Green Beans and Tomatoes

I have been eating green beans wrong my whole life until now! Thank you Pioneer Woman! This is a perfect side dish to any meal and so simple! We made it to eat with our left over ham and turkey from Thanksgiving and we wish we had made it then!!!

Ingredients: 

• 3 ounce package of Bacon Bits( Pioneer Woman used 8 slices of thick-cut bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces)
• 1 large onion
• 2 pounds of fresh green beans, ends trimmed
• Two 14.5 ounce cans whole tomatoes
• Salt and pepper
• Optional: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions:

• Heat bacon bits in a large pot over medium heat for a couple minutes
• Add the onion and stir, cook for about 3 minutes (if using real bacon drain most of fat)
• Add the green beans
• Pour in tomatoes( including the juice!)
• Add salt and pepper
• Stir gently to combine then place lid on the pot
• Reduce heat to low or simmer for at least 1 hour, the longer the less crunchy they are, stir occasionally
• Enjoy!!!

Reese's Candy Corn Blondies

This is perfect for the Fall!!! And it only has 4 ingredients! I found while I was looking for seasonal treats on Pinterest from Sweet C's Designs. Its so delicious and simple to make!!! I initially made for my sisters tailgate, but wound up making another batch the same day for my family!!!

Ingredients: 

• 8 Reese's Cups
• 2 Eggs
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil or butter
• 1 box of cake mix ( I used Halloween Funfeti)
• Handful of Candy Corn

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350
• Chop Reese's Cup into small pieces( 1/2 inch)
• Combine cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs
• Mix well
• Gently fold in the Reese's Cups
• Dump into a greased cake pan or glass pan, and pat down with your hands to make even
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until fork comes out clean
• Let cool for a few minutes then poke Candy Corn through out the blondies
• And enjoy!!!!

Also: You could easily change the candy bar or cake mix flavoring to your liking. This one works wonderfully with Fall though and is sooo YUMMY!

Chocolate Caramel Brownies

This is a yummy gooey chocolate mess of goodness. These Chocolate Caramel Brownies are the way to go if you are craving something chocolate and the caramel just adds to the sweetness of this treat. I got the recipe from Julie's Eats and Treats website, and its pretty simple. My oldest sister saw it on Pinterest, and we had to try it! And I'm so glad we did!

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup of evaporated milk (divided)
• 1 package of caramels
• 3/4 cup of butter(melted)
• 1 box of German Chocolate Cake mix
• 12 oz of Chocolate Chips

Directions:

• Melt the Caramels with 1/3 of the evaporated milk in pan on the stove top then set aside and let cool
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Mix the cake mix, 3/4 cup of melted butter, and 1/3 cup of evaporated milk
• Spread half the cake mixture on to greased cake or glass pan and bake for 6 minutes at 350 degrees
• Remove from oven and pour the caramel sauce and chocolate chips on top then top with the remaining cake mixture
• Bake for 15 to 18 minutes
• Remove from oven and LET COOL!

Caution: IT may be messy but your taste buds will be okay with that!

ENJOY!

Simple Apple Pie

Well, who doesn't love apple pie? I love it and this pie is simple and yummy and goes wonderfully with vanilla bean ice cream if I might add. Also we had an overflow of apples so it was only logical to make a pie! Thank you Veg Fusion on Pinterest!

 

Ingredients:

• Filling: 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon flour
• Bottom Crust: 1 1/2 cup flour, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon milk
• Top Crust: 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup butter

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350
• Filling: Wash, peel, and slice apples then mix all other filling ingredients in bowl and set aside
• Bottom Crust: Mix ingredients together and pat evenly into pie pan
• Top Crust: Soften or melt butter and mix remaining ingredients together
• Poor filling mixture on to bottom crust evenly
• Crumble or spread evenly top crust on top.
• Bake for about 1 hour or until desired look and taste

Optional: This is my first apple pie so if you want to get creative you could stripe or layer the top crust, and don't forget that ice cream!!!

Peanut Butter Applesauce Cookies

This is such a yummy and fluffy cookie! I got the recipe from my town's county Fair handout book my Dad brought home. It will be a new go to dessert cookie!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter (softened)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup applesauce

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cream butter
• Add sugar and blend with mixer together
• Add peanut butter and mix well
• Combine flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg together and add to peanut butter mixture gradually with mixture
• Carefully mix in apple sauce
• Scope onto lightly greased pan and bake until golden brown (15 minutes)

Jelly Oatmeal Bars

These are a wonderful snack or dessert. Any jelly or preserves will work, and pairing this fresh out of the oven with ice cream tastes heavenly! Thank you Pioneer Woman!!!

Ingredients:

• 1-3/4 stick Cold Butter, Cut Into Pieces

•  1-1/2 cup All-purpose Flour

•  1-1/2 cup Oats (quick Or Regular) 

• 1 cup Packed Brown Sugar

•  1 teaspoon Baking Soda

•  1/4 teaspoon Salt

•  10 To 12 Ounce Grape, Strawberry, etc Jelly or Preserves  

Directions:

• Preheat oven at 350 degrees
• Butter a 9 by 11 or 8 by 10 inch baking dish
• In a large bowl mix all ingredients except the butter
• Add the butter and mix with your hands or pastry cutter until it forms into course crumbs
• Sprinkle half the mixture on the bottom of the dish and pat lightly to pack together
• Spread the jelly or preserves over the first layer
• Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture on top and lightly pack
• Bake for about 40 minutes or until lightly brown on top 
• Let cool completely and cut into bars or if your like my family spoon out a piece when they come out of the oven and top with ice cream!

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

Another one of The Pioneer Woman's recipes! Its one of her recipes that is good for storing in the freezer, but my family and I ate it fresh.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/4 pound Ground Chuck  or 3 frozen beef patties
• 1 can 15-ounces Tomato Sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 8 ounces, weight Egg Noodles
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream
• 1-1/4 cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese
• 1/2 cup Sliced Green Onions (less To Taste)
• 1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese (maybe a bit more if your a cheese head)

 


Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Brown meat in a large skillet
• Drain fat, then add tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper
• Stir, then simmer while you prepare the other ingredients 
• Cook egg noodles until al dente
• Drain and set aside
• In a medium bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese
• Add plenty of freshly ground black pepper
• Add to noodles and stir
• Add green onions and stir.
• Now add half of the noodles to a baking dish
• Top with half the meat mixture, then sprinkle on half the grated cheddar
• Repeat with noodles, meat, then a final layer of cheese
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until all cheese is melted
• Cool,serve, and EAT!!! (with garlic or french bread and salad