Santa's Whiskers - Cookie Exchange Recipe

3/4 cup margarine
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 TBSP milk
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup coconut
3/4 cup finely chopped cherries
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat butter on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add half the flour, sugar, milk and vanilla. Beat until thoroughly combined. Stir in remaining flour, cherries and pecans. Shape into two 8 inch rolls. Roll in coconut. Wrap in waxed paper and chill dough. Slice cookies and put on cookie sheet. Cook on un-greased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Makes about 60 cookies.

Sausage Balls

Chantelle asked me to post this recipe so here it is!

1. Fry 1 pound of sausage until crumbly brown. Leave a little bit of grease.

2. Add 3 cups of Bisquick (don't sift)

3. Add 1 cup of Cheddar Cheese

4. Add about 3/4 cup water, add gradually

5. Roll into balls

Bake 350 degrees for about 20 minutes
These can be frozen unbaked

Pecan Bacon Salad

1 pkg. Ramen noodles (uncooked and crushed)

1/2 stick margarine 

1 small bag whole pecans

Saute and set aside

Dressing:

1/2 cup Vegetable oil

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 1/2 tsp soy sauce

Tear Romaine and iceberg lettuce in bowl, add bacon ( I use the precooked Oscar Meyer bacon) and add sauteed items from above.  Pour dressing over and toss.

Lasagna

1 pound ground beef (or Italian sausage or ground turkey)

1 clove garlic

2 cans tomato paste

1 16 ounce can tomatoes

1 cup water

1 Tbs. dried basil

1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbs. sugar

1/2 tsp oregano

1/4 tsp pepper

10 ounce pkg. lasagna noodles

1 small container ricotta cheese

1 pound grated mozzarella cheese

Brown the ground meat.  Drain fat and return to pan.  Add tomatoes, water and all spices to sauce.  Cook for 30 minutes stirring occasionally.  Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions.  To assemble lasagna: spread a thin layer of sauce on bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Lay 3 lasagna noodles length wise in dish, spread each with ricotta cheese, spoon sauce over each and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.  The lay 5 cut lasagna noodles width wise over the last layer and spread with ricotta, sauce and mozzarella.  Continue this pattern until all noodles and sauce are used.  Bake at 375 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes.

Time saver hint: you can use a large jar of ready made pasta sauce and add some of the seasonings and cook less time if in a hurry.  

Penne ala Betsy

I am just posting a link to a great recipe that I tried this past week. It was good, not too difficult (although not too healthy either!), and everyone in the family ate it.

Penne ala Betsy

It is from the website www.pioneerwoman.com which is one of my favorite recipe sites to look through.

I made this exactly like the recipe called for, but Kevin and I both thought it would be just as good with grilled chicken and maybe the addition of artichoke hearts & mushrooms if you like either of those.

Enjoy!