Man Dip

I have no idea where this recipe originally came from but it's a recipe my family has made for years and years. It is the simplest of dips to whip up! With football starting in just a few days it's the perfect time to pop this up on the blog.

2 8oz packages cream cheese
2 cans hormel chili (with or without beans)
2 cups shredded cheddar

Heat oven to 375. Spread the cream cheese in the bottom of a 9x11 baking dish. Top with the chili and then the cheddar cheese. Bake in the oven for 15-25 minutes or until it's bubbly and the cheese is melted. Serve with frito scoops or tortilla chips.

Creamy BLT Gnocchi

This recipe made for a wonderful and filling dinner! I slightly adapted it from Life as a Strawberry.

1 lb. gnocchi
3 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp minced garlic
3 tbsp. flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 large tomato (diced)
1 cup arugula (chopped)
8 strips cooked and crumbled bacon

Boil the gnocchi according to the directions.  Melt the butter in pan over medium high heat add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds then whisk in the flour.  Slowly whisk in the milk and bring to a simmer stirring constantly, remove from heat when the mixture begins to thicken up. Stir in the parmesan cheese until melted. Add the gnocchi, arugula, bacon and tomato once the arugula has wilted then serve.

Turkey Club Pinwheels

Every other week we rotate bringing snacks to our small group under a  different category, sweet, salty or main.  I whipped these up for our main dish a few weeks ago and they were a huge hit. You can put different dipping sauces on the side, I did honey mustard.

8 Whole Wheat Sandwich Wraps
1 1/2 lbs sliced deli turkey
2 lb cooked bacon
16 pieces  thin sliced cheddar cheese
16 pieces thin sliced provolone cheese
2-3 tomatoes (sliced thin)
shredded lettuce

Lay out the wrap on individual pieces of tin foil.  Layer 2 pieces of cheddar then two pieces of provolone on each wrap.  Top with 3-4 pieces of turkey then 2-3 slices of bacon. Layer a few slices of tomato down the center then top with lettuce. Roll up tightly and wrap the foil around the sandwich wrap. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.  Remove from refrigerator and slice into 1 inch pieces. Keep refrigerated until time to serve.

Lemon Lush

I got this recipe from a friend years ago! I've had it several times but this was the first time I made it myself. I love lemon flavored desserts and this is a great one to share with friends!

Crust:
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup butter (softned)

Cream Cheese Layer:
2 (8oz) blocks cream cheese (softened)
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice

Lemon Layer:
2 packages instant lemon pudding
3 cups whole milk

12oz Cool Whip

Heat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 pan.  In a mixing bowl combine the flour, pecans and butter, press down into the greased pan.  Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely.  Using an electric mixture combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar and lemon juice. Spread evenly over the crust.  Whisk together the lemon pudding packets and whole milk, when it begins to thicken up pour over the cream cheese mixture. Top with cool whip and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Sloppy Joe Tacos

So yes, I have been absent, my laptop died a while ago and then we went on vacation then my husband's laptop was being all quirky.  Plus I have a very very cute 9 month old who hates to sleep...so you know, that's fun!  Anyways, I first had Sloppy Joe Tacos while on vacation at a restaurant. I really really enjoyed the one I got and wish I had gotten more than one so I decided to try and recreate it at home! I have to say they turned out pretty well and everyone in my family enjoyed them.

1 lb ground beef
1/8 cup finely diced onion
3 tsp chili powder
1 tsp brown sugar
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp worchestershire sauce
2/3 cup tomato sauce
1 tbsp ketchup
1/4 tsp salt
8 taco size tortillas
1 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1 1/2 cup fritos
sour cream

Brown the ground beef with onions.  Drain the grease off of the meat and stir in the chili powder, brown sugar, garlic powder and salt.  Let cook for 2 minute over medium low heat. Stir in the worchestershire sauce, tomato sauce and ketchup.  Let cook for 5 to 10 minutes.  Place the meat in the tortillas and top with cheese, fritos and sour cream.  

Smoky Mountain Chicken

Yummy Yummy Yummy!!! There is NOTHING bad about this chicken, it was absolutely delicious. I usually just eat half of my chicken and pass the rest on to Gray but I had to eat every bite of this chicken! This recipe is slightly adapted from BlogChef.

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
18oz barbecue sauce
8 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
1 1/2 cup colby jack cheese
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup chopped tomato




Heat oven to 350.  Lightly grease a 9x13 pan. Season each chicken breast on both sides with pepper, garlic powder and italian seasoning. Bake for 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Remove from oven and brush with bbq sauce on both sides. Top each chicken breast with 1/2 cup of colby jack cheese and then with crumbled bacon. Return to the oven and cook for 8 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Remove from oven and top with green onion and tomato. 

Million Dollar Pound Cake

My Grandmama Sam was known for her pound cakes.  I don't remember ever seeing her and her not having a pound cake for us.  Everyone in her small town knew about them and our whole family loved them. She passed away several years ago and I asked for one of her pound cake pans, she had tons.  It took me a while to get up the guts to try one myself.  This is not her recipe. But in trying pound cakes this is one of my favorites so far! This recipe is from My Recipes.

1 lb butter (softened)
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
4 cups flour
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract

Beat the butter on medium speed until it is light and fluffy. Slowly add in the sugar and continue to beat the mixture over medium heat. Begin to add the eggs one at a time until the yolks are gone. Alternate adding the flour and milk.  Once all of the milk and flour have been added the mix in the extracts. Grease a tube pan with generously with butter then lightly sprinkle flour on top of the butter. Pour the batter into the pan and bake at 300 for 1 hour and 40 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before removing the cake from the pan. Let cool completely before slicing.

Pizza Primavera

I love a good pizza recipe!  We loved loading this up with fresh veggies, especially this time of year! This recipe is adapted from Pink Parsley.

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
olive oil
salt and pepper
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
3/4 cup milk 
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 pizza dough recipe (this one or your favorite!)
3 thinly sliced asparagus spears
2/3 cup chopped fresh spinach
1/3 cup finely chopped vidalia onion
4 sliced baby portobello mushrooms
1 1/2 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 425. Prepare your pizza dough according the recipe and roll it out. Brush with olive oil and place in the oven for 4-7 minutes then remove and set aside. In a sauce pan melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and let cook and bubble for 1 minute while you continue to whisk. Slowly whisk in the milk. Stir in the garlic and continue to whisk as it thickens up.  Once it's thickened whisk in 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese then remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.  Spread the sauce onto the pizza, you may not need all of it. Layer the spinach, onions and asparagus. Top with mozzarella and then add the tomatoes and mushrooms. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before slicing.

Chocolate Chip Reese's Pieces Cookies

I love Reese's Pieces, they are on e of those candies that I sometimes forget about but when I have them again I remember how much I love them. I adapted this recipes from Crazy for Crust.


1 cup butter (melted)
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
 2 large eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract 
1 tsp baking soda
3 1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup Reese's Pieces

In a stand mixer combine the melted butter and sugars using the paddle attachment. Add one egg and mix until fully combined then add the second egg. Mix in the extracts. In a bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and reese's pieces.  Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 3 hours.  When dough is ready heat oven to 350. Scoop the dough and roll into a ball then place on a nonstick cookie sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until the edges are getting golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet and let cool on a wire rack.

Creamy Corn on the Cob

We love corn on the cob especially in the summer when we can get awesome fresh corn! This is hands down one of the most delicious and easy ways to make corn!

4-6 ears of corn (shucked)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 stick of butter

Bring water to a boil in a pot then add butter and milk. Place the corn in the pot and let boil until it is cooked through. Remove corn and serve.