Dessert: Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

What you'll need: 

1 1/2 cup softened butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl combine butter, sugar, vanilla and beat until creamy. Blend in flour and salt. Shape dough into balls about 1 inch for each cookie. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten with bottom of a measuring cup (or a glass, spoon, whatever you have lying around) dipped in sugar. Bake about 10 minutes until lightly browned on edge. Remove from cookie sheet and cool completely. Make sure that the cookies are relatively small (the bigger they are, the easier they break). 

Dipping sauce:

1 (12 oz.) bag semi sweet chocolate morsels

1 tbsp. solid shortening

Melt over hot (not boiling) water the chocolate morsels and shortening. Dip each cookie halfway into chocolate. Chill in refrigerator 30 minutes on waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Yields about 5 dozen.

Main Entree: Chicken Stir Fry with Cashews

Erin: You know I have made this a few times, but I have yet to actually write the recipe down. You need to make this, its so good and its not hard.

Ingredients 
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp. sugar
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4c low sodium chicken broth
4 tsps cornstarch 
3 tbs peanut oil
4 cups of broccoli flowerets and pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 medium size onion, cut into chunks
1/3 cups of cashew halves


What to do:
Cut chicken into 1 inch strips
In a medium size bowl, combine soy sauce, sugar and garlic. Add chicken pieces and stir to coat with the mixture
In a separate bowl, whisk the chicken broth into the cornstarch and set aside
In a pan, heat 2 tablespoons of peanut oil until hot. Then add the red pepper and broccoli and saute (tossing and stirring constantly) for 3 minutes
Add the onion and stir fry for 3 minutes
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of peanut oil, chicken and soy sauce mixture, stir fry for 7 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. 
Stir broth and cornstarch mixture until it dissolves, add to skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in cashews and serve. 

Main Entree: Chicken Cobbler Casserole

Erin:
I made this casserole dish for Sam a few weeks ago and it was amazing! We were able to eat off of it for a few days and he really enjoyed it. 
What you'll need:
6 tablespoons melted butter, divided
4 cups cubed sourdough rolls (I bought a loaf of sourdough bread from HEB and cut it into squares)
1/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
1 sweet onion, sliced
1 (8oz) can of sliced mushrooms (Honestly, I used a 6oz can and it was too much, so next time I'll only use half)
1 cup of white wine
1 (10 3/4oz) can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup of drained and chopped jarred roasted red bell peppers (I found a jar of roasted red peppers in the salsa aisle, next to the rotel, and chopped them myself. It was really easy)
3 1/2 cups of shredded cooked chicken (I bought an already made chicken from HEB because it was cheaper and a lot faster and because the chicken was so moist, it made the dish delicious)!


What to do:
In a large mixing bowl, toss 4 tablespoons of melted butter with the breadcrumbs, cheese and parsley and set aside
Saute onions in remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat for 15 minutes
Add mushrooms and saute 5 more minutes
Stir in the wine, cream of mushroom soup, red bell peppers and chicken and cook while stiring constantly, around 5 minutes
Spoon the mixture into a greased dish and top evenly with the bread mixture
Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes
Enjoy!

Main Entree: Fish Tacos

Okay, okay, Ashley, before you quickly write off fish tacos, you need to try these! I never thought I was a fan of them before but these are amazing! Promise me you'll try these. I'm not giving you specific amounts of ingredients; just use to your discretion. Here ya go! (And let me know what you think).

What you'll need:
Butter
Fish Filets (any type of white fish works. I used trout, but tilapia is good too)
Corn Tortillas (so much better than flour for this recipe!)
Fish fry
Mustard
1 Avocado (sliced into chunks)
Pico de gallo
1 Lime
Shredded cheese
Roumalade sauce (I bought a pint at a fish market for very cheap!)

Directions:
1. Dip filets into mustard and then coat with fish fry
2. Fry them in a deep fryer until they are golden brown
3. Put tortillas on a skillet with some butter to warm them
4. Add fish, sauce, cheese, pico de gallo, avocado on tortilla 
5. Squeeze lime juice over it
6. Enjoy!

Dessert: S'more on a stick

Ashley: Check this out. I was bored on a random Thursday night and stumbled upon this recipe. It's fairly simple to make and extremely creative! Give it a try. 

What you'll need:

1 bag of large marshmallows

1 package of semi-sweet chocolate chips

9 long graham crackers

Lollipop sticks (I found mine at Hobby Lobby for 2 bucks)

Instructions:

1. Stick the lollipop sticks into the fat side of the marshmellow (not the flat part)

2. Put graham crackers into a large plastic bag and crumble them with a rolling pin

3. Put the crushed crackers into a shallow bowl and put aside 

4. Heat the chocolate; it's best if a double-boiler, but the microwave works just as well

5. Dip the marshmallow stick into the melted chocolate and coat the entire thing

6. Then dip it into the graham cracker mixture 

7. Place on wax paper or foil

Happy Graduation!

Appetizer - Cheese Ball :)

Our little brother, Austen, graduated from high school on Friday and he had a graduation party a few days later. I wanted to make an appetizer that was simple and cheap and kid-friendly. I found a recipe for a cheese ball online that was amazing! It was so easy and everyone really enjoyed it. I put the cheese ball on a platter with wheat thins and it was completely gone by the end of the party. I will definitely make it again.

What you'll need:
2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese
*make sure it is softened because it will be easier to mix with
1 (1 oz) package of ranch dressing mix
2  cups cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups of chopped pecans

Serves 8

First, mash the cream cheese in a mixing bowl. (I put the cream cheese in the microwave for 10 seconds so it was soft enough to mix with). Then, mix the ranch dressing mix and cheddar cheese with the cream cheese and form into a ball.  Next, roll the ball in the chopped pecans. It is best to cover and refrigerate overnight so the cheese ball has time to harden but it can be served anytime. Enjoy!

Hot Chicken Salad Recipe

This recipe has been in our family for years. Our grandmother gave us this recipe not too long ago and it is one of our favorites to make.

What you'll need:
4 cups of cooked chicken cut into small cubes
1 4 oz jar of pimentos
2/3 cup of sliced almonds
2 cups crushed potato chips
2/3 cup mayonnaise
2/3 cup sour cream
2/3 cup cream of chicken soup
2 cups chopped celery
1 tbsp chopped onion
shredded cheddar cheese to top

Directions:
1. Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees F
2. Chop onion, celery, and pimentos and combine in a large mixing bowl.
3. Add mayonnaise, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and pimentos.
4. Stir in chicken cubes and add almonds. Mix until blended well.
5. Place mixture into a greased 13' by 9' casserole dish and top with desired amount of shredded cheedar cheese.
6. Bake for 25 minutes covered.
7. Take out dish and top with crushed chips.
8. Bake for 5 more minutes uncovered.
9. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake Recipe

This is our favorite recipe for chocolate bundt cake. We discovered it a few years back and it's become a family favorite. It's super easy to make and absolutely delicious! 


What you'll need:

• 1 package devil's food cake mix (we like Betty Crocker)
• 1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 
• 1 cup sour cream 
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup water
• 
  
• Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350

2. Mix the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, eggs and water. Stir in chocolate chips.

3. Pour cake batter into greased bundt pan.

4. Bake for 50 minutes or until an inserted fork comes out clean. Cool cake in pan for at least an hour nefore inverting it onto a plate. 

5. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.