Stuffed Shells

1 box pasta shells
1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce
1 container ricotta cheese
1 pound ground beef
1 medium grated zucchini
1t minced garlic
1c or so grated mozzarella

Boil shells according to package directions.Fry up ground beef. At the end add zucchini and garlic. Allow to cool. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add remaining ingredients (except for sauce and cheese.) Fill shells with a spoon and place in a greased pan. Pour sauce over shells and cover with mozzarella. Bake for 30 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is my new go-to recipe for chocolate chip cookies. This makes a big batch so I either halve the recipe or wrap half in saran wrap and foil then freeze it until we want more.

4c flour
1t baking powder
1t baking soda
1 1/2c butter, softened
1 1/4c sugar
1 1/4c brown sugar
2 large eggs
1T vanilla extract
2 1/2c chocolate chips (I sometimes mix and match, other times just use one kind)
1c chopped nuts (optional. We don't use this... sometimes I just add more chocolate instead ;))

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine dry ingredients in a seperate bowl. In your mixer bowl beat butter until fluffy. Add sugars and rest of wet ingredients.
Gradually add the dry mixture. Mix in chocolate and nuts. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes (or more if you made jumbo cookies. Sometimes the mood hits, you know?)
Cool on sheets for 2 minutes then remove to wire racks to finish cooling.

My Favorite Chocolate Cake

The original copy of this recipe is a "mocha" cake but you can't really taste the mocha. It's just a delicious chocolate cake. The best I've ever had.

2c flour
2c white sugar
2/3c cocoa powder
2t baking soda
1t baking powder
1/2t salt
1T instant coffee powder
1/2c oil
2 eggs
1c buttermilk
1c hot water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Into a large bowl mix all the dry ingredients. Incorporate the wet ingredients (minus the last) one at a time until a thick batter has been made. Pour hot water over the thick batter and stir until uniform.
Pour into 2 greased and floured 9 inch cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
I use chocolate buttercream on this cake and it's decadent and delicious!

Buttermilk Pie Crust

This is a nice and easy pie crust, though not as pretty as a traditional recipe.

2 sticks cold unsalted butter
2 1/2c flour
1T sugar
1t salt
1/2c buttermilk
Cut the butter into the dry ingredients then mix in buttermilk. Divide into to even balls. Press into your pie plate and chill until ready to use.

Chicken Fingers with Honey Mustard

A random recipe I found on a card years ago that is definitely a family favorite!

For honey mustard:
1/2c honey
1/4c dijon mustard
Mix together. Set aside to dip in later.

For chicken:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1c flour
1/2t salt
1/4t pepper
3/4c milk
1c oil for frying
Cut chicken into 1/2 inch by 2 inch strips.
Mix flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Dip chicken into milk then foll in flour mixture to coat well. Place chicken on waxed paper.
Pour 1/4 inch of oil into a large heavy skillet. Heat over medium-high heat to 350 degrees.
Divide chicken into batches and place in an even layer in hot oil. Fry, turning once, for about 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Serve with sauce.

David's Grandma's Pecan Pie

I have to attribute this recipe to Patty Vail. Back when I first started collecting recipes this one was given to me as a Grandma's Pecan Pie recipe. It's delicious and always the recipe I use!

For the pie crusts: (makes 2. Halve if you only want the one)
2 1/2c flour
1c crisco (I use butter)
1t salt
1/2c water
Mix flour, shortening and salt. Add water.

For filling:
3 eggs
2/3c sugar
1/2t salt
1/3c butter (melted)
1c dark corn syrup
Beat above together with rotary beater.
Add 1c pecan halves.
Pour into pie crust. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until set and pastry is nicely browned. Cool and serve with a dollup of whipped cream.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

I'm not a huge fan of "recipes" that involve a mix in the ingredients, preferring to make as much from scratch as I'm able but this one will be an exception for now. I've only made this pie once but I should make it more often. It was a huge hit!

1 1/2 c milk
1 package instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2c peanut butter
1 graham cracker crust

Chocolate layer:
1 1/2c milk
1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
1c whipped topping

Add vanilla mix into the first amount of milk. Beat for a minute or two then add peanut butter. Beat for another 30 seconds or so then pour into crust.
Beat chocolate mix into the second amount of milk for 2 minutes. Carefully spread over peanut butter layer and chill for at least 2 hours.
Top with whipped topping and garnish as desired.