***Snickerdoodles***

This is an easy recipe to double if you want a large batch. I can get 30 cookies from a single batch if I make them small, about 1 inch balls.

recipe found here

1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

For rolling:
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars with an electric mixer on high speed. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth.

2. In another bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar.

3. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix well.

4. Preheat oven to 300 degrees while you let the dough rest for 30 to 60 minutes in the refrigerator (or 20 min in freezer).

5. In a small bowl, combine the sugar with the cinnamon for the topping.

6. Take about 2 1/2 Tablespoons of the dough and roll it into a ball (I make them smaller and get about 30 cookies). Roll this dough in the cinnamon/sugar mixture and press it onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining cookies.

7. Bake the cookies for 12 minutes. When the cookies have cooled they should be soft and chewy in the middle.

Roasted Parmesan Green Beans

Recipe found here

12 oz green beans, trimmed (make sure they are dry)
2 teaspoon olive oil
kosher salt + fresh cracked pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 Tablespoons shredded parmesan

Directions: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum for easy clean-up. Lay green beans out on the baking sheet and drizzle oil over them. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder and toss to evenly coat.

Spread them out on the sheet so that they all lay flat and place on the lower third section of your oven. Bake 10 minutes, shake the pan to turn; bake 5 additional minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with grated cheese.

Shepherd's Pie

Another fabulous recipe for Shepherd's Pie is found at Once Upon a Chef, it is more work, but very "restaurant quality."

1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (14oz ) can cut green beans, drained
1 (10 3/4 oz) can tomato soup (can substitute can tomato sauce in a pinch)
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Mashed potatoes (I just buy pre-made in the refrigerated section)

Brown ground beef until no longer pink, drain. Add onion powder, salt and pepper. Mix well. Put into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with drained green beans. Spread tomato soup over beans. Spoon potatoes over mixture. Top with grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.