Monkey Bread for my Little Belles!

Not only do my kids love this recipe, but my hubby does, too.  Win/Win!  It's a fairly easy recipe.....just takes about 30 minutes in the oven.  I got the recipe I use from a cookbook I got at my friend, Chrissie's wedding.  Isn't that a great wedding favor idea?  Everybody contributed a recipe beforehand and they had printed up cookbooks for guests.  I just love it! 

Here is the Monkey Bread recipe:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
2 cans butter-me-knot biscuits
1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease the pan and then sprinkle with 1/2 cup pecan. 

Combine the white sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.  Quarter the biscuits and roll them in the sugar/cinnamon mixture.  Arrange them in the pan on top of the pecans. 

Melt the butter and stir in the brown sugar.  Put this mixture on top of the biscuits. 

Bake @ 350 for 30-40 minutes.  Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes and then ENJOY! 

Grease the pan and then sprinkle with 1/2 cup pecan. 

Combine the white sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.

Quarter the biscuits and roll them in the sugar/cinnamon mixture.  Arrange them in the pan on top of the pecans. 

Melt the butter and mix in the brown sugar.  

Pour the brown sugar mixture over the biscuits.

This is what the finished product looks like...

Let it stand for 10 minutes....

And, then EAT!  My kiddos and hubby already had a bite!

Mama Belle's Roast - Crockpot Recipe!

My mother has always made the BEST roast and you know what is even better about her recipe??  It's a crockpot recipe!  It makes a huge roast and you can use the leftovers later on in the week for sandwiches or any other recipe you can incorporate this in to. 

Mama Belle's Roast Recipe:
2 cans Beefy Mushroom Soup
2 cans water
1 large roast
1 package Lipton onion soup mix
flour
Seasoning Salt

Whisk the soups, 2 cans water, and one package of the Lipton onion soup mix in your crockpot.  Coat the roast with flour and the seasoning salt.  Brown the roast in 1/2 inch of oil on all sides.  Put the roast in the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.  The last hour you can add any veggies you want to add in.

Whisk the soups, 2 cans water, and one package of the Lipton onion soup mix in your crockpot

Coat the roast with flour and the seasoning salt

Brown the roast in 1/2 inch of oil on all sides

Brown the roast in 1/2 inch of oil on all sides

Put the roast in the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours

Serve it with your choice of sides....I had Hunky Ranch Potatoes!

Pecan Sandies ~ Oh cookies!

I was pleasantly surprised when I got to work and had a HUGE Ziploc bag of pecans waiting for me.  It was like Christmas!  My grandmother had sent them for me.  She is so sweet and one of the best cooks I know....I would much rather have a meal with her at her house than to go to any restaurant.  :)

I found a recipe that I have been wanting to try and here it is! 

Recipe for Pecan Sandies from Bake or Break

I did alter the recipe by adding a 1/2 bag of white chocolate chips to it. 

Pecan Sandies Recipe (altered to my pantry!)
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 & 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 egg
1/2 bag of white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat butter & sugar until fluffy on medium/high.  Beat in vanilla and salt.  Add one egg and beat.  Gradually add flour and use low speed.  Fold in pecans. 

Spoon onto cookie sheet and cook for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. 

Makes about 18 cookies. 

Baby Boston Creme Pies ~ YUM

I saw this recipe on The Southern Plate and had to try it!  I went a little overboard on the chocolate but overall - they were yummy and pretty easy to make! 

Recipe for Baby Boston Creme Pies from The Southern Plate

I did alter the recipe a little bit......I didn't have regular vanilla pudding so I used Cheesecake flavored pudding. :)

Baby Boston Creme Pies (altered due to my pantry!)

• 1 can biscuits (five or ten count, NOT the flaky layers type)
• Vegetable Oil
• cheesecake pudding (small box)
• 1  1/2 Cups milk
• 8 ounces whipped topping
• 1 can chocolate frosting

The ingredients I used.

Fry the biscuits in 1/2 inch of vegetable oil for approximately 1 minute on each side.

I cooked mine just a little too long so start checking at about 45 seconds!

In the meantime, mix pudding mix and milk.  Then fold in the whipping cream.  After mixing, I used a syringe to get about 1 - 2 teaspoons of filling in the side of the doughnut. 

Heat icing for about 30 seconds then dip the tops of the doughnuts in the icing. 

Okay, I went a little overboard on the icing!  I was in major need of some chocolate! 

No Bake Oatmeal Cookies ~ my recipe!

I am sure EVERYONE has tried this cookies at some point....they are quick, easy & taste delicious!  I wanted to make some for my Aunt Anne....so I started cooking them on the stove top.  While pulling all my ingredient out, I realized......I didn't have enough oatmeal!!  The only thing I could find was a box of individual packaged Sugar Free Maple and Brown Sugar.  Well, I used the whole box to come up with the amount I needed.  Usually when I get a little too experimental in the kitchen, it turns out disastrous!  This time, I was pleasantly surprise!  They didn't have the peanut butter flavor they usually have....the Maple and Brown Sugar flavor was more powerful.  I liked this a lot more than my original recipe!  Give it a shot and let me know what you think! 

No Bake Oatmeal Cookies ~ Baking Belle's Version
4 cups sugar
2 sticks butter
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup canned milk
3 cups (or a whole box) of Sugar Free Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal
1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla

Melt the sugar, butter, milk and cocoa powder in a large saucepan.  Bring it to a rapid boil on medium heat.  Cook for 4 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in oatmeal, peanut butter & vanilla.  Spoon mixture onto parchment paper/tin foil and let cool.  They turned out very good, even with the almost disaster!!  Enjoy!

Chicken Enchiladas and Black Bean Salsa

Black Bean Salsa

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved the Black Bean Salsa.  I saw a recipe on-line here:

Chicken with Black Bean Salsa

I made the Black Bean Salsa but I altered the recipe just a bit.....

Black Bean Salsa
1 small container of cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 can Black Beans (rinsed and drained)
1 small can of white corn
Juice from 2 limes
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
2 tablespoons of chopped red onion

Mix all together and serve as a side or serve with tortilla chips. 

We also made Chicken Enchiladas.  This is a recipe from one of my friends, Lara.  It is quick and delicious!  My son, Will, gobbled these right up!

Combine in the same bowl, chicken, sour cream, chilies.

  Mix well and fold in the cheese that you shredded.

Take mixture and place in tortillas.  Roll the tortilla up and place in a greased pan. 

Pour the red sauce and cheese over the enchiladas.  Cover and put in the oven @ 425 for 30 minutes. 

Take cover off and cook until cheese is melted or for about 15 more minutes.  I have already taken the kids servings out to cool in this picture. 

This is my plate......I ate my Black Bean Salsa with some chips!  Yum, yum!

Chicken Enchiladas (makes about 8)
Ingredients:
1 Rotisserie Chicken  or 3/4 pieces of boneless & skinless chicken (cooked & cubed)
1 small onion (I didn't use an onion)
1 can of chopped green chilies
1 block of Monterey Jack Cheese
12 oz Sour Cream
Tortillas
2 cans of Red Sauce
Yellow Cheese (any kind)

Shred the chicken from the rotisserie chicken (or cube and cook the chicken breasts with chopped up onion). 

Grate the Monterey Jack cheese.

Combine in the same bowl, chicken, sour cream, chilies.  Mix well and fold in the cheese that you shredded.

Take mixture and place in tortillas.  Roll the tortilla up and place in a greased pan. 

Pour the red sauce and cheese over the enchiladas.  Cover and put in the oven @ 425 for 30 minutes. 

Take cover off and cook until cheese is melted or for about 15 more minutes. 



My Cooking Wishlist......

Here are a few recipes I want to try for dinners. 

Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili from My Recipes

King Ranch Casserole from Christy Jordan at The Southern Plate

Pulled Pork Sliders from Christy Jordan at The Southern Plate

I just love looking at recipes and finding new things to cook!  I will post once I try these out!