Bacon Wrapped Thingies

Bacon makes everything good. Especially when you wrap it around something and can easily pop it into your mouth to devour. These are always a people pleaser at parties!

Serves 10

INGREDIENTS
1 pound of bacon
2 cans of water chestnuts, sliced
Red onion, roughly chopped
Jalapeno, seeded and sliced
Soy sauce
Toothpicks

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Take bacon and cut all the slices in half.
3. Place one water chestnut, one piece of onion and one slice of jalapeno onto end of bacon slice. Roll up in bacon and secure with toothpicks. Repeat until bacon is gone.
4. Brush bacon balls with soy sauce. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until bacon is done, turning halfway through cooking.
5. Serve alone or with a mustard or BBQ sauce.

Chile Verde

Another crock pot dish for your enjoyment. This, like many things I cook, has evolved with each time I make it. Serves with corn on the cob or this salad.

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb of boneless pork, trimmed of fat (whatever is on sale is fine - should roast, loin, butt all work well)
2 cans of diced green chiles
1 cup of onion, diced
3 tbsp chili powder
12 Tortillas (I use the taco size)
Sour Cream
Hot sauce
Salsa

DIRECTIONS:
1. Place pork in crock pot.
2. Pour chiles and onion over pork and then add chili powder.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
4. Remove pork from crock and shred. Add in as much juice from the crock as you would like.
5. Serve with tortillas, sour cream, hot sauce and salsa.

My Favorite Salad

I'm a huge nut and cheese fan, so this salad is always my go to for a quick lunch or to serve alongside some grilled fish.

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS:
2 apples, chopped
3/4 cup candied nuts (I like to use walnuts or pecans)
1 cup of Gorgonzola or blue cheese, crumbled
3/4 cup of dried cranberries
3 cups of lettuce (Spinach, romaine, iceberg, whatever you like)
Raspberry salad dressing (purchased at the store)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine all ingredients except the dressing and toss.
2. Drizzle dressing over salad and enjoy!

Potato Casserole

I combined several different recipes and added a few of my own twists to come up with this tasty dish! I would imagine that adding ham or sausage would make it a good breakfast casserole...

Serves 6-8 (as a side dish)

INGREDIENTS:
1 BAG (24 oz) cubed potatoes, thawed
1/2 onion, diced
2 tbsp minced garlic
2 cups of sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups of shredded cheese (I used cheddar, but pepper jack or Gouda might be good!)
3 tbsp butter
Salt and Pepper
Nutmeg

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350*.
2. Saute diced onion in the butter.
3. Place potatoes in large casserole dish and mix in sour cream, soup, onions, cheese and seasonings to taste.
4. Bake for 45 minutes. Serve warm.

Blue Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

Yum. Love stuffed mushrooms. If you're not a blue cheese fan, substitute it out for Parmesan.

Makes 12 servings

INGREDIENTS:
2 dozen medium sized mushrooms
12 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
4 oz blue cheese, crumbled
8 oz cream cheese, softened
3 tbsp butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 green onions, sliced

DIRECTIONS
1. Remove stems from mushrooms and reserve. Clean mushrooms with damp towel.
2. Take stems and chop finely. Saute in butter for about 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute another 2 minutes.
3. Combine stems and garlic, green onions, blue cheese, bacon and cream cheese in mixing bowl. Stir until blended.
3. Scoop mixture into mushroom caps and place mushrooms on a greased baking sheet.
4. Cook mushrooms in a 350* oven for about 20 minutes. Serve warm