Grape Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs green seedless grapes
• 2 lbs red seedless grapes
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, to taste

Topping Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed, to taste
• 1 cup crushed pecans, to taste Directions:

Procedure:

1 Wash and stem grapes. (Can cut the grapes in half)

2 Set aside.

3 Mix sour cream, cream cheese, white sugar and vanilla by hand until blended.

4 Stir grapes into mixture, and pour in large serving bowl.

5 For topping: Combine brown sugar, and crushed pecans.

6 Sprinkle over top of grapes to cover completely.

7 Chill overnight.

Notes: Recipe is from my mom who got it from one of her friends. Takes a bit of time with the grapes, but that is the only time consuming part.

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Ingredients:

20 ice cream sandwiches (regular, sugar free, strawberry or neopolitan)

1 8 oz. container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed

sprinkles or crumbled candy bar or cookies

Preparation:

Cut one ice cream sandwich in half. Place one whole ice cream sandwich and one half of an ice cream sandwich side by side across the short end of a 9 x 13 pan.

Next to those ice cream sandwiches, arrange 8 more ice cream sandwiches lengthwise, to cover the bottom of the pan.
Top with half of the whipped topping.
Repeat layers: ice cream sandwiches,whipped topping. Scatter sprinkles, cookies etc. over top.
Freeze, uncovered 2 hours. Cover with foil and freeze another hour.

Notes: Recipe is from my mom and is great for those who are watching their fat and sugar intake. It's one of family favorites because it is so easy. If you want more chocolate you can put a layer of hot fudge sauce on the ice cream sandwiches before the whipped topping.

Fruit Pizza

1 (18 ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

1/2 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Assorted fruit (blueberries, strawberries, kiwi etc)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Slice cookie dough and arrange on greased pizza pan, overlapping edges. Press dough flat into pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla until light. Spread on cooled crust. Arrange desired fruit on top of filling, and chill.

Notes: One of my favorite time desserts.

Beef Pasta Bake

2c bowtie pasta, uncooked
1lb ground beef
1 onion (opt)
2cloves garlic, chopped
1/2t garlic salt
3c spaghetti sauce
6oz cream cheese, cubed (I just use the whole 8 oz though)
2/3c milk
1/2c sour cream
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3/4c grated parmesan cheese, divided

Cook bowtie pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside. Brown beef, onion, and garlic until beef is no longer pink; drain. Add spaghetti sauce and garlic salt; simmer for 10 min. In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese and milk. Microwave 1-2minutes on high, stirring once. Stir with whisk until blended. Stir in sour cream, green pepper, and 1/2c parmesan cheese. Place cream cheese mixture in greased 9x9 (or close too) casserole dish. Spread cooked pasta on top of the cream cheese mixture. Top with beef mixture and remaining Parmesan cheese. Heat at 350 for 25-30min.

Notes: This has boiled over a little bit so I usually put a cookie sheet underneath. This is good reheated too. Definitely a weekend meal for us since it is a bit more time consuming. It can be frozen though prior to heating it in the oven. Just line your casserole dish with aluminum foil and plastic wrap and then put the ingredients in there.

Stromboli

1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed and slightly risen,
4c shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2t dried oregano
1/2t dried basil
1/2t garlic powder
1 egg, beaten slightly

Pizza topping of your choice such as:
sausage, cooked, spinach, chicken, pepperoni, onions, peppers etc...

Roll bread dough into 14x12 inch rectangle. Add any pizza toppings. Sprinkle cheese over toppings,then oregano, basil, and garlic powder. Roll dough into a log and seal all edges. Place seam-side down on a greased cookie sheet. Brush with beaten egg. Bake at 350 for ~40-45min.
Slice and serve with marinara sauce.

Recipe is from Don't Panic more Dinner's in the Freezer.

Cheeseburger Pie

1lb ground beef, cooked, 1t salt
1/2t oregano
1/4t pepper
1/2c bread crumbs
1/4c onions chopped
1/4c green pepper, chopped
1/2c tomato sauce

Topping:
1 egg
1/4c milk
1/2t salt
1/2t dry mustard
1/2t  Worcestershire sauce
8oz shredded sharp cheese

9inch pie crust

Preheat oven to 425. Mix everything above topping. Put mixture into pie crust. Then mix all the topping ingredients. Pour on top of meat mixture. cook for 30min.

Recipe is from A Taste of Farm Bureau cookbook. It's good reheated too.

Creamcheese filled Strawberries

Ingredients:
1 container whole strawberries
4 oz. cream cheese, softened (half of a brick)
1 tsp. good vanilla or 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup confectioners sugar (aka powdered sugar - adjust to taste)

Directions:
Combine cream cheese, vanilla or lemon (which ever one you are using), and sugar. Mix to combine and refrigerate until ready to use.
Carefully wash strawberries and pat dry with paper towels. Remove the stems from the berries.
Using a small paring knife, core the center of each berry being careful to leave the bottom intact. Fill a plastic baggie (or icing tool) with the cream cheese filling. Fill each berry with the cream cheese filling.
Notes: Recipe is adapted from my MIL. Super easy and yummy. Adjust the ingredients to your tastes.