Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Blondies ~ by Valerie

We sisters do love to bake!! 

So it is a good thing that our menfolk particularly enjoy a good homemade dessert

every once in a while!

We have made a similar bar recipe in the past, but thought we'd try this new recipe,

and the family agreed that they like this bar better!

So here it is!   

 

 

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Blondies:
Ingredients
Blondies:
1 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Cheesecake filling:
2 8-oz packages cream cheese
1/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
Directions:Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together shortening, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup white sugar. Beat in the 3 eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; blend into the sugar mixture. Stir in chocolate chips, and set aside.
In a separate bowl, mix together the cream cheese and 1/4 cup white sugar. Mix in the 2 remaining eggs. Spread 1/2 of chocolate chip dough in the bottom of a greased 9x13" pan. Pour cream cheese batter on top of dough.  Drop pieces of the remaining chocolate chip batter over filling. Don't worry if there are gaps (the batter will spread). Bake for 45 minutes or until lightly browned on the top. Let them cool completely before cutting into bars (I refrigerated them).
Recipe slightly adapted from: All Recipes

Then, we found it on: Six Sisters Stuff website

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken ~ by Caroline

Our family always enjoys a good Chinese food dinner!

Last night, I tried this new recipe, and I think

we all agreed it was quite delicious!

 

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe:

Ingredients:

Chicken:

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cup cornstarch
3 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil
Sweet and Sour Sauce:
1 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.  Place cornstarch and beaten eggs in separate bowls.  Dip chicken into cornstarch then coat in egg mixture.  Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken until browned.  Place the chicken in a 9 x 13 greased baking dish.  In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, ketchup, vinegars, soy sauce and garlic salt.  Pour over chicken and bake for one hour.

Our variations:  I changed the 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/4 apple cider vinegar to 1/8 of each.
We did not have low sodium soy sauce, so I used regular soy sauce.  Also, I added some flour to the cornstarch to stretch the amount of cornstarch that we had on hand.   It is a good idea to stir the chicken occasionally while it is baking in the oven.   


Source: Six Sisters Stuff website

Quick and Easy Mexican Rice - By Valerie

 

This Mexican rice recipe is so easy and delicious for a side dish or really yummy in burritos!  This recipe originally came from Southern Food at About.com.  Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 1/3 cup tomato sauce, or to taste
• 3 teaspoons taco seasoning mix

Preparation:

In a saucepan or skillet over medium-low heat, cook the green onions for 1 minute. Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute longer. Stir in the rice, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasoning mix. Heat through. Serves 4.