Friday, October 26, 2012

Spooky Witches Fingers & Weekend Potluck #40


WELCOME BACK TO WEEKEND POTLUCK! 
AND...

WHERE I SHARE SOMETHING WORTH SHARING AGAIN....

These are fun & easy little cookies to help you celebrate the season.... 
I've also seen them colored green, which is a pretty cute idea. 

(click on link below)


~ Last week at $3.99 ~

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How to get the cookbook on your Kindle:
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Thanks for coming to share...we are always excited to see what you'll bring to our virtual table! 


The recipe with the most clicks was ~

Oven Fried Bacon
Oven Fried Bacon by The Better Baker


(Thank you! Thank you! for all your clicks!=) 

Recipes that caught our attention ~

Crock Pot Chicken and Stuffing by Table for Seven

Chocolate Chip Butterfinger Cookies


And, a personal favorite ~

Cinnamon French Toast Latte by A Kitchen Addiction 


Your hostesses ~

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Thursday, October 25, 2012

{Slow Cooker} Vegetable Breakfast Casserole


                                                                  
This is a terrific dish with many options to use what you love best. 

It cooks overnight so breakfast is ready when you climb out of bed.  What's not to love about that??? 

And your house is going to smell so good you won't WANT to stay in bed! 

Use what you have leftover in the fridge, or your favorite additions. 

I'm thankful I came across this yummy recipe at Cooking with Libby cause we really loved this! I make a lot of Libby's crockpot recipes. 

Just chop - layer - cook!....While you're sleeping even!!!


{SLOW COOKER}VEGETABLE BREAKFAST CASSEROLE 

1 lb. bacon, sausage, or ham (cooked & chopped)
1 sm. onion, diced
1 sm. bell pepper, diced
3 green onions, chopped
Half a 32 oz. bag of frozen hash browns
(I suggest using the cubed hash browns as they will hold their shape better after overnight cooking)
1 and 1/2 c. shredded cheese 
(I mixed cojack along with 2% fiesta cheese)
6 eggs
(or 4 eggs and 4 egg whites)
1/2 c. (1%) milk (I used just a tad more)
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray or place a liner inside.
 Layer the ingredients as follows - hash browns, meat, onions, bell pepper, and 
1 cup cheese  
 In a bowl, mix together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.
 Pour egg mixture over ingredients in slow cooker.  
 Spread the remaining cheese on top.
 Cook on low for 6-7 hours overnight.

(I recently purchased an electronic timer (about $5) and set it to turn off about an hour before I wake up...I think that's better than having it start after you go to bed as you don't want the eggs to sit out without cooking). 

(Note: I placed a paper towel under the lid to catch the moisture so you
don't have a soggy breakfast) 


                                                                         

{Loaded} Baked Potato Soup


                                                                 
COME & GET IT! SOUP'S ON!!!!
******************

When we had baked taters left over at a recent Ladies Day at church, I was given a few to bring home.  

With the cooler temps, I didn't have to think twice about what I wanted to make.

This wonderfully warming and tasty soup gets devoured quickly every time I make it. 

Love the sour cream and bacon that add such awesome flavor. 

TAS-TEEEE! 

Feel free to add ham or velveeta to the soup...whatever 'turns your crank' to make this just what your family will love most. 


{LOADED} BAKED POTATO SOUP 

4 lg. baking potatoes
1/3 c. butter or margarine
2/3 c. all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
6 c. milk
1 c. sour cream
1/4 c. thinly sliced green onions
8 - 10 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese 

Bake potatoes at 350 for 65 - 70 minutes or until tender; cool completely.  Peel and cube potatoes.  In large saucepan, melt butter; add flour, salt and pepper; stir until smooth.  Graduatlly add milk; (using a whisk works best). Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thick.  Remove from heat; whisk in sour cream.  Add potatoes and green onions.  Garnish with bacon and cheese. 

Yield: about 10 servings 

 
                                                                       

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Leader Enterprise - Oct 3, 2012 - Apples



In years past, apples have been awarded the 'most affordable' fruit title, but this year's out-of-the-ordinary weather has brought a big wormy bite out of apple crop. I've read that some orchards only have 3-4% of their normal crops. How devestating! We all know that means higher prices this year, so enjoy every crisp bite of every apple you get this fall. Be sure to stock up when they're on sale.



I thought it fitting to get your juices (or shall we say cider?) flowing about the most popular fruit in America. The Economic Research Service of the U. S. Depart.of Agriculture estimates Americans, in years past,have averaged the equivalent of about 47 pounds of apples a year. According to a 2010 report by U.S.International Trade Commission, the traditional Red Delicious still reigns as the most eaten variety, but Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Fuji are gaining steam.


Select apples that are firm and bruise free. Store in refrigerator to slow ripening and keep the flavor. Chilled properly, they should last about 90 days. When I was a kid, we always wrapped apples separately in newspaper and stored them in a horse tank in our cool basement. That way, when one apple went bad, the ones around it were protected. There's another saying with much truth "One Bad Apple Spoils the Bunch". I know that refers to many other things besides the fruit itself.


Apples are thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes and asthma. No wonder they say "An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away"!


If you’ve ever bought sliced apples at the grocery store you may have noticed they take much longer to brown than the fruit you bite into. Vitamin C is added to the apples to keep them from browning which may leave a slightly noticeable pasty texture. Did you know you can make your own "already sliced" apples to pack in lunches? Toss the apples in a mixture of lemon-lime soda for about 10 minutes then drain. Store in snack-sized ziploc bags and squeeze out all the air. This will prevent the apple slices from browning. You can also dip them in pineapple juice first.

I think I've shared this apple dumpling recipe before, but some things are just worth sharing again.I've made these for over 100 at a time, and they go quickly. Definitely a family favorite apple recipe.

SIMPLE APPLE DUMPLINGS
4 Granny Smith, or any favorite baking apple


2-8 ozs. pkgs. (reduced-fat) refrigerated crescent rolls

1 stick butter (I cut back from 2 in original recipe)

1 c. sugar (or Splenda)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1-12 ozs.can (diet) Mt. Dew soda or 7-Up


Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9" X 13" baking dish. Peel and quarter apples. Separate crescent rolls; roll up apples in crescent rolls from big end to little end. Place in prepared pan.In small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. In saucepan melt butter add sugar/cinnamon mixture. Pour mixture over the apples, then pour the Mt. Dew around all the dumplings.  Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until apples are tender. Serve warm with ice cream or milk Tip:I cover the pan with foil after 30 minutes as the rolls tend to brown too much after that length of time in the oven.

BAKED ACORN SQUASH WITH CINNAMON APPLES
2-3 acorn squash
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
(I used 1/4 c.brown sugar splenda)
1/4 c. butter,melted
1 Tb. all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt 
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
(I used 1-1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice)
2 - 3 lg. apples - cored and chopped (unpeeled)

Preheat oven to 350. In small bowl, stir together brown sugar, butter, flour, salt, cinnamon and allspice. Wash and halve the squash. Clean out the seeds and 'stringy stuff' and arrange in ungreased 9" X 13" baking dish. Fill the 'holes' with chopped apple, then drizzle the sugar mixture on top. The recipe didn't call for it, but I added about 1/2 c.water, or more, to the pan so it would steam the squash as it bakes. Cover dish with foil. Bake 60-70 (less time if the squash are small) minutes or until squash is tender.

EASY APPLE DIP

1–8 oz. pkg.cream cheese (softened)
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix ingredients together with electric mixer until fluffy. Serve with apples. Enjoy! This would make a great after school snack.

My blogging buddy Lark of Lark's Country Heart recently shared this awesome recipe. She goes to their local high school every week and helps the kids make something new.I fell in love when I saw her photo of this easy treat.

EASY CINNAMON BAKED APPLES
For 6 Apples: Cream1 stick butter, 1 C.Brown Sugar, 1/2 tsp.Vanilla. Core each apple leaving bottom intact. Fill with creamed sugar mixture. Then divide 1/4 c. red hot candies evenly on top. Place in baking dish pour 1 c.apple cider in bottom of dish. Bake uncovered at 375 for 45 minutes.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Three Fall Foodie Favorites


A long time ago, Michael Ann at The Big Green Bowl tagged me in a fun game.  
            It's a simple game to play and I really appreciate that.               

I'm suppose to share my 3 favorite recipes and then tag 2 others to share theirs.

I've been saving this idea for a 'rainy day', but since I've been thinking more and more about favorite fall foods, I thought I would use it to share these favs. 

I SO love fall and the foods we enjoy this time of the year.  Pumpkin.....apple...
squash..soups & stews...muffins, etc. etc. 

So here are three recipes I chose out of a long list of fall favorites. 

Click on the link below the photo to take you to the recipe where you can print or pin it. 

For me, these are all mouth-watering dishes that I wouldn't want to live without....any time of the year! 



I get so many requests for the recipe for this Fabulous! Butternut Squash Bake.  I won $100 for it in an American Profile publication (it's nationwide) a few years ago and it is in two of the AP cookbooks, plus my own! I've been told it tastes like dessert! *-* Even people who think they don't like squash are fans of this dish.



Butternut Squash Bake


I can't get too many of these pumpkin muffins with cream cheese(!) filling. They are an impressive addition to any meal. Just look at that cream cheese. MMM!


Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Filling

This Cheesey Chicken Chowder is another delicious and easy thick soup...chowder, if you will...that has also been published in the American Profile.  I've received letters from around the country telling me how tasty this wonderful soup is. If you're in a hurry, feel free to use frozen hash browns and mixed veggies.  Any way you fix it, your family is sure to ask for M-M-M-More! 



Cheesey Chicken Chowder


I'm tagging Kitty at Kitty's Kozy Kitchen

&

Erin at Making Memories...One Fun Thing after Another...

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