Cinnamon Frosted Zucchini Squares

1 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 c butter
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c shredded zucchini
1 c coconut
3/4 c chopped walnuts
1 recipe cinnamon frosting

In a small bowl stir together flour and baking powder. In a large bowl beat butter with mixer for 30 seconds. Add sugars; beat till fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Stir in flour mixture. Stir in zucchini, coconut, and nuts. Spread evenly in greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake in 350° oven about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Drizzle with cinnamon frosting. Cut into bars.

Cinnamon Frosting

2 c sifted powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
2tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Beat until smooth.

TERIYAKI SAUCE

Success!  After many trials and errors, I have finally found a homemade teriyaki sauce that I like!!!!!
It's like that sweet, thick sauce from that fast food place I love!

1/4 cup soy sauce
1 cup water
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp garlic powder
5 T packed brown sugar
1-2 T honey
2 T cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water

Mix all ingredients except cornstarch and 1/4 c water in a sauce pan and begin to heat.  Mix cornstarch and 1/4 c cold water in a cup and dissolve.  Add to sauce in pan.  Heat until sauce thickens to desired thickness.  Add water to thin you if over thicken it.   Makes about 1 1/2 cup sauce.I browned some chicken strips and added the sauce to the cooked chicken, served it over rice with veggies.  Yummy! and easy!!!!!

This recipe comes from a Pampered Chef party I went to last week.  Really yummy! And even though I don't have the $85 Deep Covered Baker or the correct measuring utensils or the Simple Slicer or the Mix N Chop or the $10 Italian Seasoning, it didn't turn out too bad Sunday night for dinner using my old pan, etc.   Instead of cooking in the microwave according to the original instructions, I cooked it all on my range.

ITALIAN BEEF HOAGIES

1 lb extra lean ground beef
1/4 tsp salt and pepper
1 onion
1 red and 1 green bell pepper
1 envelope dry Onion Soup mix
1 T Italian seasoning
1 T red wine vinegar
6 slices provolone cheese
1 package hoagie rolls

Place ground beef, salt, pepper, onion soup mix, Italian Seasoning, and vinegar in pan and cook until beef is cooked through.  Add onion and peppers and cook until soft.
At this point you can place cheese on top of mixture, cover and melt or do like I did and let everybody put the cheese on their own sandwich.  Serve on hoagie rolls. 

Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese

If your kids are like mine they won't eat macaroni and cheese unless its bright orange. I was happy when I found this recipe on Pinterest and both of my kids loved it! I was also excited that it wasn't much more work than making it from a box. The link on Pinterest takes you to a blog called Creatively Domestic.

Stove Top Mac & Cheese
recipe from Alton Brown
Serves 6 to 8 servings as a sidedish

1/2 pound elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
6 ounces evaporated milk (My can was 5 oz)
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh black pepper
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
8 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded (I like to use a medium cheddar. The sharp is to potent for me.)

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente and drain. Return to the pot and melt in the butter. Toss to coat.

Whisk together the eggs, milk, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and mustard. Stir into the pasta and add the cheese. Over low heat continue to stir for 3 minutes or until creamy.