Lavender Mint Tea Punch

6 Tsp. Dried Mint
6 C. Boiling Water
1 Tbsp. Dried Lavender Blossoms
1 Liter Ginger Ale
1 C. Purple Grape Juice
Ice Cubes w/fresh mint leaf frozen in each

~~Brew the mint in the water in a teapot for 10 minutes. Add the lavender blossoms to the pot. Allow tea to cool. Strain the tea & add the ginger ale, grape juice & ice cubes.

Optional:
Serve in punch bowl and float w/lavender buds and mint sprigs on top.

Homemade Butter in a Jar

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

•Heavy cream
•A Jar with a lid

Preparation:

1. Fill a jar halfway with heavy cream (baby food jars work great for small batches), and screw the lid on tight.

2. Shake the jar up and down until the cream thickens and begins to stick together.

3. Then, open the jar, and pour any remaining liquid into another container; this is the buttermilk. Everything else is butter.

4. Knead the butter under cold running water for several minutes to work out any remaining buttermilk (otherwise the butter will spoil quickly).

5. Knead in salt, if desired.

6. Refrigerate.

Colorful Chicken Croissants

2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1/4 cup diced celery
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup sliced almonds
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped red onion
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 croissants, split

In a bowl, combine the first nine ingredients. Spoon about 1/2 cup into each croissant

Applebees Clubhouse Grill Sandwich

Applebee's Clubhouse Grill Sandwich

Pita Bread (2 or 3 whole)
1 10 oz. pkg frozen spinach
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
1 med onion
5 or 6 plum tomatoes
8 oz pkg fresh mushrooms
4 clv garlic

1 tsp each of the following spices:
basil, parsley, cayenne pepper
1/2 to 1 cup rice milk
4 tbl flour


* Thaw spinach completely, press out all water. Heat milk in saucepan, when hot but not boiling stir in flour. Stir until sauce begins to thicken, turn heat down. Add nutritional yeast and spinach. Stir constantly until thick and gooey, only about 3-4 min. In separate pan, saute onion, garlic, until onion is tender. Stir in tomatoes, mushrooms, and spices. Saute until just done. Preheat oven to 425. Using a very sharp bread knife, split each pita bread so that you have two round flat pieces instead of one thick one.

* Place each piece of bread on a cookie sheet or pizza pan. Spread spinach sauce over each. Top with tomato mixture, being careful to avoid the juice.

* Bake for 5 to 7 min. Watch closely so that the edges of the pita don't burn.

Black Cat All Hallow's Eve Cupcakes

If a black cat crosses your path, we hope it's one of these cute chocolaty creations. This time-saving recipe relies on a boxed cake mix and a can of prepared frosting jazzed up with simple cookie and candy decorations.
SERVINGS: 24
TIME: Prep: 15 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Ingredients:
1 package (18-1/4 ounces) chocolate cake mix
1 can (16 ounces) dark chocolate frosting
12 chocolate cream-filled sandwich cookies, quartered
48 yellow jelly beans
24 black jelly beans
24 pieces black rope licorice

Directions:
Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes, filling paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Frost tops of cupcakes. Insert two cookie pieces into each for ears. Add yellow jelly beans for eyes and a black jelly bean for nose. Cut each piece of licorice into thirds, then in half; place three halves on each side of nose for whiskers. Yield: 2 dozen.

Blooming Lasagna

12 lasagna noodles
4 cups leaf spinach lightly packed
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 cup grated Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch® dressing, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 jar (26 ounces) pasta sauce, divided

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain and cool. Mix spinach, cheeses, 1/4 cup of Ranch and seasonings in large bowl.

Set 1/2 cup of pasta sauce aside. Pour remaining sauce into greased shallow casserole dish at least 10 inches in diameter.

To assemble flowers, spread 2 to 3 tablespoons of cheese mixture on each noodle and roll up. Place flowers, curly side up, in casserole dish. Mix remaining Ranch with pasta sauce; drizzle over each flower.

Cover and bake for 30 minutes or until heated through.

Serves: 4 to 6

Quick, Easy & Tasty Summer Salad

1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup Cool Whip
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
2 2/3 cups 2% fat cottage cheese
1 (1 ounce) package sugar free pistachio pudding mix

Put everything in a bowl and mix.
Let stand 5 minutes before serving for pudding to set up.

Quick, Easy & Tasty Summer Salad

1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup Cool Whip
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
2 2/3 cups 2% fat cottage cheese
1 (1 ounce) package sugar free pistachio pudding mix

Put everything in a bowl and mix.
Let stand 5 minutes before serving for pudding to set up.

First Harvest Apple Carrot Muffins

1 3/4 cups raisin bran cereal
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup tart apples -- finely chopped,
-- peeled
3/4 cup carrots -- grated
1/4 cup walnuts -- chopped

In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl, beat the
egg,buttermilk and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in
apple, carrots and walnuts. Fill paper-lined muffin cups or cups
coated with nonstick cooking spray three-fourths full. Bake at 400 F. for
20-23 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes
before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm.

Makes 1 dozen

Breakfast Bars

1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup chocolate flavored cereal puffs
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons dry milk powder
1/4 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions
1 Melt butter in baking pan.

2 Melt the milk in the water.

3 Mix the ingredients with the butter in the following order: sugar,
oatmeal, vanilla extract, eggs, flour, baking powder, cereal and milk. Pat
into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan.

4 Bake at 325 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until golden
brown. Slice into desired sizes.
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