Butter Bars

I found this recipe on Pinterest, and was pleasantly surprised to find I had all the ingredients on hand. After reading the rave reviews of this recipe (I always read the comments before I try/buy something new) I had to try it out that night. They were just as good as as I had hoped, and even better the next morning for Breakfast! :)

Butter Bars
from See Jane Cook
(submitted by Michelle)


Crust:
1 yellow cake mix
1 egg
1/2 cup butter (1 cube), melted

 Filling:
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 stick butter, melted
3 cups powdered sugar

 Combine crust ingredients and pat into a 9 X 13 pan. Beat cream cheese, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Add butter and sugar. Mix well. Pour over crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

 Variations: use lemon cake mix and add lemon juice and zest to filling, use chocolate cake mix and add 3/4 cup peanut butter to the filling.

Crash Hot Potatoes

I saw this recipe by Pioneer Woman a few years ago, quickly forgot about even though they looked and sounded so yummy, then I re-found it last year and put it in my "must make soon!" folder. I have now made them 4 times since. They are so amazingly awesome! I left out the Rosemary not only because I didn't have any on hand, but because my kids have told me in the past that they don't eat sticks. :) I honestly could just eat this for dinner and that it's and be completely happy and satisfied with my meal.

Crash Hot Potatoes
(from the Pioneer Woman)
submitted by Michelle

12 whole New Potatoes (or Other Small Round Potatoes)
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil Kosher Salt To Taste
 Black Pepper To Taste
 Rosemary (or Other Herbs Of Choice) To Taste

Preparation Instructions
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add in as many potatoes as you wish to make and cook them until they are fork-tender.
On a sheet pan, generously drizzle olive oil. Place tender potatoes on the cookie sheet leaving plenty of room between each potato.
With a potato masher, gently press down each potato until it slightly mashes, rotate the potato masher 90 degrees and mash again.
 Brush the tops of each crushed potato generously with more olive oil. Sprinkle potatoes with kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper and fresh chopped rosemary (or chives or thyme or whatever herb you have available.)
Bake in a 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Fast and Easy Breadsticks

I love carbs. I get sucked in quickly when I see the word bread. Carbs are just my comfort food. And my eat-all-the-time food. When I saw the recipe for these breadsticks I knew I had to try them, not only because they were carbs, but because the had the phrase "fast and easy" with it. That means to me: "I can eat it sooner".

Fast and Easy Breadsticks
(from The Chocolate in my Life)
submitted by Michelle


3 tbsp yeast
2 ¼ cup water
3 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
4- 5 ½ cups flour


Dissolve and activate yeast in warm water. Mix ingredients together. Let rise until double in bulk; about 15 min. Roll dough out onto slightly floured surface in an oblong shape ¾ inches thick. Using a pizza cutter, cut dough into strips lengthwise and then once down the middle width-wise. Melt 1 cube butter on cookie sheet. Dip a strip of dough and fold in half while twisting it around your finger, repeating with all dough until your pan is full. Sprinkle breadsticks with garlic powder and salt.
Let rise for 20-30 min. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 min.