are as good if not better than those.

Savory Meat Loaf and Onion-Roasted Potatoes

I have been thinking about starting a new blog with recipes on it because I want an easy way to keep track of them. But, I have been dragging my feet on it. I wanted something easy to use and well organized. And, for some reason~I know, it's crazy~I just could not get myself excited about doing a recipe blog.

I recently come across a new place to host my recipes. It lets you alter the number of servings, tells you the nutritional facts, and lets you add new recipes or add to your cookbook recipes from other people. It is called Recipezaar. I am just starting to get recipes on it (there are only the two I am posting about today). But, it seems like what I have wanted. I am just doing the free version right now. But, you can upgrade to a premium version that lets you add multiple pictures and multiple cookbooks, plus more that I don't even know about, yet. Let me know what you think.

So, on to Saturday Stirrings. I tried a couple of new recipe on my menu this week. I was not sure how they would turn out, so I did not post the recipes. However, they were really good! I especially liked the potatoes. Bonus: they were really simple! So, I thought I would share them with you today.

Savory Meat Loaf

Savory Onion-Roasted Potatoes

Head over to Dee Dee's for more recipe ideas. Just click the Saturday Stirrings button.

Menu Plan Monday

Well, it has been a while, but I thought I would put up a menu for the week. I have not been very good at sticking to these menus lately. But, nonetheless, here it is...

Monday: Meat Loaf with Roasted Potatoes- Using Lipton Onion Soup Mix for both. A new recipe that I will share if it turns out well.

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Leftovers or eat in town before church.

Thursday: We will be in town, so we will probably eat there. We may be having dinner with some friends.

Friday: Breakfast- Eggs, Bacon, Biscuits

Saturday: Cheesy Chicken

Sunday: Cooking dinner for our Moms

Super Easy Spinach Dip

A couple of weeks ago, I tried a new dip for small groups at church. We were supposed to bring finger foods and I was tired of my typical standby of pigs-n-blankets.

Wait- I was not tired of the pigs-n-blankets themselves. Don't get me wrong! I was tired of that being what I always take to things.

Now that that issue is cleared up...

So, I started looking online at my trusty recipe sites for an idea. Of course, it was Sunday afternoon and I had to be there at 6:00, so it had to be something quick to make and that did not have too many ingredients.

When I found the Cheesy Spinach and Bacon Dip on Kraftfoods.com, my search was over! It was so easy and tasty, I knew I had to share it with you!

Cheesy Spinach and Bacon Dip

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
1 lb. (16 oz.) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cut up
1 can (10 oz.) RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained
8 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, crisply cooked, drained and crumbled

Combine all of the ingredients in a microwave-safe dish. I used my small crock pot... pot since it can go in the microwave. Microwave the dip for ~5-7 minutes (or until the cheese is melted), stirring every couple of minutes. You can either serve it immediately, or transfer it to a crock pot (which is where my "microwave-safe dish" came in handy) to keep warm. Serve with veggies, triscuits, or chips.

The dip was a huge success and will definitely be a repeat.

Click the button above for more recipe ideas.

*Picture taken from Kraftfood.com*

A Simple and Savory Meal

Saturday night, we tried an entirely new dinner. While I usually find some things I like and others that I don't, I loved every dish in this meal! We had Herbed Pork and Potatoes with Butter Garlic Beans and Sister Schubert's Wheat dinner rolls. Of course, for dessert, we had the Uber Awesome Ice Cream Cake! I thought I would share the recipes for these dishes!

Herbed Pork and Potatoes

1/2 cup olive oil
3 teaspoons minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1 teaspoon ground mustard
2 pork tenderloins (1 pound each)
1 pound small red potatoes, quartered

In a small bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Place the pork in a large shallow baking pan. Drizzle with three-fourths of the herb mixture. Toss potatoes with remaining herb mixture; place around pork.

Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 40-45 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160° and potatoes are tender. Let pork stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

Yield: 3-4 servings with potatoes plus 1 pound leftover pork.

We actually used pork steaks and so we only cooked them about 30 minutes as they are thinner than pork loins. We also doubled the amount of potatoes used, but we still had enough to coat everything. This dish was really easy to make!


Butter Garlic Beans

2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons butter
3 cups frozen cut green beans, thawed and drained
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

In a large skillet, saute onion and garlic in butter for 2-3 minutes or until onion is crisp-tender. Add the beans, broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes or until beans are crisp-tender.

Yield: 4 servings.

We actually doubled this recipe, also. It complimented the Pork and Potatoes very well. The beans were actually crisp and had a great flavor! I enjoyed it with extra onions, too. Even after microwaving them for leftovers, they remained crisp. I highly suggest this recipe for a nice and easy twist on a regular side dish!


Both of these recipes were found in Taste of Home's Simple & Delicious magazine from September/October 2006.

Better than ColdStone Ice Cream Cake

**Update at bottom of post**

We love Cold Stone Creamery! We have nothing against it...except the price. Their ice cream cakes are really expensive! So, as you can imagine, we buy one only for special occasions-

Like when we win the lottery.

Well, not really that bad. But, for birthdays or anniversaries. Usually when my mother-in-law is buying. (She is not as cheap as me.)

Thanks Nancy!

Anyway, that is why I am so excited about this Saturday Stirring! I came across this recipe this week in my Kraft Food and Family magazine. (It is free and has great recipes.)

Anyway, it is called Oreo & Fudge Ice Cream "Cake," but when we started making it (and tasting of course) we decided we will probably be calling it the Better than Cold Stone Ice Cream Cake.


OR, maybe the BTCS Ice Cream Cake. I don't know. But it does look really good. Here is the recipe:

Whatever You Want to Call it Ice Cream Cake

1/2 c. fudge ice cream topping, warmed
1 8 oz tub Cool Whip, thawed, divided
1 pkg Instant Pudding (4 serving size)
8 Oreos
12 Ice Cream Sandwiches

POUR fudge topping into medium bowl. Add 1 cup of the whipped topping; stir with wire whisk until well blended. Add dry pudding mix; stir 2 min. or until well blended. Gently stir in chopped cookies; set aside.

ARRANGE 4 of the ice cream sandwiches, side-by-side, on 24-inch-long piece of foil; top with half of the whipped topping mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining 4 ice cream sandwiches. Frost top and sides of dessert with remaining whipped topping. (We mixed ~1/2 c of the fudge topping with the Cool Whip to make it a chocolate frosting instead of vanilla.) Bring up foil sides. Double fold top and ends to loosely seal packet.

FREEZE at least 4 hours before serving. Store leftover dessert in freezer.

Next time, we are going to try making it with a flavored ice cream sandwich, like chocolate or cherry.

It is in the freezer now. I will post later to let you know how it turns out. Will it be the "Better Than Cold Stone Ice Cream Cake", or the "Super Uber Ice Cream Cake" (Andrew's idea), or the "Well, It Will Have to Do Ice Cream Cake?" Check back later to find out!

Also, click on the Saturday Stirrings Button for more recipe ideas!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, the cake was really good, but I don't think it was quite up to Cold Stone quality. So, we have decided that it shall from here on out be called the Uber Awesome Ice Cream Cake around our house.

Yeah, I Know...Long Time No See Stranger!

I am back among the bloggers. Last week, when I intended to get back into blogging, turned out to be crazier than I anticipated and I just did not get around to blogging at all. I wanted to share a couple of recipes that I tried over the past couple of weeks that I want to share. They were really good!

Taco Casserole

1 lb ground beef
1 onion (chopped)
1 garlic clove or minced garlic to taste
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1/2 c. water
1 c. sour cream
1 pkg crescent rolls
1 bag crushed Doritos or corn chips (or you can mix)
1 box Spanish rice (prepared)
1 c. shredded cheese
tomato (chopped)
lettuce (shredded)
salsa

Preheat oven to 375.

Prepare Spanish rice according to box directions. While it is simmering, cook ground beef with onion and garlic. Drain. Add taco seasoning and water. Add sour cream.

In a greased 9X13 dish, press crescent rolls into bottom to form a crust. Press half of a bag of chips into the crust. Spread cooked rice over rolls. Then spread meat mixture over rice. Top with shredded cheese and then remainder of bag of chips.

Bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Serve with lettuce, tomato, salsa and sour cream.

This recipe was adapted from a recipe at Because I'm the Mama. You can also add refried beans, black beans, peppers (or whatever else you think might go well with tacos) as a layer. This meal was great the first time and pretty good as a leftover. The key is to serve it with lettuce when it is leftover to cover the fact that the chips are not that crisp any more.

Better than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
1 stick Butter, softened
1 1/2 cup Milk
1 cup grated Parmesean Cheese
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder

Melt Cream Cheese, Butter, and Milk together in a saucepan. Add remaining ingredients, Garlic Powder last. Stir with a whisk until all melted together. Pour over cooked pasta.

I found this recipe at What's for Dinner? I don't know that it quite lives up to it's name, but it is really good!

Menu Plan Monday

Well, I am trying something new this month. I planned my entire menu (roughly) for the month and am going to try to get all of my main shopping done this week. Then, I will only need to go to the grocery store for things like milk and bread this month. Hopefully, this will cut down on the amount of time I spend at the grocery store and also on the impulse buys that happen when I go to the store.

That being said, here is my menu for this week.

Monday: Leftovers- we ordered a pizza over the weekend.

Tuesday: Either Leftover Cowboy Soup from the freezer or Eating out with Friends at The Forge and Vine. (this will be either Tuesday or Thursday, depending on our friends' schedules)

Wednesday: Pulled Pork Sandwiches (I have yet to try this, but this is the week!)

Thursday: Whatever we did not do Tuesday.

Friday: Taco Casserole

Saturday: Country Potato Chowder

Sunday: Kikkoman Chicken, Grilled Asparagus, Rolls(or leftovers if I don't feel like cooking)

Click the MPM button for more menu ideas!

Saturday Stirrings #1: Apple Dumplings

DeeDee over at It Coulda' Been Worse has started a carnival called Saturday Stirrings where you post a favorite recipe or a kitchen tip. I have enjoyed reading her blog, so I thought I would participate.

The first recipe I will share is for Apple Dumplings. We got these from a friend at a church potluck...where else do you find your best recipes?!

Apple Dumplings

2 green apples- sliced into eight pieces each
2 containers crescent rolls
1 stick butter- melted
1 cup sugar

***and the secret ingredient: 10 oz Mt. Dew***

Open the crescent rolls and separate them into triangles. You should have 16 wedges of apple. Roll up each wedge in a triangle of crescent roll. Place them in a glass 9X13 baking dish.

Mix the melted butter with the sugar. Pour over the dumplings. Then pour the secret ingredient over the dumplings.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve hot.

Makes 16 dumplings.

So, head over to It Coulda' Been Worse for more recipes or to add one of your own!

Monday Madness and Menu Plan Monday

Update from last week: I got my pantry cleaned out (pictures to be posted later), my manuals folder cleaned out, and got half of the podcasts up. I seem to be very productive at the beginning of the week and then it trails off. So, there are some repeats this week from last week's list.

1. Finish the podcasts. I got the software I need now to edit them the way I need to.
2. Finish my plan for the church Scripture Memorization Project I am trying to get started.
3. Get my taxes done. I got the last paperwork in the mail over the weekend.
4. Go to the bank. I have been carrying around a couple of checks to deposit for a couple of weeks, now.
5. Work on the paper clutter in the office.

Last week, we tried the Creamy Chicken Burritos. They were great! They were very easy to make, inexpensive, and yummy! We used wheat tortillas and that added a lot to it! Also, I think next time, we will try shredding the chicken instead of chunking it. Unfortunately, I don't know how they are for left-overs. I set the pan on the back of the stove to let them cool before putting them in the refrigerator. When I got up Friday morning, they were still sitting right where I left them! I was so disappointed!

On to this week's menu:

Monday: Cowboy Soup- This makes a big pot and we can eat on it for lunches and freeze some for later, also.

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Eating in town or leftovers at home. It depends on whether or not we come home before church.

Thursday: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork, Grilled asparagus

Friday: Monterrey Chicken, Green Beans

Saturday: Polynesian Pot Roast, roasted potatoes, rolls (a new favorite around our house. Andrew has been begging for it lately!)

Sunday: Leftovers unless something else comes up.

*I only put links to new recipes. You can find links to the other recipes in my older MPM posts, or ask me for the recipe in the comments or by email.

Menu Plan Monday

My menu did not go quite as planned last week. I got off to a good start with the meatloaf on Monday. But, I did not do any of the other recipes until Saturday night when I did the Meaty Spaghetti (from Tuesday's menu). The spaghetti was great and I highly recommend the recipe! I don't think it actually needs to be in the crock pot as long at the recipe called for, though. So, this week will be carry over from last week's menu. We also have some left-overs we need to take care of.

Monday: Mom's for Dinner

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Eating in town before church (Shakespeare's, maybe?)

Thursday: Creamy Chicken Burritos

Friday: More leftovers

Saturday/Sunday: Polynesian Pot Roast or Cowboy Soup

What I have decided to do is only provide links to recipes for new dishes. If you want one of the recipes, you can look in my older MPM posts or ask for it in the comments section. I just have not saved all of the links after I put them on my recipe cards. If this becomes a problem, please let me know.

WFMW- Homemade Donuts

I love donuts. Where I grew up, there were donut shops everywhere! Unfortunately, there are not that many where I live now. So, when we want a nice treat that is not too expensive, we make homemade donuts.

You may have already heard how to do this, but I thought I would share just in case. We take biscuits (just plain, nothing fancy), cut the centers out with a bottle lid (water bottle, 2-Liter bottle, Gatoraid bottle, etc.), and deep fry them in vegetable oil. To make icing, we mix vanilla (a little bit goes a long way), milk, and powdered sugar. Now, I am going to say something that I hate hearing. I never measure the ingredients on this one thing. Basically, start with a small amount of milk and vanilla and a large amount of powdered sugar. Then add either more milk or more sugar to get the consistency that you want. That is it!

We had homemade donuts for dessert last night. What is your favorite quick and easy treat? Head over to Rocks in my Dryer for more great tips.

Menu Plan Monday

I don't know how much I will be able to stick to my menu this week as Andrew is sick, I have been sick, and we may have company this week. This being said, here is the plan for the week:

Monday: Three-Step Stroganoff, Salad, Rolls, Orange Cake

Tuesday: No-Fuss Pork Chops; Wild Rice, Salad

Wednesday: Leftovers/Eating in town- we have church and will already be in town if we both are well enough to go to work.

Thursday: Meaty Spaghetti, Garlic Texas Toast

Friday: Cowboy Soup/Chili (Frozen from last week)

Saturday: Fried Chicken, Baked Potatoes, Salad- This is my first go at Fried chicken. I am scared, but am going to give it a try.

Sunday: Leftovers

Head over to Org Junkie for more recipes.

Go Tigers!

I just have to say, I am proud of our Mizzou Tigers!

On New Year's Day, we headed over to a friend's house to watch the Cotton Bowl with some friends. We had a great time! The Tigers played an amazing game. Everyone showed up and played their hearts out. And, I have to say, they deserved the win.

I took Cowboy Soup over for lunch. It is a recipe that is really easy and tastes great. Here it is:

Cowboy Soup

2 lb. Ground Beef (cooked with onions and drained.) I used 1 lb ground beef and 1 lb ground sausage. This was the first time I had done that, but we liked the outcome.
2 cans Ranch Style Beans
3 large cans Minestrone Soup
1 soup can water
1 can Rotel
16-24 oz. Velveeta

Combine all ingredients in crock pot. Cook on low all day. (This time, since it was for lunch, I cooked it on high ~3 1/2 hours.)

Eric, the host, had gotten a Nintendo Wii for Christmas, so of course, during half-time, we had to see what all of the hype was about. I can now truely say, the hype is right on! We played bowling, baseball, tennis, and boxing. I did ok for everything but boxing. It was such a workout! Andrew and I were going at it for 1 round and I was sweating, breathing hard, and my heart rate was up. No kidding! It is cheaper than a gym, and a lot more fun! I think we are going to have to bite the bullet and go buy a Wii! Who would have thought it?

Anyway, head over to the Family Corner for more Crockpot recipes on her Slow Cooking Thursday meme.

Menu Plan Monday

Last week, I had planned to try three new meals- I got two done. We put off Sandi's Stromboli because we ended up going to babysit for Gavin on Thursday. So, I will continue to put it on the menu until I get it done. However, I must say, the Country Potato Chowder and the Polynesian Pot Roast were absolutely amazing! I would highly recommend both of them. Go here for last weeks menu to find the recipes.

With the Polynesian Pot Roast, I also tried another new potato recipe: Creamy Potato Sticks. It was really good as well. It puts a new twist on "cheesy potatoes." Here is the recipe:

Creamy Potato Sticks

1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. milk
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted
1/2 lb. process American cheese, cubed (I used Velveeta)
5-6 large baking potatoes, peeled
1 c. chopped onion
Paprika

In a saucepan, combine flour and salt; gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in soup and cheese until smooth. Set aside.
Cut potatoes into 4 in. by 1/2 in. by 1/2 in. sticks; place in a greased 13 X 9 X 2 baking dish. Sprinkle with onion. Top with cheese sauce.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 55-60 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Sprinkle with paprika.
Yield: 6 Servings (I actually fed 5 people with this and had 1/2 to 3/4 of that again left over.)

On to this week's menu:
Monday: Chili and To-Die-For Mexican Cornbread I found this on last week's WFMW post. We are going to Mom's for dinner

Tuesday: We are caroling with people at church and are meeting at 5:30, so we will probably either grab something on the run or eat leftovers at home afterward.

Wednesday: Shakespeare's Pizza- a local legend. With my brother in town, we thought he should try it. Plus...I have a great coupon that expires at the end of the year.

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Sandi's Stromboli- we will try again! :)

Weekend: This is kinda up in the air because we don't know what family is coming in to town when. We will probably be out at Don and Nancy's some this week.

Menu Plan Monday

It has been a while since I have posted my menu for the week. Things have been pretty crazy. But, better late than never...


Monday: Leftovers- Andrew is working late.

Tuesday: Spaghetti

Wednesday: Eat out or leftovers- Andrew is working late and we have church

Thursday: Country Potato Chowder

Friday: College Progressive Dinner

Weekend: Leftovers- My brother is going to be in town, so we will probably eat out some, also.

Recipe for Country Potato Chowder:

6 bacon strips, diced
1 med. onion, chopped
3 celery ribs, chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart half-and-half cream
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 cans (10-3/4 oz each) condensed cream of celery soup
2 tbls dried parsley flakes
1 tbls Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup fresh or frozen green beans, cut into 2 in. pieces
1 can (14-3/4 oz) cream-style corn

In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp; remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels. Drain, reserving 2 tbls drippings. In the drippings, saute onion and celery until tender. Sprinkle with flour and stir until blended. Gradually add cream. Stir in the potatoes, soup, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the carrots and beans. Cover and simmer 15 minutes longer or until the vegetables are tender. Stir in corn and reserved bacon; heat through.
12 servings