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Showing posts from July, 2012

Sausage & Spinach Pinwheel Twists

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Ingredients: 2 thawed puff pastry 1 lb. cooked ground sausage 1 1/2 cups thawed frozen spinach 3 cups cheddar cheese garlic powder salt & pepper Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Unroll puff pastries flat on a floured surface.  Layer sausage, cheese, and frozen spinach.  From short end closest to you, roll the pasty jell roll style.  Pinch to seal the roll.  Cut into 1 inch wheels.  Place rings on oiled baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes until rings are brown. 

Made It By Monday Link Party!

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Hey Friends!  Welcome to our weekly link party!  We are so glad you could make it! Here are the guidelines: Please "Like Us" on Facebook Follow Us on Pinterest Follow Us on Google Friends Connect and Link Back to Our Party Link up recipes, crafts, DIY projects, etc.  No giveaways, items for sale, shops, etc.  Visit some other projects, "PIN" some of your favorites, leave some comments and have fun! Thanks so much for participating! And don't forget to enter our Williams-Sonoma Giveaway ! Ends this Friday! Here are some favorites from last week! Summer Fruit Cheesecake from Shine On Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteak from Simply You and Me Cilantro Pesto Pasta from Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen

Beer & Cheddar Fondue

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Fondue is one of my favorite foods.  I make it every so often for special occassions. Last night, the neighbors came over for wine & appetizers.  This recipe is super easy and always delish!  Ingredients: 1 bag of shredded cheddar cheese 6 ounces of good beer (ipa, lager, etc.) I used a winter ale 2 T. flour 1 T. worchestershire 2 tsp. hot sauce several cups of chopped bread, veggies, meats or fruits.  I served this with apples, pears, grapes, and crusty french bread.  You could add chopped broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, mini hot dogs, mini sausages, etc.   I mean really, anything covered in fondue is bound to be good! Directions: Pour beer into medium sauce pan and bring to a bubble.  Add flour directly to the bag of cheese and shake to coat the cheese completely.  This is the trick to making really good fondue!  The flour helps to blend the cheese into the liquid, making for a nice smooth fondue.  Once the cheese is coated with flour.  Add 1 cup at a time to hot beer.  Stir with

Crockpot Spicy Asian Chicken Wings

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I love asian food, and these wings are a nice twist compared to a traditional buffalo wing.  There's lots of garlic & ginger, giving these a nice spicy asian kick! Ingredients: 2 cups brown sugar 1 cup soy sauce 2 cloves garlic chopped 2 T. fresh minced ginger 3lbs. chicken wings 2 T. vegetable oil 1 T. lime juice Directions: Place wings in bottom of crockpot.  In large bowl, blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over wings.  Cook in crockpot on low for four-five hours. 

Crockpot Sweet & Sour Meatballs

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These little things are like little sugary sweet bites of goodness! Ingredients: 24 premade frozen meatballs 12 ounces chili sauce 10 ounces orange marmalade Directions: Place all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. 

Baked Crab Rangoon

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Ingredients: 6 oz cream cheese 8 oz crab meat 1 T. mayo 1/4 t. chili paste 1/4 t. worchestershire sauce 1 green onion chopped salt & pepper 14 wonton wrappers Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix cream cheese, crab meat, mayo, green onion, worchestershire sauce, chili paste, salt & pepper.  Place small scoop of mixture in center of wonton wrapper.  Using your finger, trace around the edge of the wonton wrapper with a little bit of water.  Fold wonton wrapper to make a triangle and then bend the edges toward the middle.  Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until brown.  Serve with sweet & sour sauce. 

Friday Night Lights and my Tim Riggins Love Affair!

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  It's Friday!  And what better way to celebrate than to discuss my favorite show on tv!  This is seriously the best show ever ya'll!  Seriously, there's football, and beer drinking, and hot boys, and love affairs.  I mean, what's not to like?  If you haven't hopped on this bandwagon yet, I suggest you run out and get Season 1 and watch it tonight! The first 4 or 5 seasons are also free on Netflix.  I started about a month ago, and watch 2-3 episodes a night.  I know,  it's a little obsessive.  Ok, a lot obsessive, but once you see Tim Riggins, you'll understand.  And here he is...Tim Riggins hottest boy on planet earth... Isn't he dreamy:) like I said... dreamy and here's the crew.  love them all! Coach Taylor is pretty cute too:) So here is the run down: "Expanding on the hit feature film and best-selling book “Friday Night Lights,” this award-winning series centers on life in Dillon, Texas, where high school football brings the community toge

Junior League Spinach Balls

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oooooo! these are so good!  make these for your next party and your guests will thank you!  Ingredients: 2 packages of spinach (frozen chopped) 6 large eggs 1 stick of butter softened 2 cups herbed stuffing or bread crumbs 1 t. garlic salt 1/2cup parmesan cheese 1 small onion chopped 2 T. olive oil 8 oz. feta cheese Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Thaw spinach & drain.  Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  Form mixture into 1 inch balls and place on an oiled baking sheet.  Bake for 20-25 minutes until brown & bubbly.  This recipe makes A LOT of spinach balls, so you may want to freeze some for your next party.  You can store uncooked spinach balls in freezer for up to three months.   Cook balls frozen, do not thaw before baking.  Recipe adapted from the Junior League Cookbook "Very Virginia"

Foodie Friends Friday!!!!

Welcome to Foodie Friends Friday! We're having another party ya'll! And you know how much I like parties!!!! This is a blog hop & link party. That means that all the recipes you post will show up on all of our host's blog! Step 1: Make sure that anything you link up is: A Recipe...and is made and photographed by you Not part of a sponsership/sales/giveaway or other promotions/linky parties Linked to a specific page of your recipe, not your homepage Please limit your link-ups to 3 per party Step 2: Show some love and link back to my blog and Foodie Friends Friday ( http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com ) on the post of the recipe you are submitting. * for example: This recipe is featured on "Host Blog Link" and http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com Linky Party) If you want to be the very best Foodie Friend Ever... Grab our button at http://foodiefriendsfriday.com and put it on your page and share Foodie Friends Friday! Take some time and check out

Crockpot Chicken Tacos

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These are super easy, healthy & delicious!  Ingredients: 4 Chicken Breasts ( I used frozen chicken tenders) 1 12 oz. jar salsa (I use old el paso) 1 package of taco seasoning (old el paso) Directions: Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.  Remove chicken, shred or chop and return to crockpot.  Serve with warm tortillas, sour cream, salsa, & guacamole!

Chicken & Dressing Casserole

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This recipes takes seconds to put together and is seriously good comfort food.  I use frozen chicken tenders, but thawed chicken breast would work as well.  The original recipe calls for white wine and cheddar cheese, but I prefer the flavor of chicken stock with this dish. It is ridiculously delicious... Ingredients: 6 chicken tenders or 4 chicken breasts 1 can cream of chicken soup (you can use mushroom soup, or any cream soup you have on hand) 1/2 cup chicken stock 1 1/2 cups herbed stuffing mix 1/2 stick butter Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place chicken in 9x9 baking dish.  Mix chicken soup with chicken stock, forming a thick gravy.  Pour gravy mix over chicken.  Top with stuffing mix and melted butter.  Bake 40-45 minutes until brown & bubbly.  Serve this dish with some green beans, mashed potatoes and a glass of pinot grigio, and it's like Thanksgiving dinner any night of the week! This recipe is slightly adapted from the Junior League Cookbook  "My Mama

Chocolate Oreo Ice Cream Frappe

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It has been about 400 degress down here in Virginia and I decided to make a nice cool dessert after last night's dinner.  I hadn't had one of these since I was in high school in New Hampshire, and holy cow, I forgot how yummy they are!  In case you aren't familiar, a "Frappe" is similar to a milkshake, but up north, we use real ice cream instead of the traditional milk & ice method.  You could really add just about anything to this and it will not dissapoint! Ingredients: 2 cups french vanilla ice cream 1/8 cup chocolate syrup 1/2 cup milk 4 oreo cookies whipped cream Directions: Place all items in blender and blend until smooth.  Top with whipped cream and garnish with an oreo cookie! 

Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin

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There are many au gratin recipes out there that require multiple steps and make this dish kind of a pain to prepare.  But with this technique, it couldn't be easier!  Serve these along side a nice steak, some grilled asparagus and a glass of cabernet and you have a gourmet meal in minutes! Ingredients: 3 large baking potatoes 2 cups heavy cream 1 cup parmesan cheese salt & pepper Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Wash potatoes and slice thin using a mandolin.  You can also slice them with a knife, but I like mine nice & thin.  Layer potatoes in a 9x13 baking dish.  Cover potatoes with heavy cream.  Top with parmesan cheese, salt & pepper.  Bake for 30-40 minutes until brown & bubbly. 

Made It By Monday Link Party!

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Hey Friends!  Welcome to our Monday link party!  We are so glad you could make it! Here are the guidelines: Please "Like Us" on Facebook Follow Us on Pinterest Follow Us on Google Friends Connect and Link Back to Our Party Link up recipes, crafts, DIY projects, etc.  No giveaways, items for sale, shops, etc.  Visit some other projects, "PIN" some of your favorites, leave some comments and have fun! Thanks so much for participating! And don't forget to enter our Williams-Sonoma Giveaway ! Here are some favorites from last week! Shutter from Kaminski's Creations Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars from My Fair Baking Mini Corn Dogs from Lenny & Mariana

Foodie Friends Friday! Link Party & Blog Hop!

Welcome to Foodie Friends Friday!   We're having another party ya'll!  And you know how much I like parties!!!! This is a blog hop & link party.  That means that all the recipes you post will show up on all of our host's blog! Step 1: Make sure that anything you link up is: A Recipe...and is made and photographed by you Not part of a sponsership/sales/giveaway or other promotions/linky parties Linked to a specific page of your recipe, not your homepage Please limit your link-ups to 3 per party Step 2: Show some love and link back to my blog and Foodie Friends Friday ( http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com ) on the post of the recipe you are submitting. * for example: This recipe is featured on "Host Blog Link" and http://www.foodiefriendsfriday.com Linky Party) If you want to be the very best Foodie Friend Ever... Grab our button at http://foodiefriendsfriday.com and put it on your page and share Foodie Friends Friday! Take some time and check out other su

Pepperoni Pizza Bites

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Pepperoni Pizza Bites Ingredients: 1 package refrigerator pizza dough (I used pillsbury) 2 cups marinara 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup chopped pepperoni Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Leave pizza dough rolled up, and slice into 16 equal rounds.  Place rounds in oiled muffin tins and parbake for 8 minutes.  They may come out a little puffy so just tap them down.  Top pizza dough with marinara, mozzarella and pepperoni.  Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until brown and bubbly!  Serve with warm marinara and ranch dressing!

Cookies & Cream Cupcakes

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Cookies & Cream Cupcakes For the cupcakes: 1 box white cake mix prepared according to package directions 6 oreos crushed For the frosting: 2 boxes confectioners’ sugar 2 sticks of butter at room temperature 1tsp vanilla 6 oreos crushed Directions For Cupcakes: Mix cake mix according to package directions. Stir in Crushed oreos.  Line 24 cupcake tins and fill about 3/4 way full. I use an ice cream scoop to get nice uniform cupcakes. Bake for 18-22 minutes.  Let cupcakes cool completely. For Frosting: Blend confectioner's sugar, butter and vanilla until smooth.  I sometimes like to add in some crushed oreos to the frosting as well.  the more cookies, the better:) Pipe frosting onto the cooled cupcakes with a large 1M tip or large star tip. Sprinkle with crushed cookies and top with an oreo!

Margarita Cupcakes!

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There is nothing quite like a good margarita.   And to make a good margarita, you have to use the best ingredients.   I like a nice tequila, either Patron, or Cuervo.   But the real secret to a great margarita is the Grand Marnier Liqueur (or Cointreau).   Although it is expensive, it is so worth it!   You don’t need to use much, so it will last awhile in your liquor cabinet!   You can find the recipe for my texas margaritas here .   And here is the recipe for my famous Margarita cupcakes!   I made these for a rehearsal dinner and they were a hit!   Margarita Cupcakes For the cupcakes: 1 box white cake mix prepared according to package directions 3 limes, zested and juiced 3 T. Tequila 1 T. Grand Marnier or Cointreau For the frosting: 2 boxes confectioners’ sugar 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 T. freshly squeezed lime juice 2 T. tequila 1 T. Grand Marnier pinch of kosher salt Directions: For Cupcakes: Mix cake mix according to package directions. Add in 2T. lim

Made It By Monday Link Party!

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Hey Friends!  Welcome to our Monday link party!  We are so glad you could make it! Here are the guidelines: Please "Like Us" on Facebook Follow Us on Pinterest Follow Us on Google Friends Connect and Link Back to Our Party Link up recipes, crafts, DIY projects, etc.  No giveaways, items for sale, shops, etc.  Visit some other projects, "PIN" some of your favorites, leave some comments and have fun! Thanks so much for participating! And don't forget to enter our Williams-Sonoma Giveaway !