Friday Favorite Finds

                                                                
Wow, I found some great recipes to pin on my boards on Pinterest this week! I can't wait to try them. Don't forget to check out all the other finds at Friday Favorite Finds!


                                 This looks like a fun recipe to make for company...so pretty and elegant.

                                                                    Soap Moms kitchen
                                                                            Kugelhopf

Look at the thick frosting on this!

Red Velvet Brownies

Baking Blondie

I think these cupcakes would be fun for Halloween.

Caramel apple cupcakes

Mrs. Happy Homemaker

I love dressing so this photo caught my eye right away.

Crock pot chicken and dressing

Mangio Da sola

When I saw this burger I knew I had to make it for Brent...he will love this one.

Jamie cooks it up

french onion burger

This is a great idea!

Savory Reviews

bacon pancakes

Check back next Friday for some more finds!

Chex PB and Chocolate Blast

This was one of the recipes the chef made at the Taste of Home School I went to a few weeks ago. I decided to use fall colored M&M's and added some candy corn, too.  Half the batch is coated with vanilla chips and the other half with peanut butter chips, then mixed together. It's crunchy, sweet and addicting!

 It's a fun snack, and is perfect for fall munchies!

Check out the Halloween paper cones I made to package the mix in on my other blog, Stamping up North.

Chex PB and Chocolate Blast

6 c. rice chex
1 c. vanilla baking chips
1 c. peanut butter baking chips
1 c. M&M's
1 c. dry roasted peanuts
(I added 1 c. candy corn}
Line 2 cookie sheets with foil or waxed paper. Place 3 c. chex in a large bowl. In a small bowl, microwave the vanilla chips until melted. Pour over chex and stir to coat, pour onto baking sheet.  Refrigerate 5 minutes. Melt the peanut butter chips and mix with the other 3 c. of chex. Pour onto baking sheet. Refrigerate 5 minutes. Break into pieces and stir in the nuts and candy. Store in an air tight container.

Links
Full Plate Thursday
Tasty Thursdays
Permanent Posies
Catch a glimpse thursday

Bite size apple pies from Taste of Home

These little pies were so much fun to make.. so EASY...and so delicious. They went together in minutes and before long... we had fresh hot apple pie for dessert! Start to finish was maybe 20-25 minutes.

I wasn't sure if I should peel the apple or leave the skin on, as the recipe didn't specify. So I left them on...I liked the texture and color it added. Next time I'll try without so I can compare the taste, though. I also wondered if the apple would be hard and uncooked baking such a short time, but they were very soft and tender, the crust crispy and golden.

I served them warm with ice cream....2 little pies a piece was just a perfect size dessert. I made only half a batch as I wasn't sure how they would taste cold or reheated.

I still don't know...... as they were gone in a flash.

But my kitchen smelled great all day.... apples and cinnamon...making me wish I had made the full batch!

Bite Size Apple Pies
Taste of Home

1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 pkg. (14.1 oz..} refrigerated pie crust
3 tbsp. melted butter, divided
2 medium tart apples, each cut into 8 wedges

In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon, set aside 1 Tbsp. On a lightly floured surface, unroll the pastry. Brush with  2 Tbsp. melted butter, sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture.

Cut each sheet into 8 one inch strips, about 8 in. long. Wrap one strip around each apple wedge, placing sugared side of pastry against apple.

Place on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Brush tops with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar mixture. bake at 425 for 13-15 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Serve warm. Makes 16.

Links
Tasty Tuesdays
Tea party Tuesday
Mangia Mondays
Recipe Sharing Mondays
tuesdays at the table
cast party wednesday


I've also linked to Tidy Moms:
“Come join Love the Pie with TidyMom  sponsored by Cherokee USA, Le Creuset, Wilton, Bags by Bloom and  Harvard Common Press

Mondays with Mom..Potato Patties

When I was a kid I could hardly wait for there to be left over mashed potatoes from supper. Leftover potatoes meant fried potato patties the next day..one of my favorites!

Mom would let me help shape them into patties while she melted butter in her cast iron frying pan. Then she would sprinkle them with salt and pepper and fry them until they were golden brown. Some times she would add some minced onion to the potatoes before she shaped them into patties..that was always good too!

I still make them, but  not often, as there usually aren't any leftover mashed potatoes!

I like to sprinkle them with seasoned salt and some pepper, and often use non stick spray to fry them instead of butter.

This time I used butter. I added some more on top, too!

Fresh Pasta Salad

I could eat this salad every day. {I'm a big feta cheese fan!} I made a large batch for lunches this week.

I'm going to miss all the fresh garden tomatoes..it's been so much fun having them to cook with. I took the last of them and made a big pot of chili and froze it in small containers. It will be great to pull out for lunch on a chilly fall day!


Fresh Pasta Salad

1 (16 oz.) box of pasta, cooked (I used rotini)
2 green onions, chopped
1 (6 oz.) Feta cheese
2 c. chopped tomatoes
sliced black olives
1/2 c. balsamic vinegar
1/4 c. olive oil


Whisk the balsamic vinegar and oil, toss with the rest of the ingredients. Chill.

Friday Favorite Finds

Here are my Friday Favorite Finds that I posted on my boards on Pinterest....some awesome recipes I can't wait to try!
                                                                     Stirring the pot
                                                             Chipotle pimento cheese

                                      

Chocolate and Carrots

 Flourless fudge cookies

Best ever caramel cake

Kitchen parade

Cares Kitchen

mini bisquick quiches

Honey vanilla caramels
Mrs Happy Homemaker

Ranch Dip

I have been snacking on this all week. I'm TRYING to stay away from chocolate. I eat way to much of it. Like bags of it!

I know what you're thinking....pretzels are no replacement for chocolate. I agree.

 However, this does seem to help.

 The pretzels are nice and crunchy, low in fat, and taste great with this dip. It's been keeping me away from chocolate....for awhile anyway!





Ranch Dip

2Tbsp. plus 2tsp. dried minced onion
1 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes
2 1/2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. sugar {splenda works}
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
8 oz. sour cream ( I use low fat}

Mix the dry ingredients together and stir in sour cream. Refrigerate 2 hours before serving.

Beef Stir-fry

This was a new recipe for us this week....and it's a keeper! It not only looks fresh and bright, but tastes wonderful too.

My favorite thing about it were the crunchy, salty cashews. I even dumped some more on top of mine. I like stir frys and don't really know why I don't make them more often. They're so quick and easy, and usually more healthy...unless you overload on nuts like I did!


 Beef Stir fry
{Taste of Home}


2 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 c. cold water
4 Tbsp. soy sauce, divided
1 bunch broccoli, chopped
3 medium carrots, julienned
2 Tbsp. canola oil, divided
1 lb. boneless beef sirloin steak cut into thin strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp.pepper
2 green peppers, cut into strips
2 red peppers cut into strips
2 yellow peppers, cut into strips
1 onion, sliced
1 1/2 c. cashews

Combine the cornstarch, water and 2 Tbsp. soy sauce until smooth, set aside. Stir fry the broccoli and carrots in 1 Tbsp. oil until they begin to soften. Add the beef, garlic, pepper and remaining soy sauce, and fry until meat is no longer pink. Remove and keep warm. In the same pan, fry the peppers and onion in remaining oil until crisp-tender. Return beef to pan. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and bring to a boil, cook and stir 2 minutes until thickened. Stir in cashews and serve over rice.

its a keeper thursday
this chick cooks
Tasty Thursday
just something i whipped up

Salsa Verde recipe

I miss going to the Farmers Market every Saturday! It's been 2 weeks since I was able to go, and I think they are probably wrapping it up for the season soon.

BUT.... the last time I was there, I did score a bag of veggies with a recipe for Salsa Verde on it. I got the whole bag for $4.00 and it made a nice size batch. We ate some and I froze several containers,too.

It was absolutely delicious...so fresh tasting and so pretty!


Salsa Verde

3-4 c. diced tomatillos
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 c. cilantro,chopped
1-2 green peppers, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. lime juice
Place in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer until tomatillos are soft, about 15 minutes. Puree in a food blender or processor. Serve warm, or refrigerate in a tightly covered container for up to a week. Freezes well.

Links
Mangia mondays
Tasty Tuesdays
33 shades of green

Taste of Home Cooking School...and a win!

One of my friends and I went to the Taste of Home cooking school last weekend. J & B Foods {and other sponsors} put one on about every other year or so, here in town. I try to go if I can, they are always fun! The tickets are only $10 and you get a bag full of goodies and coupons, PLUS two T of H magazines. So it's a good deal.

,

First we walked around and signed up at all the booths. It payed off....the photo up above is of my win.....a Tastefully Simple basket of goodies! Love that stuff. We also sampled alot of good food along the way! My favorite were the wild rice meatballs in a BBQ sauce. In fact, I'm making them for Monday Night Football.

We were kinda late getting in to the class{too much sampling I guess} and ended up sitting on the bleachers. Yikes, they were hard and uncomfortable! But the show was good....the chef was alot of fun...joked and sang quite a bit while he cooked. I wished he would have sang more...he was really good!

You can read more about Guy here.

                                                                                Guy

Here are some of the dishes he made....click on the links for the recipes!

                                                          Egglands Best huevos rancheros

                                                        King Arthur pumpkin whoopie pies

                                                       Domino's agave chocolate cake

                                                  Wisconsin BBQ chicken pizza

                                                                 Ground nut stew

There were several other recipes he made..a few I plan to try out and post later this week..so check back!

An old time favorite..Chocolate Revel bars

This recipe has been around a long time. I first got the recipe years ago from Brent's grandma who made these quite often. They are an old favorite of so many people. It's easy to see why...they are quick to stir together....make a BIG pan...travel well...and most importantly....are delicious!

When I need to bring bars to a gathering, I usually grab this recipe. I can't resist that thick chocolate fudge layer...and always sneak a bar before I wrap them up!



Chocolate Revel Bars

1 c. butter, softened
 2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
3 c. quick oats
2 tsp. vanilla

Filling:
12 oz. chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp. butter
 2 tsp. vanilla



Cream the brown sugar and butter. Add the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients. Spread 2/3 of the dough in  a greased jelly roll pan.

Melt the chocolate chips, milk, butter and stir in the vanilla. Spread on top of the dough. Dot with remaining dough and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes until done.

Links
mangia mondays
sweetology

Friday Favorite Finds

Here are my  Friday fave finds this week that I posted on my boards at Pinterest!



                                                                   Louanne's Kitchen
                                                               Turtle cheesecake bars

                                                                 Squak Box
                                                        Microwave popcorn in a bag

                                          

                                                                        Pizzazzarerie
                                                                         Mini sliders

                                                                  

                                                                   Nibble me this

                                                               Atomic Buffalo turds

Baking Obsession

Stufffed bagette

                                     

Reeses Smores

I'm still on my quest of making different kinds of smores that I read about from the book, "So Much Smore to Do."  Last time I tried PB&J,  this time I tried the Reese's peanut butter cup smores.

Oh ya.

This is good.

But I guess I knew it would be!

Mexican Chicken Kiev

This was a new recipe for us and I know will definitely become one of our favorite regulars. I loved the melted cheese and chilies oozing out its goodness when you cut it open!  The spices in the crust were perfect. Oh, it was good!

It was so easy to throw together the night before and super easy to come home after work and throw in the oven...only 30 minutes and it was ready.

I'm making this again next week!

Mexican Chicken Kiev
Southern Living

8 boneless chicken breasts
1 can chopped green chilies, drained
4 oz. Monetary jack cheese, cut into 8 strips
1/2 c. fine dry bread crumbs
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. butter, melted

Flatten the chicken to 1/4 in. thickness. Place chilies and cheese slices on top of chicken and roll up starting with the short end. Secure with tooth picks.

Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Dip chicken into butter and roll in crumb mixture. Place in a greased 9x13 pan . Cover and chill 8 hours. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes until chicken is done.

Cast party wednesday

delicious dishes

this chick cooks

tasty tuesdays

Caprese appetizers

These little Caprese appetizers have been all over the net lately....they are way to cute.... so I had to join the crowd and make some too! I think I saw them first at Mels Kitchen Cafe.

Pretty simple but  look and taste so awesome.

It's just some mozzarella, basil, and tomato on a toothpick drizzled with olive oil and balsamic.I had all the ingredients on hand so I made some for appetizers the other night. I love all the flavors so it was no problem popping down several of these!

Mondays with Mom..refrigerator cookies

I loved moms refrigerator cookies!  I love brown sugar and these have plenty in them. I love the chewy center and crisp edges. She used to make a big batch to put in the cookie jar and some in the freezer. I was always excited to see the cookie logs in the refrigerator knowing the next day there would be fresh baked cookies when I got home from school.

I did make a change to her recipe, though. I added some almonds on top before I baked them. She used to sprinkle a bit of sugar on top.

I haven't made these in years. I'm so glad I did!

Refrigerator Cookies

1 c. brown sugar
3 tbsp. margarine, softened
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Cream the sugar and margarine. Add the rest of the ingredients and shape into 2 logs. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Slice and bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

Southwest Spaghetti Pie

I think I got this recipe from a Better Homes and Garden cookbook years ago. I knew the first time I made it that it would be a keeper. I like easy recipes with lots of flavor and this has both. It's also very versatile...you can add olives or pepperoni, whatever your family likes.

I just made a few changes to the recipe over the years. I always add a bit more pasta to the pot, and add another small can of tomato sauce...and more burger...about another half a pound or so. We like alot of meaty sauce!

I also like to bake it in two glass pie pans. We usually eat one pie and have the other for supper the next day!

Southwest Spaghetti Pie

 8 oz. dried spaghetti
1/2 c. milk
1 egg
1/3 c. chopped onion
3/4 c. chopped green pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 -1 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 lb. hamburger
2   8oz. cans tomato sauce
1 c. shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese


Mix the egg and milk together and set aside. Cook the spaghetti ,drain and stir the milk mixture into the hot pasta. Pour into a 3 qt. buttered baking dish.

Meanwhile brown the burger with the onion, garlic, and green pepper. Stir in the cumin, chili powder, salt, oregano, and pepper. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce. Bring to boiling, reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Pour over pasta and top with cheeses. Bake at 425 uncovered for 10 minutes until bubbly.

Links
Simply delish
Mangia Mondays
whats on your plate
savory sunday
tuesday talent show

Friday Favorite Finds

Wow!  It's Friday Favorite Finds already..this week went so fast!

Here are this weeks recipes I found to pin on my boards at Pinterest! Yum!

                                                                   Eat Cake For Dinner
                                                                   Home made snickers

                                                                   Mrs. happy Homemaker
                                                             Home made Baby Ruth bars

Meg Kat

Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

Girl Chef

Poblano mac and cheese

Pinch my Salt

Fresh cut corn bread with bacon