Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup (1 cube) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon hot water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup peeled and mashed bananas (2-3)

Whisk together first 3 ingredients, add chocolate chips and stir to coat with flour mixture. In a medium bowl, cream butter until smooth and gradually add in sugar. In a small bowl, blend hot water with baking soda; add egg and bananas and mix well. Stir in butter mixture. Add flour mixture, mixing just until dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 18-20 minutes.

Love y'all,
Madeline :)

Toffee Bars

Disclaimer: This is not a classic toffee bar recipe; this is more of a rich chocolate chip cookie recipe.

1 cup (2 cubes) butter or margarine
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup milk chocolate chips (I use a whole bag.)

Beat butter for 30 seconds and add brown sugar and beat till fluffy. Add egg yolk and vanilla; beat well. Gradually add flour. Stir in chocolate chips. Press evenly in an ungreased 15x10x1 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes. Cut into bars while still warm.

Love y'all,
Madeline :)

Gooey Caramel Popcorn

1 cube butter or margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt the first three ingredients together in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil 4 minutes. Take off the heat and add condensed milk and vanilla. Stir well and pour over a large bowl of popped corn.

Love y'all,
Madeline

Tricia's Oreo Balls

1 package Oreos (Not double stuffed)
8 oz pkg Cream Cheese, softened
White Chocolate Chips or Milk Chocolate Chips

Crush oreos and mix with cream cheese. Put in freezer until hard, then roll into small balls. Put balls in freezer. After frozen, dip in either melted white chocolate or milk chocolate. Let harden, then serve or refrigerate. Yummy!

Christmas Morning

Hey Roomies! This morning was so much fun, and such a great start to the day (even if Tiffany was an hour late to work...oops). I love the spirit our apartment has and how all of us are so willing to make our lives, apt, and our own little worlds a better place. Thank you all so much for being who you are. I really could not have asked for a better apartment. Suji and Tiffany, coming into our apartment this year, has made such a great difference. You both have brought such an wonderful spirit to our apartment. Whitney and Tricia, well... all I can say is there has NEVER been a dull moment with you two around. :) There is always joking, laughter, smiles, and positiveness (if that's not a word- it is now!) radiating from you both. What a great atmosphere to develop ourselves in. Muh-del-in, I love listening to you sleep!!hahaha in all of your made-up languages, even the most recently added language-english :) you're a doll and what a gift it was from God how we chose our apt room freshman year and how close we have become. i love you sis! Guys!!...We are awesome- there is no other way to say it! I hope we all remember the habits we formed this year and take it with us through out our lives. I love you!

I feel like this describes our apartment so well!

We have had such an amazing group of girls in our apartment this semester. I found this quote this morning and I feel like it describes our apartment to a T. We have morning and evening prayers and morning scripture study, and we love each other like sisters. It has been so incredible to see that develop this semester!
Whitney

"When we follow the prophets' counsel to hold family home evening, family prayer, and family scripture study, our homes become an incubator for our children's spiritual growth. There we teach them the gospel, bear our testimonies, express our love, and listen as they share their feelings and experiences. By our righteous choices and actions, we liberate them from darkness by increasing their ability to walk in the light."
~Elder Robert D. Hales

Nothing's going to hit as hard as life, but it isn't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! So if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth, but you gotta be willing to take the hits and not pointing fingers saying you ain't what you wanna be because of him or her or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!

"You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation."
B. Young

“The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but deliverance from fear” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cute Quote!

"A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her."--"Christians" by Maya Angelou

Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas

Hey y'all. Here is one of my family's favorite recipes:

Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas

1 medium onion sliced

1 T. margarine

4 flour tortillas

1 chicken breast

1 cup cheddar cheese

2 T. margarine

Season Chicken to Taste:

I use lots of oregano and a little salt and pepper. Sometimes I add bell pepper, garlic salt or powder, and cilantro as well.

Options:

Cilantro

Sour cream

Chopped bell pepper

Salsa

Sauté chicken in 1 T. margarine in a medium skillet with onion, chopped bell pepper, and desired seasonings. Remove and cut chicken into slices. Place tortillas on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle grated cheese and chicken mixture on half of each tortilla. Fold each tortilla in half and press down gently. Heat medium skillet to medium heat. Add 1 T. of margarine (per 2 tortillas) to skillet. Place two folded quesadillas in heated skillet: cook until golden brown. Turn and cook other side. Repeat with other two. Cut into wedges. I often serve them with salsa and sour cream.

:) Madeline

Fresh Salsa and Cafe Rio Pork Salad!

So I have been so excited to do this because I have been trying new recipes all summer! I got a bunch of cookbooks for my birthday too, so that has been fun :) Feel free to post yours whenever you want!

Lyndsey's Fresh Salsa

(2) Large Tomatoes
(4) Roma Tomatoes
(1) Can Stewed Tomatoes (soup size)
(1/2) Large White Onion
(1/2) Bundle of Cilantro
(1/2) Bundle of Green Onions
(2) Limes-Use the Juice Only
(1) Green Jalapeno
Seasonale
Garlic Salt
Oregano

Dice all and put in the blender for just a few seconds.
I have been leaving the oregano out the past few times and I actually like it better.

Cafe Rio Pork Salad and Dressing

Pork:

6 lb. boneless pork roast
1 16 oz. bottle taco sauce
1 12 oz. can cola
2 C. packed brown sugar

Cook roast in a crock pot or roaster oven all day; 2 hours before serving, drain juices, remove fat, and shred. Add taco sauce, cola, and brown sugar. Cook 2 hours longer.

Tomatillo Dressing:

1 pkg. ranch buttermilk dressing mix
3 tomatillos
1 C. Mayonnaise
1 C. Buttermilk
1 C. cilantro, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Refrigerate.

When we made it, we cooked our tortillas in a frying pan to make them crispy. Then we put refried black beans, lettuce, cheese, pork, and the dressing on the tortilla. You can add anything else you would like too.

Enjoy!