Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Bowls

1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. butter flavored shortening
1 1/8 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. To make the cookie cups, beat together the shortening, butter, and sugar in a large bowl. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until combined.

2. In a separate bowl, sift together the salt, baking soda, and flour, then gradually stir them into the batter. Stir in the chocolate chips.

3. Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a flat disk, and wrap it in plastic. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

4. Heat the oven to 375°. Turn two 12-cup muffin tins bottom side up and cover 10 of the cup bottoms with squares of aluminum foil (use every other cup so there's some space between them).

5. Unwrap 1 disk of dough, place it between 2 sheets of waxed paper, and roll it out to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out 4-inch circles of dough and place each one over a cup bottom, smoothing out any cracks. Repeat with the other disk, re-rolling and reusing any scraps.

6. Bake the cookie cups for 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown. Let them cool for 10 minutes then remove the foil and cookies together from the muffin pan. Peel off the foil and let the cups cool completely on a rack. Just before serving, fill each cookie cup with a scoop of ice cream. Makes about 9-10.


* This recipe requires prior planning but well worth it! Yummy! Also, the cookie dough is delicious!

Meatloaf

This is a very simple meatloaf recipe. I have just made it up, so it's more to taste, then exact ingredients.

2 lbs ground beef
1 egg
3 tbs minced onion
1/2 c. oatmeal
Ketchup
soda crackers

Mush all together into a bread pan. Spread ketchup over meatloaf until covered, break crackers and put on ketchup. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, or until cooked completely.

Plain Yogurt

For the Superbowl today I made the Hidden Valley Ranch Dip with plain yogurt instead of sour cream. It was really good, everyone at the party liked the taste better with the yogurt instead of the sour cream.

Banana Bread

3 eggs

2 c. sugar

1 c. oil

3 t. vanilla

3 c flour

1 t. salt

1/4 t. baking powder

1 t. soda

3 t. cinnamon

3 mashed bananas

Mix together and bake @ 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Yum!  This is my tried and true banana bread recipe.  I have been using it for years.  I made it this morning in my pampered chef mini loaf pan and will freeze half.  Also, the bananas can easily be replaced with zucchini if you are one of those lucky one's that doesn't know what to do with all there zucchini at the end of the summer.

Tortellini Soup

This is one of my favorite recipes and is super easy to make. I have found I like the spinach, regular tortellini mix for this.

1 lb. Italian bulk sausage
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 medium zucchini, coarsely chopped
2 medium carrots, coarsely chopped
2 cans (10 3/4 oz) condensed tomato soup
3 cups water
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano
8 oz dried or frozen tortellini (meat or cheese filled)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

-Brown sausage, drain, add onion and seasonings. Add everything but tortellini. Bring to boil. Add tortellini, reduce heat to simmer for 20 minutes. Add cheese.

It is really good if you serve a crusty french bread with it.

Gingersnap cookies

This recipe is from my Grandma and is so good. The cookies come out soft and your house smell fabulous!

Ingredients
3/4 c. shortening
1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. molasses
1 egg
2 1/4 c. flour
2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. ginger
1/2 t. ground cloves
1 t. cinnamon

Cream together shortening, brown sugar, molasses and egg. Mix dry ingredients and add. Roll dough into balls and roll in sugar. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

Baked Potato Soup

4 medium baked potatoes
2 slices bacon
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
1 cup (14 1/2 oz) chicken broth
1 1/2 cup milk
1 garlic clove, pressed
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup shredded cheese

1-Remove potato skins and mash.
2-Cook bacon until crisp; crumble and set aside. Discard all but 1/2 tsp. of drippings from pan.
3-Add chicken broth, milk, mashed potatoes, celery, onions, garlic, salt and pepper to drippings in pan.
4-Bring to boil; reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes.
5-Stir in sour cream and bacon. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle cheese over top of each serving.