My avocation is cooking and seeing what I can create in the kitchen. I've found many good and interesting recipes in the following web sites:

Betty Crocker.com
Iowa Farmer.com
Food TV.com
Emeril.com

A few of my favorite recipes are as follows:

DESSERT - BLUE WILLOW BARS (DREAM BARS)
1 yellow cake mix
4 eggs
½ cup soft butter or margarine
8 oz. Cream cheese
1 lb. Confectioner's sugar
1-cup coconut
1-cup pecans or walnuts

Blend cake mix, 1 egg, and butter together.
Put in a 9 x 12 greased, baking pan.

Blend 3 eggs, cheese, and sugar.
Stir in nuts and coconut.
Spread over cake mixture.
Bake 35 – 45 minutes @ 350 until firm.
Cool before cutting.

MAIN DISH - HAM LOAF
½ cup ketchup
1-cup bread crumbs (or 3 slices of bread)
Salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 eggs
½ cup chopped onions
1-1/2# ground ham
½# ground pork (or beef)

Mix together thoroughly and form into a loaf
Bake at 350 degrees – 1 hour

VEGETABLES – VIDALIA ONION CASSEROLE

Sauté:

4 medium Vidalia onions (Florida sweet, Texas sweet, Walla Walla, or any other sweet onion may be substituted, but not as good)
¼ cup of butter

Mix in casserole dish:

Sautéed onions (above)
1-cup sour cream
2 eggs (beaten)
¾ cup Parmesan cheese (Romano cheese may also be added)
Salt & pepper to taste

Top with:

½ cup of shredded Mozzarella cheese
Bake at 425 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes

Spirited Sweet Potato Casserole

2-1/2 lbs sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
1/3 cup of milk
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons bourbon or apple juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake potatoes 50 to 60 minutes or until very tender.
Cool 10 minutes; leave oven on.
Scoop pulp from warm potatoes into large bowl; discard skins.
Add margarine (or butter) to bowl; mash with potato masher until potatoes are fairly smooth and margarine has melted.
Stir in milk, brown sugar, bourbon, cinnamon and vanilla; mix well.

Beat egg whites with electric mixer at high speed until soft peaks form.
Add salt; beat again until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold egg whites into sweet potato mixture.

Spray 1-1/2 quart soufflé dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Spoon sweet potato mixture into dish; top with pecans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until sweet potatoes are puffed and pecans are toasted.

Makes 8 servings

Original Chex Party Mix

Heat oven to 250 F.

Melt 6 tablespoons of margarine or butter in a large roasting pan in oven.
With a wooden spoon, stir in 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, ¾ teaspoon
garlic powder, 1-1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt and ½ teaspoon of onion powder.
Stir until seasonings are completely incorporated into butter.

Gradually stir in 1 cup mixed nuts, 1 cup pretzels, 1 cup garlic-flavor bagel chips,
3 cups Corn Chex, 3 cups Wheat Chex, and 3 cups of Wheat Chex. Mix until all
ingredients are evenly coated.

Bake 1 hour, stirring about every 15 minutes.

Spread mixture on paper towels to completely cool. Store in airtight container.
Makes 12 cups.

Note – mixture can be changed to add cashews, peanuts, goldfish chips, and
use of the new 1 pound box of mixed Chex.