Artichoke Bruschetta

-Nicole Bender

1 (6.5 oz.) jar marinated artichokes, drained and chopped
1/3 c. finely chopped red onion
1 French baguette, cut into 1/3" thick slices
1/2 c. grated Romano cheese
5 Tbsp. mayo

Preheat the broiler. In a medium bowl, mix the marinated artichoke hearts, Romano cheese, red onion, and mayo. Toast baguette to very light brown. Top french baguestte slices with equal amounts of the artichoke mixture. Arrange slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Broil in the preheated oven 2 minutes or until the toppings are bubbly and lightly browned.

Muddy Buddies

-Heather Jordan

9 C of your favorite Chex cereal
1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 C peanut butter
1/4 C margarine or butter
1 T vanilla extract
1 1/2 C powdered sugar

Pour cereal into large bowl; set aside. In a microwave safe bowl combine chocolate chips, peanut butter and margarine. Microwave on high 1 to 1/ 1/2 minutes or until smooth, stirring after 1 minute. Stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, stirring until all pieces are evenly coated. Pour cereal mixture into large resealable plastic bag with powdered sugar. Seal securely and shake until all pieces are well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool.

Zucchini Bread

-Heather Jordan

2 C sugar
3 C flour
1 t baking soda
1 t vanilla
3 eggs
2 C zucchini, shredded
1 C oil
1/4 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon

Beat eggs, sugar and oil. Then add dry ingredients. Add zucchini last. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. Pour mixture into pans. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes or until tooth pick inserted into center comes out clean.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

-Heather Jordan

3 1/2 C flour
3 C sugar
2 t baking soda
1 1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
1 C oil
3/4 C water
2 C canned pumpkin
4 eggs
6 oz chocolate chips

Sift dry ingredients. Mix oil, water, eggs, and pumpkin. Add to dry ingredients. Add chocolate chips. Put into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

**Same recipe makes 6-9 mini loaf pans. Bake 45 minutes.

Banana Nut Bread

-Heather Jordan

1/2 C oil
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1/4 C nuts (optional)
2 C flour
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
3 large bananas

Crush bananas first and let set. Cream oil, sugar, and eggs. Add flour, soda, salt and nuts. Then add bananas. Pour into large greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

**You can double the recipe and make 2 loaves with the same amount of bananas.

Baked Plums

-Heather Jordan

6 plums
2 T honey
1/2 split vanilla bean
1 T sugar
1 T butter, melted
1 baking oven bag

Cut plums in half; remove pits. In a large bowl toss plums with honey to coat well. Transfer to oven bag. Add vanilla bean. Sprinkle plums with sugar. Drizzle with melted butter. Close bag; place on baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. (very ripe plums need less cooking time)

Serve with:
a spoonful of mascarpone cheese
toasted sliced almonds

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

-Heather Jordan

pumpkin seeds
vegetable oil
salt

Don't rinse pumpkin seeds!! Mix 1 T oil for every 2 C of pumpkin seeds. Spread seeds on a baking sheet. Salt to taste. bake for 45-60 minutes stirring/flipping every 10-15 minutes.

Fresh Fruit Dip

-Heather Jordan

1 C pineapple juice
1 C sugar
4 T flour
2 eggs
2 T butter
2 t vanilla
1 C marshmallows
Cool Whip

Cook all ingredients except cool whip on low heat until thick. Add cool whip. Chill. Serve with any type of fruit.

Lime Cheeseball

-Nicole Bender

2 8oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. Lime Juice
2 Tbsp. Lime zest
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup crushed graham crackers
1 box cinnamon graham cracker sticks

Combine cream cheese, lime juice, lime zest, and sugar in a mixing bowl until smooth. Form into a ball. I use plastic wrap to shape it. Chill in fridge for an hour. Roll in crushed graham crackers. Serve with cinnamon graham cracker sticks.

Bacon Water Chestnuts

-Nicole Bender

1 pkg. bacon
1 can water chestnuts

Cut bacon in half. Wrap half slice of bacon around a water chestnut. Stick toothpick in top to hold together.

Sauce:
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup sugar

Stir together. (It will be grainy.) Drop a spoonful of sauce onto each bacon wrapped chestnut. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes or until bacon is cooked.