Baked Sweet Potatoes with Cool Chili Dipping Sauce

 

Start by scrubbing 1 large sweet potato. Then, slice into circles.

 

Toss sliced potatoes with olive oil, kosher salt and pepper in a large bowl.

Next, spread potatoes out in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast in 325º oven for 30 - 35 minutes or until starting to brown. 

Jello Shot Fruit Slices

 

After seeing photos of these on different online sites, I decided to give them a try. After a bit of trial and error, I think I have come up with the best way to make them. They were a hit at the party I took them to and I will definitely be making them again. I tried using four different kinds of citrus fruit (oranges, regular lemons, Meyer lemons and limes). Using limes is pretty much impossible ... as the flesh inside does not release well from the outer "skin." The oranges were the easiest to get the flesh out of and the lemons were somewhere in the middle.

Parmesan-Crusted Pork Chop Casserole

 

Ingredients:

3 - 4 thin, large boneless pork chops (or 5 - 6 small ones)

Salt & pepper

1/2 sleeve saltine crackers, crushed finely

Olive oil

2 cups instant white rice

1 can cheddar cheese soup

1/2 can cream of mushroom soup

Water

Shaved Parmesan

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Pull-Bread

 

 

This is a recipe from PLAIN CHICKEN. I had to share because it is so easy to make and incredibly addicting! How fun for a party, too! Their website, also, offers a recipe for a cinnamon pull-bread version, which I will be trying very soon! 

Grandma's Lemon Chiffon Cheesecake

 

 

This is such a light, refreshing version of cheesecake ... so fluffy! It truly lives up to the "chiffon" part of its name. And, no baking is required! It is fabulous with blueberry pie filling on top, but can be left plain!

Macaroni and Cheese

 

 

This can be made in advance and popped in the oven in time for dinner. This will serve 7 - 10 people. This can be made in advance and frozen, as well. Just tightly wrap dish first in plastic wrap, then in foil and freeze. Allow to thaw on counter for a few hours or overnight in fridge. Remove plastic wrap and foil before baking ... reserving foil to loosely cover dish during first part of baking.

Chicken Meatballs in Parmesan Cream Sauce

 

 

This is one of my family's favorite meals. It is an easy thing to have prepped in advance. Make the meatballs the night before or morning of ... and everything will come together quickly at meal-time. The meatballs can also be made in advance and frozen.

Pork Chop, Stuffing and Mashed Potato Casserole

This a combinination of several of our traditional Thanksgiving dinner fixings all in one casserole ... except that pork chops take the place of turkey.  I call this one "Thanksgiving Casserole."

Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

 

You can make these stuffed chicken breasts ahead of time and freeze until ready to put the dish together (just make sure you don't start with chicken that has been previously frozen). Or, everything can be put together the day you plan to make.

Creamy Corn Casserole

This recipe has been passed down in my family from my grandmother. It seems to be a regular staple at many holidays and family gatherings. It couldn't be simpler and has just a few ingredients.

Chicken Pot Pie

 

 

This will make one large pot pie ... baked in a large pie dish or round casserole dish. It can be made in advance and frozen, if desired. Just thaw on the counter for a few hours or overnight in the fridge before baking. If I have any filling leftover after filling the pot pie, I create a couple of small pot pies in those little foil pie tins and freeze them for another time.

Smoked Sausage Macaroni and Cheese

 

 

The addition of smoked sausage to homemade mac-n-cheese is a welcome and delicious change from the traditional basic recipe. This can be made in advance and popped in the oven in time for dinner. This will serve a family of 4 - 5 with a little leftover. This can be made in advance and frozen, as well. Just tightly wrap dish first in plastic wrap, then in foil and freeze. Allow to thaw on counter for a few hours or overnight in fridge. Remove plastic wrap and foil before baking ... reserving foil to loosely cover dish during first part of baking.

Hayride Chili

Every fall, we host a Hayride and Bonfire Party and this is required each year! It is made with slow-cooked shredded beef in place of the traditional ground beef ... and chocolate makes a cameo in this recipe! 

This makes enough to feed a large crowd of 30+ people.

We put out corn chips (folks can pour the chili over them) ... and serve with chopped onions, sour cream and shredded cheese on the side.

The chili comes together in a roasting pan. But, if you're only wanting to make enough for your family, use a slow cooker and cut back on the ingredient quantities suggested.  The recipe is a bit detailed and long, but (please) trust me that it is sooooo worth it!  All of the guests who attend this party talk about this chili all year long and count down until I will be making it for the party!



This is good stuff, folks!  I promise!

Homemade Chicken Stock

 

It is so simple and gratifying to make homemade stock in your own kitchen and it is much tastier than a lot of the boxed varieties from the store. Another bonus is the satisfaction of making it yourself and the amazing, comforting aromas that will fill your kitchen on any given day that you to decide to make homemade stock.

 

NOTE:  Yes, there are professional opinions on what constitutes stock versus broth.  Whether I start from an already-cooked chicken or from raw, I've always just used the term stock.  Also, there are ideas out there that stock does not traditionally include salt or seasoning ... and that broth does.  (Stock is considered a base for making broth, I've read.)  You can choose not to salt or season this "stock" (and season later when using in a recipe to create a "broth").  This is simply my method and recipe.

Most of the time, I begin with what's left behind from a store-bought rotisserie or home-roasted whole chicken. But, it can be done with uncooked chicken pieces on the bone and with the skin on. If you're starting with uncooked pieces of chicken or a whole uncooked chicken, you can pick off the cooked chicken for another use when stock is completed.

Green Chile and Lime Pulled Pork Tacos

 

This is a really simple recipe for pulled pork filling for tacos, enchiladas or quesadillas. It can be made in advance and reheated, is even better the next day and can be frozen for later use. I often make it the night before and put it in the fridge. Then, in the morning I put it in the slow cooker on low so it is hot and ready when it's dinnertime!

Cheesy Potato Soup

 

 

There's a funny story that goes along with this soup ... involving a "mishap" that happened sixteen years ago when I hadn't been making this "recipe" long. I had just met my now-husband shortly before this took place and he was bringing his sister and brother-in-law over to my house for dinner ... and for me to meet them for the first time. I wasn't a super experienced cook, but I had been making this for a while and I knew it was something tasty I did well. As you will discover, one of the last steps to this soup is adding some milk at the end. I had worked all day cleaning my house, worrying about impressing my hubby's family and I was nervous about cooking for them. I had bought some good crusty bread to go along with it and had whipped up something for dessert. The soup was on, I showered and was getting myself dolled up ... then came time for the adding of the milk at the end. Now, keep in mind it was September, which meant apple cider in my fridge. I was in such a panic to have everything perfect that in the midst of my scrambling frenzy, I grabbed the gallon jug of apple cider out of the fridge instead of the milk! There wasn't much left in the jug, so I didn't even notice it was NOT the milk. I started pouring some in and by the time I realized what I actually had in my hand, probably a good cup (maybe more) of the cider had found its way into my potato soup! Of course, I panicked! Upon tasting it, it wasn't too noticeable! So, I served it. Everyone loved it! I told my hubby afterwards what had happened, but he said that it was fabulous! I have made this hundreds of times in the sixteen years since and he always says it has never tasted as good as it did that night! I even tried once adding a bit of cider, but still ... he swears that one time was the best. We joke about it to this day ... that maybe the early stages of falling in love just blinded him to the actual oddness of Cider Potato Soup!

Honey & Lime Sesame Chicken Skewers

 

I found a version of this recipe on a lovely blog, Kitchen Meets Girl, and thought it looked incredibly delicious! I did change a couple of things, but her recipe was my inspiration. I had planned to cook these on my outdoor grill. But, with temps close to 100º today, I used my indoor cast iron grill pan and decided to stay cool in the A.C.

Fabulous Potato Salad

 

 

This is that dish of mine that everyone asks me to bring to potlucks, cookouts and family dinners. And, I have to admit ... it is one of my favorite things to eat! I don't usually enjoy many other potato salads because I think mine is so darn good! (Sorry to sound conceited ... I'm just really picky about potato salad!) People have asked for my "recipe," but I haven't given it out much. So, here it is! It is a time-consuming (kinda) process, but sooooo worth it in the end! I would say this would produce 10 - 12 servings (unless I get to it first, then maybe not!)

"Hawaiian" Smoked Sausage and Rice

 

 

Sweet, juicy pineapple is combined with peppers, onions and smoked sausage in this taste of the tropics.  Served over fluffy, white rice and topped with scallions for a perfect weeknight meal.

Homemade Egg Noodles

 

Buying prepared, frozen egg noodles is quick and easy. But, making your own is easy, too, and much less costly! They cost almost nothing to make ... compared to roughly $4 a bag for store-bought.

Freeze-Ahead Slow Cooker Beef Stew

 

There's nothing more satisfying than having dinner ready in the slow cooker at day's end.  This recipe is an ultra basic one for those who have made beef stew or vegetable soup. These are steps to follow, not precise measurements.

Doritos Cheesy Chicken Casserole

 

I adapted this recipe from Plain Chicken and my family loved it! Any recipe with the words "Doritos" and Cheese" in the title has my vote!  I will tell ya ... the dish ain't pretty!  But, it sure is tasty! The original recipe calls for using a 9" x 13" casserole dish. I used a 10" round casserole dish, which allowed for a little of the chicken mixture to be leftover (a cup or two). I froze it because this would be just as tasty as a warm dip for Doritos ... midnight, naughty snack, anyone?

Lalaloopsy Party

My youngest, Ayvah, turned five this past week and we held her birthday party this weekend. Of course, she lives and breathes all things Lalaloopsy, so such was our theme this year! With my kids passing around a flu bug earlier in the week and our evenings devoted to baseball and softball this time of year, I have to admit that I didn't get to all of the party projects I had planned. But, what did get done turned out cute and my little one loved it all! 

Cheesy White Chicken Enchiladas

 

 

For years I made a white chicken enchilada recipe using condensed soup. It was pretty good ... but this is even better and doesn't require any canned soup! Green chiles make an appearance in this recipe ... I have come to adore using green chiles in Mexican-style recipes. This dish is perfect served with Spanish rice and/or refried beans. Drained and rinsed black beans can be added to the chicken mixture, if desired, as can corn.

Mexican Bull's-eye Dip

 

This is a staple at many gatherings and parties amongst our family and friends. I make it because it's super easy, it presents great and is even tastier to consume! You will find this so simple and a neat thing to bring along to your next potluck!

Stuffed Chicken Marsala

This is inspired by The Olive Garden's version of this dish, which I always order when it's on the menu there. It is absolutely scrumptious! And, this version does not disappoint! The filling is comprised of several cheeses ... Parmesan, provolone and mozzarella.