Skillet Focaccia and Dipping Oil

Ingredients:

Dough:
* 3/4 cup warm water
* 1/2 tsp sugar
* 1-1/2 tsp yeast
* 2 Tbsp olive oil
* 2 cups flour, divided
* 1/2 tsp salt

Parmesan butter brush:
* 3 Tbspn unsalted OR salted butter, melted
* 1 Tbspn grated parmesan cheese
* 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
* optional minced garlic to taste

Instructions:
1. Place water and sugar in a large bowl of a stand mixer. Stir until sugar dissolves.

2. sprinkle yeast over the water and stir a few times. Let sit until foamy (about five minutes)

3. Turn the mixer on low speed and add 1 cup of flour and salt. Mix until combined. Add oil and mix well.

4. Gradually add as much of the remaining flour as you can. It can sometimes only be 3/4 of it. Mix until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

5. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 220 and when it's ready, turn it off. Keep the door closed.

6. Grease a 10 inch skillet.

7. Place dough on a floured surface and fold the dough a few times until you feel it's smooth and not sticky anymore. Shape into a ball. Roll it out to the size of the skillet.

8. Place in skillet. Stretch up the sides. Cover with a kitchen towel and place in the oven for 20 minutes. Take the skillet out and preheat the oven to 400. Make indentations in the dough with your fingers.

9. Mix "brush" ingredients and brush dough with HALF.

10. Place skillet with dough in preheated oven for 20 minutes.

11. brush with remaining "brush" mix and let cool.


DIPPING OIL Instructions:
1. Whisk to combine 1.4 cup olive oil, 12 tsp sundried tomato paste (I just used regular tomato paste) 1/8 tsp each: dried basil, thyme, rosemary, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Directions/Ingredients:

1. Mix together and spread into a greased pie pan or 2 qt baking dish:
* 2- 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
* 1 cup mayo
* 1 cup shredded mexican cheese blend
* 1/2 cup grated parmesan
* 1- 4 oz can diced green chilies
* 1 4 oz can diced jalopenos or 4 fresh, seeded jalopenjos, diced finely

2. In a bowl, mix until incorporated:
* 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
* 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
* 1/4 cup butter, melted

3. Sprinkle crumb mix over dip and bake at 375 for about 20 minutes or until top is browned and dip is bubbly.

4. Serve with chips, crackers, or baguette slices.

Frank's Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:
* 1 block softened cream cheese
* 8-12 oz sour cream or plain greek yogurt
* 1/4 cup Franks Red Hot Sauce
* 1 big can chunk chicken (or shredded chicken to your liking)
* 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar, plus more to your liking for the top.

Directions:
1. Mix the above together and spread into an oven safe dish, adding an additional 1/2 cup or more of cheese to the top. Add more Frank's if you want.

2. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

3. Serve warm with tortilla chips, fritos, celery, etc.

Monterey Spinach Melts

This is a really easy appetizer recipe!

Ingredients:
* 1 pkg (16 oz) Cocktail rounds
* 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
* 1 small carrot, finely chopped
* 1 clove minced garlic
* 1 pkg (9 oz) frozen chopped spinach -- thawed and drained
* 1/4 cup mayonnaise
* 1/4 cup sour cream
* salt and pepper to taste
* 4 oz monterey jack cheese, thinly sliced

Directions:
* preheat oven to 375 degrees.
* combine all ingredients except bread and cheese. Spread mixture onto bread rounds and place them on a baking sheet.
* top with a slice of cheese.
* Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Mom's Potluck Salad

Mom brings this to a lot of potlucks. It's really tasty and easy to make and transport. It's good on its own, but I like to sometimes eat it with the "scoops" tortilla chips, too.

Salad Recipe

Ingredients:
* 1-15 oz can black beans
* 1-15 oz. cannellini beans
* 1-c. frozen peas thawed
* 1/4 c. chopped red onion
* 1/4 c. shredded basil
* 4-oz. smoked fresh mozzarella cubed
* 12-cherry/grape/pear tomatoes, halved
* 1/2 c. bottled vinaigrette (Mom uses balsamic)
* salt & pepper to taste

Drain and rinse the beans. Stir all ingredients together and it's ready to go!

Spinach Brownies

Don't let the title fool you! These are NOT for dessert...but they ARE delicious!

Saute the following in 2 Tablespoons of butter:
* 1 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
* 1 diced onion
Set aside

Combine the followin dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl:
* 1 cup sifted flour (mom doesn't sift)
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* dash of salt
Set aside

Mix together the following wet ingredients:
* 2 eggs
* 1 cup milk
* 1/2 cup melted butter (mom suggests using only 1/4 cup melted butter or less)
Add the wet ingredients (not the spinach and onion) to the dry ingredients and stir

Add the sauteed spinach and onion along with 2 cups grated cheddar and 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese to the batter (you can use low-fat varieties of cheese if you like).

Spray a 9X13 inch pan with cooking spray, spread batter into pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

Dill Dip

I just like it, is all...

Ingredients:
* 2/3 cup sour cream
* 2/3 cup mayonnaise
* 1 teaspoon fresh, chopped dill
* 1 teaspoon beau monde seasoning
* 1 Tablespoon green onion flakes
* 1 Tablespoon parsley flakes

Directions:
* Mix all together. Let stand 5 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Serve with fresh veggies.