Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies

I made the most amazing Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies earlier this week. I thought I should share the recipe. I would have shared the dessert but... well, it didn't last long in our house!
I think they were best when cold. I used egg beaters and 1/3 fat cream cheese and I didn't have any troubles. Enjoy!

Really great Carnitas!

I simply love Mexican food! When I find an easy, cheap, recipe that everyone likes, it becomes a regular in our house. And, of course, I want to tell the whole world about it!

Here it is.... Carnitas in the Crockpot!
I was skeptical about this recipe at first but it is tasty, tender, and uses a rather inexpensive cut of pork. With 3 kids home for the summer, the crockpot and I have become good friends. I've made it a few times and it is consistently good. It is flavorful but not spicy. After it is done, I shred it and divide out a few portions for the kids and then I add or Pilarcitas (or hot sauce) to the remainder for Brentt and I.

Spread this on some tortillas, top with coleslaw, and enjoy your easy Summer meal. It is great for a build-your-own buffet when company comes too.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooker-carnitas/detail.aspx

I hope you love it as much as we do.
Cheers!
Christy

Butternut Squash Soup

Hi there-
Last night I discovered a new favorite recipe and I just had to share. It is healthy, easy and best of all, filling. (Not something I usually experience with a veggie based soup.)

But I had 2 problems with making a recipe like this: First, Brentt likes things with meat. This soup didn't have a speck of meat so I fried up some bacon and let him top it with it. After all, the best way to a man's heart is bacon... Or maybe it was "baking"... Either way, he loves me and we both loved the soup!

Second problem was my kids make a big mess with soup. (Sam just won't eat it unless the noodles are in some fun shape anyway.) So, I made up some penne pasta and used this soup as the sauce. The kids gobbled it up and everyone was happy.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Butternut-Squash-Soup-II/Detail.aspx

Anyway, thanks for checking in. I hope you try and love this new recipe too.
Cheers,
Christy

Chicken Cordon Blue - in the crockpot!

When I find an easy recipe, especially a crockpot recipe, that our whole family loves, I feel like I need to tell EVERYONE! So easy, so yummy! Here it is!

Ingredients

• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup milk
• 4 ounces sliced ham
• 4 ounces sliced Swiss cheese
• 1 (8 ounce) package herbed dry bread stuffing mix
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions

1. Mix together the cream of chicken soup and milk in a small bowl. Pour enough of the soup into a slow cooker to cover the bottom. Layer chicken breasts over the sauce. Cover with slices of ham and then Swiss cheese. Pour the remaining soup over the layers, stirring a little to distribute between layers. Sprinkle the stuffing on top, and drizzle butter over stuffing. Cover, and cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours, or 2 to 3 hours on High.

Cheers!
Christy

My fair experience

I finally feel like summer is here and we're filling our days with "want-to-do's" and not "have-to-do's". On July 3rd, we went to the fair and had a lot of fun. When I was a kid, I looked forward to the fair every summer. I was in 4-H and I entered in a competition every year. Usually something in an arts and crafts category---are you surprised? ;) Anyways, so when we went to the fair last week I entered a dish in the Hidden Valley Ranch one-day contest. Just for fun, and to et into the fair for free. So we dropped off my dish in the judging area and then went and had fun. Before we left, I went back to pick up my dishes and discovered I HAD WON! I got first place in the side-dish category and third place in the overall competition. They gave me an apron, some ribbons and a check that covered our expenses at the fair. I was delighted someone other than Brentt liked my cooking. (Heavens knows the kids don't appreciate it!!!)

So, here's my self-created recipe for the dish that won. This is my savory version of a cinnamon roll. The method is the same but just with savory ingredients. Hidden Valley Ranch owns the rights to it now...
Spinach-Ranch Rolls

Ingredients:
2 loaves Bridgford frozen bread
1 block cream cheese
1 pound bacon
2 cups cheddar cheese
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch dip mix (powdered stuff)
2 cups fresh spinach
Ranch dressing on the side for dipping.

Thaw frozen bread according to directions. Bring cream cheese to room temperature. Mix the ranch dip and cream cheese. Cook the bacon to a crisp. Crumble or cut the bacon into small pieces. Roll out each of the bread doughs into a 10" by 16" rectangle. Spread the cream cheese mix equally onto each leaving a 1/2 inch border uncovered. Sprinkle 1/2 the bacon and 1 cup of cheddar cheese on each. Lay 1 cup of spinach evenly over the mix. Roll it up lengthwise like you would a jelly roll, or a sleeping bag, etc... Cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Place in dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cook at 325 for 35 minutes or until bread is golden brown. Serve warm with a side of ranch dressing.

I hope you try it. Its really easy and makes a great side dish. Here are a few pictures of the fun the kids had.

Maddie's favorite fair food is from "Hot Dog on a Stick." She was ecstatic to eat this! My poor kids are so deprived of junk food! ;) I have a full weekend of cooking ahead. In honor of the Tour de France and my love of all things French, we're hosting a French dinner party tonight so I've got to start prepping stuff early. I'm preparing 6 courses for 12 people--I don't know why I do this to myself sometimes...In the end, I always have fun. Also, our peaches are all ripe so I'm making jam tomorrow. I hope your weekend is more exciting!
Christy

12 Days of Christmas - Day 4

I don't know about you but with only 8 days left before Christmas, the stress is sneaking up on me. I think its a perfect day...... for a cocktail!
If you're like me, you're buzzing around too fast that you don't have time to be lounging around and drinking all night. I usually only have time for one and I just need something to sip on as I walk by. A little something sweet to take the edge off the day.... Something strong, but tasty.... Sounds like a Martini to me! Yeah! Here are a some favorite Christmas Martini recipes complements of www.martinilovers.com

Candy Cane Martini Recipe

1 tablespoon (or so) crushed candy canes
1.5 ounces vanilla vodka
1.5 ounces vodka
1 miniature candy cane

Wet the rim of a martini glass. Place candy cane bits onto a saucer and dip martini glass rim into the crushed candy canes. Add vanilla vodka and vodka into a martini shaker over ice. Shake well. Strain martini into the candy cane rimmed martini glass. Garnish with the miniature candy cane.

Frosty The Snowman Martini Recipe

1 part vodka
1 part chocolate liquor
1 part Irish cream liquor
Splash of cream
1 Hershey's Kiss candy

Add chocolate liquor, Irish cream, and cream over ice into a martini shaker. Shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with sugar. Garnish with the Hershey kiss.

Mistletoe Martini Recipe

2 oz vodka
1/2 oz. melon liquor
Splash of grenadine

Add vodka and melon liquor into a martini shaker. Strain into a martini glass. Add grenadine, and watch as it floats to the bottom to make a red and green martini. world! **And because I am a HUGE Rudolph fan, I had to include this one too. (Plus I already have Frangelica hazelnut liquor in the fridge)

Rudolph Martini Recipe
2 parts vodka
1 part hazelnut liquor
1 part rum
splash of cream
2 cinnamon sticks per martini
1 cherry per martini

Add vodka, hazelnut liquor and rum along with ice into a martini shaker. Shake. Strain contents into martini glass. Garnish martini with the 2 cinnamon sticks for Rudolph’s antlers and the cherry for his nose.

Yum!!! So, if you had to choose, I LOVE the Frosty the Snowman Martini. But... really... don't you just want to try them all?
Cheers! Christy