Honey Butter and the Like....

For Thanksgiving last year I brought these different kinds of butters for the table.  Seriously, divine.  Around Christmastime my singles ward did a service auction and all the money that was raised went to help provide Christmas for a few families in the stake.  So I brought some honey butter (it tastes a lot like the stuff from Texas Roadhouse- um, yum!) and guess how much it sold for.  Yep, fifty bucks!  So here's the fifty dollar cinnamon honey butter recipe...

Cinnamon Honey Butter

• 1/2 c. butter
• 1/2 c. powdered sugar
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 c. honey

1. Make sure your butter is nice and soft (leave it on the counter all day) then mix all ingredients together until totally mixed and fluffy

Raspberry Butter

• 1/2 c. butter
• 1/3 c. raspberries
• 2 T powdered sugar
• dash lemon juice

1. Follow same directions as the honey butter.  The key is making sure your butter is room temp.  
2. I used the food processor to get my raspberries really finely blended.  You make the call- blend less for a more chunky butter.  

Salt Play Dough

I say this counts as a recipe!  This has produced many-a-salt dough map of Utah for me and my sisters.  Maybe we'll make it with the nephews this summer and have some fun.

The Recipe:

• 3 c. flour
• 1 c. salt
• food coloring
• 1 c. water
• 1/2 c. oil

1. Mix food color with water before mixing.
2. Add all ingredients and mix well

Magic Cookie Bars

The Recipe:

• 1/2 C. butter
• 1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 6 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
• 1 1/3 c. flaked coconut
• 1 c. chopped pecans

1. Heat oven to 325.
2. Melt butter in 9x13 pan in the oven.
3. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over butter.  
4. Pour condensed milk over crumbs evenly.
5. Top with chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans. Press gently.
6. Bake for 25 min. until lightly browned.
7. Cool completely before cutting.

Caramels

The recipe card I found says it's from Aunt Marge.  Anyone want to help out with a story?  I'll work on that.
It does say the recipe can be doubled and is good for dipping in chocolates.  FYI :)

The Recipe:

• 1 c. sugar
• 1 c. cream
• 1/4 lb. butter
• 7/8 c. light Karo syrup
• 1 tsp. vanilla

1. Use all but 1/2 c butter and 1/2 c. cream and let boil 5 minutes.
2. Add remaining butter and cream, stirring constantly 8-12 min.
3. Add vanilla and nuts.

Shepherds Pie

The Recipe:

• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1 can green beans
• 1 can corn
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1/2 c. shredded cheese
• 1 egg
• instant potatoes to serve 6

1. Prepare potatoes according to package directions, but decrease milk by 1/2.
2. Add egg to potatoes and set aside.
3. Brown hamburger and drain off fat.
4. Add green beans, corn, and soup.  
5. Pour into casserole dish and cover with mashed potatoes.
6. Top with cheese.
7. Cook in oven at 350 for 20 min.

Sharon Starley's Punch

Mix the following ingredients:

• 6 oz. orange juice
• 6 oz. lemonade
• 1 to 1 1/2 c. sugar (as desired)
• 10 c. water
• 1 tsp. almond flavor
• 1 tsp. vanilla

*This isn't a gallon so double accordingly

Caramel Biscuit Ring Around

I'm pretty sure Courtney got this from her 6th grade friend Stephanie at a sleepover.  It receives automatic coolness points because it comes from the big sis.  Super easy, super cheap, super healthy..........eh ok maybe not that last one, but still super good!

The recipe:

• 3/4 c. brown sugar
• 1/3 c. butter
• 2 T water
• 2 cans biscuits

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Grease a bundt pan.
3. Melt butter.  Add brown sugar and water.
4. Using kitchen shears, cut biscuits into quarters.
5. Mix butter/sugar mixture into biscuits. Toss lightly.
6. Spoon into pan and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown and cooked throughout

Clam Chowder

So there was this one time (or maybe more than one time) in my childhood.  Mom made clam chowder.  I very kindly said "thank you for this delightful meal, Mother.  But I'm just not hungry tonight." (yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what I said.) Anyway, Dad said nice try to that one and then invited his friend Stubborn to the table.  He told me I wasn't leaving the table until that bowl of soup was gone.  In my head: "well then you're going to be waiting a while cause that ain't happening."
Aaaand we sat at that table for hours. And in the end Dad and Stubborn won that night.  And maybe that's why clam chowder is one of Dad's favorite meals.

The Recipe (serves 8)

• 1 c. finely diced white onion
• 1 c. finely diced celery
• 2 c. diced potato- cooked and cooled (don't salt them)
• 2 cans minced clams
• 3/4 c. butter
• 3/4 c. flour
• 1 qt. half and half
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 T red wine vinegar (or any vinegar)
• pepper to taste

1. Cook potatoes and drain.  Allow to cool.
2. Drain liquid from clams and reserve.
3. Place celery and onions in saucepan. Add liquid from clams.  Add enough water to cover vegetables.  Simmer until tender.
4. In heavy saucepan, melt butter, add flour blending well. 
5. Stir in cream, blending with wire whisk.  Add vegetables- don't drain.
6. Stir in clams, potatoes, salt and pepper.  Heat thoroughly.
7. Add vinegar