Chocolate Chip Cheese Spread

Chocolate Chip Cheese Spread

1 (8 ounce) cream cheese, room temperature
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

In medium mixing bowl, whip cream cheese until light and fluffy.  Add powdered sugar.  Mix well.

Fold in chocolate chips.  

Serve with crackers and cookies.

This was my favorite appetizer when I was growing up and it still is.  There was a restaurant in our town that served it along with almost any kind of cheese spread that you could think of.

Add this easy appetizer to your Christmas parties and it will become a favorite of yours too!

My new cookbook is available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Tuesday,
for my Tuesday's Tips & Tricks post! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Cupcake Trick

A friend of mine posted this picture on my facebook page of the adorable cupcakes her sister made for Thanksgiving.  I received a lot of email from people asking questions about them.  I am still feeling a little lazy after the food coma I was in on Thanksgiving, so I decided to answer all of the questions on my blog instead of emailing everyone back.

The turkey and turkey legs are made from caramel squares.  You place them on wax paper and microwave for 3 to 4 seconds to soften.  Roll them out and shape them.  After you put the caramel on the cupcake, you fill it with frosting.  You can use corn flakes or sprinkles for the stuffing.

My new cookbook is available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Friday,
for my Chocolate Chip Cheese Spread recipe! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

 GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Pumpkin Cornbread

Pumpkin Cornbread

1 (8.5 ounce) box Jiffy corn muffin mix
1 egg
1/2 cup canned pumpkin pie filling
1/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In medium bowl, combine all ingredients.  

Mix well.  

Pour into a greased 8x8 inch pan.  

Bake 15 to 20 minutes.  Makes 9 servings.

Recipe can be found in, My Kind of Cooking Cookbook, page 216.

My Mom is a best selling author.  Whenever I create a new recipe, I run it by her.  I respect and count on her opinion.  Usually we agree, but on this recipe we did not.  She thought I shouldn't put it in the My Kind of Cooking Cookbook I was working on, and I felt strongly that I should.  It ended up in the cookbook.

When I was at a book signing for My Kind of Cooking, a lady came up and told my Mom and I that she had purchased the cookbook and made this Pumpkin Cornbread recipe.  She said they loved the recipe so much, that she decided to buy some for gifts.  My Mom laughed and said she guessed she was wrong.  Now when we disagree about a recipe, I say, "Remember that Pumpkin Cornbread recipe..."

My new cookbook is available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Tuesday,
for my Tuesday's Tips & Tricks post! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

 GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

I love leftovers!   Aside from the fact that part of the work is done,  you can recreate them and make a whole new dish.  Below are two of my favorite ways to use up that Thanksgiving turkey.

Cranberry Turkey Casserole

Cranberry Turkey or Chicken Casserole

4 cups cooked  bow-tie pasta
2 cups cooked diced turkey or chicken
2 (15 ounce) jars Alfredo sauce
1 cup dried cranberries, plus extra for garnish
2/3 cup pine nuts or slivered almonds, plus extra for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a baking dish, combine all ingredients. Salt and pepper to taste.  Mix well.  Bake 30 minutes or until heated through. Garnish with dried cranberries and pine nuts or slivered almonds.

Layered Turkey Enchiladas

Layered Turkey Enchiladas

1 pound cooked turkey or chicken, shredded
2 (4 ounce) cans diced green chiles
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can Cream of Chicken Soup
6 corn tortillas
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In medium bowl, combine turkey, green chiles, and Cream of Chicken Soup.  Mix well.  In lightly greased 13x9 inch baking dish, spread 1/2 cup of turkey mixture.  Arrange 3 tortillas over top.  Spread 1/2 of remaining turkey mixture over tortillas.  Sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese over top.  Arrange 3 tortillas over cheese.  Spread remaining turkey mixture over tortillas.  Sprinkle 1 cup cheese over top.  Bake 45 minutes or until cheese starts to brown.  Makes 6 servings.

Note:  If you like your enchiladas to be spicy, swap out one or both of the cans of green chile for diced Jalapeno peppers.

Wishing you and your family a 

Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!  

My new cookbook is available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Friday,
for my Pumpkin Cornbread! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

 GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Thanksgiving Desserts

 

 Frozen Harvest Pie 

2 (9 inch) graham cracker crusts

1 quart Butter Brickle or vanilla caramel ice cream, softened

2 cups canned pumpkin pie mix

2 (8 ounce) containers frozen whipped topping, thawed

In large bowl, combine ice cream, pie filling, and 1 cup whipped topping.  Mix well.  Pour into crusts.  Freeze 15 minutes.  Spread remaining whipped topping over pies.  Freeze at least 2 hours.  Garnish with cinnamon and candy if desired. 

 

No Bake Pumpkin Pie

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1(.25 ounce) packet unflavored gelatin  
2 eggs
2 cups canned pumpkin pie mix
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker pie crust

In large saucepan, combine sweetened condensed milk, gelatin, and eggs.  Mix well.  Over medium low heat, cook mixture 10 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Add pumpkin pie mix.  Mix well.  Pour into pie crust.  Refrigerate at least 3 hours.  Keep refrigerated until time to serve.

This no bake pumpkin pie recipe has a creamy texture instead of the firmer texture of the baked version.  When I tested it on friends, it was a big hit!  I should have made two pies, because almost everyone wanted seconds.

 

This year has gone so fast!  I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week. I have received a lot of requests for easy Thanksgiving desserts so I decided to re post two of my favorites.  I am having trouble deciding which one to make this year so I think I will make both.

My new cookbook is available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Tuesday,
for my Tuesday's Tips & Tricks post! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

 GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

 

Honduras

We just returned for Honduras.  I love that place!  The people are friendly and the countryside is beautiful.  The only thing I don't like about it is landing in Tegucigalpa.  The landing strip is surrounded by mountains and the plane comes in at a very steep angle and they have to slam on the breaks to stop.  After we landed in Honduras, the flight attendant told us that it is the most dangerous place to land that American Airlines fly's. She said most of the pilots are former fighter pilots who landed planes on aircraft carriers.

We were in Honduras as part of the Passion Play Ministries International Support Team.  We are assisting the Passion Play of Honduras as they train a group in from Costa Rica who are preparing to have a Passion Play in their city.

Our friend Ricardo Alvarez is running for President of Honduras.  He is on the right side of this billboard.

The food in Honduras is delicious!  Fresh seafood and beef are a staple in the country.

These yummy little things are stuffed with pork sausage or cheese and topped with coleslaw.

 

Our hotel had an incredible breakfast buffet.

Sauteed mushrooms and zucchini.

Honeydew and cantaloupe juice in shot glasses.

We have one more week of travel.  I will be posting pictures on my Facebook page.

My new cookbook is available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Friday,
for my Thanksgiving Dessert recipes! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

 GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Pumpkin Pie Fruit Dip

Pumpkin Pie Fruit Dip

1 (16 ounce) cream cheese, softened
1 (7 ounce) marshmallow creme
1/2 cup pumpkin pie mix

In medium bowl, whip cream cheese until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well.  Serve with fruit.

Our son Tyler and his girlfriend Jordan came home for the weekend.  We had a Banquet and Leadership Conference for Passion Play Ministries International and they came to help out.

Jordan has a blog called Gingerlocks' Kitchen.   Even though we were very busy that weekend, Jordan whipped up my new dip recipe in our church's kitchen while I took photos.  We had so much fun!  I can't wait to spend more time in the kitchen with Jordan!

My new cookbook is available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Tuesday,
for my Tuesday's Tips & Tricks post! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

 GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Honduras

I am in Honduras as part of the Passion Play Ministries International Support Team.  We are assisting the Passion Play of Honduras as they train a group in from Costa Rica who are preparing to have a Passion Play in their city.

You can follow my trip on my Facebook page.

My new cookbook is available at schools, businesses, hospitals, and book fairs in cities across the United States.  Be sure to pick up a copy or two, when you see them.  They make great gifts!

Check back on Friday,
for my 3 ingredient 
Pumpkin Pie Fruit Dip  recipe! 

Follow me on my Facebook page!

Visit my friends blogs!

 GINGERLOCKS' KITCHEN, has become one of your favorite blogs! Stop by Jordan's blog and take a peek!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!