Maple Glazed Chicken Breasts

2 Tbs pure maple syrup
1 Tbs reduced sodium soy sauce
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 clove garlic minced
1 tsp minced ginger
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

In a large closable plastic bag combine syrup, soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and pepper. Place chicken in bag and turn to coat. Seal the bag and refrigerate for 2 hours. Grill or bake until juices run clear

You can also freeze in the plastic bag(make sure it is a freezer safe bag). just taw and grill or bake at 350 until juices run clear.

Pudding Dessert

There are four super yummy layers to this dessert. This is one of my mom's favorites to enjoy as a family.

First Layer

1 cup flour

1 stick of butter/margerine, softened

1 cup finely chopped pecans

Mix together and spread on the bootom of a greased 9 x 13 pan.(I use a glass pan) Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Then cool before assembling.

Second Layer

8 oz cream cheese, room temp.

1 cup powdered sugar

8 oz Cool Whip

Beat together sugar and cream cheese until well blended. Fold in half of the Cool Whip. Spread over cooled crust.

Third Layer

1 Large box instant chcolate pudding

1 Large box instant vanilla pudding

3 cups of milk

Mix together until thickens. Spread over cream cheese mixture

Fourth Layer

Remaining Cool Whip

Chocolate curls

Carefully spread remaining Cool Whip (you may have to use more than what is left or you can use a 12 oz container instead) over pudding and decorate by using a vegetable peeler and scraping a Hershey's bar to get curls or little chocolate sprinkles.

Refrigerate and enjoy!

**You can also make this recipe using different flavors of pudding. Try Lemon, or Cookies and Cream!

Jello Popcorn Balls

Spring has brought me such a nice suprise, popcorn popping right before my eyes! These yummy popcorn balls can be flavored with any variety of Jello gelatin. The recipe comes from my Grandma, Cleo Gentry.

1 Cup sugar

1 pkg Jello (any flavor, I used the 4 serving box)

1 Cup Karo syrup

3 sets of hot air popped pocorn

Bring sugar, jello, and Karo to a boil. Pour over hot popcorn and form into balls.

Here is a tip for the popcorn, If you pop it into one bowl and transfer it by hand toanother bowl most of the old maid kernels will fall out. This makes it more enjoyable to eat!

Cloud Biscuits

2 cups flour

1 tbsp. sugar

4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup softened butter

1 egg

2/3 cup milk

Mix ingredients, knead about 20 strokes. Roll or pat out dough on floured surface 3/4" thick. Use something circular to cut out biscuits. (I just use a cup)

Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 10 - 14 minutes.

Bruschetta Chicken Bake

This recipe comes from Kraft Foods. I made this ahead all except for the baking and froze it for a future night.

To see the complete recipe go HERE.

Gentry Green Jello

This family favorite is one that I remember eating as a child and is a favorite of my children.

1 large box Lime Jell-O

2 cups boiling water
1 can crushed pineapple
1/8 tsp peppermint extract
16 oz Cool Whip
8 oz mini marshmallows

Place can of pineapple in freezer to get really cold (this is optional but it helps to speed up the preparation of this dish). Dissolve Jell-O in water then add cold pineapple stir and place in fridge or freezer until it gets sloppy. Stir in the remaining ingredients spoon into an 11 X 13 pan or serving bowl and refrigerate until set up.

*Optional ingredient to add is crushed up after dinner mints. This was an original ingredient that my grandma would put in and makes the salad very colorful.

Caramel Corn Puffs

This yummy treat is perfect for get togethers or games nights and best of all you wont have to worry about biting into any kernels!

1/4 Corn Syrup

2 cups Brown Sugar

1 TBS Water

1 tsp vanilla

1 cube margerine/butter

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 bag of Corn Puffs or 8 oz (found in the chip isle at the grocery store-they are like Cheetos but without the cheese.)

In a roasting pan pour the corn puffs and set aside.

Combine all other ingredients except baking powder in a heavy sauce pan. Bring to a boil, let boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add baking soda. Pour sauce over corn puffs and stir to evenly distribute caramel. Place roasting pan in a 200 degree oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer onto a large cookie sheet to cool. This keeps them from sticking together while they cool.

Tex-Mex Pinto Beans

This recipe comes from  Betty Crocker's 1-2-3 Dinner: 350 Quick and Delicious Supper Solutions, page 311. It is one of our favorites and it is very inexpensive too.

1 lbs dried Pinto beans (2 cups), sorted and rinsed

1 large onion chopped or 1/4 cup dried minced onion

2 cloves of garlic or 1 tsp garlic powder

6 1/2 cup water

1 Tbls chili powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Mix all ingredients in 3 1/2 to 6 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat 7 to 9 hours or until beans are tender.

Serve with Heavenly Cornbread  and a salad or fruit to finish off this meal. We like to top with shredded cheese and a drop of sour cream. You could also add chopped ham to the recipe for a heartier taste.

Heavenly Cornbread

Warning: This is NOT a low fat, low calorie side dish however it IS a little piece of heaven passed onto me from my mother in law.

2 eggs beaten
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cubes butter, melted
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 Tbls corn meal, heaping
1 cup sugar
2 cups Bisquick

Mix together and pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean from the center.

Here is a less rich substitution to use instead of the portions above. All else remains the same:
1 cube butter
1/4 cup corn meal
3/4 cup sugar

Water Punch

This family favorite came from my great Aunt Aud. Mix up this clear drink and surprise your guests with the sweet and tangy taste.

5 Quarts of Water

1 Lemon sliced

3 Cups of Sugar

1 TBS Citric Acid

1 TBS Lemon Extract

Mix all together and refrigerate overnight for best flavor.

Tomato Ravioli Soup

This quick soup can be custom made for any family by the use of left over veggies! Be adventurous and come up with your families favorite combination.

1 jar Spaghetti sauce (any variety or flavor)

1 can diced tomatoes (I like to use the oregeno and garlic flavor)

4 cups of water ( you could also use chicken broth. I did half broth and half water for the soup above) until it is as thin as you desire.

2 cups veggies as you like. (In the soup above I used a yellow squash and some fresh frozen green beans that I put up in the summer. You could use fresh or canned mushrooms, corn, carrots, white beans etc...)

1/2 package fresh or frozen ravioli

Combine all but the ravioli in a large pot, bring to a boil and add ravioli, cook as directed on ravioli package usually it is 5 minutes. Serve with these yummy bread sticks to really top the meal.

Butter Dipped Bread Sticks

For a bridal shower each guest was asked to bring a receipe for me. This recipe came from my aunt Dayna. I have loved it so much because it is easy and super yummy!

1/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt (I use a bit less if I am using salted butter)

1 cup of shredded cheese (I usually use chedder but other types can be used depending on what you are serving these with)

2/3 cup milk

1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning (Optional)

1/4 tsp Garlic powder (Optional)

Heat oven to 450 degrees. In an 8x8 or 9x9 pan melt butter in the heating oven. Meanwhile either by hand or in a mixer combine the rest of ingredients and mix until just brought together. You don't want to over mix.

Lightly flour counter top and form a mound of the dough. I like to pat it out into a square like shape then roll into the size of the pan you are going to use. Cut the dough in strips and dip one side in melted butter then place the other side down in the butter repeat with the other dough strips rearranging your dough in the pan. Bake 15-20 minutes. Before serving cut in half for smaller bread sticks if desired (I like to do this so it can stretch the recipe further and I will feel guilty eating more than one stick because they are so good it is hard to stop!)