Vanilla Maple Carrots

YUMMY!! Sort of expensive but it is really good.

1 lb Carrots peeled and sliced horizontally in 1 inch slices
1 vanilla bean pod
2 cups water
1 Tbl unsalted butter
2 Tbl Pure Maple syrup
1/2 tsp salt
pinch fresh pepper

Add carrots and water to a large skillet, and start to simmer. Cut Vanilla bean open and scrape out the beans into the carrots and then just throw the whole pod in with the carrots too. Let simmer 10-15 minutes until carrots are tender and most of the water is gone.

Then add butter, syrup, salt and pepper let simmer a couple more minutes and presto! A very healthy, very kid friendly (zack loved this) side dish to compliment any meal. Enjoy!!

Pasta Salad

2 16 oz. Pasta cooked
1 purple onion
4 cucumbers sliced & peeled take a fork and run down it

Dressing
3 cups of apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 cup surgar
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tsp parsley
2 Tbls olive oil
1 Tbls accent

will fill to the top of a mason jar shake and add right before severing.

Grape Salad

Great summer recipe, and as always very easy!!

1 cup. sour cream
80z cream cheese
2 lbs each red & green grapes
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
side of grape nuts or granola cereal

cream very thing to gether then add grapes
spinkle grape nuts or what ever on top

Cresent Squares

I got this recipe from Pillsbury.com. It was so simple and actually turned out delicious! This one is definitely going into my recipe book.

1 (3-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon margarine or butter, softened
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives or onion
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon chopped pimientos, if desired
1 (8-oz.) can Pillsbury® Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls
1 tablespoon margarine or butter, melted
3/4 cup seasoned croutons, crushed (I used Italian breadcrumbs and they worked great)

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, combine cream cheese and 1 tablespoon softened margarine; beat until smooth. Add chicken, chives, salt, pepper, milk and pimientos; mix well.

2. Separate dough into 4 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal. Spoon 1/2 cup chicken mixture onto center of each rectangle. Pull 4 corners of dough to center of chicken mixture; twist firmly. Pinch edges to seal. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Brush tops of sandwiches with 1 tablespoon melted margarine; sprinkle with crushed croutons.

3. Bake at 350°F. for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Train Burger

There is a fantastic place to eat in Heber City, Utah called DAIRY KEEN. It has the BEST burgers, shakes, fries, not to mention...FRY SAUCE! You have to go eat there at least once in your lifetime. I feel lucky to have the recipe of the famous "Train Burger", if I didn't I would have some major withdrawls!Enjoy!

Make the sauce first, so the flavors can blend

2 lbs. Hamburger
1 lb. Ham
8 Lrg. hamburger buns
8 slices Swiss cheese
8 slices American cheese
1 Recipe Train sauce (see below)
Lettuce
Sliced Tomatoes
Dill Pickle Slices

Divide hamburger into 8 patties. Divide ham into 8 servings. Cook hamburger on grill. When hamburger is almost 165 degrees, place ham onto grill. when ham is hot, place Swiss cheese on ham and American cheese on hamburger. Cook hamburger to 165 degrees, toast or heat buns. Serve with train sauce, lettuce, pickles and tomato. Serves 8

Train Sauce:

1 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. ketchup
2 T. creamy french salad dressing
1 T. white vinegar
1 T. sugar
1 T. minced sweet pickle
1 T. minced white onion
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. white pepper

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl; stir well. Cover and refrigerate for several hours so that flavors blend. Makes about 1 1/2 c. sauce.

Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies

I got this recipe from the Oatmeal canister that we buy. I believe it is the Quaker Oats. Zack loves to help with this one!

2 sticks butter softened

1 c brown sugar

1/2 c white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Beat the above until creamy then add:

1 1/2 c flour (white flour can be substituted for wheat, and no one can tell the difference)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

3 c oats

1 c raisins, boiled and drained

Bake 350 for 10-12 minutes, makes about 4 doz

You can also add cinnamon chips to this and omit the 1 tsp cinnamon.

Bran Muffin

This recipe is so great and versitile! You can add cranberries, raisins or nuts to it if you would like to. It makes quite a bit of mix which is great because you can keep it in your fridge for up to 3 weeks.

2 c boiling water
2 c all bran buds
pour both into large bowl and let sit while preparing the rest of the mix:

In a separate bowl cream together:
1 c shortening
3 c sugar
3 eggs

then mix in
5 c flour
5 tsp baking soda
1 quart buttermilk
4 c bran flakes (this can be substituted for raisin bran)
soaked cereal from above

put into muffin pan bake at 400 for 15 minutes