Spinach-artichoke dip

I actually stole this from Betty Crocker. And it's not good for you. But I like it.

Preheat oven to 350

You need:

A small casserole dish
1 14-oz can of artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese
1/2 of a fresh red bell pepper, chopped
1 box chopped frozen spinach, defrosted and drained of excess water (this is important - squeeze it with your hands if you have to).
mayonnaise - 1 cup? The best I can tell you is to put about the same amount of mayonnaise as you would in your tuna when you make it.
Mozarrella - enough to layer on top - to taste

Mix it all together. Stick it in the oven. It should take about 30-40 minutes.

Serve with Triscuits or pita or something else yummy.

Greatest (and quickest assembled) Breakfast Ever

...besides cereal. And yogurt. And cinnamon raisin bagels with strawberry cream cheese.

okay.

ONE OF the Greatest Breakfasts Ever:

1 piece of bread (multi grain will reduce guilt caused by the other ingredients)

Peanut butter

1 banana

honey

Preeeeeetty simple- toast the bread to your liking. Apply peanut butter (which will DELIGHTFULLY start to melt just a a bit). Slice banana and apply banana slices in any design you wish. Drizzle honey as desired

CONSUME AND ENJOY!!! It's just so good. Additional options for toppings: Strawberries, almonds, nutella, coconut, asparagus (not as popular), etc.

Little Yellow Things

These are always a huge hit at holiday parties!

3 oz cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp chopped onion or scallions
1 tsp milk
5 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
8 oz crescent rolls

• Oven at 375 degrees
• Combine first 3 ingredients--heat in microwave until soft & smooth
• Stir in bacon
• Press rolls into 4 rectangles, smooshing (technical cooking term here) triangle edges together to seal rectangular whole
• Spread cream cheese mix equally over each rectangle
• Roll long side up
• Pinch to seal
• Cut each roll into 8 pieces (I find it easiest to half the whole roll, half the halves, half the quarters)
• Place on ungreased pan
• Bake at 375 for 12 minutes until dough is a bright yellow (there might be some light brown that shows, too)
• Enjoy!!

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Thought I'd share my favorite sweet treat. And no, I usually can't wait for them to cool fully before eating them. They are AWESOME.

Double Chocolate chip cookies:

1 3/4 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 tablespoons milk

(1 cup pecans or walnuts- optional, and I never use them)

6 ounces (1 cup) semisweet chocolate chips.

Combine flour and baking soda and set aside. Cream the butter with an electric mixer, in another bowl. Then add vanilla, and subars and beat it up until it's "fluffy". Beat in an egg. Then slowly beat in cocoa and milk (this is a very violent receipe!). Then mix in the dry ingredients with a spoon. Then stir in the chips. Put them on a nonstick baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for 12-13 min.

WAIT FOR THEM TO COOL (a little) AND ENJOY! :)

Melanie's Favorite Chicken

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2-1C bread crumbs
1/2-1C parmesan cheese
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tbsp dried basil
1 tsp garlic powder
pepper to tase
1 stick butter or margarine (8 tbsps)

Oven at 350 degrees

• melt butter in small skillet
• combine all dry ingredients in bowl--have ready baking pan/dish
• dip chicken in butter, then dry ingredients
• pat firmly in place in baking dish (pour remaining butter over chicken before baking)
• bake 30-40 minutes, longer if chicken is thick