springy shells recipe

THIS looks tasty.

Pistachio Cake

Cake:
1 box white or yellow cake mix (w/o pudding)
4 eggs
1 cup water
1 cup cooking oil
2 small packages instant pistachio pudding

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Combine above ingredients and mix well according to cake package instructions. Pour batter into a non-stick or greased bundt or angel food cake pan and bake 10 minutes at 275 degrees, another 10 minutes at 300 degrees then 35 minutes at 325 degrees. (I followed these directions - but I honestly don't understand the gradual cooking.) The cake will be done when a knife, pushed into th ecenter, comes out clean.

Random side notes: When you grease the pan, use Crisco if you have it, if not, oil. then dust flour and make sure all areas are covered so the cake doesn't stick. Cool for 15-20 minutes and invert onto serving plate. Take a long knife and go around cake pan (inside and outside) to loosen cake before inverting it. Turn cake pan upside down and holding on to both sides give pan a quick shake and you can 'feel' if cake is loose enough so it doesn't come apart when you put on plate. If not loose enough, turn back over and run knife along outside edge as well as inside edge again.
Check the cake mix and see if there are any high altitude instructions. If it says to add a couple tablespoons of flour - or decrease water, follow that.

Frosting:
1 package instant pistachio pudding
3/4 cup milk
Beat together until thick. Fold in 1 - 8oz container of Cool Whip. Frost cooled cake and store covered in refrigerator. Yum!

I would definitely recommend trying this out... its so tasty and sweet. Unfortunately, the last time I made it was for Tim's birthday 2 or 3 years ago!!!

Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate Truffles

(from Cindy Stutts, Desert Valley Ward)

1 package oreos

1 8 oz. cream cheese

1 lb. "Merkens" chocolate disks

1) Crush Oreos in gallon size ziploc bag.

2) Blend together crushed oreos with cream cheese.

3) Scoop into balls onto wax paper or foil.

4) Melt chocolate in microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes, making sure to stir every 30 seconds.

5) Dip balls into chocolate using fork or dipping spoon. If you want to use any type of sprinkles, put them on while the chocolate is still "wet".

6) Place back on foil until chocolate has hardened. You can place in refrigerator but for no longer than 5 minutes or chocolate will crack.

This recipe will make 24 truffles

The Merkens chocolate can be purchased at:

ABC Cake Decorating and Party Supply

2853 E Indian School Rd

Phoenix, AZ 85016

(602) 224-9796

They are open Monday though Friday 9:00 a.m - 5:30 p.m

Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

You can also use the chocolate that is sold at places like Michael's but it has a waxy taste instead of pure chocolate, or regular chocolate chips but they are a heavier coating and not as "professional" looking if you're using for a formal ocassion.

You can also melt the chocolate in a crock pot and then the chocolate won't harden while you are dipping the balls.

*These are also good made with peanut butter oreos or the "cheap" Walmart brand orange cream cookies and dipped in white chocolate.

Posted by Mom

Cheddar Chicken Casserole

1 lb. chicken breasts

3 green onions, cut up

1 C. elbow macaroni

2 C. water

3 celery tops

1/2 C. cashews

1 C. shredded cheddar cheese

2 cans cream of chicken soup (+2/3 C. broth)

3/4 C. crushed cheddar cheese crackers

Simmer chicken breasts in water with onions and celery tops until tender, about 25 minutes.  Strain off broth and reserve.  Let chicken cool slightly, then skin, remove meat from the bones, and break into chunks.  Cook macaroni in boiling salted water until almost tender; drain and turn into greased 2 quart casserole.  Put in chicken, then shredded cheese and nuts and pour in soup (thinned with 2/3 C. broth).  Top with crackers and bake at 350 degrees for 3- minutes until bubbling hot.

(Recipe from Betty West)

Golden Graham Treat

Grandma West's recipe...

Gluten Free version:
8 cups of Honey Nut Chex
8 cups of Corn Chex
1 C. slivered almonds

The original:
small box Golden Grahams Cereal
small box Corn Chex
1 C. slivered almonds

This part is the same for both:
1 C. sugar
3/4 C. Karo syrup
1 cube of butter
dash of salt

Combine sugar, Karo syrup, butter and salt and bring to a boil. Boil 1-2 minutes.

Pour over cereal & nuts. Stir well. Serve in bowl.