July 29, 2013

"That Green Sauce" Dip

Mexican food.. Need I say more? It's yum and my favorite! Going to try different Mexican food restaurants is something I get to do a lot with my husband and father In-Law Lonnie. Both of them would eat Mexican food for all three meals if they could. At most Mexican Restaurants they bring a "green sauce" with the chips and salsa. I love most of them and some are not so great. This is a dip that is always a hit or miss. So when we were walking threw the HEB shopping and a lady was giving samples for a "green sauce" Brian and I of course were like YES we're trying this! It was so darn good and has been something that we have at most of our dinner party's. Its a favorite, easy to make and goes with most types of food.

This is all you need for this amazing and very tasty dip.
 Mix it all together and chill for at least 30 mins. to an hour.
This is the base of the dip and when mixed with sour cream and Avocado. It's Perfect!
 
That Green Sauce Dip
 
What Ya'll Need:
4 Avocados
16 oz. Sour cream
1 tsp. Lime juice
Dash of Oregano or Cilantro(I use oregano) 
Salt to taste

What to Do:
In a bowl mix the all the ingredients. Cover and chill for 30 minutes to an Hour. Remove and Enjoy!

Cooking Tip: We like to use Julio's Chips. But, using a tortilla chip makes this dip taste the best.

July 25, 2013

Cowboy Hash

Hash brown Casserole is a favorite of mine as a side dish or as a meal all on its own. I got the idea for Cowboy Hash from another dish I make Cowboy Pasta. It's a pasta dish and I was out of pasta and only had potatoes. So the idea came to light for Cowboy Hash. I made it for my husband and a few of his friends for a dinner party that we were having a few weeks ago. They liked it so much its been a request since then. I guess its now a new family favorite.

The sour cream and cheese potatoes are so yummy on top of this dish.
 
Cowboy Hash
 
What Ya'll Need:
1 pound of hamburger meat
2 cans of ranch style beans(I used one can original and one with jalapenos)
1 table spoon of  Jess Hall's Serendipity Seasoned Salt
1 table spoon of McCormick® Chili Seasoning package
1/2 cup of water 
6 medium potatoes peeled and diced up
12 oz sour cream
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese(I uses Colby)
Salt and Pepper for taste
 
What you Do:
Brown meat in a skillet; drain and return to pan. Add both cans of beans, serendipity salt, chili seasoning and water. Stir till mixed, cover and simmer. Then mix the potatoes, sour cream and cheese in bowl. Salt and pepper it to taste. Take a 13x9 cooking dish add meat mixture to pan. Then spoon potatoes on top once done, sprinkle with cheese. Place dish in a preheated oven to 385 cook for 45 minutes. Remove and let sit for five minutes. Serve up and Enjoy!!
 
Cooking Tip: If you want to save sometime use a bag of frozen potatoes, I used them the second time I made them. Tasted just as good. I let them thaw out why I cooked the meat mixture. Then stirred them in with cheese and sour cream.   
 
 
 
 

Birthday Cake Fudge

My family does it up every year at holidays with different sweet treats. It’s a tradition in my family for Grandma Norma to make the peanut butter and chocolate fudge. So I loved the idea for birthday cake fudge. I made this fudge for a family gathering and it was a hit. My daughter keeps asking for more. So commencing now on I will be making this for every birthday, holiday and family get together! A very trouble-free recipe so give it a Whirl!

 What you need to make Birthday Cake Fudge
Mix 2 cups cake mix and 2 cups confectioners sugar in microwave safe bowl
Add 1 cup butter, 1/4 cup to dry mix.. Don't Sir, Microwave 2 minutes
Then sir the mixture well, add the sprinkles at this point.
Place in a 8x8 or 13x9 pan, mold to shape pan then let sit in fridge 1 hour 
Remove, then cut in to small pieces and enjoy! 

Birthday Cake Fudge

What Ya'll Need:
2 cup yellow cake mix (I used a confetti mix)
2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 stick butter or margarine, cut into small squares
1/4 cup milk (no less)
Sprinkles

What to do:
Put your confectioners sugar and cake mix into a microwave safe bowl, mix up. Then add your milk and butter. DO NOT STIR YET. Microwave for 2 minutes.  Remove and stir until completely combined.  Then add your sprinkles. Put into an 8×8 or 9x10 pan I lined mine with non-stick foil. Then refrigerate for an hour. Remove and cut in to small pieces and Enjoy!

*Cooking Tip: Using the foil makes it easy to remove and flip on to a cutting board, allowing it easy to cut the fudge a lot better and keeping fudge in one piece.

July 17, 2013

Avocado Deviled Eggs

Deviled Eggs! Tell me who doesn't like a deviled egg.. Okay I'm sure there might be a person who don't but my family is full of people who do. My husband Brian and sister in-law Amanda love deviled eggs. We also have a love for avocados so when I seen a recipe for avocado deviled eggs I knew this was going to be something I was trying immediately. I'm glad I did cause they are AMAZING!! Very easy to make so I hope that you try these cause they are worth the taste test.

 
So good, I left a few chucks of avocado in the mixture.. Glad I did!

 
 
Avocado Deviled Eggs
 
What Ya'll Need:
7 medium eggs boiled 
1 avocado diced up
1 tbs.  of Lime Juice
1 tbs. of Mayo(miracle whip for me)
salt and pepper for taste
Paprika for topping the eggs
 
What to Do:
Take boiled eggs cut in half length way and put yolk in a small bowl. Then place diced avocado in the bowl with cooked egg yolk add lime juice, salt, pepper and mayo stir until it has a consentience of a normal deviled egg mixture. Add  the egg/avocado mix to the center of the eggs and sprinkle with paprika.
 
*Cooking Tip: Place the egg mixture in a small Ziploc bag. Cut one corner and squeeze in center of egg.. Makes this step very easy!
 

Turkey Melts on Yeast Rolls

I was enjoying a good chicken fried steak dinner and eating a yeast roll when the idea for this recipe came to light. I love a good sandwich and a warm one at that. I decided to try making turkey melts on the left over yeast rolls I had. I have made homemade breads but I like to buy Sister Schubert's® Dinner Yeast Rolls. You can cook one at a time or ten. Nice to have them on hand when my husband makes plans for a last minute dinner party. The yeast rolls are yummy, so adding turkey and cheese made them taste so good. It took no time at all to make. I will be doing this more often. I can think of many different sandwich creations that might just be a hit.

 
My husband added lettuce, tomato and spicy mustard.. Should have taken a Picture!
 
 
 
Turkey Melts
 
What Ya'll Need:
Sister Schubert's® Dinner Yeast Rolls
Turkey Slices of your favorite brand(Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Turkey Breast)
Cheese (I used provolone and Colby)
All the special condiments for topping(lettuce, tomatoes, mustard, mayo)
 
What to Do:
Place frozen yeast rolls place in preheated oven  375 degrees and warm them for 5 minutes. Take them out and let cool cut in half. Then place what condiments you want on the bread I added spicy brown mustard and cheese. On top of condiments place the meat even on each half of yeast roll keep apart on baking pan. Place back in oven for another 10 minutes. Remove, put each half together and Enjoy! That simple...
 


July 11, 2013

One Pot Chili Mac

I love to be messy and making things from scratch but, sometimes we just don't have time. So here is a recipe that my husband Brian came up with.. kind of! We were in a hurry to make something for dinner. We had been looking and naming things, nothing sounded good then he had the bright idea to mix the can of Wolf Brand Chili we had with a package of noodles. Glad he did because it was yummy! I know this isn't a master crafted dinner recipe but, it is a time saver that's warm and tasty.

 
Chili Mac
 
What Ya'll Need:
1 Can of Wolf Brand Chili ( with/without beans)
1 pound of pasta, I used elbow
1 cup of Cheese
 
What to Do:
Cook noodles as directed, drain. Then add the can of Chili stir till mixed. Top with cheese and Enjoy!
 
Cooking Tip: I drained the noodles and then added the chili to pot so it would get warm then stirred in the noodles. Hint to the name One Pot Chili Mac!
 
 

July 3, 2013

Pecan Brownies

Brownies, are a wonderful treat that very rarely disappoints. They can be made with many different flavor combinations and topped with almost anything. I like brownies with frosting on top, It's my favorite! I made these for my husband Brian who just happens to love brownies with out frosting.  He was being on his best behavior so I made this treat for him. I think this happens to be one of the easiest brownie recipes I have ever made. I can't wait to try it with frosting on top next time. 
 
 
I love how these turned out and they tasted Amazing!


Pecan Brownies

What Ya'll Need:
6 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter cut up
2 cups sugar
3 eggs at room temperature  
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
1 cup chopped pecans

Chocolate Frosting(Optional):
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
3 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 – 3 tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
pinch salt

What to Do:
Melt chocolate and butter slices together in microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes, or on stove top in heavy saucepan on very low heat. Whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Whisk sugar into chocolate until well blended. Mix in eggs one at a time then add vanilla. Stir in flour and 3/4 cup of pecans until well blended. Spread mixture into 9 x 13 glass baking dish & spread evenly. Top with remaining pecans. Bake in 325 degrees preheated oven for 27 to 30 minutes. Do not over bake. Remove brownies, place in a sink that has been filled with cold water and ice. Should be just enough to cover bottom of baking dish, let sit 2 minutes then place on rack to finish cooling completely, cut into squares and Enjoy!

*Cooking Tip: Putting brownies in "ice bath" helps cut the additional cooling time immediately. It also helps the brownies from over cooking in the baking dish.