Pizza Monkey Bread

I made this for the kids on Christmas Eve and they loved it.  The adults liked it too.  It would be great for your New Year’s Eve party. 

Ingredients

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 stick butter melted 
• pizza dough, enough for 2 pizza crusts  (I used this recipe, it makes the perfect amount)
• 8 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes ( 1/2 inch or slightly bigger)
• 1 small can sliced black olives
• 1 package turkey pepperoni
• marinara sauce, warmed, for dipping

Instructions

1. Melt the butter in a small glass dish in the microwave along with the garlic powder.
2. Lightly brush the inside of a bundt pan or tube pan with garlic butter.
3. Make quarter-sized balls of dough and then flatten.  Top with a slice of pepperoni and a cube of mozzarella and a black olive slice.
4. Wrap the dough around the pepperoni and cheese, pinching well to seal.   Lay out on a piece of wax paper making sure that they don’t touch at this point because they will stick together. 
5. After making all the balls,  brush the pizza balls with garlic butter and place into the bundt pan.
6. Cover and let sit for 30 minutes, while preheating the oven to 400.
7. Bake for 35 minutes, until the top is very brown.
8. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes.
9. Turn out onto a platter and serve with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.

Another Great Christmas

We had Christmas day at my house and we took a family photo of Mini Me’s blended family on my front porch with my new lens that Santa brought me.

We had Christmas Eve at Mini Me’s house.  Jude wore his elf jammies. 

Christmas morning with presents from Santa.

Jude all dressed up for Christmas dinner. 

Santa brought Gus a new bed but he still likes to hang out (literally) on the ottoman.

It was a wonderful Christmas full of love and family and I’m feeling especially blessed to have a healthy beautiful family.  They bring me happiness each and every day. 

Baking Day and Other Ramblings

This is Mini Me and her cousin along with Nana’s oldest Granddaughter, Angel.  We made cookies on Monday.  I’m not sure the cookies are edible but the kids had fun making them.  It’s just something we started doing every year when we moved to this house.  It’s really just a way to get everyone together for a girls day.

Granny was able to attend this year because she doesn’t have to work anymore.

Jude decided to hang out on girls day because Pa was at work and they couldn’t go fishing  He doesn’t look too interested in cooking, does he?


Gus wouldn’t stay out of the kitchen.  He was on cleanup detail.

Aubrey aka. Chubs with her cousin.

The Rae Rae contemplating what to decorate next.  She really loves baking, so she says.


Jude decided to go with the neon green icing for his cookie.  First Born was here but she wouldn’t let me take her picture.  Something about no makeup…

Isn’t he a cutie?  My little man.

Cousins, Aubrey and Jude.  They will be the best of buddies some day.
It’s been a strange Holiday season for us.  My dad passed away last week and there were many things to handle so Christmas was put on the back burner for a week.  At this point I feel like I’m just going through the motions.  I’ll be doing some cooking today in preparations for Christmas Eve and Day.  The Elvis Christmas CD will be playing in the background.  Hillbilly is headed out to do his annual last minute shopping.  I hope he survives it.  I’ve told him to limit the coffee intake and leave the gun at home.  It’s going to be crazy out there.
My wish to all of you is that you have a Texas sized Christmas!  Merry Christmas, Y’all!!!

Bourbon Chicken

Bourbon chicken without the bourbon was what I was craving.  I found this recipe at food dot com and after a couple of slight modifications it is a keeper.  Yummy and easy!!!

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 garlic clove diced small
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:

Heat oil in a large skillet to medium high, add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned.  Reduce to medium heat and add garlic and red pepper and cook for one more minute.  Be careful not to burn the garlic. 

In a bowl, mix remaining ingredients together.  Next, add mixture to the chicken and cook over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved then bring up to a boil.

Cover and reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until chicken is completely done.

Serve over steamed rice (I like Jasmine).

Sweet and Sour Chicken or Pork

Sorry, no picture for this one because I was entirely too lazy to get the camera out.  I promise you it was really good and Hillbilly didn’t even complain about having Chinese food. 
Confucius say:  Man with one chopstick go hungry.  Ha!

• 2 large chicken breasts or 4 boneless pork chops, cut into 1 inch pieces
• flour for dredging
• 1 large bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 medium onion, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 2  to  3  cups broccoli florets
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• salt and pepper
• 1/2  tsp garlic powder
• enough oil to coat skillet for frying
• Jasmine rice, cooked as directed on package

Sweet and Sour Sauce:

• 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp granulated sugar or brown sugar
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp grated ginger
• 2 rounded tablespoons corn starch mixed in enough cold water to make a slurry
• 4 drops red food coloring (optional)

Directions for Making Sweet and Sour Sauce:
Place pineapple juice and water in sauce pan. Heat over low flame. Slowly add sugar while stirring.   When sugar has dissolved, add remaining ingredients all except food coloring (that goes in last) and bring to a soft boil.  Add corn starch slurry and stir constantly. Bring to a boil and remove from heat when desired thickness is reached. 
Add food coloring a couple drops at first and then adjust until you have the desired red color.
Directions for Making Chicken or Pork and Vegetables:
Cut the chicken or pork into bite-sized pieces, removing fat or connective tissue.
In a frying pan, add oil to  and heat to medium high.
Place flour and seasonings in a shallow bowl and mix.
Dredge the meat pieces in the flour thoroughly. 
Drop pieces into the hot oil and fry until deep golden brown. Turn as necessary to cook evenly on all sides. When golden brown, remove to paper towel covered plate to drain.
Next cook vegetables in remaining oil for a few minutes until crisp tender, season with salt and pepper and then add  pineapple and the meat back to the vegetables. Warm through and remove from heat.
Serve over steamed rice and drizzle with sweet and sour sauce.

Spinach, Water Chestnut and Artichoke Casserole

If there is one thing I’m good at it is making perfectly healthy vegetables fattening.  This recipe is great for a Holiday meal or along side a steak.  Please don’t be hating on my fattastic recipe because it’s oh so good.

• 2 - 16 oz packages frozen spinach, thawed, drain all water out using a tea towel
• 1 stick butter plus some to dot top with
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, diced fine
• 1 brick cream cheese
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 egg
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 can artichoke hearts, drain and rough chop
• 2 cans sliced water chestnuts, drain and rough chop
• 5 slices bacon, fried crisp and chopped
• 1/2  cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded

Directions:

Fry bacon in a large skillet or Dutch oven, remove bacon and all but about 1 tbsp of renderings.  Add to renderings the stick of butter, onions, celery and salt and pepper and sauté until onions are translucent then add garlic and cook another minute.  Next add in the cream cheese and soup and melt completely.  When cream cheese has melted remove from heat and add spinach, artichoke hearts and water chestnuts and mix all together.  Check for seasoning and adjust if needed.  Beat egg and stir into cooled mixture.  Don’t add the egg if it’s hot or it will scramble.

In a small bowl mix together bread crumbs and parmesan.  Chop bacon and set aside.  Transfer spinach mixture to a baking dish and top with bacon and then the bread crumb/parmesan mixture and dot with butter.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes or until bubbly and the top has browned.

Sweet Things

Just look at this sweet thing. 

Jude had his 2 month birthday already.  How time flies.  I’ll be taking more pictures this weekend to share.

I’ll be giving thanks on Thursday for my healthy family, my sweet babies, my sweet husband and all the sweet people I have met through this blog.  Y’all have a blessed Thanksgiving and be sure to have seconds on dessert!  After all, it’s the sweet things in life that make it so special.