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.

Soft Scrub/Dish Soap

Baking soda made into a paste, use with scouring pad and rinse thoroughly.

1/4 c. soap flakes or soap shavings (any bar soap will do)
2 c. water
1 tsp. lemon juice or white vinegar
a few drops of essential oil (optional)

Get out a sturdy sauce pan. Pour the water and soap flakes in and slowly heat it over medium heat. Stir the mixture and keep heating it until all the soap flakes melt into the water. DO NOT let the mixture come to a boil. Turn down the heat if needed. Allow the soap mixture to cool a bit, then stir in the lemon juice or vinegar. Keep it sitting in the pot until it is completely cooled, then pour it into an old dish soap bottle.

Orange Cleaning De-greaser

7-8 orange peels
2 c. water

Slice orange peels in strips and boil in the 2 cups of water in medium pot for 1-2 minutes or longer. Let cool and bottle in in a spray bottle. Works great in the kitchen.

Mildew Cleaner

Mix equal parts of plain white vinegar and water and fill it into a clean spray bottle. Spray it on bathroom fixtures, shower curtains, tiles, etc. Let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe the counters, etc. with a clean wet rag. In cases of really bad mildew use a stronger vinegar solution.

Glass Cleaner

1 c. rubbing alcohol
1 c. water
1 tbsp. vinegar

Mix everything together and pour it into a clean spray bottle. The alcohol in the cleaner helps it evaporate quickly giving you that streak-free shine.

Stain Removers

1 cup hot water
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide

Store in spray bottle. Spot treat stains and soak overnight.

2 qts. water
1/2 cup ammonia
2 tbsp. laundry detergent

Store in spray bottle. Spot treat stains and soak overnight. DO NOT use this recipe with bleach!

Ballpoint ink: Press a paper towel against the stain to absorb the wet ink. Using a cotton swab dipped in denatured alcohol, lightly dab at the mark. Rinse in COLD water then wash according to fabric.

Blood: Soak the stained garment for 15 minutes in a bucket of cold water mixed with a handful of salt. Then soak in an enzyme-based detergent. Launder according to fabric. (If the blood stain is fresh, have the person whose blood it is spit onto the blood and rub a bit, then rinse in cold water. The enzymes from the spit help breakdown the stain.)

Chocolate: Pretreat stain with an enzyme-based detergent, then launder as usual. If stain remains, remainder with bleach if safe fabric (or color safe bleach).

Dirt/Mud: Allow mud to dry. Brush off any hard residue, then launder to remove any remaining marks. Treat persistent mud stains with denatured alcohol.

Fruit Juice: RInse immediately under cold water. Treat any remaining stain by sponging it with denatured alcohol. Launder according to fabric.

Grass: Soak in an enzyme-based detergent. Launder according to fabric. Apply vinegar to the stain with a sponge, and lightly dab to lift. If the stain persists, make a paste of vinegar and baking soda, and brush it into the stain with an old toothbrush. Then, wash as usual.

Grease, oil or fat: With a paper towel, blot away any remaining grease. Sponge with dry-cleaning solvent, then launder according to fabric. Pretreat grease spot with Dish soap (like Dawn), rub into stain and launder as normal. If stain is stubborn, put WD-40 on spot and then retreat with dish soap and launder. Adding the grease will help unset the stain. Soak the stain in undiluted white vinegar. Then wash as usual.

Gum: Soak gum stain in distilled white vinegar until it softens enough to remove. Launder as usual.

Lipstick: Dilute by sponging with denatured alcohol. Repeat with dishwashing liquid. Launder according to fabric.

Liquid Medicine: Sponge stain lightly with denatured alcohol. Launder according to fabric.

Mildew: Brush of mildewed area, then pretreat stain with a heavy-duty liquid detergent. Launder in hottest water wafe for fabric. Dry in the sun.

Latex paint: blot excess paint immediately, then sponge with cold water. Launder according to fabric.

Perspiration: Pretreat heavy stains by blotting with ammonia solution (1 tsp. ammonia to 2 cups cold water). Launder using all-fabric bleach. Saturate with vinegar and rub salt into stain, allow to dry in the sun. Launder as normal.

Tomato-based sauces: Place the fresh stain under cold water, rubbing it between your fingers. Saturate the area with a prewash treatment. Launder according to fabric. Saturate with distilled vinegar, allow to soak in. Launder as normal.

Scorching from iron: If it's slight, and has not damaged fibrers, wash immediately with regular detergent in warm water.

Wax: Scrape as much of the wax deposit as you can using a spoon. Place brown paper over the spot and iron with a warm iron until the wax melts into the paper. Treat any residual marks with denatured alcohol.

Spray Starch

Dissolve 2 tbsp. cornstarch in 1 pt. cold water in a spray bottle. Shake before each use. For delicate fabrics, dissolve 1 pkg. unflavored gelatin to 2 cups hot water. Dip a corner of the fabri into the solution to test; if fabric becomes sticky when dry, add more water.

Fabric Softener

3 C. vinegar
2 C. cheap hair conditioner (smell you like)
6 C. water

Mix together in an old fabric softener jug and use as you would in your washer. If you like you can use it make your own dryer sheets. Cut up an old t-shirt and pour softener onto the rag and toss in the dryer with wet clothes.

Deodorize shoes: place 1 dryer sheet in each shoe while not wearing. Helps keep teenage boy feet smelling less sour.

Doll Party Cake

2 pkgs. cake mix, any flavor (plus ingredients to make cake)
4 cups prepared frosting
Doll pick cake decoration, 7 in.
Ribbon, lace, tulle, straight pins and craft flowers

For cake, preheat oven to 325F. Grease and flour classic batter bowl. Prepare one cake mix according to package directions. Pour into batter bowl. Bake 1 hour, 10 min. to 1 hour, 15 min., or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Remove to cooling rack. Cool 15 minutes. Loosen cake ad gently turn out onto cooling rack. Cool 3 hours. Repeat with remaining cake mix to make a second cake.

To assemble cake, trim off rounded bottoms of cakes to level. Slice off 2 inches from large end of one cake and arrange on serving platter to serve as bottom of doll's skirt. (Wrap and freeze unused portion of first cake for later use.)

Frost sides and top of cake on platter; top with second cake. Frost second cake. Wrap top of doll with ribbon or lace; secure in back with pins. Insert doll into cake. Decorate skirt as desired. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve. To serve, remove doll and cut into slices with serrated knife.

Yield: 16 servings

Classic Spritz Cookies

1 1/2 cups butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
colored sugar or sprinkles (optional)

Preheat oven to 375F. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium speed of electric mixer about 3 minutes or until creamy, scraping down sides as necessary. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Add flour; mix on low speed just until blended, scraping down sides as necessary. (Dough will be soft; do not refrigerate.)

Fit Cookie Press with desired disk; fill with dough. Press dough onto cookie sheet 1 in. apart. Decorate cookies with colored sugar or sprinkles, if desired. Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool cookies 2 minutes on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack. Repeat with remaining dough.

Yield: 6-7 dozen cookies.

Variation: Chocolate Spritz Cookies: Increase sugar to 1 1/4 cups. Decrease flour to 3 cups. Combine flour and 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder in medium mixing bowl; blend well. Proceed as recipe directs.

Chili Mac

• 1 pound ground round
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups cooked elbow macaroni (about 4 ounces uncooked)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can whole tomatoes, undrained and chopped
• 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 1 (8 3/4-ounce) can whole-kernel corn, drained
• 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Cook first 4 ingredients in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to crumble beef. Drain well; wipe drippings from pan with paper towels. Return beef mixture to pan; stir in macaroni and next 9 ingredients (macaroni through tomato paste). Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon onto each of 8 plates; top with cheese.

Yield: 8 servings

Golden Macaroni and Cheese

• 1 (8-ounce) package elbow macaroni (about 2 cups uncooked macaroni)
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon onion salt
• 2 (10-ounce) blocks sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 4 1/2 cups) and divided*
• 1 cup soft breadcrumbs (4 slices, crusts removed)
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain well. Set aside.

Place milk, flour, and onion salt in a quart jar; cover tightly, and shake vigorously 1 minute.

Stir together flour mixture, 3 1/2 cups cheese, and macaroni.

Pour macaroni mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish or 2 (11-inch) oval baking dishes. Sprinkle evenly with breadcrumbs and remaining 1 cup cheese; drizzle evenly with melted butter.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

Yield: 8 servings

Burger Sliders

• 4 slices bacon
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 pounds lean ground beef
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper
• 24 small dinner rolls

In a skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Discard all but 2 Tbsp. bacon fat. Cook onion in bacon fat until translucent, about 3 minutes, then add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer. Remove mixture from pan and let cool. Crumble bacon when cool enough to handle.

In a large bowl combine beef, bacon, onion mixture, Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper, and mix well. Form into 24 small patties and chill.

Preheat grill to medium; oil when hot. Cook burgers for about 7 minutes for medium rare, turning once halfway through. Serve burgers on rolls.

Yield: 24 servings

Veggie Fried Rice

• 1 (5.3-oz.) bag quick-cooking brown rice
• 1 (8-oz.) package fresh sugar snap peas
• 4 green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup matchstick-cut carrots
• Vegetable cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons lite soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons dark sesame oil

1. Cook rice according to package directions; drain well.

2. Sauté peas, green onions, and carrots in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add ginger and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add rice, and cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Push rice mixture to sides of pan, making a well in center of mixture.

3. Add eggs to center of mixture, and cook, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes or until set. Stir eggs into rice mixture. Stir in soy sauce and sesame oil.

Yield: 4 servings