Moonlight mac and cheese (best ever!)

So this one is truly from the Moonlight cook book. For those that don't know about Moonlight, it is a bbq place in Brent's hometown of Owesboro KY. Pres Clinton flew in a helicopter just to eat there. By far the best bbq I have ever had. This mac and cheese recipe is bar none the best. Just try it.

1 1/2 cup milk

2 cups raw elbow macaroni

1 cup grated velveta

1 cup grated cheddar

8 cups water

1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt

pinch pepper

1/4 cup butter

In a large saucepan add water and salt. Bring to a boil. Add macaroni. Cook until tender. Do not overcook. Drain macaroni and add butter. In a baking dish add a layer of macaroni then a layer of cheese. Layer remaining cheese and macaroni ending with a layer of cheese. Add 2 cups milk letting seep through but do not stir. add pepper to taste. Bake at 350 until cheese is brown and bubbling.

Seriously this is the best ever!

Enjoy!

Rosie's Chicken Stuffing Casserole

Okay this one is so stupid simple and yet my family loves it. (especially Brent!)

1 box stuffing
1 pound cooked chicken in chunks
1 can cream of mushroom soup (we use cr. of chicken)
diluted with a little milk.
Cheese (optional)


Ok so prepare the stuffing by the box directions, put in the bottom of square pan. put chicken on top. pour soup mixture on top of that. bake 350 until bubbly
add cheese for last 5 min to melt.

That's it and if you have a picky family like me, you will love this one;)

The Fabulous Dene Brooke Recipes

The next three are all from Dene. She is one of the most talented baker/chef ever. Oh my goodness I love when she bakes for me.

Credit: Dene Brooke

Chocolate Crunch (Elk Droppings)

1 Bar chocolate (almond bark)

1 Can peanuts

4 cups peanut butter captain crunch

Melt Chocolate in a double boiler or microwave. Once melted, stir in peanuts and cereal. Spoon on to aluminum foil. You make little clusters of them. They set up real quick

Pumpkin Bread

1 1/2 cups flour

1.2 tsp. salt

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs beaten

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 allspice

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/4 cup water

Preheat oven to 350. Sift together flour, salt, sugar, and soda. Mix pumpkin, oil, eggs, water and spices together, then combine with dry ingredients- but do not mix too thoroughly. Stir in nuts. Pour into well-greased loaf pan. Bake 50-60 min. reduce baking time if using small loaf pans. Turn out of pan and cool on rack.

Apple Crumb pie

2/3 cup sugar

2 tbsp. flour

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

5-6 large apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1 9 inch unbaked pie shell

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter

Combine first 3 ingredients. Stir into apples. Turn into pastry shell. Combine remaining flour and sugar; but in butter til crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Bake at 400 for 45-50 min. or until golden brown on top.

These are all absolutely AMAZING

Enjoy next three are all from Dene. She is one of the most talented baker/chef ever. Oh my goodness I love when she bakes for me.

Kristy's chicken salad

So this one I made for my friends baby shower. It was a big hit. Now I must warn that the servings on this dish are for a ward!! So I will add the serves 4 recipe as well.

Credit: Kristy Craig

Serves 120

30 pounds of chicken (cooked)

6 1/4 lbs. cheese

1 gallon of mayo

2 1/2 lbs. thinly sliced celery

2 lbs. sunflower seeds

2 1/2 Tbsp. salt

2 1/2 Tbsp. pepper

4 1/2 lbs. seedless red grapes

Mix everything the night before except the grapes and sunflower seeds. Then add just before serving. May serve inside crescent rolls or scoop salad on the side. Place lettuce inside.

Serving for 4

2 cups cubed chicken

1 cup cheddar cheese

1 1/2 cup seedless red grapes

1/2 cup mayo

1/4 cup celery

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Follow directions from above.

When you multiply the serves 4 recipe it actually makes more than you think it will.

Enjoy

Maria's Chicken and Rice

Okay so wow it's been a while since I updated this blog! WOW. But this one is a sure hit. Excluding Hunter since he doesn't like rice or chicken! Ha. Oh well

Credit: Maria Craig

2 pounds cooked chicken shredded or cubed. (I just cut it up)

2 Cups Cooked rice

2 cans cream of chicken

1 1/2 cup sour cream

1 1/2 rolls of RITZ crackers

4 tbsp. butter (melted)

poppy seeds

Okay super easy.

Cook your chicken and cut up.

Spray a 9x13 with pam

put the chicken in the pan

cook rice, while that is cooking, mix up your cr. of chicken and sour cream.

Add rice to mixture and pour over the chicken

While you have the crackers in the roll. pound them with a meat tenderizer (the kids love this part) They need to be broken but not crushed.

Sprinkle them on top of the rice mixture.

pour the melted butter on top of the crackers

add poppy seeds on top.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 35-40 min (or until it is bubbly)

My kids love this one! Sure hit!

In the interest of Christmas

So in the interest of Christmas, and the 3 older kids say so, I must add my sugar cookie recipe to my blog for anyone at Christmas time.

This is all coming about because Santa decided to leave a note last year stating that while mom's chocolate chip cookies are good, her sugar cookies are Santa's favorite. Abbey being my social child, said that everyone should be able to leave Santa his favorite cookies, and I shouldn't keep the recipe a secret anymore.

So here you go Santa....Thanks a lot.

1/2 cup butter (not margarine)
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 cup sour cream
3 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups flour

Cream the butter and the sugar together. Add the soda to the sour cream (it is important you do this before adding to the creamed mixture. It makes the cookies stay soft). Add the sour cream to the mixture. Add the eggs and the vanilla. Mix together. Add 1 cup of flour at a time to the wet ingredients. Chill for 1 hour and roll onto a floured surface, and use cut out. Bake on Greased cookie sheet for 8-10 min on 350.

This is a family secret recipe and I will probably here about it. But I just couldn't argue with 3 very interested kids.

Enjoy!

Marinated Cheese

Okay so this has got to be one of the best appetizers I have ever had. My friend Kayla brought this to my super bowl party and I think I ate most of it myself

Credit: Kayla Renner

Marinated Cheese:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
3 tbs chopped fresh parsley
3 tbs minced green onions
1 tsp sugar
3/4 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (2ounce) jar diced pimiento, drained
1 (8 ounce) block sharp cheddar cheese, chilled
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, chilled
3 tbs small capers (optional)

*Combine first 10 ingredients in a jar; cover tightly, and shake vigorously. set marinade aside

*cut block of cheddar in half lengthwise. cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices; set aside
repeat with cream cheese..stand cheese slices on edge in a shallow dish, alternating
pour marinade over cheese, cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hrs

enjoy!! :)