1 cup of granulated sugar
2/3 cup of evaporated milk (Carnation is best)
2 tbsp of butter
1 and 3/4 cups of mini marshmallows
1 and 3/4 cups of semisweet chocolate chip morsels
1 tsp of vanilla

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Line a baking pan waxed paper and set aside.

Combine sugar, evaporated milk and butter into a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat while stirring constantly. Boil for 4 minutes or until it starts to thicken. At this point, remove from heat and stir in marshmallows, chocolate chips and vanilla until everything is combined and melted. Pour into your prelined baking pan and allow to chill (I placed mine into the fridge for about an hour).

Cut into squares and serve. Store in your refrigerator.

You can also add nuts, if you desire.

This is a modified recipe by Nestle Carnation.

1 and 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded (or medium, if you prefer)
1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese shredded
1/2 cup of asiago cheese shredded
1 medium onion, peeled and diced
1 cup of elbow noodles
5 large potatoes diced (not too small)
2 and 1/2 cups of fresh milk
1 can of condensed milk
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp butter

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You can cook your elbow noodles and potatoes, separately, as you normally would - just boil until soft - strain, washing with cold water so they will not stick together. Sautee onions.

In a large pot, blend/whisk together flour and butter until creamy. Add fresh and condensed milk, whisking continuously as you add onions, potatoes, noodles and all three cheeses. Be sure you stir or whisk continuously to avoid burning. Allow cheese to melt, add salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 15-20 minutes after all of the cheese melts and soup thickens. Set aside and let soup cool for a bit before serving.

An alternative to this would be to add a few pieces of cooked, cripsy bacon - chopped.

I’ve been up to my eyeballs in cupcakes for the last couple of weeks. I blame it on the sudden, surprising sale they had on cake mix though. Yes, I admittedly cheated and bought the boxed stuff. My mother in law and I are constantly craving something sweet, especially chocolate. I hardly ever crave the stuff but the craving has been quite powerful lately.

A few days ago I decided to break away from the chocolate cupcakes and wound up making french vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I do have a confession though, I did fill the insides with a little chocolate pudding! The result was simply delicious.

1/2 cup of cornstarch
1/2 cup of icing sugar
1 cup of flour
3/4 cup of hard butter

With your hands, mix (in a fashion similar to kneading) ingredients together in a large bowl. Once smooth, roll out small balls and place on sprayed/greased cookie sheet, leaving about an inch between each. When preparing them with filling, whether it be frosting or jam, I use my either a 1/2 tsp or my thumb. When preparing normally, flatten with a fork.

Bake at 325º (may vary) for 15-20 minutes. If adding a filling, after removing from oven allow cookies to cool then add your filling.

Yields: 3 dozen cookies.

Shortbread cookies are my absolute favorite cookies. I hope you enjoy the recipe!