Bacon Wrapped Sausage Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers

I adapted this from several recipes.Pretty bummed my picture doesn't look as good as all those others, but it tasted AWESOME, and that's what matters!

Ingredients

1      packages mini  sausage-Lil smokies

1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

½ cup shredded cheese

1 tsp garlic powder

1T finely chopped onions

10 jalapeno peppers

1 pound sliced bacon, cut in half

Directions

1.    Preheat oven to 375 degrees F 

2.    Mix shredded cheese, garlic, and chopped onions with the cream cheese.

3.    Cut jalapenos in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds. Stuff each jalapeno half with equal portions of the cream cheese mixture, lay a lil smokie on top. Wrap with half slices of bacon. Secure bacon with toothpicks.

4.    Arrange wrapped jalapenos in a large, shallow baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven 20 minutes, or until the bacon is evenly brown.

Words of Wisdom

Green Beans Galore: Freezing Tutorial

Last week I posted about the 5 gallons worth of green beans we picked (90% was my mom's doings).
We decided to freeze our share. Freezing is a simple and quick way to preserve them, plus our family likes frozen better than canned.

 Step 1. Cut/Snap the ends off & into bite sizes.

Step  2.Blanch them ( place in boiling water, then into ice cold water) The beautiful bright green color is preserved. Drain

Step 3. Let dry on towel.
Step 4. When dried place in ziplock baggies and label.

Avocado basil pasta

I had pinned this recipe months ago, and was excited when the basil came up in the garden so I could finally make this! 

from Dear Crissy

Ingredients:

8 ounces bow tie pasta
2 medium avocados, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped
6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
2 medium ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
2/3 cup chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Cook bow tie pasta according to package directions. Drain.
2. In a large bowl combine the avocados, chopped tomatoes, crumbled bacon, basil, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, pepper, and salt. Add the pasta and combine, then sprinkle with cheese.

Sweet Corn Potato Chips~ Fun Find

I don't know if I have mentioned before or not (insert sarcasm) that I really like unique foods, flavors, things.... 

I ran on to Herr's Potato Chips and kinda have a personal mission to try all their weird flavors. I have had hot dog, ribs, steak, and the ketchup ones. But I hadn't even seen or heard of these little gems < SWEET CORN>  How great were these, that perfect treat when you don't have any sweet corn or its too messy to eat (especially when driving)

Theme Thursday: THE Theme Tree

There is a tree in my "new" county. I noticed it one time as I drove by and then when I went by again it was different, I don't travel this road too often so call me slow....but I realize they change it every month with a coordinating theme. This was August. Gotta take a drive soon and check out this months.

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Life's Blessings- A Bountiful Garden

A friend of mine asked me to house sit for her a couple weeks back. She has a lovely garden and was happy to share her produce with me and my family. My mom got really excited and decided to pick green beans. These pictures don't do it justice.

Check out this haul........
                                          
She called it quits after an overflowing 5 gallon bucket full.  I will be posting next week what we did with our share of green beans.

These are some of the biggest bell peppers I have seen. I wear a size 8.5 to give you a little perspective.

And finally, some of the cutest little eggplant looking peppers! Her husband calls them "Loco Peppers" I venture to say they might be a little warm :)

 

Caesar BLT Pasta Salad

Caesar BLT Pasta Salad (adapted from original at Food Network)

This was a huge hit at a BBQ a few weeks ago. 

16 oz. mini farfalle (bowties) I didn't have any so I used egg noodles
1 lb. bacon
1 pint sugar plum tomatoes, sliced
1 c.  Caesar dressing
1 c. sliced black olives
1/2 c. parmesan
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 c. olive oil
Juice of one lemon
4 c. chopped romaine lettuce

Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water to al dente, then drain. (I cooked mine the night before and tossed it with the olive oil and lemon juice and marinated it in the refrigerator overnight.) This keeps the pasta from sticking together.

Cut the bacon into bite size pieces and cook in a large skillet until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Discard the bacon grease; leaving just a tablespoon or so in the skillet. Add the sliced tomatoes and minced garlic and toss in the skillet for just a couple of minutes to cook the garlic and soften the tomatoes. Remove from heat and let sit until cool.

Since the pasta is nice and cold from being refrigerated overnight; just mix in the Caesar dressing, bacon, tomato mixture, olives and Parmesan, then toss in the chopped lettuce at the end and it’s ready to go! Serve at room temperature.

Dirty 30th Birthday Party-Food

Well, believe it or not I am 3-0. Yep there I said it, I'm 30. Going to let the whole world know. Really didn't want to see this day come, but I know life could be worse, its only a number.

I had a Dirty 30 party so since today is Menu Monday I will focus on the food and then later show all the AMAZING decorations my mom did.

"DIRTY DOGS"- hot dog bar

 "MUDDY BUDDIES"- Puppy Chow as most of us call it!

"MUDDY WATER" - Root Beer & Cream Soda

 "CANDY ROCKS"- a chocolate cereal mix that was covered in chocolate ( a huge hit)

 The food corner

 "DIRTY MARTINI"- Dirt Dessert in martini glasses. Green sour drops were skewered on chocolate stick

 "MUD PIES" - Little Debbie cakes

Baby Shower Gifts-Changing pad

One of my best friends Abby is expecting a baby October 23rd. I co-hosted a shower with her aunt this past Saturday. I had seen a few changing pad tutorials on Pinterest, was at a baby shower over a month ago and a lady had made on, which everyone commented how handy they were so..... I decided that's what I was going to make her.

First I picked the fabric, paisleys are Abby's favorite and since they didn't find out the gender I needed something neutral.....Turquoise is always a hit with a country gal.

Then I bought a towel (yep that's my secret, not the terry cloth material by the yard.) and the Velcro.

Finally, I combined a few tutorials such as this one and this one.

I am really happy how it turned out.

TA-DA!

 There are 2 pockets at the bottom, one larger to hold wipes and then a small that would fit lotions, creams and other items.

 I had left over fabric so I made a matching burp cloth.

Here are the favors. Shower colors were yellow and green. Those are also the nursery colors.

 Microwave popcorn with a wrap saying " Ready to POP! Thanks for welcoming a baby to the ranch"