Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Ingredients


1 (2.1-oz.) package fully cooked bacon slices
 1 (16-oz.) container sour cream 2 cups
(8 oz.) freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/3 cup sliced fresh chives
2 teaspoons hot sauce Garnishes:
cooked, crumbled bacon;
sliced fresh chives;
freshly cracked pepper
 
Serve with: waffle fries
 
Preparation


Microwave bacon according to package directions until crisp; drain on paper towels. Cool 10 minutes; crumble. Stir together bacon and next 4 ingredients. Cover and chill 1 to 24 hours before serving. Garnish, if desired. Serve with crispy, warm waffle fries. Store leftovers in refrigerator up to 7 days.
 
Southern Living   JANUARY 2011

Meatballs a la Pizzaiola!

In Italy someone who makes pizza is called a Pizzaiola.  This is one of my all time fav's!  I use this recipe at least two or three times a month.  My whole family enjoys these yummy little bites in so many different ways.  They are great as an appetizer, but also delicious with pasta, as a side dish, in a sub or in soup.  What will be your favorite way to have them?

Ingredients


8 ounces smoked mozzarella cheese
2 large shallots, chopped
1/4 cup (5 to 6) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
1/3 cup packed fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck (80% lean)
1 pound ground pork
Olive oil, for frying
Vegetable oil, for frying
Marinara sauce, warmed, for serving (optional)
 
Directions


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Dice the smoked mozzarella into 1/2-inch cubes. Set aside.

In a food processor, pulse the shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, shredded mozzarella, parmesan, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until blended. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Add the beef and pork and, using a wooden spoon or clean hands, stir until combined. Form into 1 1/4-to-1 1/2-inch meatballs. Insert 1 cube smoked mozzarella into the center of each meatball and form the meat around it, enclosing the cheese.

In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour equal parts olive oil and vegetable oil to fill the pan halfway. Heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 350 degrees F. In batches, fry the meatballs until dark brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

Place the fried meatballs on a foil-lined baking sheet. Put in the oven and bake until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool slightly, then serve immediately with marinara sauce, if desired.

Recipe courtesy Giada DeLaurentiis

Wings for a night of Football

Ingredients:
1/3 cup of soy sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons of oil
1 tablespoon of honey
1 teaspoon of ginger
18 chicken wings
and 1/3 onion, minced

Add Ingredients to CrockpotIn a crockpot we're going to add the wings the garlic the onions the ginger the honey the soy sauce and two teaspoons of oil. We'll go ahead mix the wings up with the other ingredients to make sure the garlic and onions cover all the wings adequately.

Cook 6-8 Hours

We'll cover the crock pot and turn it on low for six to eight hours. After about six hours the wings are done. And you can see the wings have soaked up all the flavors, they've turned a nice golden brown and they're ready to eat. This is really good and are easy to make ahead of time so your not cooking during the game!

Tomato Pie

For all of you who find yourselves with tomatoes coming out of your ears...lol... Passing along a recipe given to me by a friend who says it is VERY GOOD even by people who don't like tomatoes.. I can't wait to get enough tomatoes so I can try it....

Tomato Pie

1 can of Hungry Jack biscuits
Tomatoes, sliced
1 onion, sauteed in butter
Basil, optional
Salt & pepper
Fajita seasoning (found where Taco seasoning is in grocery store)
1/2 c. mayonnaise
2 c. mozzarella cheese

Flatten biscuits out in a 9 x 13 pan. Put in tomatoes, as many as you want on top of biscuits, then put sauteed onions on tomatoes and sprinkle with fajita seasoning. Mix mayonnaise and cheese and spread on top of pie. Bake @ 350 for approx. 35 mins. Enjoy!

Thanks Marissa for this contribution

Sausage Balls

You wont come to our house at Christmas and not find this yummy treat!  But don't hold out till then, try them anytime as show stopping appetizer!

Ingredients:


4 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
3 cups Bisquick baking mix
1 1-pound package ground sausage
1/8 tablespoon Pepper

Dip:

1 tablespoon mustard
1 cup mayonnaise

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray.

Combine all ingredients in a large glass bowl. Mix well with your fingers. The mixture will be very crumbly.

Form into 1 inch balls, squeezing the mixture so it holds together, then rolling it between the palms of your hands to form balls.

Place the balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. To prevent sticking, move the balls with a spatula halfway through cooking.

To make the dip, combine mustard and mayonnaise. Serve with sausage balls.


Servings: 5 dozen sausage balls, about 1 cup dip