Spiced Pumpkin Cake

1 package yellow cake mix
1 package (4-serving size) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg


Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe below)


Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat all ingredients, except frosting, in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed just until moistened. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes or until well blended.

Pour into greased and floured 13x9-inch baking pan.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack. Spread with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting.

Frosting:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/4 teaspoon cloves (optional--also great with plain frosting)

1 pound powdered sugar (about 4 cups), beating until well blended

beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and cloves. add sugar gradually until well blended. spread on cooled cake.

This cake freezes well. Pop a few slices in the freezer for later!

Tuna Mac Skillet

• 1 pkg. macaroni and cheese dinner mix (like plain ol' blue box)
  
• 3/4 c. milk
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 tsp. dried parsley flakes
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/2 tsp. prepared mustard
• 2-6 oz cans tuna, drained
• 1 c. sour cream
• frozen peas, however much looks good to you. and PLEASE, not canned. They're gross! Trader Joe's has the BEST frozen peas
  

Boil macaroni.

In a pan mix milk and cheese powder.

Add butter, parsley, paprika and mustard. Bring to a boil; simmer 5 minutes.

Add tuna, macaroni, peas, and sour cream. Top with shredded cheese, cover and cook on medium low heat until cheese is melted (not too long or the pan will be hard to clean!)

Mexican Skillet

• 2 c uncooked pasta (rotini works great)
• about a pound of defrosted chicken breast cut to bite size pieces (i used a bit less)
• 2 c (1lb) salsa
• 2 c (10oz) frozen corn
• 4 oz cream cheese (half a block)
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• couple dashes each of black and cayenne peppers
• shredded cheese

cook pasta as directed

meanwhile, cook chicken in med-lg oiled skillet till done

add salsa, corn, cream cheese and spice, simmer until corn is heated and cream cheese is melted, stirring occasionally

add drained pasta and about a handful of shredded cheese; stir in

top with more cheese and wait till its melted. I didn't cover it because there was still a lot of liquid from the salsa, but if it looks dry enough, cover.

Cookies ( a twist on the toll house)

If you want to be an angel of goodness too, just make these for your guy friends.

1) if you give 6 plates of them to someone, they will be gone in under 48 hours

2) don't forget the salt and baking soda. they will taste REALLY strange

3) if you overcook them or let them sit out a week, they are still edible ('slong as they aren't black). simply put some in a bowl, pour some milk over, and after about 3 minutes, eat with a spoon.

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• about half a 4-serving package of instant vanilla pudding
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2 large eggs
• mix-ins (2 recommendations below)

MIXINS:

up to 2 cups of chocolate chips, with or without pecans
OR
up to 1.5 cups white chocolate chips, 1-2 handfuls of craisins, and half a cup of chopped pecans. if you use a hand chopper, you can make the pecans very fine--I don't like the crunch of nuts, but they add a nice flavour




combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl

mix the butter, sugars, pudding, vanilla and egg(s) together (please tell me you have a kitchen aid! otherwise hello carpal tunnel)

add dry ingredients

stir in mix-ins

roll the cookies into teaspoon sized balls and place about an inch and a half apart on a baking stone or cookie sheet with parchment paper (easy cleanup)

bake at 350F for 12 min. Let cool on baking sheet/stone
bake 1-4 mins longer for crispy cookies