CARAMELIZED FRENCH ONION DIP

One of my family members gave me this recipe, and I don't know if it's better to have warm when its just done or after a few days of sitting. I love it both ways, after it's been in the fridge(if it makes it there) let it warm up a bit before you eat it, This dip is addicting you will love it and it's worth the time to really cook the onions.

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) salted butter

1 medium sweet onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rings

Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon honey

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/4 cup dry vermouth or dry white wine

3/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup (2 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives, plus more for garnish

Dash of cayenne pepper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the butter to a larger heavy skillet.

Heat the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Fry the onions, flipping them now and then, until they're dark on the edges, even black and crispy in spots, about 10 minutes. Add the honey and garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the vermouth, bring to a simmer and cook until the liquid thickens, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
Put the sour cream and cream cheese in a mixing bowl and mix with a rubber spatula until smooth. Finely chop the fried onions on a cutting board and add them, along with their pan juices, to the cream cheese mixture. Stir in the chives. Add the cayenne and season with salt.
Transfer to a small bowl and garnish with more chives. (This can be made ahead of time and refrigerated.)

ENJOY!
Allison

BEST BAKED BEANS EVER!!!

Do you think you can't improve on your best baked bean recipe? Well think again my friends. We have been making this bean recipe for years and it is a HIT at any gathering. Your family will Love this. This can be a meal by itself with a nice crusty bread, or a fantastic side dish. Super duper easy, just put every thing in the crock pot and let er go.

Oh by the way I could not find a butter bean at the grocery store to save my soul. So just improvise if you have to I used northern beans instead.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED
1/2 lb ground beef and 1/2 cup chopped onion browned and drained
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
  2 Tbsp. mustard
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 16oz can kidney beans, drained
1 16oz can pork and beans, drained
1 16oz can butter beans, drained
Save sum of the juice from the beans in a small cup for later
Mix and but into the crock pot on low for about 2-3 hours till hot and bubbly. or if your in a real hurry mix and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees
Use some of the liquid from the beans to add during cooking if you would like it a little more soupy. but don't add it right away till they cook for a while and you see the consistency. that's it they are done.
Enjoy!
Allison

SMITH'S HOT DOGS AND GREEK SAUCE FROM ERIE,PA

Well by now you all know that I love hot dogs.  I thought I would tell you about Smith's hot dogs made in Erie,PA.  These are one of the best hot dogs around, when we go to visit family we make sure we bring back plenty of hot dogs and Ox Roast (not really ox) for the delicious taste of the county fair. More on the Ox Roast sandwich later, right now we're talking Hot Dogs!!

These hot dogs are flavorful, made of the finest quality beef and pork, and are topped off with a "snap" with each bite. Smith Provision Co., Inc. is a manufacturer of premium quality wieners, sausages, deli meats, bacon and award winning hams located in Erie, Pennsylvania where it is owned and operated by the Weber family. If you would like to try your own Smiths hot dog visit the website http://www.smithhotdogs.com/ These nice folks will be happy to ship some to you.  Erie also has Greek sauce, this is kind of like a coney sauce but this is much better in my opinion and has a little kick to it.  Here is my family recipe for Greek sauce that my dad would sell in one of his bars he used to own in Erie.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Alex's Greek Sauce from Erie,PA                                   

1 pound hamburger
2 chopped onions OR 1/2 tsp onion salt and 1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp sweet basil
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 small can tomato sauce
3/4 cup water
Put everything into a crock pot ( DO NOT BROWN BEEF FIRST) cook all day on low or 1/2 day on high. Enjoy on your hot dog!!

Enjoy!
Allison
http://allisonskitchen.blogspot.com

BREAKFAST BISCUITS

For a quick grab and go breakfast it doesn't get better than this! The kids will  love these little breakfast biscuits.

1. Roll out Hungry Jack Biscuits very flat.


2. Spray muffin pan

3. Place 1 biscuit in each muffin cup.

4. Fry sausage or bacon and place small amount in each biscuit cup.

5. Sprinkle each with chopped green onions or chives.

6. Mix about 3 eggs together and pour equally over meat/egg mixture.

(Don't overfill.!)

7. Place shredded cheese on top of egg mixture.

8. Pinch biscuits in on top slightly.

9. Bake at 400 for about 15 min.

10. Enjoy!
Allison
http://allisonskitchen.blogspot.com/

Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner team up for Save the Children

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well, The rain is still coming down here in Fl but I still think it's much better than 10 below 0 and snow that my family in Indiana is having. As part of the Foodbuzz team I have been contacted to help spread the word about raising money for Save the Children and to rediscover the fun of cooking together… and do some good, too

Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner ( Frigidaire.com ) are teaming up to inspire families everywhere to get together in the kitchen and start cooking together. Starting today, parents can join in the Frigidaire Kids' Cooking Academy to get great recipes. It's the ultimate parent resource,featuring daily tips, tasty recipes and how-to videos starring chef and TV personality Mary Sue Milliken. All designed to help involve kids in the kitchen.

When they do, Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children to help make sure that more children have access to healthy foods. and promote healthier lifestyles for children living in poverty in the United States.

Plus, to help spread the word, everyone who participates will be entered for a chance to win the daily prize, a kids' apron set, and the grand prize: a new Double Oven Range from Frigidaire.
Here is my own Kid friendly recipe for you to try:

COFFEE MUG CAKE


1 coffee mug
3 tbsp milk
3 tbsp oil

4tbsp. flour 3 tbsp choc. chips

4tbsp. sugar some nuts--optional

2tbsp baking cocoa small splash of vanilla

1 egg

Add dry ingredients to mug & mix well. Pour in milk, oil & egg & mix well. Add chips, nuts if using & vanilla, mix well. Place mug in microwave & cook for 3 min. on high. Allow to cool a little & tip out on plate if desired. Enjoy!!


So lets get cookin'! Head to http://www.maketimeforchange.com and get inspired to cook with your kids.
I'm also asking all of you to send this post to all your friends and family. Together we can help raise money for Save the Children. No Child should go hungry.

Thanks for all your help.
Allison
http://allisonskitchen.blogspot.com
Thanks to Everyone
Allison

Invite HORMEL to your next Dinner

Hi every one, The weather in fl is perfect right now, Beautiful days cool evenings, perfect for entertaining.

As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program I received products from HORMEL.
So I invited family and friends together to enjoy a fall meal.
And i invite you to become familiar with all of Hormel's great tasting foods.
I made one appetizer, a potato and the main course and everyone brought a dish to share, I hope you enjoy my recipes we sure did and had a great time.
MINI PIZZAS WITH HORMEL TURKEY PEPPERONI MINIS:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Start with sandwich thins or you could use English muffins or pitas.

Add your favorite sauce, mozzarella cheese, and  garlic salt.  Top with Hormel minis bake at 400F till cheese is nice and melty, sprinkle with fresh pepper and fresh basil. The kids thought these little pepperonis were soooo cute.
ROASTED PORK LOIN WITH ROSEMARY AND GARLIC:

3 to 4 cloves of garlic chopped fine
3 T Fresh rosemary
2 T parsley
Kosher salt
Pepper
1 Hormel boneless pork loin roast
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup white wine to sart then more for gravy
Preheat oven to 350F
Crush garlic,rosemary salt and pepper and Parsley to make a paste.  Pierce meat in several places and press mixture into holes.  Rub meat with remaining garlic mix and olive oil let set in fridge for at least 1 hr to marinate.
Put Roast in pan add wine and cook till meat thermomater says 160 Turning and basting with pan juice.
Remove roast and let rest about 20 min. before you slice it.
Meanwhile add about 1 can of chicken broth to pan drippings add a little more wine and cook and loosen all the bits from the bottom of the pan.  Thicken with a little cornstarch mixed with water (about 2Tcornstarch with 2T water) cook and thicken adding more chicken broth or wine to make desiered consistancy taste and add S&P if needed
CHEESEY BACON POTATOES

Wow i can't tell you how many of these potatoes we use to make at our restaurants, every one loved them and we still make them a lot at home, these are super easy to make and you can make them ahead of time and heat on the grill or in the oven At the restaurant we would deep fry the skins then fill them with the stuffing but they are still wonderful just baking in the oven or heating on the grill.

1 potato makes 2 stuffed baked potatoes
so for every potato bake or microwave till just tender
slice in half while still hot hold each half in a kitchen towel and carefully scoop out the flesh be careful not to break the skin.
but both sides of potato into a micro safe bowl to this add 2T Butter and 2 slices of American cheese microwave till butter and cheese start to melt take a spoon and chop and mix potato mixture make sure cheese is melted all the way now scoop into each shell sprinkle with HORMEL bacon and chopped scallions or chives serve with sour cream.
Well that's it Thank you Hormel and Foodbuzz for a great day!
No matter if it's Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner a snack or your next party Hormel procucts have you covered
Enjoy!
Allison
Allisonskitchen.blogspot.com

GRANDMAS HOLIDAY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Grandmas Holiday Peanut Butter Cookies

allisonskitchen.blogspot.com

This was my grandmothers favorite Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe, I always remember my grandmother and my aunt Dorthy in the kitchen making these cookies and I always remember the big bowl that they made them in. When I went to PA. last August, my aunt gave me my grandmothers bowl, so I thought I would make some cookies,But i couldn't bring myself to use the bowl, I have it in a special spot in my kitchen, so nothing happens to it.

1/2 cup Butter(Soft)

1 cup Brown Sugar

3/4 cup JIFF

1- Egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cups of Flour

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Salt ( adjust salt if you use salted butter)

Beat Butter,Brown Sugar, and Peanut Butter Then add egg and vanilla and mix well.

Mix flour, baking powder and soda and salt. Gradually add to peanut butter mix and beat till blended.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Heat Oven to 350
Shape into 1 1/4 " balls Then roll balls in some granulated sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

With tines of a fork, press onto cookie in each direction, dip fork into sugar so it does not stick to your cookie.
 
Bake 9 to 10 min.
Cool  for a few min. then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Do Not OVERCOOK!
Enjoy!
Allison
Allisonskitchen.blogspot.com

Groundhog Day

Most of my family was from Punxy and the small towns near Punxy. So to tell you about various aspects of the Groundhog Day holiday, and how we've been celebrating it in Punxsutawney since 1886.

Here are some answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the holiday:

Yes! Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog. The others are just impostors.

How often is Phil's prediction correct? 100% of the time, of course!

How many "Phils" have there been over the years? There has only been one Punxsutawney Phil. He has been making predictions for over 120 years!

Punxsutawney Phil gets his longevity from drinking the "elixir of life," a secret recipe. Phil takes one sip every summer at the Groundhog Picnic and it magically gives him seven more years of life.

On February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob - in front of thousands of followers from all over the world - to predict the weather for the rest of winter.

According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

No! Phil's forecasts are not made in advance by the Inner Circle. After Phil emerges from his burrow on February 2, he speaks to the Groundhog Club president in "Groundhogese"(a language only understood by the current president of the Inner Circle). His proclamation is then translated for the world.

The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania's earliest settlers. They brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, "For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May..."

Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s. The first official trek to Gobbler's Knob was made on February 2, 1887.

So the story goes, Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br'er Groundhog.
By the way if your ever in Punxy stop by the Library and you can see Phil and Phyllis (That's Phils girlfriend) they live in front of the Library and you can watch them sleep and eat two of there favorite pass times.
Enjoy!
Allison
http://allisonskitchen.blogspot.com

Banana Push-Ups

Okay it's really hot down here in Fl and the grand kids are wanting some ice cream so here is a great one for Summer and its good for the kids! Thought I'd share a Tropical picture with you.

2 lg Bananas, Cut Up
1/2 c Instant Nonfat Dry Milk
1 c Plain Yogurt
6 oz Frozen Orange Juice
-Concentrate (1 Can) 1 c Water
Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and whirl until foamy. pour into paper cups and freeze. Push up from the bottom of the cup.

The Kids love this one and I do also.

Enjoy!

Allison

Allisons Kitchen

http://allisonskitchen.blogspot.com/