No Bakes aka Candy Cookies aka NomNomNom

Let me say it for you, "Really?!? Eight steps? A little much?".
No, this is a tried and tested recipe. Don't mess.
If you want to be daring and mess, we aren't responsible for your wasted time and nasty cookies.
Word.

• 1/2 c milk
• 2 c sugar
• 1 stick of butter
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 c cocoa powder
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 c peanut butter, crunchy or creamy
• 2 1/2 c quick or old-fashioned oats

1. Lay out wax paper on your counter, do not lay on wooden surface (it will never be the same!)
2. Measure out all ingredients and place near stove (the process goes so quickly that if you wait to measure, you will be overwhelmed.) Be especially accurate with the PB and oats.
3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low-med heat.
4. Add in milk, then sugar, then salt, then cocoa. Stirring after each is added.
5. Increase heat to high, bring to a rolling boil, and keep at rolling boil for 1 min.
6. Remove from heat and turn off burner. Slide saucepan to the other side of stove.
7. Stir in vanilla (the bubbling is normal), then PB, then slide back onto hot burner. Stir in oats. Stir thoroughly.
8. Drop cookies onto wax paper (quickly!) and then let harden.
9. Store in fridge or freezer.
10. Enjoy!

Pepperoni Pizza Dip

• 16 oz. Sour cream
• 8 oz. Ricotta chesse
• 1 c. Mozzarella chesse
• 1 package of dry Italian Dressing mix, 1 pouch
• pepperion's to taste, chopped

1. Mix all ingredigents
2. Use an oven safe dish, 8x8
3. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes
4. Serve with sliced French bread

RICH Oreo Balls

• 1 pd 2 oz bag of Oreo cookies, crushed
• 1 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
• 24 oz white candy melts, preferably Wilton's

1. Place crushed cookies in mixing bowl with softened cream cheese. Mix together into bite-sized balls; place in freezer until firm, allow 15-30 mins.
2. Melt white candy (carefully, will burn!) according to package directions on your stovetop. Drop frozen balls into melted candy, turn with spoon until coated.
3. Remove and place on cookie sheet; place cookie sheet in refrigerator until melted candy hardens.
4. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve. ENJOY!

Patti's Cheese Soup

Yes, the ingredients would lead you to believe that this is high blood pressure in a bowl. But would ya believe me if I told ya it is worth it? You should. Because it is. Do it.

• starting with the THAWED 16 oz bag of frozen mixed veggies because I always forget to set them out to thaw...
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 5 cups water (less water=thicker soup)
• 4 cups potatoes, cubed
• 6 chicken bullion cubes
• 2 cans Cream of Chicken
• 1 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed

1. Combine, bullion cubes, onion, potatoes, water and thawed veggies.
2. Add soup and cheese; heat on low until cheese melts.

Grandma's Pasta Fagioli Soup

• 1 lb. ground turkey or beef
• 1 med. onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2 sliced carrots
• 2 can chicken broth, 3 cups
• 1 can water, 1 1/2 cups
• 1 can Red Kidney beans, rinsed
• 1 can Great Northern bean, rinsed
• 1 cup macaroni, uncooked
• 2 containers Ragu Chunky Garden Style Pasta Sauce

1. Saute 1 lb. meat, onion, celery and carrots.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients; simmer for 30 mins or longer.

Baked Potato in a Bowl Soup

This soup is unreal! It is so good, every time. I promise you that it is worth the work. My husband, Jon, has unhealthy addiction to potatoes. Joking, but potatoes seriously bring him joy no matter what form they are in. I've tried multiple recipes in search of one that we both thought was a keeper. This is it! Try it, you will not be disappointed! 

• 5 lg baking potatoes
• 1 med onion, chopped
• 1 qt half-and-half
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 c butter or margarine
• 1/3 c all-purpose flour
• 3 c milk
• 1/8 tsp pepper

1. Prick each potato several times with a fork. Microwave @ High heat for 20 minutes, turning each over at the 10 minute mark. Let cool.
2. Peel with a knife, just pulling the skin off of the potato. Mash with a fork so that the potato will be coarsely mashed.
3. Melt 1/4 c butter in a Dutch oven-like pot @ Med heat, add onion and saute until softened.
4. Add flour and the rest of the butter until smoothly mixed.
5. Stir in potatoes, half-and-half, milk, salt and pepper; cook @ Low heat for 15 minutes.
6. Top with cheese; bacon and green onion (chopped) optional as toppings.

Crack aka Yum Yum

• two sleeves of Ritz crackers, crushed
• 2 sm boxes of vanilla instant pudding
• 1 1/2 qt vanilla ice cream, softened
• 8 oz Cool Whip
• 1 1/2 c milk
• 1 stick of butter or margarine, melted

1. Mix crackers and butter. Press into the bottom of a 9x13 glass dish.
2. Mix pudding and milk. Add ice cream, mix well.
3. Spread over crumb crust. Spread Cool Whip over ice cream layer.
4. Refrigerate until ready to serve.