Shannon's Crab Salad

I decided one day that I wanted to make up my own recipe for crab salad to take to the lake. I thought it would be so yummy to add some ranch dressing mix for extra flavor. I've gotten a big head about this because I have had people telling me it's the best crab salad they have ever had! So, here is my crazy concoction!

1 lb. imitation crab meat

12 oz. rotini pasta- cooked

1 cup mayo

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 tsp. dill

1/2 tsp. tarragon

4 green onions chopped

lemon juice of 1 lemon

1/2 packet dry ranch dressing mix

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

frozen peas

salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and let cool. Shred crab meat and place in large bowl. Mix mayo, buttermilk, dill, tarragon, garlic and onion powder, ranch dressing mix. Add to crab and pasta. Mix thoroughly. Add peas and green onions. Sprinkle lemon juice over all. Mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Hurry Up Chicken Pot Pie

We are headed to dance nationals this weekend, but I wanted to share some recipes before we took off. Hope you enjoy them!!

I can't tell you how many times I have needed a really fast meal. This is delicious and so easy and quick! I served this with pineapple chunks.

2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast, Or 3 cans canned chicken breast
1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots
1/2 cup frozen green peas
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1 cup chicken broth(if you use canned chicken, I just use the broth from 2 of the cans)
Salt and pepper
Thyme and Sage
minced onion
1 1/2 cups Bisquick
1 cup milk
1 stick melted butter.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a greased 2 quart casserole, layer the chicken, carrots and peas. Mix the soup and chicken broth. Pour over the layers. Sprinkle some minced onion and seasonings on top. Stir together the Bisquick and milk and pour over top of the casserole. Drizzle butter over the topping. Bake until the topping is golden brown, about 45 minutes.

Best Ever No Bake Cookies

These are the best no bake cookies I have ever had. They are Brad's favorite too. We love the texture. This recipe comes from my mother in law.
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups quick cooking oats
In large heavy saucepan mix and bring to boil sugar, cocoa, milk and butter, stirring occassionally. Boil 1 1/2 minutes exactly. Remove from heat and add vanilla, peanut butter and oats. Mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls on waxed paper. Cool a few hours or until firm.

Batter Bread

Talk about comfort food! This is one of my favorites. This bread is crusty on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. It is really delicious and easy to make. It's the best warm with butter. Makes 2 loaves.

3/4 cups warm milk
1 Tbsp. yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1/3 cup butter-softened
3 Tbsp. sugar
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1 heaping tsp. salt
Mix ingredients in order(makes a gooy batter. I use my hands towards the end). Raise in bowl 1 hour. Drop into two greased loaf pans.
Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

Cranberry Chicken

(Not the best pic cause it was taken with my cell phone)

1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 pkg dry onion soup mix (didn't add soup mix cause I knew Chad wouldn't like it :)
1 small Russian dressing (about one cup)
6-8 ckn breasts (cut into halves)

Mix sauce, soup packet, and dressing together, then pour some sauce on the bottom of baking dish. Place ckn pieces on top of sauce top ckn with remaining sauce. Cover and bake @ 350 for 1 hour. Serve over steamed rice.

Carrots
1 2lb bag baby carrots
1/4 c butter
1/4 c sugar
1 t dill

blanch or steam carrots, then heat them through with remaining ingredients over the stove top in a med sauce pan. Salt and pepper to taste.

I usually serve with a salad too.

Creamy Poppyseed Artichoke Pasta Salad

I don't know about you, but I LOVE anything with artichokes in it. Brad and I have dinner club tonight and I was asked to bring a pasta salad. So I made up my own special recipe. Here it is:

1 can medium black olives
1 pkg. mini pepperoni
1 can artichoke hearts(cut up)
Real mozzarella cheese block, cut in chunks
1 tsp. seasoning salt
1 16 oz. pkg. rotini pasta
1 bottle Kraft Creamy Poppyseed dressing(you could also add a bottle of Italian or Zesty Italian dressing instead)

Cook pasta according to package directions. Mix olives, artichoke hearts, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, seasoning salt and poppyseed dressing. Let it marinate while pasta cooks. Drain pasta and let cool. Add pasta to dressing mixture and stir well. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Enjoy!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think if you make it :)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Covered Brownie Bites and Cinnamon Pecan Special K

You are getting 2 in 1 with this recipe. These are super easy and delicious. Who could ask for more than chocolate and peanut butter mixed with brownies or cereal?! I just took some to the ladies I visit teach yesterday. With the leftover chocolate I added some Kellogs Cinnamon Pecan Special K and mixed it up. So yummy and needless to say it was gone in about 10 minutes.

1 brownie mix such as Pillsbury
2 Cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 Cup peanut buttter

1. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. Bake until toothpick comes out nearly clean from center but still slightly undercooked. Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes. When you are able to touch brownies comfortably, scoop brownies with a medium cookie scoop, roll tightly into a ball and place onto a wax paper lined baking sheet. Continue rolling until brownies are gone. Freeze brownies until very firm, a couple hours or overnight. No worries if your brownie balls aren't perfect, once frozen reshape them. They are easier to handle when chilled.

2. Place chocolate chips over a double broiler(or heat in microwave for 30 seconds at a time until smooth) to melt, then stir in peanut butter until creamy smooth. Roll each frozen brownie ball into chocolate and place onto wax paper to dry. Enjoy room temperature or chilled.