Snickerdoodles contributed by cdarrow

Snickerdoodles(from Better Homes and Gardens):
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 c. sugar
1/4 t. baking soda
1/4 t. cr. of tartar
1 egg
1/2 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
2 T. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
In a medium mixing bowl beat the butter or margarine with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add the 1 c. sugar, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Beat til combined, scraping sides of bowl. Beat in the egg and vainlla til combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour. Cover and chill 1 hour.
Combine the 2 T. sugar and 1 t. cinnamon. Shape douch into 1 inch balls. Roll in sugar-cinn mixture to coat. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10-11 minutes or til edges are golden.

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies by reenee

here's the GF cookie recipe I came up with this fall. I'm working on subbing applesauce for the butter/margarine to maybe make them a bit chewier and lower the fat/calories, but I haven't perfected it yet. I use egg beaters just cuz they're easier for me to deal with in the fridge 90% of the time, you can use 1 real egg instead. And I use splenda to try and keep the calories down, you can use real sugar if you'd like.
Wheat Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 c. margarine
1/2 c. Splenda
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. rice flour
1 1/2 c. dry oatmeal (not instant)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 c. egg beaters
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

In a mixer, blend together the margarine, splenda and brown sugar. Add vanilla, baking soda, and egg beaters. Mix in rice flour until well incorporated. Stir in oatmeal, chocolate chips, and walnuts (if desired).

Using a 1 oz. cookie scoop, drop dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake in a pre-heated 375 degree F oven for 8-10 minutes, until cookies are golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Store in an air tight container.

These cookies are best hot out of the oven. They tend to be a bit crispy when cool rather than chewy. If the rice flour is not mixed in well, they can have a grainy texture.

Makes about 64 cookies. Two cookies per serving.

Nutrition Info: 116 calories, 6.4 g Fat, 0 Cholesteral, 99 mg. Sodium, 41 mg Potassium, 13.5 g Carbohydrates, 1.5 g Fiber, 1.9 g. Protein

Buckeyes contributed by beej

Buckeyes
1/2 cup softened margarine
1 lb. powdered sugar
2 c. peanut butter (smooth)
3 c. rice krispies
1 pkg. chocolate bark (or 2 12oz pkg of choc. chips and 2/3 stick of paraffin)

Mix first 4 ingredients. Form into 1" balls. Refrigerate until firm. Once mixture is firm, Melt chocolate bark in microwave (time will vary depending on microwave) or over low heat on stove top, stirring frequently. Dip balls into melted chocolate, leaving small area uncoated to resemble a buckeye. Set on wax paper for the chocolate coating to cool and set.
Note: I usually cover the whole ball so mine don't look like "buckeyes" - I've also used the butterscotch flavored bark and white almond bark and both are also yummy. The choclate version tastes similar to scotcheroos or a reeses.

Don't Quit Poem contributed by jillbean

Don't Quit


When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
- Author unknown

Cake Balls Contributed by bonbon

cakeba11s- girls, get creative with the flavor combos, okay...b/c you can use any that you like...first, make a boxed cake per the directions. while it's still warm, dump in one entire regular-sized can of icing and mix well. refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. melt candy coating (i thin mine with solid shortening for easy dipping). form cake 'dough' into 1" sized ba11s and dip in candy coating. place on parchment lined cookie tray until set. that's it! i get really creative with flavors, and since i made so many yesterday, i added sprinkles on the top so you could tell what kind of center it had. for example, i made strawberry with cream cheese icing and dipped in white chocolate, and used pink sprinkles...you can also use chopped nuts, drizzle another coating color, non pariels, etc...the possiblilites are endless!

Mocha Krinkles contributed by Angel

1 1/3 Cups firmly packed light brown sugar.
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup low fat sour cream
1 egg
1 teasp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teasp instant espresso or coffee granules
1 teasp. baking soda
1/4 teasp salt
1/8 teasp black pepper
1/2 cup powder sugar

1.Beat brown sugar and oil in medium bowl with electric mixer. Mix in sour cream, egg, and vanilla. Set aside.
2. Mix flour, cocoa, espresso, baking soda, salt and pepper in another medium bowl.
3. Add flour mixture to brown sugar mixture; mix well. Refrigerate dough until firm; 3 to 4 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350 F. Pour powdered sugar into a shallow bowl. Set aside. Cut dough into 1 inch pieces, roll into balls. Roll balls in powder sugar.
5. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets 10-12 minutes or until tops of cookies are firm to touch. Do not over bake. Cool on wire racks. Makes about 6 dozen of cookies.

Raspberry Meringue Kisses Contributed by MittenKitten

3 Egg Whites
1/8 tsp salt
3 1/2 Tbsp Raspberry Jello Mix
3/4 cup Sugar
1 tsp vinegar
1 cup mini chocolate chips
Beat Egg whites with salt until foamy. Gradually add raspberry jello and sugar, mixing well after each addition. Beat until stiff peaks form and sugar is desolved. Mix in vinegar. Fold in Chocolate chips. Drop from a teaspoon onto parchment paper covered cookie sheets. Bake at 250 degrees for 25 minutes. Turn oven off. Leave cookies in oven 20 minutes longer. Makes about 9 dozen.

Stuffing Recipe contributed by Bonbon

2 jars (4.5 oz each) sliced mushrooms drained, 4 celery ribs chopped, 2 medium onions chopped, 1/4 c. minced fresh parsley, 3/4 c. butter, 1and 1/2 lbs. day old bread (i use texas toast white if i can find it) cubed, 1.5 tsp salt, 1.5 tsp sage, 1 tsp. poultry seasoning, 1 tsp. dried thyme, 1/2 tsp. pepper, 2 eggs, 1 can chicken broth.

in a skillet, saute mushrooms, celery, onions and parsley in butter until the veggies are tender. in a large bowl, toss bread cubes with salt, pepper and spices. add mushroom veggie mixture and toss. whisk eggs with broth; add to bread mixture and toss. transfer to slow cooker. cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours our until the thermometer reads 160 degrees.

ladies, this recipe serves upwards of 15 people and will usually not have leftovers. so it's good to make for smaller crowds, too if you want to have some the next day!

Chilli Recipe contributed by Nsinglet

Crock Pot Turkey Chili Recipe
from: http://www.famouschilirecipes.com/

Put this chili together in the morning and by game time you will have a wonderful chili dish! This turkey chili recipe is also great for those watching their weight because turkey is a leaner alternative to ground beef. This healthy chili recipe is sure to please everyone at your table tonight!

Turkey Chili Recipe Ingredients
• 2 pounds ground turkey
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 4 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/2 cup green peppers, diced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 teaspoon dried cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 can refried beans
• 2 15 to 16oz cans of kidney beans (not drained)


Turkey Chili Recipe Directions

In a large skillet, brown ground turkey and drain. Add all ingredients to crock pot except the can of refried beans. Cover and cook on low 2 hours. Add refried beans to chili for thickening. Cover and cook on low for an additional 2 hours.

7 Layer Bars aka Magic Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND®
Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 cups semisweet chocolate morsels
1 cup peanut butter chips (butterscotch or cherry)
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:
1.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees for glass dish). Coat 13x9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.

2.
Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with a fork. (Or my hand in a plastic sandwich baggie)

3.
Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars or diamonds. Store covered at room temperature.