spicy spinach dip

1 cup of water
1 medium sized diced red pepper
1 8oz package cream cheese
2 tbsp milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
pack of frozen spinach about 1/2 to 3/4 of it
crushed red pepper flakes
salt & pepper to taste
hot sauce

-boil water in a saucepan add red pepper & spinach bring the water back to a boil lower heat and simmer for about 10 minutes
-drain and squeeze out as much liquid as possible
-combine cream cheese & milk in the saucepan over medium heat until the cheese is hot and melty. stir in red peppers & spinach add Parmesan cheese and salt & pepper. Red pepper flakes the recipes called for 1/2 tsp I used more I don't exactly know how much probably at the very least 1 1/2 tbsp and a dash of hot sauce. The folks around my house tend to like things spicy and with a bit of a kick but you can doctor the spicing to your own tastes. Combine all of this and heat then serve.
-this sort of dip always looks great in a bread bowl

tortellini & pesto thingy

quick & easy appetizer I have added to my repertoire

1 10 oz package tortellini I used the green spinach kind personally
1 cup mayo
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 to 1/2 cup prepared pesto (according to taste I did not measure precisely)
garlic powder, kosher salt & pepper to taste
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
toothpicks

-in a bowl combine mayo, pesto, cheese, garlic powder, salt & pepper then refrigerate for about an hour
-cook tortellini according to package directions, rinse in cold water, then toss with about 1 tbsp olive oil
-on toothpicks place 1 totellini & 1 tomato then put on a platter with dip in the middle

super yummy, super easy and it proved to be a huge hit at the New Years Eve party

bbq brisket

day one-
1 beef brisket (3-4 pounds)
3 tbsp Worcestshire sauce
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp celery salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp liquid smoke except I am pretty sure I used 1 TBSP it was early when I put this together
2 cloves minced garlic
-mix all of the ingredients above together and marinate in a plastic bag for at least 24 hours

day two-
you will need a can of cheap beer or beef broth will work too
dump it with the marinade & meat into a crock pot and cook on low7-8 hours
remove meat from crock pot and put into a baking dish smother with bbq sauce of your choosing, we really like Rendezvous sauce which I can happily buy at Target
cover then throw it in oven on 350 degrees for about an hour

the original recipes had a lovely homemade bbq sauce recipe and I had every intention of making it as well but come on who has time for their own bbq sauce? not me!

apple dump cake?

apple crumble? apple crisp? not really too sure how to label it but I can tell you it was damn good.

2 cans apple pie filling
1 box yellow cake mix
apple pie spice
1 stick of butter

-preheat oven to 350 degrees
-spray a 13 x 9 pan with cooking spray
-empty cans of apples into pan
-sprinkle apple pie spice over apples as much or as little as you like
-dump cake mix over apples
-dot entire dish with butter
-bake uncovered for 50 minutes
super easy, stuff you most likely have on hand and while we bought ice cream to go on top it did not need it at all in my opinion.

first cookout of the season

applesauce spice cake

got this from a great bundt cake cookbook put out by Nordic ware

1 box yellow cake mix
1 (3.4 oz) package instant butterscotch or french vanilla pudding mix
1 cup applesauce-I prefer cinnamon applesauce but anything works
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup oil
4 eggs
1 1/2 tsp apple pie spice

-heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease & flour or just use the Pam spray for baking a Bundt pan
just use the regular normal sized pan the 12 cup. You can use the fancy smaller ones(10 cup) but that will leave you with extra batter that will make about 4 cupcakes.
-Mix all of the ingredients on medium speed for 2 minutes, pour into pan
-bake for 55 to 65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean
-cool for 10 minutes then remove from pan & cool completely on rack
-I prefer a dusting of powdered sugar but this can also be left plain or be glazed

corn bread casserole thing

I am going to credit my mother with this one she started making it many many years ago I want to say probably more than 15 years ago maybe. I have no idea where she picked it up from but at this point the recipe is all over the place these days. She generally just makes it for the holidays but a few years ago I started making it all of the time and it became a standard at most functions at our house from the summer bbq to Easter dinner and even Superbowl Sunday with pinto beans!

1 box jiffy cornbread mix
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 8.5 oz can creamed corn
1 8.5 oz kernel corn drained
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter(margarine works fine but go with the butter)

-preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray down an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray of your choice
-put all of the corn into the dish and mix.
-add the eggs and sour cream and mix
-add the cornbread mix & melted butter mix into blended
-pop it into the oven for around 45 minutes
-let it cool some and serve either still warm or cooled down completely

this is also way easy to double just make it in the 9x13 baking dish