Congratulations Braxton!

Braxton was baptized and confirmed

Saturday, Jan. 29th by his dad.

Our next sister get together will be next Tues. the 8th.

Last of Sharon's Recipes

Caramel Brownies

Chocolate cake mix
2 c. chocolate chips
50 caramels (1 bag)
1 c. evaporated milk
½ c. melted butter
Mix butter 1/3 c. evaporated milk, and cake mix (dry). It will be stiff. Spread 2/3 of mix in the bottom of 9x13 pan (greased). Bake at 350˚ for 5 minutes. Unwrap caramels and melt in microwave with 1/3 evaporated milk (approximately ¾ minutes). Stir after 1 ½ minutes, microwave until smooth. Remove cake from oven after 5 minutes and let cool 3 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Pour caramel mixture over chips. Drop remaining cake mix in lumps. Bake at 350˚ for 20 minutes. It will be soft and gooey.


Butterscotch Brownies

1 c. butterscotch chips
½ c. butter
1 ½ c. butter
1 ½ c. flour
2/3 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 c. mini marshmallows
½ c. nuts
2 c. chocolate chips
Melt butter and butterscotch chips in saucepan. Remove from heat. Add flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, vanilla and eggs. Mix well. Fold in marshmallows and chocolate chips with 5-6 strokes. Bake in greased 9x13 pan at 350˚ for 25 to 27 minutes.


Chocolate Chip Cheesecake (fun for parties)

Any chocolate chip cookie dough (or 2 20 oz. rolls of chocolate chip cookie dough)
3 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
¾ c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Spread 1 roll of cookie dough ( or ½ cookie dough) onto bottom of pan. Beat cream cheese until smooth; add eggs one at a time. Beat well between each egg. Add sugar and vanilla, then beat well. Pour over bottom crust. Top with remaining cookie dough. Bake for 40-50 minutes. Insert toothpicks; it should come out clean.


Homemade Oreo Cookies

1 box Devil’s Food cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 c. oil
Mix and make into ping-pong sized balls. Bake 350˚ for 8-10 minutes.

Filling:
1 ½ oz. cream cheese
½ lb. powdered sugar
¼ c. butter
½ tsp. vanilla
Mix and spread between cooled cookies.


Spice-rubbed Fingers with Cilantro Dipping Sauce

Chicken:
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
¼ tsp. salt
1 lb. chicken breast tenders
In cup, combine the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cut ½” deep slashes in each side of chicken. Rub the spice mixture over the chicken. Place the chicken in a baking pan and coat completely with cooking spray. Let stand for 10 minutes (optional). Place chicken in oven that has been preheated to broil 6” from the heat, turning several times for 15 minutes.

Sauce:
½ c. cilantro sprigs
¼ c. parsley sprigs
¼ c. chopped almonds
1 clove garlic
1 jalapeno pepper (remove seeds)
1/8 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. lime juice
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. water
Place all ingredients in blender or food processor and chop.


Garlic and Soy Grilled Pork Chops

4 boneless pork chops
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. minced garlic
½ tsp. paprika
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
Sprinkle the pork chops all over with all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Cook on grill until done.

Happy Birthday Bonnie!

More of Sharon's Recipes

Light Banana Bread

1 ½ c. flour
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
2 egg whites
1 c. sugar
1 c. mashed bananas
¼ c. cooking oil
½ c. currants (optional)
Preheat oven to 350˚. Stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. In mixing bowl, beat together egg whites sugar and banana. Add oil and mix well. Stir flour mixture into banana mixture. Gently fold in currants. Spray 8x4x2 inch pan with cooking spray. Pour in mixture. Bake 50- 60 minutes. Cool 10 minutes in pan.

Peach Cobbler

1 bottle peaches
2 ½ Tablespoons cornstarch
¼ tsp. nutmeg
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Combine and cook, stirring continually, in saucepan until thick. Pour into 9x13 pan.

Topping:
1 egg
½ shortening
1 c. flour
1c. sugar
½ c. milk
1 tsp. baking powder
Combine mix until smooth. Pour over fruit mixture.
Bake at 375˚ for 20-30 minutes.


One Bowl Brownies

1 ½ c. flour
2 c. sugar
7-8 Tablespoons cocoa
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1 c. nuts
1 c. oil
Preheat oven to 350˚. Mix with a wooden spoon for 3 minutes. Bake for 20-30 minutes in greased pan.

Pizza Crust

1 c. warm water
1 Tablespoon yeast
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. sugar
3 c. flour (½ whole wheat)
Mix water, yeast, oil, salt, sugar, and 1 ½ c. flour. Add remaining flour and knead until smooth.

Sister Get Together

Sharon expressed an interest in making a Valentine Decoration. I'm not sure if anyone else has found one, but here are a few ideas. If we make a Valentine decoration we should probably meet next Tuesday to work on them.

This first decoration is from Wood connection. I have others on my phone and I'm trying to figure out how to get them to the computer. I also have price info.

Hearts with base

large heart-4.95 medium heart -4.50 small heart- 3.95

The Be Mine is from a blog Cherice found. Grandma has some frames or you can bring
your own. It can just be an old one we can paint. We would probably just use the cricut for the letters.

Grandma has: 7-- 9 1/2" x 21"

8-- 15"x 24"

1-- 15" x 15"

The blog she found it on is below.

http://www.theidearoom.net/2011/01/diy-be-mine-valentine-decoration.html

This cute blessing decoration is another one Cherice found.

We could do this one later if you are interested.

It could be an idea for mother's day.

Sharon Spallino's Recipes

Sharon Spallino’s Recipes

These are the first of several from Sharon.

Veggie Enchiladas

Sauce/Filling
1 ½ cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic
1 T. olive oil
Sauté above ingredients, then add 2 cans tomato sauce
1 jalapeno pepper
broccoli
corn
olives
black beans
mushrooms
Mix together, then put into whole wheat tortillas. Squish tortillas together in 9x 13 pan. Cover with enchilada sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and bake at 375˚ for 15-20 minutes.

Enchilada Sauce:
¼ cup chopped onion
1 tsp. chili powder
½ tsp. ground cumin
8 oz. can tomato sauce

Healthy Chicken Enchiladas

½ cup chopped onions
2 cloves minced garlic
1 ½ c. canned Italian tomatoes (reserve liquid)
½ c. sliced mushrooms
1 tsp. jalapeno
1/8 tsp. pepper
8 oz. chicken breasts (cooked and cut up or shredded)
4 whole wheat tortillas
4 oz. cheddar cheese
½ c. plain low-fat yogurt

In skillet, over medium heat, add onions and garlic. Stir constantly for 1 min.
Add tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, and spices. Stir occasionally. Cook 5-8 minutes.
Add chicken.
Preheat oven to 375˚
Roll cheese and ½ chicken mixture in tortillas. Set seam-side down in 8x8 pan.. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas and top with cheese.
Bake 15-20 minutes. Top with olives and yogurt.

Happy 1st Birthday Jackson!