Roasted Garlic, Onion and New Potatoes

I made a new potato recipe, and we can't decide which is better... these or Greek Potatoes?!? These little yellow new potatoes are the perfect size, and they are crispy on the outside and buttery and creamy on the inside! The onion and garlic combo seasons them perfectly! 


1 lb yellow new potatoes, washed and cut in half
3 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper, to taste
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup onions, chopped

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss the cut potatoes in oil and add seasonings. Arrange potatoes cut side down on a cookie sheets. Pour the remaining oil and seasonings over the potatoes. I added a little more salt and cracked pepper, but that is up to your taste. I also waited until the last 15 minutes to add the onion to the tray to keep from burning them. Roast potatoes for about 30 to 45 minutes or your desired crispiness. 

Corned Beef Brisket and Reuben Sandwiches

St Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and the stores are stocking up on corned beef. Whether you like it with cabbage and potatoes or on a Reuben Sandwich, now is the time to splurge and enjoy!

Normally, I would cook a corned beef brisket in water on the stove with some cabbage and potatoes. This time I wanted to roast it and slice it thin for Reubens. So, I drained the liquid off and cooked it according to the roasting directions on the package...

350 degrees and 1 hour per pound...

then let stand for 15 minutes...

I actually let it cool more to be

 able to handle it and retain the juices.

loaded up on my slicer and

sliced as thin as possible...

All sliced except for that one

chunk and I have plans for it :-)

Buuuuurrrrrrppppp! Yum, that was good!

NOOO! I didn't eat it all! (OH! I did eat the crumbs on the plate! I am human ya know! :-) I plan on trying lots of Reuben Recipes this week... I'll start with sandwiches! :-)

 One regular Reuben Sandwich...

... and one toasted Reuben Sandwich!

German Mustard
Sauerkraut
Corned Beef
Swiss Cheese
Homemade Dressing
on Rye Bread!

Red Velvet Truffles

They are simple and easy but will look like you spent all day to make them happy on your special day! 

Red Velvet Truffles! 

Cake*

1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons cocoa
3 tablespoons red food coloring
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon soda
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs. Mix well. Mix cocoa and food coloring in a cup. Add to eggs and sugar. Add vanilla. Sift flour and salt. Add, alternating with buttermilk. Add soda and vinegar. Let foam and FOLD into mixture. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Icing
2~ 8-ounce blocks of cream cheese, room temp
1 lb. box powdered sugar (10X)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Blend cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla. Blend well.

Truffles
Crumble cake in a large bowl and add icing, mixing until it is the consistency of fudge. Scoop with a 1-inch cookie scoop or by the teaspoon full. Roll into a ball if using the teaspoon. Place on a sheet of wax paper on a cookie sheet. Freeze for about an hour. Melt white chocolate in a medium bowl (by double boiler or microwave) and coat each red velvet round. Set on wax paper to set. Return to freezer for 5 minutes, if necessary. Yields about 45, 1-inch truffles.

* You can take a shortcut and use a red velvet cake mix. Just be sure to still do the soda and vinegar trick at the end of mixing. It makes the cake mix moist and light. 

Ranch Trio Snack Mix

This is the perfect snack mix to set out for snacking during the upcoming game. Just be sure you make plenty, because it disappears quickly!

Oyster Crackers 9 oz bag

Cheese Crackers 9 oz

Cashew halves and pieces 6 oz bag
1/3 cup oil

1 1/2 packages Ranch Dip Mix

1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp dill weed

Mix crackers and nuts in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, combine oil and spices, and pour over the cracker mixture. Toss until combined. Transfer to a plastic container with an airtight lid. Shake crackers and flip container every 10 minutes or so. I make these a day ahead for the oil and flavors to set.

For more game day snacks,

such as wings, dips, stuffed mushrooms etc.
click on the link below:

Super Bowl Snacks 

A Request for Too Much Chocolate Cake for the Hubby's Birthday Today!

I made this cake for my hubby's birthday today. He says, "There's no such thing as too much chocolate!" Here's the recipe. It's my kind of baking... simple, easy, very little measuring and just plain good! I did use Cream Cheese Icing at his request! 

Too Much Chocolate Cake

1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix

1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups mini semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mix, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well-greased 12 cup Bundt pan.* Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate If desired, dust the cake with powdered sugar.

* I didn't have my Bundt pan so I used 2 8x8 pans. 

Beat the Heat Snow Cone Syrups and Peach and Tutti Fruitti Smoothies

This summer heat is really taking it's tole on many of us. With school back in, these syrups are a really treat to use on snow cones for the kids to cool down after school!

Snow Cone and Slushie Syrups

Lemon: 1 Cup Lemon Juice (fresh) + 1 Cup Sugar

Peach~Mango: 1 Cup Peaches (fresh or frozen) and 1/2 cup Mango mashed + 1 Cup Sugar + 1/3 Cup Water

Cherry: 1 Cup Cherries, pitted + 1 Cup Sugar + 1 Cup Water

Watermelon: 4 Cups Watermelon Juice + 1 Cup Sugar

Add selected ingredients in a sauce pan. Heat on medium high and mash the fruit with a spoon or potato masher while mixture comes to a boil.

Boil syrup over medium high heat, watching carefully so it doesn't boil over. Boil for 5-10 minutes, or until syrup starts to thicken.

Remove syrup from heat and pour through a strainer and into a bowl.

Place bowl in the fridge for 2-3 hours or until completely chilled. Then transfer the finished syrup into a squeeze bottle. Store in the fridge for up to 2 months.

Peach Smoothie

1 8oz can peaches and syrup
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream
1/4 tsp almond extract

Combine in a blender and blend until smooth.

Tutti-Frutti Smoothie

1 8oz can fruit cocktail
1/2 cup grenadine syrup
2 cups strawberry ice cream
2 cups milk

Combine in a blender and blend until smooth.

Bacon-Wrapped Teriyaki Chicken Bites

Yesterday, my goofball of a hubby hacked my Facebook page and left this post...

"I just want everyone to know how much I love my husband. He is the sexiest, most compassionate, caring, loving man I have ever meet. I am truly blessed to be able to call myself his wife. I live to make his life better in what ever way I can."

He should have posted it on my business page because it got more hoots and hollers than any food post I've ever made. I was even laughed at when I walked into the local bait, tackle and grill shop! I'm still getting comments and jokes! LOL

Well, he had the guts to ask for a special meal of the Bacon Wrapped Teriyaki Chicken Bites. I'm not sure he deserves them! What do you think? 

Bacon Wrapped Teriyaki Chicken Bites

4 chicken tenders, cubed
1 package Bacon (not thick cut), cut in half
Kikkoman Teriyaki marinade
Kikkoman Teriyaki Baste and Glaze
toothpicks

Wrap bacon around chicken cube, stretching the bacon to fit, if needed. Secure with a toothpick. Repeat with remaining chicken cubes, bacon and toothpicks. Pour teriyaki sauce over chicken and marinate for at least 4 hours, but no more than 8 hours. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Place chicken on grill. Cook until bacon is done on the bottom, about 7 minutes, and flip. Brush with teriyaki glaze and cook for another 7 minutes making sure not to burn the bacon. Add more glaze to taste. Plate and serve.