popcorn party

Who does not love popcorn? I do!! Last week I had a

girls night popcorn party. 

A grown up party needs grown up popcorn.  We had six types of popcorn. 

1. white chocolate with candy 2. sweet kettle corn 3. rosemary 

4. creamy carmel    5. bacon    6. garlic and parmesan 

Basic popcorn

• oil 
• popcorn kernels
• salt 
• butter 

1. Cover the bottom of the pan with oil and seeds and 1-2 T butter 
2. Turn heat to medium 
3. Cover
4. When you hear the corn start a popping crack the lid 
5. Take off heat when popcorn stops popping. 
6. add salt 

1. White chocolate with candy 

• white chocolate chips 
• candy cane 
• candy 
• tin foil 

1. Make basic popcorn 
2. melt desired amount of white chocolate chips 30 second in the microwave mix then 10 seconds until melted 
3. - I added  finely chopped candy cane for a peppermint taste 
4. lay popcorn on tin foil and drizzle over melted chocolate and candy. Sprinkle over candy and mix with hands. 
5. Cool and serve 

2. Sweet kettle corn 

• 1/3 cup popcorn kernels
• 1/4 cup sugar 
• 1/4 cup oil 
• 1-2 tsp vanilla 

1. add all above ingredients into pot or a whirly pop and turn on medium heat 
2. keep shaking pot or turning whirly pop until popping stop

3. Rosemary 

•  1 cup olive oil 
• 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
• rosemary sprig 
• salt 

1. add oil and rosemary sprig and turn on medium low heat 
2. infuse for 5 minutes 
3. take out sprig and half the oil 
4. add kernels
5. when done add oil you took out 

4. creamy carmel corm 

• 2 cups sugar 
• 3/4 cups light corn syrup (Karo)
• 1/2 cup butter 
• 2 cups half & half 
• *5 bags "Orville Redenbackers's" LIGHT (microwave) popcorn

1. make basic popcorn or pop microwave popcorn - discard all unpopped kernels 
2. in heavy 3 quart pan, heat sugar, corn syrup, butter, and 1 CUP half and half, stir constantly 
3. when it comes to boil add remanning half & half  
4. still till reaches 240* on candy thermometer 
5. poor over popcorn 

- this does take a while 

5. bacon 

• bacon bits 
• bacon grease 
• popcorn kernels 
• salt 

1. cook bacon 
2. while grease is still hot add kernels
3. cut up bacon and add 

6. garlic and parmesan 

• roasted garlic bulb
• 1 garlic clove
• oil
• 5 T butter 
• parmesan 
• popcorn kernels 

1. roast garlic bulb in oven 
2. cover bottom of pot with oil and a garlic clove heat on low for five minutes 
3. remove clove 
4. add popcorn kernels and pop 
5. blend up parmesan cheese, 3 roasted garlic cloves from bulb and add to melted butter 
6. pour over popcorn 

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Homemade Lemonade

December lemons? With this delicious fruit in season I can't help to make lemonade. It will brighten up your drab winter days. So crank up your heater dust off your flip flops serve yourself a glass of lemonade and treat yourself to a summer day in December.

•2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 cups water
•2 cups sugar
•2 quarts water

1.squeeze fresh lemon
2. Make simple syrup from water and syrup
3.mix 2 quarts water and fresh lemon lemon juice. Add 1-2 cups simple syrup.

Many thanks to a wonderful friend who let me pick her lemons to brighten up one drab winter day. Hot coco just wasn't doing it for me. Pin It

Christmas Party - Cheese Ball

Many of you might have seen this a few months back for football week, but I had to bring it back with a few new ideas I like to use. Last year I brought this to our work party and was asked again to bring it this year! It is a staple of parties, especially during the holidays, in our family. You can't beat a great

Cheese Ball!

But, I am going to change it up a bit below and give you some different options to try with this same recipe. You'll definitely want to try some of the different variations at your next party.

Variations

• Different Cheeses - Sounds simple, but changes everything. Do white cheddar, parmesan, or your favorite cheese. There are 6 cheese blends at grocery stores you can use that taste great that are in a bag.Use smoked cheddar instead of regular and add bacon, real bacon pieces though!!!
• Add pimientos, very simple, but also a wonderful juxtaposition in taste.
• Add smoked Salmon, now you can use smoked cheddar as well. This one is great for a presentation spread. Add to your favorite cracker and serve on a tray versus in the ball form potluck style. Looks amazing and will impress your guests.
• Or just change up seasoning. Use a Ranch packet, or your other favorite dressing. Sure to change it up a bit without any extra work!

• 8 oz package of Cream Cheese Softened
• 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese Grated
• 1/4 Cup Mayo
• 1/4 tsp Worchestershire Sauce
• 1/8 tsp Celery Salt
• 1/8 tsp Onion Salt
• 1/8 tsp Garlic Salt
• 1 Cup Pecans, Almonds or your favorite - amount varies

1. Mix all ingredients together except nuts
2. On wax paper spread out finely chopped nuts
3. Put cheese ball mixture on the nuts spread over wax paper and form into ball or log
4. The nuts keep the cheese ball from sticking to wax paper
5. Chill and we serve with Wheat Thins

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Tortilla pumpkin crisps

As a kid I always remember that this was a halloween tradition. 

These Tortilla Pumpkin crisps will become a family favorite of yours also. 

• tortillas - flour works the best 
• oil 
• cinnamon/sugar mixture- we add a little brown sugar. 

1. cut up tortillas. we use a butter knife  or for younger children the cookie cutter works well 
2. fry in oil then remove onto a paper towel 
3. add cinnamon/mixture 
4. enjoy your new family tradition. 

 by alix 

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Football Week - Divine Cheese Ball

I don't think there is a more perfect Football game day snack then 

Cheese Ball.

My Aunt Christie has been bringing this to games, Christmas, and New Years for decades. It's a staple and only because it is the best I have ever tasted. This simple but very tasty snack is out of bounds!

• 8 oz package of Cream Cheese Softened
• 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese Grated
• 1/4 Cup Mayo
• 1/4 tsp Worchestershire Sauce
• 1/8 tsp Celery Salt
• 1/8 tsp Onion Salt
• 1/8 tsp Garlic Salt
• 1 Cup Pecans, Almonds or your favorite - amount varies

1. Mix all ingredients together except nuts
2. On wax paper spread out finely chopped nuts
3. Put cheese ball mixture on the nuts spread over wax paper and form into ball or log
4. The nuts keep the cheese ball from sticking to wax paper
5. Chill and we serve with Wheat Thins

You will love this recipe. Definitely one of my favorites. Thanks to Christie for this amazing recipe.

by Kevin

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creamy mac and cheese with sour cream

Since I was a kid, we always ate broccoli and cauliflower. Not exactly favorites as I remember, but if you add a little cheese sauce, wow how quickly the frown gets turned upside down. My mom taught me as a kid to make a very basic sauce, actually a roux (base of all great sauces. Butter and flour mixture) with cheese added. As our kids have gotten older, mac and cheese has become a frequent lunch time request. Its easy, and its affordable, but when its time to dump in that powder cheese Alix and I both have a hard time. So, we took my childhood cheese sauce, added noodles and got our selves mac and cheese. It does take a few minutes longer, but it keeps better, its healthier, and tastier. Don't be surprised if you find this base in many more dishes to come. I am trying it out on everything. I have found lots of tasty choices.

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Farm Fresh Fridays - Artichokes

For this first post we let our 4 year old son pick our first feature. He picked

Artichokes

He loves them and its always his top pick. Good thing they were on sale and not $2 like the local grocery store has them. That's why WE LOVE LARRY'S

We decided to cook two different artichokes two different ways, grilled and steamed. I will give you both options and they both taste great. Keep reading for the chipotle mayonnaise recipe and tips on how to prepare artichokes. 

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spinach salad with poppy seed dressing

 

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