Peanut Butter Cupcakes

1 1/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 c peanut butter
1 large egg
2 TBSP of sugar
1 1/4 c of milk

Preheat oven 350'.  Mix flour, baking powder, and salt...set aside.  Now mix pb, egg, and sugar.  When mixed well blend in milk completely.  Now whisk together your wet and dry ingredients.  Do not over mix.  Fill greased or lined muffin tins 2/3 full and bake for 20 minutes.  Cool completely then frost if desired. 

Ole' Dip

For the record, I genrally like healthy recipes.  I like the stuff I can use fresh, natural, organic type ingredients in.  With that said, some of the yuck food I know I should give up just finds away into my kitchen.  This recipe is a favorite of my college age niece.  She got it from a dear friend of our's who lost her battle with cancer last year.  I can't make it without think of Donna and smiling.  this one is for you Lauren and Donna!

Ole' dip:

Ingredients:
One package of cream cheese...softened
One can of store bought chili...NO BEANS-I am not sure why...I LOVE beans in my chili!
One full package of shredded cheddar or mexican style cheese.

In a shallow dish, I use a pie pan, spread softened cream cheese on the bottom covering completely.
Evenly disperse can of chili over the cream cheese and then top with cheese.  Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted completely.  Feel free to add diced tomatoes or green onions on top after cooking.  Serve with chips.  My favorite with this dish are Frito Scoops.  Mmmmm...Enjoy!!!!

EASY Layered Bars

20-24 graham cracker squares
1 stick of butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 flaked coconut
1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350'.

Crush the graham crackers into fine bits.  Melt the butter and then mix with graham crackers.  Press mixture in to the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Layer chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut on top of the graham cracker crust.  Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top of the other ingredients. Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Let cool for approx. 2 hours before cutting. 

Garden Herb Bread Mix

1 cup dried parsley
1/2 cup onion flakes
2 tsp of Celery Salt
2 tsp of garlic salt
2 tsp of marjoram

Mix and store in an airtight container.  add 3/4 TBSP per bread loaf.  Since my bread recipe makes 4 loaves, I use 3 TBSP.  Knead into bread before baking OR add to the bread machine before rising begins.  ENJOY!

This bread goes GREAT with an italian meal!

Tomato Salad

Ingredients:

3-4 large ripe tomatoes
1 pound mazzarella cheese
12 fresh basil leaves
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:
Cut tomatoes into 1/2" slices.  Sprinkle with mozarella cheese.  Add the basil leaves.  Drizzle a skinny stream of olive oil over the entire salad.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Simple Wheat Bread

Yield :4 loaves

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of water (microwaved 1:30 in the summer/ 2 minutes in the winter)
• 1 TBS sea salt
• 1/2 c honey
• 2/3 c canola oil
• 12 cups of flour (mill approx. 8 cups of wheat berries)
• 2 TBS of fast acting yeast

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350'
• Blend first  four ingredients together and set aside.  In a seperate bowl, add 6 cups of flour.  Then add yeast.  Now add 6 more cups of flour.  No pour one cup at a time of the liquad mixture into the dry ingredients.  Knead well and then continue the process until all liquad is added.  Knead dough (I do mine on the counter, you may use a large mixer with a dough attachment) for approx. 10 minutes. 
• Let dough rest for 10 minutes. 
• Divide into four sections.  Roll out each section into a rectangle.  Fold dough into 3rds (like a letter) and place seam side down in your pan.  Tuck the ends under. 
• Set aside and cover with a flour cloth and allow to rise for 20-30 minutes. 
• Bake at 350' for 25-30 minutes. 

 You may use the same dough for rolls, cinnamon rolls, pizza crust, breadsticks(pictured above), etc... The final product is so yummy.

Thanks so much to my dear friend Cathy who shared this wonderful recipe with me.

Claire's Cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/4 c. flour 1/4 t. salt 1 c. sugar 1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. baking soda 1/2 c. butter 1 egg 1 c. choc. chips
1 1/2 c. oatmeal

Directions:
Preheat oven 350'
Blend sugar and butter. Add the egg, vanilla, and stir. Add the sifted dry ingredients. Add the chocolate chips and oatmeal. Drop in balls on greased cookie sheets.

Bake:
350' for 12 minutes