Caramel Cookie Bars

If you’re in the mood for some caramel mania (which I am weekly) then you’ll really enjoy these cookie bars that have caramel frosting schmeared (and you have to say schmeared, not smeared) all over the top of them.  They are super sweet, so cut them into smaller squares for the perfect bite.
(Cookie recipe from Duncan Hines; frosting recipe from me.)

• 1 package Duncan Hines Caramel Cake Mix
• 1/4 cup flour (for high altitude baking only)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 13x9-inch pan.

Combine cake mix (add 1/4 cup flour if high altitude baking), eggs, water, brown sugar, and butter in large bowl. Stir until thoroughly blended; mixture will be thick.

Stir in chocolate chips. Spread in greased pan.

Bake at 375 for 24 to 27 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan; cut into bars and frost with Caramel Frosting.

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Caramel Frosting

• 4 Tbs. butter
• 6 Tbs. milk
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, and mix in milk and brown sugar. Boil vigorously for 1 minute.

Remove from heat, and beat in 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Cool slightly, and beat in the vanilla and remaining confectioners' sugar 1/2 cup at a time. Add more milk if the mixture is too thick.

Mama’s Sweet Cornbread

I created this recipe to go along with my Easy Indiana Chili.  My husband loves this cornbread so much, he wants me to make it for his birthday cake!

• 3 cups flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup corn meal
• 2 Tbs. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 cups milk
• 4 eggs
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9x13 pan.  Combine all the dry ingredients first then add all the rest of the ingredients in the large bowl.  Stir just until blended.  Pour into prepared baking pan.  Bake for 35-40 minutes and check if wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Serve with honey and butter.  I say share with neighbors, my husband says eat it all yourself.

Easy Indiana Chili

Chili isn’t chili in Indiana unless it has pasta shells in it.  That’s right, folks…and when I moved to the mountains of Utah and someone handed me a bowl of chili with no pasta, I thought, “This chili looks so sad and plain.”  So, here’s to chili done the Hoosier way!

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cans (15 oz. each) vegetarian chili
• 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano
• 2 cups tomato juice
• 1 box (16 oz.) medium shell pasta

Brown ground beef and onion in skillet. Drain and put in slow cooker. Add chili, diced tomatoes and tomato juice. Cover. Cook on low 4-6 hours. About 45 minutes before serving, cook pasta on stove, drain and then add to crockpot. Stir all ingredients together. You can serve with shredded cheddar cheese on top or crushed crackers, if you'd like. Salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy! {Serves 8 adults, 2 adults and 10 kids or 16 monkeys.)