What is your most ridiculously easy dish that draws raves?

[Lanshark]

No bake cheesecake

1 graham cracker crust
1 can pie filling
1 block cream cheese
1 cup powered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup coolwhip

cream together cream cheese, powered sugar and vanilla. Fold in coolwhip
Put into crust. Top with pie filling. Chill and serve

 

[PhotobearSam]

So many sound so good...

 

[christineann]

I don't remember where I got this recipe, but I know there are a few variations on the internet. Quick and easy!

Praline Grahams

1 sleeve of graham crackers, broken into halves
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans

Melt butter and brown sugar together in sauce pan over medium high heat. Bring to a rolling boil; continue to boil two minutes. Set aside, and add chopped pecans when bubbling subsides.

Place graham cracker halves in single layer on small ungreased cookie sheet. Pour butter/brown sugar mixture over graham crackers. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 8 minutes. Watch carefully so these don't burn. The recipe states 8-10 minutes, but I have taken the pan out after about 7 minutes. Cool completely. Break into pieces, and store in an airtight container.

My daughter doesn't like pecans, so I sprinkled these with Halloween jimmies after they had cooled a bit. I am mailing these to her at college tomorrow.

 

[IDoDis]

Here's a great snack/side dish to take to a potluck:

Tortilla Rolls

8 flour tortillas
1 1/2 boxes of cream cheese (leave out to soften a bit)
2 small cans of chopped green chile (we can get fresh roasted green chile here which is what most people use)
garlic salt to taste

Mix softened cream cheese, green chile and a bit of garlic salt together. Spread over a flat tortilla. Roll the tortilla up and cut into pinwheel sized slices. Chill and serve on a tray. Here's what they look like:
http://www.kraftfoods.com/assets/recipe_images/PHILADELPHIA_Creamy_Tortilla_RollUps.jpg

 

[nikkistevej]

Here's a great snack/side dish to take to a potluck:

Tortilla Rolls

8 flour tortillas
1 1/2 boxes of cream cheese (leave out to soften a bit)
2 small cans of chopped green chile (we can get fresh roasted green chile here which is what most people use)
garlic salt to taste

Mix softened cream cheese, green chile and a bit of garlic salt together. Spread over a flat tortilla. Roll the tortilla up and cut into pinwheel sized slices. Chill and serve on a tray. Here's what they look like:
http://www.kraftfoods.com/assets/recipe_images/PHILADELPHIA_Creamy_Tortilla_RollUps.jpg

I do a version of this called Taco Rolls:
1 box cream cheese (softened)
1 small container of sour cream
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 can chopped chillies
1 4 oz bag of taco cheese
Mix all together, spread on tortillas, roll up, cut into pinwheel pieces. Serve with salsa.
Everybody seems to love these, I don't ear salsa- but they're good without them too.

 

[paintnolish]

I do the easy no bake cheesecake that has been mentioned a few times. It is very easy to modify, too. I add some almond extract (sometimes white choc chips) and top with cherry pie filling. I alslo throw in a glob on pb and some choc chips. Try crushed oreos in a oreo crust. The possiblities are endless and people always love it!

 

[castlegazer]

I totally never understand why this gets so much great raves because its so easy, but here is my always in demand and used about twice per week Guacamole recipe:

three avocados peeled and mushed up with a fork in bowl
about a 1/2 cup of your favorite salsa - as spicy as you like it to be normally
about 2 tsps of garlic powder
a pinch of salt - or more if you desire

and mix until creamy

(I add some cilantro too if I have it)

This is always begged for by my friends and I am actually a really good cook, so it always kills me that its so easy, but alas...... easiest is always best.

 

[pjlla]

What a great thread, but I MUST ask... do NONE of you have weight problems?? I LOVE the sound of lots of these recipes, but most of them would have to be once-in-a-while, just-for-a-treat meals. Butter, sour cream, and cream cheese are abounding here! Maybe I will try a few and try to lighten them up. I'll let you know if I have any success. I have a few recipes that would qualify for this thread (except that no one EVER raves about my cooking), but I am at school and don't have the recipes memorized. I will try to post later tonight when I am home. ..................P

 

[Green Tea]

Here's one without sour cream or cheese!

Marinate your boneless chicken breasts in 1/2 soy sauce, 1/2 italian dressing. Then grill. Can't get much easier than that

 

[Chicago526]

I guess it depends on your definition of easy, and part of why this is easy for me is that I always have cooked diced chicken breast ready to go in the freezer (I cook chicken breasts up in my crock pot, diced them, and freeze it on the weekends when I have the time).

Chicken Enchilada Verdes (or as my husband calles them "green chicken roll up thingies")

1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
1 pound cooked chickent breast, diced
1 small yellow onion diced
1 or 2 cloves garlic minced
1 to 2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 tablesoons choped cilantro
2 4 oz. cans diced chilies
2 10oz. cans green chili Enchilada Sauce
8 oz monterey jack cheese, shreaded (pepper jack cheese also good)
10 flour tortillas

Pre-Heat oven to 350
In frying pan sautee onion in butter or oil until soft. Add diced garlic for about 30 seconds and then add chicken, cumin, and diced chilis (both cans). Once heated through, add cilantro and remove from heat. Pour one can of enchilada sauce in 9x13 or similar sized baking dish. Place 2-3 tablespoons of chicken filling on tortila with a pinch of cheese, roll, and place in dish seam down or to the side so it stays closed. Repeat until you've rolled all 10 torillas. Top with 2nd can of green enchilada sauce and remaining cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until sauce bubbles and cheese is just starting to brown. Serves 5 to 6 people.

Since I have the chicken cooked already the filling only takes me about 5 minutes to make up. I mince the garlic while the onions are cooking and then I chop the cilantro and grate the cheese while the chicken is heating up with the onions, and it takes about another 5 minutes or so to roll the enchiladas. So I guess this makes it a 30 minute meal. Eat your heart out, Rachael Ray! If you've never had green enchilada sauce, it's just a bit more spicy than red enchilada sauce (it's not flaming hot, just kicked up a notch), so keep that in mind if you usually prefer more mild flavors.

 

[paintnolish]

What a great thread, but I MUST ask... do NONE of you have weight problems?? I LOVE the sound of lots of these recipes, but most of them would have to be once-in-a-while, just-for-a-treat meals. Butter, sour cream, and cream cheese are abounding here! Maybe I will try a few and try to lighten them up. I'll let you know if I have any success. I have a few recipes that would qualify for this thread (except that no one EVER raves about my cooking), but I am at school and don't have the recipes memorized. I will try to post later tonight when I am home. ..................P

I sub at least reduced fat, if not fat free, whenever I can. Also, for the majority of the recipes are, I think, something to throw into your regular cooking rotation, not something to eat evry night.

 

[Tinijocaro]

What a great thread, but I MUST ask... do NONE of you have weight problems?? I LOVE the sound of lots of these recipes, but most of them would have to be once-in-a-while, just-for-a-treat meals. Butter, sour cream, and cream cheese are abounding here! Maybe I will try a few and try to lighten them up. I'll let you know if I have any success. I have a few recipes that would qualify for this thread (except that no one EVER raves about my cooking), but I am at school and don't have the recipes memorized. I will try to post later tonight when I am home. ..................P

I was thinking the same thing! Maybe we could start a similar thread with recipes that don't use cream cheese, cream of whatever soup or cheeses. I did get some good ones from this thread though!

 

[4forMe]

Cornbread Casserole

1 can creamed corn
1 can kernel corn (do not drain)
1 stick of butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
8 oz. sour cream (small container)
1 package jiffy corn muffin mix

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9 x 13 pan. Mix everything and pour in pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes.

I make this is a pyrex portable and bring to family parties - everyone loves this dish!

 

[Imzadi]

I was thinking the same thing! Maybe we could start a similar thread with recipes that don't use cream cheese, cream of whatever soup or cheeses. I did get some good ones from this thread though!

There was a Casserole thread on the Budget Board. It got to be quite long. I finally clicked on it, thinking I would find great, yummy recipes, and nearly ALL of them were variations of cream of whatever soup and cans of tuna or canned chicken.

I guess I didn't know the definition of "casserole." I was hoping for some hearty noodle stews and very thickened, chunky, noodle & vegetable & meat soups made with other kinds of bases like beef stock, chicken stock, a tomato base, all in a single pot. Not a 100 variations of cream of whatever soup and tuna.

 

[Green Tea]

I made the parmesan/puff pastry thing today. My girls wolfed them down. Said they LOVED them. Indeed quick and easy!

I looked in every grocery store here for the Famous Nabisco chocolate wafers. No luck. I wanted to make that cake thing too.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I got these recipes from Real Simple magazine. I haven't tried them yet but I plan to for holidays and get togethers.

Coconut Snowballs
Makes 30 servings/Hands on Time: 10 min./Total time: 10 min..

1 gallon French vanilla ice cream
2 14-oz packages shredded coconut

Make ice-cream balls with a 1 1/2 inch scoop, then roll each ball in the shredded coconut. Place them in foil or paper mini-muffin wrappers on a tray. Cover with foil or plastic wrap and freeze. A picture accompanies the recipe. They look so festive!

Magic Cocoa
Makes 8 servings/ Hands on and total time: 5 min..

1/2 gallon whole milk
1 12 oz bag Premium Dark cocoa candy melts ($3.50, www.wilton.com) or semisweet chocolate chips

Heat the milk over medium-low heat; don't let it boil. Add about 1/4 cup of the candy melts or semisweet chocolate chips to each of 8 m ugs and fill them with the hot milk. Stir.

Note: There's something enchanting for kids about watching hot milk turn into hot chocolate before their eyes. Instead of spoons, offer cinnamon sticks or candy canes for stirring.

Chocolate Ganache Sandwiches
Makes 30 servings/Hands on time: 15 min. Total Time: 2 hours

1 12-oz bag semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups heavy cream
2 9-oz boxes Nabisco Famous Chocolate wafers

Melt the chocolate chips in the heavy cream over low heat, stirring occasionally until blended. Remove from heat and chill in the refrigerator until cool but not firm. (Can be made ahead to this point up to 2 days, but allow the cream to soften before proceeding.) Beat the chocolate cream with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, 3-5 min.. Assemble the sandwiches with 2 chocolate wafers and a few tablespoons of ganache.

Note: If you like crispy cookies and creamy filling, make these as close to the party time as possible. For a softer, ice-cream sandwich type of dessert, make them 1-day ahead and keep them covered in the refrigerator. The wafers will absorb some of the filling and become more cakelike. (This one reminds me of the cookie cake from this thread that I want to try!)

 

[js]

Well, let me start this by telling you I do not cook. I find it a chore, like my food dry and burned. My dh does all the cooking much to the delight of my dd-14 and ds-10.

BUT, on Sundays we always have "Family Breakfast"-usally more in the fall/winter than Spring/summer since we run out to softball/baseball games on the weekend in Spring/Summer, Karate, etc. and I always "help" my dh cook.
Anyway, since my dd was young enough to understand me, I've always said
"mom is making my famous toast". Now, I get requests for my "famous toast" whenever we eat breakfast Sometimes I burn it a little more than usual by mistake but I still get requests
This morning I was called out of bed to "make my famous toast" since the bacon was almost ready. Up I got. I could not disappoint

Ingredients:
Toast
Butter

I too can only handle no more than 3 ingredients or I loose interest

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

LOL can you come over and make some famous toast for me?

My friend made a super easy pot pie:

2 cans chicken
2 cans potatoes
2 cans carrots
2 cans peas
1 or 2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 frozen pie crusts

Pretty easy...mix everything in a bowl except the pie crust. Pour the mixture into a pie crust...it will overfill a bit, just balance it as best you can! Top with the other pie crust. Bake until golden brown!

Super easy, makes a lot, kid-friendly, filling, and soooooooo good! Also, you can easily alter with other veggies, fresh chicken or meat, etc.!

 

[js]

LOL can you come over and make some famous toast for me?

My friend made a super easy pot pie:

2 cans chicken
2 cans potatoes
2 cans carrots
2 cans peas
1 or 2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 frozen pie crusts

Pretty easy...mix everything in a bowl except the pie crust. Pour the mixture into a pie crust...it will overfill a bit, just balance it as best you can! Top with the other pie crust. Bake until golden brown!

Super easy, makes a lot, kid-friendly, filling, and soooooooo good! Also, you can easily alter with other veggies, fresh chicken or meat, etc.!

Hey, as long as you call it "Famous Toast" I am there. Funny, you really can brainwash people

I even used my famous toast today to make BLT for my ds's lunch tomorrow (I put the really burned side on the inside and covered with mayo so hopefully he will be none the wiser ). It was a little stiff but hopefully by tomorrow with the mayo, lettuce and tomatoe it will be a little softer.

 

[lulugirl]

Ingredients:
Toast
Butter

I too can only handle no more than 3 ingredients or I loose interest

Add a little jam, that toast will be downright gourmet