Olive Garden Alfredo

OLIVE GARDEN ALFREDO
1 pint heavy cream or half and half
3-4 Tbs. butter
3 Tbs. cream cheese
1/2-3/4 c. parmesan cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder
Melt butter and cream cheese in saucepan. Add all other ingredients and simmer on med-low approx. 15 minutes. Add 8 oz. fettucini noodles or just dip yummy breadsticks in it!

Chicken ceasar pasta

CHICKEN CAESAR PASTA

{recipe &pic from} becky higgins

16 oz. box rotini

2 boneless chicken breasts

1 bottle Cardini’s original Caesar dressing

1 Tbsp. crushed garlic

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 pint cherry tomatoes

2 Tbsp. Mrs. Dash seasoning

1/3 red onion, chopped

Cook pasta and drain. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and stir-fry in garlic & oil. Mix chicken in with the pasta. Add dressing, onion, and Mrs. Dash. Garnish with cherry tomatoes (optional: cut them in half).

CHICKEN & GRAPE PASTA SALAD

{recipe & pic from} BECKY HIGGINS

3 chicken breasts, cooked & cut into bite-sized pieces

16 oz. pasta shells, cooked

3 stalks celery, chopped

2 c. grapes, halved

1/2 c. slivered almonds, toasted

1 c. mayonnaise (maybe a touch more)

1 Tbsp. dill

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

Mix all ingredients and chill. This makes a big batch (it will fill a large bowl), so it's perfect to share at a BBQ.

Cookie Dough Jars/Chocolate Chip cookies

I love this idea from creativeholidaygiftideas.blogspot.com

Instead of taking over a plate of cookies... take a cute jar full of your favorite cookie dough. This way the recepient can bake at her leisure. Make sure to include baking directions. Cute jars can be found in the kitchen section at Wal-Mart for $2.86. Other fun ideas would be to do sugar cookie dough and attach a cookie cutter. Or fill a shaker jar with fun sprinkles and attach a recipe.

I'm totally doing this for Christmas neighbor gifts...I love it! This is the perfect cookie dough to use!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Ever

2 cups butter, softened (yes, you read correctly that's 4 sticks)

4 eggs

1 1/2 c. sugar

2 c. brown sugar

1 1/2 t. vanilla

1/2 t. almond extract

5 1/2 cups flour

2 t. salt

2 t. baking soda

small pkg French Vanilla instant pudding straight from the box

2 pkg chocolate chips (you could use m&m baking bits or the holiday colored choc. chips)

Basic cookie directions...Cream butter & sugars. Add eggs & extracts. Mix dry ingredients together. Slowly pour dry into wet. Stir in chips. Oven 350 for 10-12 minutes. I experimented and liked them at the 10 minute mark over the 11 or 12, slightly more doughy looking tastes better I'd say.