Orange Fluff

1 small cook and serve vanilla pudding

1 small cook and serve tapioca pudding

1 large orange jello

3 cups water

Bring to boil and then cool completely. Mixture will be set.

Mix in 8 oz cool whip and 2 cans mandarin oranges.

{Syd's Notes}- yummy goodness. If you're a jello fan, this is addicting and very easy to make.

Awesome Spinach Salad

Layer and refrigerate:

10 oz bag spinach leaves

1 granny smith apple

1lb bacon, cooked and crumbled

3/4 cup almonds sliced

3/4 cup parmesan cheese

1/4 cup sugar

1/8 cup chopped purple onion

sliced strawberries or craisins

Just before serving, toss dressing in

dressing:

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup oil

3 TB apple cider vinegar

{Syd's Notes} This salad is amazing. Purely it is. I've had people scrape the bowl to get all the goodness out of it. I've yet to make it where it wasn't a huge hit!

Playdough

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup salt

2 pkg Kool Aid {dark colors work best, grape, blue raspberry}

sift in large bowl, create hole in the center and add

3 T oil

2 cups boiling water

stir, stir, stir and knead, knead, knead.

{Syd's notes} if you wear kitchen rubber gloves it's easier to knead since the mixture is very hot.

Store in plastic bag or plastic container to keep moist and soft.

Artichoke Dip

1 8oz cream cheese {I use light or fat free}
1 cup mayo {don't use miracle whip, too sweet}
1 cup parmesean cheese {best with fresh}
1 can green chilies
1 can artichokes {in water, not oil}

Mix together and bake until bubbly and brown around the edges.

Serve with scoop Fritos and pieces of french bread.

{Syd's Notes}- One of my all time favorites! I can eat a whole batch myself. You can really lower the fat on this by using low-fat/fat free ingredients and it doesn't take away the flavor at all. Delicious!

{Source} Zipporah K. who got it from Sarah B.

Soft Ginger Snaps

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil (or 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened--but, I like the oil better)
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
granulated sugar for coating

In large mixing bowl beat oil, sugar, eggs and molasses together well. Sift dry ingredients and stir into butter mixture until blended. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350. Form into balls (I think it works better to make them kind of small). roll each ball in granulated sugar and bake on ungreased baking sheet for 6-8 minutes. Do not overbake. Cookies will be puffy when removed from oven, but wil flatten as they cool. Tops will look cracked. Cool on rack.

{Syd's Notes} I've never been a fan of ginger snaps but then I had these ones! Yummy! So soft and very good. 

{Source} Co-worker of my dad's?

{Picture} Said co-worker's blog?

Rice Pudding

3 1/2 c. milk

1/4 c. sugar

1 cinnamon stick 

1/2 c. medium grain rice {not instant}

Bring first three ingredients to a boil, turn down heat and add rice. Put lid on pan and simmer for about 40 minutes.

In separate bowl, mix

2 egg yolks

1/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. heavy whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla

Whisk together and after 40 minutes, add to milk mixture.

Increase heat and bring to boil. Once boiling, turn off heat and allow to cool.

{syd's notes} I'm a huge fan of rice pudding and this is by far the best recipe I've ever had!

{source} Laura N.

Almond Joys

2 C sugar

1/2 C water
2 C corn syrup
Pinch salt (1/8 tsp)
Cook above to soft ball stage then pour over:
2 packages (14oz each) flaked cocoanut {fresh makes all the difference}
1 tsp vanilla
2 TBSPflour 

Mold while still warm. Put whole almonds on top or rolled in center.
Use water to moisten hands to keep it from sticking.
Dip in chocolate

{Syd's Notes} This is a must make at Christmas time in our house. Jared loves it! Make it in a small saucepan and make sure your candy thermometer is fully immersed in candy mixture. Don't overcook or you'll get chewy almond joys.

For the chocolate I just use Hershey Bars and melt slowly in the oven.

{Source} Marylou Condie