Mandolyn's Favorite Tortilla Soup

2 Tbl olive oil
Chicken, shredded
¼ cup onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
Pepper
1 can chicken broth
1 can corn, undrained
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 can stewed tomatoes
2 Tbl cilantro

Sauté onion, garlic, chicken and seasonings. Add corn, broth, tomatoes and beans. Simmer. Top with your choice of toppings (e.g. sour cream, grated cheese, avocado, tortilla chips).

Grandma Betty’s Apple Pie Squares

Pie Crust
· 5 cups flour + 1 tsp salt→ stir well
· Add 2 heaping cups shortening → cut into until crumbly
· In a measuring cup → 1 egg + 1Tbl vinegar + water to equal 1 cup; then add to bowl and mix.
· Divide dough in half →roll out and place bottom of cookie sheet; use fork to make holes in dough
· Put apples (peeled & sliced if fresh or 3 cans of apple pie filling); then sprinkle apples with lemon and several dabs of butter
· Add pie crust top → fork or flute edges and fork holes throughout
Bake 425 for 25 minutes→ cool

Glaze
Combine vanilla, milk and powered sugar to taste→ spread over pie.

Tomatillo Ranch Dressing

3 Tomatillo Peppers
1 Jalepeno Pepper
2 Cloves Garlic
1 Packet Dry Ranch Mix
¾ cup Mayonnaise
¾ cup Sour Cream
½ cup Buttermilk
1 cup Fresh Cilantro
¼ tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Salt to Taste
* Mix in blender or food processor; makes 4 cups

my favorite easy chicken pot pie

melt 1/3 c butter in a pan
add 1 diced onion and saute'
add 1/3 flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 3/4 c. chicken broth
2/3 c milk
2 1/2 c. cubed chicken
add shredded carrots adn peas as desired

Pie crust:
2 c. and 2 T. flour
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 c. oil
1/4 c. water

mix until moist. Divide into two parts and roll out between plastic wrap. arrange on pie plate

Pour in pie shell. cover with an upper crust bake 425 for 40 minutes.

Healthy No-Bake Cookies

8 whole wheat graham cracker squares, finely ground
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup smooth, natural peanut butter
2 Tbsp, plus 2 tsp honey
4 tsp, unsweetened coconut

Combine ground whole-wheat graham crackers, raisins, peanut butter and honey in a small bowl. Pat into 8 cookies and press lightly in coconut.

The BEST Blueberry Muffins

Batter
1 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. white sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 c. oil or melted butter
1 egg
milk
1 c. blueberries, frozen (slightly thawed), or fresh

Add flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a large bowl. In a one cup measuring cup combine oil and egg. Add enough milk to make one cup. Mix this with flour mixture, and add blueberries. Pour into greased muffin tins and add crumbly topping. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 min.

Crumbly Topping
1/2 c. white sugar (or brown sugar)
1/3 c. flour
1/4 c. margarine, chopped
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Sprinkle this mixture on muffins before baking.

Truly Egg Puff

10 lg eggs
1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 pt small curd cottage cheese
1 lb cheese, cheddar and jack
1 1/2 c butter (no margarine), melted
1-3 cans green chilies

Beat eggs in a bowl until fluffy. Stir in all other ingredients. Grease a 9x13 pan and pour in egg mixture. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Can serve with salsa.