Barbecued Pulled Pork Casserole

 

There really isn't a more useful food item in the world than a casserole.  Think of all the ways that casseroles are used:

• Office, church or club parties
• To stretch a meal out to feed more people
• Meals to make and freeze for serving later
• Easy one pot meals
• Potlucks
• Thoughtful gift for a family or friend going through a rough time
• Bereavement gatherings
• Backyard barbecues

Today I've decided to share one of my favorite casseroles with you:

Barbecued Pulled Pork Casserole

The main reason I like this casserole so much, other than the fact that it is so tasty, is that it is fairly uncommon.  Most casseroles are made with hamburger or chicken, so barbecued pulled pork is a treat that most people do not expect.  It is almost always one of the first dishes to be emptied at any gathering,  I also like that when I make it for my family, if I have any leftovers, I can freeze them for a quick lunch or snack for later in the week.

It really is quite easy to make, I usually buy a pork tenderloin to cook and pull for the meat and buy the tater tots frozen.  Throwing it together is a breeze and it's done in just 30 minutes.  

Ingredients

• 2 cups of pulled pork mixed with barbecue sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's)
• 8 ounces whipped cream cheese 
• 1 can of corn (optional but I love it!)
• large bag of frozen tater tots
• barbecue seasoning 
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup ranch dressing  

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
2. Mix the barbecue pulled pork with the whipped cream cheese
3. In a 9x13 glass baking dish cover the bottom with the pork mixture
4. Dribble the ranch dressing over the pork
5. Sprinkle the corn and one cup of the shredded cheese on top of the pork and corn
6. Place a single layer of tater tots, spread apart, on top of the mixture and shake a little BBQ seasoning over them.
7. Bake for 25 minutes and the tater tots are golden brown.
8. Remove from oven and sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the tater tots
9. Put the casserole back in the oven for 10 minutes
10. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

I usually make a sauce of half barbecue sauce and half ranch to serve with this casserole.  It's delicious dribbled on top!

This casserole is always a hit at summer parties.  It stays delicious even after sitting out on a picnic table for a while.  People dip into it expecting the same old hamburger and cheese tater tot casserole and are always delighted to see barbeque pulled pork instead!  It's a delicious change from hamburgers and hot dogs. 

This casserole is actually good any time of year and for any occasion. It's real, old fashion comfort food! It's wonderful in the wintertime, a nice hot meal on a chilly night. Also a tasty dinner in the spring, the barbecue sauce a nice reminder of the summer fun to come.  Make it yourself just once, I bet it will not be the last time you do!

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Rome Cast Iron Pie Irons - Reviewed

We enjoy our backyard fire pit every year and make lasting memories with all of the fun. Our Rome cast iron pie irons have been part of that fun for as long as I can remember.

What is a pie iron? A pie iron is a handy cooking tool that turns an ordinary campfire into an opportunity to make delicious hot sandwiches, called mountain pies, or, as some people know them, hobo pies or pudgie pies.

The classic Rome Square pie iron is designed to accommodate a generous portion of bread and fillings, allowing you to make any kind of delicious hot sandwich. One of our favorites is the pizza mountain pie. Find out how we make the pizza mountain pie here in one of my posts, Mountain Pies.

Rome also offers round and double models, giving you several options depending on what you want to cook. Our pie irons are the classic square designs.

You can make hot sandwiches, savory meals, and sweet desserts with your pie irons. Another favorite of mine is apple pie filling with cheddar cheese.

If you enjoy camping or spending time around a backyard campfire pit, Rome pie irons are worth considering. Once you start experimenting with different fillings and recipes, you will be looking forward to your next campfire.

After every campfire, I wash my pie irons with soap and water and thoroughly dry them. Then, I coat and rub them with vegetable oil on the inside and out to make them ready for the next campfire.

ROME Industries 1760 Double Xl Square Pie Iron, 5ROME Industries Pudgie Revolution Pie Iron Cookbook, Recipes For Pudgy Pie Cooking

 

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Easy No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Dessert

 Our granddaughters are visiting for the week, and we made this easy strawberry cheesecake dessert for the 4th of July. We used strawberry pie filling, but you can use any pie filling you like. Following is our review of how to make this easy and delicious dessert.

Ingredients:

1 SaraLee Pound Cake (cut into small pieces)

2 cans of strawberry pie filling

1 24.3oz Philadelphia No-Bake cheesecake filling (You can find this at Wal-Mart)

1 container of Cool Whip

We thought pictures would be best for our step-by-step instructions.

Here, Giada is cutting the cake into about 1-inch pieces.

Giada and Guiles spread the cut-up cake into a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish and mixed in the pie filling.

Now they are spreading the no-bake cream cheese filling evenly over the top.

Spread the cool whip over the cream cheese filling. Now it was time to decorate our patriotic dessert with fresh blueberries and strawberries. Set it in the refrigerator for about two hours before serving.

This was easy and fun to do. The girls finished and decorated this in about 20 minutes. So there is plenty of time to make this for your 4th of July celebration.

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July

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Sunflower Hill Farm

Beautiful Sunflower Silos


In this post I will be reviewing my visit to Sunflower Hill Farm and the beautiful silos painted in sunflowers that are nearby.                   

Sunflower Hill Farm

My cousin and I were looking for a good place to meet for lunch on a sunny afternoon in May.  I mentioned I wanted to photograph the painted sunflower silos in the wine country near us and she suggested a nearby cafe at Sunflower Hill Farms.  It was an excellent choice.  Our food was great and the whole place was a great relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

We ate on the patio and and I enjoyed a delicious veggie grilled cheese, it consisted of provolone and cheddar cheese along with mushrooms, peppers, spinach and onions, all grilled on sourdough bread.  Yummy.

Sunflower Hill Farm is a wonderful event space too. The farm is located on 130 acres.  Along with the cafe there is a shop  with homemade items on sale.  There is also a nursery on the property and a large event space.  The farm has become a delightful wedding and event space.  As you can see in the photo below, the event area sits up on the hill overlooking the Missouri river valley.  

Sunflower Hill Farms is located at 245 Terry Road in Augusta, Missouri.  On their website www.sunflowerhillfarm.com they have listed lots of information about their events, calendar, and a menu from the cafe.  If you are in the area, I would highly recommend this venue.  Here are a few of my photos.

Painted Silos

These beautiful silos were commissioned by the owners of the Sunflower Hill Farm.  They are located near the Katy  Trail just south of the entrance to the farm. It is at mile marker 661.6 on the Katy Trail. They were  painted by artist Anne Molasky and her painting partner Kim Alsop and were finished in the fall of 2023.

These vibrant sunflower paintings are a nice stop for people along the Katy Trail.  There is also acess to them off of Hwy 94 halfway between Defiance and Augusta deep in the heart of Missouri Wine Country.  

I stopped to visit and take photographs of these beautiful works of art just before I visited Sunflower Hill Farms.  They are quite amazing to look at from all different angles. I would have loved to see them as they were being painted.  Very talented artists!

 Zazzle Products

Here is a link to a greeting card made from my sunflower silos photograph.

Sunflower Silo Greeting Card

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A Review of How to Make Homemade Olive Garden House Dressing and Salad

Olive Garden is one of my husband's favorite restaurants.  He especially loves the salad that comes with the meals.  He always raves about the salad dressing.  Italian is his favorite, but he claims that the Olive Garden salad dressing is especially good, so I made a copy cat recipe so he could enjoy delicious salads at home.  He says he cannot tell the difference......much!  Here's how I make it:

How to Make the Green Salad:

• 2 Romaine lettuce hearts, chopped how you prefer your salads
• 1/4 cup of red onion, sliced fairly thin, keep individual pieces 1 to 2 inches long
• 2 medium tomatoes chopped
• 4 pepperoncini, the pickled type
• 6 to 8 pitted black olives 

and just before serving add:

• large croutons
• shredded Parmesan cheese 

• How to Make Olive Garden Dressing and Salad

Don't cut the lettuce until close to the time you plan to serve it, it is more crispy.  I usually serve the dressing on the side, so people can put the amount they want.  

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup water
• 6 tablespoons of white vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of light olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of grated Romano cheese (can substitute Parmesan)
• 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt

• 
  

I think this dressing tastes almost identical to what they serve at Olive Garden.  If you want to tweak the flavor, try adjusting the amount of sugar or the amount of lemon juice, I think these have the biggest impact on the taste.  Put your dressing in a pretty glass carafe and don't forget to shake well before serving.

How To Store Your Homemade Dressing

Because it is made from scratch, with no preservatives, this dressing will not keep nearly as long as what you buy in the store.  However, it will be fine in your refrigerator, in an air tight container, for a week or a bit more.  The flavors blend together and it is even more delicious after a day or two, so if you can, make it at least a day before you plan to use it.

Other Uses For Your Homemade Dressing

• Dressing macaroni salad
• Marinating chicken for broiling or baking
• Brushing on steaks or chops while grilling
• Vegetable dip - you may want to add a bit more mayo to thicken it
• Stir it into plain cooked pasta and vegetables to make it a tasty side dish

I hope you enjoy this salad dressing as much as I do, I use it a lot. The ingredients are usually always around and it is easy to make, though sometimes if I am out of Romano, I substitute Parmesan cheese in the dressing.  Below you will find my favorite shaker carafe that I use to store my dressing.  I love that it has a pour spout and a top.

Enjoy!

My favorite shaker carafe:

Kitchentoolz Salad Dressing Shaker Bottle

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Moist and Delicious Carrot Cake Recipe Review

Not all carrot cakes are created equal!

Many times I have heard people say they did not like carrot cake.  They tried a layered carrot cake from a grocery store or in a coffee shop that, while beautifully decorated, tasted dry and yucky.  Let me encourage all of you to try again, but make the cake yourself.  This recipe will change your opinion of carrot cake and totally rock your world of desserts.  You will never think of carrot cake the same way again.  

For many years, I have been making this carrot cake recipe.  Everyone loves it.  Even I, who normally hate nuts in anything, love this cake and the nuts don't bother me one bit.  Of course, I chop them up very fine with my nut chopper.  Therefore, we get the nut flavor without having to contend with chomping or choking on larger nuts. 

As for the "dry cake" issue, this single layer carrot cake is quite moist and delicious.  Plus, it has a glaze icing that soaks into the cake, as well as a cream cheese frosting.  We like to heat each individual slice in the microwave for 20 seconds before serving so the cream cheese icing melts slightly.  If it has been refrigerated for more than a day, the microwave heating takes about 5 seconds longer.  

 

Moist Carrot Cake Recipe 

This cake recipe takes longer to make than most cake recipes that I bake, but it is worth it!  The cake is baked, of course, but the glaze icing is cooked on the stove top.  The cream cheese frosting is spread on top of the cake after it is refrigerated for 2 hours or more.  So, it isn't quick, but as I said, it is well worth the extra time and attention.

One big tip I like to share, when using a hand mixer, I set my mixing bowl in my kitchen sink to eliminate the splatter across my counter tops.  It definitely makes for a faster clean-up.

 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups & 4 Tablespoons Swans Down Cake Flour (or all purpose flour: 2 cups)
• 1 Tablespoon baking soda
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup canola oil (plus more for pan)
• ¾ cup buttermilk 
• 3 large eggs  
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained  
• 1 cup shredded coconut (I use Angel Flake shredded coconut)
• 1 cup finely chopped pecan pieces
• 2 cups grated carrots (4-6 carrots needed)
_____
• Ingredients for the Cake syrup (made separately - see recipe below)
  ½ cup buttermilk
  1½ sticks Unsalted butter  (6 ounces)
  1 cup sugar
  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Ingredients for the Cream cheese frosting (made separately - see recipe below)
  8 oz cream cheese
  1½ sticks Unsalted butter 
  2 cups confectioners sugar

 

Directions

 

1. Set out 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter to heat to room temperature even though it won't be needed until you make the syrup recipe
 
2.  Generously grease a 9x13-inch cake pan 
3.  Preheat oven to 325°  (Convection Bake 300°) 
4.  Grate Carrots & Chop pecans
5.  Combine cake flour, baking soda, sugar, salt and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl & stir together 
6.  In a separate bowl & using a mixer, mix canola oil, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, crushed pineapple, shredded coconut, chopped pecans and grated carrots
7.  Combine the wet ingredients with the flour mixture, mixing well 
8.  Pour batter into oiled pan 
9.  Bake approximately 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean  

_________ 

Start the syrup recipe (see below) 10 minutes BEFORE cake is out of oven so it will be ready when the cake is removed from the oven

 

Cake Syrup Recipe

• 1 cup sugar 
• ½ cup buttermilk 
• 1½ sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Using a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. – Takes about 5 min. in my *Magnalite pan

1. While the cake is still hot, poke holes all over the top with a large fork
2. Pour the cake syrup over the top, allowing cake to soak up the syrup.  Use a spoon if needed to redistribute the syrup that gathers at the sides 
3. Refrigerate cake until completely cool (minimum of 2 hrs)
4. Set out 1½  sticks unsalted butter & Cream Cheese to heat to room temperature for frosting recipe below  

 

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

• 1½ sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 
• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 
• 2 cups confectioners sugar 

Combine ingredients - Using an electric mixer on medium speed, mix until smooth and free of lumps.  

Then frost the cooled cake

 

In the directions above, I mentioned using my *Magnalite pan to cook the syrup.  Wagnerware Sidney Magnalite (produced in the 1930's and only available through secondary markets like eBay or antique stores) is my preferred pan for cooking candy & glazes.  It is heavy and has superior heat conductivity.  Current day Magnalite is not the same as the Wagnerware Magnalite of the past that was made in Sidney, Ohio.  While I highly recommend Wagnerware Magnalite, any heavy stainless steel saucepan should work fine to make this simple glaze.  

 

 

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Carrot Cake Recipe Written by:

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How Not to Age Cookbook Review

I have been working on improving my diet over time, and have become more plant based as a result.

My latest endeavor, or wakeup call came from watching YouTube videos by Dr. Michael Greger. Greger not only has recommendations on the better choice of what to eat, he knows the science that backs it up.

I was so impressed with his knowledge, that I bought his latest book, The How Not to Age Cookbook.

It was in this cookbook that I saw a recipe for Roasted Asparagus with Tahini Lemon Sauce. Below is my photo of my results.

I usually sauté asparagus, steam it once in a while, or cook it in soup. My husband and I were both pleasantly surprised with the flavor of it being roasted. I also liked the sauce, my husband wasn't so impressed with the sauce, he didn't even taste it. The sauce by itself was a bit strong to me, but paired with the asparagus and also on the pasta, I thought it was pretty good. Overall I was pleased with this recipe and liked the lightness of their not being any oil in it.

In the Introduction part of the book, I learned that berries appear to reduce mortality risk as much as green leafy veggies. Did you know that? I have heard a lot about getting your greens, but I hadn't heard about the praise of berries. Berries may benefit the eyes in a variety of ways and can also suppress inflammation in the gut. Pulling out information from three studies on eating berries, overall, those with a higher berry consumption tended to live significantly longer than those with a low berry intake.

I'm not even half way through the Introduction part, and there are a lot of terms that I am not familiar with; I won't even try to explain those. But for those that want the scientific background on the best foods to eat, and then have recipes that incorporate those findings, this book is for you. Or if you just want to eat more plant based, this cookbook is a great option.

I do like carrot cake, but am not a fan of cream cheese frosting, and I don't care for most things that are overly sweet. So I was also pleasantly surprised when I tried the Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal. There is no frosting, a plus right from the start. However, it didn't have any raisins. I reduced the shredded carrots by around 1/4th of what was called for and replaced that with two small boxes of organic raisins. That added just a bit of sweetness to the recipe, and made it a hit with me. This recipe called for date syrup. (Dr. Greger has a recipe in the front of the book if you want to make your own.) The date syrup that I had on hand seemed to thick to me, so I reduced that by half and replaced the other half with water. That may have watered the recipe down more than it should have been, but the cake did come out very moist, so I added some extra baking time to it. That worked pretty good.

There are more recipes that I'm looking forward to trying. Most of the ingredients, from what I looked at so far, are every day ingredients. Two things that I noticed that weren't part of my normal ingredient selection, were white miso paste and tahini. Besides that, you might want to have ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, nutritional yeast, and soymilk on hand for your repertoire of plant based ingredients.

Another great thing that I like about this cookbook, is that it has a chart of Dr. Greger's Daily Dozen. It is a list of the various types of food one should eat in a day for maximum health. This has really helped me to see where I might have been lacking and what I should make more of an effort to incorporate into my day. I don't always get all 12 categories checked in one day, but I can see where I'm short and what I can add in the next day or so. If you are interested in checking out Dr. Greger's chart, you can check out the sample pages for the book, on Amazon. Greger also has a free app for those that are interested in keeping track on their cell phone.

The How Not to Age Cookbook. Check price and or sample pages on Amazon.

Cheryl Paton

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National Toast Day Review

Toast Day is held each year on the 4th Thursday of February. It was begun in 2014 by The Tiptree World Bread Awards to celebrate toast and all the breads we make it with. (Tiptree is a brand of fruit preserves, conserves, and marmalade made in England by Wilkin & Sons Limited, so it makes sense they have an interest in toast.)

The organization is in the UK, but the popularity of this day has found a following in the United States.  

The Shades of Toast

Some people like their toast barely toasted (my mother, for one. I used to tell her that her version of toast was more like ‘warm bread’, LOL). 

Others like their toast almost burnt, which is a way I learned to eat it as a small child from my great-grandmother, Banny. At the time, the only toaster she had was a non-popup toaster used in the 1920s to 1930s. You lowered each side, inserted the bread, closed the doors and ‘watched’ it closely. Only one side was toasted at a time. One had to lower the doors, and flip the bread to toast the other side. And, yes, I do remember that toaster - it looked like the one pictured here. Banny, my GG, would wait until the smoke was coming out of the toaster (burnt), then toast the other side. Then she would lightly scrape the burnt part off.

It may sound weird to you today, but as a tiny child who adored her ‘Banny’, I thought it was great, and I loved the burnt flavor. The rest of the way we ate that toast was dipped in coffee (Banny) and cocoa (me). To this day, cocoa and toast is a favorite of mine. Although, I no longer eat my toast burnt! Most people prefer their toast toasted somewhere in between barely and burnt. 

Toast Toppings

Now, the toppings for toast are endless, and depend on your preference. Butter is a standard topping, but favorites run anywhere from jam/jellies to peanut butter to avocados. Then there are standards like poached eggs on toast and toasted sandwiches. 

Summary

So, if you like toast (and most of us do), mark the 4th Thursday of February on your calendar in order to celebrate this ‘toasty’ day! 

Related Holidays:

• National Cheese Toast Day - September 15
• National Bread Day - November 17

For more Holiday Reviews, Click 
on ReviewThisReviews: Holidays

*A review of National Toast Day was written by Wednesday Elf

*Images: 

• Vintage Toaster image from Rare Historical Photos/Vintage Toasters toasters/
• Toast/toaster images from Pixabay

 

Hamilton Beach 2 Slice ToasterCheck PriceNature's Own Butterbread - Pack of 2 LoavesCheck PriceStonewall Kitchen, Jam Collection, 4-Piece Gift SetCheck PriceThomas' Plain Bagels, 6 ct, 20 ozCheck Price

 

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Reviewing Del Destino Golden Pineapple Spears with Coconut Water

During the holidays, a friend was in charge of whipping up most of the meals. Lucky me, he enjoys grilling and prefers fresh, flavorful food. One of those meals included the Del Destino Golden Pineapple with coconut water that he was given as a gift.  We both took a bite of the pineapple to try at the same time and we were at a loss for words. The pineapples with just a hint of coconut were such a succulent, flavorful treat!

"Del Destino is Atalanta's line of Premium Quality Mediterranean products" - Atalanta Corp

Grilled steak, buttered and toasted everything bagels, and Del Destino Golden Pineapple spears were served for the holiday brunch. The combination of the perfectly grilled, warm savory steaks and cold, sweet pineapple spears was perfect. 

We immediately began imagining what else these melt-in-your-mouth pineapples could be used for. Within seconds we listed:

• decadent fruit smoothies
• baked in muffins or cakes (imagine upside-down pineapple cake!)
• side dishes or snacks
• fresh fruit salad or ambrosia salad
• served with cottage cheese
• pineapple whip
• grilled
• Pina coladas and/or infused in alcohol 

Grilling. There are a variety of recipes for grilled pineapple, adding cinnamon, brown sugar or other ingredients. However, these Del Destino pineapple spears are so delicious that I don't believe I'd add any additional ingredients for the first time. I'm not sure the flavor needs any additions at all.

Pineapple Whip. There are a variety of recipes for pineapple whip but they all generally included pineapple, some sort of milk product, orange juice, and some small amount of sweetener (such as maple syrup) - blended then briefly placed in the freezer to firm it up.

Fruit Salad.  I had lived my entire life believe that my family's marshmallow fruit salad (also known as Ambrosia salad to some) was the very best. I would have never imagined an improvement. Until now. Using the Del Destino Golden Pineapple with coconut water would make a perfect Ambrosia even better. I'm sure of it. 

We both enjoy pineapple. Sadly, we have become accustomed to the sometimes fibrous and under-ripe pineapples (in prepared fruit plates as well as when purchasing whole pineapples) or the overly-syrupy sweet of canned pineapples. The Del Destino pineapple spears were shockingly good. 

As we were so glad to learn, a jar of Del Destino Golden Pineapple with coconut water makes a perfect gift! 

The Del Destino brand seems to be available at both Costco and Aldi and is highly recommended. 

If you prefer to shop Amazon, there are brands of Pineapple in coconut water available on Amazon that are highly rated. Orchard Natural Pineapple in light syrup and coconut water is an example and at the time of this writing is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars from over 1,000 reviews.

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Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

 If there is one dish that is always a crowd pleaser with kids and adults alike, it has to be Mac and Cheese. And thanks to the Instant Pot, this classic comfort food is fast and easy to make. Did I mention creamy and delicious?

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese - Reviewed

From start to finish, Instant Pot Mac and Cheese takes about 15 minutes. Everyone in our family just loves how delicious, rich, and creamy this dish is.

Ingredients:

For the Pasta:

• 1 lb. elbow macaroni
• 4 cups water (or use half water, half chicken broth for extra flavor).
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons butter

For the Cheese Sauce:

• 1 cup whole milk or heavy cream (we use the heavy cream)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Directions:

1. Add the pasta, water, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and butter into the Instant Pot.
2. Set to manual or pressure cook for 4 minutes. When done, quick release the pressure.
3. Open the lid and stir the pasta; do not drain any remaining liquid.
4. Set the Instant Pot to Saute' (Low)
5. Slowly stir in the milk and cheeses, then continue stirring until everything melts into a smooth, velvety sauce.
6. If it's too thick, add a little more milk, and if it's too thin, stir a little longer.

This is a must-try recipe resulting in maximum flavor with minimal effort. It's perfect for busy weeknights or anyone craving comfort food. Try this Instant Pot Mac and cheese, and you may never go back to stovetop or boxed mac and cheese again.

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You will find a large selection of Instant Pots on Amazon

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, Warmer & Sterilizer, Includes App With Over 800 Recipes, Stainless Steel, 6 QuartBuy Now

 

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Jalapeno Popper Dip That ISN'T Hot! A Recipe Review

 

If you really love jalapeno dip, but find that it is just too hot and spicy or it does bad things to your tummy, you definitely need to try this recipe!  It is not hot, but it still has a full, delicious flavor and is always a hit at any party.  

Ingredients:

8 slices of bacon, crumbled

2  packages of cream cheese, softened

1 cup of mayonnaise

1 green pepper (if you like spicier but not hot) or 1 red pepper (if you prefer a more sweet taste) remove the stem, seeds and membranes.

1/4 cup sweet onion, diced

1 cup of mozzarella cheese, finely shredded

3/4  cup of cheddar cheese, finely shredded

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried basil 

Topping: (optional)

1 cup of crushed potato chips

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Lightly spray an oven safe dish with cooking spray.  I use a pie plate but you could also use an 6 x 6 square glass baking dish.

Mix the cream cheese, mayo, basil, garlic powder and bacon until smooth. I use an electric mixer, on an ultra slow speed, but you can mix by hand as well.  I like a mixer because it makes the dip fluffier, but it is a matter of personal preference.

Add the rest of the ingredients one at a time, always stirring, save the pepper for last.

When the mixture is totally smooth place the dip in the sprayed baking dish.

If you are using topping, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and sprinkle over the top

Bake the dip for 25 to 30 minutes, until the dip is browned and bubbling.

Serve hot.

One of the best things about this dip is that it is still wonderful, even when it cools to room temperature.  I usually serve it with tortilla chips, but if you don't want to go in a Mexican direction, you can serve it with pita chips,  crackers or Fritos.

If you are not a fan of green peppers, you can also use sweet banana peppers instead or just about any pepper that you like the taste of.  If you would like a bit of zip, but you don't want the full heat of jalapenos, you can toss in one hot banana pepper and that will give it some zest.  Just don't forget to remove the seeds and membranes as that is where much of the heat is in peppers. 

If you like dips that are not hot, but still full of delicious flavor this is the dip for you!  There are lots of variations on this recipe, I have seen it with crab, pulled pork or shredded chicken.  I prefer bacon, because, well, EVERYONE loves bacon!!

I have served this dip at many parties and it never fails to impress.  Make sure to put a folded card next to the dish on the table that says 

Pepper Popper Dip - NOT HOT!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Reviewing Simone Stier's Cafe Cozy Mystery Series

 Simone Stier's Cafe Cozy Mystery Series starts with A Shot of Scandal where we first meet Parker Hayes, former true-crime podcaster who has decided she wants to try small town life and is reinventing her life as a cafe owner. When a murder and theft occurs at a high society gala in Magnolia Grove (said small town), Parker's plans for a peaceful life start to dissipate as her investigative senses start to itch.

If you love cozy mysteries then this is a great series to look into, it includes all the classic cozy tropes of small town, found family & quirky cast. The setting is the southern town of Magnolia Grove and the books really do make it feel like a warm, tight-knit community.

The characters are great, Simone Stier has done a great job in making the town's residents feel real. Parker's friendships and conflicts with other locals are often a highlight in the books. Although each book can be read as a standalone, if you read them in order you see Parker's growth as she lets people in and develops friendships.

I love the name of her cafe - Catch You Latte which is a very subtle nod to her history as a very successful true-crime podcaster. We learn more about why she stepped away from her podcast as we work our way through the early books. There are often references to episodes of her podcast and it's her experience as a former private investigator and podcaster that give her a unique view point on these situations.

I will say that for a small town there's a high body count and somehow Parker seems to keep stumbling into these murder cases at community events, galas, even haunted mansions.

The tone of these books is very cozy, there's humor, warmth, friendship and plenty of coffee and pastries. One of the recurring characters is Hazel who is a student that loves baking so works for Parker in her cafe baking the amazing cakes for Parker to serve. She also dyes her hair a different shade for each book, the color to compliment the coffee special that is featured in the book. I love the sound of these coffee creations as much as I enjoy the story.

In later books Parker also hires Renee to bake and let's just say Renee and Hazel are like chalk and cheese,. I'm looking forward to see where their relationship arc is going to lead.

Another notable character in the books is Major - her part time dog, because every small town cafe owner needs a dog in my opinion. Then there's Parker's love interest Walt, the town historian. I won't dwell on the myriad of other characters in these books - they are all just waiting for you to discover them.

The mysteries are well constructed with red herrings, twists and clues. There's also a good balance between investigating crime and her day to day cafe challenges. In book 2 (A Drizzle of Danger) for example her grand opening turns into a major crisis when a body is found near her cafe.

Later books continue to raise stakes and weave more complex plots eg A Measure of Mayhem involves a Polar Plunge at a festival, property disputes and hidden grudges. Just as you're thinking surely there's no more secrets this small town can hold and is there anyone left to kill? We see Parker being asked to help investigate a 15 year old cold case in a neighboring small town of Willow Springs in A Dusting of Doubt. 

These books are great for readers who prefer "cozy" over "dark" crime where the violence is implied rather than graphic. The book's tone stays light even when the stakes are high, making them relaxing reads. If you enjoyed Cleo Coyle's The Coffeehouse Mysteries you will love this series.

The series isn't over yet! There are 14 published books so far with one about to be released on December 1st and when you look at the author's page there are 9 other titles that have been listed as also coming! I am halfway through book 12 at the moment.

I love reading cozy mysteries to relax and unwind when my head is too full to concentrate on my more favorite genres of psychological thrillers or gritty whodunnits. Cozy mysteries tend to be more predictable and everything gets resolved happily which means you don't stay awake afterwards thinking about them and you also don't have to concentrate too hard to figure out what's happening.

I also love that a number of cozy mysteries are more character focused and this series is one where you really feel wrapped up in the community as you read the book - like friends on a page.

With all of that it probably comes as no surprise that I was introduced to this series earlier in the year when I was sick and promptly read the first five books in quick succession. I was introduced to a couple of other cozy mystery series at this time as well, but this is the only one where I have an alert to download the new books every time they are published which should tell you that I definitely give this series a big thumbs up.

If you want to enjoy this series and lots more amazing books then you might want to try out Kindle Unlimited - I love it and would rather give up Netflix than my Kindle Unlimited account!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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