Apples

Brown up butter. Add some brown sugar and kosher salt, then toss in a sliced apple. Cook for awhile, till desired apple softness. I added pecans. Then, pour on a nice amount of Southern Comfort, light it on fire. Serve over ice cream.

John's Zesty Shrimp

Johnny made this for me, so I will just post what I think he did.

1 pound of pealed deveined shrimp
2 cloves garlic
1 cup of tomato sauce
1 cup of orange juice
Feta Cheese

Cook the minced garlic in olive oil for a minute, add tomato sauce and orange juice. Cook for a few minutes on medium. Place the shrimp in the bottom of a baking dish, cover with the sauce, then sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 5 minutes at 350, until cheese starts to melt.

Marshmallow Apples

These are kind of fun. We went to the apple orchard (twice) this past week, so we have plenty of apples.

I don't have an apple corer. Just the ones that slice and peal, so I tried to use a knife to cut out the core, but it just got crazy. So I had to slice the apple in half, then cut out the core. Replace the core with a marshmallow, sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar. Put a tiny bit of butter and salt on top, bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Jalapeno Poppers

I know, pretty bad pictures. But trust me, they look better than this. Just bad circumstances of photography!

What you are going to need:

• Jalapeno Peppers
• Bacon
• Steak (I use the cheap stuff)
• Italian salad dressing
• toothpicks

Cut the steak up into one inch cubes or chunks or whatever. Marinate in Italian dressing over night. Or as long as possible.

Get your rubber gloves AND goggles on. Trust me, I have gotten burned too many times not to wear BOTH.
Cut the steams off, and slice the jalapenos in half. Scoop out the seeds, get them all, you don't want it to be too hot. Folks complain.

Slice the bacon in half if regular, or thirds if thick cut. Put the steak into half of a jalapeno, wrap it with bacon and secure with a tooth pick. Toss it on the grill, remember to flip them. If you get too many on the grill, like in the top picture, you are going to get flare ups, and will have to just cook it in the oven. Which works well too.

Rib-Eye Steaks and Caprase Salad

John and I were getting all romantic, and ate a dinner all by ourselves. Well, really, he had volleyball and wasn't home till 9, so we had dinner with out the Connor. But I did break out the place mats!

I like my steaks pretty natural, just fresh cracked pepper with kosher salt. Rub in an extra amount, and I let them sit for a few hours in the refrigerator, then on the counter for a half hour or so. I don't like throwing cold meat onto the grill. I grill on preheated medium-high for about 4 minutes on one side, and another 4 on the other. I would recommend more if you like yours more than medium!

Caprase Salad:

• Roma Tomatoes
• Fresh Mozzarella
• Fresh Basil
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Kosher Salt
• Cracked Pepper

Assemble it cutely. Goes very well with the steak. And wine. Of course.

Fried Egg Salad

As I was running out of food last week, I made up these.
Just a basic green salad with cucumbers, red and yellow tomatoes, green peppers, romaine lettuce. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Topped with a fried egg, with I managed NOT to break the yolk. I know, real simple, but sometimes the simple recipes with fresh veggies are the best.

Blue Cheese, Lettuce and Tomato Pizza

I made this from a Rachael Ray magazine. So, check out the her's here. Of course, minus the onions and PLUS bacon. Even Johnny liked it.

Just standard crust, with blue cheese and mozzarella baked on to it. Topped with romaine lettuce and cherry tomatoes that were soaked in olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper and basil. Then sprinkled on cooked bacon.

Strawberry Float

Strawberry Crush Soda
Vanilla Ice Cream

Together. Love.

Grill Pizza

Excuse the picture, it's not a good one, but it's hard to photograph with one hand, and hold a smoking hot pizza in the other!

I took my standard pizza crust recipe to make this. Once the dough had a few hours rise time, I used a good chunk. Using my hands, I formed out a circle, covering it in extra olive oil. I preheated the grill to a pretty hot temperature, then tossed it on! After about 3 minutes, I very carefully flipped it. Once the crust was flipped, I put on my toppings and cheese, and continued to grill it with the grill cover on, for maybe 5 minutes. The crust turned out FANTASTIC.

Vanilla Honey

When I buy yogurt, I HAVE to have a coupon. Period. And, it preferably has to be on sale. I have zero brand loyalty. I do like the Greek style best, but that gets expensive, and I have been known to eat up to 4 a day.

Danon Light & Fit are good, come in a 4 pack, and are responsibly priced. I was at Wal-mart, and they only had vanilla left. Not my ideal choice, but I'm cheap, so hooray. Of course, it's bland. And Greek yogurt with that honey flavor has spoiled me. So, I made my own. I just squirted some honey in, gave it a little stir, and it was wonderful. So great, I bought vanilla on purpose, just so I could do it again.

Since the yogurt is cold, the honey "hardens" a bit, and swirls of honey can be seen throughout it. Making it keep a good strong honey flavor.

Taco Pizza

• 1 Pizza Crust
• 1 can of black beans
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• lettuce
• tomatoes
• 1 cup sour cream
• cumin
• chili powder
• garlic powder
• chip crumbles
  

Put the dough on a well olive oiled baking sheet. I cook the crust a bit at 475 just to get extra crispy.

Cook can of black beans (with the juice) on stove top for 10 minutes on medium, crushing the black beans with a potato masher. Add some spices, like cumin, chili powder and garlic. Spread this mixture on top of the crust. Then top with the shredded cheddar. Bake in oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

I allowed it to cool just a bit, then topped with lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream. I jazzed the sour cream up by adding the same spice line up: cumin, chili powder and garlic powder.

John wants you to know, add chip crumbles on top. It really makes it.

Beefy Beer Stew

• 2 pounds stew beef
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 4 cups of beef broth
• 1 can of the most flavorful beer (Boxer Beer used here!)
• 4 potatoes, cubed
• 4 carrots, french cut, peals on
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• ground pepper
• parsley

Brown the stew meat with butter and olive oil. Remove the meat, and cook the garlic in the drippings for a few moments, DON'T let it burn. Or your done. Add the beef back in with broth and beer. Add the salt, paprika, and pepper. Cover and cook at a low simmer for 2 hours.

Add the potatoes and carrots and cook for another half hour. Serve topped with parsley and bread.

Jbiz hated it. Too many veggies. I liked it. Sigh, story of my life.

Knock You Naked Brownies

I made this using Pioneer Woman's recipe. I made it for Teacher Appreciation Day. The recipe calls to use a 9x9 pan, but I only have an 8x8 pan. So, I used my 8x8 and 2 ramekins, called it close enough. That way the heart ramekins were leftovers for John and I. I should have cooked the ramekins for a shorter period of time.

Ingredients

• 1 box (18.5 Ounce) German Chocolate Cake Mix (I Used Duncan Hines)
• 1 cup Finely Chopped Pecans
• ⅓ cups Evaporated Milk
• ½ cups Evaporated Milk (additional)
• ½ cups Butter, Melted
• 60 whole Caramels, Unwrapped
• ⅓ cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• ¼ cups Powdered Sugar

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, chopped pecans, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, and melted butter. Stir together until totally combined. Mixture will be very thick.

Press half the mixture into a well-greased 9 x 9 inch square baking pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and set aside.

In a double boiler (or a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of boiling water) melt caramels with additional 1/2 cup evaporated milk. When melted and combined, pour over brownie base. Sprinkle chocolate chips as evenly as you can over the caramel.

Turn out remaining brownie dough on work surface. Use your hands to press it into a large square a little smaller than the pan. Use a spatula to remove it from the surface, then set it on top of the caramel and chocolate chips.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for several hours. When ready to serve, generously sift powdered sugar over the surface of the brownies. Cut into either nine or twelve helpings, and carefully remove from the pan.

Apple Dumplings

I didn't make these, my friend Joel did. But I'll give a recipe anyway.

• 4 big apples
• 4 pie crusts (I think 2 come in a box)
• Brown Sugar
• Cinnamon
• Soften Butter

Peal, core, then slice the apples in half. Cover the apples in sugar and cinnamon. Then put butter in the core. Wrap with the pie crust, then put more butter on the outside, and more cinnamon too. Bake in a smoker for an hour. Or maybe an oven. He did smoker, and it was fabulous.

Served with Snickers ice cream and caramel syrup.

Smeeps

So cute.
Graham cracker, chocolate bar, Peep. Put it under the broiler for a few minutes, top with another graham cracker.
Divine.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcakes

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 and 3/4 cup AP flour
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 and 1/4 cup milk

Cream together butter, PB and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Sift four, salt and baking powder together, and slowly add into mixture, adding milk slowly as well.

Fill cupcake wrappers little over halfway and bake at 350 for 20 minutes-ish.

Allow to cool.

Frosting:

• 4 cups powedered sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter

Cream together, add more milk if desired.

Frosten. Add rainbow marshmallows if you are feeling adventurous.

Hummus

• 16 ounces chickpeas
• 1/4 cup of the chickpea juice
• 4 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of tahini (they sell it at the Co-op in the bulk peanut butter section)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon of Kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Pop everything into the food processor for 3 minutes, and serve! I like to dip baby carrots into it. Or my fingers. Yeah, I'm gross like that.

Brussel Sprouts

Toss the fresh brussel sprouts in olive oil, sprinkle with fresh pepper and kosher salt. Roast in a 425 degree oven for 20 minutes, tossing them a few times while cooking.

"these taste like the bad part of the egg roll" ~from the man who eats nothing green.

I liked them, and they were easy!

Peanutbutter Banana Chocolate Chip Sammy

• 2 pieces of bread (whole wheat, of course)
• Peanut Butter
• Chocolate Chips
• Thinly sliced Banana

Spread peanut butter on two slices of bread, put chocolate chips and banana in between.  Put inside the waffle maker for 3 to five minutes.  Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Cookies

1 box of Butter Cake Mix
1 stick of Butter
1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla
1 package of soften Cream Cheese
Powdered Sugar

Mix everything together then refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350. Form into balls, I used my medium cookie scoop. Roll the ball in powdered sugar. Fit a dozen on a cookie sheet. Flatten with a fork, I like making nice cross hatches.

Bake for about 10 minutes.