Ocean Water

Have you ever tried the Ocean Water slush at Sonic? Well, here's the yummy recipe!

Ocean Water
3 T water
2 T sugar
1 t coconut extract
2 drops blue food coloring
2- 12oz cans Sprite, cold
crushed ice

1. Combine water and sugar in small bowl. Microwave for 30-45 seconds and stir to dissolve sugar. Allow this mixture to cool.
2. Add coconut extract and food coloring to cooled mixture. Stir well.
3. Pour Sprite into a pitcher, and add blue mixture. Pour over ice.

I used green food coloring in honor of St. Patrick's Day, and I put the ocean water (with ice) in the blender to make it more like a slush.

Resurrection Cookies

These are a great tradition for Easter!

Resurrection Cookies
1c whole pecans
1t vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch of salt
1c white sugar
ziploc bag
wooden spoon
heavy-duty tape
Bible

1. Preheat oven to 300*.
2. Place pecans in zipper baggies and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa.1:18 and John 3:1-3.
8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop the batter in teaspoon-sized lumps onto a cookie sheet, with wax paper on it. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.
10. Go to bed! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in there overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20, 22.
11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9.

This is a borrowed picture.

Mexican Lasagna

Mexican Lasagna
2 lb. ground beef
1 box lasagna noodles
2 pkg. taco seasoning
1/4 c. water
2 c. salsa
1- 6 oz can black olives
1 tomato, chopped
2 sm. can green chilies (opt)
4 c. Cheddar cheese
2 c. pickled jalapenos, drained (opt)
sour cream (opt)
guacamole (opt)

1. Preheat oven to 400*.
2. Brown meat and cook noodles while you cut up olives. Drain meat; mix in taco seasoning and water. Add salsa, olives, tomatoes, and chilies.
3. Cover bottom of 9x13 pan with meat mixture, then a layer of noodles, then cheese. Repeat and end with a layer of noodles, then a thin layer of meat mixture and lastly cheese on top.
4. Sprinkle jalapenos on top and bake for 40 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before cutting.
5. Top each serving with a dollop of sour cream and/or guacamole.

**You can substitute flour tortilla strips for noodles - reduce bake time to 20 minutes**

Oreo Pie

A birthday tradition in our household!

Oreo Pie
1 package Oreos
1 "block" vanilla ice cream

1. Place ice cream in a large bowl to soften.
2. Slowly place a little more than 1/3 of the Oreos in the blender and crunch them up; line the bottom of a 9x13 pan with the crushed Oreos.
3. Slowly place the rest of the Oreos in the blender and crunch them up.
4. Once the ice cream has softened, mix in the second batch of crushed Oreos.
5. Pour the Oreo ice cream over the Oreo crust, cover, and place in the freezer.

I forgot to take a picture before we cut in to it and it thawed out a little.
But you get the idea. ;)

Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies
1 1/3 cups butter, softened
3 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
4 cups flour

1. Combine butter and sugar.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350*

5a. Roll dough into 2" balls.
OR
5b. Divide dough into fourths. Sprinkle a little flour on a flat surface and roll out 1/4 of the dough. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.

6. Space dough evenly on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 11-14 minutes.
Top with royal icing. 

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
1 - 48oz. jug Jack's Special Salsa (you could use 6 cups of any salsa)
5-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8 oz cream cheese (opt)

The quick way:
1. Turn slow cooker on high.
2. Spread a cup of salsa on the bottom of the slow cooker.
3. Layer chicken and salsa so that there is some salsa in between the chicken breasts.
4. After about 3.5 hours, take out all of the chicken, shred it, and put it back in. [It will look a little bit soupy, but once the chicken is shredded, it will soak up more of the salsa juices.]
5. Add cream cheese. Reduce heat to low and cook for another half hour. (4 hours total cook time)
6. Serve over rice, or as a side dish or dip with chips.

The all-day method:
Directions are the same except your slow cooker should be on low and you want to take the chicken out to shred after about 7.5-8 hours. (8-8.5 hours total cook time)

Over rice:

Black Forest Chocolate Cherry Cake

This is my Grams' delicious recipe.

Black Forest Chocolate Cherry Cake
Cake-
1 pkg. plain (or w/ pudding) devil's food cake mix
1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling
2 eggs
1 t pure almond extract
Glaze-
3/4 c sugar
1/4 c butter
1/4 c milk (whole or 2%)
3/4 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350* (place rack in center of oven).
2. Mix all cake ingredients on low speed for 1 minute and then on medium speed for 2 minutes.
3. Pour batter into lightly greased 9x13 pan and smooth out with spatula.
4. Bake for 30-35 minutes (until it passes toothpick test); remove from oven and set aside while you make the glaze.
5. Heat sugar, butter, and milk over medium-low heat until boiling, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute, continually stirring.
6. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted and glaze is smooth; spread over warm cake.
7. Cool at least 20 minutes before serving.