Mary's Salsa

1-28 oz can petite diced tomatoes
3-8 oz cans tomato sauce
2 onions chopped, you could use less onions also
8 Roma tomatoes diced, other type work fine too
1 green pepper chopped
1/2 cup nacho jalapenos cut into small pieces
1 cup cilantro chopped*
1 tablespoon dry oregano or 1 teaspoon ground oregano
1 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon vinegar
3 cups water

Mix all together in bowl and if it is too thick, add more water.

*I measure the cilantro before I chop it and I don't usually use that much.

No-bake Cheese Cake

1 Shortbread ready made crust
1-8oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup whipped cream

Mix cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar.  Fold in sour cream and whipped cream.  Pour into pie shell.  Chill for 4 hours.  Top as desired.

I got this tasty treat from my baby brother Craig.  

Petite Cheescake

2-8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon lemon juice
24 Vanilla Wafers
Pie filling

Beat the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla until light and fluffy.  Line muffin tins with papers and place 1 vanilla wafer, flat side down in each.  Fill cups 2/3 full with cream cheese mixture.  Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until set but not brown.

Cool and refrigerate.  Serve with pie filling.

Makes 24

Clam Chowder

2-6 1/2 oz cans minced clams
1 cup diced onions
1 cup diced celery
2 cups diced, cooked potatoes
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup flour
2 cups half and half (cream)
2 cups milk

Saute onions and celery in butter.  Add flour, mix well.  Add milk. Cook on medium heat stirring constantly until thick.  Add potatoes, salt, sugar, pepper, and clams.

Apple Crisp

6-8 apples
1/2 cup butter softened
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Peel and slice apples.  I use an apple peeler slicer.  Place in a well greased 9x13 pan.
Mix sugar, butter, flour, and cinnamon with fork until crumbly.  Sprinkle over apples.  Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes.  Until apples are soft.

Oreo Mint Surprise

30 Oreo's crushed in blender or food processor
1/3 cup melted butter
1 jar Hershey's Fudge topping
1/2 gallon chocolate mint ice cream
8 oz Cool Whip

Mix crushed cookies with melted butter.  Press into a 9x13 pan. Freeze 20 minutes.  Slice ice cream and place over frozen cookies.  Freeze 20 minutes.  Heat topping and pour over ice cream.  Top with Cool Whip.  Freeze 3 hours before serving.

Cheesey Potato Casserole AKA Funeral Potatoes

7 Potatoes-washed, boiled then peel and grate them.  Put in a 9x13 pan
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Cup Sour Cream
3 Chopped Green Onion
1 Cup grated cheddar cheese

Sauce
1 Cube melted butter
5 Cups corn flakes

Mix soups, sour cream, green onions, and cheese together.  Pour over potatoes.  Mix together.

Mix the corn flakes with the melted butter.  Put on top of the potato mixture.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until bubbly.

My Favorite Fruit Dip

1-8oz cream cheese softened
1-7oz marshmallow creme

Beat cream cheese till smooth. Add the marshmallow cream. Mix well.
That is it and oh so yummy!! Bananas are my favorite.

Gourmet Caramel Cinnamon Popcorn

     www.ourbestbites.com

* 12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernels)
* 1 C roughly chopped pecans
* 1 C brown sugar
* 3/4 t cinnamon
* 1/2 tsp. baking soda
* 1 tsp. vanilla
* 1/4 t salt
* 1/4 C Karo syrup (or honey makes a good substitution)
* 1 stick real butter (1/2 C) cut into 1 Tbs sized squares
* 3 oz almond bark (about 2 1/2 squares) I like to use the white chocolate chips from Funfinity

Preheat oven to 250 degrees

Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside.

Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a 4 C capacity microwave safe bowl. Mix well Add butter and pour corn syrup over the top. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine. Repeat every 2 minutes until melted (about 4 minutes).

Remove & add in vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. Mixture will foam and rise. Pour over popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated. Spread popcorn mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and spread out on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil to let cool.

Melt almond bark according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn mixture. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!

Chocolate Dessert

1 Cup flour

1/2 Cup (1 cube) softened butter

1/2 Cup chopped nuts

Mix together and press in a 9x13 greased pan.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes

1-8oz cream cheese-softened

1 Cup powdered sugar

1 Cup Cool Whip

Beat cream cheese and sugar together.  Add Cool Whip and spread on hot crust.

1 small package instant chocolate pudding

1 small package instant vanilla pudding

3 Cups milk

Mix together and spread on cooled cream cheese .

Top with cool whip.  Refrigerate