Broccoli Ham Stroganoff

My sister Sonnie lived with me for one summer and this ended up being her favorite dish. We ate this a lot and never got sick of it. It is also a great recipe to use when you have leftover ham.

2 c. frozen chopped broccoli
1 Tbl. water
1 Tbl. butter
1/4 c. chopped onion
3 Tbl. flour
1 can chicken broth
2 c. fully cooked ham (cubed)
1 c. sour cream
1 small jar sliced mushrooms, drained
Hot cooked noodles

In sauce pan heat together butter and flour until thickened. Add chicken broth and sour cream until saucy. Add onion, broccoli, ham and mushrooms. Serve over hot noodles.

Peppermint Bark

This is another great one to make at Christmas time. If you love peppermint and chocolate, then you will love this.

1 pkg (12 oz) white baking chips
1 tsp. peppermint extract
8-10 drops red or green food color
1/2 c. crushed peppermint candy

Microwave choc. chips in large bowl about 1 1/2 - 2 min. until almost melted. Add extract. Stir until melted.

Spread on large foil-lined pan about 1/4 inch thick. Add food color drop by drop. Swirl through. Sprinkle with crushed candy. Refrigerate about 10 min. Break into pieces.

Pizza Dough

I got this from my sister Courtney. She makes great pizza and this dough makes the pizzas even better.

1 c. water (lukewarm)
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbl. yeast

Stand 5 min.

Add:
2 1/2 c. flour
2 Tbl. oil

Mix

Let rise in warm area for 20 min. until double in size. Roll and bake at 400.

Oreo Cookies

I made these for gifts to give at Christmas time. They are so good. I swear I could eat every single cookie and never get sick of them. If you try these I promise you won't regret it.

2 packages Devils Food Cake mix
1/2 c. shortening
4 eggs

Mix until smooth and sticky. Roll into balls and bake at 350 for 8 min. Flatten with spatula.

Frosting:
3 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 stick butter (melted)
8 oz. cream cheese (room temp.)
1/4 tsp. vanilla

Mix together

Spread Cream cheese mixture between two cookie. SO GOOD!

Frosting

When I am making a cake to take somewhere this is the only frosting I will use. I also use this on my sugar cookies and I think this makes them even better. Very easy to make.

1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
4 c. powdered sugar
2 Tbl. milk (for thickness)

Mix butter and shortening until smooth. Add vanilla and sugar one cup at a time. Add milk for desired thickness.

Zucchini Cookies

These are really good to make if you grow a lot of zucchini in your garden. You would never know there is zucchini in these.

1/2 c. shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar

Cream together

Add:
2 eggs
3 c. grated and peeled zucchini
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix

Add:
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3 1/2 c. flour
1 c. chocolate chips

Bake on cookie sheet at 375 for 12-15 min.

Pinapple Drop Cookies

This is another recipe that I grew up on. It took a few years for Zach to try them. They sounded weird. As soon as he did, he loved them. I keep some in my freezer so I can always have them on hand. They make a lot, but freeze well.

1 c. shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 can crushed pineapple
4 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. chocolate chips

Cream together:
shortening, sugars, eggs, vanilla and pineapple. Mix in dry ingredients and choc. chips. Drop onto cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 12 min.