Easy Appetizer: Hot Corn Dip ♥

Today's easy appetizer recipe: Just five pantry ingredients and ten minutes, that's all it takes to put this appetizer together.

Are you good at appetizers? Me, not so much. :-( But this Hot Corn Dip was a hit on Christmas Eve afternoon during our annual family open house for forty or fifty or some times sixty people – I never count, we're just happy that the extended family is in one place for a few hours. But right, the dip. So yes, I watched one person after another dip a Frito corn chip into the hot dip and then go back for another, each time savoring the cheesy warmth.

For a casual New Year's, for an upcoming playoff game and the Superbowl, this is a winner!
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Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Bowls

I was craving enchiladas, but had crazy, busy days so I created this recipe.  It smelled so good while it was cooking and was a huge hit with the family!!

Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Bowls
4-5 chicken breasts  (I used 12 chicken tenders)
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can enchilada sauce
1/2 cup water
3-4 green onions (or 1-2 Tablespoons minced onion)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
cilantro *Optional
cooked rice
sour cream
additional shredded cheese

Place chicken in the crock pot, pour the enchilada sauce, the taco seasoning, onions, water and 1 cups cheese on top.

Then if desired add some chopped cilantro on top of that. Cook on low for about 4 hours, stirring every once in awhile.

When chicken is cooked through, remove and cut in to pieces or shred it.  Return it to the pot.  Cook your rice.
Serve chicken mixture over rice.

 Garnish with cheese and sour cream.

*Next time I am going to add to the garnishing;  tomatoes and avocado

I also think a can of black beans would be a good addition to the chicken mixture.

It was simple and delicious. I will be making it again!!

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Easy Make-Ahead Endive & Apple Salad ♥ Recipe

Today's winter salad recipe: Just sliced endive and apple tossed in a quick curry vinaigrette. Make-ahead for holiday buffets or potluck gatherings, adding welcome freshness and a bit of "crunch" to rich food.

Note #1: The Saturday before Thanksgiving is grand timing for a party! We were feeling all geared up and festive but it was too soon to start cooking for Thanksgiving and way too soon to be (over)planning Christmas gatherings. So that night, four couples gathered for an "Alsatian Harvest Feast" – and did we ever feast! The meal was seven courses over five hours, each course better than the next. A charcuterie platter with two kinds of hand-made Alsatian sausage. Swiss and French raclette, warmed til melty on the stove in a small cast iron serving piece like this one. (I love it!) Chicken liver pate. Excellent homemade bread! Warm onion soup. A tiny serving of yogurt sorbet as a palate cleanser, topped with a spoonful of Schnapps! A stunning crown roast with homemade fresh sauerkraut. Alsatian white beans simmered in white wine. (That recipe you'll see soon!) This Endive & Apple Salad. An amazing cheese course, all from artisanal Wisconsin cheese producers. A wedge of a crispy pear tart with a smear of pear butter and whipped cream. Was that seven courses? Forgive me if I lost track.

Note #2: A completely make-ahead salad is a blessing! I mixed the dressing in the morning, then dressed the endive and apples in early afternoon, then put it aside to chill. It was good the first day, even better the second so I could have made the salad the day before! The mix of bitter greens (What Are Bitter Greens?) and sweet apple is a great combination and a welcome "simple salad" amid rich food. It would be great for a holiday buffet, a take-along potluck, etc. And yes, do make it ahead!
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Does this Insecurity Make me look FAT? and a AWESOME Giveaway!!

  I remember in Jr High thinking, Why am I here?  I am nobody, but a nerdy, curly haired, big glasses freak.  Thinking what is my purpose?  Letting my insecurities and self doubt totally get the best of me.  Yes, I have come along way since then, but I still let those insecurities get the best of me all the time.   The title of this book says it so well exactly how we feel when those times creep in.

I feel very fortunate to have gotten my hands on this book, but only as a loaner.  It is a new release by a brand new author Michelle Wilson with an official release date of  December 30th. Although you can order it now here as an early release.  It says it is a preorder, but they are shipping them out now.  

Isn't the cover so adorable!!  

The first sentence had me hooked..

"Every day women are bombarded with temptations, demands and decisions on the outside and troubled by unrealistic expectations, doubt and fear on the inside"

How often do you find yourself in that situation?  My hand immediately goes up.   I feel it all the time!  This book is so good.  It will have you laughing and crying, reflecting and pondering as she takes you through life stories that you can totally relate to while teaching you how to important you are and how to deal with these pesky insecurities and self doubt.  

Some of the things she addresses are:

Why do clothing stores hang fun-house mirrors in their dressing rooms?

The laundry doesn't cry when it's not folded so why should I?

Can I be confident even if the elevator calls me fat?

This fun easy to read book is AMAZING!!  It is both humorous and insightful. A must read for all women.  I am ordering my own copy and You can order your own copy by clicking here.

Because I LOVE IT SO MUCH.. I have personally purchased a copy that will be signed by the author for one of you my AMAZING and INCREDIBLE Readers!!

To enter follow the directions below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

The author Michelle Wilson is truly beautiful inside and out.  I have watched her quietly come to the aid of others on tons of occasions in self less service and being the recipient of that service myself many times.  She is an amazing speaker and teacher. I have watched her spend many hours, hard work and sleepless nights working on this book. She is proof you can make your dreams a reality.  

*Disclosure: I was not given anything for this review.  The giveaway book is purchased with my own money.  All opinions are completely my own.

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Zuppa Toscana Soup

I love Olive Garden and especially this soup.  I was shocked at how easy it was to make and oh so delicious!!  The kids didn't even notice the kale which I thought added great flavor to the soup.   It was a hit and definitely curved the craving!!

Zuppa Toscana
Adapted  just a bit from Mom on Time Out
1 lb Italian Sausage (spicy if you prefer more heat)
5-7 slices of bacon
5 medium russet potatoes
2 cups kale, chopped
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
8 cups chicken broth
1/2 large onion
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
Salt and pepper

Brown the sausage and break into small pieces.  Drain and set aside.  Cook your bacon and crumble into pieces.  Place on a paper towel to drain.  

Slice the potatoes about 1/4 inch thick.  Just try to get them as close to the same size so they cook evenly.  I then cut the slices in half or fourths to make the bite sized pieces.  Put the potatoes, onions, garlic and chicken broth into a large pot.  Cook on medium heat until the potatoes are cooked through.

Then add the sausage, bacon, kale and cream.  Simmer for about 10-15 more minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with some grated Parmesan cheese.

*This last time I doubled the recipe to take to a potluck.  After the potatoes were cooked I put it in a crockpot and then added the rest of the ingredients.  The next morning I cooked it on low for 3-4 hours.  I checked on it a few times and it must have been good because I did not bring any home.

I hear that it freezes well. 

Enjoy

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Old El Paso Entrees Giveaway!

Delicious, handcrafted meals for two from Old El Paso - now available in the frozen aisle!

Meal times can sometimes be a crazy time at my house.  I try to plan but some days it does not work like you want it too and you need something quick and delicious.  I was excited to see that Old El Paso is now making frozen entrees and with Mexican food being my favorite I consider it a bonus!!

With eight different flavors of fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas and burritos, these entrees are sure to fulfill your dinner needs.

We tried out the shredded beef enchiladas.  Since the package states it is dinner for two I picked up two.

I added some extra shredded cheese near then end of the cooking time.

and I was able to help with homework and get dinner done at the same time!

DELICIOUS!!  

Hubby ate dinner later.  I waited until after he has eaten to tell him I did not make them.

He was shocked they were frozen.   

So it was a great find!!

Now for the really great part...

One lucky reader will get to try out these entrees too. Winner will receive:

One (1) coupon valid for one Old El Paso Frozen Entrée (value up to $7.99) 

• Mexican Tile Chip & Dip Bowl 

• $10 Visa Gift Card 

To enter follow the directions below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

Disclosure: The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by Old El Paso through MyBlogSpark. 

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Pioneer Woman’s Broccoli Wild Rice Casserole ♥

Today's Thanksgiving casserole recipe: A hearty casserole, layers of nutty wild rice and crisp broccoli held together with a gorgeous Mushroom Cream Sauce that's packed with vegetables, including the broccoli stalks. No cheese!

So once upon a time, Ree Drummond aka The Pioneer Woman was just another blogger / food blogger. But back in 2008 I guess it was, maybe 2007, I was part of a food-blog panel at the annual BlogHer conference. During the Q&A, Ree stood to ask a question and the entire room audibly gasped – gasped! – realizing that Pioneer Woman was in the room. A year or two later, we were back at BlogHer and in the hotel lobby, I introduced myself: Ree was kind to say with a grin, "Of course I remember you, Alanna ..." Now of course, Ree Drummond is a genuine celebrity and The Pioneer Woman has spun off three cookbooks, a show on the Food Network, maybe an upcoming movie too? and legions of fans. Fame and fortune are great but some times I wonder, really, if Ree likes her life better now than before or if it's just a wave she rides, like the rest of us if on another scale, gathering resources to put kids and grandkids through school.

Ree's latest cookbook is my favorite of three so far, Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays. It's organized by holiday, New Years, Valentines, etc. and feels personal, intimate and imperceptibly but charmingly imperfect, the way all our holiday gatherings are fraught with things-gone-wrong. I've bookmarked a dozen recipes but given the season, started with Thanksgiving. We plan to try her brine for a Thanksgiving turkey (doesn't every family cook four turkeys? yikes) but it was the wild rice and broccoli casserole which grabbed me first.
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