Nancy, this is for Boots who requested recipes using Kraft Dinner. I always check the Kraft website for recipes using their products. When I typed in "Kraft Dinner" I got 72 different recipes most of which sounded delicious.
The URL is:- Email Address

I hope this helps.
Betty in Canada.

When my kids were little, I would leave out the milk and butter of the Kraft Mac & Cheese and add a can of cream of chicken soup and some chopped green olives along with the dry cheese mix. They loved it. I still do it for myself occasionally. Don't ask me why, but we always ate it with biscuits and grape jelly!
Susan in Iowa

to Boots in VA, I "doctor" up our Kraft macaroni & cheese by using a can of condensed cheese soup and half a can of milk instead of the cheese packet. (so, for 2 boxes, use 2 cans of soup and 1 can of milk, this makes it taste so much more like the homemade kind. then...the cheese packet goes in the bag of microwave popcorn while we are watching tv.
Nedra

Nancy, in the Tuesday (5/13/08) Recipes Boots in VA wanted to know if it was possible to doctor up the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner. We keep at least four boxes of this easy Mac & Cheese in our pantry at all times as it's so easy to make and also pretty tasty. My wife won't eat it unless she adds a small can of tuna to the dish just before serving it. She crumbles or shreds the tuna and puts the whole can into the Mac & Cheese and then mixes it to get the tuna well incorporated. Personally I like to add a small can of boned chicken to the Mac & Cheese to doctor it up or at times I'll either microwave or boil 4 or 5 wieners and then let them cool enough to handle and then slice them and add to the Kraft Dinner Macaroni and Cheese. I hope these ideas will prompt you to give them a try as they are all TNT and worth sharing.
Mr. Myron Drinkwater -Lake Forest, CA

Thanks, Frances from Wesley Chapel for sending hint on Reynolds Wrap and Saran wrap. You sure opened up a lot of eyes. Everyone now got it ! (I know I did )
Anita from Brandon, FL.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you !!!!! I have passed on the great tip about the tabs on the end of foil and wrap boxes to everyone in my e-mail address book, and the responses are sheer excitement about one last hassle in the kitchen.
I love my Nancy Family.
CindyO

You ladies crack me up! I'm at work right now, but I sure I hope I can remember to check all of my rolls of saran wrap and foil for the locking tabs when I get home! All the grief this could have saved me!!!

Thanks to those of you that submitted Beer Bread recipes for my request. I can't wait to try them soon!

I'll reciprocate with some of my favorite appetizer recipes this week (hopefully)!
Take care! Rachel in Virginia Beach

Hello Nancylanders!
I just wanted to let you all know that Reynolds added the awesome little tabs to their boxes 11 years ago. I was curious as to how long I had missed them as well and so I called the company and asked. Happy rolling all! Sarah, MN

Boots in Va
To doctor up boxed Mac and Cheese I just add any leftover cheese I have in the fridge. It comes out much richer in flavor. You might add a little more milk if necessary. Hope you like it! Have fun.
Barbara in Wentzville Mo

For Boots in VA
Make the Macaroni and Cheese according to the packaged directions adding a chopped onion and green bell pepper that has been sauteed in olive oil until limp and drained along with 1/2-can Rotel (Original Recipe) tomatoes. Um-m good!
Susana in Louisiana

Good morning everyone.
I harvested my rhubarb crop on Monday and have baked something different each day using recipes from our morning newsletter. All delicious. My plants were originally my grandmother's. It must be a good year because some of my crop actually had gone to seed.

I cut the stalks into 1/2" pieces and put them in a ziplock bag and freeze. Today I'll try the cake recipe printed in Wednesday's letter.

Thank you everyone. My freezer will be loaded with delicious desserts.
JoAnn in Wisconsin

To Eve in WI, my aunt and I ate that banana salad all the time; loved it! The men in the family thought we were nuts. Thanks for the burger-potato casserole recipe; I need quick to fix recipes, too.
Marlene

I am wondering what time you send out the newsletter as i never get mine till after midnight on the day sent. Am I supposed to be reading Monday's letter on Tuesday am?

How to doctor boxed mac 'n cheese: it's very good with tuna added. From there just let your imagination soar!

When my kids were younger, we did a lot of camping. I made a camping oven with a cardboard box, 4 aluminum cans and charcoal briquets. Line inside of large box with several layers of heavy duty foil (with shiny side toward center of box.) Next, using a large piece of foil folded into quarters, fashion a pan in which you will place burning briquets.

Set briquette pan in center of oven with a soda can on each corner. Place pan to be baked on top of soda cans, close flaps of box (also lined with foil) i always draped a heavy bath towel over entire box. Check occasionally til done. You can experiment at home till you figure number of briquets needed for what temperature. Be careful, I once burned a pan of biscuits in 3 minutes! I have successfully baked pies, cookies, cakes, meatloaf and many other things in my cardboard box! The kids bragged about the goodies that came out of that box!
Meemaw in Indy

Comment
The newsletter is sent out late in the evening.  I wait until the replies and recipes come in for the day. If the replies came in before or on Monday the newsletter has the date for Monday.
Nancy

Hello again, Nancy. Your newsletter is just wonderful. I haven't told you that enough times lately!! This is in answer to the Poison Ivy Kid in N. Carolina. There is a fantastic homeopathic remedy that a good health food store carries. I've used it with great success. I know Nancy doesn't like to add medical things to this newsletter although this is a natural remedy. Call your local health food store (not GNC) and ask if they carry homeopathic remedies. Be sure to ask how to take it. Feel better soon.
Corinne in Pittsburgh

Linda in NC in the May 13th newsletter: My husband gets poison ivy often, as we burn wood. He used baby powder on his ivy one time and now that's all he uses. It keeps the seepage dried up and it goes away much faster.
BB in In.

Hello Nancy and all the Nancylanders out there. I have been reading all the cuke and onion recipes and decided to contribute mine to the Recipes . I can't remember where I got it, it may have been this Recipes . Anyway, it is a keeper.
Sara in FL

Cucumber, Onion & Tomato Salad
Cucumbers, sliced (as many as you want, but lots)
Purple Onions, sliced (as many as you want, but lots)
Roma Tomatoes or Tomatoes of your choice, I quarter and then quarter again (as many as you want, but lots)
Zesty Italian Salad Dressing, (use enough to cover ingredients)

Combine the cucumber, onions and tomatoes. Cover with the Zesty Italian Salad Dressing and refrigerate. The flavors will marry rather quickly. Can be served as soon as you mix it but best after 1 hour of refrigeration.

NOTE: As you eat the salad, you can add additional cucumbers, onions and tomatoes. This salad stays fresh for at least a week ... if it last that long. This is especially good in the summer. Every time I have served it, everyone wants the recipe, (at which I have to giggle a little as it is so easy).

To Lori, who needed ideas for breakfast meals for her children. Lori, there's no rule that says that children need to eat "breakfast foods" at breakfast time. I'm not a cereal lover myself, so I understand. How about a grilled cheese sandwich ? This is especially yummy in a George Foreman grill. Try a pizza-like English muffin. Cut a muffin in half, smear on a bit of pizza sauce or even tomato sauce, add a piece of mozzarella cheese, and pop into the microwave until the cheese melts. A tuna burger is fine too. Again, put tuna salad (no celery or they'll turn their noses up) onto a slice of bread, add their favorite cheese and microwave until cheese is melted. What about a peanut butter sandwich? Very nutritious.

Even leftovers from last night's dinner would be fine. A milk shake would also be great. Apple slices smeared with peanut butter are tasty. Cream cheese on a toasted bagel makes another good breakfast. Good luck, Lori.
Corinne in Pittsburgh

Re: Emma in Tuesdays letter [5/13/08 ] stuffing manicotti. I use my jerky shooter to fill manicotti and shells. No air holes or unfilled pasta. I am sure there are a host of jerky makers out there. Hunters especially like to make jerky with venison.
Harvey in Pa.

5/13 N/L Boots in VA needs to "doctor up" her Kraft mac and cheese.

My DH doesn't care for broccoli so when I make mac and cheese, just a minute or two before the macaroni is cooked to desired doneness, I add some frozen cut broccoli. He never complains when I do this.

Also you can add some of the small cocktail wieners to the mac and cheese with or without the broccoli.

Also regarding the Hot Dog Spaghetti. . instead of using cut hot dogs, add cocktail wieners. We also add a can of diced tomatoes along with spaghetti sauce.
Mary Alyce in WI

This is for Lori in IL who wanted ideas for breakfast items for her kids. I know from raising four that is a challenge and each has their own favorites.

Pancakes/waffles with blueberries, raisins and/or chocolate chips
French toast and French toast casseroles (it reheats in the microwave)

Grits can be fixed numerous ways and my kids loved them with raisins and even scrambled eggs mixed in them

Poached eggs on English muffins

Biscuits in a tube cut into half or fours, fry in a small skillet in oil and put into brown sugar/cinnamon mix or powdered sugar

Muffins with different fillings (we called them surprise muffins) and I fixed a variety with jellies

Various canned fruits mixed together (start with fruit cocktail and add like Mandarin oranges, grapes, etc.)

Hope others have ideas and that some of them will help you.
Marti in AL

For Boots in VA,
A girlfriend of mine, years ago, used to make boxed macaroni and cheese all the time for her two kids. She said, one day she decided to add a can of undiluted cream of chicken soup, to the prepared mac and cheese...the one with the powdered cheese. She heated it slightly, and served it up. The kids loved it.

I tried it, and you know, it is one of my favorite lunches, along with a slice of bread with butter. Hey, sounds so good, think that is what I'll have for lunch today! YUMMY and SUPER simple!!
Trish in Illinois~

Thanks for help with gray sheet site. I am still trying to get on. Having trouble.
Mary, Green Brook, NJ

Does anyone have a recipe for Date Mini Muffins? I know it had only 3 tablespoons of flour. Nancy I have enjoyed reading our site and learned a lot from all of the people that write in. Thank you for all you hard work.
Barb in OK.

To Boots in Va about doctoring up Mac N Cheese in the May 13th newsletter.

Depending on my mood I will add two small cans of cream of mushroom soup, 1-2 can of tuna and 1 can of peas. Of course I make the mac n cheese like the package says.

I have also added warm diced ham (or cooked diced chicken) , a cooked package of frozen broccoli and 2 small cans of cream of broccoli soup or a few chunks of velvetta cheese.

For a pot luck you could add one of the choices above then put in a tinfoil pan top with bread crumbs and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes, you could even do this in a crock pot and it would stay warm.

Hope these suggestions help.

I thought I was the only one that was a gadget junkie. I love Pampered Chef they are a bit expensive but their products are worth it to me. They also have a Pampered Chef outlet on their webpage they have a bunch of stuff at reduced price, it changes monthly.
Toni FL

For Boots about the Mac and Cheese?
Fry 1 lb of hamburger per box with onion and bell peppers and add a can of cream of chicken soup for each box with alittle more milk to make it creamy? Fix the Mac and Cheese according to directions on box?

For Linda with poison ivy? a doctor goes to our church and my son gets poison ivy really easy also the doctor told us to dilute water and vinegar equal amounts and get a washcloth and scrub the spot and do this several times a day.. Use a fresh wash cloth each time.. You are breaking the blisters open and it will dry out? It has worked on my son several times..
Vicky

Nancy you are so sweet and giving I know that God is smiling down on you.

A very warm thank you to Betty in Canada, Phylis in CA, Marti in AL and Chris in NM for sharing your Date Nut Loaf recipe with me. They each sound wonderful. I have purchased the dates and will very soon bake.
God's blessing to all. Sarah, Jackson, MS

Haven't tried this yet, but plan too ;)
Thought It sounds good, and wanted to share ;)
GINA  -in Indiana

Cranberry Cake
8 to 10 servings

If you are dieting, please disregard this recipe, it is not for those counting calories. This is absolutely delicious if you like cranberries. Very rich and the sauce is a real compliment to the cake. I used frozen cranberries and they worked fine. I had to bake about 5 to 10 minutes longer.

3 tablespoons butter (no substitutes), softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup milk
2 cups cranberries
2 tablespoons grated orange or lemon peel

Cream Sauce:
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup whipping cream
2/3 cup butter

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg. Combine the flour, baking powder and nutmeg; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk.

Stir in cranberries and orange peel. Pour into a greased 11x7x2-inch baking dish. Bake at 350? for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine sauce ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through. Cut warm cake into squares; serve with cream sauce.

Fresh Strawberry Pie
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
3 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. light corn syrup

Cook all ingredients until thick. Remove from heat and add 1 small box strawberry jello. Let cool. Add 1 quart sliced strawberries. Top with Cool Whip.

Eggplant Casserole
1 stick butter or margarine, melted
1/2 onion, chopped
1 cup cheese
1 medium eggplant
2 eggs
1 cup cornbread, crumbled
1 cup tomatoes, chopped
Peel and chop eggplant. Cook in small saucepan with enough water until tender. Drain. Mix in remaining ingredients and bake in 350 oven for 30 to 45 minutes.
Deb, AR

Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Miracle Whip
1/4 cup honey
2 T spicy German Mustard
few drops Tabasco
Combine using a wire whisk. Makes about 1 cup

Honey Mustard Sauce
1/4 cup honey
2 T prepared mustard
1 T Heinz 57 sauce
Stir together. Makes about ? cup.

www.watkinsonline.com/hutto
sunnywatkinsgirl@aol.com
Order toll free: 888-965-7070

More Watkins Snack and Dip Mixes - on sale $7.74 is you purchase 2.
#02054 Crab is a mild flavored dip mix with sweet, luscious crab flavor.
#02055 Cucumber & Dill is one of our most popular dips! This combo is great with raw vegetables or as a sauce for Greek gyros.

Hi Nancylanders, just wanted to ask if any of the great cooks out there have any good recipes for already cooked shrimp? How about any good recipes using stew meat? Besides using it for stew. Nancy thank you for all that you do for us. Bless you Nancy for all the tiring work you do on this newsletter. I'm kinda feeling numb as my mother just passed away on mother's day. Bless all the nancylanders.
Mary G. from CA.

Here are some breakfast ideas for Lori in IL from another Mother

Jam and Cheese French Toast
Spread 2-tbspn softened cream cheese on one thick slice of cinnamon-raisin bread. Spread 2-tbspn of strawberry jam on another slice of the same. Place jam side down over the cream cheese side. Dip both sides of bread into a beaten egg. Cook bread 3-4 minutes on each side (or until golden brown) in a skillet with 1-tbspn melted butter. Serve with maple syrup.

or how about -
open faced grilled cheese sammies with bacon
or homemade sausage (or bacon) biscuits are always good -

Blueberry muffins are a hit here and - when the huckleberries come on the bush, I let the boys pick them and I make huckleberry muffins with a mix
or

Cinnamon Muffins
1/2-cup Crisco shortening
1/2-cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 12/-cups all-purpose flour
1 ?-tspn baking powder
1/2-tspn salt
1/4-tspn nutmeg
1/2-cup milk

TOPPING
1/2-cup sugar
1 ?-tspn cinnamon
3-tbspn margarine or butter, melted

In a bowl, cram shortening and sugar. Add egg; beat well. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk and mix well. Fill greased muffin cups half full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. (Toothpick test them for doneness.) In a shallow bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon, Dip muffin tops in butter, then in cinnamon-sugar. Serve warm
and
I got this recipe from my Pillsbury website online and made it for work. They went quickly. This is simple with a capital S.

Cinnamon Roll Bites
1(12.4-oz)can Pillsbury Refrigerated Orange Danish Cinnamon Rolls with Icing

Heat oven to 375?. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Cut each roll into 4 equal parts; place separately on the cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Uncover the icing cup; and microwave for 10 seconds. Drizzle icing over all and serve. (Makes 32 ?bites?)

This is a fun recipe that I received in an e-mail from one of my on-line recipe sources. TINA3031 gets the credit for originally sending it into www.AllRecipes.com. Anyway - I made this one morning to take to work to share. The kids have several too and they liked them as well as the ?grow-ups at work? did.

or

Corn Dog Muffins
1-1/3 (8/5-oz) pkg. Cornbread mix (I used Jiffy)
1-tbspn + 1 tspn brown sugar
1 1/3 eggs
1-cup milk
2/3-cup freshly grated mild cheddar cheese
6-frankfurters cut into 12 slices each

Preheat oven to 400? and line muffin tin with muffin cups (or lightly grease). Stir together the cornbread mix and the brown sugar in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs and milk in a small bowl until smooth. Fold the eggs and cheese into the dry mixture until moistened. Spoon mixture into 12 muffin tins until 2/3 full. Add 6 slices of franks to each cup and push down into the batter a little bit. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Hope you get some ideas from these breakfast favorites in our home
Susana in Louisiana

This is to Emma regarding filling Manicotti shells in the May 12 n/l. What I have done in the past, Emma, is cook the shells, put them out on foil and cut one side of them open and then fill them. Fold the side back up and stick it to the filling. Place them in the casserole dish cut side down. I found it to be much easier than trying to stuff the shells whole. Tell me what you think.
Barb in OKC

RE: This is for Susana in Louisiana, about the hot dog spaghetti. Yes, I have one big kid, my husband LOL. He comes from a big family and learned this recipe from his mom. Sorry I forgot to type my name with this message.
Nicol in MS

Does anyone have a recipe for a Green Chili Scallion rice? Last night we ate at a great restaurant in Pensacola and it was on the menu. They have Thai night each Tuesday along with their regular menu. I have looked on the internet and cannot find one so I hope someone out there likes and cooks Thai food.

Also I still could not find udon noodles but did find the whole wheat linguine so will try using that in the recipe.
Marti in AL

Someone was looking for honey-mustard recipes. Here is one version.
Dawn - Cape Cod, MA

Honey-Dijon Dressing
Makes about 1 cup dressing

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 TB Dijon mustard
Salt & pepper

Shake all ingredients in tightly covered container. Shake before serving

RE: Poison Ivy
I'm 64 years old and when I was a child my mother washed us with 'Fels-Naptha' Soap to prevent us from getting poison ivy. You find this soap in the laundry detergent section of the grocery store. This soap is also good for removing stains. You might also take a 'Benedryl' tablet for the alergy reaction. MTC in OH

To Linda in NC re poison ivy.
Wash asap with soap and water. Also, there is an over the counter lotion, not calamine it does nothing for PI, however, I am not at home to give you the name, but any druggist can help.

We have used it and it works. Not much help I guess, but there is something. We have a beach home and lots of poison ivy around.
Jean in CA.

also the cleaner from Dollar Store THE WORKS does work. Thanks to whomever sent in the idea.

I am still looking for a recipe for chop suey that molasses is used.

I can't find the Lemon Icebox Cake anywhere. Can someone lead me to it?
Donna in Ft. Myers

Hello Nancylanders, I jus to share a tip with you; to my knowledge I have never missed a newsletter. The reason? I have set my spam filter to send all email to my inbox. I want to be the one to control what is spam and what is not, the heck with what AOL, Yahoo, or any other ISP thinks is spam, what looks good on paper does not always work in real life, the spam filters is a perfect example of that.

I do not use Outlook and here is what you do if you do not use outlook to set your spam filters. At the top of your AOL (not IE, I don't use that either) browser, go to where it says "safety." When the menu drops down select spam controls, that opens the mail and spam control box. From there when it says select the level of control you want select "off."

If you see "words and phases," "sender filter," and "file filter" at the bottom they should all say "off," if not select off. Once done save the settings, you should then receive the newsletter every time. It also means if you surf the web you will get junk mail in your in box as well as spam but it should solve the problem of not getting your newsletter and posts from any of the Yahoo groups you may be on. Except for when Yahoo and AOL are feuding! LOL.

I'm sorry this is too long Nancy but I keep reading every day how people don't get a newsletter and I know you get very tired of repeating yourself every other day as to how to get the newsletter. This should work for AOL users, I don't know if it will help those who are not, but with the other ISP's I'd check and see if they have something called safety and spam or mail controls.
Nancyb

I use AOL too and have never had a problem not getting this wonderful newsletter. I have many, many, many other complaints against AOL, but losing my letter in the spam folder is not one of them. It is always right there, everyday, in my email....the one saving grace for AOL. : )

Ok Pat in DE, you asked for it. I have many seafood recipes and I can offer one a day if you like. Some are my personal recipes and others come from various people. I will give credit when it is due. So here goes. ENJOY!
Trudy S. in Slidell LA

This recipe came from a local newspaper and is one of my favorite dishes at a Louisiana Pasta Restaurant called Semolina?s

Shrimp Or Crawfish Roban
1/4 Cup Butter
1# Fresh Crawfish Tails Or Shrimp

2 Cups Roban Sauce (Below)
1-1/2 LBS Cooked Pasta
1/2 Cup Chopped Green Onion

Heat the sauce just to a simmer in a large saut?pan. Add seafood and cooked pasta and toss to coat in sauce. Cook only long enough to heat the pasta. Garnish with
green onion.

Roban Sauce:
1/4 Cup Butter
2 TBSP garlic minced fine
1 Cup chopped green onion
1 qt. heavy cream
1 TBSP blackened redfish seasoning

Place butter, garlic and green onion in a saucepan and cook until the garlic releases its flavor. Add the heavy cream and coo until reduced by nearly one-half. When reduced, the sauce should heavily coat the back of a spoon. Add blackened redfish seasoning
and adjust with more spice to taste.

Hi Nancy & Staff, Re: 5/13-08 N/L Linda in N.C. regarding Poison. Ivy I had 2 bouts with it last year. I went to www.health911.com/remedies/rem_pois.htm.
(4 pages) of helpful advice. I now save the plastic bags our newspaper comes in, and slip it over my hands and arms. Simply remove bag wrong side out when working around ivy and put in trash. Then wash hands and arms and change clothing that might have come in contact with ivy. Margaret, Tulsa

I want to thank Mary in Va who posted in the May 11th newsletter the tip about checking ends of foil and plastic wraps. I didn't know about that either and I looked last night and sure enough both the cling wrap and foil boxes has the tabs; I pushed them in. Thank you so much for posting that valuable information Mary.
Nancyb

I am wondering if anyone knows how to get rid of squirrels in the attic. thank you, Patti in Tx.
God Bless, Patti

Nancy,
I would love to have a good peach cobbler recipe made with pie dough. you have a great site. I always come here for a good recipe. Keep up the good work.
Erma in Sullivan, MO