Cheese Bites

These were what I made for The Dish Washer's family Christmas. I found them to be very good. I messed up and didn't carefully read my recipe, so be sure you look closely and use 1/2 block of cream cheese instead of 1 whole block of cream cheese. :)

Cheese Bites

*Tip- Use a piece of dental floss pulled taut to cut chilled cream cheese. (I used this tip and it is really helpful!)

1/2 (8 oz.) block of cream cheese
1 (16.3 oz.) can refrigerated flaky buttermilk biscuits
1/2 c. jalapeno pepper jelly

Cut cream cheese into 24 pieces, and let soften. Separate each biscuit into thirds, making 3 rounds. Press biscuit rounds into bottom and up sides of 24 mini-muffin cups. Spoon about 1 tsp. pepper jelly into center of each biscuit cup; top each with 1 cream cheese piece. Bake at 425 for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Chicken Squares

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I am so excited about what this year will bring to our family! I literally was making a new pitcher of tea when the clock struck 12:00. I took about a 4 hour nap when I got home (thanks to needing benadryl that knocks me out cold) and woke up with a burst of energy. The Dish Washer was hungry and my unexpectedly long nap prevented me from making a soup recipe I wanted to try. I was trying to scrounge something up and thought of this recipe. I can't believe I haven't put it on here before. I made this ALL THE TIME when I was still living at home in jr./high school. It is originally from a school cookbook. Sister hated them, but mom and I loved them. They are so quick and easy and I had everything that I needed.

Chicken Squares

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
butter
onion
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese
2 cans crescent rolls

Boil chicken until cooked. Allow to cool and shred. In a medium skillet, saute onions in butter. Once tender, add cream cheese until melted. Add chicken and mix well until it is all incorporated. Roll out the crescent rolls, keeping 2 individual crescent rolls connected to make one square. (You will have 8 total squares from these two cans...hope that makes sense.) Place spoonful of chicken mixture on one side of square and fold over to connect the pieces. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cakes

This recipe from Southern Living was on my mind from the moment I first read the recipe. I found them to be ok, but I never have to have them again. The Dish Washer, on the other hand, is crazy about them

Lemon Poppy Seed Cakes

1/2 c. butter, softened
2 oz. cream cheese, softened
1-1/4 c. granulated sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 c. milk
1/4 tsp. poppy seeds
3/4 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. lemon zest, divided
1-3/4 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1-1/4 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until creamy and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Beat in milk, poppy seeds, almond extract, and 1-1/2 tsp. lemon zest.

Whisk together flour and next 2 ingredients in a large bowl. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Spoon batter into 1 greased and floured (12 cup) mini Bundt pan, filling all cups three-fourths full. Spoon remaining batter into a second pan, filling only 6 cups.

Bake lemon-poppy seed cakes at 350 for 24-26 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center of cakes comes out clean. Remove from pans to wire racks, and let cakes cool 10 minutes.

Whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice and remaining lemon zest until smooth. Drizzle glaze over warm cakes. Let cakes stand 4 to 5 minutes or until glaze sets.

Hot Cranberry Punch

Where, oh, where to begin? You probably thought I was never coming back! The Bun is a little over 7 weeks from being "cooked" and to say that I have been pre-occupied preparing for him is the understatement of the year!!!

I guess we should back up to Thanksgiving! We spent Thanksgiving with The Dish Washer's family and certainly had plenty to eat! If you could have seen the pan of dressing that we were eating out of...YUM! Biggest pan I have ever seen. I took the Apple Dapple Cake that Tossie shared with us. I actually made it the Sunday before for our church wide Thanksgiving meal and made it in my pretty bundt pan. I decided the next time around, I would make it in a 9x13 so that the icing could really soak down in the cake. It was much better that way!!! Tos said that is how she always makes it too. Click on the recipe to see the picture of the bundt pan cake. I also made her Sweet Potato Casserole, which everyone loved!

Then came busy December...
Somewhere in between, I also made Chicken and Biscuit Dumplings so have now added a picture of that. My friend and her beau came over for a Christmas gathering and she brought her Taco Soup. It was very good! She's not known for her skills in the kitchen so I was very proud of her domestication! I made Symphony Brownies to go with dinner and had her some White Trash as a parting gift.

We've been to Atlanta to cheer on our favorite football team. ROLL TIDE! Then we went to Vegas to attend the National Finals Rodeo. One last trip before The Bun. WHEW!! I'm tired!

Mom and dad came up to see The Bun's room one of those weekends and she was wanting to try a frittata out of Southern Living. I hope to post that soon.

I guess that catches us up to Christmas! For my family's gathering Christmas eve, I made Goody Girl Championship Potatoes and Lady's Green Beans. Other things on our list of goodies besides the turkey and dressing was ham, Waldorf salad, macaroni and cheese, squash casserole, sweet potato casserole (the same mentioned above), pea salad, devilled eggs, cake, cookies, and more cake! Man there was a lot...I'm sure I am leaving something out!

Christmas day we hosted The Dish Washer's family at our home. With all the eating, we decided just to do heavy snack foods. We had dips and chips galore, mini pulled pork bbq sandwiches, twice baked new potatoes, and desserts coming out the wazoo including chocolate chip pound cake and Granny's Cut-Out Cookies. I also made a cheese bite that I plan to share soon and a lemon poppy seed cake that I have had on my mind since reading about it.

I also made this punch to serve and it was first time to make and try. Man this was soooo good and I am not typically a fan of hot apple cider. This has the warmth but a much different taste. It was in my handwritten cookbook that I have mentioned on here several times.

Hot Cranberry Punch

2 c. pineapple juice
2 c. cranberry juice
1 c. water
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. whole cloves
1-1//2 sticks cinnamon
pinch of salt

Put brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon and salt into percolator basket. Pour juices and water into percolator. Allow to hat for about 10 minutes or until perked. Remove basket. Can be refrigerated when cooled and reheated.

**I didn't have any cloves, so I just use two whole sticks of cinnamon instead.

Be looking for those other posts with the new recipes spread out over the next few days.

Taco Meatloaf

It's no secret around here that we love meat! All kinds from pork to chicken to beef. Tonight The Dish Washer requested a meatloaf, but I really didn't feel like making one that I have already made. 1. We didn't have all the ingredients for some of those. 2. I wanted to make something quick and easy! After doing some research, I found a similar recipe in my sister-in-law's church cookbook. I made my own changes and we now have another meatloaf winner! Of course, The Dish Washer then has to quote the movie Wedding Crashers.




It is funny when he says it. He asked tonight what I would do if our boy grows up to demand the meatloaf! :) This is going to seem like a lot for 2 people, but I love to freeze already made meatloaf for those days I am feeling lazy in the kitchen.

Taco Meatloaf

2 lbs. ground beef

1/2 c. bell pepper, chopped

1/2 c. onion, chopped

1 can whole kernel white corn, drained

1 packet taco seasoning

1-1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

2 eggs

1 c. salsa

french-fried onions

Preheat oven to 375. In a saucepan, saute onion and bell pepper in olive oil. When close to being done, add can of corn to get the flavor. In a large bowl, mix beef, veggie mixture, taco seasoning, cheese and eggs all together. Form into 2 loaves and place in greased pans. Top with half of the salsa on each loaf. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and drain off grease. Add french-fried onions. Bake for an additional 10 minutes. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Catalina Cranberry Chops

Here's the unique recipe I promised. Caught my attention since cranberry sauce is front and center in most grocery stores right now! The original recipe calls for chicken, but I decided to try it first on pork chops.

Catalina Cranberry Chops

4 lbs. bone-in thin sliced pork chops

1 (16 oz.) can whole berry cranberry sauce

1 (8 oz.) bottle Catalina dressing

1 envelope onion soup mix

Preheat oven to 350. Place chops in 9x13 baking dish. (May need 2 if you have large pork chops that you are using!) Mix remaining ingredients and pour over pork chops. Bake 50 minutes or until chops are done.

Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Last night we hosted our supper club and had so much fun! I have been making soups for the past month for The Dish Washer and I to narrow down our favorites to two that we would make. Of course he chose Pork Green Chili. After doing a little more research on how to season that one up better, I came across the Tim Love REAL DEAL recipe. It wasn't available when I originally went hunting for it, so I was thrilled to see it. I didn't have everything that he calls for so I mixed his version and the version I have already posted to season mine up a little better. It turned out a little "kickier" than I would have liked, but it made him happy so I guess it is a fair trade.

The second winner in the soup contest for us was this recipe from Paula's most recent magazine. It came just in the nick of time!! It is extremely easy to make. The Dish Washer reminds me of my grandmother, so we now have plenty of soup to put away in the freezer because he just can't stand the thought of not having enough food for everyone! I forgot about a picture, so I'll have to take that next time we eat it.

Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

10 slices bacon, but into 1/2 inch pieces
2 lbs. ground chuck
1 onion, chopped
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 (32 oz.) box low-sodium chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes
1 (10.75 oz.) can cheddar cheese soup
1/4 c. dill pickle relish
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Garnish: french-fried onions

In a large Dutch oven, cook bacon until crisp; remove from pan, and drain on paper towels. Add ground chuck, onion, and garlic; cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until beef is browned and crumbly. Drain well. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, soup, relish, bacon and Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until soup is heated through. Garnish with french-fried onions.

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Stay tuned because I am planning to make some pork chops tonight using a very unique recipe that caught my eye. I'm hoping it will be so good!! I've also stocked up recently at a great Winn Dixie sale on my Chex cereal in preparation for the holidays and good ole White Trash.