Sour Cream Cookies

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup sour cream

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup chopped nuts (opt.)

Cream together shortening & brown sugar.  Add eggs, soda, salt, baking powder, vanilla & sour cream; mix well.  Add flour & nuts & mix well.  Drop by teaspoon full on cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until golden.  Frost with maple frosting:

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup butter

2 Tblsp. milk

1 tsp. maple extract

Mix all ingredients together.  I always use my electric hand mixer whenever I make frostings & it makes the job a LOT easier.  :)  This recipe is a favorite of my Grandma's.  She makes these cookies for almost every family get-together.  When she makes them, she places just one little walnut on top of each cookie as a little garnish.  I always think of her whenever I make these.  You have to have the frosting for these cookies though, otherwise the taste will be much too bland.  Enjoy!  :)

Poppy Seed Muffins

3 eggs

2 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup + 2 Tblsp. oil

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 Tblsp. poppy seeds

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 tsp. almond extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

Beat together eggs, sugar and oil.  Add milk, salt, baking powder, poppy seeds, vanilla, almond flavoring and flour.  Mix well.  Bake (you can bake these as muffins or you can bake them into 3 loaves) at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden & toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Remove muffins as soon as you can while they're still warm and dunk tops into glaze:

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. almond extract

2 Tblsp. butter, melted

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.  Warm until sugar is dissolved.  Once the glaze has been put on top of the muffins, place them (right side up, of course; LOL) on cooling racks until cool.  You can omit the glaze all together if you don't want the mess.  :)

I really wanted to find a good poppy seed muffin recipe because I've always loved them so much, so I Googled it & found this really YUMMY one on Allrecipes.  These are the BEST poppy seed muffins I've ever had in my life!  Store-bought muffins can't possibly compete with these yummy pieces of goodness (not even Costco's!).  I didn't get a chance to make the glaze the first time I made these, but the next time I make them I'll be adding pineapple juice instead of orange.  Tyler absolutely LOVES anything pineapple.  :)  Now, if I could just get a gigantic muffin pan sized the same as the giant muffins you can get at Costco or Sam's Club, I'll be happy.  :)

Cheddar Broccoli Chicken with Potatoes

1 can chicken, drained

8 oz. frozen broccoli florets, thawed & drained (or more, if desired)

1 can Campbell's cheddar cheese soup

splash of milk

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and heat thoroughly.  Serve over hot mashed potatoes.  That's it!  This is one of the fastest, easiest dinners I have on my list, and it's very good comfort food too.  :)  I found this on Campbell's website.  Even the kids love this!