Ham and Cheese Ziti

Ham and Cheese Ziti
A crowd pleaser and versatile recipe you can change by using vegetables or cheeses of your choice!

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) ziti
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups 2% milk
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded white cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

Directions
Prepare ziti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in the cheeses, garlic powder and pepper; cook and stir until cheese is melted.

Drain ziti; add to sauce mixture. Stir in ham and spinach. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 6 servings.

Found at Taste of Home.

Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake

Spiced Pear Upside Down Cake

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 large pears peeled and sliced
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp ginger
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup warm water

Pour melted butter into a 9 inch square baking pan.  Sprinkle with nuts and brown sugar.  Arrange pears over nuts.  In a large bowl, cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and molasses.  Combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with water, beating well after each addition.

Spread batter over pears. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.  Serve warm with ice cream if desired.

Found at Taste of Home.

Christmas Bread

Christmas Bread

18-1/2 oz. pkg. yellow cake mix
3-1/2 oz. pkg. instant pistachio pudding mix
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. oil
1/4 c. water
1 c. sour cream
1/4 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon

Combine dry cake and pudding mixes, eggs, oil, water and sour cream. Pour into 2 greased 9"x5" loaf pans. In a small bowl, mix together sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle sugar mixture on top of bread mixture; press firmly into bread before baking. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, or until center tests done. Makes 2 loaves.

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Pumpkin Crunch

1 package Yellow cake mix
1 can (15 oz.) solid pack pumpkin
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup nuts
1 cup butter, melted
Heat oven to 350°. Mix pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bow. Pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture. Then sprinkle with nuts. Drizzle with butter. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until golden brown. Cool, served chilled. Serve with whipped topping.

Homemade Hot Chocolate

Since we live in the deep south, hot chocolate is a rare treat.  It just doesn't get cold that much to enjoy it that often.  When we do indulge, it is usually done by heating a mug of milk in the microwave and adding an instant mix to it!  I found a recipe for homemade hot chocolate made in the slow cooker over at Comfy In the Kitchen and knew that I had to put it here to come back to....when those cold nights arrive!

Homemade Hot Cocoa


(Serves 10)

3/4 cup sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp salt
1 cup hot water
1/2 gallon milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 8 oz whipped cream
*extra whipped cream or marshmallows to garnish
In a med/large pot on the stovetop (med/high heat) pour in hot water, sugar, cocoa powder and salt- whisk well. Add chocolate chips, whisk well until melted. Add milk and whisk again until well combined. Add vanilla and cinnamon then stir in whipped cream. Serve and garnish!
If you are making this in advance (for example, going caroling-etc.) simply place in the Crockpot on low heat -it will be waiting for you when you come in from the cold!!!!

Easiest Pumpkin Muffins

Come Have A Peace shared a pumpkin muffin that is about the easiest I have ever seen!  Since I love pumpkin, I had to get this recipe!

Easy Pumpkin Muffins

1 box of spice cake mix
1 c. of canned pumpkin (not pie mix, just pumpkin, so you can also do it yourself, if you can't find find canned pumpkin)
1/2 c. water

Mix ingredients together until you just see a few dry cake mix crumbs. Spray 12 muffin tins, and spoon batter into the pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 24 min.

How easy is that??

Peanut Butter Bars

Lip Smackin’ Peanut Butter Bars

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 -1/2 cups flour
1 -1/2 cups oatmeal

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FOR THE TOPPING:

¾ cups Peanut Butter
1 cup Granulated Sugar
½ cups Evaporated Milk
5 Tablespoons Butter
1 cup Milk Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and peanut butter. Add eggs and vanilla. Add soda and salt and mix until well blended. Add flour slowly, making sure it’s incorporated, but do not overmix. Stir in oatmeal by hand.

Spray a 15 x 10 jelly roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread mixture in a pan. (I wet my hand slightly and press the mixture evenly.) Cook at 350 degrees for 12 – 15 minutes until golden brown.
Remove from oven and immediately drop peanut butter (from the topping ingredient list) by teaspoonfuls evenly around the top. Allow to melt and spread smooth with a spatula. Allow to cool thoroughly.

In a small saucepan, bring sugar, evaporated milk, and butter to a full boil for 45 seconds. Remove from the heat and add the milk chocolate chips. Whisk until chocolate sauce is smooth. Pour evenly over bars and allow to set before cutting and serving.

Found at Make It Do