Dough Ingredients:
1/2 C. Sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 C. shortening (Crisco)
2 packages dry yeast (Red Star or Fleischmans)
1 1/2 C. HOT water
2 large eggs
5-6 C. bread flour (regular flour will work)

Caramel Ingredients:
1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar
3/4 C. White Corn Syrup
1 1/2 sticks of soft Butter or Margarine
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1. Add dough ingredients into mixer in this order:
   1) sugar, shortening and HOT water;  2) stir in eggs;  3) stir in yeast; 4) add 2 cups of flour; 5) add salt; 6) remaining flour.
2. As you add the remaining flour it may get to be too much for the mixer, use a big spoon, you may have to eventually kneed in flour if necessary.  Add enough flour so the dough is pliable and workable without sticking to your hands, spoons or counter.
3. Form dough into a ball and place into a bowl, cover with a dishtowel and place in a cool oven with the light on. Let the dough rise about twice it’s size (about an hour, but varies, so keep an eye on it after 30 minutes.
4. Next, punch dough down back into a ball cover with dishtowel and let it rise a second time to twice it’s size (about another hour, but watch after 30 minutes).
5. Just before you take the dough out of the oven, mix the caramel mixture ingredients together REALLY WELL, the caramel mixture will be really soft.
6. After dough rises a second time, roll dough with a rolling pin into a rectangle shape about a 1/2 inch in thickness.
7. Spread caramel mixture over dough keeping it a 1/2 inch from the edge of dough.
8. Roll up the dough the long way, on the final roll pinch dough to keep it together.
9. Using kitchen scissors, cut into 1 1/2″  rolls.
10. Place into greased pans, but DO NOT pack them tight.  They can touch some, but allow a little room around each roll.
11. Cover pans with a dishtowel and place in a cool oven with light on.
12. Let dough rise until about twice the size (about another hour, but watch after 30 minutes).
13. Take rolls out of oven.
14. Heat oven to 325 degrees.
15. Bake 15-20 minutes, look for golden brown color.
16. Take out of oven, flip pan onto cook sheet(s) and enjoy!

2 T. olive oil
1 medium white onion, diced
6 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tsp. cumin, ground
2 C. chicken stock
2 – 10 oz. cans tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel)
2 – 15 oz. cans black beans, drained
1 1/2 C. Frozen corn
Salt, to taste
Sriracha hot chili sauce, to taste
Sour cream, to garnish

Heat olive oil in a quart saucepan and sweat the onion until translucent. Add garlic and cumin and cook another two minutes.

Add stock, tomatoes and chilies, and beans. Bring to a boil. Puree part of the soup (a little more than half) to give it some body. Add the corn and season to taste. Serve in warm bowls garnished with crumbled tortilla chips and dollops of sour cream.

Serving size: 6

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix
1/3 C. water
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 can cream of chicken soup
Shredded Parmesan cheese
Rice or pasta noodles of choice (I like fettucine noodles myself!)

1. Place the chicken breasts in a slow cooker.
2. Combine salad dressing mix and water; pour over chicken.
3. Cover and cook on low for 3 hour.
4. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together cream cheese and soup until blended.  Pour mixture over chicken.
5. Cook 1-3 hours longer (or until chicken is done).  Cut chicken up into bite-sized pieces while in crock pot – last hour.

Server over hot rice or pasta noodles.
Add a bit of shredded parmesan cheese on top before serving

1 lb Italian sausage (cooked, drained)
1 large jar pimentos
3-4 C. shredded Mexican cheese
1 C. ranch salad dressing
3-4 boxes of wonton cups (mini fillo shells by Athens)

Mix ingredients together in a bowl.  Fill wonton cups/mini fillo shells and place on a baking sheet or stone.  Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

3 eggs
2 C. sugar
1 C. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
3 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
4 C. chopped apples (chopped fairly small)

Topping:
1/4 C. softened butter
1 T. flour
1/2 C. sugar
3 T. cinnamon

Cream together oil, eggs, sugar, vanilla, baking soda and salt.  Stir in apples and flour.  Pour into 3 loaf pans (approx. 8.5 x 4.5″)  and sprinkle with topping.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 45-60 minutes.  Check with a knife to be sure loaves are done.

1 lb. hamburger (or Italian turkey sausage)
1 large package of refrigerated tortellini
1 C. red wine
1 onion
2 stalks of celery with leaves
1 red or yellow bell pepper
5-6 carrots
2 garlic cloves
4-5 cans of low sodium beef broth (or chicken broth or a combination)
1 can of tomato puree (28 oz.)
1-2 T. sugar
Dried herbs (basil, oregano, thyme, marjoram, some black pepper)

1. Brown 1 lb of Italian sausage until it is no longer pink – drain well on paper towels (I used hot Italian turkey sausage but I have also used pork sausage).
2. In a large soup pot, saute chopped onion, celery, red or yellow bell peppers, finely chopped carrots and some minced garlic in a little olive oil.
3. Add the cooked sausage to the pot. Pour in about a cup of red wine and stir till it is nearly evaporated.
4. Add 4-5 cans of low sodium beef broth (or chicken broth or a combination), one 28 oz can of tomato puree (I had a bunch of fresh tomatoes so I just blended those up instead but the canned is great, too), and some dried herbs – basil, oregano, thyme, marjoram, some black pepper, and 1-2 tbsp sugar.
5. Let simmer 30-40 minutes until the carrots are tender.
6. Bring to a boil and add a large package of refrigerated tortellini.
7. Reduce heat and simmer until tortellini is cooked (5-6 minutes).

Sometimes you need to add more broth or water on the second day as the tortellini seems to continue to soak up the liquid.  

2-3 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1/2 C. to 3/4 C.. wing sauce (I use Frank’s Red Hot Wings Sauce, Buffalo)
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 C. ranch dressing
1 1/4 C. shredded cheddar, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine shredded chicken and wing sauce in saucepan on low until all chicken is covered in sauce. Add cream cheese, ranch dressing and 3/4 C. cheddar cheese. Stir together until combined. Pour in small, greased casserole dish and sprinkle with 1/2 C. cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit five minutes before serving.

1/2 C. butter
1/2 C. shortening
1 1/2 C. sugar
1 tsp. instant coffee dissolved in 1/4 C. water
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ¼ C. flour
1/2 C. cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 C. oatmeal
1 C. chocolate chips

Cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until very fluffy; add coffee mixture and vanilla.  Stir dry ingredients together and beat into creamed mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheet.  Bake at 350 for 7-8 minutes.  Don’t overbake!!

Cinnamon Crunch Topping:
1 1/2 C. chopped pecans, toasted
1/3 C. brown sugar
2 T. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 T. cold butter, cut in small pieces

Combine pecans and dry ingredients.  Work butter in with your fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Set aside.

Sour Cream Cake:
1 1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2/3 C. butter
3/4 C. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 C. sour cream
1/3 cup orange juice
1 C. blueberries
2 T. flour

Stir dry ingredients together and set aside.  Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy.  Beat in eggs, mixing well after each.  Whisk together vanilla, sour cream, and orange juice.  Alternately add dry ingredients and sour cream mixture to creamed mixture, mix just until combined. Spoon half of batter into greased and floured 9 inch round pan.  Sprinkle half of cinnamon topping over batter.  Toss blueberries with 2 T. flour.  Sprinkle berries over batter.  Spoon remaining batter over blueberries.  Sprinkle with remaining topping.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 – 55 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Drizzle with orange glaze.

Orange Glaze:
1/2 C. powdered sugar
2-3 tsp. orange juice

Stir just enough orange juice into powdered sugar until it is smooth and a good consistency for drizzling.

3-4 lb. beef roast
2 onions (sliced)
5 C. water
1/2 C. soy sauce
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 clove garlic, minced
Rolls or hoagies
Thinly sliced Swiss cheese

Place roast in large crock pot. Add other ingredients. Cook on low for 6-9 hours (depending on how hot your crock pot is). Shred beef and place on buns; top with cheese and broil 3-4 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with juices for dipping.