Ranch Potatoes

Ingredients:
8 large red potatoes (I used regular ones)
1 cup ranch salad dressing
1 cup sour cream
1 cup Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup crumbled bacon
1 tsp salt (I put it in my water when I boiled the potatoes)

Preheat oven to 350.  Cut potatoes into quarters.  Place in a large saucepan. Cover with water.  Bring to a boil over high heat.  Cook until tender, about 8 mins, drain well.  Combine ranch, sour cream, 1/2 cup of Cheddar cheese, and bacon.  Add potatoes and salt; stir well.  Spoon potatoes and bacon mixture into a medium baking dish.  Top with remaining cheese.  Bake potatoes until bubbly, about 20 mins.

You can add 1/4 cup of green onions to the mixture.  I sprinkled chives on top.

Recipe from Easy Everyday Cooking.

Fruity Pebbles Rice Krispie Treats

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp butter
1 16 oz package of mini marshmellows
4 cups Rice Krispies
4 cups Fruity Pebbles

Directions:
In a microwave safe bowl, add the butter and marshmallows.  Microwave 1 minute, stir, microwave 1 minute, and stir.  Stir in Rice Krispies and then the Fruity Pebbles.  Pour into a prepared pan.  Wet hand with water and press mixture into pan.  Allow to cool for 20 minutes before cutting.  Cover to store.

Recipe from Ruth Armstrong.  See all of Ruth's recipes on her cooking blog with step by step photo instructions at www.cookingwithruthie.com.

Wild Rice Soup

Ingredients:
2 pints half and half
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cup wild rice (or 2 boxes of Uncle Ben's Wild Rice with 1 package of the herbs)
2 cans cream of potato soup
9 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
4 cups water
1 onion, chopped and sautéed in butter

Directions:
Sautee chopped onion in butter in a soup pot.  Add water and 2 boxes of Uncle Ben's Wild Rice with only 1 of the packages of herbs.  Bring to a boil.  Cover and simmer on medium low heat for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and add potato soup, cheese, and bacon.  Add half and half and heat on medium low heat for a few minutes then serve.

Recipe from Jayne Bitker.

Wassail Dry Mix

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup Tang

1 1/2 cup sugar-sweetened lemonade mix (Country Time)

2 cups sugar

1 tsp cloves

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Directions:

Mix well and store in an airtight container.  Add 2 to 4 Tbsp to 1 cup boiling water, apple juice, or apple cider.  Pineapple and cranberry juice and/or dry sherry or any dry wine can be exchanged or substituted for the the liquid.

Original recipe is unknown, but this updated one is from mabelwhite.blogspot.com.

Hot Chocolate Mix

Ingredients:
1 pound Nestles Quick
1 pound powdered sugar
1 pound Cremora (coffee creamer)
1 (8 quart) box instant milk

Directions:
Mix in a large bowl and store in an airtight container.  Add 1 cup of hot water to 2/3 cup mix.

Recipe is unknown.

Spiced Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:
1 1/2  cup flour, sifted
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup water
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix the first 4 (dry) ingredients.  Combine the next 7 ingredients and then mix with the dry ingredients.  Add the pecans.  Grease a loaf pan and pour into pan.  Bake for 50 minutes.

Recipe is Easy Everyday Cooking.

Speedy Dinner Rolls

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup warm water
1/3 cup sugar
3 Tbsp yeast
1/2 cup oil
2 tsp salt
2 eggs
5 1/4 cup flour

Directions:
Mix the first 4 ingredients and let rest for 10 minutes.  Then add the next 3 ingredients.  Shape into rolls:  Divide dough into 3 parts.  Roll each into 12 inch circles.  Spread with butter.  Cut in 12 pie shaped wedges and roll up from large end to pointed end.  Let rise for 10 minutes.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes.

Recipe from unknown.