Lusting for more Leftovers!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I do not eat leftovers. period. They never taste the same and I HATE eating the same thing a few nights in a row......except for Thanksgiving leftovers! I could eat that meal over and over for a week...and usually do! This year I decided to use those leftovers and make new dishes with them....and boy am I glad I did! Check out these tasty treats, all courtesy of Sunny Anderson:

First up: Second Day Turkey and String Bean Pot Pies: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sunny-anderson/second-day-turkey-and-string-bean-pot-pies-recipe/index.html This were simple and so delicious! The crust was a little mushy on the bottom of the pies, so maybe a refrigerator pie crust would be better, but it was very good as is!

Next up was the Second Day Fried Stuffing with Cranberry Pesto: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sunny-anderson/second-day-fried-stuffing-bites-with-cranberry-sauce-pesto-recipe/index.html. These were to die for! Simple, delicious and just goodness in a bite! Don't tell anyone, but Mom and I ate the whole pan of them...and nothing else...for dinner last night! The pesto itself was so fabulous, that I made an extra batch to just have on hand to use for sandwiches or on toast another day!!

Lastly was Cream of Asparagus Soup: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cream-of-asparagus-soup-recipe/index.html I tried this one to use up all the pieces of asparagus that I didn't use for my bacon-wrapped asparagus on Turkey Day. It was so simple, but it had SO much flavor! I did have to strain it because my blender didn't break down all of the strings, but regardless, this one will definitely be used again!

Thanks again to Sunny Anderson for her inspiration on these recipes... She is quickly becoming one of my favorite Food Network chefs! Case in point...these leftover recipes! It made me look forward to leftovers....not an easy feat! Hope you enjoy trying these for yourselves!

Many Thanks!

Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE day of the year....Family, friends, favorite foods (pumpkin pie!) and football. Things I am grateful for this year: a job, a roof over my head, money to have a great Thanksgiving feast, my new Kitchen Aid Mixer, and a great sous chef to help me in the kitchen---thanks Mom!

This year's food spread included all the normal favorites: Turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, bacon-wrapped asparagus, cranberries, rolls and, of course, pumpkin and apple pies. To kick it up a notch, my gravy was a Chipotle Gravy:http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/pressed-herbs-and-spices-turkey-breast-pumpkin-zucchini-muffin-stuffin-with-chipotle-gravy-recipe/index.html and a new Sweet Potato recipe that tasted more like a sweet potato pie! http://www.parade.com/food/recipes/parade/11152009-best-chefs-perfect-thanksgiving.html?index=2 Both received rave reviews!

I hope everyone had a lovely Turkey Day with their families. Check out my photo of the spread....don't I look like I am posing for a cookbook cover?? Stay tuned for recipes on how to use all those leftovers! Enjoy!

Fiesta!

Here's a weird fact about me you may not know: I am not a fan of Mexican food! I do not believe in throwing anything in a tortilla and calling it Mexican, or making something hot for the sake of being hot.....I do however love anything with chipoltes, chorizo or guacamole. My Mexi-Cali tastes were the inspiration for this week's football menu. Take at look at these tasty treats and just try to not crave a margarita!

Mexican Potato Skin Bites: This one I have made before and it was such a hit it was requested again. Super easy and a croud pleaser! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aida-mollenkamp/mexican-potato-skin-bites-recipe/index.html

note: you will need at least TWICE the chorizo this calls for.

Corn with Chipotle-Cilantro Butter: A lot of folks were scared of the this butter, but you can make it as mild or as hot as you like. I have made this multiple times and whether I grill the corn, or boil it like I did yesterday, it's always easy and delicious!http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/throwdown-with-bobby-flay/grilled-corn-skewers-with-chipotle-cilantro-butter-recipe/index.html

Barbacoa Tacos: I have a confession.....this recipe was a complete accident! The night before my mexican feast, my sister and I sent my nephew and his girlfriend to the store to get the largest pork butt they could find. Well, there was none, so they asked the butcher and he said he would special cut one for them. Somehow the communication broke down and they came home with a 6 lb. RUMP roast! So, change of plans! Instead of pulled pork tacos, it became shredded spicy beef tacos, also known as Barbacoa. It took a little longer to cook than pork, but boy was it worth the wait! Make sure to serve them with all the toppings: salsa, limes, cilantro, cheese, sour cream.....http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/pulled-pork-tacos-00000000008021/index.html

Want that margarita yet????

A hit and a miss

OK, not really a miss, but maybe a tie....not exciting, but not disappointing. This week I made a recipe from the Rachel Ray collection I have growing in my recipe binder......Mac n Cheese Jalapeno Poppers. Sounds great right?! Two favorites in one bite! Well, not so much. I have to say, they were just OK. For all the prepping of the peppers- thanks Mark!- and making the cheese sauce, the final product was a little lacking in the excitement category. Here is the recipe for you though, in case you want to make your own call on this one!

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/mac-n-cheese-jalapeno-poppers/

Now, for the hit! This is a recipe my sister and I both saw on a Food Network show a few weeks ago. We both fell in love with the idea and couldn't wait to make it! The next day, another sister emails me the recipe.....a sign it HAD to be made! There are many recipes for Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip out there, and they all are similar, and yes, they all taste JUST like eating a chicken wing! Well, thanks to Jan for trying this one out, not once, but THREE times this weekend! That's how much of a HIT it was! I put the last one together, so I can take at least part credit! :) By the way, it is SO simple and easy, it is sure to be a staple at football parties for years to come! Enjoy!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/buffalo-chicken-dip-recipe/index.html

tip: serve with celery sticks, then it really tastes like the real thing!

Pumpkin Pleasure!

This week I bring you double pumpkin-pleasure! I was feeling very fall-like and craving all those comforting flavors. I pulled two cupcake recipes from my arsenal that were similar, yet different. I have mixed reviews about them, but I couldn't stop eating them!!!!

The first one is a simple Pumpkin Cupcake with a Cream Cheese Frosting. It was very simple to make and sooooo delicious! I did have a sad felling when the candy corns on top started to melt, and they were no longer perfect, but what can you do in the FL heat?! Definitely try this one out at home this fall! http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/pumpkin-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese-frosting-00000000021359/index.html#

The other cupcake was also delicious, but SO labor intensive! Rachel Ray, if you are reading this, tsk tsk on you! This recipe was the most labor intensive, dirty dish making thing I have ever made! I admit, I did not read the recipe ahead of time- I rarely do- but read the ingredients and it sounded great so I went for it. Well, 2 minutes into it I was frustrated and grumpy! I used every mixing bowl in the kitchen, washed and re-used my bowl for the mixer twice AND had to pull out the double-boiler! All this for only 12 cupcakes! Once done, tasting these Cheesecake-Filled Pumpkin Cupcakes, made me (almost) forget all the labor though....they are super yummy! I was not a particular fan of the brown sugar frosting (it's pretty sweet!), but everyone seemed to think it was OK! This recipe was from the Rachel Ray Magazine, and they made life even more difficult by not putting it online for us! I have the recipes scanned, so if you want to even try it after reading this review, then email me and I will send it directly to you!

Happy Fall everyone..time to go have a cupcake for breakfast! :)

Bam!

I have had this recipe in my arsenal for a long time, given to me by my friend Sheri years ago. She swore this was a great go-to for football parties....and she was RIGHT! It is a warm corn dip from Emeril, and boy did he kick this one up a notch- it's got a bite to it! It is pretty labor intensive, but the outcome is worth it! It made a good size casserole dish full, so it fed a lot of folks. Perfect for a Fall Football Sunday. I will definitely make this one again. Thanks Sheri!

http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/dip-recipes/warm-corn-dip.htm

tip: use the new Fritos scoops, they work much better that the original.

Opa!

Tonight I revisited a recipe that I have made multiple times in the past year. (Not something I do often!) I had a year's subscription to Gourmet Magazine, and I only took two recipes total from it in that time- too fancy for me! But this, this recipe, is simple, delicious and warms the soul. The temperate dropped to a chilly 76 today in South Florida, so it was a perfect time to enjoy this dish and a great football game! Greece is a place I have always wanted to visit, and definitely one of my favorite cuisines, and this dish puts a smile on my face every time I make it. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Greek-Spiced-Baked-Shrimp-350590

I add an extra dash of the red pepper flakes to kick it up a notch, and make SURE you have some great crusty bread to soak up all the juices.