Pinwheels

I made these a while back and I thought they were really good! I found the recipe on Happy Homemaker Cindy


*I did not take this picture. I found it on the internet...but this is what they do look like!

You will need:
2- 8 oz. pkgs. of cream cheese (I used neufchatel)
1 pkg. dry ranch salad dressing mix
1/2 c. minced sweet red pepper
1/2 c. minced celery
1/4 c. red onion, chopped
flour tortillas (burrito size)

With a mixer, mix cream cheese and dressing mix until smooth. Add in the veggies. Mix well. Spread about 1/2 - 3/4 cup on tortillas and roll up tightly. Place on plate and refrigerate a couple of hours. Slice & serve!

**You could change these up and add black olives, use green onion instead of red, add shredded carrots, chopped cucumbers...make them with whatever you have on hand and to your preferences!

ENJOY!! :)

Party Bread

This recipe is one I've had for a while. One of the girls I worked with several years ago brought it to a meeting and it was SO YUMMY! I have continued to make it over the years. Since having kids, I've started to leave the green onions off of half so that they can/will eat it. I've also used this a lot for parties where I've had to take an appetizer or a side...most people really enjoy it!

You will need:
1 loaf of Italian or French Bread (Italian bread is easier to work with)
8-16 oz. of Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded (I only use 8 oz.)
1 stick butter or margarine, melted
2-3 t. poppy seeds
3-4 green onions, thinly sliced

Set oven to 350 degrees.

First cut your bread lengthwise and then crosswise--I usually make two long cuts down the length of the bread and then make several cuts across the width of the bread about 1 - 1 1/2" apart. Place the loaf of bread on a piece of foil that will be big enough to wrap up the bread.

Then shove the cheese into all of the slits in the bread.

Combine the melted butter, poppy seeds and green onions and pour evenly over the bread. Sometimes I'll sprinkle dried basil over the top of the bread.

Wrap the bread up in the foil, place on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Then undo the foil so that the top of the bread is exposed and bake for 10 minutes more, or until cheese is all melted.

ENJOY!!! :)

Salsa

This is our favorite homemade salsa recipe!! I am hoping to make some this week!

You will need:
2- 10 oz. cans Ro-Tel
1- 26 oz. can whole tomatoes (w/most of juice, but not all)
2-6 t. canned, diced jalapenos (6 t. is VERY hot!)
1/2 c. red onion, diced
1 1/2 t. garlic salt
1 1/2 t. cumin
1 t. sugar
2-3 stems of cilantro
juice from 1 lime (I used about 1/4 c. bottled lime juice if I don't have a lime.)

Place everything in the blender (or food processor)and blend well…do not puree!

Chill & serve with tortilla or pita chips.

ENJOY!!! :)


**You can use fresh tomatoes if you have them!! YUM!

Guacamole

I love guacamole! Just made some of this today! YUM!!

You will need:
3 avocados, remove the seeds and scrape out the inside
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1/4 c. lime juice
1 t. salt
1 t. fresh, minced garlic
about 1/4 c. red onion, chopped
cilantro--don't really know how much I used...maybe like 6 sprigs, chopped

I put the avocado and lime juice in my food processor (or blender) to get the avocado nice & creamy. I also mixed in the other ingredients (EXCEPT for the tomatoes), to get everything finely chopped and mixed well. Scrape into a bowl and stir in chopped tomato. Chill. Serve with tortilla chips (pita chips are yummy too!).

ENJOY!! :)

*If you do not have a food processor or blender, you can just mash the avocado with a fork, it just won't be as creamy.

Chicken Quesadillas

Do you have one of these?



I love to make Chicken Quesadillas in it. YUM!!!

You will need:
Burrito sized flour tortillas
Shredded cheese (we prefer a mexican blend)
Cooked, cubed chicken
Tomatoes, chopped
Cilantro, chopped
Green chiles (I used canned--chopped & peeled)

I place the cheese on the tortilla first and then layer all of the other ingredients. I place a second tortilla on top and then put in the quesadilla maker and cook for 4 minutes. So easy and good!

There are so many options for quesadillas. My kids would prefer JUST cheese but I make them eat some chicken in there too. I am also able to get away with cilantro in theirs and NO ONE complains! ;)

Ham & Cheese Sliders

I have been seeing recipes for Ham Sliders popping up all over the internet lately so I thought I'd give them a try. I made them for our small group last week and I think they were a hit! :)

I pretty much used the recipe I found at Comfy in the Kitchen.

You will need:
1# thinly sliced ham lunch meat (I used Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Smoked Ham)
8 oz. package Swiss cheese slices (I used Kraft Big Slices)
12 larger Hawaiian flavored dinner rolls
1/2 c. butter or margarine
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1/3 c. brown sugar

Cut each of the rolls in half so that you can make a sandwich. Make sandwiches with ham and cheese--I used about 4 slices of the lunch meat and half of a slice of cheese. Place these sandwiches in a 9x13 baking dish.

In saucepan on stove top, combine butter, mustard, Worcestershire, poppy seeds and brown sugar. Bring to a low boil. Pour evenly over the tops of the sandwiches.

Cover the pan with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes.


ENJOY!!

Sausage Stuffed Jalapenos

Last week in our small group we celebrated the completion of our Old Testament study with a veggie themed party. One of our group friends brought these stuffed jalapenos...they were DELICIOUS!! I didn't get the recipe from her but I went on a search online and found something either the exact same or very similar. I made them yesterday!!

You will need:

1# ground pork sausage (I used Bob Evans roll sausage, original flavor)
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. shredded parmesan cheese (I used 1 c. of the grated kind)
approx. 1# large fresh jalepeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Brown sausage; drain off grease and rinse with hot water.

Mix sausage, cream cheese and parmesan cheese. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the sausage mixture into each pepper half. Arrange peppers in a 9x13 baking dish.

I sprinkled about 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese over the top.

Bake 20 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned.

They say you can serve them with ranch dressing...I did not try this as they are good enough just by themselves!

ENJOY!! :)


**Note: While working with the peppers, wearing gloves is beneficial!!

Veggie Pizza

I like to make this for something different...sometimes as an alternative to veggies & dip.

You will need:
2 tubes of refrigerated crescent rolls (I used reduced fat)
8 oz. cream cheese (I used the 1/3 less fat)
1 c. mayo (I used light)
1 pkg. ranch dressing mix
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
assorted vegetables, chopped

Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Press crescent rolls into bottom and up sides of pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool.

Combine cream cheese, mayo and ranch mix. Spread over crust.

Top with veggies and cheese. Refrigerate & serve.

Veggie suggestions: red onion, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, mushrooms, carrots, celery, green pepper, red bell pepper

Buffalo Chicken Dip

This is a yummy appetizer that works well for parties and other gatherings.

You will need:
8 oz. cream cheese or neufchatel cheese, softened
1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded (or use a large can of chicken, drained)
8 oz. shredded cheese (I've used cheddar or a colby jack mix)
3/4 c. Red Hot Wings Sauce, Buffalo flavored (lessen this if you're not into spicy food)
1/3-1/2 c. ranch dressing
Tortilla Chips, for serving
Celery, for serving

I start out by melting the cream cheese. You can do this on a stove top or in the microwave. Then I slowly start adding in the other items (except chips & celery) until it is all well blended and melted together.

Serve hot with with chips & celery.

ENJOY!! :)

Black Bean Salsa

LOVE this stuff!! I've heard this type of salsa called different things...one of them being Cowboy Caviar. It is so easy to make and YUMMY!



You will need:
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 package of frozen corn, thawed
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1/2 c. red onion, chopped
1/4 c. lime juice
1 envelope Good Seasons Garlic & Herb Seasoning Mix
5 T. chopped cilantro
2 t. cumin

Mix all of the ingredients together; refrigerate. Serve with tortilla chips, if you choose, my favorite way. I've also ate it without the chips, as sort of a side dish type thing.

ENJOY!

Layered Mexican Dip

I am in the process of moving all of my recipes over here from my other blog. I posted this one a long time ago. Some of these are recipes I haven't made in a long time...just might have to make this one again soon! YUM!!

You will need:

2- 8 oz. pkgs. fat free cream cheese or neufchatel
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 can Rotel, drained
1-2 c. cheddar or colby jack shredded cheese

In 11x7 baking dish, spread cream cheese in bottom. Layer beans, Rotel and cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips.

ENJOY!

Pizza Biscuits

I made these tonight for supper. The kids LOVED them and begged me to make them again! Trust me...that doesn't happen very often!

I adapted this recipe from one I found in a book based on what I had.

I used:
1 tube (8 ct.) Homestyle Buttermilk Grands Biscuits
4 "pieces" of mozzarella string cheese, cut each piece into fourths for a total of 16
Pepperoni slices
1 egg, beaten
Italian seasoning
Parmesan Cheese, grated
Pizza Sauce and/or Ranch Dressing

Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Tear each of the biscuits in half and shape/flatten into 3" circles. Put about 3 pepperoni slices and 1 piece of cheese in the middle of each circle. Wrap the biscuit dough around the pepperoni and cheese and seal. Place seam side down on the cookie sheet. Continue doing this with your remaining biscuits. Each of the biscuits should be touching when you place them on the pan.

Brush the tops of the biscuits with the egg and then sprinkle with desired amounts of Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 18-20 minutes.

Serve with ranch dressing (our personal favorite!) or warmed pizza sauce.

ENJOY!! :)

*This was just enough for the kids and myself. So if you have more than one adult and kids eating, I would suggest doubling the recipe so that you have enough.

Taco Dip

You will need:
1 c. sour cream (light works great!)
2- 8 oz. bars of cream cheese (the 1/3 less fat stuff works too!), softened
1 can of bean dip (...OR 1 can of fat free refried beans)
8 oz. bag of cheddar or mexican blend shredded cheese
8 oz. taco sauce
shredded lettuce
chopped tomato
tortilla chips

Mix sour cream, cream cheese and bean dip/refried beans together with mixer. Spread into the bottom of a 9x13 dish. Then layer with cheese, taco sauce, lettuce and tomato. Serve with tortilla chips. ENJOY!!

Note: I wait to add the lettuce until just before I am ready to serve so that it is crisp. You can also add black olives and onions into the layers, if you choose!