Oven Fried Chicken

2/3 cup all purpose baking mix (e.g., Bisquick)
3 tsp taco seasoning
2-3 lbs chicken

Heat oven 425 deg F.
Combine baking mix and taco seasoning.  Coat chicken with mixture.
Place chicken in pan (I usually put it on a raised grill, and mist with canola,
otherwise a tablespoon of oil on the pan will be fine).
Bake 35 minutes; turn; Bake 15 more minutes or until juice runs clear.

Let cool a bit before enjoying.  I usually serve with cheese biscuits.

Donna's Ginger Cookies (soft)

This recipe came from Jen R

2 ¼ c all-purpose flour

2 t ground ginger

1 t baking soda

¾ t ground cinnamon

½ t ground cloves

¼ t salt (opt)

¾ c butter

1 c sugar

1 egg

¼ c molasses

1/3 c Australian crystalized ginger (opt)

Extra sugar

Combine flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; set aside,

In a large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds to soften. Gradually add the 1 c sugar; beat until fluffy.  Add egg and molasses; beat well. Stir dry ingredients into beaten mixture. Fold in crystalized ginger if using.

Shape into 1 ½ inch balls. Roll in extra sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until light brown.  Do not overcook.

Note: this recipe was passed to me, my only change was to add the crystalized ginger.

t=tsp, c=cup

Sweet Potatoes in Orange Sauce

Just in time for the holidays...whenever someone asks me for a recipe I stick it here. That way I only have to type it in once! This recipe used to be in older Betty Crocker cookbooks -- but it's not in mine (1980 ed). I usually abbreviate my recipes as follows c: cup; T: tablespoon; t:teaspoon

6 med sweet potatoes
2/3 c sugar
1 T cornstarch
1 t salt
1/2 t grated orange peel
1 c orange juice (use odwalla fresh squeezed)
2 T butter

Heat oven to 400 deg. Pare sweet potatoes; cut lengthwise in half. Arrange in ungreased 1 1/2 casserole. In saucepan stir sugar, cornstarch, salt and orange peel. Slowly stir in orange juice. Add butter. Cook, stirring constantly until thick. Boil & stir 1 min. Pour over sweet potatoes; cover; bake 1 hr, basting occaisionally.

Here's a another version with brown sugar.

Peanut Butter Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

2 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c granulated sugar
1/2 c packed dark brown sugar
3 1/2 t baking powder
1 t salt
3 T vegetable oil
3/4 c smooth peanut butter
1 1/4 mashed very ripe bananas
2/3 c milk
1 egg
1 c chocolate chips (optional...yeah right)

Heat oven 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of loaf pan. 9x5x3 or 2 smaller or 4 mini. Mix all ingredients; beat 30 seconds. Pour into pan(s). Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean (choc chips notwithstanding), 65-70 minutes, more for large loaf less for mini; cool slightly. Loosen sides of loaf from pan; remove; cool on rack completely before slicing <-- who are they kidding -- it's really good warm, crumbly but good.

Fruit Crisp

Topping:
3/4 c flour (can subst. w/ gluten free)
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1/2 t salt
4 1/2 T butter, cut up
3/4 c regular oats
1/3 c sliced almonds (opt)

Cut & mix together until consistency of crumbly mixture.

Spread in a large baking dish 6-8 cups of fresh fruit (think peaches and blackberries).
Cover with topping. Bake at 350 45-60 minutes. Serve warm w/ ice cream...yum!

Veggie Kabobs

Just in time for BBQ season!

Arrange on skewer
zucchini
eggplant (chinese -- the long skinny ones)
corn (on the cobb -- chopped in 2 in" sections, nuke to soften core)
mushrooms
bell pepper

Mix and Baste with
1/2 c extra virgin olive oil
1/4 c balsamic vinegar
1 t dried oregano
1/2 t dried basil

Grill on BBQ 6-8 min

Top skewers with 1 cherry tomato (after BBQing!)

Quick and Easy Breadsticks

Need just a little something to jazz up a meal? Try these.

1 can Pillsbury Breadsticks
McCormick Garlic Bread Sprinkle
Grated asiago cheese

Roll the raw breadsticks in garlic bread sprinkle
Bake as directed.
When the breadsticks are done and golden brown, sprinkle with asiago cheese (be generous) and pop back in the oven for 1-2 minutes to melt the cheese.

Baked Rigatoni with Beef (from Cooking Light)

This is one of my favorite pasta dishes to make. It's very easy, and pretty quick to put together.

4 Cups pasta sauce (I use Prego Traditional, but use whatever you like)
1 pound ground round
4 cups cooked rigatoni (about 2 1/2 cups uncooked pasta)
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh parmesan cheese

Preheat over to 350. Cook beef in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned; stir to crumble. Drain well. Combine beef, rigatoni, pasta sauce, and 1 cup mozzarella in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with 1/2 cup mozzarella and parmesan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Yield: 8 servings (serving size 1 cup)

CALORIES 305 (28% from fat); FAT 9.6g (sat 4.3g, mono 3.5g, poly 0.7g); PROTEIN 24g; CARB 30.5g; FIBER 2.3g; CHOL 50mg; IRON 3.5mg; SODIUM 438mg; CAL 232mg