Pig Cake

I found this recipe here: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/01/pig-cake/ 

She has great pictures of the process which is why I decided to make it-- it looked so good!

Pig Cake

Prep Time 10 Minutes Cook Time 30 Minutes

Servings 16

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

• FOR THE CAKE:
• 1 box (18.25 Oz. Box) Yellow Cake Mix
• 1 stick Margarine, Softened
• 1 can (14 Oz. Can) Mandarin Oranges, Drained, 1/2 Cup Juice Reserved
• 4 whole Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• _____
• FOR THE TOPPING:
• 1 package (4 Oz. Box) Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix
• 1 can (20 Oz. Can) Crushed Pineapple, Juice Reserved
• ½ cups Powdered Sugar
• 4 ounces, fluid Frozen Whipped Topping (such As Cool Whip)
• Extra Mandarin Orange Slices, For Garnish

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. For the cake, combine cake mix, margarine, 1/2 cup juice from the mandarin oranges, eggs, and vanilla. Beat for four minutes on medium-high. Add drained oranges and beat again until pieces are broken up and small. Pour batter into greased and floured 9 x 13 inch baking pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and set. Remove from oven and cool completely. If desired, turn out cake onto a large platter.

Once cake is cool, blend juice from drained pineapples with the vanilla pudding mix. Add powdered sugar and mix, then mix in whipped topping. Stir in drained pineapple. Spread on cooled cake and refrigerate several hours.

To serve, cut cake into squares and top each square with a mandarin orange slice.

Pineapple Stuffing

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple

1/2 can pineapple chunks

5 slices white bread, cubed

Butter a 9 x 13 casserole dish.  Cream butter and sugar together.  Add pineapple, then stir in pineapple chunks, and cubed bread.  Bake 350 for 1 hour, covered until last 20 minutes.

This is so yummy with ham!  We had it today for Easter dinner!

Cheesy Vegetable Soup

4 t. Chicken bullion
2 1/2 C cubed potatoes
1 C diced carrots
1 medium onion, diced
1 C celery
---- Cook 10 minutes in 1 quart of water
Then add:
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can of water
1 32 ounce bag of California blend frozen vegetables (with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots)
---- Cook until tender
Add:
1 lb. Velveeta
When it is melted, serve.



I got this recipe from someone in North Dakota and love it because its easy and really good!

Grandma Lucile's Sugar Cookie

2/3 C butter or marj. for baking     

1 C    sugar                               

1/2 t   vanilla                             

2       eggs                                

1/4 C  milk                                

3 C     flour                                

2 t      baking powder                 

1/2 t   salt                                 

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream buter and sugar together till fluffy.  Add vanilla and eggs, mix well.  Mix the dry ingredients alternately with the milk and mix well.  Chill for 1 hour or till cold.  Roll out on a floured board to 1/4 " thick.  Cut in desired shapes and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 12-15 min at 350 oven.  Cool and frost!  Yum!

Amy's tips:  I found that butter is the only way to go on these cookies, they taste so good.  Also, 11 minutes seemed like the perfect amount of time to bake.  I like them to be baked, but not brown on the bottom so that they stay soft.  I usually double the recipe but tripling doesn't work out... its just too much dough.  I also like to frost them with cream cheese/butter frosting.  Yeah, not the healthiest thing but when you only have them a couple times a year, its worth it.

Hamburger Pie

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 can green beans(drained)
• 1 can tomatoe sauce (or soup)
• 1 Tbsp worchestire sauce
• 1 tps onion powder
• 1 tsp thyme
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Grated cheese

Directions

1. Brown ground beef and drain the fat.
2. Stir in tomatoe sauce worchestire sauce, onion powder and thyme. Transfer to greased 9x13 in pan, and top with green beans.
3. In a seperate pan, prepare mashed potatoes, approximately 8-10 servings worth, enough to cover hamburger and green beans completely. Spread potatoes on top. Sprinkle with cheese, and add a pinch of paprika if desired. Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
4. If you want to try something different, omit the worchestire sauce, thyme, and onion powder. Try about 1/2 package of chili seasoning instead.

  

• If you want to try something different, omit the worchestire sauce, thyme, and onion powder. Try about 1/2 package of chili seasoning instead.

Chicken Potpie

Ingredients

• 10 oz pkg frozen peas and carrots, cooked
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3 cups cooked, cubed chicken
• 2 tubes refrigerated buscuits,
• cut into quartered sections.

Directions

1. Saute onion and mushrooms in butter.
2. Stir in flour, salt, thyme, and pepper.
3. Add milk and broth slowly while stiring to prevent lumps. Cook until thickened, add cooked vegetables and chicken.
4. Pour mixture into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Top with quartered biscuits. Bake for time stated on biscuit packaging. Approximately 15 minutes at 400 degrees.

Chicken and Black Bean Soup

Ingredients:
1 small onion, diced

1 cup celery diced

1 Tbsp cumin

1 Tbsp chili powder

2 cloves garlic crushed

2 Tbsp olive oil

4 cups chicken stock

1 can petite diced tomatoes

1 cup salsa (I use medium)

2 cans black beans, undrained

2 cups chopped chicken(or two lg cans)

1 cup chopped cilantro

Directions

1. In large pot, saute first five ingredients in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add chicken stock, tomatoes, salsa, bring to a boil, and simmer 10 minutes. Add black beans and chicken, simmer 15 more minutes. Add cilantro during last 5 minutes
2. Serve with fresh cilantro, lime wedge, sour cream, cheese and/or tortilla chips.               

I made this low-carb soup for myself, expecting to eat it for at least 4 or 5 days, but then my kids tasted it and it was all gone in one night.