What to do on a rainy day.

I made the silly choice to elect to make snacks for everywhere I needed to this week. It was a brilliant thought that the week of my hubby's birthday would help me to remember. It wasn't until I realized that I spent the entire morning in the kitchen trying not to go crazy with all the, "Mom, what are you making?" especially while I was trying to count.

I thought I would share with you all of the wonderfulness that I made this morning. If I could really share with you I would. And oh you lucky people who will get some of goodies this week. Wait until I attempt the birthday cake. I need to get some frosting yet before I attempt that.

The collected mess of the beginning. It just kept accumulating.

Sneaking a piece that had fallen under the cooling rack.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Found cherry chips at a local grocery store. Super sweet!

Banana Chocolate Chip Bars

Rice Krispie Treats

Amish Church Cookies and the smiling taste-tester

Ready for a nap and to give my aching body a rest. Hope the pictures smell as good as my house does. Carrot cookies are left on the list besides the birthday cake. But...there is always tomorrow.

In case you're a recipe hound....

Chocolate Chip Banana Bars

1/2 c butter softened

1/2 c sugar

1/2 c packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 c flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 c mashed ripe bananas

1 c semi sweet mini chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, sugars, eggs,a dn vanilla. Beat until creamed.

Slowly add flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Add bananas and chocolate chips until well combined.

Transfer to a greased 13x9" pan. Bake in a preheated 350F over 30-35 minutes or until a knife comes out clean from center.

Amish Church Cookies

2c brown sugar

1c sugar

3 eggs, beaten

1 1/2c butter, softened

1 1/2 c milk

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon extract

6 3/4c flour

Cream eggs, sugar, and butter together.

Beat in vanilla and lemon and milk.

Add dry ingredients

Drop by sopponful on cookie sheet

Bake at 400F for 9 minutes.


Pumpking Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 c butter
1/2c sugar
1 egg
1c cooked or canned pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1 c chocolate pieces

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, pumpkin and vanilla. Mix and sift flour baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Add to creamed mixture and mix well. Add chocolate and mix thoroughly. Drop by Tablespoon onto well greased cookie sheets. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Taco Bake from Kraft via the Radtkes

This is my husbands most favorite dish. We have to limit how many times we make it so that we don't overdo it and ruin it. This is a dish that gets even better as leftovers.

I'm not sure how I got a subscription to Kraft Foods magazine. I received it while we were living in Denver. Newlyweds, trying new things. I was able to try all sorts of new recipes because I was finally able to run my own kitchen and make my own decisions. (That is a story for another day though)

Violet and I decided to make Taco Bake for dinner on Wednesday night. We knew that we would have time to prepare it and time to sit down and eat it. I'm going to try and squeeze in the pictures of her helping along with the description. Bear with me if this ends up jumbled, my first time posting a recipe with pics. Also using new ergonomic keyboard that the hubby just got for me.

Taco Bake From Kraft
Prep: 15 min Total: 35 min

Ingredients:
1 pkg (14oz) Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner (sorry Kraft, we don't always use your brand)
1 lb ground beef (have used venison as well, needs more flavoring but still good)
1 pkg (1 1/4 oz) Taco Bell Home Originals Taco Seasoning Mix (again, not always name brand)
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup Sour Cream
1 1/2 cups Krafts Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided (we have used every style of cheese on it, fav is mozz)
1 cup Taco Bell Home Originals Thick "N Chunky Salsa (again, not always name brand and the spiciness of the salsa really does make a difference in how it turns out, so use what you like for salsa)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400F. Prepare Mac & Cheese as directed on package. While Macaroni is cooking, brown meat; drain. Add taco seasoning mix and water to meat; simmer 5 minutes.

Stir sour cream into prepared Dinner. Spoon half of the Dinner mixture into 8 inch square or 9 inch round backing dish' top with layers of the meat mixture, 1 cup of the cheese and remaining Dinner mixture. Cover.

Bake 15 minutes. Top with salsa and remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake uncovered an additional 5 min. or until cheese is melted. Makes 6 servings.

Some nights, the whole family loves it and some nights, it's just the hubby and I who are eating it. We've made it as a double batch in an 8x12 inch pan and it turns out just as good following the same directions (just double the ingredients of course.)

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. She definitely kept me entertained while cooking.