Jalapeno Cheese Squares

You have to try these...

4 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

4 eggs (beaten)

4 Jalapeno Peppers (seeded and chopped)

Combine all ingredients...Spread mixture in 8 inch square pan.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Cut into squares to serve.

Sausage Balls

Christmas Morning Favorite...

10 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 pound hot bulk sausage
2 and half cups Bisquick

Mix all together...you probably will have to use your hands.  Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes.

Chicken Spaghetti

This is an easy Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti...

1/2 tube Velveeta

1 pound chicken breast (cooked and diced)

1 can Rotel

1 can Cream of Mushroom

1 can Cream of Chicken

cooked spaghetti

Mix ingredients and place in crockpot...seriously that easy.  I always top mine with Ritz crackers!

wassail

One of my fondest memories of Christmas or New Years is going to my grandma's house and having Wassail.  It is AMAZING!

2 quarts apple cider

1 cup packed brown sugar

4 cinnamon sticks

24 whole cloves

1/2 container orange juice concentrate

2 cups pineapple juice

orange slices

In a crockpot combine apple cider, brown sugar, pineapple juice, and oj concentrate.  In a cheesecloth place the cloves and cinnamon sticks.  This just makes it easier to get them out later.  You can just float them if desired!  Cut up an orange and float on top.  Let get super hot and then enjoy!!!!

Chex Mix

I thought I'd give this one a whirl...it's a sweet chex mix and SUPER easy.

3 cups any flavor Chex Mix (i used rice)
3 cups pretzles
1 cup peanuts (or mixed nuts)
3 TB butter
1/4 c honey
2 TB sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 275.  Mix cereal, pretzles, and nuts in a large pan.  Melt the butter and combine with the honey and sesame seeds.  Pour over the mix.  Bake for about 45 minutes stirring occasionally.  Spread on waxed paper to cool.

Pot Roast

I got this recipe from a friend and kinda tweeked it a bit...

3-5 pound pot roast

1 can cream of onion soup

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

Montreal Steak Seasoning

 roasted red bell pepper (I use the ones in the jar)

Sprinkle Montreal Steak Seasoning all over the pot roast and place in crock pot.  Pour on top the soups and add as many bell pepper strips as you like.   I usually use a few tablespoons.  Cook on low all day.  2-3 hours before you are ready to eat add in your potatoes and carrots if desired.  So yummy on a cold day!

Christmas Toffee

This week over at Kelly's Korner is Christmas Cookies...well I've never been big on making Christmas cookies...however, I do make Christmas Toffee every single year.  I have yet to make any this year but I found some pics from a few year back (we were living in our old house) but unfortunately didn't find a pic of the finished product! However I googled it and found a pic of a very similar finished product!  This is my absolute favorite thing at Christmas...oh, SO good!!!!



Here's the recipe:
1 cup sugar
1 stick Parkay
5 Tablespoons cold water
½ tsp. baking soda
4-5 Hershey bars
1 ½ cups pecan halves

Butter a large pan or platter (or use nonstick foil). Cover with pecans halves.



Stir together sugar, parkay, and cold water. Cook on medium high heat . Stir constantly, letting boil until a golden caramel color. This will take a while.



Once the mixture has turned a golden color and thickened significantly, take off heat immediately and add baking soda. This will make the mixture double in size. Quickly pour over pecans and spread to cover. Place Hershey bars over the mixture and allow to melt.



Spread chocolate to cover and allow to cool. Once cooled break into pieces.

Taco Chili

1 can kidney beans

1 can pinto beans

2 (16 oz) cans tomato sauce

1 (10 0z) can rotel

1 pound ground chuck

1 package taco seasoning mix

1 package ranch dressing mix

1 TB chili powder

2 tsp cumin

Brown meat-drain fat.  In slow cooker combine meat and remainder of ingredients...serve with chips and shredded cheese!

Peanut Butter Slide Pie

1 cup heavy cream

12 pieces of refrigerator peanut butter cookie dough

8 ounces cream cheese

2/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 TB vanilla

1/2 crushed peanuts

1/2 c peanut butter

1/2 c chocolate chips

Preheat to 350.  Coat a 9 inch pie plate with nonstick spray.  Beat cream until stiff peaks and refrigerate.

Roll out cookie dough between wax paper and place in pie pan.  push the dough up the sides of the pan as well.

Bake 18-20 minutes.

In lg bowl blend cream cheese, and sugars until smooth.  Add peanut buter and vanilla and mix.  Fold in 1/2 whipped cream.  Pour into pie pan and refrigerate 1 hour.

Top with remaining whipped cream, crushed peanuts, and drizzle with melted choc. chips.

Coffee Punch

This is my ABSOLUTE favorite coffee drink.  Even if you don't like coffee...you will LOVE it! (pictured in the punch bowl)

You will need:

3 cups cold coffee

5 heaping TB  vanilla flavored instant coffee powder

1 qt milk

1 pink 1/2 and 1/2

2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract.

Mix all ingredients in a LARGE bowl and then pour into smaller freezer safe containers.  Freeze.  To serve allow punch to thaw for an hour and serve over coffee flavored ice-cream.  OH SOOOOOOO GOOOOD!

Coffee Cake

I got this recipe out of a Paula Deen magazine and had it ready for Thanksgiving morning.  It was SOOO GOOOOOOD!

You will need:

1 box yellow cake mix (I used butter flavor)
8 oz. sour cream
3/4 cup veggie oil
3 large eggs
1 and 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 TB cinnamon
2 cups powdered sugar
3 TB milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp butter flavoring

Preheat to 350.  Spray 13x9 pan with nonstick spray.  In lg bowl mix cake mix, sour cream, oil, eggs together until smooth.  Spread half into pan.
In small bowl mix brown sugar and cinnamon.  Sprinkle on top of cake mix.  Then gently spread the rest of cake mix on top.  Bake 35-45 minutes.  Let cool in pan for 5 minutes.
Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and buter flavoring.  Poke holes with fork into cake then pour icing on.  Allow icing to harden (about 20 minutes).

Sour Cream Muffins

These are Paula Deen so you know they are yummy and buttery!

2 cups self rising flour

2 sticks (yes you read that right!) butter, melted

1/2 pint sour cream (I tend to use a little more)

Mix ingredients together and spoon into ungreased muffin tins...Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Ohh so good!

Tortilla Soup

1 pound chicken breast

2 TB oil

1 16 oz jar salsa

1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)

1 bag frozen corn (thawed)

1 packet taco seasoning

1/2 c water

1 can V8 (32 oz)

toppings: tortilla chips, sour cream, shredded cheese, fresh cilantro

Cut chicken into bite sized pieces.  Heat oil in skillet and cook chicken until no longer pink.  Add water and taco seasoning and cook until pieces are well coated. 

In crockpot (or big pot on the stove) combine V8, salsa, black beans, corn.  Add chicken and stir.  Cook on low for 3-4 hours.  Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, and fresh cilantro!  So good on a cold day!

CrockPot Chicken Fajitas

This is one of MY favorites.  It's so easy and healthy!
1-2 pounds chicken breast  cut into strips
A variety of bell peppers (I use one of each color) cut into strips
1/2 onion cut into strips

8 oz can diced tomatoes

1 TB cilantro

1 tsp chili powder

2 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper

Throw it all in the crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours. You may want to add a little more seasoning before you serve since cooking in the crockpot dilutes the flavor after awhile!  To serve put mixture in fajita sized tortillas and top with your fav toppings!  Sooooooo good!

Chicken Enchilada Ring

This is a pampered chef recipe that my hubbie loves!
You need:
2 cups cooked, chopped chicken breast
1/4 c chopped olives
1 cup shredded cheddar and moterrey jack cheese blend
1 (4 oz) can green chiles drained
1/2 c mayonnaise
1 TB pampered chef Southwest seasoning blend (you can use another brand as well)
2 plum tomatoes diced (I used a can of diced tomatoes instead)
1 lime (just the juice)
2/3 c crushed tortilla chips
2 cans crescent rolls
salsa and sour cream to serve with

Preheat to 375
Mix chicken, olives, cheese, chilies, mayo, lime juice, tomatoes, and seasoning mix well. Add in about half the crushed chips and mix well.  Unroll crescent dough and seperate into triangles.  Place each triangle into remaining crushed chips and then lay out on a round cookie sheet or baking stone.  You will place each wide end together (see pic below) to form a sun shape. 

Then spoon mixture onto the wide ends.

Pull other ends over to create a ring.

Bake for 20-25 min and serve with salsa and sour cream!

Peppered Meatballs

This is one of my fall favorites....so savory! 

Meatballs:

1 pound ground sirloin

1/2 cup sour cream

3 tsp bread crumbs

1-2 tsp black pepper (use 2 if you really like pepper and don't mind the kick)

 1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp parmesan cheese

Sauce:
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom
2 tsp. dillweed
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp sugar

Mix ingredients for meatballs and roll into balls.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Mix ingredients for sauce and put in crockpot or sauce pan (whichever you choose).  Once meatballs are cooked, add to sauce and coat.  Serve over white rice or egg noodles.

cookie dough brownies

So yummy and sooo easy!

1 package of betty crocker brownie mix (the one with the hershey syrup packet)& the stuff it calls for on the back such as eggs, water, and oil

1 package of betty crocker choc chip cookie mix & the stuff to make it (butter and eggs)

Mix Brownie mix according to package. Pour into greased 13x9 pan. Mix cookie mix according to package. Spoon on top of brownie mix. Preheat oven to 350 and bake 35-40 minutes. Then let cool.

Optional topping of chocolate ganache: (I usually do this but forgot to get the stuff to make it this time!)

12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 c heavy whipping cream

6 TB butter

In small saucepan heat butter and cream to just boiling. Add chocolate chips and let melt. Pour over brownies and spread to cover. Let cool completely before cutting!

Meatballs

These are just regular ole' meatballs..simple but yummy. I put them in spaghetti and meatball subs.

1 pound ground beef
1 pound sausage
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 c quick cooking oats or Italian bread crumbs
1/2 c chopped onion
1 tsp dried basil

Preheat to 350. Mix all together and form into balls. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes until no longer pink.

Bacon 'n' eggs pie

We tried out this new recipe for a breakfast casserole.  It was super easy and pretty good!
1 can biscuits
1 TB butter
6 eggs
3 oz cream cheese (I didn't have any so I used shredded cheddar)
Bacon-cooked and crumbled

Press biscuits into the pie pan to form crust.  Cook according to directions on package.  In skillet cook eggs and butter until set.  Add cheese and cook until cheese is melted and set.  Spoon onto crust and top with bacon.

Chicken Crescent Squares

These are so yummy! Definitely one of Travis' favorites that I make.

You need:

8 oz cream cheese, softened

2 c cooked chopped or shredded chicken

1/8 tsp pepper

1 TB chives

1 TB chopped pimento (I buy it in a jar-usually found near can veggies I think)

3 TB butter, melted

1/4 tsp. salt

2 TB milk

2 cans Pillsbury crescent rolls

3/4 c. seasoned croutons, crushed

Preheat to 350. In bowl blend cream cheese and about 2 TB melted butter. (save 1 TB for later). Add the chicken, salt, pepper, pimento, chives, & milk. Mix well. Seperate crescent dough into rectangles (by pressing two triangles together in the middle). Spoon mixture in the center of the dough. Pull the four corners of the rectangles up to create a little pouch and seal the edges. Brush with melted butter and dip into croutons crumbs. Bake for 20-25 minutes. (should make 6-8 total)

Hashbrown Casserole

This one is a southern staple...

2 lbs frozen hash browns, thawed ( I use the diced ones)

1 stick of butter melted

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of celery soup

8 oz sour cream

1 small onion, diced

1 & 1/2 cups grated cheese

Preheat to 350. Pour hash browns in 13x9 pan. Pour melted butter over potatoes. Mix remaining ingredients and pour on top. I then top with some extra cheese. Bake for 45 minutes

Cheesy Chicken Pot Pie

Mmmm...this was good and super easy.  I just found this recipe and thought we'd try it tonight.

You need:

• cooked, chopped chicken breasts
• 1 can crescent rolls
• 2 cans veg-all (drained)
• 1 can cream of chicken
• 1 can cream of mushroom
• 1/2 pound (8 oz) Velveeta (diced)

Preheat to 375.  Mix all (except crescent rolls) and spread in 13x9 pan.  Top with crescent roll dough and bake for 20-25 minutes until top is golden!

Basic Chili

This is my "basic" chili recipe. It's the one that Travis prefers...I will post my favorite chili recipe at another time...(it's alot more involved and had more ingredients). But this is the one we make most often. We usually don't make it until Fall is officially here but we both had a hankerin' for it. It's very simple and only takes a few ingredients and one pot! Gotta love those one-pot recipes!You need:
2 large cans of tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can pinto beans
1 can black beans
1 can chili or red beans
1 pound hamburger meat
1 small package Williams chili seasoning (i only had the big one so I used half) you really need the Williams seasoning...it's the best I've found!

Brown hamburger meat in large pot. Add the remaining ingredients and let simmer for a few hours. Seriously that's it! I like mine with fritos and cheese and Travis likes his with crackers and cheese!

Chicken Enchiladas

2 cups cooked chicken

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 can chopped green chiles

1 can cream chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

2 cups cheddar cheese

10 inch flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 350

In bowl mix chicken, broth, chiles, soup, sour cream, and 1 cup cheddar cheese. In each tortillas put several spoonfuls of mixture. Roll up and place in 13x9 pyrex seam side down. Once filled, pour remainder of mixture over tortillas and top with 1 cup of cheese. Bake for 40 minutes!

Salmon Cakes

These are kinda like crab cakes but I use salmon instead. But if you prefer you can also use tuna! They are easy and only take a few ingredients:

3 (6 ounces packages) of salmon-I use the pouch but you can use the canned as well.

2 cups crushed saltine crackers (seperated)

2 eggs

1 egg white

1 small can mexi-corn

1/2 onion finely chopped

salt, pepper

dill (optional)

vegetable oil

Pour just enough oil to cover the bottom of a skillet. Heat oil over med-high heat. Dump salmon into bowl and take a fork to break it into smaller pieces. Add two eggs and one egg white, 1 cup crackers, salt, pepper, and I add about of tsp of dill. Also drain corn and add that. Mix well and form into 6 cakes. Coat each cake in the remainder of crushed crackers.

Place each cake into oil and leave alone for around 3 minutes. Don't try and turn them until you know they are good and cooked on the bottom. If you turn too early they will fall apart. Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes until brown. You can also try and press them so that the sides cook as well. Serve with tartar sauce if desired!

I also fried up some squash...here's how I fry my squash. Now I'm sure there are better ways....this is just how I've always done it!

Wash squash well, cut into thin slices, coat each slice in water, and dredge in Jiffy corn muffin mix. Fry them over med-high heat. MMMM....

Mexian Meat-zza

I ran across the recipe the other day...it's one I made a long time ago and forgot about. I was so excited to find it again because it's really, really good! It's actually a Rachael Ray 30 minute meal...

You need:

2 boxes of corn muffin mix, 8.5 ounces (jiffy is what i use)

2 eggs

4 TB butter, melted

1 and a half cups milk

1 cup frozen corn

extra-virgin olive oil

Topping:

2 TB extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound ground beef

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 TB chili powder

2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspsoons cayenne (I use only 1)

Salt

2.5 cups shredded cheese (i used mexican blend)

1/2 red bell pepper finely chopped

1 small can green chilies (drained)

2 small vine ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced (I used a can of diced tomatoes instead)

Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)

Preheat oven to 400.

Mix together muffin mix, eggs, butter, milk and frozen corn. Wipe a large non-stick skillet with oil and pour in the muffix mixture. Use a large skillet and make sure it has oven safe handles. If it doesn't then wrap your handles in foil to protect them. Place pan in oven and bake for about 20 minutes until it's golden brown.

While that is baking, brown your ground beef. Add onions, bell pepper, and spices and cook for an additional 5 minutes.Remove the cornbread from the oven and top with the meat mixture. Cover with cheese and put back in the oven for another 5 minutes just to melt the cheese.Garnish with fresh cilantro, and sour cream if desired. Trust me this one is very yummy!

Pineapple Baked Beans

A different take of baked beans...a little sweet and tropical & it's a Paula Deen recipe so you know it's good! :-)

4 (16 oz) cans baked beans (plain)

1 20 oz can crushed pineapple (drained)

1 cup molasses

1 cup bbq sauce

2 TB yellow or brown mustard

5 slices cooked/crumbled bacon

1 (6 oz) can french-fried onions

salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350.

In large bowl mix together beans, pineapple, molasses, bbq sauce, mustard, & half onions. Add some salt/pepper to taste. Pour into 13x9 and top with bacon & remainder of onions. cook for 1 hour or until heated through and brown on top!

Ice-Cream Sandwich Dessert

This is seriously one of the easiest and yummiest desserts ever! And you can make a ton of different versions of it! Great for the summer!

All you need:

1 box ice-cream sandwiches

1 jar hot fudge sauce

1 tub Cool Whip

Unwrap ice-cream sandwiches & layer them in the bottom of 9x13. Warm up hot fudge and pour over the ice-cream sandwiches, spread it all around. Top with Cool Whip. Put back in freezer to let it harden up...you want to let it thaw a little bit before serving! You can try different flavors of ice-cream sandwiches to jazz it up as well!

Oreo Balls

One of my favs...seriously good and easy!

All you need are 3 ingredients.

1 package of oreos

1 package of cream cheese (softened)

1 package of almond bark or other melting chocolate

First you dump all the oreos into a food processor and grind em up until super fine...it'll look like dirt when you're done.
Then toss in that hunk of cream cheese and dig in with your hands...I've found no other way that works on this. You really have to work for awhile to get it all incorporated.

Then roll out the mixture into inch sized balls and lay on wax paper covered cookie sheet. Pop em in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
While your "balls" are freezing melt the chocolate the way you choose (I did microwave). Drop the balls into the chocolate, coat well, shake off excess, and put back onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Once complete, pop 'em back into the freezer for a while to harden.
Then ENJOY!!!