Baked Brie

Take a wheel of brie cheese scored both ways.

Top with pepper jelly and bacon that has been cooked and diced.

Place in oven on 400 for 15 to 20 minutes until melted.  Serve with crackers. 

Red Enchiladas

 1 pound of ground beef

1/2 onion diced

Large can enchilada sauce

2 cups grated cheese Mexican blend

8 floured tortillas 

Can of diced chilies 

Brown ground beef and onion together till meat is no longer pink.  Drain grease.  Add canned chilies to the enchilada sauce.   Add 3/4 cup of sauce and I cup of the cheese to the ground beef.  Spoon meat mixture into each of the flour tortillas.  Roll and lay into a 9x12 dish, seam side down.  I spray my dish with PAM for easy clean up. Pour rest of sauce over the tortillas and top with the other cup if cheese.  350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes.

Easy Buffalo Wings

 2 1/2 pounds of wings

1/2 cup Frank's Buffalo sauce

1/3 cup melted butter

Remove tips and separate each wing  into 2 pieces.  Lay on a large pan lined with parchment paper.  Salt and pepper. 450 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Turn over after 15 minutes.  Mix wing sauce and butter.  Toss wings in sauce and serve. 

Strawberry Cake

 1 box white cake mix (I prefer Duncan Hines)

3 oz box strawberry Jello

1 cup fresh strawberries mashed or finely chopped (measure after you mash them)

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup whole milk

4 large eggs

Frosting...

8 oz cream cheese @ room temperature 

1/2 cup butter at room temperature 

5 cups confectioners sugar

1/4 cup strawberries mashed or finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray pans with PAM. Add cake mix, eggs. Milk and vegetable oil and mix with a mixer.  Mix in 1 cup strawberries and the Jello. Mix for 3 minutes stopping twice to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Pour into the pan and cook until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before adding icing.

  Meanwhile,  in another bowl cream together the softened cream cheese and butter.  Sift in confectioners sugar 1 cup at a time. Add strawberries and incorporate completely.  Spread over cooled cake. 

Boiled Peanuts

1 pound green peanuts, 

(We prefer the jumbo peanuts)

6 cups water 

3 tablespoons of table salt

Bring to a boil then lower heat for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.  You may have to add water to keep the peanuts covered.  After 2 hours taste the peanuts to see if they have reached the desired tenderness.   I like mine to be firm.  If you like softer ones you can cook another hour.  I then remove from heat and let the peanuts just sit in the water about 20 minutes.   They will get salter so taste for desired saltiness.  It's all a matter of preference.   

2 ingredient Pumpkin Muffins

 1 box spice cake mix

1 can pumpkin Puree

(I added a third ingredient, raisins)

Mix together and spoon into a muffin tin.  I used paper cupcakes liners and I even spritzed them with a little PAM.

Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes.   Let cool on a wire rack.

I added probably close to a cup of raisins because I love raisins.  You do you. I would say 1/2 to 1 cup, should you decide to add them. 

Makes 12 muffins

Quick and easy Quiche

 I didn't have a quiche pan so I used a muffin tin to make individual quiche.  You do whatever you like just spray with PAM first.

4 eggs

2 cups milk

1 cup biscuit mix 

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Mix together well.  This will form your crust.  You can add whatever you like to the bottom of your Pam.  I used diced onion, real bacon pieces, and grated sharp cheese.  Pour the batter over each cup.  It's OK to fill the cup.  Bake in a 350 degree oven until golden brown.  I added just a little butter to the top of each muffin.  Larry didn't so it's good either way.  I actually halved the recipe since it was just the two of us and it made 6 muffin size quiche. 

Caramel Popcorn

3 bags microwave popcorn-popped and kernels removed

20 large marshmallows

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a bowl microwave the marshmallows, brown sugar, butter and salt for 2 minutes.  Stir to combine. Add baking soda and vanilla and return to microwave for 1 minute. Pour over the popcorn and toss until covered.  Serve!

Next time I may try adding peanuts!

My Cornbread

 Spray iron skillet with Pam and add just enough oil to lightly cover the bottom of the pan.  Place in the oven and turn oven on 425 degrees. Meanwhile make your cornbread batter.

1/2 cup self rising flour 

1 1/2 cup self rising meal 

1/4 cup mayonnaise 

1 1/2 cup buttermilk 

Stir until blended.  Pour into the warm skillet.  Cook until golden brown on top.

Oven Fried Green Tomatoes

 Sliced your green tomatoes and cover with butter milk

I used fish fry breading mix with flour, half and half. 

Coat tomato slices with breading mix

Meanwhile add oil of your choice to an oven safe pan.  Spray with Pam first or use parchment paper.   Parchment paper is my new friend because clean up is so easy.  

Set oven to 425 and place the pan with the oil in it in the oven for just a few minutes until pan is hot.

Lay the tomatoes in the oil and spritz the baking spray on top.  Place back in the oven.  You will want to flip them over once they are brown on one side.  No need for salt and pepper.  The fish badder is already seasoned. 

I'm going to try battered squash next and battered okra.

Chicken Cobbler

 This is all over social media so I just had to try it.  Of course I modified it slightly.

1 stick butter

4 cups shredded chicken

1 box Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuit mix

2 cups milk

12 oz bag of frozen vegetables or vegetables of your choice

Onion diced and sautéed in a couple tablespoons of butter

1 cup chicken broth 

1 can cream of chicken soup 

1 cup grated cheese.

Place stick of butter in a 9x13 pan and place in 400 degree oven until butter is melted.  Add chicken on top of butter.  NEVER stir at anytime. Just evenly distribute each layer. Add onions next  then vegetables.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Mix biscuit mix and the seasonings in the box with 1 cup cheese and 2 cups of milk.  Mix and pour over the vegetables.   Mix the chicken broth and can m soup together and pour on next.  Again, do not stir.  Place in 400 degree oven for 35 to 45 minutes.  Let rest 10-15 minutes before serving. 

Cream filling

 This is good for a whoopee pie or cookie sandwich.  (I used my butter pecan cookie recipe to make a cookie sandwich. Make sure they are completely cool before adding cream)

1 1/2 sticks softened butter

3 cups confectioners sugar

1  7 ounce container of marshmallow cream

1-3 tablespoons milk

Grandma's VERY easy pie crust

2 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 ounces cold milk

Sift flour and salt together 

Wish oil and milk together.

Immediately add liquid to flour mixture.

Stir till it forms a ball.  Roll between 2 pieces of wax paper.  

This makes enough for a double crust pie.  I cut the recipe in half for my pecan pie.  FYI...half of 3 ounces is 3 tablespoons. 

Cinnamon Raisin Oat Triangles

 My brother recently asked me about a cookie bar My Mom use to make. I have her recipe box so I dug through and found it.  Today is his 62nd birthday so I made them for him as a gift from our Mom who's been gone now for over 20 years.  They were even better than I remembered.  

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup melted butter

1 cup raisins 

1/4 cup apple jelly 

Cinnamon icing 

Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and soda.  Mix well. Stir in butter until evenly mixed.  Remove 1 cup crumb mixture and set aside.  Pat remaining mixture into a 9x9 greased pan. Combine raisins and jelly then toss with reserved mixture.  Sprinkle over layer in pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25- 30 minutes or until edges are golden brown. While warm cut into 9- 3 inch squares.  Cut each square diagonally to make triangles.   Cool in pan.  Meanwhile mix 1/2 cup powder sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 2 teaspoons milk to make a thin icing. Drizzle over the cookies.  Remove from pan when completely cool.  Makes 18. 

You can substitute orange marmalade or apricot jam for apply jelly.

Brownie in a Mug

1/4 stick butter 

1/4 cup self rising flour

1/4 cup sugar 

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

1/4 cup milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla 

1/4 cup nuts-optional

Melt butter in a large mug. Add the rest of ingredients and stir well.  Cook 1 1/2 to 2 minutes depending on your microwave.   Let sit for 5 minutes before eating. 

Banana Bread in a Mug

1/4 cup self rising flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 banana

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup chopped pecans-optional

1/4 stick butter

Put banana and butter in a large mug and microwave till butter is melted.  Mash banana and butter together.   Add rest of the ingredients and stir well.  Microwave 1 1/2 tov2 minutes depending on your microwave.  Let sit 5 minutes before eating. 

Boston Butt

 3-4 pound Boston Butt

Rub...2 Tablespoons brown sugar 

           2 tablespoons white sugar 

           2 tablespoons paprika 

           1 tablespoon kosher salt

           1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

            1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

            1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

            1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

Rubbed meat with rub making sure to cover any crevices where bone was removed.  Wrap in heavy duty aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.   

Remove from fridge for a couple of hours to bring to room temperature.   Remove from aluminum foil to grill for 1 1/2 hours turning every 20 minutes.  Our grill on low registers 450.  You may need to adjust time.  Moved butt back to the aluminum foil and place in the center.   Cut the two center eyes off.  Left for 30 more minutes.  Our grill was 350 at this point and internal temperature of the butt was 140.  After 30 minutes it was 180.  I removed it from grill and let it rest inside for 30 more minutes.  I left the aluminum foil loosely on. 

Banana Nut Pancakes

1 cup self rising flour

1 large egg 

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 ripe bananas mashed

1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

3 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon melted butter

Mash bananas.  Add egg, sugar, vanilla and cream together.  Add nuts.  Add dry ingredients then milk. Spray skillet with PAM.  Pour 1/4 cup of batter and tilt skillet slightly to spread the batter.  When the batter starts to bubble, flip and cook until lightly brown.   Serve with a pat of butter and a good maple syrup. 

Cake Mix Peanut butter Brownie

1 white cake mix

1/3 cup oil

2 eggs

1/2 cup extra crunchy Peanut butter

1 cup milk chocolate chips

Mix together and pout into a 9x9 pan that has been sprayed with PAM.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  Let cool before serving. 

Cake Mix Brownies

1 chocolate cake mix

1/3 cup oil

2 eggs

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips 

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Spray 9x9 pan with PAM.  Stir all ingredients together and pour into greased pan.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Let cool before serving.