Taco Salad

1 lb. ground beef
onion
1 pkg. (or about 2 tbsp.) taco or fajita seasoning
tortillas chips
tomatoes
green onions
olives
shredded cheese
sour cream
salsa


Brown ground beef and finely chopped onion. Add 1/2 cup water and taco or fajita seasoning and simmer. Chop tomatoes, green onions, olives and set aside.

To serve: crumble up tortilla chips, top with meat, cheese, tomatoes, green onions, olives, sour cream and salsa. Mix together.

Yield: 4-6 servings.

Cookie Dough Truffles

1/2 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 c. miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1 1/2 lb. dark chocolate candy coating, coarsely chopped

In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour, alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Shape into 1-in. balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Loosely cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm.

In a microwave bowl, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Dip balls in coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. if desired remelt remaining candy coating and drizzle over candies. Store in the refrigerator.

Yield: 5 1/2 dozen.

Fortune Cookies

3 tbsp. butter, softened
3 tbsp. sugar
1 egg white
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 c. all-purpose flour

Write fortunes on small strips of paper; set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw two 3 1/2-in. circles on paper; set aside.

In a small bowl, beat the butter, sugar, egg white and vanilla. Add flour; mix well. Spread 1 tbsp. batter over each circle. Bake at 400F for 5-6 minutes or until lightly browned.

Slide parchment paper onto a work surface. Cover one cookie with a kitchen towel. Place fortune in the center of the other cookie; loosen cookie from parchment paper with a thin spatula. Fold cookie in half over fortune strip so the edges meet; hold edges together for 3 seconds.

Place center of cookie over the rim of a glass; gently press ends down to bend cookie in middle. Cool for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack. Repeat with second cookie. If cookies become too cool to fold, return to oven to soften for 1 minute. Repeat with remaining batter and fortunes.

Yield: 10 cookies

Sugar Cookies

1/2 C. butter, softened
1/2 C. shortening
1 C. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
additional sugar

In a large bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture.

Shape into 1-in. balls. Roll in sugar. Place on greased baking sheet; flatten with a glass. Bake at 350F for 10-12 min. or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield: 5 dozen

Drain Cleaner

1 box of baking soda
vinegar

Get a small box of baking soda and pour about half of it down the clogged drain. Top it off with just enough vinegar to really get it foaming. Wait for the foam to settle, then repeat with the other half of the baking soda, followed again by vinegar. Let the mixture sit in your drain for at least an hour, longer if you can, then rinse it with plenty of hot water.

Furniture Polish

1 c. olive oil
1/2 c. lemon juice

Shake well and apply a small amount to a flannel cleaning rag or cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface. Turn cloth to a dry side and polish dry.

Silver Cleaner

Get out a pan/bowl and line it with aluminum foil. Make sure the shiny side of the foil is up. Now arrange your silver items on top of the foil. Pour plenty of boiling water over the silverware making sure everything is submerged. Spinkle 3 tbsp baking soda and 1 tbsp. salt mixture all over the pan. Then just walk away for 15-20 minutes. Use some tongs to remove the silver pieces and drop them in some soapy water. Give them a quick wash and then lay them out to dry. You can polish them a bit with a soft cloth.