Warm Mexican Crab Dip Recipe

I don't have a picture of this DELICOUS recipe but trust me...IT IS TO DIE FOR!!! Caroline and I love watching cooking shows and this recipe was featured on Paula Deen's. It looked rather easy and 'smelled' so good!

Warm Mexican Crab Dip Recipe

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tbsp seeded and chopped jalapeno (I omitted this)

1/2 cup light beer

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese

1 package (8 oz) pasteurized cheddar cheese

1 lb lump crab meat (I used 1/2 lb and it was fine)

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)

1/4 cup minced green onion

1/4 cup minced cilantro

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp ground cumin

tortilla chips

In medium sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, jalapeno pepper, and garlic and cook, stirring frequently for about 3 minutes. Stir in the beer and cook until liquid is reduce to half. Stir in the cream, cream cheese, and cheese block, whisking until melted and smooth.

Stir in crab meat, lime juice, cilantro, green onion, and chili powder and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the salt, black pepper, cayenne, and cumin. Serve with tortilla chips!

This dip was INCREDIBLE! I omitted the jalapeno peppers since I forgot them at the store and I only used 1/2 lb of crab meat due to expenses. This dip is expensive, but well worth it for special occassions.

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole Recipe

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole Recipe

1 lb ground hot pork sausage

1/4 cup chopped onion

2 1/2 cups frozen cubed hashbrowns
5 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 3/4 cup milk

1 cup bisquick

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

topping ingredients: picante sauce, sour cream, salsa

Cook sausage and onion in large skillet over medium high heat until meat crumbles. Stir in hashbrowns and stir for 5-7 minutes. Drain mixture on paper towels. Spoon mixture into a greased 13x9 baking dish.

Stir together eggs, cheese, and next 4 ingredients. Pour evenly over sausage mixture, stirring well. Cover and chill 8 hours.

Bake, covered with foil at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 10-15 more minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Garnish with assorted toppings.

**I saw this recipe in Southern Living and thought it sounded so good! I made it after Thanksgiving and my family enjoyed it for dinner! It did take some time, but it was well worth it. Add a bit of salt and pepper at the end though... Some fresh fruit would also be a perfect compliment to this if you decide to forget the salsa.**

Streuseled Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

I found this recipe in Cooking Light and thought I would try it out. It was pretty easy to make (I took some shortcuts) and it made a TON!

Streuseled Sweet Potato Casserole
About 5 pounds of cubed, peeled sweet potatoes

1/2 cup half and half

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 tsp salt

1 egg, lightly beaten

cooking spray

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup chilled butter, cut in small pieces

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put potatoes in dutch oven, bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 12 minutes until tender. Drain.
Combine half and half and next four ingredients (half and half through egg) in a large bowl. Stir with a whisk. Add potato to egg mixture. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Spoon potato mixture into 13x9 pan that is sprayed with cooking spray.
Combine flour and sugar in food processor; pulse to combine. Add chilled butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in pecans and sprinkle over potato mixture.
Bake covered for 15 minutes. Continue cooking uncovered for additional 25 minutes or until topping is browned and potatoes are thoroughly heated.

**I used the Ore Ida Steam and Mash Sweet Potatoes instead of peeling my potatoes and cooking them! SO MUCH EASIER! **

**Also, recipe can be easily halved for less servings**

Gingerbread Playdough Recipe

For the next three weeks of school, I am doing something entirely new and needed some fresh ideas. The first week, I am doing a gingerbread unit and the next two weeks, we will be 'traveling' around the world exploring how Christmas is celebrated.

I decided to make gingerbread playdough for each child to use during literacy and math centers. We will be spelling our 'snap' words and completing math problems with our playdough! Each child will be receiving their own special baggie (to help with the spread of germs) and I can't wait to see their faces.

This playdough was SUPER EASY to make and I even had all the ingredients in my pantry. I made some for Caroline and immediately she ran to get the rolling pin and baking sheet!! So cute!

Gingerbread Playdough Recipe

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

2 tsp cream of tarter

1 cup water

1 tsp vegetable oil

LOTS of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, whatever!

Mix the dry ingredients. Play with the spices to get the scent/color you desire. Mix water and oil FIRST, then mix with dry ingredients. Stir together. In a pot, cook over low/medium heat, stirring frequently (about 2 minutes). The dough will start to pull away from the sides and clump together. Take the dough out of the pan and knead until soft and smooth. Allow to cool and store in an air tight container.

Potato Salad Recipe--Super EASY!

I'm not entirely sure where I found this recipe, but it is super yummy! A few days ago, I bought a bag of potatoes on Manager's Special at Kroger. I thought that I had a few days to cook them, but when I got them home, I realized they needed to be peeled. Yuck! So, now I needed to come up with a recipe ASAP. I have to admit, I am a huge fan of buying potato salad already made in the deli section for pure convenience. The end result was great and the taste was awesome!

Potato Salad Recipe

3 pounds of potatoes, cooked until just tender, peeled and cubed

6 hard boiled eggs, cooked and coarsely chopped

1/4-1/2 cup of red onion, chopped

3/4 cup mayonnaise (little more or less depending on preference)

1-2 tbs mustard

salt

pepper

Combine potatoes, eggs, and onions. Stir in mayonnaise and mustard until you have the consistency/taste you desire. Use salt and pepper to taste.

If only I had someone to peel those potatoes, this recipe would have been perfect! This recipe was super easy and relatively quick (after the potatoes and eggs cooled). I made it late one night and then placed it in the fridge overnight to help the flavors come together. We ate on it for several days!

California Pizza Kitchen Mac & Cheese Recipe

One of our favorite restaurants is California Pizza Kitchen. Caroline is in LOVE with their mac & cheese, so I decided to find a recipe that is similar. I made this recipe last night and I must say, it was almost dead on! We all loved it and it was super easy to make (which is essential around here!).

CPK Mac and Cheese Recipe:

16 oz Rotini Pasta (I used whole wheat)
8 oz Velveeta Cheese
1 1/4 C Heavy Cream
2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter

Cook pasta in boiling water for 10-12 minutes until al dente. Meanwhile, cut velveeta cheese into cubes and add it to the cream and butter in a large sauce pan. Cook on low heat, stirring often. Drain pasta and add to cheese mixture, stirring gently to evenly coat.

General Tso's Chicken Recipe

I want to introduce you to one of my new favorite recipe blogs Kara's Kitchen Creations. I have tried several of her recipes and they are so easy and super yummy!

On Friday afternoon, I decided to give the General Tso's Chicken Recipe a try. It was very flavorful and Caroline LOVED it! Here's the recipe:

1 lb boneless chicken breast (I used tenderloins)
1/3 C flour
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp oil
1/4 C sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
3 Tbsp water
1/4 C soysauce
1/4 C vinegar
1/4 C pineapple juice
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 tsp freshly grated ginger (I used ground ginger)
Red Pepper Flakes (optional to taste)
4 green onions sliced (I omitted these, I let mine ruin)

Cut chicken in 1 inch pieces. Mix together flour and cayenne pepper. Dredge chicken in flour mixture and cook in small amount of oil.
In a saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Slowly whisk in liquids, ginger, and garlic. Cook and stir over medium heat til thick and bubbly. Add red pepper flakes and green onions. Pour over chicken to coat. Serve with fluffy rice.

As I said, this recipe was yummy! I didn't have time to go to the grocery for fresh ginger and I omitted the green onions and the red pepper flakes (didn't have them). I opted for more cayenne pepper. Also, I would reduce the vinegar by just a bit. It seemed a little too strong, but my taste buds are messed up with a sinus infection right now. So, who knows! :)

Chili's Salsa Recipe

I posted this recipe back in August, but I thought it was worthy of a repost. I made this for my tennis match and it was a hit! It's super easy and due to stockpiling, I had all the ingredients (other than the jalapeno) in my fridge or pantry.

Chili's Salsa Recipe:

1 can (14 1/2 oz) of tomatoes, not drained
1 can Rotel (I used the lime/cilantro mixture)
1/4 cup yellow onion (diced)
4 tsp jalapenos
1/2 to 3/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp cilantro
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp lime juice

Mix all ingredients and blend in blender until 'salsa' consistency. Serve with tortilla chips.

Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

Picture: Frank's RedHot Buffalo Chicken Dip

I tried this dip several months ago at a tennis match and fell IN LOVE with it! Now, I'm not a huge fan of buffalo chicken, but this was YUMMY! This recipe was very easy and basically foolproof! My hubby couldn't keep going back to the dish! :) I'll be making it again for some upcoming tennis matches and Superbowl Sunday parties.

Frank's RedHot Buffalo Chicken Dip

8oz package cream cheese softened

1/2 cup blue cheese dressing

1/2 cup Frank's RedHot sauce

2 lb chicken breast (you can use canned chicken for easier prep)

1/2 cup cheddar or mozzarella shredded cheese

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (I left this out and substitued for cheddar cheese)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir cream cheese until smooth. Mix all ingredients, except cheddar cheese. Stir. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top of mixture. Bake for 20 minutes.

I served this with Ruffles chips but it would be yummy with tortilla chips, fritos and cut up veggies. I also didn't have enough canned chicken so I opted for fresh chicken breasts. I boiled it with cayenne pepper until cooked. Shredded and then combined it with the other ingredients.

Homemade Biscuit Recipe..Easy and Yummy!

J.P.'s Big Daddy Biscuits

I made these homemade biscuits tonight for dinner and they were easy and yummy! Now, I am a southern girl, but I have never made homemade biscuits. This recipe was SO easy and didn't take very much time at all. Caroline helped me knead the dough and enjoyed watching the biscuits rise in the oven. We enjoyed them with strawberry jam! I hope you enjoy the recipe!