Baked in the South

  We served these at a birthday party recently and they were a huge hit!     Ingredients: 2 boxes prepared tortellini (I used Buttoni, found in the refrigerator section) 1 Jar of prepared Vodka Sauce ( I used Prego) skewers   Directions: Boil Tortellini according to package, but leave them slightly al dente.  You don't want them to be mushy.  Skewer 8 tortellini on each skewer and stack on a serving tray.  Heat the vodka sauce gently and serve along side the skewers!

   These make a fabulous appetizer!  I serve them at parties and people rave about them.  They are very easy to make and can be pre-made and frozen ahead of time. Ingredients:  1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed 1/2 cup crumbled feta 1/4 cup minced onion 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon chopped dill 1 teaspoon minced garlic Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 large eggs 1 package of phyllo dough thawed   Directions: Squeeze out as much liquid from the thawed spinach until dry. Mix spinach and next 5 ingredients in a medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, beat 1 egg to blend; fold into spinach mixture. Place 1 sheet of phyllo on work surface, keeping remainder covered with a damp towel to prevent drying out. Brush lightly with some of the butter and pile 2 Tablespoons of spinach mixture in bottom right corner. Fold over diagonally into a triangle shape and continue folding up until you have a triangle ...

Ingredients: 1/4 cup chopped pecans 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon bourbon 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 package puff pastry thawed 1 lb brie 1 egg Directions: Heat butter in medium saucepan and add the pecans and bourbon. Toast pecans slightly and then set aside to cool.    Cut puff pastry into 3 equal strips. Cut each remaining strip into 3 squares for a total of 9. Grease muffin tin. Place a square in each muffin cup, pressing into bottom and up sides and leaving corners pointing up. Place about 1 tablespoon round of brie in the middle of each pastry. Top with the browned pecans and some sugar. Fold pastry over filling, pressing corners together to meet in center.  Brush with egg wash.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes until brown.     

I almost ate the whole tray.  If you like spanakopita, you will love these little bits of goodness.  They are also much easier to make than the traditional spanakopita with layers of phyllo and they taste just as good!     Ingredients:  1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed 1/2 cup crumbled feta 1/4 cup minced onion 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon chopped dill 1 teaspoon minced garlic Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 large eggs 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from a 17.3-ounces package), thawed, rolled out to a 12" square, kept chilled   Directions: Squeeze out as much liquid from the thawed spinach until dry. Mix spinach and next 5 ingredients in a medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, beat 1 egg to blend; fold into spinach mixture. Cut puff pastry into 3 equal strips. Cut each remaining strip into 3 squares for a total of 9. Grease muffin tin.  Place a square in each muffin cup, pressing into bo...

I could have literally eaten the whole dish.  They call this "Crack Dip" because most people can't stop eating it:)  I took this to a Birthday Party and everyone loved it!  It is super easy to put together and only has a few ingredients Ingredients: 3/4 lb. cooked & drained ground sausage (I used Jimmy Dean, but hot italian sausage would be good) 1 block of cream cheese (softened) 1 cup cheddar cheese 1 can Rotel (diced tomatoes & chilis) 1/2 can corn (drained) Mix the ground sausage with the cream cheese, rotel, corn and half a cup of cheddar cheese.  Top with remaining cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until hot & bubbly.  Garnish with chopped green onions and serve with tortilla chips or fritos!

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons lemon zest 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 small red onion chopped 1 tablespoon oregano 1/4 shaved fennel bulb (use a mandolin) 3 endives separated, and rinsed fennel fronds 12 medium shrimp 2 ounces feta Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a bowl, whisk, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper and olive oil.  Add the red onion, chopped oregano, shaved fennel.  Roast shrimp in the oven for 2-3 minutes until pink.  Arrange endive leaves on a serving platter.  Add shrimp, spoon a tablespoon of marinade on each shrimp and sprinkle crumbled feta. Garnish with fennel fronds.  Recipe adapted from Martha Stewarts Hors D'oeuvres Handbook

Ingredients: 1/3 cup mayo 2 teaspoons wasabi paste 6 ounces lump crab meat 1 small red bell pepper, chopped 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 large ripe mangos, chopped 1 loaf of french bread sliced Directions: In a medium bowl, combine mayo and wasabi.  Add crab, bell pepper, cilantro, lemon juice, salt and pepper.  Top the pieces of sliced french bread with the crabmeat salad, garnish with cilantro and serve. 

  Ingredients: 2 frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 large red onion sliced thin 2 green onions, chopped 1 tablespoon chives 1 egg 1/3 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon salt 3 ounces goat cheese   Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a skillet, heat butter and olive oil.  Saute onions until soft and carmelized.  Add the green onions and the chives.  Set aside to cool.  In a bowl, mix the egg, heavy cream, and salt.  Stir into the onion mixture.  Lay puff pasty out on a lightly floured cutting board.  Spread the carmelized onion mixture on top of entire puff pastry.  Crumble the goat cheese on top of onion mixture.  Roll the pastry jelly roll style, from the short end, into a roll.  With a sharp knife, slice the roll into 1 inch pieces and lay flat on a greased baking sheet.  Bake for 25 minutes until brown.   

  Ingredients:   1/4 cup chopped pecans 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon bourbon 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 package puff pastry thawed 1 lb brie   Directions:   Heat butter in medium saucepan and add the pecans and bourbon.  Toast pecans slightly and then set aside to cool.  Lay out puff pastry on a cutting board and using a 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter, cut out rounds of puff pastry.  I got about 16 rounds out of the two pastries, which made 8 bites.  Lay 8 of the rounds on a greased cookie sheet.  Place about 1 tablespoon round of brie in the middle of each pastry.  Top with the browned pecans and some sugar.  Lay another round of pastry on top and using a fork, seal the edges.  Repeat with remaining pastry.  Brush with egg and bake for 20-25 minutes until brown.

  I made these for Christmas Eve and they were delish!  I would recommend using slightly less bisquick, as they were a little dry. Ingredients:   1 lb cooked ground sausage 2 1/2 cups Bisquick baking mix (her recipe calls for 3, which is way too much in my opinion:) 4 cups grated sharp Cheddar 1/8 tablespoon pepper   Directions:   Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well with your fingers. The mixture will be very crumbly. Form into 1 inch balls, squeezing the mixture so it holds together. Place the balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

  These are very popular at our house.  I usually make a bunch up and keep them in the fridge for dipping.  They also make a great party appetizer.     To assemble layer refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and shredded cheese until cups are full.  Top with cilantro and serve with tortilla chips or fritos.  Couldn't be easier!  

Ingredients: 1 can Pillsbury refrigerator crescent rolls 2 cups spagetti sauce 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or cubes) pepperoni slices Directions: Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.  Unroll crescent rolls onto greased foil on a cookie sheet.  Place 2 T. spagetti sauce on large end of crescent.  Top with cheese and a a few slices of pepperoni.  Roll jelly style and bake for 25-30 minutes until brown and bubbly.  Serve with warm marinara sauce. 

Ingredients: 2 cups cooked rice 2 cups cooked chicken 1 can black beans drained & rinsed 1 green onion chopped 1/4 cup cilantro chopped 2 T lime juice 1 t. cumin 1 t. chili powder 1/2 t. garlic salt 2 cups shredded cheese sour cream 6 large flour tortillas Mix rice, onion, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, & garlic salt and set aside. Sprinkle cheese down center of tortilla, top with 1/6 chicken, 1/6 black beans, 1/6 rice mixture and some sour cream.  Fold ends in and roll burrito style and press flat.  Spray with cooking spray and cook on a medium-hot non-stick pan/griddle for 2-3 minutes per side.  Serve with salsa, guacamole & sour cream!

This is a holiday favorite!  Ingredients: 8 oz softened cream cheese 1 garlic clove, minced 1 T. grated onion 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup dark brown sugar 1 t. worcestershire sauce 1/2 t. mustard 1 cup chopped pecans Directions: Combine cream cheese, garlic and onion in a bowl.  Mix well and shape ito a 6-inch disk, 1 inch thick.  Place on a serving plate and chill in refrigerator Melt butter over meidum heat with brown sugar, worcestershire, mustard and pecans in a saucepan, until warm and blended.  Pour pecan mixture over cheese disk and return to refrigerator until 1 hour before serving.  Remove from refrigerator and let stand until room temperature is reached.  Serve with assorted breads, crackers, and fruit.  Recipe adapted from the Junior League Cookbook "My Mama Made That"

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. 

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 chee...

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. 

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. 

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. 

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"