Pizza Soup, Bird's Nest Cookies, And A Preview

Sorry it has been a while!

Every Friday I make a dinner and a dessert that is chosen by the kids. This past Friday I made pizza soup, bread sticks, and bird's nest cookies. It was all so good, I thought I would share the recipes with you. So here they are!

Pizza Soup
Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes

Ingredients: (Makes 4 servings)

• 2 cans condensed tomato soup
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 3/4 cup uncooked tiny pasta shells
• 1 cup shredded quick melting mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup French's Taste Toppers French Fried Onions (optional)

1. Combine soup, 2 soup cans of water, garlic powder and oregano in saucepan. Bring to boiling over medium-high heat.

2. Add pasta. Cook 8 minutes or until pasta is tender.

3. Stir in cheese. Cook until cheese melts. Sprinkle with Taste Toppers.

French Onion Bread Stix Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients: (makes 12 bread sticks)

• 1 1/3 cups French's Taste Toppers French Fried Onions, crushed
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 package refrigerated soft bread sticks
• 1 egg white, beaten

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine Taste Toppers and cheese in pie plate. Separate dough into 12 pieces on sheet of waxed paper.

2. Brush one side of dough with egg white. Dip pieces wet side down into crumbs, pressing firmly. Baste top surface with egg white and dip into crumbs.

3. Twist pieces to form a spiral. Arrange on greased baking sheet. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Bird's Nest Cookies (makes about 3 dozen cookies)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups "M&M's" Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Baking Bits, divided

1. Preheat oven to 300F. Spread coconut on ungreased cookie sheet. Toast in oven, stirring until coconut just begins to turn light golden, about 25 minutes. Remove coconut from cookie sheet, set aside.

2. Increase oven temperature to 350F. In large bowl cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla.

3. In medium bowl combine flour and salt; blend into creamed mixture.

4. Stir in 1 cup "M&M's" Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Baking Bits.

5. Form dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Roll heavily in toasted coconut. Place 2 inches apart of lightly greased cookie sheets.

6. Make indentation in center of each cookie with thumb. Bake 12-14 minutes or until coconut is golden brown.

7. Remove cookies to wire racks; immediately fill indentations with remaining "M&M's," using scant teaspoonful for each cookie. Cool completely.

(this is pretty much what they look like, except with M&M's in the middle.)


And now, for a preview of our trip to North Carolina!

TA DA!