Spicy Sausage Queso

This recipe would be fantastic to serve on New Years Eve if you're planning on hosting a party!  It's also great if you're home all alone and don't want to share a drop ;-)  Either way, give this a shot!  The sausage REALLY makes this dip pop!

Ingredients:

- 1lb. hot ground sausage
- 1 box melting cheese (like Velveeta)
- 1 can Ro-tel Tomatoes, undrained
- 2 small cans of green chilis
- 1 onion, diced
- Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  In a large saucepan, begin browning your sausage and onion together until brown.

2.  Meanwhile, cut your cheese into large cubes so it will be ready to toss in.

3.  Once your sausage is cooked, put your cheese in and begin stirring it around.  You will want to adjust your heat on your stove as to not burn the cheese.

4.  Once your cheese is completely melted in, toss in your Ro-tel and your green chilis and stir in well, bringing everything up to temp.

Here's the final product.....

I served this with tortilla chips, but you could definitely do so much more with this dip!  We have a bit leftover so we are planning on scrambling up some eggs and doing a breakfast burrito type thing for brunch later.  Try this one out soon!  Enjoy! 

Puppy Chow

Puppy chow is a tradition around this time of the year!  Everyone enjoys it, it's perfect for gifts, and it's cheap and easy to make. 

Being that this year, I'm still recovering from my gallbladder disaster/surgery, it was something I could do that didn't require a lot of work, but it still made me feel good to be creating a treat for my little girls. 

If you've never tried puppy chow (otherwise known as muddy buddies, or people chow) I suggest you do so as soon as possible.  But, take it from me...it's ADDICTING so try it at your own risk ;-)

Ingredients:

- 9 cups Chex cereal (you will see that I used Quaker Life cereal, which is slightly similar to Chex.  I did this b/c, for one, I had it on hand, and two, it was an oops on my part, lol)
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
- 3 cups (or so) powdered sugar

Directions:

1.  In a very large bowl, toss in your cereal.

2.  In a separate bowl, measure out your chocolate, peanut butter, and butter.  Melt this mixture until smooth and pourable.  After melting, add in your vanilla and stir.

3.  Once your vanilla is incorporated, pour your chocolate mixture over your cereal and stir well, making sure to coat all the dry cereal with the chocolate mixture.

4.  Once coated, transfer your cereal to a large plastic bag.  This may take more than one transfer depending on how large your plastic bags are.  It almost always takes two for me.  After transferring your cereal, pour in the cups of powdered sugar and toss well to coat the cereal

Here's the final product....

This batch was eaten by the next day.  I ended up having to make another which is almost gone as well.  Like I said....addicting! ;-)  Enjoy!  

Italian Fried Potatoes

This is a quick and easy side dish that can be whipped up in minutes!  It goes well with anything too!  Give it a shot soon!

Ingredients:

- 2 pkgs.  Italian dressing mix
- About 3-5 potatoes, washed and diced
- Vegetable or olive oil for frying

Directions:

1.  Put your oil into your pan and begin to heat it up.  Dump your diced potatoes into the pan and begin cooking them.

2.  Open your Italian dressing packets and pour both packets over your cooking potatoes.  Stir well and continue to cook your potatoes until they are soft and a bit crispy.

Here's the final product....

I served mine on the side of some BBQ chicken breasts and cous cous.  Very flavorful and delicious!  Enjoy!

JAZZ IT UP! Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

This is the perfect way to jazz up your every day pancake mix!  It's perfect for a quick, delicious breakfast on Saturday morning when you have a lot to get done.  Try this one out soon and you AND your kids will love it!

Ingredients:

- Pancake Mix (the "just add water kind")
- Two snack packs of Apple Sauce
-1 Tablespoon of Cinnamon

Directions:

1.  In a large bowl, measure out your mix depending on how many pancakes you will need to make.  For example, my mix says I need 2 cups if I want to make 12-18 pancakes. 

2.  Add in your cinnamon.  You can add more or less than what's listed above.  Go based on your taste, really.

3.  Add the water to your dry mixture based on the box's instructions.  Again, for example, for the 2 cups of dry mix, my box says to add 1 1/3 cups water.  Whisk together until it resembles pancake batter.

4.  Now toss in your applesauce.  I believe this was cinnamon flavored apple sauce, but it doesn't matter either way.  Mix well.  If the mix is too runny, toss in a bit of the dry mix.  If it's too dry, add a touch more water.  You will have to eyeball this.

5.  Now warm your griddle pan or electric skillet.  Spray it well with non-stick spray.  Using a 1/4 cup, ladle out your pancakes and cook them until done. 

Here's the final product....

Perfect!  This pairs great with some maple sausage and a glass of orange juice, milk, or hot coffee!  Enjoy!! 

Just So You Know.....

Hey guys!

Just a note that I very recently had my gallbladder removed.  I am 6 days post op as of today.  Unfortunately for me, the surgery came with quite a bit of complications.  It will be a bit before I'm up and about and in the kitchen cooking out some new recipes to share with you all. 

I just wanted to say that no, I haven't forgotten my blog and I'll be back as soon as my body allows! 

Until then.....keep on enjoying the simple things in life and everyone have a happy holidays!

Bonnie :-)

Review: Pillsbury Parmesan Basil Bread

I seen this at the grocery store recently for a $1.00 so how could I resist giving this a try?  Check it out....

This Pillsbury Parmesan Basil Bread is a new product from Pillsbury.  They have other flavors as well, but this one sounded the best to me. 

Inside the box, you have your dry mix of ingredients and your packet of yeast.  Pretty basic. 

All you have to add is the warm water.

After adding the water, the box instructs you to mix the dough together using a wooden spoon until all is combined and doughy. 

After that, toss dough out onto floured surface and knead 50-75 times, flouring as needed.

Then you will need to spray either a cookie sheet or a loaf pan with cooking spray and place your dough into it, shaping it into a loaf as you go.  Let the dough sit for 12 minutes.  After you come back, using a sharp knife, cut a slit down the middle of your loaf. 

Following the box's directions, bake your bread until done.  Let sit, and then move to a cutting board to enjoy.

MY VERDICT:  This bread was very easy to toss together!  I did this while my daughter was in the middle of her birthday sleepover, that's how easy it was!  The taste was great and complimented our dinner of chili perfectly.  At $1.00 for a box, it's pretty cheap, so it made sense to give it a try.  Final thought...I would definitely buy this again.  :-) 

Tiger Butter

I found this recipe online recently and knew instantly that I had to give it a try!  I am so happy I did!  If you enjoy the flavor of Reese's Pieces, you will love this because it tastes almost identical.  Also, it's super easy (and pretty!) and will be a great give away for the holidays!

Ingredients:

- 2 bags White Chocolate chips
- 2 Cups Creamy Peanut Butter
- 1 bag Milk Chocolate Chips
*you will also need foil and non-stick cooking spray!

Directions:

1.  In a large bowl, toss in the white chocolate chips and the two cups of Peanut Butter.  Melt them together SLOWLY in the microwave until combined.

2.  Take a 9X13inch pan and line it both ways with aluminum foil.  Spray generously with non-stick cooking spray and pour your mixture into the pan.  Spread it out if you need to to make it even.

3.  Now pour your milk chocolate chips into a bowl and melt those SLOWLY in the microwave until smooth and shiny.  Pour that chocolate into a freezer bag and snip a tiny spot on the tip.

4.  Begin making random lines all over the mixture resembling strips.  You can go any way you want here, you can make a random design or even make a specific one. 

5.  Once you're done adding your stripes of chocolate, place your pan into the freezer for an hour and then into the fridge for a couple of hours.  This will set up your Tiger Butter.  Take it out, slice it into pieces and enjoy!

Here's the final product....

We LOVED this!  Try this soon and you will not be disappointed!  Enjoy :-)