Maple Bacon Monkey Bread

2 tbsp. butter or margarine

2 tbsp. real maple syrup

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 tsp ground red pepper (cayenne)

6 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

2 cans (8oz each.) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 2 cans (8oz ea.) crescent recipe creations refrigerated seamless dough sheet

1) Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8 x 4 inch loaf pan with cooking spray.  ( I used a bundt pan)

2) In medium microwavable bowl, microwave butter and syrup uncoved on high 30 to 45 seconds or until hot. Stir in brown sugar and red pepper until dissolved. Stir in bacon. Evenly spoon mixture into pan.

3) Unroll each can of dough into 1 large rectangle: if using crescent roll dough, press perforations to seal. Cut each rectangle into 8 rows by 3 rows, to make 24 pieces per rectangle (48 pieces of dough total). Roll each piece of dough into a ball. Arrange balls over butter mixture in pan.

4) Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Place heatproof serving plate over pan; carefully turn plate and pan over. Remove pan. Serve warm. 

prep: 15 min

total: 40 min

makes 8 servings

Crock Pot Tomato Sauce with OMG Garlic Bread

For the Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce:

1lb. ground beef 

salt & pepper

1 medium onion, minced (or cut in half)

28 oz can crushed tomatoes

8 oz can tomato sauce

6 oz can tomato paste

1 tbsp. brown sugar

1 bay leaf (or 2 small)

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp. dried basil

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 tsp. red chili pepper flakes (optional) 

2 tbsp. butter

1) Season ground beef with salt & pepper then brown with minced onion in a large skillet over medium high heat. Drain then add to a large crock pot. Add all the ingredients except for the butter, stir to combine, then cook on low for 5-6 hours. Remove bay leaves, stir in butter, then serve over cooked pasta.

For the OMG Garlic Bread:

French or Italian loaf of bread

melted butter

garlic salt

italian seasoning

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice the loaf of bread into 1/2" slices, being careful not to cut all the way through the bottom crust. Melt butter in a small bowl then season with garlic salt and italian seasoning. Brush seasoned butter between slices, then wrap the entire in foil and bake for 15 minutes to warm through.

Serves 6-8

Pork Loin with bacon and brown sugar glaze

Ingredients

1 boneless pork loin, about 5 to 6 lbs

4 to 6 slices of bacon 

Rub Mixture:

1 tsp. Chili Powder

1/2 tsp. paprika

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. coarse ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

GLAZE:

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 tbsp flour

2 tbsp cider vinegar

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

Directions

1) Heat oven to 350 degrees

2) Place pork loin in a roasting pan. Combine the rub  ingredients and rub over the pork. Cut each strip of bacon in half crosswise and lay them over the pork loin. Roast for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the pork registers about 150 degrees.

3) In the meantime, combine the brown sugar, flour, cider vinegar, and dry mustard in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and simmer for about 1 minute. Spoon over the pork and return to the oven. Roast for about 15 to 20 minutes longer, or until pork registers 160 degrees. 

serves 6 - 8 

prep: 5 min

cook: 1 hour 30 min

Glazed Kielbasa

3 lbs smoked kielbasa or Polish sausage, cut into 1 in chunks

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cups ginger ale

1) Place sausage in a 3-qt slow cooker; sprinkle with brown sugar.

2) Pour ginger ale over the top. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until heated through. Serve with a slotted spoon.

Makes : 12 servings 

Prep: 5 min

cook: 4 hours

Honey Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders

Ingredients

           1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

             1/4 cup honey

            1/4 tsp salt

                                    1 cup Progresso (or any brand you want) plain panko crispy bread                    

           crumbs

                         1 pkg. (14 oz) uncooked chicken tenders (not breaded)

             1/4 cup honey

Directions

 1) Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray.

2) In medium bowl, mix brown sugar, honey and salt. In large resealable food-storage plastic bag, place bread crumbs. Dip chicken into brown sugar mixture. (You will have to really press down when do this) Place in bread crumb bag; seal and shake to coat. Place chicken on cookie sheet.

3) Bake 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink in center and bread crumbs are golden brown. Serve with honey.


                                                                    Prep: 10 min    
                                                                    Total: 30 min.  
                                                                   makes 4 servings


this is a favorite kid friendly honey and brown sugar flavored tenders..and go great with fries..

Apple Kielbasa

                                                                            Ingredients

2 lbs kielbasa (or smoked sausage anything really that comes in a link form)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup chunky applesauce

2 tbsp. Dijon mustard

2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

1) Cut Kielbasa into 1 inch pieces

2) Combine the brown sugar, applesauce, mustard and garlic and place in crockpot with kielbasa.

3) Cover and cook on high for 2 hours.

(You could do low for 4 hours if you want) 

Tastes really good. This could also be used as an appetizer as well. Its simply and easy to make. 

Balsamic Roasted Pork Loin

2 tbsp. steak seasoning rub (I used the Cowboy Rub from McCormick)

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

2 lbs boneless pork loin

1) Dissolve steak seasoning in balsamic vinegar, then stir in olive oil. Place pork into a resealable plastic bag and pour marinade overtop. Squeeze out air and seal bag. Marinate 2 hours to overnight.

2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3) Place pork into a glass baking dish along with marinade. Bake in preheated oven, basting occasionally until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees, about 1 hour. Let roast rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Prep: 5 min. 

Cook:  1 hour

Ready in: 3 hours 5 min

Servings: 8

Hapari Swimwear Giveaway

Hi all,

   I just wanted to take a few minutes to let everyone know about a great giveaway going on right now. With summer coming who couldn't use a new swimsuit. Well right now there is a pretty awesome contest going on over at Mommy Living the Life of Riley Blog. They are having a giveaway for Hapari Swimwear. Hapari Swimwear offers figure flattering, stylish swimwear. Its definitely guaranteed to make sure your enjoying yourself at the beach or pool instead of you worrying about what you look like in that swimsuit. So make sure to go and check them out. This is the link to the giveaway to enter  

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Cheesy Garlic Baked Chicken

4 Boneless skinless chicken breasts -thin 

4 garlic cloves-minced

4 tbsp. brown sugar

3 tsp. olive oil

1 tsp. salt

1 cup of cheese (any type you want)

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a casserole dish with tin foil this will help with the clean up afterwards. Lightly grease it.

2) In small saute pan, saute garlic with the oil until tender.

3) Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar & a teaspoon of salt.

4) Place chicken breasts in a prepared baking dish and cover with 3/4 of the garlic and brown sugar mixture.

5) Add salt and pepper to taste.

6) Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

7) Within the last 10 minutes before removing it from the oven put your cheese on top then put the remaining brown sugar and garlic mixture on top of the cheese and let bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is fully melted.

*You can use more then 4 pieces of chicken just double up on everything else so you have enough. 

Extra-Crispy Spicy Fried Chicken

3 eggs

1/3 cup water

about 1 cup "Texas Pete" hot sauce

4 cups flour

2 tsp. pepper

2 tsp. paprika

3 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 qt. buttermilk (optional) 

Salt, Pepper, and garlic powder (to taste) 

1 (1 to 2 1/2 lb.) chicken, cut into pieces

Peanut oil, for frying

1) Place cut up chicken in a large bowl, and cover with buttermilk. Cover and chill for two hours or overnight. This is an optional (but highly recommended) step.

2) In a large bowl, add eggs water, and red pepper sauce. Whisk until combined.

3) In a large gallon freezer bag, mix flour, pepper, paprika, and cayenne. 

4) Remove chicken from buttermilk (if marinated) and sprinkle lightly with salt , pepper, and garlic powder.

5) Place all chicken pieces in freezer bag with flour mixture. Shake until all pieces are evenly coated. 

6) Remove chicken pieces one at a time, shaking excess flour. Dip each piece in the egg mixture, and return to bag flour. After all pieces of been dipped in the egg mixture and put back in the bag, give it a second shake to coat chicken pieces again.

7) Heat oil in deep fryer or deep pan to 350 degrees. Working in batches , drop each piece of  chicken into the hot oil. Fry for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown, turning occasionally if oil does not completely cover chicken. Keep in mind that dark meat chicken takes longer to cook than white meat. Watch your wing segments, as well; these will finish cooking first. 

Serve with whatever side you want and enjoy :)

Rosemary Roasted Chicken w/Potatoes

2 tsp. paprika
1 1/2 tsp. crushed rosemary leaves
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. coarse ground black pepper
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
6 bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed (about 2 lbs) or you can use chicken legs
1 1/2 lbs small red potatoes cut into 1 in cubes


1) Mix oil, all of the spices and salt in large bowl. Add chicken and potatoes; toss to coat well. Arrange chicken and potatoes in a single layer on a foil- lined 15 x 10 x 1 in baking dish that is sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. ( you also can use a stick of butter and rub it all over the bottom of the foil if you don't have the cooking spray)

2) Roast in a preheated 425 degree oven for at least 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are tender, turning potatoes occasionally.

prep time: 15 minutes
cook time: 30 minutes (or more)
makes 6 servings

Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

Boneless Chicken breasts, chopped into small chunks (use as much as you think you'll need)
1/3 cup flour
Olive Oil
1/2 tbsp. salt
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp. ketchup
6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate (thaw it or throw it in the microwave for about 45 sec)
4 tbsp. brown sugar


1) In a bowl, mix the orange juice, brown sugar, vinegar, salt and ketchup. Pour the flour in a small bowl. Cover the chicken breasts chunks in flour and shake off excess.

2) Pour s small amount of Olive oil in a skillet and brown the flour covered chicken. The chicken doesn't need to be fully cooked since its going in the crock pot.

3) After the chicken is done cooking, pour the pieces into the crock pot. Then cover the chicken with the sauce mixture and stir it up.

4) Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.

Serve over rice and you can also add veggies if you want. Just make sure to double the sauce recipe if you have  a lot of chicken. That way it doesn't burn.

Spicy Oven-Fried Chicken

2 cups flour

2 tbsp. seafood seasoning

2 tsp. hot sauce (you can use more depending on how spicy you want)

1 tsp. pepper

3/4 tsp. salt

1 1/4 tsp. paprika, divided

1/2 cup nonfat milk

1 (2 1/2 to 3 1/2 lb.) pkg. chicken pieces

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large resealable plastic bag combine flour, seafood seasoning, hot sauce, pepper, salt and 1 tsp. of the paprika: set aside. Place milk in a shallow bowl. Dip each piece in milk, then place in bag. Seal bag; shake to coat.

2) Pour oil into a 15 x 10 x 1 in. pan. Place chicken in pan and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 tsp paprika.

3) Bake, uncovered, 1 hour or until chicken is golden brown and meat is no longer pink (165 degrees). Drain on paper towels before serving. 

Serves 4. 

prep time: 15 min

cook time: 1 hour

You can change it up with the recipe as far as the spices go..you can add additional or add more of one of the ones above..All depends on taste. 

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper ( or more to taste if you want it hotter)
1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
2 cups marinara/pasta sauce (any kind you want. I used Parmesan & Romano flavor)
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 oz. Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, divided
3.5 oz garlic croutons, roughly crushed, leaving some larger pieces ( I used New York Texas Toast Garlic & Butter)




1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.

2) Spread the cubed pieces of chicken across the bottom of the baking dish in a single layer. Sprinkle the minced garlic, red pepper flakes & basil evenly over chicken. Spread the sauce evenly across the top. On top of the sauce layer, sprinkle 3/4 cup of the mozzarella and 1 oz of the parmesan evenly across the dish. Sprinkle the crushed croutons across the top and follow with the remaining cheese.

3) Bake for 40-45 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

makes 8 servings

Strufoli

2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking flour
4 tbsp. sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 fl.oz whiskey (rye, bourbon or Canadian works but not scotch)
3 cups honey
oil or shortening for deep frying
multi-color sprinkles (non-parells)


1) Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
2) Add all liquid ingredients (except honey) to dry to form a dough.
3) Knead dough well.
4) For balls roll dough out in 1/4 inch round strips like pencils.
5) Cut the pieces at small intervals with an angle cut.
6) Deep fry until golden brown.
7) Drain on paper towels.
8) Heat honey in a microwave until it starts to thin out and become pourable.
9) Add balls to the honey and toss to coat. Sprinkle with sprinkles.



There are many versions of this recipe..this is just one..  enjoy :)

Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

1 cup sugar
2 tbsp. cinnamon, ground
3 cans (7.5oz ea.) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted



1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix sugar and cinnamon in plastic bag. Cut biscuits into quarters. Shake 6 to 8 pieces at a time in Cinnamon sugar mixture. Place biscuit pieces in greased 10 cup bundt pan.

2) Mix leftover cinnamon sugar mixture with melted butter. Pour over biscuits.

3) Bake 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Invert onto serving plate. Serve warm.


makes: 16 servings
prep: 10 min
cook: 35 min

Smokey Chipotle Chicken

 

1 pkg of chicken (about 3 to 4 pieces) cut into bite size cubes

1 16oz bottle chipotle sauce/marinade

1) Put about 1 tbsp of oil in pan and heat.

2) Cut up chicken into bite size cubes (or however big of small you want)

3) cook until all chicken is cooked thru and browing (about 15 min)

4) Pour Chipotle sauce over and let boil then lower to simmer. About 5 min.

5) Serve over rice. (or whatever you choose) 

6) Enjoy!

This is a very simple and cheap dish.

Pizza Meat Loaf

1 envelope Onion Soup Mix (you can also use Savory Herb & Garlic Soup Mix)

2 lbs ground beef (or meatloaf mix beef) 

1 1/2 cups bread crumbs

2 eggs

1/4 cup water

1 cup pasta sauce, divided

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except 1/2 cup pasta sauce & 1/2 cup cheese.

2) In a 13 x 9 in. baking dish or roasting pan, shape into loaf. Top with remaining 1/2 cup pasta sauce. 

3) Bake, uncovered, 50 minutes.

4) Sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until done. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. 

Makes about 8 servings

first impressions of Palmolive!

My first impression of the Vox Box from Influenster with the Palmolive Dish Soap was surprising at first because I hadn't realized I had been selected to receive it. But once I realized it I was quite happy because it couldn't of come at a better time..lol...I actually needed dish soap no less..lol..Since using it I am quite pleased and definitely will be going to Walmart to purchase more. Its something I highly recommend to anyone who does dishes..it works great and the scents are amazing. Thanx +Influenster and @Palmolive Fresh Infusions

"Palmolive Fresh Infusions"

I was given the opportunity thru  Influenster (Great site by the way) to try out this new product. And I absolutely love it. I had my mother try out the Ginger & White Tea one and it was amazing. The scent was so nice and so different from anything I ever smelled before. She loved it. Right now I'm using the Lime and Basil one and am loving it. I gotta say that with all the dish soaps I have ever used before this one is by far the best. Here is a link to the  Palmolive® website: http://bit.ly/VMwX1V and also a link to  the Influenster review page: http://bit.ly/101WrXn You can find this great product at Walmart.

I do wanna let everyone know that I received this product complimentary through Influenster. 

Barbecue Beef (made in crock pot)

3lbs rump roast

3 tbsp. flour

1 (15oz) can tomato sauce 

1/2 cup chopped onions

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 tbsp. lemon juice

3 beef bouillon cubes

1 1/2 tsp. chili powder

1 garlic clove, minced 

1 tsp. dry mustard

1) Coat meat with flour and set aside.

2) In crock pot, combine remaining ingredients.

3) Place meat in crock pot and turn to coat with sauce.

4) Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours or on high for 6 hrs.

5) Slice or shred meat into small pieces.

6) Mix into sauce

7) Serve on rolls.

This will make your house smell so good..I even could smell it from outside my kitchen door before coming into my house. Very tasty.