Sugar Cookie Bars

These babies solve a lot of problems for me.  I don't really have the patience to roll out cookies and all that jazz, but wow, do I LOVE sugar cookies.  How brilliant for someone to think of making them in bars!  I never would have thought of that!  Thank you, someone!


Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. lemon zest (optional)

Cream butter and sugar until flully.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg.  Add vanilla and mix well.  In seperate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda and stir.  Add to creamed mixture and mix until just combined.  Spread on a greased baking sheet (13 X 18 or jelly roll pan).  Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes until light golden brown or until toothpick is clean.  Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter, room temp
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. vanilla OR almond flavoring
1/4 tsp. salt
4 cups powdered sugar
5 tbsp. milk
food coloring, if desired

Combine butter and cream cheese until smooth.  Add vanilla and salt.  Add powdered sugar in 1 to 2 cups increments until combined, then add milk a little at a time (you may not use all of it) until smooth and spreading consistency.  Spread over cooled bars.

Cheesy Bacon Penne

I saw this recipe while standing in line at the grocery store, in one of those recipe books they have there by the magazines, above the gum.  And mints.  It was a long line, I was bored and the theme of that month's recipe book was bacon - it was a no brainer.  This recipe looked good to me so I thought, hmmm, I don't want to spend the money and buy this thing, I wonder if I can find it on the internet?  I went home and googled the recipe name plus Taste of Home, and shazam, there it was!!  I love the internet!!  The kids loved this.  It is basically homemade mac and cheese with bacon.  Again, a no brainer.


Ingredients:
2 cups uncooked penne pasta
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups 2% milk
3 cups (12 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon


Heat oven to 350*F

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, saute garlic in butter for 1 minute. Stir in flour and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in 2 cups of cheese until melted. Remove from heat.

Drain the pasta; add pasta and 1/3 cup of bacon to cheese sauce. Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350* for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon.

Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

My changes:  I used the two cups of cheese to make the sauce, but I sprinkled the top with only about 1/4 cup, not 1 cup.  That is way too much cheese for me!!  Also, I used the real baconbits things like I always do, instead of frying up some bacon.  It's faster, and lower in calories.  (As if that matters!!  This was probably 20,000 calories and 400 grams of fat!  Oh well, it was really good!!)

Also, I will have to double it next time, Caleb and Cam were trying to lick the empty casserole dish.  They were mad because they 'only' got seconds.


Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home and some way cool lady who bought the magazine a couple of weeks ago and posted the recipe on a labrador chat room site.  Random!