Hot Chocolate

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup hot water

1 cup heavy cream

3 cups milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine dry ingredients in a 2 quart sauce pan. Add the hot water and mix over med/high heat. Stir until it begins to boil. Slowly add the milk and cream and heat for about 2 minutes longer (do not let it boil after adding the milk). Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract.

Note: If you do not want to use heavy cream than leave it out and replace it with milk.

topped with cool whip and a mini candy cane

Slow Cooked Apples

Ingredients:
5 cups apples (4 medium apples)
2 Tbs water
2 Tbs melted butter
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup brown sugar

Mix the water, butter and lemon juice and pour over the apples in the crock pot. Than sprinkle with the brown sugar and cinnamon and toss to coat. Cover and cook on low for 2 -3 hours.

Option: pour the sauce into a pan and add about a tsp of corn starch and than heat until it thickens. Than pour over apples.

Frozen Yogurt Pops

My son loves these frozen yogurt pops and they are so easy to make. I purchase the smallest containers of yogurt I can find with a rounded bottom (makes them easier to eat). Use a knife to poke a small hole in each yogurt container than poke a popsicle stick in each hole. Put them in the freezer for a couple of hours or over night. If they are stuck in the container than run some warm water over them and they will slide right out.

Biscuit Wrapped Hot Dogs

I used a can of Pillsbury Crescent Rounds and a pack of Jennie-O Turkey Franks. Roll out the crescent rounds and wrap them around  the hot dogs than bake at 375 for 12 minutes.

Black Bean and Bacon Quesadilla's

This is a no fail meal in my house. My family would be happy to eat these everyday. This is my go to recipe when I'm too busy to cook a big meal. Quesadilla's are so easy to make and you can put almost anything on them. My favorite quesadilla is from a local mexican restaurant. It's called a black bean florentine quesadilla. It has spinach and black beans on it...yum! But I'm the only one in my family that will eat spinach so I don't make the Florentine at home.

Ingredients:
1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 pack 8 inch tortillas
1/2 cup real bacon bits
2 cups shredded cheese
butter

Directions:
Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Spread a thin layer of butter on one side of a tortilla and than place it butter side down in the skillet. Sprinkle desired amount of cheese, black beans and bacon bits on top. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Use a spatula to fold it in half when it's done.

Cookie Dough

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk

Put all of the ingredients in your mixer and mix it on low. It tastes best after it has been in the fridge for at least an hour.

NOTE: This recipe is not meant to be baked!

Granola Bars

1 cup oats

1/3 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1/4 cup dried banana chips (chopped)

1/2 cup coconut flakes

1/3 cup grape nut cereal

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup honey

Blend all of the ingredients together than pour it out onto wax paper. Place another piece of wax paper on top and roll it out to desired thickness with a rolling pin. Place it on a cookie sheet and put it in the fridge for at least an hour (this step will make it easier to cut). Use a pizza cutter to cut them into bars and store them in the fridge.

Note: You can easily change this recipe. Try adding kraft jet-puffed mallow bits for a smores taste or add raisins instead of chocolate chips. If you want it more chewy and less crunchy than leave out the grape nut cereal and banana chips.