Cowboy Bacon Beans

As the days get cooler around here, I'm constantly looking for ways to incorporate heavier foods into our meals.  Cowboy Bacon Beans side dish is a great way to kind of merge warmer months with the cooler months because the baked beans remind you of the many cookouts of summer but they are kicked up a notch with the addition of brown sugar, bacon and chili powder.  Yum!

From Pioneer Woman

Homemade Burger Seasoning

Earlier this summer we hosted a "Chill & Grill" Cookout.  We love planning time for all of our friends to come together and relax and hang out.  I used this homemade burger seasoning I had pinned awhile back and it was a hit!  The thing I liked most about it is you can adjusted it to your taste and use it on anything.

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Summer Veggies

I found this recipe via Pinterest and decided to use it as a side dish.  In reality, I probably could have been an entire meal.  Who doesn't love anything smothered with cheese?  Find the recipe here.

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Sweet Potato Casserole

So I've been put on what I like to call "Sweet Potato Probation" by my husband.  I've had a few mishaps with them over the past few years and he basically refuses to eat anything I make with Sweet Potatoes.  When I found this recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole on one of my favorite foodie Blogs, Damn Delicious, I knew it would be the one to change his mind, and it did!  

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Fresh Strawberry and Balsamic Crostini

This super cute, super classy hors d'ouerve would be perfect for your next dinner party, or even for a certain romantic holiday coming up soon.  I originally saw this recipe in Cosmo's June 2013 issue, but you can also find the full recipe over on Cooking for Keeps blog.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Photo from Cooking for Keeps

Sweet Heat Molasses Meatballs

I'm always looking for a way to spice up the usual, so when I stumbled upon this recipe on Pinterest I couldn't wait to try it.  I knew it would be a hit!  We had these delicious meatballs with dinner but I love how Amy at Oh Bite It converted them into the cutest little hands friendly appetizer using a pretzel rod.  I can't wait to serve it this way at our next gathering. 

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Garlic Cheese Pull-Apart Bread

I love bread as much as the next person so I decided to use this recipe to spice up our spaghetti dinner one night.  My mom happened to be in town for wedding prep and even she broke her diet for this yummy spaghetti accompaniment.

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Strawberry Mango Salsa

One thing I love about summer is trying out different recipes with fresh fruit.  This recipe from Damn Delicious seems quite interesting and could be used multiple ways for any meal.  I can't wait to try it, whip it up this weekend and let me know what you think!

Damn Delicious

Chicken Cutlet Sandwich

Rachael Ray does it again!  While simple, this recipe was a huge hit one night when we were babysitting our favorite little people.  The kids had a blast making the sides (we had Loaded Baked Potato Dip and fries), mixing the spread and building their Chicken Cutlet Sandwiches.  At the end of the night we had four full tummies and 2 happy little girls!

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Asparagus Bundles

To go with last week's Chicken Marsala, we also had a side of Asparagus Bundles from Trisha Yearwood's cooking show.  If you haven't Trisha's Southern Kitchen, you should try and catch it one Saturday morning, it will be love at first sight!

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Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are another recipe I got from a Rachel Ray pan I recently received (can you imagine what my kitchen looks like?!?).  This is the prefect week night or game day meal, a super fun take on everyone's favorite Buffalo Wings.

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Green Smoothie

Growing up, my sister never had a real interest in cooking.  In fact, i'm pretty sure it wasn't until she got to college that she gained any interest simply so she wouldn't stave to death.  One morning I received this text from her.  

After introducing her to Pinterest she has become quite the domestic woman if do say so my self.  February's recipe's are dedicated to "How Pinterest Changed Her Life" and each one is something she has made.  First up is the the green smoothie.

2 handfuls of baby spinach
1 apple
1 banana
1 cup of yogurt
5 strawberries
1/2 orange

Blend well, enjoy!

Photo from Dreka via Pinterest

Meatballs in Cranberry Chili Sauce

I'm not sure where I found the recipe, but it has been my go to for the past couple of years for family gatherings, parties with friends and dinner on a Thursday night.  

1 tablespoon butter

½ cup finely chopped onion

2 jalapenos, seeded and minced

2 pounds ground chuck

1 cup toasted bread crumbs

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat.  Add onion and jalapenos; cook stirring frequently, for 4 to 5 minutes or until onion is tender.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.  Place a cooling rack over foil and spray with non stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine ground chuck, bread crumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, and onion mixture.  Add eggs stirring to combine.  Shape mixture into about 48 (2-inch) meatballs, and place into a single layer on prepared rack.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through.  Serve hot. 

NOTE:  Meatballs can be frozen for up to a month before adding to sauce.

2 (16-ounce) cans of whole berry cranberry sauce

1 (12-ounce) jar chili sauce

1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

In a Dutch oven, combine cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and horseradish.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until combined.

NOTE:  Sauce can be frozen up to 1 month.

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Eggnog

Even thought Christmas is over, Eggnog is still a festive drink that will carry us through the new year.  Though I've never attempted to make this yummy beverage from scratch this recipe from Taste of Home seems easy enough.  Try it out and let me know what you think!

Photo from Taste of Home

Basil Tomato Tart

I originally saw this recipe on a friend's blog, Relish Your Life, and I vowed I would try it.  Fast forward about a year and this was the perfect weeknight meal.  While it was especially refreshing in the summer this would make a delicious appetizer anytime of year provided you can find the fresh ingredients.

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Pinwheel Brunch

Rachael Ray does it again!  This brunch idea is one that I plan on trying out ASAP, but wanted to share with you first because it sounds so delicious!  Who doesn't love a pinwheel???

Picture from Rachael Ray Show Website

Sour Cream Biscuits

In my quest to find the perfect easy tasty biscuit recipe, I may have succeed with this one from Cooks Country magazine, Feb/March 2012 issue.  Unlike my past biscuit catastrophe's this one baked perfectly just like the magazine said they would.

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2 cups all (10 ounces) all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 (16 ounce) container sour cream

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Adjust the oven rack to middle position and heat oven and heat oven to 425 degrees.  Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.  Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl.  Stir in sour cream and 5 tablespoons butter until combined.

Scoop and drop generous (slightly heaping) ¼ cup dough 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheet using greased ¼ cup measure.  Brush with remaining 2 teaspoons butter and bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking.  Let biscuits cool on sheet on wire rack for 15 minutes.  Serve warm.

Baked Brown Sugar Chix Wings

During one of my many blog surfing sessions, I stumbled upon this sweet and savory recipe that puts a new twist on chicken wings.  While the wings are sure to make your mouth water, it's really the roasted red pepper sauce that steals the show!  Even my cautious (read: picky) eater boyfriend ranted and raved about this dipping sauce.  Thanks to the folks at Damn Delicious for sharing this recipe.

Recipe to follow!

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2 pounds chicken wings

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon onion powder

2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 teaspoon chili powder

2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1/3 cup roasted red pepper, chopped

2 ounces goat cheese

2 tablespoons sour cream

1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.

In a large bowl, combine the wings, olive oil, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper.

Place the wings onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, using metal tongs to turn at halftime.

To make the dipping sauce, combine the roasted red pepper, goat cheese, sour cream and salt in the bowl of a food processor until emulsified.

Serve wings immediately with dipping sauce.