Marinated Shrimp and Artichokes

1/4 cup white or balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp chopped green onion
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 envelope garlic and herb dressing mix
1 lb peeled, deveined, large cooked shrimp
1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts, drained and cut in half
1 (6 oz) can large black olives, drained
1 cup halved grape tomatoes
1 (4 oz) package feta cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes or crumbled
Fresh basil leaves

1. Whisk together vinegar and next 4 ingredients in a bowl. Stir in shrimp and nex 4 ingredients. Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.
2. Stir in desired abmount of basil just before serving. Serve with a slotted spoon.

Creamy Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

2 cups elbow macaroni (8 ounces)
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy cream or evaporated milk
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 teaspoon mustard powder
Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (6 ounces)
1 can cheese soup
1 cup sour cream

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain well. Placepasta in crock pot. Add the butter and stir until the butter has melted and the pasta is coated.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream, sour cream, soup, salt, black pepper, mustard powder, and cayenne pepper, if using. Pour the mixture into the pot and stir. Add the cheese, stir until well combined. Cook on high 2 hours or low up to 4 hours. Stir a few times to keep cheese from browning and forming a film on sides of crock pot.

Serves 4-6. Easily doubles for a larger crowd.

Cream of Tomato Soup

3 Tablespoons good olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
2 carrots, unpeeled and chopped
1 Tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
4 pounds tomatoes, coarsely chopped (5 large)
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
2 cups chicken broth
1 Tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons ground pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream

Heat olive oil in a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium low heat. Add the onions and carrots and saute for 10 minutes, until tender. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add tomatoes, sugar, tomato paste, basil, chicken broth, salt and pepper and stir well. Bring soup to a boil, lower the heat to simmer, cook uncovered 30 to 40 minutes. Add the cream to the soup.

Tip: Crush tomatoes before cooking or used canned crushed tomatoes.
Tip: Add artichoke hearts for a totallyl unique soup! Delicious!!!

Southern Caviar

2 cans black eyed peas, drained shopping list
2 cans shoe peg corn, drained shopping list
2 cans Ro-Tel tomatoes, drained shopping list
2 lg bell peppers, chopped shopping list
1 can black beans, drained shopping list
12 sm. green onions, chopped shopping list
3 ripe tomatoes, chopped shopping list
1 tsp garlic powder shopping list
1 tsp garlic salt shopping list
1 tsp parsley flakes shopping list
16 oz bottle Zesty Italian dressing shopping list
How to make it
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Mix peas, beans, corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions and tomatoes with garlic salt, garlic powder, parsley flakes and Italian dressing.
Refrigerate at least 12 hours before serving. Serve with Frito or Tostitos Scoops

Southwestern Soup

Southwestern Soup

1 package taco seasoning
1 package ranch dressing seasoning
½ medium chopped onion (or 1 small onion)
1 lb package of ground meat (your choice)
1 can diced or petite diced tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can light kidney beans
1 can rotel tomatoes
2 cans white corn

Cook ground meat, add remaining items. Bring to a simmer. If too thick add water. Serve with sour cream, shredded chedder cheese, crackers or cornbread

Courtery of Teri Graham

Pasta Salad

1 box vegetable rotini, cooked al dente, drained and cooled
4 or 5 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
mixture of olives, chopped (use whatever you like)
Mozarella cheese, bite size pieces
1 bottle italian salad dressing.
Salt and pepper to taste.
2 Tbsp McCormick salad seasoning (found in spice aisle at grocery store)Mix above ingredients, store in airtight container in refrigerator. Better flavor after day 1.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
4 packets lemonade flavor Kool-Aid powder (unsweetened – I buy the off-brand)
1/4 cup salt (Kosher salt recommended)
Directions:

Pour it all into a resealable container and shake it up. Use 1 tablespoon per cycle.

Need a rinse aid? Use vinegar.

I have been very pleased with the results of this detergent. My dishes seem to be a more sparkley clean, which I love, and making it this way is less expensive than buying it. It has officially been added to my ever-growing arsenal of homemade products

Homemade Conditioner for hair

Equal parts liquid vegetable glycerin and water (purchase glylcerin at vitamin or health food store or Whole Foods.

Lavender oil (just a few drops for nice scent)
Vitamin E oil (just a few drops)
Other oils of your choice (optional) almond, teatree, etc..

Mix in bottle and use small amount after shampooing. Can rinse out (recommend if hair is fine) or leave in for thicker hair.

I mix up with 1 cup water and 1 cup glycerin plus oils.
Great for all types hair.

Homemade Shampoo

1 cup Dr. Bronner's organic castile liquid soap
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
3/4 Tbsp tea tree oil
3/4 Tbsp. vitamin E oil
1/4 cup water

16 ounce spray bottle or other container for application

Combine together and store in spray bott.e You can add fragrances to your liking, such as lavender, lemongrass, etc. This shampoo will be more liquidy
than standard shampoo but works well. You will not have as much suds as normal but hair will be very clean. The advantage with this is that most shampoos actually dry out your hair, removing nuatural oils. This keeps hair healthy. Plus - it is two in one, shampoo and conditioner.