Posts Tagged ‘Recipes’

Even though tradition is a big part of the holidays, sometimes it is nice to mix it up and try something new! I usually bake about 8-10 cookie recipes during the Christmas season and most of them are the tried and true classics like sugar cookies, snickerdoodles and gingerbread men. But a few years ago, I started the idea of adding one new and unique recipe to my repertoire and now that has become a family tradition that my family eagerly awaits!

So here are 5 recipes that I have baked before that could easily become a classic in your house!

Smores Cookies~ You have to try this wintry one-bite take on the s’more. The thin, crunchy graham rounds are topped with gooey chocolate ganache and a spiraling pillow of browned marshmallow.

Eggnog Cookies~ A soft, cakey cookie made with eggnog, topped with eggnog frosting.

Milk Chocolate Chip Maple Syrup Glazed Bacon Cookies~ These will blow you away if you are a salty sweet fan! Bacon is not-so-secret ingredient in these smoky cookies, but its the maple syrup that adds a just-right amount of sweetness that really takes them to the next level.

Coconut Thumbprint Cookies with Salted Caramel~ A blend of coconut and salt caramels combines in these delicious cookies for just the right amount of sweet and simple.

Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies~ Cocoa powder, cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper make for an aromatic and comforting combination.

If you are planning to celebrate the New Year today here in Texas, it is likely that you will be offered black-eyed peas in some form! These flavorful legumes are traditionally, according to Southern folklore, the first food to be eaten on New Year’s Day for luck and prosperity throughout the year ahead. Today, the tradition of eating black-eyed peas for the New Year has evolved to include:

~Served with greens (collards, mustard or turnip greens, which varies regionally), the peas represent coins and the greens represent paper money. In some areas cabbage is used in place of the greens.

~ Cornbread, often served with black-eyed peas and greens, represents gold.

~ For the best chance of luck every day in the year ahead, one must eat at least 365 black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day.

~ Black-eyed peas eaten with stewed tomatoes represent wealth and health.

~ In some areas, actual values are assigned with the black-eyed peas representing pennies or up to a dollar each and the greens representing anywhere from one to a thousand dollars.

~ Adding a shiny penny or dime to the pot just before serving is another tradition practiced by some. When served, the person whose bowl contains the penny or dime receives the best luck for the New Year!

 

Here are just a couple of the most popular ways to prepare these yummy beans:

Hoppin’ John – Although served throughout the year as well, Hoppin’ John is one of the most traditional New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day dishes in the South. Black-eyed peas are cooked with rice, pork (such as chopped pork or ham, hog jowls or hambones, fatback or bacon) and seasonings. Sometimes chopped onions and hot sauce are added.

Texas (Black-Eyed Pea) Caviar – This is a popular casual alternative that blends Southern and Mexican flavors with black-eyed peas and is usually served with tortilla chips. This is my family’s favorite by far!

Black-Eyed Pea Salad – There are many recipes for salads made with black-eyed peas, so this is a good choice for a side dish served with other dishes.

Soups, Chilis and Stews to Warm Your Belly!

Fall is here! The mornings are getting colder, and the days are getting shorter. One of the best things about fall is all of the dishes that are inspired but the changing weather. Dust off that old crock pot and try out these 30 Fall Weather Soups, Chilis & Stews. These are sure to keep your belly full and your heart happy.

• Crock Pot Potato Soup
• Crock Pot Easy Vegetable Beef Chili
• Baked Potato Soup
• Crock Pot Chili
• Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
• Slow Cooker Navy Bean Soup
• Slow Cooker Turkey Barley Soup
• Turkey Chili
• Bacon Cheeseburger Soup
• Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Dip
• Crock Pot Cauliflower Chicken Chili
• Copycat Zuppa Toscana Soup
• Slow Cooker Verde Chicken Chili
• Lasagna Soup
• Spicy Taco Soup
• Crock Pot Italian Chicken Soup
• Crock Pot Steak and Cherry Chili
• Slow Cooker Tortilla Soup
• Beef & Bacon Chili
• Crock Pot Meatball Beef Stew
• Crock Pot Tomato & Basil Soup
• Slow Cooker Paleo Beef Stew
• Sausage, Potato and Cheddar Cheese Stew
• Chicken Gnocchi Soup
• Autumn Squash Soup
• Spicy Southwest Pumpkin Soup
• Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
• One Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup
• Ratatouille Quinoa Soup
• Crock Pot Sausage and Cheese Tortellini Soup

What is YOUR favorite fall weather recipe?

Get more recipes HERE!

Looking for some fresh, new dishes to try this 4th of July? If so, here are just a few of the best 4th of July themed recipes from Pinterest.

Fourth of July Wands (makes 20 wands)

INGREDIENTS:

1 watermelon
2 pints blueberries
20 skewers

DIRECTIONS:

1. Slice the watermelon into 1/2 inch round slices, and then cut out star shapes using a three-inch star-shaped cookie cutter.
2. Gently slide the blueberries on wooden skewers* and finally place a watermelon star on the top.
3. Place the skewers in a tall glass or in decorated floral foam as an eatable centerpiece.
* If serving to young kids make sure they’re careful with the wooden skewers.

Thanks, Weelicious

4TH OF JULY FRESH BERRY TRIFLES

INGREDIENTS:

One 12-ounce lemon pound cake (homemade or store bought)
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons granulated white sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups blueberries
1 1/2 cups finely diced strawberries
10 8-ounce plastic (see-thru) cups

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut the pound cake into 10 slices. Use a small STAR cookie cutter to cut out 10 stars from the center of each slice. Chop the remnants of each slice into small pieces. Set aside.

2. Place the cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl. Use an electric mixer to combine them until well combined (1 to 2 minutes). Add the cream and continue to whip until the mixture is soft and creamy.

3. Assemble the trifles: Set all of the plastic cups on a tray. Sprinkle a few cubes of pound cake into each cup. Top with a small spoonful of cream and a spoonful of both blueberries and strawberries. Layer again- more pound cake, more cream and more berries, and then place a star-shaped piece of pound cake on top.

Thanks, Recipe Girl

Firecracker Popcorn

INGREDIENTS:

1 bag Pop Secret Homestyle microwave popcorn
1 cup white candy melts
1 package Strawberry Pop Rocks candy
Blue sprinkles

DIRECTIONS:

Prepare the popcorn according to package directions. Spread onto a cookie sheet and allow to cool.
Meanwhile, melt the candy melts and drizzle onto the popcorn.
Sprinkle Strawberry Pop Rocks onto the popcorn.
**If you want some EXTRA sizzle, use Blue Pop Rocks, too!**
Add sprinkles and allow to harden completely.

Thanks, The Nerds Wife

Red, White and Blue Patriotic Peppermint Patties

INGREDIENTS:

¼ cup butter, softened
⅓ cup light corn syrup
4 cups powdered sugar, divided
1½ tsps lemon extract OR ½ to 1 tsp peppermint extract OR any other extract you want
food coloring – I used Wilton’s red and blue icing color in the gel format
½ cup granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Combine butter and corn syrup together in a small bowl.
Add 2 cups powdered sugar and your choice of extract and beat until well combined. Add extract ½ teaspoon at a time until the mixture reaches your desired flavor.
Stir in an additional cup of powdered sugar.
Turn bowl onto a cutting board sprinkled with last cup of powdered sugar.
Knead the mixture until sugar is absorbed and is completely smooth.
Divide dough into three portions.
Tint one portion red with the red food color/gel and one blue. Leave one portion white.
Shape into ¾ inch balls and roll in granulated sugar.
Flatten gently with a fork.
Let candies stand, uncovered, at room temperature for 1 day.
Store in an airtight container.

Thanks, Mom On Time Out

4TH OF JULY STAR COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:

1-1/4 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup powdered sugar
24 strawberries, thinly sliced
1 cup blueberries

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 325°F. In a medium bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Form the mixture into 3 small balls and knead each one until smooth.

On a lightly floured surface, roll a ball of dough to 1/2-inch thick. Use a star cookie cutter to cut into stars. Place them 1-inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake for 8-10 minutes until cookies are set. Let cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

In a small bowl, blend the cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Carefully spread icing evenly over each cooled cookie. Slice each strawberry slice in half and arrange on the cookies pointing outward. Place three blueberries in the center of each cookie.

Thanks, Gold Medal Flour

Patriotic Cake Pops

INGREDIENTS:

Red candy melts
Royal blue candy melts
White cookie icing
White sugar sprinkles
1 can prepared vanilla frosting
Favorite cake recipe or cake mix (plus ingredients)

Supplies:

50 cookie sticks
Wax paper
Cookie sheet
Chocolate melting pot

DIRECTIONS:

Prep the cake. Bake cake as directed on package. When completely cool, break the cake into crumbs by hand in a large bowl. Mix in full can of frosting until well blended.
Make cake balls. Roll the cake mixture into 50 1-inch balls and place on waxed paper.
Melt the candy melts as directed. For the “stars” of your flag, use the royal blue candy melts. For the “stripes” pops, use the red candy melts.
Add the sticks. Dip a cookie stick about 1/2 inch into warm candy melt and insert the stick into the rounded part of a cake ball. Repeat for remaining cake balls.
Prop up pops. Place pops cake end down, on waxed paper while the chocolate is still slightly warm, so the candy hardens into a flat surface at the top (this will help your pops stand up when serving).
Cool the pops. Place the cake pops in the freezer for about 10 minutes, or in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes, to firm.
Add a second layer of chocolate. Once the pops are firm, remove from the fridge/freezer and dip each into the melted chocolate, tapping excess chocolate off.
Sprinkle on the stars. Decorate the blue pops with white sprinkles before chocolate coating hardens.
Drizzle on the stripes. Drizzle white cookie icing over the red pops after chocolate coating hardens.
Make your flag fly! Line up your pops to create the Stars and Stripes on a tray.

Thanks, Party City & MySTLMommy!

Grilling this Memorial Day? Most people don’t think they can grill their dessert but here are 5 “sure fire” recipes that everyone will love!  Try one and let us know what you think!

Grilled Pound Cake with Berries Recipe– The toasty flavor of lightly grilled pound cake makes it the perfect accompaniment for summertime berries. Lemon-kissed whipping cream is a delightful finishing touch. If your grill is dirty, just protect the cake with aluminum foil!

Cake & Berry Grilled Cobbler Recipe~ This warm cobbler is one of the ways to end a busy day. Top each serving with a scoop of ice cream and you won’t believe how simple this was to make!

Grilled Doughnuts- Just try putting your favorite doughnut on the grill and your life will be forever changed! Roll in cinnamon sugar while it is still hot and top with ice cream if you want!

Grilled Smores Waffle Cones- We tried these last weekend and they were AWESOME! Just stuff a waffle cone with chocolate (any kind) and marshmallows, wrap in foil and grill until melted!  If you want to be a little more sophisticated, add fresh berries!

Grilled Banana Boats with Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Marshmallows~  Just slice a banana lengthwise, being careful not to slice all the way through the banana. Pry open sliced pocket and stuff with  chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Top with marshmallows and grill until gooey!

Thanks, Taste of Home!

I always make a special Cinco de Mayo dinner for my family, especially if it will be a crazy Saturday night and it is not convenient for us to make it to our favorite Mexican restaurant! Normally, a lot of the dishes that we traditionally associate with this fiesta are not that healthy. So here are a few makeover ideas to get you thinking about nutrition without sacrificing all those yummy flavors we love!

1. Start With the Chips~ It is so easy to make your own tortilla chips, plus this is a fun and easy recipe to do with your kids! Here is my go-to homemade recipe- take whole wheat tortillas and cut into triangles. Simply place them on a baking sheet and spray lightly with cooking oil. Then season however you like and bake for 5-6 minutes in a 350°F oven.

2. Choose Your Dip Wisely~  Load up on salsa, it is full of veggies. But make sure to check the ingredients if you are not making it yourself because some brands can be really high in sodium. Also, limit your guacamole to one serving (about 2 tablespoons) and stay away from queso.

3. Lighten Up Your Tacos~  Always choose lean ground beef or even better, use ground turkey or fish. Add mushrooms or lentils to your meat mix to get additional nutrition and stretch your dinner budget.  Leave off the cheese and sour cream and these tacos will actually be good for you!

4. Swap Your Burrito For a Burrito Bowl~ A lot of the calories from this favorite come for the super large tortillas used to wrap up this goodness. Instead, put your burrito filling over brown rice or a fresh salad.

5. Pile on the Spices~ Probably the most delicious part of Mexican cooking is the wide array of spices they use. Peppers (adobo, chili, jalapeño), cilantro, and cumin are all known to have positive health benefits while adding tons of flavor and hardly any calories!

6. Skinny Margaritas~ Any fiesta would be incomplete without a margarita! There are lots of great tasting, low calorie options at your grocery store so this is definitely an area you can save calories. And stick with just one drink- Cinco de Mayo is on a Tuesday this year afterall! 😉

 

Thinking of grilling this weekend? Most people don’t think they can grill their dessert but here are 5 “sure fire” recipes that everyone will love!  Try one and let us know what you think!

Grilled Pound Cake with Berries Recipe– The toasty flavor of lightly grilled pound cake makes it the perfect accompaniment for summertime berries. Lemon-kissed whipping cream is a delightful finishing touch. If your grill is dirty, just protect the cake with aluminum foil!

Cake & Berry Grilled Cobbler Recipe~ This warm cobbler is one of the ways to end a busy day. Top each serving with a scoop of ice cream and you won’t believe how simple this was to make!

Grilled Doughnuts- Just try putting your favorite doughnut on the grill and your life will be forever changed! Roll in cinnamon sugar while it is still hot and top with ice cream if you want!

Grilled Smores Waffle Cones- We tried these last weekend and they were AWESOME! Just stuff a waffle cone with chocolate (any kind) and marshmallows, wrap in foil and grill until melted!  If you want to be a little more sophisticated, add fresh berries!

Grilled Banana Boats with Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Marshmallows~  Just slice a banana lengthwise, being careful not to slice all the way through the banana. Pry open sliced pocket and stuff with  chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Top with marshmallows and grill until gooey!

Thanks, Taste of Home!