Texas Trash Warm Bean Dip

This delicious dip quickly became one of our favorite Mexican appetizers!  Interestingly enough, it just happened to pop up on one of the facebook recipe pages Aaron follows, so we decided to try it.  It is DELISH!  If you like it spicy, feel free to add a can of chopped green chiles to the mixture, or substitute spicy jalapeno refried beans for the regular.  :-)

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
2 cans (16 ounces each) refried beans
1 packet (1/4 cup) taco seasoning
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix cream cheese and sour cream together in a large bowl.  Stir in refried beans until combined.  Stir in taco seasoning.

Spray a 9x13 baking dish wih nonstick cooking spray, and spread mixture evenly in pan.  Sprinkle both cheeses over the top.  Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and slightly browned around edges.  Serve with tortilla chips.   

Million Dollar Spaghetti

Love this recipe! So delicious and easy! Try it for yourself you won't be disappointed!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. of Ground Beef
• 1 can of Spaghetti Sauce
• 8 oz of Cream Cheese
• 1/4 cup of Sour Cream
• 1/2 lb. of Cottage Cheese
• Whole Stick of Butter
• 8 oz. of Noodles
• Bag of Sharp Chedder Cheese (I don't always have this on hand so I just use what I have, which is normal cheese that my kids like to eat!)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Boil your noodles. Once they are cooked, drain them and set aside. While the noodles are boiling, Mix up the cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese with a blender (or in your mixer). Make sure that it is mixed really well.
2. Cook your meat. Once it is browned, drain it. Pour spaghetti sauce over the meat.
3. Take a few slices of butter and put that in the bottom of your casserole pan.
4. Layer HALF of your noodles into the pan. Next, Spread the cheese mixture over the noodles. Then put the other half of your noodles on top and put a few more slices of butter on the noodles.
5. Now pour the red sauce on top and spread that out. Place it in your oven and cook for 30 minutes.
6. After 30 minutes, take out the spaghetti and top it with cheese. Then put it back into the oven for another 15 minutes.
7. Enjoy!!

source: http://ashleykaitlin.blogspot.com

Andrea's Chocolate Chip Muffins

While visiting Southern California during spring break, we visited overnight with Aaron's Sister Andrea.  She is an AMAZING baker.  She always has something delicious for us to try, and these muffins are no exception.  She made them for a take-a-long snack for us when we went to Disneyland, and our girls loved them!

1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup milk
1 cup chocolate chips

Mix together brown sugar, butter and egg until fluffy.  Add flour, salt, baking soda, and milk.  mix just until combined (don't overmix).  Stir in chocolate chips.  Spoon into paper lined cupcake pans and sprinkle each muffin with additional chocolate chips, if desired.  Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. 

Yield:  12-18 muffins, depending on size. 

Classic Waffles

Aaron and I have been really into making things from scratch around here lately. So we have been making waffles from scratch. I love them a lot. It took the kids a couple tries to really get used to them after we switched from that boxed stuff, but now they love it too!

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons White sugar
2 eggs - separated
2 cups milk
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. preheat waffle iron to desired temperature.

2. In a bowl, separate the eggs. In the bowl with the yolks add all your ingredients and mix well. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks. Add to the batter and fold in.

3. Ladle the batter into your waffle iron. Cook the waffles until golden and crisp. Serve immediately.



source: www.allrecipes.com

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

We love Chinese food at our house, and this is an excellent way to satisfy our craving right in our own kitchen, without pricey takout!  We usually serve this with Heather's Fried Rice, and egg rolls or potstickers from Costco.  It takes a bit of extra time and planning ahead to prepare, but it is sure worth every bite!

Chicken:
3-4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts
salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil

Sweet and Sour Sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
4 Tbsp. ketchup
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp garlic salt

Preaheat oven to 325.  Rinse chicken breasts in water and cut into bite-sized cubes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Dip chicken into the cornstarch to coat and then dip in eggs.  Heat the 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet and cook chicken until browned but not cooked through.  Place browned chicken in a greased 9x13 baking dish.  Whisk sauce ingredients together in a bowl and pour evenly over the chicken.  Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, gently stirring chicken every 15 minutes.