PERFECT M&M COOKIES

PERFECT M&M COOKIES

We really liked these.  Would be fun to try regular size M&M's next time.  Added about 3T of milk.  The dough seemed dry.
http://picky-palate.com/2013/04/03/how-to-make-perfect-m-and-m-cookies/

How To Make Perfect M and M Cookies by Picky Palate www.picky-palate.comIngredients

1 stick/1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all purpose Gold Medal Flour
3 tablespoons Instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1 or 1-1/2 cups Mini M and M’s

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line a large baking sheet with a silpat liner or parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl cream your butter and sugars until well combined. Add your egg and vanilla mixing to combine. Add your flour, pudding mix, baking soda and salt, stirring to combine. Add chips and m and m’s stirring to combine.

With a medium cookie scoop, place dough 1 inch apart from each other. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cooked through. Let cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Enjoy!

Makes 2 dozen cookies

FRUIT SALAD

Some of my favorite salad are found in the Taylor Cookbook.

FRUIT SALAD
This makes a lot..perfect for a big group.  Or just half if making for one dinner.  You can use different fruit.  We used Thanksgiving 2012 and many times since.  Taylor RS pg. 33.

2 large cans fruit coctail Strawberries, if desired
1 can peaches, diced ½ pt. whipping cream, whipped
4 large peeled apples, chopped 1 (3 oz) pkg. Cream cheese, softened
2 sliced bananas or pineapple 1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts, optional 2 T powdered sugar


Cream whipped cream, powdered sugar, cream cheese and vanilla together.  Fold into fruit mixture and chill

Secret Fruit Salad

Serves 3-4

I did frozen raspberries and blueberries.  Also canned pineapple.  Worked great!

2 tablespoons dry instant vanilla pudding mix
1 pound of strawberries, quartered
1/2 pint blueberries
1/2 pint raspberries
1/2 pineapple, cubed
1 bunch grapes

Sprinkle fruit pudding powder and stir. Serve immediately or allow to sit overnight.

Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Dressing - Easy
Yield: enough for a crowd

1 pt. container strawberries
1 pt. container blueberries
1  bunch (about 1 1/2 lbs.) seedless grapes (green, red or a mixture of both)
1/4 cup honey
juice from 2 limes (about 2-3 tablespoons)


Rinse strawberries, blueberries and grapes.  

Gently pat dry the fruit.  Hull strawberries, then cut each in half; if large, cut into quarters.

Remove stems from blueberries, if any.

Remove grapes from stems.

Gently combine  all three in a large bowl or aluminum tray.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together honey and lime juice.  Pour over fruit.  

SALADS

CONFETTI CORN SALAD

Scott was looking at this salad very suspiciously, but he was surprisingly liked it. I really liked it. I liked it more than I like Cowboy Corn Salad. I doubled the recipe just because of the can sizes.

1 can (7 oz) whole kernel corn, drained

1 can (2 1/4 oz) slice ripe olives (can add whole olives too)

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper

2 radishes, sliced

1/4 cup prepared Italian salad dressing*

*I made my own: 1/4 c. basalmic vinegar, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 tsp honey, 2 garlic cloves (or 1 big one) smashed. Add all together and shake.

Add all the ingredients and toss to coat.

GREEN TREASURE SALAD

This tasted really good and it was fun to have the kids help make.

1 cup green apple

1 cup green grapes

1/2 cup marshmallows

1/2 cup lemon yogurt

2 T slivered almonds

Mix everything together.

for more 5 a day recipes go to: www.5aday.gov

COOKIE SALAD

This recipe comes from Melody. It is very yummy! The kids loved helping me make it. A definite crowd pleaser. It is also good without the cookies.

1 pint strawberries
2 cups seedless grapes
1 small can pineapple tidbits, drained
2 bananas, sliced
1 12 oz carton Cool Whip
1 3 oz package instant vanilla or cheesecake pudding (sugar free works too)
1 cup buttermilk
1 pkg fudge striped cookies, broken

Combine fruit. Mix Cool Whip, buttermilk, & dry pudding mix in a separate bowl. Fold into fruit. Just before serving, fold in broken cookies. Serves 20. (I doubled it for the blessing.)

You can vary the fruit. If you want it just like I made it, use 2 lbs. strawberries, 5 bananas, 1 can pineapple chunks (drained), and 1 can mandarin oranges (drained). (That's just for the single recipe, not doubled.) Oh, and I found that I much prefer the store brand fudge-striped cookies (I used Kroger brand) to the Keebler variety. Cheaper and not as waxy.

ASIAN SALAD

Scott didn't like this salad, but I did. It reminded me of the one from Costco that I really like.

2 1/2 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite size pieces

1 (10 oz) bag shredded cabbage with carrots (if it doesn't have shred 2 carrots)

1 cup sliced mushrooms

2 T chopped cilantro (I didn't add)

1 cucumber, thinly sliced

1/2 cup non-fat Asian or Oriental salad dressing (next time I would use an expensive good kind instead of Kraft)

black pepper

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1 tangerine (I used canned mandarian oranges)

3 green onions, thinly sliced

Mix everything together except green onions and tangerines. Put them on the top at the end.