"World's Best Bean Dip- Ever!"...

 

or so I have been told repeatedly when begged asked to share this recipe.

Well now, I'm not so sure about it being the "World's Best"- but it is awfully good!

 

 "World's Best Bean Dip"

                                                   1- 15oz can refried beans                                                         

                                                    4oz cream cheese-softened                                                       

                                                          12oz sour cream                                                                                                                                      1 bunch green onions, finely chopped                                           

  1/2 (12oz) jar chunky salsa       

         1- 14 1/4oz packet taco seasoning 

          1/2 (4oz) diced green chile peppers

            1 cup grated Monterrey Jack Cheese

Combine all ingredients except grated cheese in ovenproof dish. Sprinkle top with grated cheese.

Bake one hour at 300'. 

Serve warm.

   

                 

 

 Enjoy!

Happy snacking & happy weekend!

love & blessings!

Jill

Scenes from the "Baking of Christmas Cheer"

 

Act I :

"Christmas Pretzels"

 

 

 

something salty + something sweet = something simply delicious!

Preheat oven to 350

place pretzel squares on baking sheet, top with unwrapped chocolate kiss,

bake 1-2 minutes (until kiss begins to melt), remove from oven,

top with m&m pushed gently down in the center of chocolate kiss, 

chill in refrigerator until set.

 

Act II :

"Dreamy Chocolate Cookies"

 

soooooo incredibly yummy!!! Truly dreamy!!

21/4 cup all purpose flour                       1 cup brown sugar

               1/2 cup cocoa                                3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. baking soda                                    1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt                                   2 large eggs

1 cup margarine softened                     2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

-combine flour, cocoa, baking soda & salt in small bowl.

-beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar & vanilla extract in large mixing bowl until creamy.

-beat in eggs for about 2-3 minutes or until light and fluffy.

-gradually beat in flour mixture

-stir in chocolate chips, & drop by rounded Tbsp. onto ungreased cookie sheet

-bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes or until cookies "puff"

 

Act III :

"Wrapping It Up"

and now off to deliver a bit of  "Christmas Cheer"!

 Happy Monday!

love & blessings,

Jill

"Christmas & Cinnamon Cake"

 

just kinda goes together...

like "peas & carrots",

only in my opinion- much better and way more yummy!!

 

This is one of our family's favorites! (year-round)

Cinnamon cake! 

* just click the picture and enlarge to desired size then print- & enjoy!

Oh, don't you just love the delightful smell of cinnamon baking at Christmastime?

Happy Baking!

Love & Blessings,

Jill

p.s. I'm sharing this recipe with Edie's "Christmas sweet treats" party at Life in Grace!

pop-over, there are lots of delicious sweet treats to be found there!

Just another random Monday...

 

It's supposed to storm today...

from the looks of the sky this morning, I'd say it probably will-

 

I feel like Elvis today in my "blue-suede-shoes"...

(thank you Target!)

 

I get to play in these today!!!- and I'm SO excited!!

(it's been a long time!)

 

We have a birthday in the house this week!

Oh, how I love birthday weeks!!

 

and I'm making this for dinner tonight!-

super easy! super yummy!

Happy {random} Monday!

love & blessings!

Jill

"Sunday Night Dessert"

 

A little tradition in our home. (and one of my very favorites!)

All week I we look forward to a special homemade dessert following our Sunday dinner.

 

Often it will be the topic of weekly discussions...

occasionally a vote will even be held...

A delightful (and delicious!) way to start the week...

"Sunday Night Dessert"!

last night's chosen winner:  is our new favorite!! YUM!

Chocolate Chip Pie

1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust

2 large eggs

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup butter (1.5 sticks) softened

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325.

Beat eggs in large mixing bowl on high speed until foamy.

Beat in flour and sugars. Beat in butter. 

Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon into pie shell. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes.

Serve warm.

Enjoy!

Happy Monday!

Jill

Let's talk chicken!

 

some like it hot!...

 

some like it cold!...

 

I created two new recipes, one served hot and one cold...

both beginning with my favorite way to prepare chicken.

-5 frozen boneless, skinless, chicken breasts

-1 small bottle Italian dressing

-1/2- 3/4 cup Allegro Original Marinade

-cook on low in crock-pot for 6-7 hours

-remove chicken breasts and shred

 

for the hot:

Jill's Chicken & Noodles

 -5 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (from recipe above)

-1 bag carrots, pealed and diced

-3 celery stalks diced

-1 large onion diced

-1 stick butter or margarine

-1/2- 1 tsp. seasoning salt

-1 Tbsp. Tony Chachere's original creole seasoning

-black pepper to taste

-4 cans all-natural chicken broth

-1 cup "drippings" (or "broth") from crock-pot of chicken 

-1 large bag wide egg noodles- cooked per bag instructions

1. melt stick of butter in a skillet, add carrots, onions, celery

and saute until tender

2. in a large pot combine chicken broth, "drippings", shredded chicken, 

noodles, sauted vegetables and seasoning

3. cover with lid and heat through

Enjoy!

 

for the cold:

Jill's Chicken Salad

-5 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (from recipe above)

-3/4 cup celery chopped

-1 cup red or green grapes sliced

-1 cup mandarin oranges

-1 cup mayonnaise (or less, I start with 3/4 cup and add more if needed)

-1 Tbsp. lemon juice

-1 tsp. black pepper

Stir all together and chill.

Enjoy!

Happy cooking!

love & blessings!

Jill

nesting...

 

well, creating "noodle nests" that is...

one of the children's favorites they look forward to (and ask for!) every Easter!

 

a simple little treat, created with:

24 paper baking cups

3 T. butter or margarine

3 T. creamy peanut butter

3 C. mini marshmallows

1 (12oz.) bag chow mein noodles

jelly beans

24 marshmallow chicks

 

Melt margarine over low heat. Gradually stir in peanut butter, then slowly

add marshmallows. Stir until mixture is melted and smooth.

Remove mixture from heat. Add noodles and stir until noodles are coated.

Spoon mixture into paper lined muffin tins and shape to form nests.

 

When nests are cool, you may add jelly bean "eggs"...

 

 and of course a little chick too!

Enjoy!

&

Happy "Nesting"!

Many Blessings!

Jill

p.s. ya'll just blessed me beyond words with all your emails (and comments)

filled with prayers and well wishes!

You are just the sweetest readers! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!-

and the stone is moving along...slowly, but moving!

A few more Merry...

Christmas gifts!

all created with lots of love...

each one very simple,

a little something...

wood die cuts from the craft store,
covered with fabric,
glittered edges,
and a velvet ribbon to hang...


a jingle bell dressed in ribbons and tinsel..

one of my favorite simple gifts delivered with

a very special message!

yummy, yummy cookies!

found here,

you must try them!- you'll be glad!

all dolled-up on a Christmas plate with ribbons

and a tiny cookie cutter...

always a welcomed gift!

a perfect gift for all the children's friends-

(and I keep extras on hand "just in case" by the door)

simply a bag filled with peppermints and a happy wish!

a "ruffle" necklace with a posy...

made from fabric scraps and vintage beads...

a fun girlie gift!

and an ever-popular classic...

a monogrammed candle,

(my hostess gifts this year)

my version...

with glitter-of course!

a bow and some "bling"!

"It is often the thought behind a present that is the true gift."

Have a wonderful weekend!

Many Blessings!

The perfect ingredients!

My Grandmother's pumpkin pie!

There is just nothing like it!

I have proudly made and served this pie for years...

and more often than not I am asked for the recipe...

because it's such a "good" pumpkin pie.

I'm always excited to share my precious Grandmother's special recipe!

I know how delighted she would be that so many love her pie!

until about two years ago...

when my Mom called to ask for "Mom's Pumpkin Pie" recipe...

she had misplaced her copy and wanted to take a pie to a friend.

I read it to her, when I was finished she said, "What about the milk?"

"How much milk?"

I replied, "There is NO milk"

my mom, a bit confused said, "Jill, there IS milk in it!"

I couldn't believe it! For more than 20 years I had made this pie...

the WRONG way!!

I had left out a main ingredient!

Why I had always been so proud to share this pie!

I had taken it to new neighbors...

church potlucks...

new parents...

families in need of a meal...

and served it at many a dinner party in our home!

Always thinking what a "perfect" pie to serve!!!

Suddenly I was doubting that "delicious" pie...

how could I have served the "wrong" pie (and shared the "wrong"recipe!)

all those years!

I was so embarrassed!

But then I thought about how many times people had enjoyed

that pie...(it's still my husband's favorite!)

how many times it was a Blessing to someone...

clearly it WAS good...

without all the "perfect" ingredients!

I still make, serve and share my Grandmother's pumpkin pie...

the "wrong" way...

and I smile each time I do!

Such a sweet reminder that we shouldn't worry so much

about things being "perfect"...

we shouldn't let fear or doubt stop us from sharing with others...

because what's most important is not that we bake the "perfect" pie...

it's that we have the HEART that desires to bake a pie to share...

a HEART that hopes to Bless someone with a thoughtful gift...

a HEART that wants to show someone how much they are loved

and that they are special...

a HEART that chooses not to see what is "missing" in something

but to enjoy all that IS there...

the perfect ingredients for a perfect pie!- after all!

Have a lovely day!

Many Blessings!

*note: just in case you would like to try my Grandmother's pie the way

she intended for it to be-

the "missing" ingredients is

1 1/2 cups milk

but don't forget the "perfect" ingredients! :)

Let's face it...

there is truly nothing better than a delicious

made-from-scratch

melt-in-your-mouth

cookie!

even better when they're made with love...

to look just like your family...

(thanks to my kitchen helper Princess #2)

Quite possibly one of the best cookies I have ever enjoyed!

Cookies:

1 stick unsalted butter softened
1/3 cup superfine sugar
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
few drops of vanilla extract

Glace' Icing:

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
about 1 1/2 Tbsp water- or until desired consistency

Mix butter and sugar together, sift together the flour and salt
and mix into the butter mixture, add the vanilla to form fairly stiff dough.
(if the dough is too dry, add a little water)
Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters in desired shapes.
Bake at 350' for 10-15 minutes on a greased cookie sheet.

for the icing:
mix confectioners' sugar and water in bowl until desired consistency,
spread on cooled cookies- when set, decorate!

Enjoy!

Happy Monday!
Many Blessings!