Hawaiian Rice Salad

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This dish is perfect for lunch, or as side for any meal. I served it with the Ham and Swiss Sliders (recipe below). It is great for entertaining (showers, church functions, bbq's, etc.) and is easy to make large quantities of. I am so grateful to my mother-in-law, Erin, for sharing amazing recipes with me. She is such a phenomenal chef. This one comes from her.

{What you need}

2 cups cooked, cubed chicken

1 (13 oz.) can pineapple tidbits, drained (reserve liquid)

1 1/2 cups cooked rice

(use pineapple liquid with water to cook rice)

1/2 cup diced celery

1 cup red grapes, halved

1/2 cup cashew pieces (I used almonds)

--put these ingredients in a bowl; set aside--

--in separate bowl mix the following, then add to above--

1/4 teaspoon curry powder

1 cup mayonnaise (or plain yogurt)

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon grated onion

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

dash of pepper

Chill for 2 hours. Yields 7 cups.

John really enjoyed this dish. So did I. We have a ton left over since there are only two of us, and I pick at it all day long.  It would be great with shrimp, too.

(Compliments of Erin Henrie)

Grammy's Apple Crisp

This will change your life. . .

{What you need}

little water (1/2 cup --less for juicy apples)

4 cups apples, sliced

3/4 cups flour

3/4 cups sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

juice of one lemon

1/2 cup butter

optional: a little nutmeg or ginger sprinkled on apples

Put apples in buttered baking dish and add water and lemon juice. Blend flour, butter, cinnamon, and sugar with pastry cutter. Pour over apples. Bake at 350 until apples are tender and crust is browned lightly.

Serve warm with ice cream.

(Compliments of Grammy Turley)

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

{What you need}

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 cups brown sugar

1 lb. real butter

3 eggs

2 tblsp. vanilla

(cream all of these ingredients together)

add:

1 1/2 tsp. soda

1 1/2 tsp. salt

6 cups flour

Large pkg. chocolate chips

Form into golf ball sized balls and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes (Don't overbake!)

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{1/3 of the recipe}

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 1/4 stick butter

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups flour

1/3 package chocolate chips

Banana Muffins

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Easiest banana bread recipe in the world. And, oh, so delicious. Another gem from Favorites.

{What you need}

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

(for a healthier variation, sub oil for 1/2 cup applesauce or crushed pineapple)

3-4 ripe bananas, mashed

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream sugar and oil. Add eggs and mashed bananas and beat. Add flour, soda and salt. Pour into lined muffin tins and bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes {or into small greased bread pans and bake for 25 minutes}.

This is so great to make when you ran out of time to eat all your bananas before they went off. It literally takes 3 minutes to assemble. John loves this recipe. You will too!

Oatmeal Cake

This might be my all-time favorite recipe ever. I got it from a dear mission friend, Johna Jarnagin. She got me through some hard times on the mission by feeding my face with delicious food. This was my favorite of all the delicious food that she fed my face with.

{What you need}

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup margarine

1 1/3 cups boiling water

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/3 cups flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon soda

Mix oatmeal, margarine, and boiling water; set aside. Mix sugars and eggs into mixture. Sift flour and spices. Put in a 9x13" pan. Bake for 30 min at 350.

{topping}

1 cup brown sugar

1 cube margarine

1/2 cup canned milk

--boil these ingredients together--

add:

1 cup chopped nuts

1 cup coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla

--pour hot mixture over baked cake--

Be warned that although this has oatmeal in it, it is not the most figure-friendly cake on the block. But it is sooo moist and rich. It really will change your life. Eat with a huge glass of cold milk.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Here's another winner from Favorites. It's great for entertaining. I used a bundt pan and it was beautiful.

{What you need}

1 cup butter

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

{topping}

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons sugar

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Beat well. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture and combine. In small bowl, mix nuts, cinnamon, and sugar for topping. Grease a tube pan or bundt pan and place half the batter in the pan. Sprinkle on half the topping. Add remaining batter. Sprinkle on remaining topping. Bake 40-50 minutes at 350.

Favorite Waffles

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So John and I have this tradition where we have a big yummy breakfast together Sunday mornings (well, we're trying to make it a tradition...I don't know if two Sundays in a row counts as a tradition yet...). Sometimes he makes it, and sometimes I make it. If I am in charge, he knows we are going to have . . . WAFFLES!! My favorite breakfast food!! Here is the recipe I use. It comes from the cookbook Favorites, by the Ivory family.

{What you need}

1 3/4 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

(I accidentally used 3 tablespoons and would you believe they were still delish!)

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Mix ingredients well and bake in hot waffle iron. Top with desired toppings, we like blueberries, strawberries, whipped cream, and boysenberry syrup. Oh, and we have a heart-shaped waffle iron for extra cuteness

(and they seem to taste better when they are shaped like hearts).