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