Jalapeno Poppers Recipe

When entertaining for The Big Game, you want something that isn't going to take a lot of time to prepare in the kitchen.  My jalapeno poppers do not require a lot of ingredients and are simple to make.  Now, I know what you are thinking, eating a whole jalapeno? I can't handle that!  But trust me, these are delicious and will be a hit with your guests!  Baking the pepper in the oven, paired with the cream cheese really tones down the spiciness!  Tip- If you want to make this recipe a little healthier, use turkey bacon.  Also, make sure you use plastic gloves when seeding the peppers (especially all of you who wear contacts, I made that mistake the first time I made these!)

1 8oz package of cream cheese 

1 cup of cheddar cheese

1 cup of mozzarella cheese

1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder

1 package of bacon (strips cut in half)

1 pound of jalapenos, halved and seeded

1.  Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.  In a medium sized bowl combine the cheeses and garlic powder and stir until well combined.  Spoon about 1-2 tablespoons of the cheese on the pepper half.

2.  Take the bacon and wrap it around the pepper. 

3.  Place prepared peppers on a baking sheet and bake for about 10-13 minutes, or until the bacon is fully cooked.  

Harvest Romaine Salad with Creamy Thyme Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

So despite me refusing to believe that summer is over, I broke down and decided to start concocting a few recipes that create the perfect balance between warm temperatures and fall, starting to creep in.  Blame it on my latest trip to Panera, I got inspired after having one their newest salads.  Well, here is my spin on it!

2 heads of romaine lettuce

1 cucumber sliced

1/4 of dried cherries

1/4 cup of crumbled goat cheese

5 slices of bacon cooked until crumbled, and then crumbled

3 spoonfuls of chopped candied pecans

1.  In a bowl, add the lettuce, cucumbers, dried cherries, cheese, bacon and pecans.  Serve with my Creamy Thyme Balsamic Vinaigrette, recipe is as follows.  

Creamy Thyme Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar

1 1/2 tablespoons of no fat mayo

1/4 teaspoon of ground mustard

1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder

3 sprigs of thyme, minced

Salt and Ground Pepper to Taste

2.  In a small bowl, add the above ingredients and whisk until fully combined.  Drizzle dressing on top of the salad and then serve!

Bacon and Blue, Red Potatoes Recipe

I had a few of my guy friends over and they were hungry after helping to work on my car!  So, I wanted to treat them right by making them some din din.  Let's just say a steak paired with my Bacon and Blue, Red Potatoes were a huge hit!  If you don't like the taste of strong blue cheese, these may be right up your alley.  The  heavy cream makes for a creamier texture and helps to thin out the strong cheese flavor, leaving an irresistible rich flavor!

1 pound of red potatoes, scrubbed and cooked until tender
2 tablespoons of butter
1 onion sliced
1/4 cup of heavy cream
1/4 cup of blue cheese crumbles
5 Slices of bacon
Salt and Ground Pepper To Taste

1.  In a medium sized skillet cook the bacon until crispy.  I used turkey bacon, but I think it would have been better just to use the good stuff instead of trying to be healthy!  Cook until golden brown and crispy.  Place cooked bacon on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess grease.  Let cool and then crumble with your hands. 

2.  In the same skillet add the butter and allow it to melt.  Add the onion and cook for about 4 minutes.  Add in the heavy cream and blue cheese crumbles.  Cook until the sauce thickens. 

3.  Place the potatoes on a platter.  Sprinkle some Drizzle the onion and blue cheese sauce on top of the potatoes.  Add the bacon  and then serve.