Blue Cheese Burgers

So.. BJ has practically been the only updater for the past few weeks so that's when I decided to help her out. I also have to do a project/challenge were I have to prepare five different meals and make them so I should be updating a lot hopefully. This is to DIE for! -Louisa

• 2 pounds ground chuck
• 1 pound ground sirloin
• 1/2 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup steak sauce
• 3 extra-large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 8 to 10 hamburger buns
• 8 ounce, blue cheese, sliced
• sliced tomatoes, lettuce, onions, for serving (optional)

Carefully mix the meats, bread crumbs, steak sauce, eggs, salt, and pepper with the tines of a fork, but do not mash them. Lightly form hamburger patties and press lightly into shape.
Prepare a charcoal or a stove-top grill.
Cook the hamburgers for 4 minutes on 1 side, then turn and cook 3 minutes on the other side for medium-rare. Remove to a plate and cover with aluminum foil. Allow the hamburgers to rest for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, grill the buns, cut side down, for 1 minute, until toasted. Place a hamburger and a slice of blue cheese in each bun, plus tomato, lettuce, and onions, if desired, and serve hot.

Chicken Bacon Wrap

Sorry, no picture. Next time I make one I will snap a photo.

It was soo good that I couldn't even put it down for a quick picture.

Such a yummy, quick lunch. It packs well for picnics too.

~BJ

Chicken Bacon Wrap

shredded chicken

crumbled bacon

feta cheese

spinach

honey mustard vinaigrette (or poppy seed vinaigrette)

flour tortilla

Place the chicken, bacon, cheese and spinach on the tortilla. Top with dressing. Roll up and enjoy!

Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

(one to two servings)

3 Tbs. olive oil

1 Tbs. vinegar

1/2 Tbs. sugar/ or honey

1 tsp. mustard

Combine all ingredients and whisk or shake.

Banana Cream Pie Parfaits

I love bananas. This is a quick fix and super yummy! My kids loved eating out of the fancy goblets. ~BJ

Banana Cream Pie Parfaits

graham crackers
bananas
vanilla pudding
whipped cream

Grab a glass and crumble the crackers into the bottom. Next add the vanilla pudding. Then layer the top with sliced bananas and top with whipped cream. If you want to use a triffle dish, just keep layering until you reach the top. Let sit in fridge so the graham crackers can soften.

Cinnamon Toast

This one is an oldie but a goodie. Remember when Mom would make us Cinnamon Toast for breakfast and we thought we won the lottery?! Well, my kids LOVE this sweet toast too! It is requested all too often. Notice the plate of sliced oranges to help add to the nutritional value of this quick breakfast. Ha. ~BJ

Cinnamon Toast

toasted bread

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/3 cup sugar

butter

Butter the toast. Mix the cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the warm toast. Eat with a glass of milk. Enjoy!

Caramelos

Ever since I was born we would spend every summer in Waterton, Alberta. They have a little candy shop that sells these amazing caramel covered marshmallows. I was trying to jazz up some brownies and accidentally stumbled onto this creation. They taste EXACTLY like the Caramelos that I remember. Now I just need to figure out how to dip each individual marshmallow.~BJ

Caramelos

recipe by BJ

1 can sweetened and condensed milk

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

1 cup corn syrup

1 bag of marshmallows

In a heavy sauce pan melt the butter, milk, sugars, and syrup. Boil for several minutes (about 10) until it reaches the "soft ball" stage. Stir constantly.  In a greased casserole dish (9x9) pour the bag of marshmallows evenly then top with the warm (not HOT) caramel. Let cool and cut into squares.

**Try freezing a bag of large marshmallows then dip, using a toothpick, in the caramel. Cool then wrap in wax paper, individually. 

Banana Bars

After searching for the perfect recipe to satisty my sweet tooth, I came across this gem. These sweet bars are soft and taste sensational with cream cheese frosting. My pic came out lousy, so I borrowed this one from kitchentrialanderror.com. Have fun with this recipe. Your family will love it. -Christine

1/2 c. butter, softened
1 3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
3 ripe bananas
3/4 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Grease  jelly roll pan and preheat oven to 350.Cream butter and sugar in mixing bowl. Beat in eggs, bananas, vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingrediants. Mix everything together until just combined. Pour and smooth out into jellyroll pan. Bake 20-25 minutes. Cool. Frost with desired frosting.

Happy Face Pancake

My kids LOVE to be served the HAPPY FACE pancake. It brightens their day and they are sure to tell everyone about what they had for breakfast! ~BJ

HAPPY FACE Pancake

1 extra large pancake

chocolate chip eyes

whipped cream hair

bacon mouth

a drizzle of syrup

strawberry nose

Chocolate Cake in a Mug

This cake is decadent and done in less than 5 minutes. It is good topped with whipped cream or sprinkled with powdered sugar.~BJ


Chocolate Cake in a Mug
recipe from Aunt Cathy Hatch

3 Tbs. flour
3 Tbs. sugar
2 Tbs. cocoa powder
dash of salt
1 egg
3 Tbs. oil
3 Tbs. milk
splash of vanilla
2 tsp. chocolate chips

Grease a mug. Put all wet ingredients into mug, then dry ingredients. Stir with a fork, making sure everything is well incorporated. Place in microwave for 2 minutes on high. Let cool slightly and enjoy!

Sweet Pork

I love sweet pork. We make Cafe Rio salads out of it...burritos...open faced sandwiches...My favorite is to put a flour tortilla on your plate. Sprinkle cheese onto the tortilla. Spread a layer of beans (any kind). Top with rice and the sweet pork. Then add some guacamole, lettuce, ranch and a few crunchy tortilla strips and you have a dish to DIE for!~BJ

Sweet Pork

pork roast (2 lb)
2 cans of Coke
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 jar of salsa

Throw all the ingredients into the crock pot and cook on low for 8-10 hours. It will just fall apart!

Chocolate Layered Pie

I got this recipe from a good friend. It is very rich...but oh, so good!~BJ

Chocolate Layered Pie
recipe from Meredith Jones

crust (makes 2):
1 box chocolate cake mix
3/4 cup butter (softened)

pie:
8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup Cool Whip

2 boxes chocolate pudding (instant)
3 cups milk

Cool Whip

For the crust mix dry cake mix together with butter. Spread into two pie pans and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cream together the cream cheese and powdered sugar. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread onto the cooled pie crust. Next, mix the pudding and milk, then spread over the cream cheese mixture. Top with Cool Whip. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Hawaiian Delight

Hawaiian Delight has been in our family for years!! It is so simple that a college student can do it!  When I was working in the Young Women I taught all my Laurel's that were graduating how to make this simple dish. ~BJ

Hawaiian Delight

1 package of deli ham
12 slices of cheese (mozzarella or cheddar)
1 can of pineapple chunks
1 cup of prepared rice

Slice the cheese to the width and length of your index finger. Roll up a chunk of cheese in each slice of ham.  In a casserole dish, line with the rolled ham and cheese. Pour the canned pineapple, juice and all, over the ham. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Serve warm over rice.

Emeril's Fruit and Nut Granola

I got this recipe out of a food magazine and I thought I would give it a try since I am crazy about granola. I remember "accidentally" eating an entire box of granola bars at a house I was babysitting when I was12 years old. I have been hooked ever since. I definately prefer this recipe since it is not overly sweet like the grocery store kind. I reduced the amount of nuts since I didn't have enough and it still turned out awesome. It is a great after school snack too. -Christine

Ingredients


3/4 cup Honey

2 tbsp  Butter

3 cups Oatmeal

1 1/3 cups Slivered Almonds

1 tsp Kosher Salt

1 cup Premium Dried Cranberries

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

1/3 cup  Creamy Peanut Butter


Directions

Preheat oven to 325.

In a small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup honey and butter over low. Cook, stirring until butter melts. 2 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds and a pinch of salt. Drizzle honey mixture over oat mixture and stir to combine; wipe saucepan clean. Spread mixture evenly on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let cool completely on sheet. 10 minutes. Return to large bowl and add raisins; stir to combine.

Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking dish. In saucepan combine 1/2 cup honey, nut butter and brown sugar over medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves, 10 minutes. Drizzle over oat mixture and stir until combined; firmly press granola into dish with a spatula. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Cut into 16 bars or squares. store in an airtight container at room temperature up to five days.







Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/recipes/emerils-nutty-granola-bars/#ixzz1FT3FLBcQ