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.

Mom's Black Bean Tacos

Directions:
1. Chop a medium onion and a sweet potato

2. Coat a skillet with oil

3. Saute onion and sweet potato until soft & translucent

4. Add a can of black beans, (rinsed) and about a can's worth of frozen corn.

5. Add a tsp of chili powder, a tsp of cumin, and a dash of salt and pepper with 1/4 cup of water.

6. Let it cook down, then it's ready to eat.

Mom's Molasses Cookies

I could pretty much live on these during the holidays. When I was pregnant last year, and my mom made them I ate SOOOO many!

Ingredients are for a double batch, because trust me, you'll want more than one batch. I always make them in a double batch, and since this blog is also for me to have easy access to the recipes, I'm going to leave the amounts doubled.

Ingredients:
* 1-1/2 cups shortening, (melted)
* 2 cups sugar
* 1/2 cup molasses (robust flavor)
* 2 eggs
* 4 tsp baking soda
* 4 cups flour
* 1 tsp cloves
* 1 tsp salt
* 1 tsp ginger
* 2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
1. Melt shortening and let cool.
2. Add sugar, molasses, and egg. Beat Well.
3. Combine baking soda, flour, cloves, salt, ginger and cinnamon. Add it to the rest, mixing well. Chill the dough.
4. Roll into small balls and then roll the balls in sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Sue Redmond's Wild Rice Burgers

These are delicious!

Ingredients:
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/2 cup of chopped yellow onion
* 1/2 cup chopped button or portabella mushrooms
* 2 to 4 Tablespoons olive oil or butter
* 4 cups well-cooked, soft, wild and white or brown rice mixture, 1 part wild rice to 2 parts white or brown (Lundberg offers a wild rice and white basmati blend)
* (OPTIONAL) 1/2 cup dried cranberries, reconstituted by soaking in boiled water, drained and chopped
* 1/4 to 1/2 cup blend of grated parmesan, asiago, or romano cheeses
* 1/4 cup Italian style bread crumbs
* 2 eggs* Salt and pepper to taste
* Swiss cheese slices
* Sliced red onion
* Wheat hamburger buns

Preparation:
* Cook the rice and cool. Saute the garlic, onion and mushrooms in olive oil or butter until soft, about 5 minutes. Combine the cooked rice, cranberries, bread crumbs, cheese and sauteed ingredients with the two eggs in a bowl. Salt and pepper to taste and blend ingredients together. With your hands, form thick patties.

* Grill or fry in oil for 2-3 minutes or until a light crust forms. Since the ingredients are already cooked, the grilling time is minimal.

* Top with a slice of swiss cheese and onion as desired. Serve on a soft wheat bun.

Suggested variations by Lynn Rosetto Kasper (NPR's The Splendid Table):
* Sautee the mushrooms in red wine to add flavor and moisture. Other add-ins - chopped walnuts, green or jalapeno peppers, fresh herbs or other seasonings, or making them with risotto rice.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

I got this from my mom...I'm not sure where she got it!

Ingredients:

* 2 cups uncooked dried elbow macaroni
* 1/4 cup butter
* 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 2 cups milk
* 1/2 teaspoon salt (I used garlic salt)
* 2 cups cheddar cheese, cubed 1/2 inch
* 1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
* 1 tablespoon butter, melted
* 1 tablespoon chopped, fresh parsley

Heat oven to 350. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain.

Meanwhile, melt 1/4 cup butter in 3-quart saucepan until sizzling; stir in flour. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth and bubbly (1 minute). Add milk and salt. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened (3-4 minutes).

Stir in cooked macaroni and cheese. Spoon into ungreased 2-quart casserole.

Stir together all remaining ingredients in small bowl; sprinkle over macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through and golden brown.

Tip: For gourmet flavor, stir in 3 ounces cubed cream cheese and 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard with the milk.

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.

Mama's Monkey Bread

This recipe makes me so happy in so many ways...this has been our Christmas morning tradition for as long as I can remember. We get up, mom and I both make the monkey bread and then we open presents while we smell it baking in the oven! You can cut it like a cake and then the individual pieces break off in delicious sticky finger-ness. :-)

Ingredients:
* 4 tubes biscuits (for vegetarian version -- make sure to check for lard)
* 1-1/3 cups sugar
* 2 teaspoons cinnamon
* 1 stick butter
* 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
* Cut biscuits into quarters. Mix together 2/3 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Roll each biscuit piece in sugar/cinnamon mixture. Drop into greased bundt pan.

* Combine remaining sugar, cinnamon, butter, and vanilla in sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Pour over biscuits.

* Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. Turn out onto a plate immediately. Best served warm.

Mama's Cheesy-Potato Soup

This is one of my favorite meals ever - it's great with a nice green salad and a loaf of bread. This is SUCH a great "cold winter night" meal.

Ingredients:
* 4 cups peeled/cubed potatoes
* 1-1/2 cups chopped onion
* 1-1/2 cups chopped celery and leaves
* 1 Tablespoon salt
* 4 cups water
* 1 stick butter
* 1/2 cup all purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
* 2 teaspoons dry mustard
* 4 cups milk
* 3-1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (I think it's best to get it in a block and shred it yourself)
* 2 Tablespoons parsley flakes
* 28 oz. can stewed tomatoes and their liquid

Directions:
* In a large kettle, combine potatoes, onion, celery, ONE teaspoon of salt, and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.

* Meanwhile, in a medium pot, melt the butter, add the flour, 2 teaspoons of salt, pepper, and mustard, stirring to make a smooth paste. Gradually stir in the milk; cook over medium heat until bubbly, stirring constantly. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Then, pour the cheese mixture into the potato mixture, and mix well. Add the parsley flakes, stewed tomatoes and their liquid; stir, and continue to cook over low heat until hot enough to serve.