PUMPKIN DIP

I know that many of you were wondering about my Pumpkin Dip. Here is the recipe. I think it is way better then it sounds. Serve it at you next fall party.

PUMPKIN DIP

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8 oz cream cheese (softened)
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
2 tbsp taco seasoning
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup sweet red pepper (chopped)
1/3 cup green pepper (chopped)
1 cup Ripe Black Olives (chopped)

Mix cream cheese, pumpkin, taco seasoning, and garlic powder until smooth. Stir in red and green peppers, and olives. Cover and put in refrigerator until ready to serve. Great to serve with fresh vegetables, crackers, pretzels, or tortilla chips, but my favorite is Ritz Chips!

The Duggar Family - Duggar Recipes :: Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

Earlier this year my sister Lori told me about this recipe and said that I had to try it. My mom and I made a batch and we both love it. It really feel like it gets my clothing clean and is super cheap to make, it also last a long time. I add a little scent that I get from the local soap shop. Happy washing.

The Duggar Family - Duggar Recipes :: Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

NOTE: ™ = Trademark. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. Results may vary. All recipes are valid for non-commercial useotherwise written permission must be obtained from the The Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Family. © Copyright 2011

Making Fudge

Growing up my mom always made candy this time of year. So to me a year doesn’t go by without homemade candy. Today I was making fudge and thought I should share the recipe that I have grown up making. My mom was always willing to share her favorites and teach people how to make candy. Just one more reason my mom is the best mom.

Mama Simpson’s Fudge

½ cup butter

1 can evaporated milk

4 ¼ cups sugar

½ tsp salt

16 oz mini marshmallows

12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

12 oz milk chocolate chips

1 tbsp vanilla

Nuts

In a large pot cook butter, milk, sugar and salt over medium heat. Stir contently. Cook to a soft ball stage (235 – 240 degrees).Take off heat. Add marshmallows and chocolate. Whip until not shiny. Add vanilla and nuts. Mix. Transfer to an 8”x10” pan. Let cool.

We all have our variations of this fudge. I like to do mine with all milk chocolate and no nuts.

To make it rocky road fudge add large marshmallows at the same time as the nuts.

I hope you try this recipe this holiday season.

With Love,

Jessie

My Favorite Macaroni Salad

This last weekend was so beautiful and warm in Bellingham. On Sunday I started craving my favorite macaroni salad, so I made it and had a picnic in our back yard for dinner. I think that it is a huge summer staple. The truth is that it is my friend Crystal’s tuna salad recipe twisted into a vegetarian salad, so if you eat meat try it with a can of tuna in it. This makes a lot so if you are making it for a small family just cut the recipe in half. Sorry, I forgot to take a photo.

Macaroni Salad (party size)

14ish oz of elbow macaroni

1 can olives, sliced

½ small bag frozen peas

5 stocks of celery, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

10 Dill pickles, chopped

Mayo, as much as you want

1. Cook macaroni according to package, drain and cool.
2. Mix all ingredients in a big bowl.
3. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

This is so good and easy. I hope you love it.

Thanks to Crystal for sharing with me. –Jessie

Creamy Mushroom Pasta Casserole

Sometimes I crave a total meat dish but without the meat. This week it was tuna casserole. I did a goggle search for tuna casserole and studied many. I took some of the things from my search and made a few things up. This is what I came up with and it was so good.

Creamy Mushroom Pasta Casserole

12oz elbow pasta

½ chopped white onion

½ lb Sliced mushrooms

1 cup peas

1 ½ cups cheddar cheese

½ cup sour cream

I can cream of mushroom soup

½ cup crushed potato chips

Salt and pepper

1. Cook Pasta according to package Directions.

2. Sauté onion and mushrooms until light golden brown. Salt and pepper.

3. Add everything else except ¾ cup cheese and potato chips to the mushrooms and onions. Salt and pepper to taste.

4. Place mixture into a 9x9 baking dish.

5. Sprinkle top with cheese and crushed potato chips.

6. Bake at 425F for 15 to 20 min.

Serve it with sliced tomatoes and cucumbers.

I hope you love it. – Jessie

Mushroom and onion saute.

This is what the inside of the casserole will look like.

The end result. It taste better then it looks.