Top Five Viewer Favorite Recipes of 2011

All this week, I have been sharing my family's favorite recipes from this year but these are the most viewed on the blog.  I am excited to share these with you and can't wait to bring you some new recipes for the upcoming year!  

Here are the top five recipes that were the most viewed:

#1

This recipe has so many views and with good reason...it is SO good!

Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan

~~~~

#2

My obsession with finding the very exact recipe for 

hashbrown casserole at Cracker Barrel finally came to an end this year!

After years of searching, I finally found it!

Copy Cat *Cracker Barrel* Hashbrown Casserole

~~~~

#3

I created this truffle recipe for a recipe challenge and I am 

so glad that I did!  Not only are they simple and easy to make,

they taste like yummy goodness!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffles

~~~~

#4 

I came across this recipe on Pinterest and it has

quickly become a favorite go to our house.

 Crock Pot Soup

~~~~

#5

I make this recipe at home frequently because we

do not live very close to a Pizza Hut.  This is our 

favorite pizza both at home and at Pizza Hut.

Copy Cat *Pizza Hut* Stuffed Crust Pizza

~~~~

Thanks for making this such a fabulous year!

See you in 2012!

Countdown to 2012: Best Desserts

I am so excited to be joining SnoWhite at Finding Joy in My Kitchen for her annual countdown.  I participated last year and it was interesting to look back on my blog to see the recipes that I made over the past year.

I love to bake!  I didn't get to bake as much as I like to this year with the very long heat wave that we went through here in Texas.  It was just too hot to turn the oven on unless I had to.  However, I did manage to make some desserts that my family and friends loved.  Here were our favorites:

Aunt Melva's Buttermilk Pie

 ~~~~

 

Blue Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Countdown to 2012: Best Crock Pot Recipes

I am so excited to be joining SnoWhite at Finding Joy in My Kitchen for her annual countdown.  I participated last year and it was interesting to look back on my blog to see the recipes that I made over the past year.

I love to use my crock pot year round, especially in the summer so I don't heat up my house using the oven.  There is nothing better than walking into the house after a busy day and be greeted by the wonderful smells of dinner already made.   

These were our favorite crock pot dishes this year:

Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan

 ~~~~

Countdown to 2012: Best Main Dishes

I am so excited to be joining Finding Joy in My Kitchen for her annual countdown.  I participated last year and it was interesting to look back on my blog to see the recipes that I made over the past year.

We definitely had some favorite main dishes this year.  Some were meatless, some were not.  As a family, we are trying to add more meatless dishes in our menu rotation next year.   

These were our favorite main dishes this year:

The Best Baked Ziti

 ~~~~

Countdown to 2012: Best Soup/Stew Recipes

I am so excited to be joining Finding Joy in My Kitchen for her annual countdown.  I participated last year and it was interesting to look back on my blog to see the recipes that I made over the past year.

We didn't make as many soups as we like being that it was hot here in Texas for so long, but any time cold weather rolls in, I do like to make a pot of soul warming soup. These were our favorite soup recipes:

 Crock Pot Soup

~~~~

Taco Soup

~~~~

Cheddar Chicken Chowder

Menu Plan: Week of December 26, 2011

Whew! Christmas is over, now on to the next holiday!  I don't know about y'all, but I am getting tired of food so this week we are keeping it simple.

Have a great week!  

 Meal 1

Pasta with Chickpea-Tomato Sauce
Garlic Toast

Meal 2

 Sausage Potato Soup
Cheesy Corn Bread

Meal 3 

 Pumpkin Pancakes

Meal 4

Honey Sauced Chicken

Rice

Broccoli

Meal 5
Leftovers

Meal 6
Family Movie Night
Snack Foods

Meal 7

 Dining Out

BAKING

I am taking a week off from baking!

Linked To:

*Org Junkie: Menu Plan Monday

Countdown to 2012: Best Breakfast Recipes

I am so excited to be joining Finding Joy in My Kitchen for her annual countdown.  I participated last year and it was interesting to look back on my blog to see the recipes that I made over the past year.  Some recipes were more of a hit than others, but they were all delicious to my family.  

Here are the best recipes that we tried for breakfast. 

Streusel Topped Pumpkin Spice Muffins

 ~~~~

 Cinnamon Biscuit Balls

Merry Christmas!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Wishing you and yours a Merry CHRISTmas!

{#50} Must Try Tuesday: December 20, 2011

I can't believe Christmas is only a few days away.  There have been so many awesome recipes on the blogs this week, but here are a few that I want to try.

Enjoy!

We love Mexican food so I can't wait to give these a try

Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas

Miz Helen's Country Cottage

~~~~

Bacon and artichokes!  This bread has got to be good!

Bacon, Onion, Artichoke Artisan Bread
I'm a Mom, Not a Professional

~~~

I bet this would be great on Christmas morning...

Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole
Debbie Does Dinner

~~~~

OMG!  Does this look good or what?

Ham Stuffed Biscuits
Mrs. Happy Homemaker

~~~~

We are chick pea fanatics especially my girls...
strange I know, but they will love this soup!

Garbanzo Bean Soup
Grown from Scratch

~~~~

I can't wait to give this amped up pork roast a try!

Sweet Chipotle Pork Roast
Mrs. Happy Homemaker

~~~~

I have been looking for a yummy basic vanilla cupcake...
this looks like a winner!

Frosty Vanilla Cupcakes
NancyCreative

~~~~

These amped up Mexican Wedding Cookies look
better than any that I have made in recent years...

Stuffed Snowballs
Crazy for Crust

~~~~

Linked To:

*Finding Joy in My Kitchen: Friday Favorite Finds

Recipe: Cranberry-Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip

I was recently invited to a finger foods recipe party...my favorite kind of party!  I love appetizers, snacks, finger foods, chips and dip...whatever you want to call it, this is my food group.  I have some favorite recipes, but I wanted to do something different so I did some searching.  I came across this recipe at Mel's Kitchen Cafe and knew immediately that this was the recipe I was looking for.  I was right!  The dip was a success at the party and at home.  
The tart cranberries, spicy jalapeno and the cilantro all mixed to make the most perfect topper to cream cheese.  I mixed up the cranberry mixture in the morning and let it sit in my refrigerator for 6 hours.  I stirred it every now and then to make sure all the delicious goodness was well mixed.  An hour or so before serving, I whipped my cream cheese to a lighter texture and spread it in my serving tray.  I then poured the cranberry mixture on top.  One thing I should have done because I was transporting, was to pour off some of the liquid.  It made it a bit more messier and sticky.  After the party, I had a little leftover and stored in the refrigerator for a treat the next day.  It was even better!   

I have a family party coming up and this recipe just might make an appearance there as well.  It is just that good!

Enjoy!

Cranberry-Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip

(slightly adapted from the original recipe by Mel's Kitchen Cafe)

{print}

Ingredients

12 ounces fresh cranberries
5-6 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely diced
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 (8 ounces each) packages cream cheese, softened
Chips/Crackers, for serving

Directions
Pulse the cranberries in a food processor or blender until coarsely chopped. Add the green onions, cilantro, jalapeno, sugar, cumin, lemon juice and salt and pulse until the ingredients are well combined and very finely chopped. Transfer the mixture to a covered bowl and refrigerate for 4 hours (or overnight) so the flavors have time to develop and the cranberries lose a bit of their tartness.


When ready to serve, beat the cream cheese in a mixing bowl until light and creamy. Spread the cream cheese in an even layer on a serving plate or 9-inch pie dish. Top with the cranberry-jalapeno mixture, spreading evenly over the top of the cream cheese.


Refrigerate for up to an hour before serving. Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.

Linked To:
*The Sweet Details: Savory Sunday
*I Heart Naptime: Sundae Scoop
*Nifty Thrifty Things: Nifty Thrifty Sunday
*Flamingo Toes: Think Pink Sundays
*Petite Hermine: Sunday Linky Party 
*Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
*11th Heaven's Homemaker Haven: Homemaker Monday 
*Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker: Your Recipe, My Kitchen 
*DIY Home Sweet Home: More the Merrier Monday 
*Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms: Melt in Your Mouth Monday 
*Delightfully Dowling: Mangia Monday 
*Marvelously Messy: A Marvelous Mess
*Keeping it Simple: Motivate Me Monday
*The Girl Creative: Just Something I Whipped Up 
*Blessed with Grace: Tempt My Tummy Tuesday 
*It's A Blog Party: Delicious Dishes
*Mandy's Recipe Box: Totally Tasty Tuesday
*33 Shades of Green: Tasty Tuesdays 
*Chef in Training: Tuesday Talent Show
*From Mess Hall to Bistro: Made From Scratch Tuesday 
*Permanent Posies: Tuesday's Tasty Tidbit
*Sugar and Dots: What I Whipped Up Wednesday 
*This Chick Cooks: These Chicks Cooked
*Turning the Clock Back: What's Cooking Wednesday 
*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table Thursday   

Recipe: Santa's Hat Mix

A couple of weeks ago, I was researching completely wasting time on Pinterest, and came across a pin for Santa Hat Pretzels.  They are super cute and thought it would be a great treat to make up for our teachers.  I thought it would be even better if I added them into a snack mix.  I was right, not only are the pretzels easy to make and tasty by themselves, but adding them to a mix makes them even better. 

I did make a slight change to the recipe.  The first couple of pretzels I dipped just didn't look right.  So I dipped them twice.  The first time I allowed the chocolate to set.  After the second dip into the chocolate, I immediately dipped each pretzel into the sanding sugar. As for the mix, you can add whatever you like.  I think red and green candies would be nice...maybe some craisins...whatever rings your jingle bell!  Always add any candies after the mix has been coated in chocolate.  I made two batches of the snack mix because I wanted a good pretzel to snack mix ratio.

Enjoy!

 

Santa's Hat Mix

(slightly adapted pretzel recipe by Free-n-Fun Christmas)

(original mix recipe by Wende Rickett/The Rickett Chronicles)

{print}

Santa Hat Pretzels

Ingredients

mini pretzel twists

white chocolate almond bark

red sanding sugar

mini marshmallows

Directions

Melt bark according to package directions.  Dip each pretzel halfway in the chocolate and lay on waxed lined baking sheet.  Place baking sheet in refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes to allow chocolate to set.  Remove baking sheet from refrigerator.  Dip each pretzel, one at a time, again in the bark and then immediately into the red sanding sugar allowing a little of the white chocolate to show.  Place back on the tray.  Once you have finished dipping each pretzel, place the baking sheet back into refrigerator for another 10 to 15 minutes.  While the baking sheet is in the refrigerator, cut each mini marshmallows in half.  Remove tray from refrigerator.  Using the chocolate as "glue," dip a marshmallow into the bark and then place on pretzel.  Allow the chocolate to set before adding to the mix.

Santa's Hat Mix

Ingredients

3 cups Rice Chex cereal

1 to 1 1/2 cups roasted peanuts

3/4 to 1 cup mini marshmallows

1/4 to 1/2 cup red hot cinnamon candies

2 tbsp red sanding sugar

Santa Hat pretzels

7 ounces (half bag) candy coating

Directions

Melt half of the candy coating according to package directions.  I microwaved the candy coating in a glass bowl for one minutes and let it sit inside the microwave for another minute.  Add sanding sugar to candy coating, and stir until smooth.  On a wax lined baking sheet, add cereal, peanuts and marshmallows. Drizzle candy coating onto cereal mix.  Put the cereal mix in a large bowl and gently stir until everything is coated.  Spread the mix back onto the lined baking sheet and spread out.  Allow to dry for at least 30 minutes.  Once dry, break apart the clumps and add to a serving bowl.  Add pretzels and cinnamon candies and gently mix with your hands.

Linked To:
*Ali-n-Son: Sweet Tooth Friday
*Bacon Time with the Hungry Hungry Hippo: Anything Goes
*EKat's Kitchen: Friday Potluck
*Stuff and Nonsense: Fridays Unfolded
*Designs by Gollum: Foodie Friday
*Six Sister's Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday 
*Sweet as Sugar Cookies: Sweets for a Saturday
*Nifty Thrifty Things: Nifty Thrifty Sunday 
*Flamingo Toes: Think Pink Sundays 
*Petite Hermine: Sunday Linky Party
*Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday 
*11th Heaven's Homemaker Haven: Homemaker Monday
*Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker: Your Recipe, My Kitchen  
*DIY Home Sweet Home Project: More the Merrier Monday
*Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms: Melt in Your Mouth Monday 
*Marvelously Messy: A Marvelous Mess 
*Keeping it Simple: Motivate Me Monday
*Sumo's Sweet Stuff: Market Yourself Monday 
*Dittle Dattle: Amaze Me Monday 
*Here's to Handy Andy: A Pinterestng Party
*Skip to My Lou: Made by You Monday
*The Girl Creative: Just Something I Whipped Up 
*Blessed with Grace: Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
*It's A Blog Party: Delicious Dishes
*Mandy's Recipe Box: Totally Tasty Tuesday 
*33 Shades of Green: Tasty Tuesdays 
*Crazy for Crust: Crazy Sweet Tuesdays 
*Chef in Training: Tuesday Talent Show
*From Mess Hall to Bistro: Made From Scratch Tuesday 
*Permanent Posies: Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits
*Sugar and Dots: What I Whipped Up Wednesday 
*This Chick Cooks: These Chicks Cooked 
*Turning the Clock Back: What's Cooking Wednesday
*Raising Homemakers: Homemaking Link-Up 
*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table Thursday 
*Ivy and Elephants: A Very Ivy and Elephant's Christmas
*The 36th Avenue: Give Me Sugar and Party Time
*Miz Helen's Country Cottage: Full Plate Thursday 

Recipe: Aunt Melva's Buttermilk Pie

There are two pies that I make year round.  My Grandma Lewis' Chocolate Pie and my Aunt Melva's Buttermilk Pie.  These are the only pies that my family eats.  Both pies are creamy and delicious, but this buttermilk pie is so SO very good.  

Aunt Melva is my step-father's only sister and while he is no longer with us (but still loved and missed everyday), my family and I get to enjoy her company every chance we get.  Aunt Melva is a very southern lady who is always perfectly put together, but better than that, she is gracious with a very kind heart.

If you have never had the opportunity to enjoy this most delicious goodness, you are deprived!  You may think that buttermilk pie is the most unappealing pie in the universe.  I mean, after all, it is made with buttermilk!  I personally do not enjoy a cold glass of buttermilk, but my husband and twin daughter's do...icky!  This pie reminds of creme brulee with a  light sugar crust on top with the most incredible creamy filling.  Once you have tried a slice, you will wonder why you have deprived yourself. 

I have tried a couple of different recipes but this one can't be beat!  This pie is best served very cold.  You could serve it with a dollop of whipped cream but it really doesn't need anything. 

I hope you enjoy Buttermilk Pie as much as we do!

Aunt Melva's Buttermilk Pie

(original recipe by Melva Watson McDonald)

{print}

Ingredients

2 cups sugar

2 tbsp AP flour

5 large eggs, lightly beaten

2/3 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled

1 tsp vanilla

1 pie shell, deep dish

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Blend sugar and flour in a large bowl.  Add eggs and buttermilk, stirring well.  Add butter and vanilla and mix until all ingredients are incorporated.  Pour into a pie shell.  Bake for 45 minutes or until pie is set but still slightly "jiggly" in the center.  Allow to completely cool and then refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Linked To:

*Raising Homemakers: Homemaking Link Up

*At The Well: Tempt My Tummy
*This Chick Cooks: These Chicks Cooked
*Turning the Clock Back: What's Cooking Wednesday 
*The Project Queen: Turning the Daunting Into the Doable 
*Someday Crafts: Whatever Goes Wednesday
*My Girlish Whims: Your Whims Wednesday
*Remodelaholic: Recipe Link Up 
*Bizzy Bakes: Bake with Bizzy
*Something Swanky: Sweet Treats Thursday 
*It's a Keeper: It's A Keeper Thursday 
*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table 
*Talking Dollar and Cents: Sweet Temptations 
*Miz Helen's Country Cottage: Full Plate Thursday 
*Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff 
*What Allie's Making Now: Making it with Allie
*A Glimpse Inside: Catch a Glimpse 
*Mom On Timeout: Taking Timeout Thursday
*Tidy Mom: I'm Lovin' It 
*A Creative Princess: It's A Party!
*Designs by Gollum: Foodie Friday 
*A Well-Seasoned Life: Sweet Indulgences Sunday 
*LambAround: Not Baad Sunday 
*Nifty Thrifty Things: Nifty Thrifty Sunday
*11th Heaven's Homemaker Haven: Homemaker Monday
*Mandy's Recipe Box: Totally Tasty Tuesday 
*33 Shades of Green: Tasty Tuesday 
*Crazy for Crust: Crazy Sweet Tuesday
*From Mess Hall to Bistro: Made from Scratch Tuesday 

{#49} Must Try Tuesday: December 13, 2011

We are racing to Christmas and it is super busy at our house.  This is the last week of school for my girls and then we have two weeks of vacation.  We are hoping to do a lot of nothing!  Nothing includes watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and all the other holiday specials, making cookies, drinking hot chocolate and watching movies.  Doesn't nothing sound awesome??

We might even try making a few of these yummy recipes.  Have a great week!

Enjoy!

I am not a fan of chocolate pudding, 

but I could possibly learn to like this...

Baked Chocolate Pudding

Crazy for Crust

~~~~

How beautiful do these buns look?

Even better..they are stuffed with delicious goodness..

Stuffed Buns

Treat & Trick

~~~~

Oh!  Sweet!  Love!

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Something Swanky

~~~~

This looks like snack heaven!

Cranberry-Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
Mel's Kitchen Cafe

~~~~

Linked To:

*Finding Joy in My Kitchen: Friday Favorite Finds

Recipe: White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  This is my first holiday recipe to try and I am so glad I did!  I find the original recipe on Mindika Moments.  Although she has not posted in awhile, she has some fabulous recipes that I can't wait to try.  

This fudge is made with cream cheese.  I have never made fudge with cream cheese and I am glad that I did give it a try.  It is super creamy and even more super easy to make!  I love the combination of peppermint and white chocolate and so did my family.  My girls had lots of fun unwrapping the candy canes and helping me grind them in the food processor.  This fudge comes together very fast and easy so there is not a lot of fussing over a candy thermometer.  You only need to melt your chocolate over a double boiler.  The original recipe calls for a white chocolate baking bar, but my little grocery store doesn't carry such fancy things so I substituted white chocolate chips.  But I will be making this recipe again with the bar to see how the fudge turns out. 

I am submitting this recipe as part of this month's Crazy Cooking Challenge at Crazy Mom's Cooking!  Please stop by and vote for my recipe.  While you are there be sure to take a peek at the other challenger's recipes.

Join next month's challenge: Chicken Noodle Soup!

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

(adapted from the original recipe by Mindika Moments)

{print}

Ingredients

1 8-oz package cream cheese, room temperature

4 cups powdered sugar

1 1/4 tsp vanilla

1 12-oz bag white chocolate chips

1 cup crushed peppermint candy canes

Directions

Line a 8x8 baking pan with waxed paper extending over the sides to form "handles."  Set aside.  In a large bowl, add cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla.  Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until very well blended and smooth.  In the top of a double boiler, add white chocolate chips and slowly melt, stirring occasionally, until smooth.  Stir the chocolate and peppermint into the cream cheese mixture mixing until well blended.  Reserve a couple of tablespoons of the peppermint to sprinkle on the top.  Spread mixture into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.  Sprinkle reserved peppermint on top.  Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until firm.  Cut into small squares.

Linked To:

*Sugar and Dots: What I Whipped Up Wednesday

*Around My Family Table: Turning the Table Thursday

*Talking Dollar and Cents: Sweet Temptations
*Momnivore's Dilemma: Creative Juice
*Miz Helen's Country Cottage: Full Plate Thursday
*Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff 
*Something Swanky: Sweet Treat Thursday
*Mom On Timeout: Taking A Timeout Thursday
*Alli n Son: Sweet Treat Friday
*Simply Sweet Home: Friday Favorites 
*Bacon Time with the Hungry Hungry Hippo: Anything Goes Linky Party
*EKat's Kitchen: Friday Potluck
*Designs by Gollum: Foodie Friday
*Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday 
*A Well-Seasoned Life: Sweet Indulgence Sunday 
*This Chick Cooks: These Chicks Cooked