Chocolate Covered Bacon

Chocolate Covered  BaconYou heard me...my Diva is not big on cake, cupcakes, pies. So for her Birthday Party I decided to make a dessert out of her favorite food...BACON!

• 16oz of bacon, crisp
• 5oz of Almond Bark, Chocolate flavored
• nuts, sprinkles etc.

1.  I did mine in the microwave. Use a microwave safe plate and cover with paper towels. Place about 8 slices of uncooked bacon on plate and cover with another paper towel. Cook until crisp. Before cooking the next 8 slices change out paper towels.
2. Allow bacon to cool and remove grease with a clean paper towel.
3. Place Almond Bark in microwave safe bowl cook for 30 seconds, stir and cooking 10 seconds at a time until melted. Stir after each 10 seconds.
4. Working with 1 piece of cooked bacon at a time.
5. Carefully place into the melted Almond Bark. Using two forks flip over the bacon and press down into the chocolate. Allow the extra chocolate to drip off before placing onto wax paper.
6. Top with peanuts, sprinkles immediately

Artichoke Dip

Artichoke Dip

Boyfriend and I went out to a local restaurant and loved there dip with warm butter bread. Here is my take on it.

1 (6.5 ounce) jar unmarinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1 cup mayonnaise

1 1/2 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers

Sliced Ciabatta bread; buttered and toasted,

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. In a bowl, mix chopped artichoke hearts, mayonnaise, 1 cup of the Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, and green chile peppers
3. Place mixture into a greased pie pan and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
4. Bake for 20 mins until hot and bubbly.

Enjoy this dish with Ciabatte bread and/or fresh veggies!

Sausage Gravy with Biscuits

Sausage Gravy with Biscuits

I have been making this recipe since I was a little girl. My dad again showed me how to make this recipe...so another THANKS to my DAD!!!

• 1lb of pork sausage
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 cups of milk
• salt and pepper to taste
• Biscuits, cook according to package.

1. In a large skillet cook sausage  over medium heat, until done. Drain all the grease from pan with a paper towel.
2. Turning the heat to low start adding flour slowly until all the sausage is coated with it. Cook the flour sausage for a few mins.
3. Then slowly add milk, simmer not boil until thick. If it becomes to thick add more milk 1/4 cup at a time.
4. Season with salt and pepper.  Once the gravy is done place over biscuits and GET TASTING!!

Chicken Enchilada Bake

Chicken Enchilada Bake

This recipe is a new one for my family. This recipe is creamy and cheesy, perfect for all the cheesy lovers! (Photo is coming soon!)

4-1/2 cups cooked cubed grilled chicken

1 can (28 ounces) green enchilada sauce

1-1/4 cups (10 ounces) sour cream

9 corn tortillas (6 inches), cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces

2 cups (80z) shredded Pepper Jack cheese

10 slices (8oz) Muenstar

1. Mix chicken, enchilada sauce, and sour cream together.
2. In a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish, layer torillas, chicken mixture, and both  cheese. Repeat layers. Top with shredded Pepper Jack cheese
3.  Cover and bake at 375 for 40 minutes until bubbly. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Serves about 8

Enoy this recipe with side of spanish rice and corn on the cob!

Stuffed Chicken

Stuffed Chicken
I had some extra feta cheese and tomatoes from another recipe and did not want it to go to waste. So I decided to stuff all that goodness into some chicken! All I can say about this recipe is WOW and double WOW!!
2 boneless, skinless, chicken breast
1/4 cup(s) of feta cheese
1 small tomato,diced and squeeze out all the seeds, (about 2 tablespoons)
4 slices of bacon
1 egg, slightly beaten
your favorite breadcrumbs..I like to mix Panko with Italian flavored.

1. Place 1 piece of chicken in plastic wrap or bag. With a rolling bing pound out chicken until thin and even.
2. Place chicken on cutting board, add half the mixture of cheese and tomatoes to each chicken breast.
3. Roll up the chicken don't forget the sides! Wrap with 2 slices of bacon. Use the bacon to hold in all the filling. Insert a few toothpicks  or a lot to hold everything together.
4. Place egg into a swallow dish with a little water about 2 tablespoons. Mix together.Place enough breadcrumbs to coat the chicken in another swallow dish.
5. Working with one at a time place chicken into egg mixture.Then place into breadcrumbs. Move chicken to baking rack and allow to rest for 10 mins before baking.
6. Preheat oven 400 Bake until chicken is done about 40-45 mins.

I like to serve this dish with rice and parker dinner rolls!

Oven Baked Four Cheese Penne Pasta

Oven Baked Four Cheese Penne Pasta
                  This is a quick and easy meal for a busy weekday dinner.

• 1 cup(s) ricotta cheese
• 2 cup(s) shredded mozzarella cheese (about 8 ounces)
• 1/4 cup(s) thinly sliced fresh basil leaves..buy it is so worth it!
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1/8 teaspoon(s) ground black pepper
• 8 ounce(s) Penne, cooked and drained
• 1 jar of  Four Cheese Rosa Sauce
• 2 tablespoon(s)Italian seasoned dry breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoon(s) grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 boneless, skinless thin chicken breast

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Cook pasta according to package.
2. Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper and grill them over high heat, turning occasionally.  until they are cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Let rest for a few mins and slice.
3. Combine ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, basil, egg, and black pepper; set aside.
4. Toss hot Penna with sauce in large bowl. Stir in ricotta mixture and chicken. Turn into 11- by 7-inch baking dish, then sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake covered 25 minutes. Remove cover and bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serve with a salad or your favorite green vegetable.  Serves about 5

HINT- to help with time cook your chicken and make your ricotta mixture the night before.

Creamy Garlic Caesar Tortellini

 

Creamy Garlic Caesar Tortellini

Tonight I made a new pasta meal. It was quick and easy and the family enjoyed it.

• 9oz  frozen cheese tortellini
• 3 plum tomatoes, chopped
• 1 can large olives sliced in half, drained
• 1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh parmesan cheese...plus more for topping
• 3/4 cup creamy Garlic Caesar salad dressing
• About 20-30 slices of pepperoni cut into 2-inch strips

1. Boil cheese tortellini as according to package. Raise in cold water. In a large bowl combine tortellini and remaining ingredients. Chill for an hour. Top with remaining cheese and serve with warm bread. Serves about 5

Sunday Roast

Here you will find recipes for slow cookers. Being a busy Mom, I love my slow cooker. Coming home and dinner is done or using it on a Saturday, gives me time to relax and enjoy my kids.


Sunday Roast

With a slow cooker you can make this meal any day of the week, no longer  just on Sunday's! 

• One 4-pound chuck eye pot roast
• Salt and Pepper
• All- Purpose Flour
• 2 Tablespoons of Oil
• 3 cups of Beef Stock
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves chopped
• 6 thyme sprigs and 2 bay leaves
• 2 Tablespoons of butter, soften

1. Season the roast generously with salt and pepper and dust with flour, tapping off the excess. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the roast and cook over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until deeply browned all over, about 20 minutes.
2. Transfer the roast to a slow cooker. Add the onion, garlic, beef stock and herb bundle and season with salt and pepper. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours, until the meat is tender.
3. Transfer the meat to a cutting board, cover with foil and keep warm. Pour the contents of the cooker into a colander set over a heatproof bowl; discard the herb bundle.
4. Skim the fat off of the cooking liquid. In a small bowl, blend the butter with 2 tablespoons of flour to make a paste. Return the cooking liquid to the slow cooker and whisk in the butter paste. Cook on high until the gravy is thickened, about 10 minutes.
5. Slice the meat and place onto platter, top with some of the  gravy.

I make mash potatoes with this meal but if you want you can add carrots, mushrooms, chopped potatoes in with the roast, as it cooks. Yummy!!

Chili Dog Casserole

Chili Dog Casserole
My kids love chili dogs but have hard time eating them so I made it adult and kid friendly!

• 2 package of all beef hot dogs
• 2 (15oz) cans of chili with or without beans
• 16 oz of frozen tater tots
• 8oz of shredded cheddar cheese

1. Cook tater tots according to package
2. Cut hot dogs into bite size pieces.
3. In a medium sauce pan, warm chili over medium low heat. Add the hot dogs to help  speed up the cooking process.
4. Grease a 9x13 pan. Add cooked tater tots, top with warm chili and hot dogs, Top it all off with cheese
5. Bake at 350 until cheese is melted and chili is warm and bubbly!
6. Top this with chopped onions, mustard, and/or ketchup.

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes

I have been making this recipe for years and everyone I make it for loves it.  My Dad is the one we need to thank for this recipe. THANKS DAD!!!

• 1lb of lean hamburger meat, cooked and drained
• 1 cup of ketchup
• 4 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons of yellow mustard
• 6 hamburger buns
• Plain chips (trust me)

1. In a skillet cook meat until not longer pink. Drain any grease off.
2. Mix in ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Cook until hot.
3.  Add meat mixture to hamburger buns and top with chips. I know is sounds weird but think sweet and salt!

I also serve this meal with macaroni and cheese and more chips.