Chili Cheese Dog Dip

Howdy Strangers!

For all 4 of you who may still follow me- I took a long hiatus, but I am back.

Hopefully consistently!

I can't even tell you where the last couple of years disappeared to.

New position at work...

Pandemic...

I don't even know.

I miss blogging, I miss adding to my recipe pile.

Things have been so wonky, I haven't even been cooking much. Hubby has taken over that duty for the most part, which is wonderful- but strange all wrapped up in one tasty package. (reminder to self: thank MIL for teaching hubby and his brother hw to clean, cook, and do laundry!)

Every now and again I find myself back in the kitchen, but it has been to make family faves. Not a lot of creativity happening.

Add along no parties, pot lucks, or any type of get togethers- so not many opportunities to try out new recipes on a crowd.

I hope you and yours have weathered this storm well, and I hope to keep in touch much more frequently!

In the meantime, here is a comfort food dip to warm your soul.

Ingredients:

4 Hot Dogs

15 oz Chili

8 oz Cheddar Cheese (shredded, divided)

4 oz Cream Cheese (soft)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Dice hot dogs
3. Combine hot dogs, chili, 4 oz cheddar cheese, and cream cheese
4. Place dip into 9x9 dish
5. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top
6. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until melted and bubbling

Print

Adapted From: White Lights on Wednesday

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Cheesy Olive Poppers

Had an appointment this afternoon, so the three of us decided to make a day of it. We went out to lunch and ran a couple of errands.

One (oh so fun) stop was the grocery store. It wasn't super crowded, which was nice for a change! Headed for the register, and every line was sooo long though (ahhh...that's where everyone was) except this one. I should have know better.

We get in line. Hubby heads in first so he can unload the cart onto the conveyor. There is an older gentleman in front of us. He started showing hubby all his groceries and telling about all the "deals" he was getting. No big deal.

I forgot something, so I took off real quick. When I came back, we were being rung up (by the slowest cashier on the planet, but that is beside the point)

Fast forward, we are home, groceries unloaded, I am putzing around with this that and the other, and hubby just pops out with "I didn't care for that man in front of us in line".
I said that he seemed nice enough to me.
He looked at me with this ugh look on his face and proceeded to tell me that as soon as I took off, the guy leaned over to him and started telling him dirty jokes.

Now, hubby is a man's man, and he and the guys tell their fair share...but apparently this guy was making him blush.
I guess the guy finished and left quick enough that hubby decided it wasn't worth saying anything to him over.
Note to guys: Other guys think it's strange if you randomly start telling dirty jokes to strangers at the grocery store.
That is our lesson for the day.

Ingredients:

2 Cans Crescent rolls

24 Jumbo sized Spanish olives

½ Cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds

Directions:

1. Unroll crescent dough, separate into rectangles (made up of two triangles)

2. Press seams closed

3. Cut each rectangle into three equal squares

4. Sprinkle approx 1 tsp of cheddar cheese on each section of dough

5. Place an olive on top of the cheese

6. Roll dough around olive and seal well

7. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top

8. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes

Print

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Cheese Dip

It's that crazy crazy time of the year!
No matter what you celebrate, one theme is the same....everyone thinks they have a good handle on it until crunch time, then it's panic season.

In my case, the shopping is done and wrapped.
Lists are made.
Plans completed.
Yet I am still AAAARGH on the inside.

I decided not to stress over this all this year. Left hubby and the girl child a list of everything that needs to get done between now and when everyone shows up Christmas Eve.
(hey, it's his side of the family...get to dusting!)
At least this way, when they each have a minute, there is no question as to exactly what I want done around the house.

Since I was doing the whole "leaving lists around" thing, I added my grocery list too. Everything I need for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. As they find themselves out and about, they bring me home bits and pieces. The girl ran to Target last night and came back with all the cream cheese I need (since it was on sale). Yay!


I am so looking forward to the craziness, it's just part of the whole season.
Hope everyone has some wonderful memories to make!

What do you do for the holidays?




Ingredients:

8 oz Wispread Sharp Cheddar

8 oz Cream cheese (softened)

8 oz Sour Cream

1 Tbsp White wine

½ Tsp Garlic Powder

½ Tsp Onion Powder

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients

2. Stir until smooth

Print

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Funeral Sandwiches

The name of these sandwiches drives me nuts.
I understand, as a southern girl, I have seen these sandwiches at many a funeral...but still!

We could call them something like "ham and cheese sweet yummies". What do you think?

The recipe I found on Sunday Baker calls for Hawaiian sweet rolls (which are a-ma-zing) but, sadly, my local Stop and Shop does not carry them. I was not going to run from store to store, so I bought some Portuguese sweet rolls.

The inclusion of mustard is non descriptive. I used dijon as it gives a nice taste with the sweet rolls and ham. You can use any kind that you like.

Ingredients:

12 Sweet rolls

1 Lb thin sliced ham

Thin sliced swiss cheese

½ Cup butter (melted)

3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 Tbsp mustard

2 Tbsp brown sugar

Dash of onion powder

Directions:

1. Cut rolls in half and place in 9 x 13 pan

2. Add ham and cheese to each roll

3. Mix butter, Worcestershire, mustard, brown sugar, and onion powder

4. Pour the liquid over the sandwiches, drenching each one

5. Cover tightly and marinate a minimum of 4 hours

6. Preheat oven to 350

7. Bake for 15 minutes (uncovered)

Print

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Sausage Dip

Wow...what a long, strange trip it has been!

I knew I was going to take a bloggy break over the holidays, but I was glad I left room for an extra week of break.

It started when my aunt had to put her fur baby down. Gizmo was almost 10 and had congestive heart failure. She was more than slightly miserable. Her coughs sounded like a hammer. They tried medicines, they did everything they could...but, the inevitable came to be.
She is all sorts of missing her "baby". Her hubby, my uncle, is retired, and didn't realize how much he would talk to the dog all day!
Religious or not, I love the idea of the rainbow bridge.

My parents came up to visit for abut 10 days.
We went north towards the beach and let my father have his fill of seafood.
2 lobsters, fried clams, shrimp, scallops, and haddock. He had no shame getting his fill!
I miss my parents so much, and it was beyond words to get to spend so much time with them.
We introduced them to our fave game, Scattergories. My father says he will be running out to get his own version as soon as he gets home.

During our trip, which included us 3, my parents, and the same aunt and uncle that just lost their doggie...

We found out that my uncle's brother in law passed away.

It was not a surprise, but that does not make it any easier.

I knew before we left for the beach that he was in his final moments, and on our way up, we got the call that he had passed.
Hubby and I went to the wake, it's a huge family, and it was such a mixed blessing. Hugs and happiness for those still with us, but sad (and happy!) memories of those who have gone past.

During the same trip, a family friend called and revealed that her cancer has returned and that she has made some decisions revolving around her care.
Such a hard topic to discuss.

We got home, and my mother in law called to let us know that hubby's uncle has passed on. Once again, it's not a surprise, but, it's the hole that will be left in the family.


Mr Fuzzy Face didn't fare so well with us gone. It was just different for him this time I guess. With my parents here, he was off kilter having new people around, and then we left for days.
My neighbor, whom Fluffernutter LOVES came to check on him every day...multiple times. He just needed his people though. He was shedding like crazy when we came back. The other night he even climbed up on my chest for scritches like he used to as a kitten.
Today...well...today was a little more "vomity" than I would like to know about.
He just needs to know we are home and not leaving him.
Breaks my kitty cat loving heart though!

The girl child started her next semester of school.
Hubby is still healing from back surgery.
We are SO short staffed at work and I am working crazy hours.
Had a long talk with a friend who had a cancerous tumor removed from her esophagus. (not her first bout with cancer)
Hubby's truck is still in the shop.

It's a lot as of late. So much.

Opened my mail...and there is a random "thinking of you" card from my friend who has NO idea that all this just happened.
I love her for just reaching out for no reason.

Thanks for allowing me to have a break, and thanks for listening to me rant!

Ingredients:

2 (16 oz each) rolls of bulk sausage

2 (8 oz each) packages of cream cheese (softened)

28 oz Picante sauce

Directions:

1. Brown the sausage, crumbling as it cooks

2. Drain sausage

3. Mix sausage, cream cheese, and picante sauce

4. Warm in crock pot on low, stirring occasionally

Print

Adapted from: Brown Eyed Baker

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Tortellini Appetizer

This weekend was busy busy busy

Friday night we went out to celebrate my sister in law's birthday. It's a fave restaurant of theirs, so that is always a pleasant surprise for the birthday person! Hubby and I decided to share a new type of pizza that we had never heard of before and it was delicious! I am going to try to replicate it one of these days.

Saturday was my not-so-little cousin's graduation party!
Pretty much the whole family was there. We all ate, laughed, and just had a great time together.
Per usual, I got asked to bring
Deviled Eggs
Garlic Knots

My cousin J spent the night after the graduation party.
We got up in the morning and she made me a rhubarb custard pie and rhubarb sauce!

Sunday was a surprise 25th anniversary party for my aunt and uncle. It was fun being with them all day Saturday...and wondering if someone was going to spill the beans. Nobody did, yay us!
Just a small gathering, which included all of the wedding party except 3. (one has since passed, one could not get off of work, and one had a sick family member to care for)
I brought:
Fudgy Frosted Brownies
Strawberry Shortcake

Came home to relax and ended up making a big potato salad for us to munch on during the week.

Ingredients:

18 Cheese tortellini

¼ Cup Italian dressing

6 Thin slices of provelone cheese

6 Thin slices of hard salami

18 Large green olives

Directions:

1. Cook tortellini according to package directions

2. Drain and rinse in cold water

3. Combine tortellini and salad dressing. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.

4. Slice cheese and salami into thirds

5. Roll meat and cheese, place on toothpick

6. Add a tortellini

7. Finish with an olive

Print

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Adapted from: Taste of Home

Poppin Fresh Barbecups

Hi ho hi ho, it's off to the mall I go!

It's my yearly in-between birthdays mall trip with my friend and her daughter! Our lives are so crazy busy, we set a realistic goal of getting together 2 times a year. Any more is awesome, but 2 is obtainable.
Our birthdays are just a couple of months apart, so we pick a date just in between and meet for lunch and a mall crawl.

It's so much fun just wandering around and getting caught up.

Her daughter has been joining us since she was born...my girl, well, this is the first year she has bagged out on me.
A better offer came along.
She's a teen, I get it.
Seriously, very OK with it...like this OK

Just kidding. I really am all about her spreading her wings and being who she really is
(did I convince anyone?)

:::sigh:::

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef

½ Cup barbeque sauce

¼ Cup chopped onion

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Can junior flaky layered biscuits

½ Cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400

2. Spray 10 regular sized muffin cups with cooking spray

3. Cook beef and onions in skillet over medium heat, breaking up, until cooked through

4. Drain meat/onion mixture, return to pan

5. Add barbeque sauce and brown sugar.

6. Cook to blend flavors, stirring well

7. Separate dough into 10 biscuits. Place 1 biscuit in each muffin cup.

8. Firmly press into bottom and up sides

9. Spoon about ¼ cup beef mixture into each cup

10. Sprinkle with cheese

11. Bake 10-12 minutes or until biscuit edges are golden brown

Print

Recipe adapted from Pillsbury

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Bacon and Cheddar Dip

I have the living room (read: remote) to myself for awhile tonight!

Hubby is off with the guys, probably doing a bunch of burping and bad joke telling. You know, guy stuff.
The girl is in her room listening to music and working on homework.

What is one to do?

I own the Golden Girls seasons 1-3.
Hallmark/Lifetime movies are on demand.

No, I pick to watch Tiny Toons and Animaniacs on the Hub.
Yeah. I promise you that I really am (age wise) an adult.

Ingredients:

1 Pkg ranch dressing mix

½ Cup milk

½ Cup miracle whip

8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

8 oz cream cheese (softened)

⅓ Cup bacon bits

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients

2. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving

Print

It is difficult to make a bacon cheddar dip without cheddar. Duh.

Adapted from: Copy Kat

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Lemon Roasted Chicken Poupon

We had a bunch of friends coming over the other day and hubby wanted chicken wings. I have had this recipe cut out of a magazine, taped onto an index card, for about 15 years!
It was time to try it out.
It was originally made for a roasted chicken, but I feel the need to be different.

After I made them, I had my official taste tester...hubby...try one.
He said it wasn't quite enough flavor, so I made a second batch of sauce.

The girl child was brave enough to try the second basted batch and promptly went for seconds. (all in the name of science don't ya know)

Ingredients:

½ Cup Dijon mustard

4 Tbsp lemon juice

1 Tbsp olive oil

5 Lbs chicken wings

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Mix ¼ cup mustard, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and olive oil in a small bowl

2. Preheat oven to 425

3. Season chicken with salt and pepper

4. Brush chicken with mustard mixture

5. Place chicken on baking rack over cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes each side.

6. Mix ¼ cup mustard and 2 tbsp lemon juice

7. Brush mustard mixture over cooked chicken

Print

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