Apple Snicker Salad

I first had apple Snicker salad at a Labor Day party a few years ago. I thought it sounded strange but got a helping of it anyway because everyone else was raving about it. So if you too are skeptical, I don't blame you. But once you try it and realize how incredibly easy it is to make, you will be a believer in apple Snicker Salad! All you need is green apples, Snickers and Cool-Whip. 

I buy the fun sized Snickers and usually use 2 apples to one Snicker. 

I chop my candy up in a food processor, but if you don't have one you can use bigger chunks cut up by hand. My last tip is to not use all of the cool-whip, mix some in and stir. Once everything is coated you are good to go. 

Red Velvet layered Cheesecake

Lately everywhere you look there is red velvet everything!!! And if you ask me, there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing" when it comes to red velvet. Yes it makes the BEST cake, but id say pass on the red velvet pancakes and scones. Stick with using it only as a cake and it will stay a favorite. However, The Cheesecake Factory has red velvet cheesecake that I do think is amazing. Now I don't have their recipe but here is my version of it. What makes it so good is that it has cake layered and a cheesecake layer in between. Each layer is its own original flavor and together it's great! This post only lists how to make the cheesecake. You can find the cake and frosting recipe on a previous post I provided. 

Cheesecake ingredients: 

2 (8oz) cream cheese room temp

2/3 cup sugar

2 eggs

Pinch of salt 

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup sour cream 

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

I use a 8inch round baking dish.

Spray with oil

Line with parchment paper 

Preheat oven to 325

Place a roasting pan on the 3rd rack while preheating. 

Boil water in tea kettle. 

Mix cream cheese till smooth in mixer

Add sugar and then remaining ingredients 

Pour into baking dish and place in roasting pan

Carefully pour hot water into roasting pan around the baking dish. Fill with 1inch of water.

Bake for 45 minutes.  When finished it should be firm to touch and not jiggly

Leave on cooling rack for one hour and then place into freezer

Now that the cheesecake is complete and set aside for now. Bake your red velvet cake. Follow the direction I've previously posted. 

Level each cake and keep the tops for crumbles to use as decoration on the frosting.

Pizza dough from scratch: Prosciutto Pear Ricotta & Margarita

There is something so satisfying when you make pizza from scratch. It makes you feel like a real chef! This recipe is from the Bride & Groom Cookbook from William & Sonoma. My Mom bought it for me for my wedding shower as a gift. It's very easy, a little time consuming because with dry active yeast you have to give it time to rise. You can get the yeast packets on the top shelf of the baking aisle. If you don't feel like making your dough but these pizzas sound amazing, you can always buy some dough from the store. Trader Joe's and Pilsbury are both good. If you like the sound of the toppings I added to my pizza, copy exactly. Or make it your own way, you really can't mess up pizza if you know what you like. This recipe makes 6 personal pizzas. So throw a cooking party for kids or adults and each pizza can be personalized. Everyone is happy! 

Dough ingredients:

1 1/4 cup warm water

3 teaspoons red wine vinegar

2 dry active yeast packets 

3 Tablespoons olive oil

4 cups of flour 

1 Tablespoon salt

2 teaspoons sugar

In a mixer, mix water, yeast, vinegar and olive oil for about 30 seconds

Add one cup of flour. Mix for 2 more minutes

In a separate bowl mix remaining 3 cups of flour, sugar and salt. Then add it to the wet mix one cup at a time. 

The dough will become very sticky and will roll into a big ball in the mixer. 

Take ball of dough out of mixer and place in a well oiled (olive oil) bowl. Cover ball of dough with oil. 

Cover the bowl with a clean dish towel and leave out at room temp for 30. Dough will grow. 

Separate dough into 6 equal balls for individual pizzas. 

Preheat oven to 500

On a pizza stone sprinkled with a little flour, spread out two pizzas. 

Spray or drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. 

Cook for 3 minutes before adding toppings. 

For the Prosciutto Pear Arugula Ricotta pizza you need:

One pear sliced

Ricotta cheese

Mozzarella cheese

Arugula 

2 oz prosciutto sliced from the Deli 

1 cup balsamic vinegar boiled till becomes a thick syrup. 

First spread on ricotta, add toppings and lastly sprinkle a little mozzarella on top

Bake for 10 more minutes

Drizzle with balsamic reduction 

EAT UP!!!! 

For the Margarita pizza you need:

Pizza sauce 

Mozzarella 

Roma tomatoes 

Sliced fresh basil 

 

Bake the same as I said above.

I hope you like these pizzas as much as we did! 

NOTE: I found this olive oil spray that I used on the dough before before adding the toppings. It was really helpful and easier than drizzling and brushing olive oil. 

Spicy Black Bean Enchiladas with Mexican Street Corn

Sometimes I just don't want to deal with cooking meat every night. Black beans have lots of protein and makes for a great alternative. You can always go the extra mile and add some shredded chicken into the mix. It would be delicious. I however, kept it vegetarian tonight. Here in Texas they sell Mexican  street corn. It's amazing!! The sweet corn with sour cream goes perfect with the spiciness of the enchiladas. So if your going to make this, PLEASE make both. What's awesome too, is that this meal is really cheap to make. 

1 (15 oz) can of black beans drained and rinsed

1 or 2 (4 oz) cans of diced green chilies 

1 (28 oz) can of enchilada sauce. Pick your favorite kind! 

1/4 sour cream or Greek yogurt

1/2 Mexican shredded cheese 

Dash of cumin 

10-12 small flour tortillas 

Preheat Oven to 375 

Mix beans, chilies, cheese, sour cream and cumin together in a bowl. I used 2 can of green chilies but I think 1 1/2 would be perfect. 

Pour enough enchilada sauce in baking dish to cover the bottom of pan. 

Pour about 3/4 of can in separate bowl.  

Dip tortillas individually into sauce, scoop bean mix into tortilla and roll up. Place seam facing down. 

Pour remaining sauce all over enchiladas and sprinkle with cheese. 

Bake for 20 minutes. 

1 (15 oz) can of corn. Drained and rinsed. 

1/2 fresh squeezed lime juice

Huge scoop of sour cream

1 teaspoon chili powder

S&P to taste

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. I recommend doubling the recipe. 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cinnamon apple & pear

Recently I've discovered that I actually like Brussels sprouts. I just realized roasting them is the way to go! If you are looking or a good side dish to bring to a holiday party or potluck THIS IS IT!! It's healthy but has a little cinnamon & sweet too. My best friend Kelly and I collaborated together on this recipe. I hope you like it as much as we did! 

Brussels Sprouts 

1 apple

1 pear

1 T melted butter

Dash or cinnamon 

2-3 T olive oil. (Depending on the amount of Brussels sprouts you use, enough to toss and cover each) 

Dash or S&P 

2 T apple cider vinegar

Golden raisins or dried cranberries (optional) 

Sliced toasted almonds (optional) 

Preheat oven to 400

Cut Brussels sprouts in half and toss in a bowl with olive oil

spread out on cookie sheet lied with parchment paper and sprinkle with S&P 

Bake in oven 15-20 minutes. Should turn golden brown, but don't burn! Remove from oven.

Chop up fruit and toss in bowl with butter and cinnamon

Add fruit to cookie sheet with Brussels sprouts. 

Drizzle apple cider vinegar over and bake for 10 more minutes. 

Serve warm! If you choose to add raisins or craisins and almonds. Mix it in now. (Kelly highly recommends this) 

ENJOY! 

NOTE: Tastes great paired with the brown sugar, balsamic pulled pork :) 

Brown Sugar Balsamic Pulled Pork

Pulled pork with the right sauce is one of my favorite meat dishes. This one is sweet with a bit of tang to it. It's a great holiday season kind of meal. I used a 1.5lb pork tenderloin, but I recommend going bigger if you're feeding more than 3 people. And remember depending on your size crock pot and the size if the tenderloin when depend on how long it cooks for.  

1.5lb pork tenderloin 

Poultry seasoning

1/2 water 

Rub tenderloins in season and place in crock pot with water. Cover and cook on high or ow depending on how long you want it to take. I cooked mine in high and it only took about 3 hours. Once it's fully cooked take 2 forks and shred the meat. Drain the water and place back in crock pot. 

Sauce ingredients:

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 

1 T cornstarch 

1-2 T soy sauce

Mix together and place on medium heat on the stove too. Whisk and simmer till thickens then pour over pork in crock pot. Mix together the sauce and meat. Turn heat on the crock pot to low or auto so it stays warm till your ready to serve. 

Chelsea's Honey Mustard, Turkey Bacon, Chicken & Sun Dried Tomato Quinoa

This dish needs a shorter name! :) But I didn't want to leave out anything delicious sounding from the title. One of best friend (Chelsea Cox) texted me this one night bragging about her yummy dinner. I had to have her email it to me because I love EVERYTHING in this. Plus home made honey mustard is the best, so it's a good excuse to make some more. She said to find a bag of sun dried tomato quinoa from the store, but I decided to make mine. Use which ever you would like. You can also buy honey mustard to make it easier, but I recommend you make it from scratch. Ok get started... 

Sun-Dried Tomato Quinoa Ingredients:

 1 cup quinoa 

2 cups chicken broth 

1/2 diced onion

1/2 cup diced sun dried tomato 

S&P to taste

Boil dry quinoa in chicken broth until all liquid has absorbed 

Mix in tomatoes, onions and S&P 

Honey Mustard Ingredients:

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup Dijon mustard 

1/3 cup honey

3T red wine vinegar

1/4 cup water 

Whisk everything together 

Main Dish Ingredients:

2-3 chicken breasts 

3-4 turkey bacon strips 

1 1/2 cups broccoli 

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon chili powder 

S&P to taste 

Dice up bacon and cook on the stove till crispy

Cook chopped chicken on the stove top with garlic, chili powder and S&P 

Pour honey mustard mix on chicken (enough to cover everything) 

Add bacon and broccoli and pour in about 1/4 cup more honey mustard

Cover and let simmer till broccoli is soft

Serve over quinoa and enjoy!!!

Thanks Chelsea Cakes!!

NOTE: I did not use my whole batch of honey mustard. 

Turkey Quinoa Spinach Casserole

Are you looking for a meal that doesn't require any side dishes?? Well, here you go! I'm not a huge fan of casseroles but if you find a good one you like, it will make your life so much easier. We all know quinoa is extremely good for you, so lets throw some of that in. Use ground turkey instead of beef to make it leaner. Grab some veggies, tomato sauce and cheese and you have the base for this dish. To make a bigger batch if your feeding more, just double the recipe and use a bigger baking dish.  Serve it with some sour cream. If you like spicey you can sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes. 

Ingredients:

1 lb ground lean turkey

1 cup cooked quinoa 

1/2 diced onion

1 tablespoon minced garlic 

Large handful of chopped spinach

1 1/2 cup tomato sauce

1 cup diced tomatoes

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1 cup shredded cheese (plus extra to sprinkle on top) 

1 teaspoon dried minced basil

Pinch of dried thyme 

S&P 

NOTE: I used mozzarella cheese but you can use whatever you like. Cheddar, pepper jack, even ricotta would be tasty mixed in there. Make it your own family recipe. ;) 

Preheat oven to 375

Cook turkey in a large sauté dish

Sauté garlic and onion in a little olive oil until soft. 

Add onion, garlic and quinoa to turkey. Stir. 

Throw in spinach, tomatoes, bread crumbs, cheese and tomato sauce. Mix. 

Sprinkle with seasoning and give it a final mix. 

Pour into baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. 

Bake for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven, sprinkle with extra cheese and bake 5 more minutes. 

Serve warm from the oven. 

I hope you like it.