Earthquake Cake

1 cup coconut
1 ½ cups pecans
German Chocolate cake mix (plus ingredients to make cake batter)
8 oz cream cheese
1 cup melted butter/margarine
3 ½ cups powdered sugar

Butter the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle 1 cup coconut and 1 ½ cups pecans into the pan. Mix a German Chocolate cake mix (according to directions on box) and pour over the coconut and nuts. Mix 8 oz. of cream cheese, 1 cup melted butter & 3 ½ cups of powdered sugar. Drop mixture by spoonfuls on top of the cake mix.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Will be bubbly when done.
~From the kitchen of Sheryl H.

Sun Dried Tomato Pasta

1 Tbl. Butter
2 cloves garlic
1/2 - 1/4 c. sun dried tomatoes
1 c. chicken broth
1 c. whipping cream
2 chicken breasts
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. olive oil - optional. I don't know where it goes in the recipe and don't think it is really needed.
1 Tbl. basil - or less
12 oz. pasta - penne or angel hair (the whole box, 16 oz., is too much) Fresh Parmesan cheese

Melt butter, cook garlic. Add chicken broth and cook with sundried tomatoes for 10 minutes. Add cream and spices and simmer until thick, about 5 min. Pour over cooked pasta. Add sliced grilled chicken on top and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese.

I start the pasta boiling and cook the chicken while I make the sauce. I cooked the sauce with the cream in too long once and it cooked down to where there was less sauce. I think if you cook it for about 5 minutes with the cream, that should be long enough.
~From the kitchen of Paige H.

Hot Chicken Salad

-6 cups diced cooked chicken
-4 cups diced celery
-3 cups croutons
-3 cups mayo
-1 1/2 cups slivered almonds
-1/2 small onion diced
-1 1/2 tsp. salt
-3 cups crushed potato chips
-2 cans Cream of Chicken soup

-Mix all ingredients except chips and a few almonds.
-Place in a large cake pan and top with crushed chips and almonds.
-Bake uncovered @ 450 for 25 minutes or until bubbly. (cover with tin foil for the last 10 minutes of cooking or sooner if the almonds start to brown)
-Serve on croissants.
~From the kitchen of Brittany T.

Corn Casserole

1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
1 can whole kernel corn (Drained)
1 can cream corn
1 egg
1 C sour cream
1 stick (1/2 c) melted butter
1 TBS sugar


Mix all ingredients. Grease 2 qt dish and bake at 350º for about an hour.
(it will be golden brown and a toothpick should come out clean)
~From the kitchen of Gina P.

Diana's Quiche

serves 6
1 - 9-inch unbaked pie shell
2 Cups of shredded cheese (cheddar, swiss or mozzarella -- I've tried them all)
3 Tablespoons sliced green onion(optional -- 6 slices of cooked, crumbled bacon)
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 Cups half-and-half
Dash pepper
Dash nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top of quiche

Sprinkle cheese and onion (and bacon if desired) over the bottom of the pie shell. Beat eggs, cream, nutmeg, pepper and salt. Pour into pie shell. (I added some grape tomatoes sliced in half to the top. Sometimes I sprinkle fresh herbs, like basil, too.) Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake in 375 degree oven 30 - 35 minutes (or until fairly dry.)Let stand 10 minutes before serving. (Leave it in the oven if you can.)
~From the kitchen of Diana D.

Wedding Pasta Salad

Garden Rotini Salad (Serves 20 -25)
8 C. Garden Rotini
1 C. shredded carrots
2 C broccoli florets
1/2 C bell pepper, chopped fine
1 1/2 C peeled and shopped cucumber
1 small can sliced or chopped olives, drained
2 C diced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes cut in half
1 C sliced celery
1 bunch green onions, finely sliced, including tops
3/4 C chopped parsley (Italian parsley if available)
2 1/2 C fresh grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 C Italian Dressing
1/2 C Caesar Dressing
1/4 C red wine vinegar

Step 1: Prepare vegetables. Mix them together and add 1/4 C of the Italian dressing and refrigerate.

Step 2: Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse in cold water.

Step 3: Add vegetables to room temperature pasta.

Step 4: Add remaining dressings, red wine and Parmesan cheese. Save 1/2 C for garnish and serve.

I had this salad at Diana's wedding and loved it so much that I served it and mine and Kory's wedding.
~From the kitchen of Diana D.

Fruit Salad Dressing

2 cups orange juice
1 teaspoon orange jest (about 1 orange)
1 / 2 cup brown sugar
1 / 2 cup apple jelly

Whiz everything together in a blender until smooth, and stir into cut-up fruit. i.e. watermelon, kiwi, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc.
~From the kitchen of Diana D.