"T's" Pizza Dip

This is a dip that my friend Tina makes all the time and it gets rave reviews ALWAYS. You can do your own variation of it adding different toppings of your choice but I am the kind of gal who likes to keep things simple. Here is my version of the Pizza Dip.

Pizza Dip

• 2 (80z) Cream Cheese; softened
• 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning (McCormick)
• 3 garlic cloves, pressed or crushed
• 1 jar pizza sauce
• 1/2 onion chopped
• 1 cup Mozzerella cheese; shredded
• Pepperoni (they have some cool mini ones in the grocery store) any will do.

Directions:

1. In a bowl mix cream cheese , italian seasoning and Garlic. Spread into a baking dish.
2. Pour pizza sauce over top and spread evenly over cream cheese mixture.
3. Spread chopped onions over sauce evenly.
4. Top with cheese and pepperoni.
5. Now you can add whatever extras you want like: Olives, Bell Peppers etc... its all up to you

Bake at 350 until cooked through. Serve with Tortilla chips.

Halloween Spider Eggs

These were some fun eggs me and alyssa made for her soccer party. We were really happy with the way they came out. We used olives to make the spiders.

Deviled Eggs

1. Store your eggs in the carton sideways in the fridge (see pic below). this will center the yolk.

2. Place eggs in pan and cover eggs with cold water. Bring water to a boil.

3. Once water is rapidly boiling, shut off heat and cover with lid. Let sit for 15 minutes.

4. Drain and run cold water over eggs until completely cooled.

5. Peel eggs and cut in half. Remove yolks from the centers and place in a bowl.

6. Mash eggs add ingredients and mix well.

Ingredients:

• 12 eggs; boiled
• 2-3 T Mayo (add one at a time to get desired consistency)
• 1 tsp pickled relish
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• Couple drops of yellow mustard (I use for color)

Note: On ingredients, add a little at a time so you don't make too wet. You may end up adding more mayo or other ingredients to your taste.

Bakerella

Last week me and Wendy went to South Coast Plaza to meet and get our cookbooks signed by Bakerella. For those of you who are not familiar with Bakerella you need to check out her blog http://www.bakerella.com/southern-california/. She is the Cake Pop Queen. She makes the cutest cake pops and cake balls. Wendy and I have been following her blog for over a year know and were really excited to meet her. Now that I am working at The Shirt Cannery I made us a couple cute shirts to wear. Today I got onto facebook and WE MADE HER BLOG!!! I was so excited. You need to pick up her cookbook, its filled with so many great cake pop recipes and amazing decorating tips. I have to do some handy work on my pics my color didn't come out like I would have liked. I will post some pics of us with her and of her book as soon as I go clean them up a bit. Here is one that Bakerella posted on her blog of me and Wendy. This is a gal who works at the Mission Viejo mall William Sonoma she hung out with us.

Carnitas Chili

The Fall weather is finally looking like its here. I love fall. I love soups, chili's and all the warm comfort foods that come along with it. This Chili recipe was shared with me by a friend Laura Benvenuto. She saw it at a Trader Joes demo several years ago and kindly shared it with me and it's been a favorite since.

Carnitas Chili

• 3-4 lbs of Pork Roast (precooked & shredded). Traders has a great microwaveable one in there meat dept. or make your own.
• 16 oz can of chicken broth
• 1 can white kidney beans (or whatever beans you like) I use pinto, chili and white beans because I can.
• 1 diced onion
• 1 half of package of TJ's frozen bell peppers (red, green & yellow).
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, pressed
• 1 large jar of salsa verde (the green stuff)
• 2-3 tsp cumin
• Cilantro; fresh

Bring all ingredients to a boil, reduce and simmer for 1 hour. Top with grated cheese and tortilla chips.

Sorry I have been MIA

Note: You can click on the recipe and right click your mouse and save to your computer.

Sorry to be MIA. I finally got a part time job and have been working a lot the past 3 weeks. Anyways, thought I would pop on here really quick and post a recipe. This recipe was given to me by my friend Keri Garcia who makes this chili every year for her school Halloween Carnival Chili cook off. I ran into her in the grocery store last year and was stumped on what to make for my Halloween Party and she gave me the recipe on the spot. The best part is its a crockpot meal and only 5 ingredients. Its really called White Bean Chili but she named it Zombie Chili for Halloween so I am sticking to that.

I made it up on a recipe card in my Creative Memories Storybook software to make it festive.

BBQ Sauce and Chicken

Well me and the husband are trying to eat more lightly so we have been trying salads for dinner. It's from one of my favorite sites Our Best Bites which is awesome. This has 2 recipes from their site "BBQ Chicken" and "BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad". I made the BBQ chicken for dinner one night and then used the leftover chicken the 2nd night for the salad. We got 2 meals out of this which is awesome. I did make a homemade ranch dressing which was good but you can use whatever you want (blue cheese or your favorite bottled dressing).

BBQ Sauce

• 1 1/2 C Ketchup
• 1/4 C Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 C light brown sugar
• 1/2 C red wine vinegar
• 2 1/2 T dry mustard
• 2 t smoked paprika
• 2 t tobasco
• 2 t kosher salt
• 1 1/2 t coarse black pepper
• 1/2 C water

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and use as a marinade or to baste meat while grilling. This sauce tastes better as it sits for a day.

BBQ Chicken

• 2-3 lbs of chicken (I use thighs)
• 1 recipe of BBQ sauce above (reserve one cup for later)

Marinade chicken overnight in a 9x13 dish. Grill over medium and baste with reserved sauce. I actually just warmed it up in a measuring cup and drizzled over chicken when was done. Serve with your favorite side (corn on the cobb, baked beans).

Here is the link to the BBQ Chicken Cobb salad , my husband loved this salad, I received a text that said "This salad rocks".

Basic Beef Stew

I know it's not a summer meal but I was really craving a basic beef stew yesterday even in this heatwave. It turned out really good. The best part is the kids actually loved it which is huge.

Beef Stew

• 3lbs of boneless chuck roast, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 3 T of vegetable oil
• 2 t salt
• 1 T freshly ground pepper
• 2 yellow onions, cut into 1 inch chunks
• 1/4 cup of flour
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup red wine
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1/2 t dried rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 4 carrots, peeled, cut into 1 inch slices
• 2 stalks of celery, cut into 1 inch slices
• 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut in eighths

1. On medium-high heat, add the vegetable oil to a large heavy pot, with a lid.


2. When it begins to smoke slightly, add the beef and brown very well. Add the salt and pepper as the beef browns.


3. Once browned, remove the beef with slotted spoon set aside.


4. Add the onions and saute for abou 5 minutes, until softened.


5. Reduce heat to medium-low, and add the flour and cook for 2 minutes stirring often.


6. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.


7. Add wine and deglaze the pan, scraping any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. The flour will start to thicken the wine as it comes to a simmer.


8. Simemr wine for 5 minutes, and then add the broth, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary and the beef.


9. Bring back to a gentle simmer, cover and cook on very low for about a hour.


10. Add potatoes, carrots, and celery and simmer covered for another 30 minutes or until the meat and vegetables are tender.


11. Turn off heat and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Note: I had to let mine simmer a lot longer before my vegies got tender.