Apple Pie Granola

At my house we really enjoy granola, but it can be really expensive. I've tried a few recipes to make my own, but I had a hard time buying all the ingredients I would use maybe once or twice a year (ex. wheat germ, flax seed meal, oat bran soy grits (are those even real?)). These recipe has ingredients that I always have on hand! It's so good! It really does taste like Apple pie, just with nuts and raisins.

Apple Pie Granola

- 5 c. rolled oats

- 1 c. chopped apples

- 1 c. coarsely chopped pecans

- 1 c. raisins

- 3/4 c. butter or margarine, melted

- 3/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar

- 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Toast oats in ungreased 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 in. jelly roll pan in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Combine toasted oats and remaining ingredients except raisins and mix well. Placed back in ungreased jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally to brown evenly. After the first 15 minutes of baking time add the raisins in. Cool and stir until crumbly. Store in a tightly covered container in fridge. Makes about 9 cups.

I actually make this many times with the nuts. I even made it once without the apples and raisins, and it still tasted amazing!

(Source: Kathe M.)

Cidne's Breadsticks

Hello again! It's getting close to Christmas so I should be posting more Christmas recipes, but I had an AMAZING dinner the other night with some friends. I had the BEST homemade pizza I've ever had! The recipe for that is coming up later. But, I also had some amazing breadsticks!! While no breadsticks will ever beat out the Oliver Garden breadsticks (someone else makes them, you can get as many as you want, and they have warm plates! ), these are now my FAVORITE homemade breadsticks. Thanks Cidne!

Cidne's Breadsticks

- 1 1/2 c. warm water

- 2 Tbsp. sugar

- 1 Tbsp. yeast

- 1/2 c. dry milk

- 1/2 tsp. salt

- 3 c. flour

- 1 stick of butter, melted

- Garlic salt

- Parmesan cheese

In a large bowl dissolve sugar in wate. Add yeast and stir briefly. Stir in dry milk, salt and 3 cups flour. Knead for 3 minutes adding more flour as needed. Let it rise for about 20-30 minutes.

Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface. Cut dough into 1 inch strips and dip into melted butter. Place strips closely together in the pan. Sprinkle garlic salt and Parmesan cheese liberally.

Let rise again for 10-15 minutes. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

(Source: Cidne W.)

Gluten free 4 ingredient cookies

Okay, so I was doubtful when I first saw this recipe, but the cookies turned out great! They are a little crumbly, but still taste great. I will freely admit that I put some chocolate sauce on them and they were amazing. While I didn't have the chocolate or muffin cups on hand to try, I bet these would make an AMAZING filling for some homemade Reese's cups! I've made them before with crushed graham crackers, but it you want to skip the crackers and use this, I think it would work.

I'm sorry I never have pictures, I'm not the best photographer, and 50% of the pictures my camera takes are blurry. So if you have a great camera you want to send me I promise I would take more pictures!

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

- 1 c. peanut butter

- 1 c. sugar

- 1. tsp. baking soda

- 1 egg

Mix the peanut butter and sugar together. Then mix in soda and egg. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

(Source: Stephanie S.)

Cookies

Hello! I will freely admit that I never make up my own recipes. Everything I make comes from other people! I saw this website and thought you might find something there to try. I love Better Homes and Gardens:)

http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/cookies/favorite-christmas-cookies-and-bars/

Amazing Pineapple Salsa

This salsa is amazing and easy! I hope you like it as much as I do, and that it last longer than one night (never does at our place).

Pineapple Salsa

- 1 can petite diced tomatoes (undrained)

- 1 can corn (drained)

- 1 can black beans (drained)

- 1/2 bunch of cilantro, chopped (I prefer 1/4)

- 1 (20 oz) can of pineapple tidbits (undrained) (I like to cut them in half)

- 1/3 c. Italian dressing

Mix all ingredients together. The salsa is liquidy but really good.

(Source: M. Crane)

White Chicken Chili

This is a super easy five ingredient chili! It's called white chicken chili because the chili is white, not just the chicken;)

White Chicken Chili

- Chicken broth

- 1 1/2 to 2 lbs bonesless chicken tenderloin

- 1 block (10-12 oz.) Pepper Jack cheese (cubed)

- 1 jar (16 oz.) medium salsa (or mild if you prefer)

- 3 (16 oz.) cans Great Northern Beans (don't drain)

Boil chicken in chicken broth until fully cooked. Shred or cut into bite sized pieces. Cube cheese into 1/2 in. cubes. Add all ingredients, including liquid from beans to a large crock pot and cook on high, stirring occasionally, until hot and cheese is melted, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Serve with tortilla chips if desired. (You can add a little chicken broth if it is too thick).

(Source: Wendy D)

Snickerdoodles

When I was younger I was always baking cookies. I really like this recipe because it calls for ingredients that you probably already have in your cupboards.

Snickerdoodles

- 1 c. butter
- 1 1/2 c. sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 3/4 c. flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp. cream of tartar
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 2 tsp. cinnamon

Cream the butter and sugar together and then mix in the other powdered ingredients and eggs. Roll into walnut-sized balls. In a separate bowl mix together sugar and cinnamon. Roll the dough balls in the cinnamon sugar mix and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart.

Cook at 375 to 400 degrees F for 6-10 minutes. Remove them from oven before they turn light brown. Makes several dozen.

(Source: Michelle D)

Matty's Cheese Ball

For my first recipe I thought I would share a nice easy appetizer with you! It is an amazing cheese ball that goes great with almost any cracker.

Cream Cheese Ball

-16 oz cream cheese

-1 small can of crushed pineapple (it's about the size of a normal tuna can)

-1 minced green pepper (a smaller one is better)

-1/4 cup minced onion

-1 tsp seasoning salt (such as Lawry's)

-1 cup crushed pecans (or almonds or whatever you prefer)

-Crackers of choice

Drain the pineapple. Mix everything together but half of the pecans (set aside for later). I just use my hand to do this but you might try a food processor if you have one. Shape the lump into 2 balls (or 1 your choice) and roll them over the remaining pecans. I really like the toll house crackers, or club crackers with it. It's so good!

(Source: Matt W.)

To start off

While I'm sure you were expecting a recipe, this is just a link to my favorite cooking site of all time, www.allrecipes.com. Yep, I'm a cheater I know!

The beginning

This is the beginning of a wonderful relationship! I'm excited to start this blog. I have a big imagination, I would love to think that someday this blog will be so popular that I will be invited to talk on some TV shows, like the Good Morning America show, or one of my favorites, The Ellen Show! But, seeing as how I'm not that good, the best I can right now is just share my recipes with my friends. I hope that all of you can see this blog for what it is. Not perfect gramatically, or technically, but a place where I can share my ideas and recipes and hopefully a place where I can share yours too . Enjoy!