Carmelitas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small saucepan, over low heat, combine (stirring until completely smooth--then set aside):

• 30 Kraft caramel squares
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

In a mixing bowl, combine:

• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Stir in:

• 3/4 cup butter, melted

Pat half of oatmeal mixture into the bottom of an 8"x8" pan (optional: line the pan with parchment paper).  Bake for 10 minutes.  Remove pan from oven and sprinkle over the crust:

• 1 cup chocolate chips

Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips.  Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture over caramel.  Return to oven and bake 15-20 minutes (until lightly browned at the edges).  Let the carmelitas cool completely before cutting.

Oven Fried Chicken

butter, room temperature and cold
2 large eggs, beaten
2 Tablespoons milk or water
1/2 cup corn meal
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons paprika
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 1/2 - 3 lbs large chicken breasts, cut in thirds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  With room temperature butter, generously grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

Combine eggs and milk in medium bowl.  Combine dry ingredients in medium bowl.  Dip chicken pieces into egg mixture, coating both sides, then into corn meal mixture.  Place in prepared baking dish.  Place two very thin slices of cold butter on each piece of chicken.

Bake for 45-50 minutes, basting once (but I never remember to do that and its fine).  Serve with fry sauce or Chick-fil-a Sauce.

Note:  If using a family pack of chicken, use two 8 x 11 baking dishes, and increase the ingredients as follows:

3 large eggs, beaten
3 Tablespoons milk or water
3/4 cup corn meal
3/4 cup flour
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1+ teaspoon garlic powder
1+ teaspoon black pepper

For Oven Fried Fish:
Substitute 2 lbs fresh or frozen (thawed) fish fillets for chicken.  Prepare as above.  Place skin side down in baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

Brownie in a Jar

Brownie in a Jar Mix:

In a pint jar layer:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chocolate chips

To make the brownies:

Mix contents of jar with:
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon water

Spread in a 9x9 pan and bake on 350 degrees for 22-26 minutes or until toothpick inserted 1' from the edge comes out with only a few crumbs.

This is a magic Christmas brownie jar!  Every time you make the brownies, if you do a kind deed with the Christmas spirit in your heart, Santa's elves will refill the jar!

Orange Rolls

1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
2 teaspoons orange juice
1/3 cup melted butter
1 dozen brown 'n serve rolls

Mix sugar and peel.  Blend in orange juice and butter. Separate rolls.  Generously dip top and sides of each roll in sugar mixture and set upright on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake according to package directions on rolls (usually 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown).

Orange Rolls is a heritage recipe from Ruth Johnson.

Jewelled Cheeseball

1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon dried sage
6 oz cream cheese
3 oz sharp, white cheddar, small grate
1/4 cup chopped slivered almonds, toasted
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Pomegranate seeds

Combine first seven ingredients in food processor.  Blend well.  Place on serving dish, shaping as desired. Cover with pomegranate seeds.

Cheeseburger Casserole

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
3 cups thinly sliced/ peeled potatoes (I use russet)
 1/2 cup diced onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup milk
 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
 salt and pepper to taste

 Brown beef. Mix cream of mushroom soup with milk. Coat your 9x13 dish with a little bit of the soup mix and then layer potatoes, beef, onions, and cheese 2x. Top with the rest of the soup mix and bake at 375* for an hour and a half. Top with more cheese and enjoy!

**To ensure that your potatoes are done when they come out of the oven, I boil them until slightly tender before putting into the casserole and then bake for 1 hr.

Sweet Corn Bread

  

1 1/2 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn meal
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 1/4 cup milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup oil
3 Tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter 8-inch square baking pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together first five ingredients.  In a separate bowl, whisk milk, eggs, and oil.  Add to dry ingredients, and stir until combined.  Stir in melted butter.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on wire rack.

Note:  For muffins, bake 20-22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.