Toffee Peanut Butter Cookies

These are delicious! I love the peanut butter cookie with the toffee inside and the extra crunch of it on top!  -Kristin
The pictures show the cookies made with the chocolate covered toffee bits and the plain toffee bits. Both are awesome! -Sarah
1/2 c. shortening
3/4 c. peanut butter
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
3 T. milk
1 T. vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/2 c. flour
3/4 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt
1 package Heath toffee bits, divided

• Mix well the shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla.
• Add the eggs.
• In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add this mixture to the creamy mixture.
• Stir in a little more than 1/2 of the toffee chips.
• Drop by heaping teaspoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Top each cookie with some of the reserved toffee bits.
• Bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes or until set.
• Cool on pans 2 minutes before removing.

Heath English Toffee Bits 8 oz - 6 Unit Pack

Rolo Cookies

These are a fun cookie to make. They sound really fussy but are a cinch to make. My kids loved helping with these. This cookie is awesome with the surprise carmel inside. -Kristin


1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
2 1/4 c. flour
3/4 c. cocoa
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
about 40-50 Rolo candies

1/4 c. sugar

• Beat the butter and sugars together and then add the eggs and vanilla until smooth.
• In a seperate bowl combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
• Beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture.
• Chill the dough in the refridgerator for at least an hour.
• Place one Tablespoon or so of dough in hands and flatten. Then put one rolo in the center and fold the dough up over the rolo. Roll in hands gently to make a smooth ball.
• Place the remaining 1/4 c. sugar onto plate. Roll the ball in the sugar.
• Do not flatten the dough.
• Place on a greased baking sheet and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Let cool on pans 10 minutes before removing.

Reese's, Kisses and Rolo Assortment, 11-Ounce Bags (Pack of 4)

Italian Sprinkle Cookies

My mom is doing an Italian themed Christmas dinner this year. Each year she picks a different country for our Christmas meal. I searched for a yummy Italian cookie recipe and found this one in an old Taste of Home magazine. These are very good and I know everyone is going to love them. -Kristin

6 eggs
5 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. powdered sugar
2 T. plus 1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 c. vegetable oil
1 T. almond extract
1 1/2 t. lemon extract or vanilla extract

Glaze:
1/2 c. warm milk
1 t. almond extract
1 t. vanilla extract
3 3/4 c. powdered sugar

Colored Sprinkles

• In a mixing bowl, beat eggs until light and foamy, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• In another bowl, mix together the flour, powdered sugar and baking powder.
• Pour in the oil, extracts and beaten eggs and mix till well combined.
• Drop dough onto ungreased baking sheet in about a 1 inch ball.
• Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.
• While they are cooking beat together the glaze ingredients.
• When cookies are done, remove from pan and place into the glaze to coat. Remove with fingers or slotted spoon and place onto wire rack so the extra glaze can drip off.
• Quickly top with sprinkles.
• Let dry for 12-24 hours.
• Place in an air tight container.

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

This is the best tuna noodle casserole I have ever had. I love that it is made all from scratch and yet so easy...and very frugal too! I adapted this recipe from a cooking blog called Tammy's Recipes. -Kristin

12 ounces egg noodles (or 8 ounces small pasta)
2 (6 oz.) cans of tuna, drained
1 onion, chopped
3 T. butter
2 T. all purpose flour
2 c. milk
1 t. salt
dash of pepper
2-3 c. shredded cheddar (or a combo of mozzarella and cheddar)

• Cook pasta according to directions. Drain and set aside.
• Melt butter and saute onion in it until softened.
• Then stir in flour to make a thick paste.
• Whisk in the milk and salt.
• Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat.
• Mix together the cooked noodles, the sauce and half of the cheese. Pour into a greased 11x7.
• Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

The Tight Budget Cookbook: Delicious and Nutritious Recipes for the Frugal Cook
The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever
Easy One-Pot: Frugal Recipes for Busy Cooks (Easy (Ryland Peters & Small))
The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook

Thumbprint Cookies

These are a fun cookie to make with kids...mine love to do the thumbprint. They are also delicious and pretty! These add great color to a cookie platter if giving out cookies for the holidays. -Kristin

1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. butter, softened
1 t. vanilla
2 egg yolks
1/2 t. salt
2 c. flour
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
2 c. finely chopped pecans
10 T. jam or jelly any flavor

• Cream together the brown sugar and butter.
• Beat in the vanilla and egg yolks.
• Beat in the salt and flour.
• Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
• Dip each ball into the egg whites and then roll in the nuts.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press thumb into the center and make a good indentation.
• Bake about 10 minutes until light brown.
• Remove from oven and quickly remake indentation with a metal spoon if necessary.
• Remove cookies from the cookie sheet and fill the thumbprints with about 1/2 t. jam.

Snickerdoodles

These are another family favorite cookie of ours! -Kristin

1 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. flour
2 t. cream of tartar
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt

1/4 c. sugar (topping)
4 t. cinnamon (topping)

• Cream together the butter, sugar and eggs.
• Mix together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Mix into the creamed mixtures.
• In a shallow bowl, combine the topping ingredients and mix well.
• Shape dough into about 1 inch balls and then roll into the topping mixture.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 8-10 minutes.
• Remove immediately from baking sheet.

Maple-Oat Dinner Rolls

This recipe from my new Taste of Home magazine is a real keeper. I love making rolls from scratch and these have such a wonderful flavor. They would be excellent to serve for breakfast or brunch, they have a lot of flavor all on their own. -Sarah

2 1/4 t. yeast
1/2 cup warm (110-115 degrees) water, divided
1/2 cup warm (110-115 degrees) coffee
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 egg
3 T. shortening
1 t. salt
3-3 1/2 cups bread flour

• Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Add the remaining water, coffee, oats, sugar, syrup, egg, shortening, salt, and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
• Turn onto a floured surface and knead about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning to grease top of dough. Cover and let rest until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down, turn onto a floured surface and divide into about 15 balls, placing in a greased 9x13 pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
• Bake at 350 degrees about 15 minutes. Brush with melted butter if desired.

The Taste of Home Baking Book
The Taste of Home Cookbook- New Revised: One Recipe four ways
Taste of Home: Winning Recipes: 645 Recipes from National Cooking Contests