English Toffee

14 tablespoons (1 stick, plus 6 tablespoons) butter
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cold water
1/2 chopped pecans (optional)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Dash salt
1 (6-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Generously butter a cookie sheet.
Put butter, sugar, and water in a heavy pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Bring to a bubbling boil, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Remove spoon from pan, and cook to a very brittle stage (300 degrees to 310 degrees F on a candy thermometer). Or, make a cold water test: candy will separate into hard, brittle threads when dropped in cold water. Remove from heat and add nuts to mixture. Add vanilla and salt. Pour onto prepared cookie sheet and spread to 1/4-inch thickness. Cool slightly, top with chocolate chips or chocolate bars, and spread as it melts. Cool completely and break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

Top with crushed nuts, candy pieces such as M & M's or even sprinkles! Let your creativity shine!

"The" Pancakes

After trying recipe after recipe and not getting the pancakes I was looking for I decided to make my own!! These are so good, try them out for yourself!

1 1/4 cup flour
1 egg
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup sugar
1 heaping teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup oil
pinch of salt

Put all ingredients into a blender starting with the liquid items. Mix until smooth, or mix by hand in a bowl until smooth.
Pour onto a hot greased griddle/pan, when bubbles form on the top flip the pancakes. Keep warm in an oven set on low.
These refridgerate and freeze well for week day breakfast!

**Picture was found online!**

Ham and Potato Soup

**Picture was found online**

3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1/3 cup diced celery
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
3/4 cup diced cooked ham
3 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste
5 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 pound bacon cooked, drained and crumbled

Diced green onions

Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.

In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.

Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through.

Use the last three items as a garnish or stir it in once soup in cooked through.

Yummy Apple Dip

This is sooooo easy and tastes wonderful!!

Skill Level- *

(8 ounce) package cream cheese (soft)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Stir together the cream cheese, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until the sugar has dissolved, and the mixture is smooth.

To make an extra special treat spread into a pie pan and top with toffee bits (can be found by the chocolate chips at the grocery)