Snickers Cookies

Want a way to use up a ton of that excess Halloween candy? This holiday cookie recipe can use snickers, milky way, or even twix bars. I just bagged up all of those candies from my kids' Halloween haul and threw them in the baking cupboard to be used in a few weeks when the cookie exchange gets started. This is a great recipe for a cookie exchange because you get 4 1/2 to 5 dozen cookies out of it. Enjoy!

  INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup margarine
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 1 t baking powder
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 t vanilla
• 1 t baking soda
• 60 miniature Snickers candy bars (I cut the Halloween fun size in thirds)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cream margarine, peanut butter, sugar, and brown sugar.
3. Add eggs and vanilla.
4. Combine dry ingredients. Add to mixture.
5. Take 1 T of dough; flatten into a round shape in palm of your hand; place snickers bar in the center and fold dough around it. Roll in palms of your hand to form a smooth ball with Snicker totally covered.
6. Bake 12 minutes.
7. Remove from cookie sheet after a few minutes.
8. Place on wire rack to cool.
9. Drizzle with melted chocolate chips (I am a bit sloppy with this part, so I usually skip it)

Note: I make my batter and refrigerate for a bit while cleaning up the kitchen; the colder dough is easier to roll in your hands. Also, I roll enough for one cookie sheet and while that tray is baking I roll the next one so I don't lose much time.

Difficulty: Medium

Time: 15 minute prep; 12 minute baking time

Source: friend in a cookie exchange

Salsa Chicken

This is one of my "go-to" recipes. I almost always have these items in my fridge and pantry. It can be thrown together in 10 minutes before leaving for school drop-offs. If you sometimes have to fly by the seat of your pants, the chicken can go in the slow cooker frozen. This recipe is always a family favorite in our home.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 pkg taco seasoning mix (4 Tbsp)
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• black beans, rinsed and drained (optional)
• Rice, quinoa, or pasta for serving

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add chicken to slow cooker.
2. Sprinkle seasoning over chicken
3. Pour salsa and soup over the chicken
4. Cook on low 6 to 8 hours
5. Remove from heat; add sour cream.

This is great served over rice, pasta, quinoa, or as a burrito. If you are looking to up your family's fiber or protein intake, add some black beans to the slow cooker.

Difficulty: Nothing to it!
Time: About 5 minutes prep, 6-8 hours in slow cooker
Source: a friend