Juicy Lucy Meatball Sliders

Downsizing the larger Juicy Lucy burgers to a game day size.  The meatballs are moist but as with the burgers, be careful of the hot cheese inside!

Juicy Lucy Meatball Sliders

1# extra lean ground beef
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 large egg
1/4 cup onion, diced fine
1/4 cup ricotta cheese
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
3 cheddar cheese snack sticks, cut into 1/2" square pieces

Place all the ingredients into a medium bowl except the cheese.  Roll meatballs, flatten and tuck a cheese block in the center and wrap the meat around it.  Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.  Bake for 20 minutes at 350°.  Serve on cocktail sized buns (I toasted mine) and with all your favorite hamburger toppings.

Drunk Turkey Sausage

The countdown continues and it seems we've moved from cheese to beer-related treats.  Well anyone could just drink the remainder of the beer from the Guinness Candied Bacon or you can use the other half to make this sausage dish.

Drunk Turkey Sausage

1 ring turkey sausage, casings removed
1 - 14 oz organic ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 bottle beer, room temperature - I used Guinness


In a medium saucepan, heat ketchup, brown sugar, crushed red pepper flakes and beer until sugar is dissolved.  Slice turkey sausage into 1 1/2 inch pieces.  Cook in crock pot over medium heat for 3 hours. 

Guinness Candied Bacon

Man cannot live on cheese alone.  That is why there is bacon.  And bacon with a sweet booze flavored glaze...perfection.  

Guinness Candied Bacon

1 # thick cut Apple Smoked Bacon
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup Guinness
1/8 tsp cayenne

Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil for easy clean up.  Place a wire cooling rack on top of each rack.  Lay out the bacon side by side on the racks.  In a small saucepan, combine the Guinness, dark brown sugar and cayenne.  Heat to almost a boil.  Preheat oven to 350°.  Place bacon in heated oven without glaze for 15 minutes.  Take out of oven and glaze top side and return for another 15 minutes.  Take out, turn bacon, glaze and bake for another 15 minutes.  Let cool completely before removing from the racks.

Cream Cheese Wontons & Red Plum Sauce

The countdown to the Super Bowl continues with another cheese related recipe.  These wontons are so easy to make and much healthier than those gotten in a Chinese restaurant since they are baked.  The sauce basically makes itself.

Cream Cheese Wontons ~

30 wonton wrappers
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp garlic powder


Mix together cream cheese and garlic powder.  Using a .5 tablespoon cookie dough scoop, fill half full and place in the center of the wonton wrapper.  Dip your finger in water (once for each of the 4 sides) and wet the edge of the wrapper.  Gently fold over into a triangle shape and press down on the edges.  Place on a greased baking sheet.  When all 30 are made, spray with cooking oil and bake for 10 minutes at 400°


Red Plum Sauce

1 - 18 oz Red Plum Jam
2 tbsp raspberry vinegar
1 tbsp dark brown sugar
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ginger

Put all the ingredients into a medium saucepan.  Stir occasionally over medium heat.  Cook until it thickens, about 20 minutes.  Serve warm.

Baked Italian Cheese Dip & Bread Dippers

Round two of the countdown to the Super Bowl and today there's two recipes to serve for the big game.  This was an opportunity to use my new brie baker.  Darn Etsy and all their cute stuff that I fall in love with and have to order for my already overcrowded cupboards.

Baked Italian Cheese Dip


8 oz Fontina cheese, cut into small pieces
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Place the Fontina cheese pieces in a dish that is safe for the oven.  Sprinkle the olive oil and spices over the top.  Bake for 30 minutes at 325°.  Serve with bread dippers (recipe below)


Bread Dippers

2 1/2 cups bread flour
1 package dry active yeast
3/4 cup warm water
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tsp honey
1 tbsp Italian Seasonings

Combine warm water and yeast and allow to sit for 15 minutes.  In a large bowl, pour in yeast water and stir in oil, honey, Italian Seasonings and salt.  Fold in flour  gradually.  When it's all combined, knead for 10 minutes and then return to the bowl and pour a little more olive oil on top, turn and make sure it's all coated, cover with a clean dish towel and let sit in a warm place for 2 hours. Turn out on a lightly floured board or countertop and divide into 24 equal pieces.  Place in a greased pan and brush with 2 tbsp melted butter. Bake for 15 minutes at 350°.  

Sweet & Heat Cheese Ball

Kicking off the countdown to the Super Bowl and the first up is a cheese ball which is always a welcome treat.  This one gets it's sweetness from dried cranberries and heat from green chilies.  

Sweet & Heat Cheese Ball

8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Craisin's, chopped
2 tbsp green chilies
1/4 cup pecans, chopped

Mix together softened cream cheese and Monterey Jack cheese. Add in the chopped Craisin's and green chilies. Shape into a ball shape in bowl and cover
with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours. Remove and roll in chopped
pecans.  Cover and return to refrigerator. Remove 15 minutes before
serving.  Serve with crackers.

Parmesan & Garlic Pasta

This is the perfect weeknight side dish since it has lots of flavor and can be made in a short amount of time.

Parmesan & Garlic Pasta

8 oz linguine, cooked al dente and drained

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

3 cloves garlic, smashed

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup peas

Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

In a large skillet, heat olive oil and smashed garlic.  Let simmer for 5 minutes, be careful not to let the garlic burn.  You just want the flavor.  Remove the garlic and stir in the peas and cook for a couple minutes.  Add in the pasta and toss.  Season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper  Right before serving, add in the Parmesan cheese.