Easy Fudge Sauce

I've made chocolate sauces before, but don't like that they're not creamy, thick or smooth (they usually turn out grainy for me). So I take this recipe from Avery below (which is a simple, yummy fudge) and just combine sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and add milk to thin it.

Rocky Road Fudge

1 bag chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup chopped nuts

Look at this cute Christmas idea for Rocky Road fudge--though you know I'd choose milk or dark chocolate over white any day!

Skillet Lasagna

This is so easy and fast that I don't know when I'll bother to make a traditional lasagna again.

• ground beef/turkey/sausage, browned with onions, garlic, whatever (half and half beef and sausage is probably my favorite) and drained
• 16 oz pasta (I love bowtie the best), cooked and drained
• 1 can/jar pasta sauce (I sometimes puree it with spinach)
• 8 oz. ricotta cheese (half a small container)
• handful of mozzarella cheese (or more if you like it really cheesy)
• salt and pepper to taste

To crisp it up, put it all in a casserole dish and bake it to desired crispness. Otherwise, mix everything into the noodle pot, make sure it's nice and hot, and take the pot right to your table!

Blueberry Muffins

12 muffins. Preheat oven to 350.

1/4 cup butter, room temp.
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Fold in 2 cups blueberries (I often use frozen ones thawed)

Bake 20-25 minutes. Let cool in tin for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Plain Muffins

24 muffins. Preheat oven to 350.

1/4 cup butter, melted or softened
1/4 cup oil
1 heaping cup sugar
4 eggs
1 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
4 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Bake for 20-25 min.

Craisin Muffins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Makes 24. Spray muffin tins with vegetable coating, covering very well.
 

Whip until frothy:

4 eggs
2 cups milk
1 cup vegetable oil

Stir together and add to above mixture:
4 cups flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups sugar (will try less next time)
 

Gently stir in 2 cups Craisins. Do not overmix.
Or, if your family is like mine, do half the batter without Craisins and half the batter with 1 cup Craisins.
 

Heap batter to top of cups. Bake 30 minutes or until muffins are light brown and a toothpick comes out just moist.

 

Beef/Turkey Stroganoff

This one's a winner at our house. Even Cohen. Yes, even Cohen. Enough said. (Oh, I like to use ground turkey lately.)

Fajita Seasoning

1 tablespoon cornstarch 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon white sugar

1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin