Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Meatballs

Yes, yes....aaaaand yes. What’s not to love about all the things in this recipe? Especially when you combine them all into one great little ball of goodness? I wanted to try these because a friend of mine works in the Publix grocery store food prep area and she told me about making these and how good they were and how easy they were to throw together. So I hightailed it to Publix to buy a bag of their Italian meatballs to make this. Of course, you can make your own meatballs or buy a different brand....but I have to say, the ones from Publix are SUPER good. So if you’ve got a Publix grocery store near you, it’s worth the trip. IT Guy and I had these for dinner with some roasted veggies and I finished them off for lunch the next day. But of course serving at a party would be ideal! Super good, guys!!

Brown Sugar Bacon 

Wrapped Meatballs

 

1 bag frozen meatballs (or you can make your own)

1 pound bacon

1 cup brown sugar

1 - 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (optional but recommended)

 

Preheat your oven to temperature instructed on the bag of meatballs. Spray a rimmed cookie sheet with cooking spray.

 

Cut bacon in half across.

 

In a shallow dish, combine the brown sugar and cayenne pepper.

 

Start wrapping the meatballs in a bacon half.

 

Roll each bacon wrapped meatball in the brown sugar mixture making sure the brown sugar gets pack around on all sides.

 

Place seam side down on the baking sheet.

 

Repeat until desired number of meatballs are used or you run out of bacon.

 

Bake for the time listed on the package and/or the bacon has crisped.

 

Remove to a plate, cool for a few minutes...then eat!

Let's go!

Cut the bacon in half then mix together the brown sugar and the cayenne.

Roll each meatball in a half piece of bacon the roll in the brown sugar mixture.

Bake!

Serve!

Maple Bacon Squares

Is it a dessert? Is it an appetizer? A meal? I’m not sure but it’s all the things it should be. As IT Guy put it, “it’s the most glorious thing I’ve ever eaten’. Okay...so I’m not sure that’s entirely true but it IS pretty stinkin’ delicious. And I’m not even a big maple person, except on pancakes. But I do love a maple/bacon combo. One of my goals is to go to VooDoo Donuts in Portland, Oregon to make myself sick on a couple of those bad boys. Someday. Anyway, in the meantime, you should try this fun little treat....and see if you don’t agree about how yummy it is.

Maple Bacon Squares

 

1 tube of refrigerated Grands Crescent Rolls

1/2 cup maple syrup

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 pound bacon ~ diced

 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 10x15 inch cookie sheet with foil then spray with cooking spray....REEEEEALYYYYY WELL. (You’ll be sorry if your don’t.)

 

In a medium skillet, cook the bacon until it’s almost done. You still want a little pink on it. It will continue to cook in the oven.

 

Press the crescent roll dough to fit the pan.

 

Drizzle half of the maple syrup onto the dough.

 

Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the brown sugar.

 

Scatter partially cooked bacon on top.

 

Drizzle remaining maple syrup on top of bacon then sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar on top.

 

Bake for 25 - 30 minutes until caramelized.

 

Allow to cool then cut into squares.

 

Store in a covered container. Reheat in the oven.

Okay...let's get to gettin'!

Press the dough into your pan onto WELL GREASED foil, then poke all over with a fork.

Spread 1/2 of the maple syrup onto the dough then spread with the back of a spoon.

Then sprinkle with 1/4 

cup of the brown sugar.

Then add the partially cooked bacon. See how it's still pink? This is what you want because it will continue to cook in the oven.

Scatter the bacon on top.

Then drizzle with remaining maple syrup and sprinkle with the rest of the brown sugar.

Bake until caramelized and 

the dough is golden brown.

Allow to cool then cut into squares.

Frosted Lemon Butter Cookies

IT Guy is a big lemon fan. He used to eat lemons with salt for a snack. Ew. He doesn’t do that anymore but he still likes lemon desserts. And I like butter. HA! So these cookies are a great combo for us. They are simple to make, don’t make a ton and are super yummy. So there you go...three reasons you should make these cookies.

Frosted Lemon Butter Cookies

1 cup butter ~ softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 cups flour

Pinch salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Zest of 1 lemon

1 cup white chocolate chips

Frosting ~ recipe follows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.

In a mixing bowl, combine the butter and powdered sugar until smooth.

Add the flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and salt. Mix until combined.

Stir in the lemon zest and the chocolate chips.

Scoop dough onto prepared cookie sheet. Lightly press cookie dough down to flatten a little bit.

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes until edges just turn golden.

Allow to cool for a few minutes then remove to a wire rack. Cool completely before frosting.

Frost each cookie with frosting then sprinkle with dried cranberries.

Frosting

1/4 cup butter ~ softened

1 cup powdered sugar

Juice from 1/2 lemon

Dried cranberries ~ about 1/4 cup

Mix butter, powdered sugar and lemon juice together until smooth. Frost cookies then sprinkle with a few dried cranberries.

Let's make some cookies!

 

Cream together the butter and powdered sugar. 

Add the flour, baking powder, salt, 

vanilla, and salt. Mix until combined.

Add the lemon zest.

And the chocolate chips.

Scoop the dough onto the cookie sheet 

then press it down a little bit.

Bake!

Mix up the frosting.

Frost the COOLED cookies then 

sprinkle with dried cranberries.

Eat cookies!!!

Taco Roll-Ups

It’s always a good thing when you can switch up a recipe, isn’t it? This is a fun twist on tacos. Eat these for dinner or use them as party food! If you don’t want to use ground beef, use some cooked, shredded chicken instead. IT Guy and I have these for our main meal and then I can throw a couple in his lunch the next day and he’s a happy guy. They re-heat in the microwave with no problem so having some on-hand for after school snacks is a great idea!

Taco Roll-Ups

 

1 tube refrigerated pizza dough

1 pound ground beef

1 - 2 cups grated cheddar cheese

1 package taco mix

Diced tomatoes, sour cream, salsa and guacamole for serving.

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.

 

In a skillet, cook ground beef then add taco seasoning according to package directions.

 

Roll your the pizza dough with the long side toward you. Press it out a little larger than it came out of the tube. You don’t want it TOO thin, though.

 

Spread taco seasoned beef onto pizza dough then sprinkle with cheese.

 

Roll up, starting at the long side.

 

Slice into 1 1/2 inch slices and place on a greased cookie sheet.

 

Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.

 

Serve with diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

Let's roll!

Cook the ground beef then add the taco mix according to the package directions.

Next open your pizza dough and press it out a little bigger than it comes out of the package. Not TOO thin, though.

Spread the cooked ground beef on top of the dough.

Then sprinkle with the cheese.

Start rolling from the long side of the dough. You can see my dough got a little thin in a couple of spots. Don't be like me.

Slice the roll-ups and place on a greased cookie sheet.

Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with all the sides....salsa, sour cream, etc!

Chicken Alfredo Ziti Bake

I had to take something to a friends house last week for a get-together. I don’t know why but potluck type functions always throw me into a small panic because I think ACK!! I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING! MY MIND IS BLANK! WHAT IF THEY DON’T LIKE IT? I DON”T KNOW WHAT TO DOOOOOOOO!!!! That’s my insecurities talking, right there. You probably can’t tell by my page and my friends would think I was nuts, but I’ve always been an introvert. I’m more comfortable blending in with the wall paper. I always pushed my older brother ahead of me...to talk for me...and I do the same with IT Guy. Anyway...I settled on this dish to take to try out for my church friends. I figured, if anyone can be forgiving on a dish that may or may not be fit to eat, they can. Turns out, it turned out! This was excellent. And the way I could tell it was good? The dish was nearly wiped clean. I think there was only one tiny serving left when it was time to go. So yay!

Chicken Alfredo Ziti Bake

12 ounces ziti pasta ~ cooked al dente

3 cups cooked, shredded chicken (can use rotisserie chicken)

1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

3 - 4 garlic cloves ~ minced

1 cup chicken stock

1 cup milk

3 cups grated mozzarella cheese

Salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat.

Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant...about 2 minutes.

Whisk in the flour and cook and stir an additional 2 minutes.

Pour in the chicken stock and the milk and cook and stir until thickened.

Add the grated Parmesan cheese and the salt and pepper. Stir until cheese melts.

Cook pasta and drain. Return pasta to the pot and add the cooked, shredded chicken.

Pour in the Alfredo sauce and toss to coat.

Add half of the pasta mixture to the baking pan then half of the mozzarella cheese.

Repeat with remaining pasta mixture and mozzarella cheese.

Bake for 25 - 30 minutes until cheese has melted and begins to brown.

Here we go! Let's cook!

Cook the garlic in the butter for a few minutes.

Then add the flour and cook and stir for a minute or so.

Add the chicken stock and the milk and cook until thickened. Then add the parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and stir until cheese has melted.

Pour the sauce over the cooked and drained pasta and the cooked and shredded chicken. Stir to coat.

Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared pan then half of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat with remaining pasta mixture and cheese.

Bake and serve!

Homemade Chocolate Chip Brownies

Okay....so you guys know that I am not opposed to using box mixes. Cake, brownie...whatever...if it suits my need in the moment, I’m not afraid to use it. BUT...you just canNOT go wrong with a pan of homemade brownies. And this recipe is SO good and SO simple that you’ve gotta try it. The fun thing about brownies is that you can add your preference of fun stuff inside. I added mini chocolate chips but feel free to add some nuts, too! And don’t forget the milk! Or ice cream and hot fudge...whatever floats your boat!

Homemade Chocolate Chip Brownies

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs ~ beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x9 inch baking pan with cooking spray then line with parchment paper, leaving paper hanging over two sides.

In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat.

Add the sugar and stir until combined. Remove from heat.

Add the vanilla and beaten eggs and stir.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder.

Add flour mixture to the butter/egg mixture and gently stir until just combined.

Mix in the chocolate chips.

Pour batter into the pan and bake for 30 - 40 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool before cutting.

Avocado Bacon Tomato Melts

I am a HUGE fan of BLT’s with avocado because....AVOCADO! I wish I had a green thumb because I’d grow an avocado tree in a heartbeat! Avocado trivia: did you know that an avocado doesn’t ripen until it’s been picked? It’ll just hang on the tree until you pick it then the ripening process begins. Who knew, right? If you want a delicious and QUICK dinner, then you need to make these ASAP. So, so, so good!!!! Make as much as you want but my recipe is for just two people. Increase your ingredients for more eaters. Everyone will want at least a couple!!

Avocado Bacon Tomato Melts

4 slices bread

2 Roma tomatoes ~ sliced

1 - 2 avocados ~ sliced

8 slices bacon ~ cooked

8 slices cheese ~ I used a colby/jack combo

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

1/2 - 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Lawry’s Salt

Set oven to broil.

In a small bowl, combine the mayo and cayenne pepper.

Spread the mayo on one side of the bread then place the bread on a cookie sheet.

Top each piece of bread with 1 slice of cheese.

Arrange tomato slices and avocado on top of the cheese then sprinkle with Lawry’s Salt.

Break each piece of bacon in half and put 4 half pieces (so 2 whole pieces per slice of bread) on top of the avocados.

Top with remaining slice of cheese.

Broil for 2 - 3 minutes until cheese has melted and lightly browned on top.

Enjoy!!!

Our goodies!

Mix the mayo and cayenne together. Slather on the bread.

Next...one piece of cheese on each piece of bread.

Next add the avocado and tomato and some Lawry's Salt.

Top with bacon and more cheese.

Broil and chow down!!