Cinnamon Popcorn...

Oh my gosh you guys. This is the most delicious stuff ever!! I am totally obsessed with cinnamon hearts this time of year...as I have mentioned before. Rich's friend at work gives us something like this every year at xmas. I have been begging him to get the recipe for a year and 5 weeks. I finally gave up and got one online. It is from cdkitchen.

Make it...mmm. Then pretend I dropped it on your door on the 14th.

5 qts popped popcorn (After popping, place popcorn in a large roasting pan)
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3/4 to 1 cup red hots cinnamon candies
1/4 tsp baking soda

Melt margarine in medium saucepan. Stir in sugar, corn syrup, salt and cinnamon candies. Bring to a boil; continue boiling, stirring constantly until candies are dissolved completely.

Boil without stirring 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda. Pour over popped popcorn, mixing well in a large roasting pan. Bake at 250° for 30-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Immediately turn out onto waxed paper to cool.
After cooled, break apart. Store in airtight containers.

Shrimp Creole

On the easy theme - this is a fast and easy dinner.
1 pound of shrimp - fresh or frozen up to you (whatever is on sale)
2 cans diced tomato
1 onion diced
4 cloves garlic
1 green pepper diced
3 bay leaves
4 celery stalks chopped
2 cups cooked rice

cook garlic and onion with 1 Tbs of butter, then add pepper and celery.
Add tomatoes and bring to a boil.
Add bay leaves and Shrimp
Simmer 20 minutes
Remove the Bay Leaves or give to Duane to eat for a buck
Serve over rice
Get the kids to do the dishes
Have a great night

Smith's Chicken Tacos

I got this recipe from an ad in the paper from Smith's. It was close to another taco I make, so I thought we'd try it. I made it all separate, since my kids are crazy, but I thought it was super good. And easy.
1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 cup cooked rice
1 cup shredded cheese
1 can Kroger salsa style fire roasted tomatoes
1 cup frozen sweet corn
1 jar Kroger Verde Enchilada Sauce
1 pkg crunchy taco shells

The recipe says to mix all of that together and bake at 450 for 20 mins. Then just spoon the mixture into the shells. This seems super easy and fast, which is why I tried it. Also, I was a little worried about the Kroger tomatoes and sauce, but they were super good. I just heated all the ingredients in separate bowls and we mixed our own..and added guacamole and lime.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

I was dying for some spinach artichoke dip tonight to watch the game. I found this recipe on Food Network and it was so delicious. I've only made it a couple times - this was the best! No mayo. Canned 'chokes. It was SO good dipped in celery. I think I ate half the pan. Even Ethan gobbled it up! (oh, and super easy - the most important part - I was done in a half hour.)

1 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, softened
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, plus more as needed
1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained
Carrot sticks, celery sticks or baked tortilla strips, for serving

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Squeeze all excess liquid from spinach, place in a food processor with sour cream, Parmesan, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, the cream cheese, garlic, pepper and hot sauce.

Process until just blended but still slightly lumpy. Add artichokes and pulse to form a chunky mixture. Place in a 1-quart baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella. Bake until bubbly, about 30 minutes. Serve with carrot sticks, celery sticks or bread slices.

Pepper Steak Tacos

Extremely Easy to make.

Dry Rub
Cumin
Kosher Salt
Pepper Corns
Garlic Salt

Place dry rub on both sides of skirt of flank steak. Put the steak in the fridge for minimum of one hour. Fire up the grill. Wrap the requisite number of flour tortillas in tinfoil. On the grill create a hot spot and a medium to low spot. Grill the steaks on the hot side of the grill and while the steaks are cooking place the tortillas on the medium to low side of the heat. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes. Turn the steaks and the tinfoil wrapped tortillas once.

Serve with rice, black beans, guaccccccamollllleeeeeee, lettuce, tortilla chips and salad.

Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars.

Here is my lazy addition:
Go to marthastewart.com and search her recipes for these cookies. They are like eating a caramel...Reisin type yummy-ness on top of a cookie - topped with salt! They seem like they are going to be a big deal, and they really are not. But they are SO DARN TASTY! Plus they are so fun to make because the whole time you feel like you are totally doing some sort of crazy science experiment gone wrong - and then suddenly the blob turns caramelly and MMMMMM....
The worst part is waiting until they set - which overnight really is best. So my only advice is lick the spoon when you are done, because it is a long wait! Don't mock me about Martha either. I got a free subscription to her magazine from Lands' End.

pasta carbonera

1 pkg tortellini
3-4 slices prosciutto
1 small carton whipping cream
fresh Parmesan cheese
2 egg yolks

boil tortellini and drain
slice up prosciutto add to the tortellini

In a mixing bowl whip up the cream until it gets thick and lumpy. Add the egg yolks and stir a little then add to the pasta. Mix it all up. Add as much Parmesan cheese and you would like and enjoy.

You can add the egg yolks to the pasta after you drain it put it back in the pan and stir. While the eggs yolks cook. Or you can add one egg yolk into the cream after it gets mixed.
You have to serve it hot. I have also made it with out the egg yolk and it is fine to.

Super easy and very yummy