French Silk Pie

This recipe is 1 1/2 times the original recipe. I felt like the original recipe wasn't enough for a good pie, but doubling it was way too much.  This seems to be perfect!  My husband's sisters have experimented with adding peppermint extract or peanut butter to the recipe, but I'm a minimalist and love the original just the way it is!

1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp sugar
4 1/2 Tbsp Cocoa
3/4 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1 pre-baked pie crust

Cream butter, sugar, and cocoa together.  Stir in vanilla.  Add eggs - one at a time - beating each egg for 3-5 minutes (a must!)  Pour into pie crusts and chill for 1-2 hours, or until set up. Top with whipped cream and enjoy!

Recipe from Annette & Karen

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Pie Crust

1 cup flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup oil
2 1/2 Tbsp cold water

Stir ingredients together, and mold into a ball.  Place dough ball on one sheet of wax paper, press down to flatten it out, and then place another piece of wax paper on top. Roll dough out with a rolling pin.  To pre-bake before adding fillings, poke holes all around dough with a fork, then bake at 400 for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.  Makes ONE pie crust.

Carrot Cake Oatmeal

2 cups old fashioned oats
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
5 cups water (or milk & water mix)
1 cup shredded carrot
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp all spice
dash of nutmeg and ground cloves
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup raisins or craisins

Bring oats, flaxseed, carrots, and water to a boil on stovetop.  Simmer until desired consistency. (Add more water if you want it more soupy.)  Remove from heat.  Stir in remaining ingredients. Serve warm.  Makes 4-6 servings (depending on how large of a serving you want.)

Recipe by Meredith

Homemade Hot Pockets

1 Tbsp yeast
1 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 cups warm water
1/2 tsp salt
3 1/2 to 4 cups all purpose flour
desired fillings (i.e. lunchmeat, cheese, pizza fillings, etc.)

Combine yeast, sugar, and water in bowl.  Let sit about 10 minutes.  Throw in salt and flour and mix with dough hook until the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl.  Put dough in greased bowl, cover with waxed paper, and let rise in a warm place until about double in size.  About 45 minutes.  Turn dough out onto floured surface and roll until about 1/4-1/2 inch thick (depends on how dough-y you want your hot pockets to be).  Use pizza cutter to cut dough into 12-15 equal pieces.  Put your fillings in the middle of each piece of dough.  Then form dough around fillings to make pocket.  Bake at 475 for approx 15 minutes, until golden on top.  Brush lightly with butter while warm, if desired.  Serve warm, or cold.  May freeze and reheat in the microwave.

Original recipe from Our Best Bites.

Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes aka "Crumbly Cheeseburgers"

1 lb ground beef
1/2 medium sized onion, chopped
1/2 of a green pepper, chopped
1-2 Tbsp flour
2 tsp beef bouillon granules (or two cubes, crushed)
water
hamburger buns
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1 1/2ish cups milk
1/2 cup colby/jack shredded cheese
4-5 slices of American cheese

Brown beef in skillet with vegetables.  Drain fat.  Sprinkle flour and bouillon over beef and stir to coat.  When bubbly again, pour a little water into beef to get beef to stick together and make a thick sauce/gravy.

In separate saucepan, while meat is cooking, melt butter.  When bubbly, whisk in flour.  When bubbly, slowly whisk in milk.  Heat on med-high heat, stirring frequently, until milk mixture starts to bubble and thicken.  Remove from heat and stir in cheeses until completely melted through.

Spoon meat onto toasted hamburger buns.  Top with a generous spoonful of cheesesauce.  Enjoy!

*my kids also liked having a squirt of ketchup on the bun, making it more like a "crumbly cheeseburger."

Recipe by Meredith