Recipes

[momtochloe]

Here is a good way to use up any leftover Halloween candy:

Monster Cookie Dough Dip

Prep Time: 8mn

Cook Time: N/A

Total Time: 8mn

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz cream cheese, soften to room temperature
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional, as needed)
• 1 cup M&Ms (I used a mix of plain and peanut butter M&Ms)

DIRECTIONS

1. Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Add in the peanut butter and beat well until uniform in color. Scrape the bowl as needed.
2. Mix in both sugars and the vanilla extract. Add in the flour and oats and mix well. Add in the heavy cream one tablespoon at a time if needed to achieve the consistency you want. If you prefer a thicker consistency, you can skip the heavy cream altogether.
3. Fold in the M&Ms. Serve with anything you like! I love pretzels and graham crackers with this monster cookie dough dip.

Printed from: http://www.centercutcook.com
Recipe URL: http://www.centercutcook.com/monster-cookie-dough-dip/

[ChiliPepper]

Cranberry, Crab Meat & Cream Cheese Appetizers

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Ocean Spray Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

1/3 cup cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup minced crab meat

2 tablespoons green onion, white and green parts, sliced

15 individual mini-phyllo shells, thawed

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375º F.

Place cranberry sauce in a small mixing bowl; beat with a fork or wire whisk until smooth.

Combine cream cheese, crab meat and green onion in a small mixing bowl.

Fill each shell with about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture.

Top with 1/2 teaspoon cranberry sauce.

Bake for 10 minutes or until heated through.

Makes 15 individual servings.

Chili's notes:

I did something similar but I mixed hot pepper jam (of course!) with the cranberry to give it the sweet-hot thing. 

[ChiliPepper]

Grilled Bacon Apple Bites with Chunky Cranberry Spread

Ingredients:

1 cup Ocean Spray Fresh or Frozen Cranberries

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 teaspoon chopped garlic

16 slices bacon

8 slices hearty whole-grain bread

4 teaspoons mustard

1 large apple, sliced

1/3 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, thinly sliced

Directions:

Preheat grill to high.

Bring cranberries, water, cranberry juice cocktail, raisins, sugar, vinegar and ginger to a boil in cast-iron pot or Dutch oven. Reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes or until thickened.

Meanwhile, heat oil in small cast-iron skillet. Add onion and garlic; sauté until soft and slightly brown. Stir onion mixture into cranberry mixture.

Cook bacon on griddle until crisp.

Spread 4 bread slices with mustard. Top with bacon, apple and cheese. Spread cranberry mixture on remaining 4 bread slices.

Place bread slices, cranberry side down, on cheese to form sandwiches.

Grill sandwiches on griddle until browned on both sides and cheese is melted.

Cut each sandwich into 4 triangles.

Serve with remaining cranberry mixture.

Makes 4 sandwiches.

Chili's notes:

This one one is kind of a grilled cheese with apple & cranberry, sounded really good. It is cut up nice to be used as an appetizer. Or make it on fancy bread. But, I could see just making this as an upscale grilled cheese.

[momtochloe]

Oh Chili, those recipes look delicious! . . . and I could split a can of the cranberries between the two recipes . . . thank you!

[ChiliPepper]

---

@momtochloe wrote:

Oh Chili, those recipes look delicious! . . . and I could split a can of the cranberries between the two recipes . . . thank you!

---

Hey there my Friend!!!

Your dip sounds FAB, too FAB maybe LOL!!! I could make that dinner!!! 

My second one is kind of a grilled cheese with apple & cranberry, sounded pretty good. It is cut up nice to be used as an appetizer but I could see just making that as a grilled cheese for lunch or dinner.

Of course I would add a few slices of jalapeno to it!

@momtochloe

[ChiliPepper]

Sizzling Bacon-Wrapped Apricots with Cranberry Glaze

Prep Time 20 minutes plus cooling

Cook Time 15 minutes

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 2 teaspoons water

3/4 teaspoon whole-grain mustard

1 1/2 teaspoons packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

12 slices maple-cured bacon, halved crosswise

24 dried apricots

1 1/2 cups Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Blend

Directions:

Boil cranberry juice in medium saucepan over high heat until reduced to 1 cup. Whisk in cornstarch, brown sugar, mustard and nutmeg. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil 1 minute until thickened.

Cool to room temperature.

Reserve ½ cup of the glaze.

Meanwhile, line rimmed baking sheet with foil; set wire rack over foil and spray with cooking spray.

Wrap bacon halves around apricots and secure with wooden pick.

Brush with glaze and place on wire rack.

Broil 3 to 7 minutes, or until bacon in browned, turning once.

Serve warm with reserved glaze.

Makes 24 appetizers

[ChiliPepper]

---

@momtochloe wrote:

Oh Chili, those recipes look delicious! . . . and I could split a can of the cranberries between the two recipes . . . thank you!

---

Good idea Sista!!!

You & I especially don't need such large quantities.

Well, to be honest, my cran-apple sauce started out as a half recipe but I think it ended up as a recipe & a half LOL!!!

Sigh, I'm sure it freezes well!

[momtochloe]

I am in the middle of cooking disaster . . . I decided to try and make scallion pancakes and they are not turning out very well but I learned a lot and will take another run at them . . . another day . . . I've had enough of them today!  Oy.

[ChiliPepper]

Cranberry Brie Appetizer Bites

Prep Time 20 minutes Cook Time 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

1 1/4 cups fresh or frozen Cranberries

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel

25 3 1/4-inch square wonton wrappers

1 8-ounce Brie round, cut into 24 3/4-inch cubes

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Spray 24 miniature-muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Add cranberries; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer about 3 to 4 minutes or until cranberries pop and mixture thickens slightly, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice and peel.

Press 1 wonton wrapper gently into each muffin cup, allowing ends to extend above. Spray edges of wonton wrappers with nonstick cooking spray.

Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until bottoms of cups are beginning to brown.

Place 1 cube of Brie in each cup; place sheet of aluminum foil over each pan to prevent excessive browning.

Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until Brie is soft.

Remove from oven; top each with about 1 teaspoon cranberry mixture.

Makes 24 appetizers.

Chili's notes:

I could see myself replacing the lemon juice & lemon peel with orange juice & orange peel. I love cranberry-orange.

[RespectLife]

---

@momtochloe wrote:

@RespectLife I may have mentioned The Kitchen as on the weekends I do have a tendency to have Food Network on in the back ground.  It is a good show with lots of different, interesting things depending on the theme for that day.

SDP Pokies (including Lint) returning to their new nest after a romp outside:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYygl2em4_M

---

Aww...everybody wants some loving!  Too cute!  She puts the toy in...yet they all abandon it to follow her!