Saturday, February 19, 2011

Jalapeño poppers are a little taste of heaven in my belly

I have a list of recipes that I want to make so I decided that I should try a new one every weekend. This weekend we made jalapeño poppers to go with a really good buffalo chicken wing recipe we found a while back. (This meal was definitely not healthy but soooo so good!!!)

It's also more fun to pretend you are hosting your own cooking show while you prepare your treats.

Filling the jalapenos
Ready to fry!
chef Justin 
Tasty perfection!


Naughty sparky thought he should have some too.
These jalapeno poppers were so good! This recipe was definitely a keeper!


Ingredients
·         12 ounces cream cheese, softened
·         1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
·         1 tablespoon bacon bits
·         12 ounces jalapeno peppers, seeded and halved
·         1 cup milk
·         1 cup all-purpose flour
·         1 cup dry bread crumbs
·         2 quarts oil for frying
Directions
1.      Blanch your peppers to desired tenderness (I would also salt the water or your poppers won't be salty enough)
      In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, Cheddar cheese and bacon bits. Spoon this mixture into the jalapeno pepper halves.
2.      Put the milk and flour into two separate small bowls. Dip the stuffed jalapenos first into the milk then into the flour, making sure they are well coated with each. Allow the coated jalapenos to dry for about 10 minutes.
3.      Dip the jalapenos in milk again and roll them through the breadcrumbs. Allow them to dry, then repeat to ensure the entire surface of the jalapeno is coated. This double coating and drying is important!
4.      In a medium skillet, heat the oil to 365 degrees F ( 180 degrees C). Deep fry the coated jalapenos 2 to 3 minutes each, until golden brown. Remove and let drain on a paper towel.


This recipe for buffalo chicken wings is also amazing if you are interested (you don't have to use as much butter as they say). Tastes just like Buffalo Wild Wings!

Ingredients
·         1/2 cup all-purpose flour
·         1/4 teaspoon paprika
·         1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
·         1/4 teaspoon salt
·         10 chicken wings
·         oil for deep frying
·         1/4 cup butter
·         1/4 cup hot sauce
·         1 dash ground black pepper
·         1 dash garlic powder
Directions
1.      In a small bowl mix together the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt. Place chicken wings in a large nonporous glass dish or bowl and sprinkle flour mixture over them until they are evenly coated. Cover dish or bowl and refrigerate for 60 to 90 minutes.
2.      Heat oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). The oil should be just enough to cover wings entirely, an inch or so deep. Combine the butter, hot sauce, pepper and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir together and heat until butter is melted and mixture is well blended. Remove from heat and reserve for serving.
3.      Fry coated wings in hot oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until parts of wings begin to turn brown. Remove from heat, place wings in serving bowl, add hot sauce mixture and stir together. Serve.


Friday, February 18, 2011

Hearts

During all our snowstorms I had a few days off and couldn't get out so I had arts and crafts time while I drank hot cocoa and watched some tv. Oh the fun some melted crayons and wax paper can bring. The finished product:
I've decided to make a fun recipe every Saturday. Last Saturday's recipe was cake drops. I saw them on a blog and they looked so delicious! I had no idea that red velvet cake would be so red! Justin thought it made perfect fake blood. Thanks...that makes this sound so delicious.

We had bought Fox Face a new little bed and while we were cooking and putting groceries away we turned around to this sight. Just make yourself right at home.

We baked the cake, crumbled it, and mixed in cream cheese frosting! Yum! Then I made them into little balls and dipped them in white chocolate. The finished product turned out quite nice. However, I thought the white chocolate was gross so I sent them all to school with Justin to share. 

Other heart themed meals included a bananapepperoni pizza. (Not a pizza with bananas and pepperoni)
And brownie fruit kabobs.