Zucchini Cakes

I am talking Zuchinni Cakes like crab cakes, not zuchinni cake like carrot cake. You know what I'm saying? I know a lot of us follow P-Dub's blog, so some of you maybe have already tried these...but, if you haven't, give them a try. This recipe is so easy to make and really good! There are step-by-step instructions and photos on P-Dub's blog, so I am going to have you click over there rather than type it out. Here's the link--try them out!

Ham Ricotta Rolls-ups

O.k. I made these up last night so I figured I needed to write the recipe down before I forgot it.
These all started because I had cresent roll dough, ham, and ricotta cheese I needed to use up, so I figured I would put them together. The filling is very similar to the filling in Lisa's spinach calzones. Oh and as a disclaimer, I didn't measure anything. Sorry.

Ingredients:

Ricotta Cheese (about half a container)
Mozzarella Cheese (to taste)
1 egg white
Frozen Spinach- a handful (Thawed)
Italian Seasoning-to taste
Garlic Powder-to taste
Ham-(chopped into small cubes)
2 cans refrigerator crescent roll dough
Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs

Mix the first seven ingredients. Unroll the crescent dough and lay out the triangles. Put the filling on the triangle and wrap them up. Take the wrapped up rolls and dip them into the bread crumbs. Cook at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Enjoy.

Mini Onion Quiches

A Paula Deen recipe...they were pretty yummy. I used mozzarella cheese instead of Swiss.

3/4 cup crushed saltine crackers
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, melted
Nonstick cooking spray
1 cup chopped green onion with tops
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup grated Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Combine cracker crumbs and melted butter. Divide crumbs among mini muffin tins that have been sprayed with a nonstick cooking spray. Saute onion for 10 minutes in 2 tablespoons butter. Cool, then divide evenly on top of cracker crumbs. Beat eggs; add milk, salt, pepper, and Swiss cheese. Pour by spoonfuls on top of onions in tins. Do not fill to top, as they will run over. Bake until set, about 15 to 20 minutes. Do not over bake. May be stored in refrigerator or freezer. Warm in oven before serving.

Queso

Got this from Pioneer Woman's website... but I made it today, and I will never buy queso again.

Ingredients:
2 lb package Velveeta Cheese
1 lb package Hot Breakfast Sausage (Jimmy Dean, Potter’s, etc.)
½ large onion
1 regular can Rotel (either Regular or Extra Hot, according to preference)
1 7-oz can diced green chilies
1 to 3 finely diced jalapeno peppers, according to preference. (If you like things more spicy, leave the seeds and white membranes.)

Directions:
Chop the onion and brown with the breakfast sausage. Drain excess fat so you won’t have a coronary. Cut Velveeta into cubes and add to warm skillet. Add Rotel and green chilies, and stir together over low heat until mixture is melted. Add finely diced jalapenos, stir together, and serve warm with tortilla chips.
Queso can be frozen flat in Ziploc bags and reheated.

Chicken Salad

1 1/2 c. chicken, cooked and cubed
1 c. pineapple tidbits, drained
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/2 c. diced celery
1/2 c. sour cream
1/3 c. mayonnaise
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 c. seedless green grapes, cut in half


Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, and salt together. Add remaining ingredients and chill. I like to eat this as a roll or croissant sandwich.

Fast Food Nation

Liz changed her password on her regular blog, so I'm stuck making posts here. I guess it kind of relates anyway.

So, we watched Fast Food Nation. It was labeled as a comedy. False advertising. Admittedly, there were a couple of mildly funny parts, but I don't think that qualifies as comedy. It felt much more like a documentary on how screwed up the meat packing industry is.

On a related note, since when is Avril Lavigne an actress? To be fair, her performance can only loosely be described as acting, but still.

My recommendation: if you're looking for a movie to convince you to not eat fast food watch Super Size Me.

Jalapeño Poppers

OK, I stole this recipe from this website, but these are delightful and extraordinarily addictive, even to those in my family who don't like spicy things. They are surprisingly not that spicy. I also modified it a wee bit.

Ingredients:
12 jalapeños
1 8oz. tub of whipped cream cheese (although regular would probably do, I just got this so that it would be extra spreadable)
1/2 lb. bacon

Cut jalapeños in half, length-wise. Remove seeds and white membranes with a knife or spoon. If you want them to be spicy, leave a little in. Smear cream cheese into each jalapeño half, being generous. Cut bacon into 1/3 strips. Wrap each jalapeño half with 1/3 strip of bacon. Secure by sticking a toothpick through the middle.

At this point you can freeze them, which I did, until about a half hour before serving.

Bake on a broiler pan (to catch the bacon grease underneath) in a 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Then broil for 1-3 minutes until the bacon looks brown and cooked on top.

Serve immediately.