Meal Planning with Connie

  Apple Dump Cake isn't all that pretty, but... it sure is tasty! Apple Dump Cake You can use other flavors of pie filling with this recipe too. Peach, cherry and blueberry are all delicious! 2 cans apple pie filling ¼ cup brown sugar 1 yellow box cake mix 2 sticks butter Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Pour both cans of apple pie filling into prepared dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar over pie filling. Sprinkle yellow cake mix on top of pie filling. Slice butter into pats and place evenly on top of cake mix. Bake for 50 minutes or until golden brown and done.

Lemon Cheesecake Squares Lemon Cheesecake Squares These are basically a little different take on chess squares. Easy and yummy! 1 box lemon cake mix 4 eggs 1 stick butter, softened 8-ounce cream cheese 16-ounce box powdered sugar 2 tablespoons lemon juice Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Combine cake mix, 1 egg and butter to form a dough. Set aside 1 cup of dough mixture. Pat remaining dough into prepared pan. Mix together cream cheese, 3 eggs, powdered sugar and lemon juice, and pour over dough. Sprinkle reserved dough over cream cheese mixture. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely and, cut into squares.

Gussied Up Ranch Dip I have been making this dip for years. It is not an overstatement to say that my kids love this dip! I can’t believe I’ve not posted it before! It’s so quick and easy! We like it best served with Wavy Lays, but it is good with corn chips and veggie sticks too! This dip also makes an excellent topping for baked potatoes!  Note: This can be made with fat-free sour cream and cheese, but you may need to add a bit of milk before serving, as the fat-free cheese tends to absorb moisture from the sour cream. Gussied Up Ranch Dip 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream 1 (1-ounce) package dry ranch dressing mix 1 can, jar or packet of real bacon bits  1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Combine sour cream and ranch dressing mix until smooth.  Stir in the bacon bits and cheddar cheese, reserving a bit of the bacon and cheese for garnish, if you like. Chill well before serving.

Creamy Cheesy Pasta Bake If you like, double this recipe and bake it in a 9x13-inch baker. It keeps well for several days and reheats beautifully in the microwave. We love leftovers!  Or, you can double the recipe, eat one now and stick one in the freezer for later! Creamy Cheesy Pasta Bake 8 ounces uncooked pasta (I like penne.) 1 pound ground beef 1 large can spaghetti sauce 8 ounces cream cheese 2 tablespoons milk 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 – 1 ½ cups shredded Italian blend cheese 1 small can French fried onions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 9x9” baker with cooking spray. Cook pasta according to directions on the package. Drain and set aside. Brown ground beef; drain. Add spaghetti sauce to skillet; heat through. Combine pasta and sauce. Place cream cheese and milk in a microwave-safe container. Heat and stir until smooth. Add Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese to cream cheese/milk mixture. Assemble ingredients in baking dish in th...

Creamy Cheese and Bacon Vermicelli Creamy Cheese and Bacon Vermicelli I found this on the back of the pasta box. It was super easy and yummy! It could be lighten by using low-fat or no-fat cream cheese and milk, sautéing onions in water or broth, and reducing the amount of bacon. 8 ounces vermicelli 1/4 cup sliced green onion 1 tablespoon margarine or 1 tablespoon butter 1 cup milk 4 ounces cream cheese , cubed 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional) 6 slices bacon , cooked crisply, crumbled grated parmesan cheese Directions: Cook vermicelli according to package directions. Drain, cover and set aside. In small saucepan, sauté green onions in margarine or butter. Add milk, cream cheese, parsley, and seasonings. Cook, stirring constantly over low heat until smooth and cheese is melted. Add cooked pasta to pan; toss with cream cheese mixture and bacon. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Note: If sauce is too thick, add a bit of milk.

New Year’s Dip "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." ~C.S. Lewis, Author New Year’s Dip I wanted a dish that would incorporate black-eyed peas and greens for a New Year's dish this morning for our Sunday school fellowship time. I threw this together with items I had on hand. It was well received by the class. I thought it turned our pretty good too! Please play around with the ingredients and find a combination that you like best! Happy New Year to all!!! 4 ounces softened cream cheese ½ cup mayonnaise ½ packet dry ranch dressing ½ shredded cheddar cheese 3 – 4 green onions, chopped (The onion tops were my greens!) 1 can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed 1 can Mexicorn, drained 1 can Rotel tomatoes, slightly drained 1 cup sausage, browned and drained Tortilla chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a small baking dish with cooking spray. Combine cream cheese, mayo, dry ranch mix and cheese. Add drained veggies and sausage, stirring g...