Chess Pie Bars

I made these for my uncle Bobby yesterday. I guess everyone likes them b/c there is only two left lol. Very easy and really good.

For the crust:

2C all purpose flour
1/4C Sugar
1/2tsp Salt
3/4C cold butter, cut up

For the filling:
3 eggs
1 1/2 C Sugar
6 tbsp butter -melted
1 tbsp cornmeal
1tsp vanilla
1 tsp white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13x9 baking dish w/cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine the crust ingredients. Beat the flour,sugar,butter and salt on low speed til crumbly. You can use a good processor as well. Press mixture in bottom of pan about 1/2in up sides of the greased pan.

Bake the crust at 350 for 20 min or til very light brown.

Meanwhile,in a large bowl, beat the eggs and add sugar. Stir in the melted butter, cornmeal,vanilla and vinegar. Mix well. Pour filling over hot crust. Return to oven and continue baking 20-25min or until the filling is set. Filling may puff up during baking but will settle as it cools.

Cool the bars in the baking pan for 1 hr then cut into bars. store in well covered dish in the fridge.

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

This has got to be one of my all time favorite cookies. I remember being in grade school and on the day we had these, everybody was so excited. I don't know anyone that doesn't like these beauties.

2C sugar
1stick butter
1/2C milk
3 tbsp Cocoa(big spoons)
This is what I mean by BIG SPOONS lol. Use a big "table spoon" not a spoon you would eat cereal with or a measuring spoon. This was how the recipe was created :)

put in pan and bring to boil. Boil for one min. Remove from heat and stir in;

3C quick oats
1/2C-1 cup peanut butter
1/2-1 tsp vanilla extract

drop on wax paper til cool

These are also known as "no bake" cookies. :) Please use REAL vanilla extract and not imitation. I mean, you're already going to use a whole stick of butter and 2 cups of sugar, so come on, use the real vanilla lol.

Taco Casserole

This is a favorite dinner in my house. It is very simple and kids love it. You can experiment w/the ingredients and even add more stuff if you like.

1lb ground beef or turkey
1pkg taco seasoning(and water)
1 can Mexican Corn
1 can Nacho Fiesta Cheese soup
1 can Kidney beans or black beans(which ever you like or have)
Tator Tots

Brown your ground beef or turkey then add the taco seasoning w/water. stir til well mixed. Pour into bottom of 9x9 baking dish. Drain all can veggies. Add Beans on top of beef, then Corn, then soup,then tator tots. Bake at 375 for 45min til potatoes are golden brown.

*you can add tomatoes,different kinds of beans,and if the mexican corn is spicy for you,use a can of regular corn. Just make sure you drain all your can veggies so your casserole will not be soggy. I think canned tomatoes would be really good in this as well. If you don't have the cheese soup or don't like it, try using shredded cheese and see how that works. We like the soup b/c it adds great flavor. This actually reminds us of Taco Johns lol.