Fresh Apple Cake with caramel glaze

1. Cream together 2 sticks of softened butter and 2 cups of sugar.

2.  Add 2 large eggs.

3.   In a separate bowl combine 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/8 teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons cinnamon.

4.  Add dry ingredients to wet mix.  Add slowly.  When combined Add 3 cups diced granny Smith apples, 1 cup of chopped pecans and 3 tablespoons of milk.

5.  Spray a 9x13 pan with Pam and spread mixture evenly into the Pam.  Bake at 350 for 50 minutes to an hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

6.  Meanwhile prepare the glaze.  To a sauce pan add 3/4 cup sugar, 1 stick butter. 1/4 cup buttermilk,  1 tablespoon corn syrup, and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.  Bring to a full boil.   Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract.  Pore over the cake.  Use a spatula to spread over entire cake.  The longer it sits, the better it will be.  I made mine the day before I had planned to serve it.

How I make sausage balls

 In a large bowl add 2 cups grated cheese, I pound of sausage and 2 cups Pioneer baking mix.  Drizzle in 1/4 cup of water.  Spray a large baking pan with PAM or line with parchment paper.  I prefer parchment paper but use what you have.  With your hands mix the three ingredients together.  Make sure you break up the sausage as you go.  Form balls about the size of a walnut and place on the baking sheet. I toss each ball back and forth in my hands about 10 times, pressing gently each time to make sure the biscuit mix is well incorporated. We eat them for breakfast so this is the size that works for me.  Bake at 375 degrees until slightly brown.  Time depends on the size of the balls.

Beef Stew

 I had a friend ask if my beef stew was on my blog and I realized that it isn't so here's how I do beef stew...

I buy a small beef roast and cut it into bite size pieces.  I toss the meat in 1/4 cup flour.  I heat about 2 tablespoons of oil on low.  Add the beef and a diced onion to the oil.  Cook until beef is slightly brown and onions are tender.  Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.   Add beef broth.  The amount you add depends on how soupy you want it.  Add I can petite diced tomatoes and whatever vegetables you like.  I add potatoes and carrots.  Cover pot with a lid and simmer on low for about 30 minutes or until meat is tender.

Mexican Stew

2 Tablespoons of oil

1 yellow onion diced

Jalepenos diced - I used the kind in a jar. I diced up 6 or 8 slices.  You can do more and you choose your heat.

1 tablespoon minced garlic - I used the kind in the jar

1 pound of pork loin cut into bite size pieces

1 can Rotel.  You choose the heat.

1/4  cup chopped fresh cilantro or 2 tablespoons of the dried.

1/2 teaspoon cummin 

1/2 teaspoon  chili powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup chicken broth 

1/4 cup flour

Toss the pork loin pieces in the flour.  Heat the oil on low.   Add the pork loin pieces and the diced onion.  Cook until the meat is slightly brown and onions are tender.  Add the rest of the ingredients.  Stir.  Cover with lid and simmer on low for about 30 minutes.   Serve over cooked rice and top with grated cheese.

Or, you can add more broth and diced red potatoes and eat it as a soup with Jalepeno cornbread.   

You can also add diced avacados, Cheese and sour cream and eat with tortilla chips.

Pineapple Dump Cake

2  20 ounce cans crushed pineapple 

1 box yellow cake mix

1 cup melted butter

1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup brown sugar

Pour pineapple, juice and all into 9x13 pan

Sprinkle box of cake mix over pineapple 

Spread pecans over cake mix

Sprinkle brown sugar over pecans 

Drizzle melted butter over the entire thing

Bake at 350 degrees until brown around 45 minutes.  More if needed. 

This can be done with any fruit actually. 

Quick and Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

 2 10 oz cans of chicken

1 cup Hellman's Mayonnaise 

1 cup shredded cheese (I used a Mexican blend)

1/2 onion diced

1 teaspoon lime juice (lemon will also work)

1/3 cup Frank's Hot Sauce (use your favorite)

1/4 cup ranch dressing (blue cheese if you'd rather.  Use what ever you normally dip your hot wings in)

Drain the chicken and break it up into shreds. 

Add all other ingredients, mix and pour into an oven safe dish you have sprayed with PAM.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. 

I cut the recipe in half and it works great for just two people.

FYI...Publix frequently has the chicken BOGO. 

I keep it I'm my pantry.  Works great for when I make chicken and dumplings and things like that.

Tortellini with Alfredo Sauce

 This is another one of my own creations.  It turned out so tasty I just had to share. 

1 pound Italian sausage 

2 10oz.  packs of Rana cheese lovers tortellini from the refrigerated section

8 oz cream cheese 

3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 

1/2 cup milk

1 stick of butter 

Brown the Italian sausage.  Drain and set aside. 

Prepare the tortellini according to package directions.   Drain and set aside. 

In a sauce pan melt the butter over low heat.   Dice up the cream cheese and add to  butter.  Stir to blend as the butter and cream cheese melt.  Add the the Italian sausage and parmesan cheese and continue to stir until its smooth and well blended.  Carefully fold in to avoid breaking up the tortellini.  Ready to eat!