Nielsen's Breadmaker Wheat Bread

This is really easy, and REALLY good!

4 1/2 c. hot water
5 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
2 T. Instant yeast
1 c. oil
1 c. sugar
7 1/2 c. white flour
1 T. salt

combine hot water, wheat flour, and yeast in a bosch mixer; knead for 5 min. Cover and let it sit for 15 min. Add oil, sugar and part of white flour. start kneading and add salt and remaining flour. knead on low until blended, then high for 5 min.
Knead on counter top and cut into 1 lb. loaves. Let rise
Bake 350 for anywhere from 20-35 min. (depending on oven and loaf size)
Makes 5 loaves

Easy Sausage Alfredo

1 package jimmy dean italian flavored ground sausage
1 small red pepper chopped
1/2 large onion chopped

cook in large frying pan covered, check and stir often until sausage is cooked through, drain.

1 bottle ragu garlic alfredo sauce
black pepper (optional)

I used this on 1/2 lb. wheat penne pasta, but you could use any kind you want.

7 layer dip! {actually 6} ;)

this is the best 7-layer dip ever! i got the recipe from april, who has perfected it :) there's really only 6 layers and so i count the chips as the 7th ingredient! so this is as easy as it gets! get a 9x13 inch dish and start layering ...

1- 1 {16 oz} can vegetarian refried beans

2- fresh guacamole about {16 oz} you can buy pretty fresh guacamole at the store too!

3- 1 {12 oz} sour cream and mix taco seasoning, to taste

4- 1 {16 oz} salsa ... not too chuncky, again fresh is best!

5- 2 cups shredded cheese, i used the mexican mix but any cheese is good

6- 2 {2.25 oz} cans of sliced olives, drained

7- ... add some tortilla chips!

simple and great!!

Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies :)

i got this recipe off my friend {ashley's} blog a while ago and they are sooooo yummy!!

ingredients:

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar, for rolling dough
36 mini peanut butter cups, chilled and unwrapped

directions:

preheat oven to 350 degrees. using an electric mixer, cream peanut butter and butter in a mixing bowl until smooth. add brown sugar; beat until combined, scraping down bowl as needed. add eggs and vanilla, and beat until incorporated. in a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. with mixer on low speed, gradually beat in flour mixture in two batches. scoop off dough by the tablespoon; roll into balls. place granulated sugar on a plate; roll balls in sugar, coating completely. place 2 inches apart on a nonstick insulated baking sheet. bake until cookies begin to puff up slightly, about 7 minutes. remove from oven. press one peanut butter cup in center of each cookie. return to oven; continue baking until cookies are golden brown and chocolate has begun to melt, about 6 minutes more. let cool at least 10 minutes on baking sheet before transferring cookies to rack to cool completely. makes around 36 cookies.

Poppyseed Salad

This is one of the easiest, quickest, bestest salads ever! Truly it is:)
All you need is:

1 Bag of Green Salad
1 Bag of Cole Slaw {I know cole slaw is not my favorite but it really tastes great!}
Small Can of Honey Roasted Peanuts {you only use about half of it}
1 Bag of Craisins {which you don't also use all of either}
1 Jar of Poppyseed Dressing {don't use the light version - it's nasty!}

Just mix the salads together in large mixing bowl, sprinkle on the peanuts & craisins, and mix some more. Then add about 1/3 of the dressing, mix, sprinkle on more peanuts & craisins as desired, mix, add more dressing as needed/desired, and mix some more. Put in your serving bowl, sprinkle on a few more peanuts & craisins to make the top look fresh & good but don't mix, then serve!

{Side Note: Because the dressing is added in salad, you do not want to make long before you serve. It really only takes about 5 minutes from start to finish, so make sure you throw it together close to serving time. Otherwise it will get soggy and the dressing will pool at bottom.}

Strawberry Danish Dessert

*Bottom layer!
White Cake mix: Cook as directed but make 6 cupcakes out of the batter and then cook the rest in a 9x13 pan. Cool.

*2nd layer!
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened 12 oz Cool Whip
2 cups powdered sugar

Mix together and spread on cake and refrigerate.

*Top layer!
Cook 1 pkg Strawberry Danish Dessert. Completely cool and add 1 ½ cups fresh sliced strawberries on top of the cream cheese mix.

Cut and Serve! It's the best and great for the Red, White and Blue holidays coming up :)

{April's} Chocolate Chip Cookies!!

These are the {perfect} chocolate chip cookies! They are nice and fluffy and soooo good!

{cream together}

2/3 cup shortening

2/3 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

{then add}

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3 1/2 cups flour

1 bag of semi-sweet or milk choc. chips

bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes :)