Grape Salad

5 lbs red seedless grapes

2 pkg cream cheese

3/4 c sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

4 oz container of sour cream

1 1/2 c chopped pecans

Soften cream cheese and blend together with sugar, vanilla and sour cream. Pull grapes from stems and add to cream cheese mixture. Gently fold in pecans. Chill 1 hour before serving. YUM!!!

Instant Baked Apples

Use a melon baller to core any variety of apple, leaving the bottom fourth intact, then place apple upright in a microwave-safe bowl. Fill the hollowed-out core with a mixture of 1-2 teaspoons of butter, 2 teaspoons of brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of walnuts or raisins, and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon. Cover the apple with plastic wrap and microwave it on high for 3 minutes or until the apple is tender. Use oven mitts to remove it from the mocrowave. Let te apple cool before you eat it.

Birthday Waffles

This is a fun birthday tradition we started when Carden turned four... definitely not something I would allow the kids to eat for breakfast any and every day; I think the fact that the kids know it is a little naughty is what makes this tradition, and in consequence, the birthdays, just a little bit more fun, recognized and celebrated!

1 box cake mix, batter prepared as instructed on box
frozen yogurt or ice cream (we use vanilla)
sliced strawberries
sliced bananas
chocolate sauce
mini M&M's
whipped cream

Heat a waffle iron. Pour some batter into iron when heated. After 'waffle' cooks, top with a scoop of ice cream and remaining ingredients. Use remaining batter for cupcakes for later in the day!

No Bake Cookies

1 c butter

2 c sugar

1/2 tsp salt

4 tbsp cocoa

1/2 c milk

1/4 c peanut butter

3 c quick oats

1 tsp vanilla

Prepare a buttered cookie sheet. Bring first five ingredients to a boil; stir frequently. Boil 2 1/2 minutes. Take off the stove and stir in last three ingredients. Drop by spoonful onto prepared cookie sheet. Cool for 30 minutes.