[Whoopie. In a Pan]

Can you go wrong with Sex in A Pan??  I think not.  Feeds a small army - or just one *wink*.

Sex In a Pan

Crust
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 3 tbsp white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup flour
Cream cheese layer
• 1 8 oz package cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar (use 1/2 cup for less sweetness)
• 1 cup whipped cream or cool whip
Vanilla pudding
• 1 package of instant vanilla pudding (5.1 oz or 144 g)
• 3 cups milk (use 2 cups if you want a firmer pudding)
Chocolate Pudding
• 1 package of instant chocolate pudding (5.1 oz or 144 g)
• 3 cups milk (use 2 cups if you want a firmer pudding)
Last layer
• 2 cups whipped cream or cool whip
• shaved chocolate

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
2. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
3. In a mixer mix all the crust ingredients together and press the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
4. Bake it for about 20 minutes.
5. Prepare the vanilla pudding as per the instructions on the package.
6. Prepare the chocolate pudding as per the instructions on the package.
7. In a mixer add the cream cheese, powdered sugar and the cup of whipped cream. Mix until light and fluffy.
8. Let the crust cool. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust evenly. Spread the chocolate pudding over the bottom crust, then the vanilla pudding. Top with the whipped cream and sprinkle with the chocolate.
9. Refrigerate for a couple hours so that it sets.

[Backyard Red Potato Salad]

With 47 family members coming over for a BBQ ... THIS was the perfect new recipe to try.  Honestly .... KILLER good.

• 2-1/2 pounds small red potatoes
• 1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup minced fresh tarragon

Directions

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a
• boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 10 minutes. Drain; cool
• slightly. Cut each in half.
• In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, onion, 1/4 cup oil, 1/2
• teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat. Arrange cut
• sides down on a grilling grid; place on a grill rack. Grill,
• covered, over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until vegetables are
• tender and lightly browned, turning occasionally. Chop onion. Place
• onion and potatoes in bowl.
• In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, sugar,
• garlic and remaining oil, salt and pepper. Add to potato mixture;

[Thai Peanut Noodles]

We have fussy eaters in this home - partly because I've made the mistake of catering to their palettes.  So, I'm branching out into other ethnicities, but with milder flavours so not to overwhelm the kids.  Yet *grin*.  This one went over super well ... they even ate their veggies.

Thai Peanut Noodles

4 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
1 cup light Thai dressing (it's a vinaigrette, at speciality stores.  You can use Lite Italian instead)
1/4cup crunchy peanut butter (I used Adam's smooth - less sugar)
1 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp honey
2 tsp ground ginger

carrots, peppers, green onions, zucchini, red onions ... chopped to stir-fry - as much as you want.

angel hair pasta for 4 (one 8oz package)

**optional  2/3 cup chopped peanuts
** use sesame oil to cook

Directions:

- coat chicken with 1/2 cup of salad dressing.  Refrigerate for 30min.
- whisk together remaining 1/2 cup of salad dressing, peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, and ginger until smooth.
- sautee chicken in sesame oil, until 2/3 cooked.
- boil water for pasta; cook pasta.
- add veggies, complete cooking.
- drain pasta and add to veggies and chicken.
- toss with peanut sauce until warmed through.
- sprinkle with peanuts, if desired.

Serves 4.

[Snickerdoodle Mini Muffins]

Ok.  I haven't posted a recipe in MONTHS and had to laugh that my last post was a Snickerdoodle cookie recipe LOL.  I'm sensing a theme here!!  Got this recipe from a cookbook series called Gooseberry Patch ... and they were a HIT.  They will be perfect for lunch boxes and simple snacks.  Obviously, not the healthiest - but they freeze well and at least are not full of preservatives.  That's how I like to think anyways *grin*.

Snickerdoodle Mini Muffins

1+1/2cup all purpose flour

1 cup quick cooking oats, uncooked

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

1 cup milk

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup margarine, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4cup white sugar + 1tbsp cinnamon for topping

Directions:

- combine flour, oats, sugar, and baking powder; mix well.

- in a separate bowl, combine margarine and egg; gradually add milk and vanilla - blend well.

- add to flour mixture.

- fill greased mini muffin cups 2/3 full.  

- sprinkle with sugar+cinnamon mixture.

- bake at 400F for 12-14minutes.