Grape Meatballs

Another appetizer I took to Christmas Eve was Grape Meatballs.

Soooo easy!

Start out with these.

Dump them into a crock pot.

Brown up some meatballs.

Dump them into a crock pot and stir carefully.

Set on low for about an hour before heading to wherever you're heading.

They'll be ready to go!

Please, don't get store-bought meatballs.

They are gross.

Make your own by simply mixing some ground beef, garlic powder, salt, pepper and onion powder.

Brown in some oil.

Jalapeno Poppers

One of the things I made for Christmas Eve was BBQ Jalapeno Poppers.

A PW recipe.

My Man loves them, as well as several of his family members.

I made 36 and had only two left by the end of the night.

Split half-wise and remove the seeds and ribs.

Mix up cream cheese, shredded cheddar (or whatever you have) and a chopped green onion.

Stuff the jalapenos.

Wrap them in bacon!

Cover with this heavenly stuff!

Yummy!

I didn't get an after shot because the second these babies were done baking, I had to plop them in a dish and zoom across the road to my in-law's for Christmas Eve festivities (we were running a tad late).

Christmas Cooking

I'll be posting about my Christmas cooking soon.  Here's what I'm making:

Strawberry Pretzle Salad
PB Pie
Grape Meatballs
Shrimp
Jalapeno Poppers
Crock Pot Corn
Green Been Casserole
French Bread
Cupcakes

That will cover my contribution duties to four Christmas celebrations in the next 5 days.

Christmas Brownies

I found these cute little foil pans shaped like Christmas Trees the other day.

I also had a box of brownie mix and an extra can of icing.

This is what was created!

The boys thought it was amazing and I earned some "cool mom points."

Butter Toffee

This year for Christmas treats, I made Butter Toffe.

The past few years I've spent 1-2 days making goodies and delivering them to friends/family around town.

Last year I realized that I was neglecting my family too much in my efforts.

And while I love to make and deliver the goodies, I just don't feel right to do it anymore if I neglect my family's needs in order to get it done.

In a few years, once my daughter is old enough to be of help, we'll continue the boxed tins of goodies.

Until then...

Soooo this year, I made butter toffee.

And boy was it EASY!

And yummy!

And EASY!

And yummy!

Just start out with a candy thermometer and some butter.

Add some sugar.

You'll need some chocolate.

I used these.

And these.

And nuts for later.

So you melt the butter and sugar together.

Use that candy thermometer so you can get the mixture up to the correct temp.

310 degrees.

If you have a fun thermometer, it has a special line just for you to check .

Almost there!

Stir continuously.

It's probably the hardest part...stirring...if you call that hard.

Immediately pour it onto a Silpat and spread out with an off-set spatula.

Let harden - 15-20 minutes.

Melt your chocolate and pour over the top of the hardened toffee.

Sprinkle with nuts and let harden about an hour.

Break apart and put the chunks into little goodie bags!

Sorry I didn't get a picture of the finished product!

Did I mention that this was very easy?

And yummy?

Actually, it's probably the best butter toffee I've ever had.

And I think I liked the Candy Quick chocolate best.

But I love sweet chocolate.

If you are a dark chocolate lover, you may want to stick with the semi-sweet chocolate chips.

And my sister has used Ghiradelli chocolate pieces, which are heavenly on their own so they would be yummy too!

PS - After putting mine into the goodie bags, I laid them on a platter and put them in the garage to keep them cool (though they don't need to be kept cool) and out of the way.

Our garage was very cold that night and little chrystalized spots appeared on top of the chocolate.

It looks like I either put sprinkles on top of the chocolate or mold is growing.

I feel the need to explain to every person we've delivered to that it isn't mold.

Happy Baking!

Shrimp and Mushroom Casserole

Another Paula Deen recipe!

This one was for Shrimp and Mushroom Casserole.

Paula likes casseroles.

And she likes simplicity.

Starting out with butter and flour.

Half and Half.

Soup.

Canned mushrooms.

Parmesan Cheese.

Shrimp!

I bought these raw and cooked them myself.

Soooo much more flavor that way!

This.

It's kind a thick when you spread it into the dish.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Paula suggested serving it as a side with steak.

So I did.

Uhhh...YUM.

Swiss Steak

More Paula Deen recipes being cooked up in my kitchen!

This one was for Swiss Steak.

I've had many versions of it and if Paula Deen makes a version, I'll try it.

Because anything Paula makes is awesome.

And easy.

And will have normal ingredients I can find in a normal grocery store.

Plus, I love her accent.

And the fact that she eats huge spoonfulls of everything she makes on camera.

Don't you?

Okay.....

Start out with these.

Fry up some of this.

Add a little of this to those onions and peppers.

And this.

And put it all (meat too) in the Crock Pot.

Cook it allllll day!

Then, a side dish called Cheese Noodles.

Also from Paula.

Start out with these.

Bake it up and it looks like this!

Oh yum!

Dinner's ready!

And in case you haven't read earlier posts, those green beans are heavenly because i put a whopping scoop of bacon grease on them before I cook them.

Bacon grease = delish!

Also of note - I have two of Paula earlier cookbooks but she does have two websites in which you can search her recipes.  Also can find them on Food Network's website.  She's easy to track people!  I've never been disappointed!  I've even been to her restaurant in Savannah.  Go ahead, be jealous!

Paula Deen Shrimp Bisque

A few nights ago My Man and I were invited to go out to eat at a nice restaurant.

My Man ordered Lobster Bisque.

I slirped it down for him.

I'd ordered a Caesar, you see, and it was so awesome I'd already eaten it so when his bisque arrived, I'd only planned to have a bite. 

But then I found myself in a spoon wrestling match with my man to see who could get the most bites.

I won.

It was amazing.

I mean totally and fully amazing.

So, the other day I found this easy recipe from Paula Deen for shrimp bisque.

Now I fully realize that the ingredients in this bisque do not at all in any shape or form match up to the ingredients in the lobster bisque...but I still thought I'd give it a try.

For Paula's sake, I'll tell you that it is good.

And easy.

My two pre-requisites.

But it wasn't even close to the heavenly-ness of what we'd had in the restaurant.

Start out with these.

And this.

And don't forget this - yes, it's a must.

And this lovely shrimp.

On this day I bought shrimp that was already cooked and frozen.

I won't do that again.

Buying, peeling, and cooking my own shrimp is sooooo much better!

You  can control the seasoning and doneness.

Please believe me.

And brown rice.

Throw it all in the pot and let it simmer - no boiling less it scorch.

I served it over the rice, per Paula's advice.

It was yum.

Paula Deen Mushroom Rice

It's was a Paula Deen week in our house.

This is her mushroom rice recipe.

Very easy.

Very good.

(I think those are my two qualifications)

Start out with butter, onions and fresh mushrooms.

Add these handy things.

The recipe calls for regular rice, but I'm a brown rice girl.

Stir it all together and put into a 9x13.

It bakes for about an hour, covered in the oven.

I served it with steak and rolls.