Candy Bar Apple Salad

1 8-oz container of Cool Whip
3 apples, cored and cut into bite sized pieces
3 regular sized Snickers bars, or Milky Way bars

Mix together the Cool Whip and apples. Cut up the candy bars into small bite sized pieces and add to the salad. Serve soon after preparing or store in refrigerator for only a few hours before serving.

Chili

I thought my chilli making days were over until fall returned, but when my dear husband requested chili... I couldn't possibly turn down any request for a dinner suggestion.

I'm always asking (just like my mom did), "Hey what do you want for dinner?" and the response is ususally, "I don't care" or "I don't know" or "Whatever" (just like we told my mom). Not very helpful! So I take any suggestions very seriously.

This recipe is one that my father in law came up with... his name for the chili is somewhat explicit so I have renamed it to be just plain chili. It is quick, easy and oh so delish! Topped with your preferred toppings and it only enhances the already fabulous flavor! Enjoy!
3/4 pound ground sirloin
1/2 cup onions, chopped
1/3 cup green bell peppers, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 tablespoon jalapeno chili, chopped
1-40oz or 3-15oz cans pinto beans
1-15oz can chopped peeled tomatoes
1-15oz can tomato sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper

In a large sauce pan cook meat until done, but do not brown. Remove meat, leave juices. Add onions, green bell peppers, garlic and jalapeno chilies. Cook until tender. Then add pinto beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin, red pepper, black pepper and meat. Simmer for about one hour. Serve with cornbread, crackers, chopped onions or you may sprinkle cheddar or Monterey Jack
cheese on each serving.

Banana Smoothie

In a blender combine:
2 1/2 cups ice
1 cup milk
1 banana
1 T. sugar or splenda (optional)

Blend all ingredients until smooth, then pour into a glass and serve immediately. Very light and refreshing banana smoothie.

Lotion Bottle

Took a lotion bottle and stripped off the original label, added some strips of patterned paper and then glued it on with sticky strip. I wanted it to be in the guest bathroom so I wanted to make sure it was waterproof. I added a strip of packing tape over the top of it! Ta Dah! Add some ribbon at the top and it was ready to go!
Here is the before and after shot...

Wreath Holder

Just got a brand new wreath holder... made by my ever so talented brother... Here is his blog where he is selling them. We got the star, but there are a bunch of different shapes plus you can accessorize the front to a letter or something as a Monogram. Very cool! They are made out of metal and they are strong plus it keeps the door and door frame from getting all scratched up.


Check out all his other stuff as well.... http://www.bishopbuilt.net/ He can customize just about anything you want!

Also... click here for information about that ADORABLE brown ribbon wreath! Easy to make and fun to show off!

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies

Here is a platter of cookies for a party that consists of 3 different recipes....
The Chocolate cookies are called Rolo Cookies, the top two sets of cookies are both Snickerdoodles. Since I didn't want to make a fourth type of cookie and I wanted to add some variety to the platter, I took melted milk chocolate and drizzled it over the top of the cookies. Finally in the middle is a Chocolate Chip Cookie. Both the Snickerdoodles and the Chocolate Chip Cookies came from mixes that can be made and given as a gift so the recipient can make the cookies themselves. All of the recipes are below.

Rolo Cookies- probably one of the best cake mix cookie recipes EVER!

1 box of chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs
Bag of Rolo candies
White sugar

Mix together cake mix, oil and eggs.
Take a spoonful of cookie dough and
wrap around an unwrapped Rolo candy.
Roll cookie in sugar and place on an
ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Leave cookies on cookie sheet for a
few minutes then remove from cookie sheet
and cool completely on a wire rack.


SnickerDoodles in a Jar (or in a bag, however you want to package it).

INGREDIENTS

* 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
* 1 1/2 cups white sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, cream of tartar, and sugar. Stir with a whisk, then place into a one quart canning jar.
2. Attach a tag with the following recipe to the jar:

Snickerdoodles
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream 1 cup of butter and 2 eggs. Pour in the snickerdoodle mix, and stir until a dough forms. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls, roll the balls in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Cookies should be light brown. Cool on wire racks.

Cookie Mix with Candy in a Jar (cookies turned out very flat but the kids really like them)

An easy cookie mix recipe for holiday or any time gift-giving.
Ingredients:

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* dash salt
* 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
* 3/4 to 1 cup small candies or chocolate chips

Preparation:
Sift together the flour, soda, and baking powder. Layer in a wide-mouth 1-quart canning jar, the sugar, the candies, then the flour mixture. Write the following instructions on a small handmade or purchased card and tie to the jar.

Cookies
In a large mixing bowl, beat 1 cup softened butter with 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix in cookie mix, using hands or wooden spoon to blend thoroughly. Shape cookie dough into balls the size of walnuts. Place cookies on lightly greased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake in a preheated 375° for 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are lightly browned.
Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Mini Paint Can

Only measure about 2 1/2 inches tall but it is so darn cute and fun. I took some patterned paper and wrapped only a single layer around the can since there wasn't much room for a lot of embellisments. Then on the top I cut two circles, one in black and the other in the same patterned paper. I punched out three flowers, 2 pink and one green from a coordinating paper that came in the same patterned paper pack. Layer the flowers on top of each other and pierce the center with a piercing too. This makes it easier to push the jeweled brad through the top. The brad goes through the center of all three flowers and the two different circle layers. Pull up on the flowers to add some dimension. Finish the can off with some adorable ribbon, fill the can with some candy or a piece of jewelry and then it is done! It took less than 10 minutes to decorate this small paint can.