Hawaiian Dessert

from Renee

Note: It makes 2- 13x9 pans so you can cut the ingredients in half if you only want to make one pan. Or use half of everything else and just use the extra cake mix for cupcakes!!!

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
3 (3.4 ounce) packages instant vanilla
pudding mix
4 cups cold milk
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, well
drained
2 cups heavy cream, whipped and
sweetened
2 cups flaked coconut, toasted

Directions:
Mix cake batter according to package directions. Pour into two greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pans. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until the cakes test done. Cool completely. In a large mixing bowl, combine pudding mixes and milk; beat for 2 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat well. Stir in pineapple. Spread over the cooled cakes. Top with whipped cream; sprinkle with coconut. Chill for at least 2 hours.

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Caramels

from the Lion House Cookbook

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup Karo Syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Dash of salt
Nuts (optional)

Combine ingredients in heavy pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon. Keep at rolling boil and cook until it reaches soft ball stage. Pour into buttered pan. Cool then cut into squares and wrap each piece in waxed paper. We like to make the waxed paper pieces big enough to twist the sides so they look nice.

Makes about 75 pieces of candy.

Note: For extra fun, divide the caramel and add nuts. Once cooled, chill in fridge and then roll in melting chocolate. Great for Christmas or Valentine's treats for the neighbors.

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Candy Bar Balls

I made caramel popcorn today and decided to take a bit of the caramel and make a treat for myself. And I came up with something yummy and fun. I listed the caramel I used but I think the caramel from the Lion House Recipe would be even better.....
Caramel:
Use this recipe below or for another option, click here.
1 cube butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup Karo Syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Filling:
Nuts
or anything else you think would taste good with caramel and chocolate!

Coating:
melting chocolate

In a saucepan, over medium heat, cook all ingredients, stirring constantly, until it reaches softball stage. Remove from heat. You can either use half of it for caramel corn or you can make a really BIG batch of turtles.

Have your desired nuts (or other filling) in a medium-sized bowl. I chose to use chopped almonds because that is what I had on hand. However you could use anything. Stir in amount of desired caramel to the consistency that you'd like. You don't want it overly gooey, but you want enough that it is caramel-y. Let set up for a bit so that it is easier to handle.

Once set up, make balls and set them on waxed paper. Chill in freezer for a few minutes while you melt the chocolate. I use the melting chocolate that is are the discs... not the big bars.

Remove balls from freezer and roll carefully in chocolate and set on waxed paper.

Let chocolate set up and then enjoy!!!

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Mexican Pizza

from my own brain

I love mexican food. Well, so called "american mexican" food. I could eat it nearly everyday. So I'm always trying to mix up the ingredients and make it different. Here's what I came up with. And you can make it as health or as non-healthy as you want. It's all in the ingredients.

Two small tortillas (or healthy wraps) for each pizza you are going to make
**if you use wraps, and don't want a big pizza, just cut the wrap in half and use those two pieces for the top and the bottom

Pam non-stick spray

For the inside:
Refried Beans, black or regular
Hamburger, seasoned with desired Taco Seasoning
Shredded Cheese
Salsa, optional
Olives, optional
Diced Red or Green peppers, optional
Sliced Jalapenos, optional

Desired toppings:
Olives
Lettuce
Freshly Diced Tomatoes
Sour cream
Diced avocadoes or fresh guacamole
Sliced green, red, yellow, or orange peppers
Sliced Jalapenos

Directions:
Spray one side of tortilla with Pam. Place on a plate (Pam side down) to build your pizza. Depending on what kind of mexican pizza you want, add layers in desired order. For a regular one, spread desired amount of refried beans over the whole tortilla. Add taco meat and shredded cheese. You can put any of the optional items in there if you'd like or just add it later when you pile the lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream on top of the pizza.

Place 2nd tortilla on top. Slide carefully off plate into hot pan. Spray top with Pam. Cook until lightly golden brown on the bottom. Carefully flip it over (you'll want to use two "flippers") and cook on the other side.

For adults, I usually don't cut it into triangles. We just pile the lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, etc. on top and use a fork to eat it. But for some kids, a whole one is too big so we cut it into 4 to 6 triangles and let them eat it as a slice. See below for variations.

For enchilada style mexican pizza:
Refried beans
Enchilada sauce (we like Carlita's)
Taco Meat
Cheese

For chimichanga style:
Refried beans
Spanish rice (we use the Lipton/Knorr Fiesta Sides Spanish Rice)
Taco Meat
Cheese

For chicken:
Replace hamburger with shredded or grilled chicken, also flavored with taco seasoning

For nacho style:
Refried Beans
Taco Meat
Nacho Cheese sauce
Note: For the nacho cheese sauce, we just cook 1 cheddar soup and 1 Fiesta Nacho Cheese soup from Campbells mixed together with a bit of milk added until it is the consistency we want. And then we store the rest in the fridge for another day or snack.

For appetizers:
Cook as desired according to directions. Cut into triangles and serve with dipping choices of guacamole ranch sauce, nacho cheese sauce, salsa, and sour cream

If you have any other variations you think would be good, let me know... I'll add it to this recipe!

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Breakfast Wrap

from my own brain... with some help from a fast food place I ate at once
These are great for on the go, for kids, or just for convenience.

Tortilla
Egg
Cheese
Choice of breakfast meat

Cook egg like you would an omelet. I added a tiny bit of salt and some water to help make it fluffy.
I warmed the tortilla up in the microwave for a about 10 seconds to make it more pliable for wrapping. Place cooked egg on tortilla, toward the top so you can fold the bottom up when you wrap it.
Place cheese slice on top immediately after so it can melt. I ended up using two slices because I LOVE cheese!Place choice of meat on top. Make sure it is also warm. I was feeling particularly naughty so I used 3 pieces of bacon. Normally I would use one and break it in half. I think sausage links would also taste great. Or thinly sliced ham.Wrap it all up. I drizzled a little bit of syrup over the top for some sweetness, but that could certainly be left out for less calories.

Variation: For a spicy breakfast treat, Scramble eggs until done. Add cheese, taco meat, and/or salsa. We do salsa on the side usually. Wrap it all up and you've got a breakfast burrito.

Lo-fat/Lo-cal tip: All of this could be made to be lo-fat/lo-cal by using a wrap that is lo-fat (like wheat or other natural ones I've see in the stores). Or use turkey sausage or turkey bacon. The cheese could be optional but it sure helps. Maybe just put a tiny bit of grated cheese instead of an american cheese slice.

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Easy BBQ Chicken sandwiches

2-3 frozen chicken breasts (depends on how many people you are feeding)
1+ Cups BBQ Sauce (We use Sweet Baby Rays, and also love Famous Dave's Rich and Sassy)
Buns, or hoagie rolls

I squirt a bit of BBQ sauce in my crockpot, then add the frozen chicken breasts. Then add the rest of the BBQ sauce on top. Cook on high for 2 1/2- 3 hours. I flip them once or twice, but isn't really necessary. Then I get two forks and tear the chicken apart, shredding it. We like our buns toasted, so separate them and put them on a cookie sheet with the insides pointing up. I put a bit of butter, on them and broil them for about 2 min (maybe less depending on your oven... may need to keep a close eye on them.) Then add the BBQ chicken, and you have a tasty chicken sandwich. This one is a staple in our house... great to get ready before church, and nice to come home to!

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My favorite Smoothie

This makes about 4 cups.

Put these ingredients in your blender in this order

1 Cup water or Orange Juice (You may need to add more)
1 C milk
2 8 oz yogurts for your choice (I love strawberry, blueberry, peach, and blackberry)
about 2 handfuls for frozen fruit. I use mixed berries and Strawberries the most often
about 1 tsp Splenda

Optional: tsp of vanilla, ice

Mix it, and you have a yummy smoothie. Of course you will probably end up adjusting it to the consistency you like.

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