Cinnamon Roasted Almonds

After trying a few different recipes, I decided this is the best one!

1/4 cup milk

2 Tbsp. water

1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon (I bet you could add more though if you wanted)
3 cups nuts

Combine all ingredients except nuts in a saucepan. Over medium heat, dissolve sugar. Add nuts. Cook, stirring frequently, until nuts are completely sugared and no syrup is left in pan. Spread on wax paper and let cool. Enjoy!

Super Easy Tomato Basil Soup

Ingredients:
1 can tomato soup
1/2 can whipping cream
1/2 can milk
Basil

To make this super easy (and super good) tomato basil soup all you do is take a can of tomato soup (and brand will do) and pour it in a pan. Then fill half the can with whipping cream and then fill the rest with regular milk (I use skim). Then mix it up and shake in some basil (you can try fresh, but I haven't tried it yet). Let it boil up a bit and stir until you're satisfied or your "grilled" cheese sandwich is done. Enjoy! (I have, in past attempts, added garlic and dried onions, but I like it without either. It's up to you!) You'll never want to eat tomato soup the old way again!

Peanut Butter Balls

These were given to me by a friend and I thought they were mouth-watering.

1 1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
3/4 c. salted butter softened
1 1/2 T. Vanilla Extract
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (2 lb.) bag of powdered sugar
24 oz. chocolate candy coating, melted

In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer combined peanut butter, butter and vanilla.
Gradually beat in condensed milk and powdered sugar.
Beat until throughly mixed.
Shape into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper lined baking sheet.
Refrigerate for 2 hours.
With a fork dip each ball into melted chocolate than refrigerate until firm.

Chicken Enchilada Soup

This was fast and fabulous!
1 T. vegetable oil
1 lb. boneless chicken breasts (appox. 3 breasts), cooked & cubed
½ c. diced onion
1 garlic clove, pressed
4 c. chicken broth
1 c. masa harina
3 c. water
1 c. enchilada sauce
16 oz. velveeta cheese
1 t. salt
1 t. chili powder
½ t. cumin

In a large pot, place oil and diced onion; sauté until onions are soft and clear, about 5 minutes.
Add chicken broth, garlic, salt, chili powder, and cumin; Bring to a boil.
Combine masa harina with 3 cups water in a separate bowl; Stir until all lumps are dissolved.

Add to hot cooked mixture and return to a boil. Once mixture starts to bubble, continue cooking 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. This will eliminate any raw taste from the masa harina.
Add enchilada sauce. After mixture return to a boil, stir occasionally and add cheese that has been cut into chunks.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese melts.
Add chicken and heat through.
Makes approximately 6 servings.

Mom's Caramel Popcorn

I requested that my mom write this recipe up. Here it is:

1 Cube Butter
1/4 c water
1/2 c light karo
1/2 c brown sugar
1 c sugar
1/8 t cream of tarter

Cook to softball stage. (I always just have a cup of ice water by the pan and as soon as it all starts to boil, drop a bit into the water until it forms a soft ball, and then take it off the heat.) Stir in 1/4 t baking soda and then 1/2 t vanilla. Pour over large bowl of popcorn and stir.

Homemade Flour Tortillas

3 c. unbleached flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
4-6 T. vegetable shortening
About 1-1/4 c. warm water

Mix dry ingredients together. Add vegetable shortening and cut into flour mixture with a pastry cutter or two knives. Add warm water a little at a time until the dough is soft but not sticky. Pull off dough pieces to form 10-12 small dough balls and let them sit 10 minutes or longer. Heat a frying pan or skillet to medium to high heat. Dust each ball with a little flour and roll each out into a thin tortilla shape. Cook only a few seconds on each side in the skillet (until nice brown spots appear around the tortilla). Keep warm in a towel until ready to serve.