Nutella S'mores Bars

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 2/3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 13oz jar Nutella
1 13oz jar marshmallow fluff

Preheat the oven to 350. Cream butter and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Mix dry ingredients together and slowly add to the creamed sugar until well incorporated. Divide dough in half. In a greased 9x13 baking dish, gently mash half of the dough in the bottom. Spread the marshmallow fluff on top. Spread the Nutella on top of the marshmallow. Use the remaining dough to form a crust for the top - I found it's easiest to take golf-ball sized pieces and mash flat and place them over the Nutella to form the crust. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Let cool completely before serving.

(The original recipe was for an 8x8 pan - however, that is never enough for us! Half all the ingredients except the Nutella and the marshmallow fluff. Use 1 cup Nutella and 1 7oz jar marshmallow fluff.)

Grandma's Beef Patties

1 lb ground beef
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp salt
dash of pepper
small chopped onion
1 small can evaporated milk (use just enough to mix)

Combine and shape into patties. Brown.

1 can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 can of water

Combine. Pour over patties and simmer for about 30 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Zupa Toscana

5 1/2 cups chicken broth (we use No-Chicken Broth)
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 potatoes, thinly sliced
1 bunch Kale, chopped
1 lb mild Italian sausage, browned (may use spicy if prefer more heat - the red pepper flakes provide enough heat for our family)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker on high for 4-5 hours or bring to a simmer on the stove for approx 1 hour. (My crock-pot doesn't hold all the ingredients so I always just do it on the stove. You just have to simmer long enough for the potatoes to be cooked through, but may simmer longer.)

Serves 4-5

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing (Cafe Rio Style)

1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup milk
2-3 tomatillos, remove husk, cut in 1/2
1 bunch of fresh cilantro (cut off most of stems)
1 generous tsp of minced garlic
juice of 1 lime (I use two!)
1 jalapeno (I’m a wimp so I remove the seeds, leave them in if you like it SPICY!)

Throw it all in the blender and BLEND!  Refrigerate.

(For a party of 10, we doubled pork, rice, and dressing. We had plenty of everything except the rice - so triple the rice next time, and way too much dressing - one recipe is plenty! So for a party of 10 - double pork, triple rice, single dressing.)

Cilantro Lime Rice (Cafe Rio style)

1 cup uncooked rice
1 TBS oil
1 tsp minced garlic (I use the jarred kind)
1 tsp fresh squeezed lime juice
2 cups water (or chicken broth – leave out bouillon)
2 tsp chicken bouillon granules (or 2 bouillon cubes)
1 TBS fresh squeezed lime juice
2 tsp sugar
3 TBS fresh chopped cilantro

In a saucepan combine rice, butter, garlic, 1 tsp. lime, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on low 15 minutes, until rice is tender. Remove from heat. In a bowl combine lime juice, sugar and chopped cilantro. Pour over hot cooked rice and mix in as you fluff the rice.

(For a party of 10, we doubled pork, rice, and dressing. We had plenty of everything except the rice - so triple the rice next time, and way too much dressing - one recipe is plenty! So for a party of 10 - double pork, triple rice, single dressing.)

Sweet Pork Barbacoa (Cafe Rio style)

2 pounds pork (I like to use the pork butt/shoulder)
2 cans Coke (NOT diet)
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 c. water
1 can diced green chilies
3/4 can enchilada sauce (I used Old El Paso 14 ounce can)
1 c. brown sugar (this was too sweet for my taste, next time I'll only use 1/2 cup)

Put the pork in a reclosable bag to marinate, pour in one of the cans of Coke and 1/2 c. brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight. 

Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of Coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours. Remove pork from crock pot, drain off liquid, shred pork. (I use two forks because I’m too impatient to wait until it’s cool.)

Mix together (in a bowl or in the blender) other 1/2 can of Coke, can of chilies, enchilada sauce and brown sugar.

Put shredded pork back in the crock pot, cover with sauce, heat just until warmed through.

(For a party of 10, we doubled pork, rice, and dressing. We had plenty of everything except the rice - so triple the rice next time, and way too much dressing - one recipe is plenty! So for a party of 10 - double pork, triple rice, single dressing.)

Green Beans with Balsamic Butter

(From Our Best Bites)

2 lbs fresh green beans, trimmed
1/4 cup salted butter
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3 green onions, chopped (whites and greens)
2 cloves garlic, minced

Combine the onions, garlic, and vinegar in a small saucepan. Cook on medium, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes - until most of the vinegar is reduced into a thick syrup and has been absorbed by the green onions. Remove from heat and set aside.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add butter to the vinegar mixture - combine and set aside.

When water boils, add green beans. Cook for 3-5 minutes - until beans are crisp-tender. Drain and toss with the balsamic butter sauce. Serve immediately.

Serves 8.

Garlic Rosemary Roasted Baby Potatoes

1 1/2 lb fingerling or baby potatoes, washed (try to pick bite-sized potatoes)
2 1/2 TBS extra-virgin olive oil
2 1/2 TBS coarse-grain or Dijon mustard
2 1/2 TBS chopped fresh rosemary (no stem)
5 cloves of garlic, minced
black pepper
salt

In a large pot of salted, boiling water, boil potatoes for 10 minutes or until they are easily pierced with a fork. Preheat oven to 425

While potatoes are boiling, combine olive oil, mustard, rosemary, and garlic. When potatoes are done, drain and then toss with mustard mixture. Spread out on a foil lined sheet pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes - until the skins are browning and sizzling. Be sure to scrape all the seasoning bits off the pan and pour over potatoes when serving.

(May prepare ahead up to the baking - refrigerate covered for up to 6 hours. When ready, preheat oven to 425 and bake.)

Avocado Edamame Tomato Salad

1 medium avocado
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
3/4 cup shelled edamame
1/4 cup finely diced red onion or shallot (I prefer shallots - they're more mild and I go easy on them)
1 TBS fresh lime juice

Dressing:
2 TBS fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp Spike! seasoning (I had never heard of this before, but had no problem finding it in the spice aisle and it really is good.)
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 TBS extra virgin olive oil

Dice avocado into bite size pieces and immediately toss with 1 TBS lime juice. Halve or quarter cherry tomatoes into bite size pieces. If using frozen edamame, thaw. Finely dice onion or shallot. Combine all ingredients.

For the dressing: combine lime juice and seasonings and then slowly whisk in the olive oil. pour over salad and gently toss. Serve immediately.

Pork Tenderloin with Chimichurri

2-3 lb pork tenderloin (2 small-med pork loins)
1 1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup loosely packed oregano leaves (fresh is best, but if you don't have access to fresh oregano, you could use 1 TBS plus 1 tsp of dried oregano leaves)
2 TBS fresh lime juice
1 TBS red wine vinegar
3 TBS chopped garlic (6-7 cloves)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Place parsley, cilantro, oregano, lime juice, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor. Pulse several times until finely chopped.

Transfer to a bowl and add the red pepper flakes. Stir in extra virgin olive oil by hand. Don't put the olive oil in the food processor because you run the risk of turning the entire sauce bitter.

Put about 1/2 - 3/4 cup chimichurri and place in a ziploc bag with the pork. Cover the remaining chimichurri and set both aside for about an hour.

When ready to cook, preheat grill. Remove tenderloins from bag and let excess marinade drip off. Place on grill and cook for about 5-8 minutes before flipping to the other side. You want the internal temperature to be about 160, so check with the thermometer and take it off the grill when it reaches 155-158 since it will continue to cook a bit as it sits. Remove from the grill and let stand 5 before cutting. Slice and serve with remaining chimichurri drizzled on top.

Taken from Our Best Bites

Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tarts

2 TBS extra-virgin olive oil

1 TBS butter

1 1/2 cups chopped onions

1 TBS sugar

salt

4 oz goat cheese, room temperature

1 large egg

2 TBS heavy cream

1 tsp freshly chopped thyme leaves

1 (14 oz) box refrigerated pie crust

mini muffin tin

In a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, add the oil and butter. When the butter is melted, add the onions, sugar, and salt to taste. Cook until the onions begin to brown. Adjust the heat to low and cook slowly, turning often, until the onions are golden brown and caramelized, about 10-15 minutes. Remove the onions from the heat and set aside to cool.

Preheat oven to 375.

In a bowl combine the goat cheese, egg, cream, and thyme. Pour the mixture into a small resealable plastic food storage bag. Snip off a corner of the bag to use it for piping.

Lay the pie crusts out flat on a clean surface and with a 2 1/2 inch round cutter, cut out 12 circles from each crust. Press them into the cups of the mini-muffin tin. Fill each cup 1/2 way with the cooled onions. Pipe the cheese mixture on top of the onions, filling the cups. Bake the tarts until the filling is set, about 15-20 minutes. Let the tarts cool slightly and then remove them from the muffin tin and serve.

Makes 12 tarts.

Bangers and Mash

2 pounds potatoes

8 links Italian sausage

1 TBS oil

1 large onion

2 TBS flour

4 cups chicken stock

4 TBS cream

2 TBS butter

2 TBS creme fraiche (to make: 1 cup whipping cream, 2 TBS buttermilk. Combine in a glass container. Cover and let stand at room temperature from 8-24 hours or until very thick. Stir well. Refrigerate up to 10 days.)

2 TBS grainy mustard, plus more for dipping

salt and pepper

Peel and dice potatoes. Place in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, add salt and simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prick sausages with a fork, heat a skillet and brown the sausage in 1 TBS oil. Slice the onion. Remove the sausage to a plate and add the onion to the pan. Cook onions until soft, then add 2 TBS flour, cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and return the sausages to the pan, cooking it through for about 15-20 minutes.

Drain the potatoes and run them through a food mill into a saucepan. Add the cream, butter, creme fraiche and mustard. Season salt and pepper.

Serve potatoes, sausages, and gravy. May serve with a side of grainy mustard for dipping.

Serves 4

Double Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Cookies

Double Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Cookies
Makes 2-3 dozen
bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes

1/2 Cup (1 stick) Butter--don't use margarine
1/2 Cup Vegetable Shortening--you can substitute more butter or Coconut Shortening here but shortening gives cookies a flaky crisp

*I thought the cookies were too flaky with the shortening. I prefer 1 cup butter instead of 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup shortening.

3/4 cups White Sugar
3/4 cups Brown Sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp Vanilla

2 cups Flour
3/4 cup Cocoa Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
3/4 tsp Salt

2 to 2 1/2 cups choc chips--appx 1 bag of chips. (I prefer mixing 1/2 bag of semi-sweet and 1/2 bag of milk chips)
1 cup pomegranate arils (those red seeds. 1 Pomegranate is more than enough)

In a Kitchenaid mixer (or in a bowl with a handmixer) cream together the butter, shortening, 2 sugars, vanilla, and eggs. Beat the mixture on medium-high for a full 3 minutes--this is important. During that time you'll watch the chemistry of the ingredients change into a very creamy mixture.

In a separate bowl mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Combine it with the butter mixture and mix till everything is incorporated.

Then comes my favorite part...
Add the pomegranate arils and chocolate chips. In my opinion, more chips is better than less. So I add about 2 1/2 cups of chips (or 1 bag of chips). And I prefer using a mixture of semi-sweet and milk chips. Dump in the chips and arils and mix briefly to incorporate everything. A few seeds may burst while mixing but that's fine.

Scoop the dough into 15 small balls on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes (10 mins was perfect in my oven). And you have tasty rich cookies!

*I have a hard time telling when these cookies are done. Don't over cook!! But it took closer to 12 minutes in my oven.

Creamy Chocolate Fudge

Creamy Chocolate Fudge
Recipe adapted by Our Best Bites from Kathy Jacobs

1 12-oz. can evaporated milk
4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups mini marshmallows
1 12-oz. bag milk chocolate chips
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 sticks butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large heavy saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, and marshmallows and insert a candy thermometer into the mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently (constantly at the end) until the temperature reaches 240 degrees.

While the marshmallow mixture is cooking, line a 9×13″ pan with foil and spray it with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside.

After you spray the pan, combine the butter, chocolate chips, and vanilla in a large glass or metal bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer). When the marshmallow mixture is cooked, pour it over the chocolate chip mixture. Beat the mixture with a hand-held electric mixer, your stand mixer, or a hand-held whisk on low speed until the mixture is well-combined, smooth, and just starting to lose its sheen. Pour it into the prepared pan. Chill completely in the refrigerator before cutting into 1″ squares.

Optional Mix-Ins, Toppings, and Changes:

-Use peppermint marshmallows and top with chopped Andes mints for peppermint fudge

-Use 1/2 chocolate chips and 1/2 peanut butter chips (in 2 separate bowls) and then swirl the two mixtures together for peanut butter fudge.

-Add 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans

-Top with chopped walnuts or pecans and marshmallows for rocky road fudge

Makes 117 1″ squares/5 pounds of fudge.

Apple Cider Caramels

2 cup high-quality apple cider
1 cup heavy cream or whipping cream, divided
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup real butter, cubed

- Pour cider into a medium saucepan and boil on high for about 20 minutes or until the cider is reduced to 1/3 c. Keep an eye on it...it might try to run away. Set aside to cool.
- Line an 8" square pan with parchment paper, making sure to leave about 1" hanging over the edges for easy removal. Coat with a bit of vegetable oil and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine 2/3 c. cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and reduced apple cider. Set aside.
- In a large, heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, 1/3 c. whipping cream + enough water to reach the 1/2 c. line on the measuring cup, and corn syrup. Cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Insert the candy thermometer and simmer until the syrup reaches 234 degrees.
- Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the cream mixture. Add the cubed butter and stir until the cream and butter are fully incorporated. Return the pan to heat and re-insert the candy thermometer. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the temperature reaches 248 degrees.
- Remove from heat and pour the caramel into the prepared pan. Let the mixture cool completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator. I covered the top of the pan loosely with saran wrap and left it out overnight. You could cut the caramels into 1/2" squares and wrap each caramel in wax paper, but I'm lazy so I cut the caramel into 1/2" logs, which meant that I had exponentially fewer pieces to individually wrap. Store in an airtight container or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, but I can guarantee that they won't last that long. These things are delicious!

Poppy Seed Bread

3 cups flour, sifted

2 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

3 eggs

1 1/2 cup milk

1 1/8 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 tsp poppy seeds

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp almond extract

1 1/2 tsp butter flavoring.

Glaze:

3/4 cups sugar

1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp butter flavoring

Grease and lightly four two 9" x 5" loaf pans. Preheat oven to 350. Mix all bread ingredients together, then beat for 2 minutes. Pour into pans and bake for 1 hour. Mix glaze ingredients together in a small bowl and pour over hot bread in pans. Let cool before removing from pans.

*Notes: We usually double the recipe. A double batch makes 13 mini loaf pans or 5 regular size disposable loaf pans. (Or, I'm assuming, 4 9x5 loaf pans.) When making the mini loafs, bake for 50 minutes. (As always, you can check done-ness by inserting a toothpick - if it comes out clean, it's done.) And don't overfill the pans. A double batch will fit in a stand mixer, but there is a bit of sloshing when you turn it on. Be sure to start on the lowest setting and gradually go up, and I started using a towel around the edges to prevent too much spillage. Also, the sooner you can get the glaze on the hot bread - the more is soaked up and the better the bread turns out. Have it ready when the timer goes off.

The World's Best Guacamole

3 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, diced

juice of 1 lime

1 medium rip tomato, diced

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

1/2 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp sugar

salt to taste

couple dashes of Tabasco sauce

Mash the avocados in a bowl with a fork until slightly lumpy. (I used a pastry cutter - it worked really well!) Stir in the lime juice, tomato, cilantro, red onion and garlic. Add the Tabasco, cumin, salt and sugar (anywhere from 1/2 to 1 tsp of salt.) Mix well. Sample and adjust seasonings. Cover the bowl and chill for 1 hour to allow flavors to blend. Enjoy!

Mint Capped Brownie Cookie Cups

This recipe is from the back of the Mint Truffle Hershey's Kisses. I've also made it with Cookies and Cream Kisses and Pumpkin Spice Kisses and they are all delicious!

48 Kisses, unwrapped

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 TBS water

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

powdered sugar

48 mini muffin baking cups (paper or foil)

Heat oven to 350. Line 48 mini muffin cups with baking cups. Beat butter, granulated sugar, water and vanilla in large bowl on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, beat well. Stir together flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Gradually add to sugar mixture, beating on low speed just until blended. If necessary, refrigerate dough until firm enough to handle (very important! otherwise you end up with a huge sticky mess and can't roll the dough into balls.) Shape dough into 1" balls; place in prepared muffin cups. Bake 11-13 minutes or until cookie surface is set. Cookies will appear soft and moist. Do not over-bake. Cool about 5 minutes on wire rack. Press chocolate kiss into surface of each cookie cup. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Sprinkle each cookie with powdered sugar.

48 cookies

Grandma's Breakfast Casserole

8 slices bread, cubed

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

10 (1 1/2 to 2 lbs) pork sausage links

4 eggs

2 1/4 cups milk

3/4 tsp dry mustard

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup milk

Arrange bread cubes in bottom of greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with cheese. Brown sausage links, drain and cut into fourths. Arrange on top of cheese. Beat eggs with milk (2 1/4 cups) and dry mustard. Pour over sausage, cheese and bread. Refrigerate overnight. Dilute soup with milk (1/2 cup) and pour over casserole. Bake 1 1/2 hours at 300 degrees.

Cranberry Pop Cake

Cake:

3 TBS margarine or butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1 TBS baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup evaporated milk

2 cups fresh or frozen whole cranberries (1 bag of fresh is close to 3 cups and I usually just use the whole bag - I love the tart cranberries)

Butter Sauce

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

3/4 whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350. For the cake, cream the margarine/butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour to the creamed butter and sugar alternating with the evaporated milk, mixing well after each addition. Fold in the cranberries gently.

Spoon into a greased 8x8 pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. (I usually have to bake longer.)

For the sauce, combine the butter, sugar and cream over medium heat. Heat until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Serve hot with the hot cake.

Serves 9