Baked Jalapeño Poppers

Ingredients:

30 jalapeños
2 packages bacon
1 block Colby jack cheese
1 (2 cup) bag shredded Colby jack cheese

Directions:

Slice top and ends off jalapeños. Slice jalapeños, long ways, and remove all the seeds. Place jalapeños in a bowl of water ranging from 1 hour to overnight.

Line baking sheet with foil. Preheat over to 400.

Cut block of cheese into 15 slices and then cut each slice into 4 small chunks.

Drain jalapeños and place 2 chunks of block cheese inside jalapeño and wrap in slice of bacon.

Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of all jalapeños and bake for 20 minutes.

Jalapeño Cornbread

Ingredients:

all-purpose flour - 3 cups
cornmeal - 1 cups
Sugar - ¼ cup
Baking powder - 2 tbsp
salt - 1 tsp
milk - 1 cup
beer - 1 cup
eggs - 3, beaten
butter - 1 cup (227g), melted
cheddar cheese - 8 ounces (200 g), grated
jalapenos - 3 – 4 tbsp - pickled, roughly chopped

Directions:

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together.In a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients (including the jalapenos). Quickly add the wet mix to the dry, and stir until the batter is almost smooth. (it will be very thick)

Heat the oven to 425 F (200 C), and let the batter rest while the oven is heating. Grease a 9 x 13 cake pan, scrape in the dough, and smooth the top. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown, and a toothpick comes out clean.

(be sure and do the toothpick test, even though it can appear done on the outside, it’s very important that it’s cooked through).

Cheesy Bacon Potato Bites

Ingredients:

Potatoes
Shredded cheese
Green onions
Bacon bits

Directions:

Slice potatoes into round circles and then boil for 5 minutes. Drain (I pulled out of water with a slotted spoon) and layer on baking sheet.

Top with cheese and bacon bits.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Once baked add green onions.

Cauliflower Cheese Sticks

Ingredients:

¼ of a large head of cauliflower “riced”
1 tsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large egg (white), lightly beaten
½ cup mozzarella cheese
½ tsp. Italian seasoning, divided
Marinara Sauce for dipping

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray.

To “rice” the cauliflower, use your cheese grater (or food processor). When you’re done, you should have about 1.5 cups lightly packed. Place the riced cauliflower into a microwavable bowl and microwave until softened, about 5 minutes depending on your microwave (no need to add any water, drain).

While that is cooking, heat the oil in a small skillet over low heat and add your garlic until softened. When your cauliflower is softened, add the garlic mixture, lightly beaten egg white, Italian seasonings, and 3/4 of the mozzarella. Stir and mix well, then spread onto your prepared pan.

Bake until they start to turn golden brown; about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip the loaf over so the bottom side is now on top and add the remaining cheese and a sprinkle more of the Italian herb seasoning. Bake for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden.
Cool (until they harden slightly) and cut into pieces and serve hot or warm. Heat up marinara sauce and serve.

Homemade Cornbread

Ingredients:

1 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/4 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Grease bottom and side of round pan, 9x1 1/2 inches, or square pan, 8x8x2 inches.

2. Beat milk, butter and egg in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients all at once just until flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy). Pour batter into pan.

3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients:

2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, rinsed and dried
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. coarse salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. freshly-cracked black pepper
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. cayenne (optional)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Carefully cut the potatoes into 1/4" thin strips, or to your desired thickness and length. Then place in a large bowl, and toss with the remaining ingredients (oil and spices) until potatoes are evenly coated.

Then spread out the potatoes evenly on a baking sheet prepared with parchment paper or silicone baking sheet. (Try not to overcrowd the sheet, or have multiple layers of fries -- you want them to be roasted, not steamed.)

Place in oven and cook for 20-25 minutes, turning the fries once or twice during that time to cook evenly. (May take more or less time, depending on the size and thickness you cut the fries.) Remove once the edges slightly begin to brown and fries begin to crisp.

Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp garlic powder
22 oz (6 1/2 cups) cauliflower florets
3/4 cup Hot Wing Sauce
1 tbsp melted unsalted butter

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Lightly spray a large non-stick baking sheet with oil.

Combine the water, flour, and garlic powder in a bowl and stir until well combined.

Coat the cauliflower pieces with the flour mixture and place on the baking sheet; bake for 20 minutes.

While the cauliflower is baking, combine the hot sauce and butter in a small bowl.

Pour the hot sauce mixture over the baked cauliflower and continue baking for an additional 5 minutes.

Serve with ranch dressing if desired and celery sticks.

Whiskey Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 Trusty Crockpot
1 bag (1 lb.) frozen meatballs
1/2 heaping c. Ketchup
1/2 c. Packed Brown Sugar
1/4 c. Whiskey
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

Directions:

 In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except your meatballs. Mix up really well.

Place your frozen meatballs into your crock pot, and pour the whiskey sauce in on top. Mix it up all around so each meatball is coated with the whiskey sauce.

Now turn up the heat to high. Leave it on high for about an hour, stirring a couple times.

Once it appears that the meatballs have somewhat thawed, go ahead and turn your crockpot down to low and cooked until done.

Mozzarella Sticks

Ingredients:

16 string cheese, removed from wrappers

1/2 cup flour

2 eggs

3 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes

Canola oil, for frying

Marinara sauce for dipping

2 cups panko bread crumbs

Directions:

Slice string cheese in half for a total of 32 pieces.

Place flour in a small bowl.

In a separate bowl whisk eggs and milk.

In another separate bowl, combine panko bread crumbs with parsley flakes.

 

TO ASSEMBLE:

One by one roll mozzarella sticks in flour, then dunk in egg/milk mixture, then place in panko crumbs. Use your hand to sweep crumbs all over the mozzarella stick. Gently remove and place on a tray or cookie sheet. Repeat until all mozzarella sticks are coated.

**Place tray in freezer for 20 to 30 minutes to flash freeze**

TO COOK:

Heat 1 1/2 inches of canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add mozzarella sticks 8 at a time. Watch closely and turn over to evenly brown, cooking less than 2 minutes. Do not allow cheese to bubble and leak.

Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.

Serve immediately with warm marinara sauce.

Guacamole

Ingredients:

4 Avocados

1 Small Onion (Finely Chopped)

1 Garlic Clove (Minced) OR 1 Tsp. Garlic Powder

1 Can Mexican Rotel (Drained)

8 oz. Sour Cream

1 Tsp. Cumin Powder

Juice of one Lime

Salt & Pepper to Taste

Dash of Cilantro

Directions:

1.  Peel & Mash Avocados in a bowl.

2.  Mix in, sour cream, onion, garlic, cumin,  Rotel, lime juice, salt & pepper and cilantro.

3.  Chill for 45 min-an hour before serving as this helps to blend the flavors.

Marinated Creamed Cucumber & Onion Salad

Ingredients:

2 lg. cucumbers

1 lg. white onion

1/4 c. white vinegar

2 tbsp. sugar

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1 1/2 c. sour cream

1 tsp. chopped fresh dill

2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Salt & fresh ground pepper

1/2 c. water

Directions:

Thin slice scored cucumber and onion. Place in bowl and pour in vinegar, oil & water. Add sugar, salt, pepper, dill & parsley. Mix well. Let cool for 1/2 hour then drain off all liquid. Add sour cream. Mix well & refrigerate 1 hour.

Vegan Tomato Salad with Cucumber, Avocado, Cilantro and Lime

(Makes 2 servings)

6 medium tomatoes, diced into bite-sized pieces (about 2 cups diced tomatoes)

2 medium cucumbers, diced into bite-sized pieces (about 1 cup diced cucumber)

1 avocado, diced into bite-sized pieces

1 cup chopped cilantro (use more or less to taste)

1 T + 2 T fresh squeezed lime juice

1 T best quality extra virgin olive oil

1/4 tsp. Spike seasoning (optional, but good)

salt to taste (I used Vege-Sal, but sea salt would be great here)

Peel avocado and cut into 1/2 inch pieces (I use this method for peeling and cutting an avocado.) Put avocado pieces into plastic or glass bowl and toss with 1 T lime juice. Season generously with salt.

Chop tomatoes, cucumbers, and cilantro and add to avocado in bowl. Whisk together 2 T lime juice and 1 T olive oil (with Spike seasoning if using) then stir gently into salad. Serve immediately. This doesn't keep well, so only make as much as will be eaten right away.

Deep Fried Pickles

• Ingredients
  • 1 jar dill pickle spears
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup plain yellow corn meal
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • Vegetable Oil to cook in
  • Ranch Dressing for dipping
• Instructions

Lay out on paper towel to soak up the juice. Dip in milk, then flour, then milk again, then corn meal. Deep fry until golden brown.

Easy Blender Salsa

Ingredients:

• 1- 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1- 10 oz can orginal Rotel
• 1/2 small onion, roughly chopped
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1/2-1 jalapeno, seeded or not (depends on how spicy you like it)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• small to medium size handful of cilantro, washed
• juice of 1 lime

Directions:

Put all the ingredients in the base of a food processor or good blender and pulse to combine for 30 seconds or so until all the ingredients are finely chopped and salsa is desired consistency. Taste for seasoning and adjust to taste. Serve with chips or over tacos.

***I only hit pulse for like 15 seconds and that was good with my blender... Just blend until you get the consistency that you want***