Ohhhh Desserts and all things yummy....

Bacon wrapped asparagus...need I say more?

I guess I should say more since there was more to this delicious dinner and it begins with some truly delicious Grilled Herb Chicken and Sausage Kebabs with Herb Cream Sauce.


But, since you came to this page for the Bacon wrapped asparagus I will refocus.

My good friend recently mentioned making these and it has stayed at the back of my mind.  So, today when I had asparagus that had to be used and a half a pack of uncooked bacon I thought I better try this out.


First, I counted how many pieces of bacon I had and then made that many piles of my asparagus (which were washed, dried and ends cut off)


Then I hold a bundle together and starting at the bottom begin to tightly wrap the asparagus with the bacon.  I did not want a lot of overlap as I like my bacon crisp and did not want any chewy bacon hidden under crisp.

You will see a lot of recipes for these that call for brushing the bacon with olive oil but I don't agree with that. There was plenty of grease from the bacon that I definitely did not need to add any unless it is for the taste but...oh yeah, that is what the bacon is for.

Place the bundles on a heated grill and cook until desired crispness.  Place on paper towels, sprinkle on some fresh ground pepper and serve.  


Rum Raisin Oatmeal Cookies/ Seriously Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies/Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies


I posted these together since I use the same base for both cookies


First thing is to re-hydrate the raisins in the rum if you are doing the raisin oatmeal variety.  Otherwise, just start making the base.


Then Cream the Sugars with butter.  This is a really important step and should be creamed until the butter absorbs the sugar which takes almost 5 minutes.  This will keep your cookies from spreading.
Then you add your eggs one at a time beating well after each one.  
Add the dry ingredients
At this point you add either the raisins or the cinnamon chips.


Scoop out onto a cookie sheet.


When they are finished they don't look done but they will continue to cook on the pan, let them cool on the pan.  If you bake them til they look done they will be drier.


Oatmeal Cookie Base Recipe 
Yield:  5 dozen cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Option of cinnamon chips, chocolate chips, or rum raisins 


Preheat oven to 350.  Cream butter and sugars for 5 minutes.  Add eggs and beat after each addition until it is fluffy, add vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients.  Add to the creamed mixture, mix til just combined.  Add option.  Scoop out dough onto cookie sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.  Bake for 7-8 minutes.  Cookies will looked under cooked, allow to finish cooking on sheet as it cools then remove to rack. 

For Rum Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups raisins
1/4 cup rum

Place raisins in a sauce pan, pour rum over the top.  Heat on stove until it starts to boil and then turn off heat, cover with lid and allow to cool. 

For Seriously Cinnamon or Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies

2- 12 ounce packages cinnamon chips
                           or
2-12 ounce packages chocolate chips



Mint Chocolate Marshmallow Chews


I had leftover crushed mint from our Christmas cookies and I love mint with chocolate so I came up with these.  They are melt in your mouth and are pretty much addictive.

I wish I had taken more pictures while making them but they are pretty easy to do.

2 cups crushed peppermint candy
1 cup Cream
¼ cup butter
18 large marshmallows
1 cup (6 oz) chocolate morsels (if you like sweeter you could use half milk, I prefer to use semi-sweet or darker)
2 cups mini marshmallows
Fine sea salt for sprinkling

Combine first 4 ingredients in a heavy saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, about 10 minutes or until a candy thermometer registers 234 degrees F. 
Remove from heat; add morsels, stir until morsels melt.  Fold in mini marshmallows.
Drop by rounded tsp. (work quickly) onto lightly butter wax paper; sprinkle with sea salt; cool.  Store in an airtight container.

Yield:  3 ½ dozen

Double Pork Chili



Double Pork Chili

We were thinking of a quick and easy dinner to come home to after church.  Since it is winter (at 80 degrees) we decided on chili.  I had no ground beef or chicken so I came up with a delicious pork option.


Start by crisping the bacon.



Add chopped peppers



Add onions.



Next comes the spices.  Chili powder, cumin, chipotle powder and oregano.



After browning the ground pork combine it with the beans in the crock pot.




Add the tomatoes and simmer in the crock pot for several hours.



We served ours topped with sour cream and shredded cheddar.  Our side was Easy Mexican Corn Bread.


Recipe for Double Pork Chili

Ingredients
6 slices smoked bacon, cut up.
4 cloves chopped garlic
2 medium onions, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow onion chopped
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 pound ground pork
1 can beer (can use other kind of liquid but this gives great flavor)
2 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (24 ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup beef stock
Salt and pepper as needed

Toppings
Sour cream
Shredded Cheddar
Diced Avocados
Sliced Scallions

Directions
In large heavy-bottom frying pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until lightly crisp.  Once the bacon is browned, add the garlic, onions, bell peppers, and spices.  Cook until the vegetables are soft and spices are aromatic.  Add the pork, break it up and brown, cooking until no longer pink.  Stir in the beer, deglazing the pan.  Pour the contents of the frying pan in a slow cooker.  Add the beans, tomatoes and beef stock.  Stir together.  Cook in the crock pot for at least 4 hours.  Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper, if necessary.  Transfer the chili to serving bowls and add toppings of choice.

Italian week

The kids asked if we could do ethnic themed weeks for dinner and these are 2 of the dishes we had for Italian week.


Arancini with marinara.  I know they aren't served with marinara but we really liked it together.  There are also some brussel sprouts hiding in the back.




Lamb Osso Buco on  Marscapone Polenta

Pies, Pies, and yes more pies....

It is a family tradition to make an obscene amount of pies and then invite friends over to share.  We have a great time making them but the real fun is the PIE PARTY!!


Rolling out dough


Pumpkin pies


Pressing dough



Pecan pie


Pumpkin pie (I like to use cream instead of milk and it makes it so smooth and delicious)


My dough helper


This is a nutella pie


Topped with strawberries


Topped with more nutella cream


Cherry pie (love homemade cherry pie!)


Awesome friends, the Ryvers!


I got a moment to sit and relax.


Lissy and her daddy.


SOOO many pies!


And more pies.


Serving up.


Cream cheese pecan pie drizzled with chocolate.


Lemon meringue pie


Macadamia Nut and Coconut crusted Chocolate Cream Pie

Making pie dough

Finished dough



Making the creme brulee for the chocolate berry tart

Thanksgiving feast...

I know these aren't desserts but it was wonderful and I wanted to share.  We had so much fun preparing with the kids.

We had our friends join us for dinner.  It was a joint effort and together it made an amazing feast!


French 3 onion Soup.  Carl made the stock and it was AMAZING!


Maple Glazed Squash and Cranberry Salad with Cider dressing.



Local Honey Brined, Apple Smoked Turkey only an hour into the cooking.


Green Beans with Cream Sauce topped with Fried Leeks.

OK, so as I was getting the great pictures I realized that we didn't actually take pictures of all the food so I will list the rest here.  You will just have to imagine it.

We also had: 
 Macadamia Coconut Crusted Sweet Potatoes
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Rosemary Roasted Cashews
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
Stuffing
Brined and Roasted Turkey (yes we had 2 turkeys)
Daddies dinner rolls
Sparkling Juices

Following are pics of the prep, it was so fun having the kiddos in the kitchen.

Stock simmering


Ha-Na was helping put the stock together.


MJ was making the cream sauce for the green beans.


Photo bomb while making the macadamia coconut crust for our sweet potatoes.


Even Lissy dressed for the occasion. 


Sisters who love cooking!


Seasoning the Sweet potatoes.


She can't wait for them to cook before diving in.


Sweating the onions.


Making his roasted brussel sprouts with pancetta.


Spicy Cashews


Turkey is soaking up the flavor.


The soup is coming together.