Surprise Cookies

About the time I started college, I discovered Pinwheels. Those cookies with the graham bottom, a big marshmallow on top and then dipped in chocolate. They became my go to PMS cookie. I craved them every time. There were like 10 in a box for about 10 dollors. Not really, but close.

Darby came out of church the other day with a little gift box from one of her leaders, filled with a homemade, much better version of those cookies and I about died. It's been years since I've had one of those and it brought me back to all those PMS days...breakups...the list goes on. Fun times.

I immediately called for the recipe. They are that good. Soft chocolate cookie, melted marshmallow all covered in chocolate...It doesn't get much better.

Surprise Cookies
Jen Walsh
Martha Stewart
Makes about 2 1/2 dozen



For the cookies:

1 3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. coarse salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp.
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
About 15 large marshmallows, halved crosswise



For the frosting:
3 cups confectioner's sugar
6 Tbs. unsalted butter, room temp.
1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tsps. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. whole milk
3/4 tsps. pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make cookies: Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl.

2. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low; mix in egg, milk, and vanilla. Mix in flour mixture, 1/2 cup at a time until combined.

3. Drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through until firm, 8-10 minutes. Immediately press a marshmallow half on top of each cookie. Bake until marshmallow begins to melt, 2 minutes more. Let cool completely on wire racks.

4. Make frosting: Put confectioner's sugar in a medium bowl. Melt butter with the cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add butter mixture to the confectioner's sugar. Whisk in milk and vanilla.

5. Spread about 1 Tbs. of frosting on top of each cookie to cover marshmallow. Let stand until set, about 10 minutes. Cookies can be stored in single layers in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 days.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

I'm always looking for a good baked macaroni and I think I finally found a really good one, maybe even my favorite...and it's even light! My kids even loved it.

Lighter Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Gina's Weight Watchers
Servings: 8 • Serving Size: 1 cup • Points: 6 ww ptsCalories: 296.67 • Fat: 9.7 g • Protein: 15.8 g • Carb: 34.5 g • Fiber: 5.3 g

12 oz high fiber elbows like Ronzoni Smart Taste
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp light butter
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup minced onion
2 cups skim milk
1 cup fat free chicken broth
8 oz Sargento 2% reduced fat mild cheddar
salt and pepper
4 cups baby spinach
1/8 cup grated parmesan
1/4 cup seasoned whole wheat bread crumbs
Pam butter flavored spray

Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions. Spray a baking dish with buttered flavor Pam. Preheat oven to 375°.In a large, heavy skillet, melt butter. Add flour and cook over low heat stirring with a whisk. Add onion and cook another 2 minutes. Add milk and chicken broth and continue whisking for 2-3 minutes, until smooth and thick. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat, add cheese and mix well until cheese is melted. Adjust salt and pepper to taste, add cooked macaroni and baby spinach. Pour into baking dish. Top with grated cheese and breadcrumbs. Spray a little more buttered flavor Pam on top.Bake for 15-20 minutes, then broil for a few minutes to get the breadcrumbs golden

Sherlyn's Lemon Bars

I love lemon bars. I want to just eat an entire pan all by myself. My friend Sherlyn makes them all the time for gatherings. I'm pretty positive that it's just for me but, I do share them with everyone else.

Somehow when she makes them they turn out much prettier. She recommends using a large cookie sheet and doubling the recipe. I had recently thrown mine away so, used a regular cake pan. Not so pretty. Oh well, they were still delicious.

Sherlyn's Lemon Bars

3/4 cups butter
1 1/2 cups flour

Mix like pie crust dough. Pack into the bottom of 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

3 eggs
4 T. flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice

Mix together and pour over hot crust. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until no longer giggly in the middle. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top after it is out of the oven.

Fruit Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Chips

I found this on The Girl Who Ate Everything. It made me want to pretend that school was already out and we were lazing by the pool. I substituted mangos for apples.

Fruit Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Chips
by Allrecipes

2 kiwis, peeled and diced
2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
8 ounces raspberries
1 (16 oz) carton of strawberries, diced
2 tablespoons white sugar (more or less to taste)
1 tablespoon brown sugar (more or less to taste)
3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor (I used strawberry)
10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray
2 cups cinnamon sugar

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.

2.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3.Coat one side of each flour tortilla with melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray. Sprinkle tortillas with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Spray again with cooking spray (not necessary if using melted butter).

4.Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture. Best when made and eaten the same day otherwise the fruit gives off so too much juice and it gets runny.

No-cook Freezer Jam

My friends invited me to learn how to make freezer jam. I was pleasantly suprised at how fast and easy it was. I've done jam once before the old fashioned canning way and swore I'd never attempt it again....requires way too much patience. I personally think freezer jam tastes better than the other and definately better than store bought.

Kim's No-Cook Freezer Jam

3 c. strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries (blended smooth)
5 c. sugar
1 pkg. powdered pectin
1 c. water

Measure berries and sugar into a large bowl. Mix well. Let stand for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Dissolve pectin in water. Boil 1 minute. Add to berry-sugar mixture and stir 2 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved and no longer grainy. Pour into clean jars, leaving 1/2 inch space at top. Cover jars and let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. To store: Keeps 3 weeks in refrigerator. Keeps up to 1 year in freezer.

If jam is too firm, stir to soften. If it tends to separate, stir to blend. If it is too soft, bring to a boil, it will thicken on cooling. Liquid pectin can be used. Omit water. Frozen berries can be used. Reduce sugar 3/4 cups.

Super Moist Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I started out this week planning on making one of my sister-in-laws fabulous cheesecakes. I even had her go through the trouble of sending me the recipe. Darby's seminary teacher's birthday was today and I wanted to bring her a cake. Anyone who has to teach teenagers at 6 in the morning on their birthday deserves cheesecake. But, I also spent the entire day learning how to make tamales (post coming soon) so, by the time that was done, I didn't have the energy or nerve to attempt one of her infamous cheesecakes. Carrot cake became the second best choice and after slaving over that, the seminary teacher wasn't even home and I knew I was not going to venture out in my car one more time today so, Ford's tutor became the proud winner of a cheesecake. Congrats!

Super Moist Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 16 • Serving Size: 1 slice • Points: 6 pts Calories: 301.1 • Fat: 8.1g • Protein: 4.4 g • Carb: 38.2 g • Fiber: 0.4 g

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp canola oil
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups grated carrots, peeled
20 oz. can crushed pineapple in juice, drained
1/4 cup chopped walnuts plus 1/4 cup for topping

Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz 1/3 fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, coconut, baking soda, salt, and spices; stir well with a whisk.In a medium bowl, combine oil, eggs, and vanilla; stir well. Add grated carrots and pineapple; mix well. Fold wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, batter will be stiff and dry but keep folding it and it will all come together. Fold in 1/4 cup chopped nuts.Spoon batter into an 8" x 3" cake pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for about 40-50 minutes, depending on pan size or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and cake is pulling away from sides of pan. Cool cake completely on a wire rack.To prepare frosting, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread frosting over top of cake. Garnish with remaining chopped walnuts.

Kim's Chocolate Sheet Cake

Chocolate Sheet Cake

Kim Taggart

Cake:

1 c. margarine

1 c. water

1/4 c. cocoa

2 c. flour

2 c. sugar

1 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. buttermilk

Boil margarine, water and cocoa. Pour into bowl. Add flour, sugar, soda, salt, eggs, vanilla and buttermilk. Beat with electric mixer and pour into a greased and floured jelly roll pan. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

Frosting:

1/2 c. margarine

1/4 c. cocoa

6 T. milk

4 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

In saucepan, mix margarine, cocoa, and milk. Stir and boil 1 minute. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Frost cake while warm.

Pear and Gorgonzola Salad

Another great salad. I substituted feta for gongonzola. Apples could also be substituted for the pears.

Autumn Salad with Pears and Gorgonzola
Gina's Weight Watcher RecipesServings: 5 servings • Time: 5 minutes • Points: 4.5 ww points

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp salt
fresh ground pepper
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 small ripe pears, peeled and diced
1/4 cup (2 oz) gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
1 head radicchio, washed and torn into pieces
1 bunch arugula
14 pecan halves (1 oz)

For the vinaigrette: In a large bowl, mix vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk in olive oil and blend.In a salad bowl combine all greens, pears, gorgonzola and pecans. When you are ready to serve, add the vinaigrette and toss well. Serve immediately.

Orange, Red Onion, Gorgonzola And Arugula Salad

I loved, loved this salad. I was worried at first because the dressings makes so little but, with the oranges, it didn't need much dressing. Paired with the enchildas, York said it was one of the best most flavorful meals I've ever made.

Orange, Red Onion, Gorgonzola and Arugula Salad
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 1 • Points: 5 pts Calories: 241.7 • Fat: 13.7 g • Protein: 9.4 g • Carb: 22.2 g • Fiber: 4.0 g.

1 small orange, peeled, chopped
3 tbsp crumbled gorgonzola cheese (blue cheese works great too)
sliced red onion (to taste)
2 cups baby arugula and spinach mix
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp honey
salt and fresh pepper

In a small bowl combine oil, balsamic, honey, salt and pepper and whisk well.In a plate or bowl add baby greens. Top with oranges, onion and gorgonzola. Drizzle vinaigrette over the top and enjoy!!

Chicken Enchiladas

Whoever knew you could have healthy enchiladas? And bonus! These are some of the best, most flavorful ones I've ever made. They were a little on the spicy side so, I would recommend cutting back a little of the chili powder if you are concerned about kids. But, other than that, they were fabulous! Gina is a miracle worker with these diet foods!

Chicken Enchiladas

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes

Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 2 enchiladas • Calories: 342 • Points: 6 ww pts

For the sauce:
2 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 tbsp chipotle chilis in adobo sauce
1-1/2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
3/4 cup fat free chicken broth
kosher salt and fresh pepper to taste

For the chicken:
1 tsp vegetable oil
8.5 oz (2 breast halves) cooked shredded chicken breast
1 cup diced onion
2 large clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup cilantro
kosher salt
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp chipotle chili powder
1/3 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup tomato sauce
8 (6-inch) reduced carb whole wheat flour tortillas
1 cup shredded low fat Mexican cheese
Nonstick cooking spray

In a medium saucepan, spray oil and sauté garlic. Add chiles, chili powder, cumin, chicken broth, tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.Preheat oven to 400 degrees.Heat the vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onions and garlic on low until soft, about 2 minutes. Add chicken, salt, cilantro, cumin, oregano, chili powder, tomato sauce, chicken broth, and cook 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Spray a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish with non-stick spray. Put 1/3 cup chicken mixture into each tortilla and roll it. Place on baking dish seam side down. Top with sauce and cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the oven on the middle rack for 20-25 minutes. Top with low fat sour cream or scallions if you wish. (Extra points) Makes 8 enchiladas.

Roasted Broccoli and Garlic

I'm not usually a broccoli lover. I like it ok but, this recipe was absolutely fabulous. Very easy to make and the garlic made a great combination. I added a little grated parmesan after baking.

Roasted Broccoli with Smashed Garlic
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 1/4th of broccoli • Points: 2 pts
Calories: 126 • Fat: 7.5g • Protein: 4.3 g • Carb: 13.7 g • Fiber: 5.7 g

1 1/2 lbs broccoli florets, cut long with part of stem
6 cloves garlic, smashed
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and fresh pepper

Preheat oven to 450°. In a baking dish combine broccoli, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Roast broccoli about 20 minutes, until broccoli is browned and tender.

Roasted Lemon And Rosemary Chicken

I am once again trying to eat healthy. Swim suit season is coming, no more holidays and no more trips scheduled for a while so, maybe, just maybe, I'll actually succeed. For now I am loving Gina's Weight Watcher's Recipes. This is one of the first recipes I've tried and if I say so myself, that is one pretty bird! Easy and absolutely delicious.

Roast Chicken with Rosemary and Lemon
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Cook Time: 50 minutes • Points with Skin: Leg 4 pts, Wing 3 pts, Thigh 4 pts, Breast 5 pts

1 (3 lb) chicken, washed and dried, fat removed
1/2 onion, chopped in large chunks
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1/2 lemon
2-3 sprigs rosemary
1 tbsp herbes de Provence (or dried rosemary)
salt and fresh pepper

Heat oven to 425°. Season chicken inside and out with salt, pepper, and herbs de provence. Squeeze lemon juice on the outside of the chicken and stuff the remains of the lemon along with onion, garlic, rosemary sprigs inside the chicken.Roast the chicken until the internal temperature is 165°F, about 50-60 minutes (Insert thermometer between the leg and the thigh). Let the bird rest for 10 minutes before carving.

Deviled Eggs

Deviled Eggs
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 2 halves • Time: 25 minutes • Points: 2.5 ww pt

4 large hard boiled eggs, cooled and peeled
2 tbsp low fat mayonnaise
1 tsp dijon mustard
paprika
salt and fresh pepper to taste
2 tbsp chopped chives

Cut eggs in half longways. Remove yolks and put them in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir well and pipe them back into egg whites. Top with chopped chives and paprika.

Lemon Lime Cake

I was in charge of book club last month and was in the mood for something light and springy since we are finally experiencing warm beautiful weather. This cake was perfect.

Lemon Lime Cake
Lick The Bowl Good
adapted from Duncan Hines

Cake:
1 pkg Duncan Hines® Moist Deluxe® Lemon Supreme Cake Mix
1 (3.4 oz) pkg lemon instant pudding
4 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup lime juice

Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup lime juice
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 10-inch Bundt or tube pan.
For cake, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, 3/4 cup water and 1/4 cup lime juice in large bowl. Beat at low speed with electric mixer until moistened. Beat at medium speed 2 minutes.
Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool in pan 25 minutes. Remove cake from pan onto cooling rack then immediately return cake back to pan. Poke holes in top of warm cake with toothpick, wooden skewer or long-tined fork.

For glaze, combine 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/3 cup lime juice, 2 tablespoons water and melted butter in medium bowl.
Pour slowly over top of warm cake and allow it run along the sides of the pan. Cool completely while still in pan.
Invert onto serving plate. Dust with additional powdered sugar or glaze (recipe below). Garnish with lime slices, if desired.

Banana Pudding Pie

I love banana pudding so, to find a recipe that puts it in a pie...my kind of heaven! This was really yummy and I learned all sorts of new things, like pudding can be made from scratch. I guess I should have know that but, always just assumed that was one of those magical box things. That being said, this could probably be made easier using the actual box style pudding and I did skip the homemade cream part of the recipe and used cool whip.

Banana Pudding Pie
Lick The Bowl Good
adapted from Southern Living

Vanilla Wafer Crust (recipe below)
Vanilla Pudding (recipe below)
Whipped Cream (recipe below)
3-4 medium bananas, cut into slices
20 vanilla wafers plus more for decoration (see note)

Vanilla Wafer Crust:
2 1/2 cups (about 30) crushed vanilla wafers
1/2 cup butter, melted

Vanilla Pudding:
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
4 egg yolks
2 cups milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Whipped Cream:
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

For the crust: In a medium bowl, stir together crushed vanilla wafers and butter until blended. Firmly press on bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate.
Bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack, and let cool 30 minutes or until completely cool.

For the pudding: Whisk together sugar, flour, eggs, yolks and milk in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, 10-12 minutes or until it reaches the thickness of chilled pudding. (Mixture will just begin to bubble and will be thick enough to hold soft peaks when whisk is lifted. It must be thick and slightly bubbly to set up properly!) Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla.
Transfer to a medium bowl and cover with plastic wrap, making sure to press the plastic directly on top of the custard so it doesn't get a "skin" on it. Refrigerate til completely cool. (Can be made up to a day in advance.)

Whipped Cream: In a medium bowl, whip cream on medium high speed til soft peaks form. Slowly add the sugar and vanilla and continue to beat til thick and stiff. Don't overbeat or you'll have butter!

Assembly: Arrange half of the banana slices evenly over bottom of cooled crust. Spread 1/3 of cooled pudding over bananas, then layer with 20 vanilla wafers. Spread 1/3 more pudding over vanilla wafers, then add the remainder of the banana slices and cover them with the last of the pudding. Spread the whipped cream over the entire pie and decorate with more vanilla wafers if desired.
The layers from the bottom up should be: vanilla wafer crust, bananas, pudding, vanilla wafers, pudding, bananas, pudding, whipped cream
Refrigerate at least for 4 hours. Overnight is best. Consume within 2 days.
NOTE: It's best to prepare the pudding in advance to allow it to chill properly. If you prefer this pie be topped with a meringue then there's no need to refrigerate the filling. See the original recipe here.
Also I used an entire box of vanilla wafers for the pie. If you want to decorate with additional wafers then get a second box to be on the safe side.

Mandarin Chicken Salad

This is one of our very favorite salads. I got the recipe from my friend Kim. My sister always requests it. So, for Easter, this was one of my assignments.

Mandarin Chicken Salad


8 chicken breast halves (I usually like them grilled)

1 (12 oz.) pkg. pasta (bowtie or rotini

1 1/2 bottles Brianna's poppy seed dressing

1 pkg. chow mein noodles

1 pkg. slivered almonds

3 c. romaine lettuce

3 c. iceberg lettuce

1 can sliced water chestnuts, cut in halt

2 cans mandarin oranges (drained)

1 bunch green onions, chopped

Cook the chicken, chill and cut into chunks. Mix together the cooked pasta, chicken and 1/2 bottle of dressing. Let this marinate for awhile. Mix together the chow mein noodles, lettuce, water chestnuts, slivered almonds and green onions. Pour on the other bottle of salad dressing. Combine with the marinated chicken and pasta. Add mandarin oranges and toss gently. Serve immediately. Serves about 15.

Homemade Oreo Cookies

These are always a favorite. This recipe is everywhere but, I just recently found it on My Sister's Cafe. A few years ago one of my friends made these for a baby shower and used pink icing...too cute. I made them for Superbowl this year. I should have thought to make the icing the two teams' colors. But, as usual, my ingenious thinking comes, just late.

Homemade Oreo Cookies
submitted by Melanie
Printable recipe here

For the Cookies:
1 package devil's food cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 - cup oil

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Add oil and eggs to cake mix and blend together. Roll dough into balls (a little larger than a quarter). Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on sheet (until warm). Remove cookies from sheet and place on cooling rack.To assemble the cookies, add about a tablespoon of filling into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie similar in size on top of the filling. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream.

Cream Cheese Filling Recipe:
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 block of cream cheese (8 oz)
3-4 cups - powdered sugar (depending on desired consistency)
1 - tsp vanilla extract.

Cream butter and add cream cheese and mix well. Add powdered sugar slowly until you reach your desired consistency.

Popcorn Cake

I saw this on a friend's blog and decided to try it for the family for Valentine's. The kids loved it. It's makes way more than one bundt pan's worth however. There was plenty to snack on all week.

Calvert's Popcorn Cake

16 cups popped popcorn
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup butter or margarine
16 oz. bag marshmallows
1 lb. M&Ms
1 16 oz. jar dry roasted peanuts

Pop popcorn and mix in large bowl with M&Ms and peanuts. In microwave safe bowl, melt oil, butter and marshmallows for one minute and stir and heat for one more minute until it melts and is similar to the consistency for rice krispies. When desired consistency is reached, pour over popcorn mixture and mix well. Pour mixture into a well greased bundt pan and push down with greased hands. Wait 1-2 hours before inverting.

Sandy's Fudge

York's mom makes some of the best fudge. She used to always have it in her freezer and York and I would always grab a couple of pieces when visiting. It's become our tradition to always make a batch at Christmas time.

Sandy's Fudge

3 pkgs (12 oz.) chocolate chips
2 cubes margarine
1 1/2 c. chopped walnuts or pecans
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. pkg. marshmallows
4 1/2 c. sugar
1 large can evaporated milk

Cook sugar and evaporated milk together. Stir constantly. Once it boils, slow boil it for 12 minutes. Take pan off heat and stir in marshmallows, melt. Stir in margarine, melt. Stir in chocolate chips, melt. Add vanilla and nuts. Pour in buttered 9x13 pan. Cool before cutting.
*I've also poured in a cookie sheet. Makes it a little thinner. This recipe makes a ton of fudge!

Enchiladas

I can not say enough about these enchiladas by Pioneer Woman. I made the chicken ones a couple of weeks ago. They were so good that I couldn't wait to try the beef ones. Equally fabulous. I've decided the key and most important step to making enchiladas, is the frying of the shells. It may not be the healthiest way but, all thoughts of that go out the window after the first bite.

Simple, Perfect Enchiladas
3"x5" Cards 4"x6" Cards Full Page Print

Prep Time: 1 Hour30 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 6

Ingredients
FOR THE SAUCE:
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
1 Tablespoon All-purpose Flour
1 can (28 Ounce) Enchilada Or Red Sauce
2 cups Chicken Broth
½ teaspoons Salt
½ teaspoons Ground Black Pepper
2 Tablespoons Chopped Cilantro
_____
For The Meat:
1-½ pound Ground Beef
1 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
2 cans (4 Ounce) Diced Green Chilies
½ teaspoons Salt
_____
For The Tortillas:
10 whole (to 14) Corn Tortillas
½ cups Canola Oil
_____
TO ASSEMBLE:
3 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
½ cups Chopped Black Olives
1 cup Chopped Green Onions
½ cups Chopped Cilantro

Preparation Instructions
Step #1 – The SauceIn a large saucepan over medium heat, add oil and flour and whisk together to make a paste, cooking for one minute. Pour in the red sauce, chicken broth, cilantro, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30-45 minutes.
Step #2 – The MeatBrown the meat with onions in a skillet. Drain off fat. Stir in 2 cans diced green chilies and seasoned salt. Set aside.
Step #3 – TortillasHeat canola oil in a small skillet over medium heat. One by one, using tongs, fry tortillas in oil until soft, not crisp – about 30 seconds per side. Remove to a paper—towel lined plate. Repeat until all tortillas have been fried.
Step #4 – AssemblyPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour ½ cup red sauce in bottom of baking pan. Spread to even out. Dip each tortilla into red sauce, then remove to work surface. Spoon meat, a little grated cheese, a little black olives, and green onions in the center of tortilla. Roll up and place, seam down, in baking pan. Repeat until pan is filled. Pour extra red sauce over enchiladas. Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle cilantro over enchiladas before serving