Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos

These little yummy appetizers are another blessing from Ree. I've decided that she knows how to please a crowd and her recipes rarely fail. Actually nothing I've made from her has failed. These guys are simple and delicious! With three ingredients, you're good to go. Simply take Jalapeno peppers, slice them in half. Fill them with cream cheese. Wrap in bacon---secure with a tooth pick. Bake for about 25 minutes. Official Recipe.

Don't they look awesome! They were! But they were very spicy! If you can handle the heat, you should definitely make them. I know I'm going to again very soon! They were a sure crowd pleaser. Here is Papa D from How to Make the Face. He's either telling me how great they are after his long bike ride or he's making a reference to Jeff Dunhams-Mr. Jalapeno on a stick!

Giveaway Winner!

Maybe the most exciting day of the summer...Ok second most exciting-the first most exciting I will save! I entered to win a blog contest-where you simply leave a post. Then....about a week later...I found out I won! And I didn't just win one thing I won all of these amazing things! Wholey Moley! Its Christmas in summer. Thanks again Sues and Chels.

If you want to follow my twitter---you can get more updates from me daily. @annemariedenton

Scallop & Bacon Succotash

After reading this post on one of my favorite blogs...I couldn't wait to make it. Most of my contributions to the dish were cleaning up and shaving asparagus but thanks to DD we enjoyed this dish thoroughly the other night! The ingredients were all super fresh and that was key! Try the recipe over at WeAreNotMartha!

Banana Bread Can Vary...

We've tried many different banana bread recipes...But it always comes out different. Does anyone have a fool proof recipe so we can stop experimenting on innocent bananas?

Pumpkin Cake!

About six months ago I signed up online for a preview issue of Cooking Light...and then the issues just kept coming....but thats another story. haha. Anyways in the Cooking Light Issue last November they had this amazing pumpkin cake. Its a brownie type cake topped with a cream cheese frosting! To die for---it barely lasted three days! As you can see it didn't even make it on a plate. Check out the recipe here. Cooking Light has an amazing website and you can browse through all the recipes from the magazines by month. So the next time you need a recipe or are thinking about buying their magazine in the checkout lane-Try the Cooking Light Archive.

Royal Icing & Sugar Cookies

A little over a week ago-I was presented with a challenge. To create sugar cookies with a meaningful symbol in memory of Peter Cannon. Peter Cannon was a cherished member in our community and also a friend of my family and many families that continue to miss him everyday. Peter's high school class graduation was this past Saturday. In memory of Peter on graduation day I was commissioned to create a memorable token. My brother B, brought to my attention that Peter used to strike this pose...the lighting/bolt pose. At first I had no idea how I was going to transfer that image onto a cookie. But somehow within the week I learned how to make royal icing and decorate to the best of my abilities. I hope that I was successful. Please check out the tutorial that I followed. Peter I hope you like it!

Tighter Crochet Pattern

This pattern is the tighter pattern. I chose not to do the edging that this pattern calls for. Instead I just did a dc all the way around 2X. Both are simple to do and I would recommend them. You can see the differences above. The patterns call for particular crochet hooks but I use a 5 for everything! Good luck!

Crocheting!

I really enjoy crocheting dish clothes and giving them to people. I recently just started experimenting with some awesome colored cotton yarn. If you look really hard this one has flecks of peach, green, and brown in it. Beautiful. Its funny. Once people realize how great doing dishes with dish clothes are they become very particular. For example-my mom likes the cloth to be tight with no holes and not to big. Others like holes because it dries quicker. Myself-the smaller the better otherwise its too much for me to hold in my hand. Enjoy the patterns! (This is one that has holes).

Pancakes!

My relationship with pancakes are a funny story. When I was growing up I dreaded the day that my mom decided to make pancakes--because that meant that my dad wasn't making crepes! Crepes hold a special place in my heart! Top 'em off with butter or just some yogurt, they're delicious and my dad always used to make them on the weekends. Maybe one year ago-things changed. It started with a box of bisquick-but I have graduated to the real recipe. Pancakes are amazing! Just as much as crepes. What was I thinking all those years! This summer I think I've almost more than made up for those years of lost pancakes. Enjoy!

I'm included two recipes-both are amazing! One is buttermilk one is not!
recipes from Meta Given's Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking

Basic Pancakes:

2 C flour
5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 TBLSP sugar
2 eggs
2 C milk
1/3 C melted butter

Beat eggs. Once smooth add milk. Stir in melted butter.
Add flour and stir until perfectly smooth.
In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
Add to milk mixture all at once.
Stir until smooth.
Cook on stove.
Top with butter and syrup!

Buttermilk Cakes:

1 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 egg
1 C buttermilk
1/4 C butter

Beat egg, stir in buttermilk.
In a separate bowl add flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
Add all at once to wet mixture.
Add melted butter.
Let it sit for 5 minutes.
Cook 'em up!

Vegan Shepherd's Pie

The vegetarian or vegan answer to Shepherd's Pie, "Wynelle's Pot Pie" from Sundays at Moosewood, provides a delicious alternative. A favorite family dish, DD prepared the familiar vegetarian pot pie, yet this time, totally vegan, thanks to Earth Balance Buttery Sticks and Natural Shortening.

Organic produce featured a variety of root vegetables: beet, potato, carrots, and onions. Whether stepping into summer or welcoming the autumn months, this recipe is always a crowd pleaser.

http://www.earthbalancenatural.com/#/products/

Basic Roux

2 Tblsp butter/vegan buttery sticks
2 Tblsp unbhleached white flour
1 cup milk/soy milk
1 tsp white wine or spicy brown mustard
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated (opt)

This is simply a basic white sauce or Bachamel sauce.

Happy Birthday Blog & Brother B!

This blog is officially a year old this month! Our very first post was a birthday cake so I felt it appropriate to post the same birthday boys birthday cake this year! He was 17 years old so we had a cake created of the 17th hole! BTW---he loves golf. He decided that he would like an ice cream cake. Unfortunately we took a short cut and hired Maggie Moos to make the cake. Maybe next year we will tackle an ice cream cake by ourselves.

As an ice cream cake hater...I was really impressed with such a great job that Maggie Moos did with the cake. The ice cream was vanilla with oreos mixed in, on top of a oreo crust. Delicious!

I have a new attitude towards ice cream cakes! If anyone is interested in Maggie Moos ice cream cakes please find your local parlor and order it ahead of time!

Peanut Butter Pie! Oh my!

I found this recipe on the Pioneer Woman's food blog, Tasty Kitchen. This pie is nothing but bad for you but its a winner! It is super fluffy and will not disappoint. If you want a kick butt dessert thats super quick this is your lucky day! I ended up making a homemade oreo crust but I would recommend using extra butter for this crust because as you can see mine is a little crumbly. So make sure it sticks together good...because this pie is going to have a short life! Enjoy!

Rhubarb Upside Down Cake

This recipe came from Martha Stewarts website and it was sent by a friend. This cake has many appetizing features. Starting with the butter flour crumb layer on the bottom. Then moving to the next layer of a yellow cake with a hint of orange. And on top a delicious layer of rhubarb. Martha makes hers by slicing the rhubarb in long thin strips. Watch her video and get recipe here.

Waffles

Waffles, yes please! I am a fan of all things breakfast. Crepes, pancakes, and waffles. Today we made waffles because a request came into the kitchen around 9:30am and it was for waffles with strawberries and syrup. And the kitchen does not like to disappoint so we complied. They turned out delicious!

Recipe:

from Meta Given's, Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking

(the cook book was as pretty as the waffles!)

2 C flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 eggs separated

2 tsp sugar

1 1/4 C milk

1/3 C melted butter

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In mixer beat egg whites until frothy, add sugar until stiff peaks form.

Beat yolks with milk and melted butter, add to flour mixture and combine.

Fold in egg whites.

Cook 'em up on your waffle iron!

Pot Roast

I was watching a good morning america clip from last spring when Ree Drummond was on and she made a pot roast look simple and delicious! So two days later I begged DD and sure enough I was blessed with a pot roast. Interestingly enough-I'm not really a meat eater and I could do without cow but I had to try this pot roast. Easy and delicious. I think we could have left it in longer and it would have been a little more tender. But i'm not complaining! Is it time for leftovers yet?