Mexicorn dip

This is the perfect dip to bring to any kind of casual gathering. I made this dip for two dozen people and it was gone within an hour.  Note: If making for a smaller amount of guests, just cut the recipe in half.
Ingredients
4 cups Mexicorn (drained)
1 can Hot Rotel
1 can Chunky Rotel
16 ounces low fat sour cream
1 1/2 cups light mayonnaise
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped bell pepper (color of your choice)
Directions
Mix and refrigerate until ready to serve. This dip is served best with Fritos Scoops! =)

Vanilla Sprinkle Cookies

Do you like vanilla cake mix? What about sprinkles? If you said yes to both, then you should make these cookies the next time you want to wreck your diet.

Ingredients:
1 box Duncan Hines French Vanilla Cake Mix
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1.5 cups sprinkles of your choice
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup milk (I used skim)
2 eggs
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large mixing bowl, mix together all of the ingredients except for the sprinkles. After the ingredients are blended together thoroughly, stir in the sprinkles. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto a very lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-14 minutes. If looking to impress, pair the cookies with a scoop of icecream. In the picture below, I made this yummy treat for someone's birthday. In the middle is Girl Scout Thin Mint Ice-Cream, vanilla sprinkle cookies on the side and topped with Hershey's chocolate sauce and more sprinkles! I don't recommend having this one too often unless you're trying to give your system a sugar attack, haha =)

Flavorful chicken tacos

If you would like a recipe for mouthwatering chicken tacos, you have come to the right place!

Ingredients:
3-4 cups cooked shredded chicken
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. onion powder
2 tbsp. cumin
2 tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 diced garlic cloves
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 can diced or crushed tomato

Directions:
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on medium heat for about 4 minutes. In the last 2 minutes, add the diced garlic cloves.
Add all other ingredients except for the chicken and tomato. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add the chicken and tomato. Stir the chicken so it's evenly coated in the spices. Cook for 2 minutes. If you want to cook for longer than 2 minutes so the chicken has more flavor, turn the heat down to low so you don't burn the chicken.

Lastly, put the chicken in either soft or hard shells and serve with the toppings of your choice. I used lettuce, cheese and sour cream.

Pink chocolate chip shortbread cookies

I found a recipe from tablespoon.com for pink chocolate chip shortbread cookies. Even though the picture and video on the website made the cookies look flawless, most people were commenting their cookies were turning out flat. I decided to give the recipe a try and sure enough, that's how mine turned out. However, even though the cookies were flat, they were still really yummy. The part that's screwing everyone up (including myself) is the "softened" butter. If your butter is too soft, your cookies will be flat. In other words, DO NOT MELT YOUR BUTTER!

Ingredients
2 cups powdered sugar
1 bag Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1 cup softened butter
2 cups chocolate chips
Red food coloring

Directions
With your mixer, beat the softened butter until stiff and smooth. This is the part that presents problems. If it's not stiff and smooth your cookies will be flat.

Add desired amount of red food coloring. The more you add, the more pink your cookies will be. Be sure not to add too much unless you want red cookies. I used 7 drops.

Add the powdered sugar and cookie mix. Blend.

Add the two cups of chocolate chips. Mix into batter by hand. The dough should be crumbly not smooth. Thus I reiterate, it all comes down to the texture of your butter.

Just for fun, for my last few cookies I added Andes baking mints. If you would rather use Andes instead of chocolate chips, go for it. Mine turned out delicious.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 F for 12-14 minutes.

 That's it! If you decide to try this recipe, please let me know how yours turned out and if you did anything differently.

If you would like to view the original tablespoon recipe, visit the link below.

http://quick-dish.tablespoon.com/2011/10/09/pretty-in-pink/

 

Homemade gifts for your loved ones

Here are two easy and thoughtful Christmas gifts you can make for the special people in your life.

1) Homemade cookies! They show you care and are fun to decorate.

2) Homemade creations in jars. You see the cute ones in the stores, but how many people actually take the time to make them? If you take the time to do it yourself it will really make an impression! Plus, they're easy to put together.

 The first jar is sugar free honey mixed with a little nutmeg and cinnamon. The second jar is a hot cocoa mix that has cocoa, marshmallows, candy cane pieces and andes mint pieces. The third is a mix of cranberries, granola, almonds, trail mix and raisins.

Those are just a couple of my homemade ideas, but there are thousands of other things you can make and give as gifts. For example, you could make a lavender body scrub or cherry pie in a jar. Here is a great website for homemade gifts in jars to get some creative ideas started. Good luck!

48 Homemade Gifts In A Jar