Bon Bons

This is a very easy center to dip either in almond bark or chocolate. I used white almond bark and tinted it with orange gel coloring for Halloween. (Do not use liquid coloring to tint almond bark because it will ruin it.) Tint it with other colors for weddings or other holidays.

1 can Eagle Brand milk

2 c. chopped pecans

1 cube margarine, room temperature

3 c. coconut

2 lb. powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

few grains salt

Mix everything well. (I used the dough hooks with my Bosch.) Roll into 1-inch balls and put on a wax paper lined cookie sheet and place in the fridge to get firm. (I scooped them out with a #100 scoop and then rolled them into balls. It made 120 with the scoop.) Melt 36 oz white almond bark in microwave. Stir after every 20 seconds. It will take about 1 1/2 minutes to melt. Add gel coloring, a little at a time, until desired brightness. Using a two-tined meat fork, drop one center into the almond bark, turn it over, shake off the excess, turn it upside down on wax paper and swirl the top with a string of almond bark.

Jack O Lantern Bundt Cake

I received this Buttery Pound Cake recipe from a friend, Cathy Reynolds. My son added the face and drew the pumpkin leaves. One of these days I'll post cakes that my sons decorate. They are quite the cake decorators. I made two bundt cakes, tinted the batter orange and put them together for a pumpkin cake.

2 c. sugar

1 c. butter, softened

5 eggs

1/4 c. sour cream

1/3 c. milk

2 1/2 c. flour

1/2 t. salt

Heat oven to 350°. Combine sugar and butter in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often until creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Continue beating, adding 1 egg at a time until well mixed. Add sour cream, milk and vanilla. Continue beating and scraping bowl often until well mixed. Reduce speed to low and add flour and salt just until moistened. Put batter into well-greased and floured bundt or # 10 tube pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, run a knife around edges and dump out onto cooling rack. Trim top and put two cakes together, top to top, for a pumpkin.

Tater Tot Casserole

This is another great comfort food. It is easy to make and quite delicious. It's a quick main dish to take to someone in need.

1 lb. ground beef

tater tots

1/2 pkg dry onion soup

2 cans cream soup

1/2 can water

grated cheese

Brown hamburger and drain. Add onion soup, cream soup and water. Mix well and pour into 9" x 13" pan. Top with grated cheese. Arrange tater tots on top of cheese, completely covering cheese. Cover with foil. Bake 375° for 45 minutes. Removing foil the last 10 minutes.

Potato Casserole

Sometimes this is called cheesy potatoes and in Utah it is often called "funeral" potatoes because it is a great dish for funeral luncheons. I just made this for the funeral luncheon of my neighbor who was a wonderful cook and a great neighbor. It is a yummy, cheesy side dish.

Melt 1 cube butter, 1 can cream of chicken soup and 1 pint of sour cream. Mix it with 24-36 ounces of frozen hash browns, thawed, and 2 c. grated cheese. Pour into a 9" x 13" pan. Crush 1 c. corn flakes and mix with 2 T. melted butter. Sprinkle on top of potatoes. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. (You can also boil or bake 8 potatoes, cool them and grate them instead of using frozen hash browns.)

Neno Award

Coleen, over at Coleens Recipe, sent me a Neno Award. It is an award to encourage friendships through blogging. Coleen said that blogging has expanded her world and I totally agree with her.

I agree with Coleen about blogging. I followed several food blogs before I decided to open one. My daughter-in-law helped me set up my blog. I have always loved cookbooks and trying new recipes.

Here are the Neno Award Rules:

1. As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.
2. To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.
3. Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.
4. Don’t forget to mention the person who gives you the award.
5. Answer the award’s question by writing the reason why you love blogging.
6. Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.
7. Don’t forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

I am passing the Neno Award on to:

1. Hope Clyde for helping me set up my blog and being a fabulous daughter-in-law!!! (Yes, I have her password and yes, I helped her do this post!!! Love you, mom!!!)

2. Prudence Pennywise for her many helpful recipes.

3. Jenny Chamberlain for her insight into food and quilting.

Halloween Witch's Brew

This was one of my favorite things to do on Halloween with my first grade class. Now that I have retired from teaching, I get to make this brew for my grandchildren's classes and for story time at the Public Library. You can add anything to the brew that you want. I put each thing in a brown paper lunch bag and label it "bat bones", "smashed bugs", etc. Have the children read each bag before you dump it into a large kettle. Stir after each addition. It is more fun if you do not let them see any of the ingredients until it is all mixed up. Then I bag it in snack-sized bags for them to take home. The following are some of my favorite ingredients:

braised beetles--milk duds

dragon wings--crisp snacks (triangle shaped)

pigeon poop--yogurt raisins

shredded lizard gizzards--shredded coconut

cat claws--shelled sunflower seeds

bat bones--pretzel sticks

ghost noses--mini marshmallows

colored flies--M & M's

smashed bugs--raisins

owl eyes--peanuts

pumpkin eyes--candy corn

blood drops--red hots

spider legs--black string licorice cut in 2" lengths

cobwebs--waffle pretzels

skeleton kidneys--jelly beans

witch fingernails--hot tamales

witch warts--chocolate chips

unicorn horns--bugles
bat brains--Nestle Buncha Crunch candy
witch fingers--cheetos