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.

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!!

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

This was a recipe I made and served on Christmas day. We had it along with our prime rib and I must say...delicious! My mom kept commenting on how good this dish was and she was right! It makes a bunch so it’s great for a crowd but it’s also okay to make it up and freeze half before baking. we really enjoyed this super easy casserole...I think you will, too!

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

 

1 4-pound bag red potatoes

1 stick butter ~ softened

1 cup sour cream

4 ounces cream cheese

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 package bacon ~ diced and cooked crisp

2 cloves garlic ~ sliced

2 - 3 green onions ~ chopped

3 cups grated cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Spray a 9x13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray. 

 

Peel 2/3 of the skin from the potatoes then slice and place in a large dutch oven with water. 

 

Boil until potatoes and garlic together until the potatoes are done. Drain.

 

Mash potatoes with a potato masher to desired chunky consistency.

 

Stir the butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, sour cream, 2 cups of the cheese, half of the cooked bacon, half of the green onions and salt and pepper into the potatoes. 

 

Place potato mixture into your prepared pan.

 

Cover and bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 30 minutes.

 

Remove foil and sprinkle with remaining cheese, bacon and green onions and bake for another 10 - 15 minutes or until cheese on top has melted. 

 

Serves 8 - 10.

Hmmm....I’m not sure why I didn’t get a picture of all the ingredients. Oh well.

Peel the potatoes but leave a little of the skin on.

Slice the potatoes then boil the potatoes with the garlic.

Dice and cook the bacon until crisp.

Add 2 cups of the cheese, half of the bacon, half of the green onion, the butter, cream cheese, sour cream and heavy cream to the potatoes and mash. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Place potato mixture into the prepared pan and bake!

Serve it up! Serves 8 - 10!

Bacon Cheeseburger Roll

Talk about easy! This little meal is just about the easiest thing to make ever but delivers a hearty meal. Tastes just like a cheeseburger, too! You can add pickles on the side or baked right in, if you want. Serve with some ketchup and mustard or some bbq sauce. Add a side salad and some oven baked fries and you’ve got yourself a great family friendly meal! 

Bacon Cheeseburger Roll

1 pound ground beef

8 ounces Velveeta cheese ~ cubed

1/2 large onion ~ diced

5 slices bacon ~ chopped

1 refrigerated pizza crust 

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

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, bacon and onion until done. 

Add the cubed Velveeta and stir until melted. 

Lay pizza crust onto the cookie sheet and press into a 10x15 inch rectangle. 

Spread meat mixture onto pizza crust, leaving an inch all around the edges. 

Start rolling up the pizza crust from one of the LONG ends. Arrange roll seam side down on cookie sheet, tucking in the ends. 

Brush with a beaten egg, if desired. 

Bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Allow to sit for a few minutes before slicing.

Let's get going!

Brown the ground beef, onion and 

bacon until done. Add salt and pepper if desired.

Then add the Velveeta.

Cook and stir until melted.

Press you pizza dough into a 

rectangle then add the meat mixture. 

Roll it up!

Bake then allow to sit for a 

few minutes before slicing.

Serve it up with any sides you like!

Kielbasa Bacon Bites

I haven't been able to for a couple of years now, but I love having an open house at Christmas. I love inviting our friends over and serving them yummy food. So I'm always looking to see what I can come up with that I haven't done before. These little nuggets of awesomeness are going to make an appearance at my next gathering! These are really simple to make...and you can make a little or a lot! We downed them pretty fast and it's not even Christmas yet!

Kielbasa Bacon Bites




1 package bacon
1 package kielbasa sausage
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

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

Slice kielbasa into 1" pieces...about 24 chunks.

Cut bacon in half.

Combine brown sugar and cayenne pepper (if using) in a shallow bowl and stir to combine.

Wrap a half piece of bacon around each chunk of kielbasa. (You may have a piece or two of bacon left over)

Roll in the brown sugar mixture, making sure all sides are coated.

Secure with a toothpick and set on prepared cookie sheet.

Bake for 20 - 30 minutes or until bacon is slightly crispy and done.

Cool for 5 minutes then arrange on a platter.

 
Here we go!

 
Cut the bacon in half then slice the kielbasa.

 
Mix the brown sugar and the cayenne pepper.

 
Start wrapping and rolling!

 
Secure with a toothpick.

 
Then bake!

 
Serve to hungry people!

Long Boy Burgers

As you may or may not know....I'm related to a bunch of carnivores so as always, I'm forever on the hunt for ways to satisfy them. And here's one way I found that makes them pretty happy. Instead of a boring hamburger, switch up the name, add a few fun ingredients and you've got yourself a Long Boy Burger! These are SO easy to make....so tasty and like I said...make meat-eaters happy-happy!

Long Boy Burgers



4 sub sandwich rolls ~ split in half lengthwise
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup barbeque sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
4 slices bacon ~ cut in half
2 cups shredded cheese

Heat oven to broil.

Arrange split sub rolls on a cookie sheet and place under the broiler for 1 - 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the onion, Panko bread crumbs, milk, egg, 1/2 of the bbq sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add the ground beef and stir until well mixed.

Divide meat mixture into 8 equal portions.

Place meat mixture evenly onto toasted bread making sure the meat is spread to edges.

Brush remaining bbq sauce onto meat.

Place a half slice of bacon on top of the meat.

Turn oven to 400 degrees.

Bake burgers for about 30 minutes or until meat is cooked through.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Bake another 5 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and melted.

 

Okay...let's cook!

 

Mix together the milk, Panko, egg, 

milk, egg, 1/2 of the bbq sauce, 

garlic powder, salt and pepper.

 

Add the ground beef and stir until well mixed.

 

Divide meat mixture into 8 equal portions.

 

Place meat mixture evenly onto 

toasted bread making sure the 

meat is spread to edges. Brush 

remaining bbq sauce onto meat.

 

Place a half slice of bacon on top of the meat.

 

Bake!

 

Sprinkle with cheese and bake a little more.

 

Then eat!