Hot Crab Dip

I made this last night for a dinner party and it was a HUGE hit.  Gone in seconds!  I went to the local chinese restaurant and had them fry me won ton strips almost like chips and walked out with 2 big bags for $4!! Yes you heard me right, four dollars!  This was significantly cheaper than me making my own (which you could very well do, and would probably be healthier)

8 oz cream cheese softened
1 cup sour cream
4 Tbsp mayo
4 Tbsp butter, softened
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 Tbsp diced jalapenos (I think I added more than that just because I like things spicy)
1 tsp seasoned salt (you could also use Old Bay)
cracked pepper to taste
dash of hot sauce
1/2 tsp Paprika
2 (6 oz) cans white crab, drained
1 cup mozzarella cheese

Blend first 4 ingredients until smooth, add salt, paprika, pepper, and hot sauce.  Blend.  Stir in the rest of the ingredients and bake @ 325 for 30 min.  I also added a little parmesan cheese and put more mozzarella cheese on top for the last 5 minutes of baking.  Tasted very much like crab rangoon if you're a fan of it like me, yum yum yum!

Eggplant

The other day I was grocery shopping and saw some beautiful eggplant.  I've never cooked with it, but I'd like to.  Do you any of you out there have amazing eggplant recipes?  Also, what should I look for when buying an eggplant?

Sweet Potato Fries

This is a healthier, yet still delicious, alternative to french fries.  Start with two large sweet potatoes, and peel them.

 

Cut the potato into long strips, then toss in olive oil, just enough to make them shine.

  

 

Place on a baking sheet, sprinkle with Lawry's Seasoned Salt, and fresh parsley.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, then pull them out and toss them around a bit, bake for another 15 minutes.  Enjoy!

Spaghetti Carbonara on Roids

This is the budget version of spaghetti carbonara, with no wine, or cream...but this was a delicacy for us growing up.  We called it bacon & egg spaghetti, otherwise known as spaghetti carbonara.  Only as I got older I realized it's pretty much cheap as dirt to make...I introduced Timothy to it last night and he thought it was pretty darn good!  Since this is not very heart healthy I pair it with a salad and some garlic bread.  It makes it better...in my mind

Bacon & Egg Spaghetti
1 pkg of spaghetti (I used the pink box that has tons of fiber)
1 pkg of bacon
2 eggs
2 T. finely diced onion
1-2 cloves minced garlic
tons of parmesan cheese
loads of pepper
salt to taste

Cook bacon and place on paper towels to drain...I cut mine before I even cook it, so I don't have to crumble it later.  But if you like to cook whole pieces, crumble before mixing.  Save the grease!  Cook spaghetti as directed.  Drain and let cool slightly (even if it sticks together it's ok)...heat the grease and cook the onions and garlic until translucent, keep very warm.  Whisk the eggs and add tons of pepper and a good handful of parmesan.  Toss with the spaghetti, should be glossy now.  *Make sure your noodles aren't so hot to begin with that it cooks the egg!  This isn't supposed to look like breakfast threw up in a pot....Pour the hot grease over the spaghetti and toss with the bacon. Yum Yum!

Carol's Breakfast Casserole

This is my mom's breakfast casserole that she makes anytime a lot of people are coming over. Sometimes she makes two if she knows Blake will be there (he's kind of a fan).

Breakfast Casserole
Box of Croutons (I use garlic/herb)
2 Cups Grated mild cheddar cheese
1 pound sausage
4 eggs
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
2 cups milk.

Spray large casserole dish, spread croutons all along the bottom. Brown sausage, drain, and spread over croutons, then spread cheese over sausage. Seperately, combine eggs, Cream of Chicken soup, dry mustard and milk. Pour mixture over sausage/ cheese. Bake for 60 minutes at 350 degrees.

Clam Dip

Sounds yucky if you're not a fan of shellfish...or allergic, which could pose a problem...if so...you might as well quit while you're ahead. 
My little brother brought this to family Thanksgiving and told me to try it.  He got the recipe from his friend Kasey's grandmother.  I'll admit I was hesitant, but this stuff is stinkin' good!  I almost couldn't stop...well not almost...let's face it, I couldn't stop.  And to top it all off it's SUPER easy!

1 pkg cream cheese
1 can minced clams (save the juice, you'll need that later)
equal parts clam juice and lemon juice (this is where you decide how strong you want the dip to be)
A dollop of mayo
Sprinkle with chopped chives (I think he used green onions, which I prefer)

Mix all ingredients except the green onions in a bowl with a small hand mixer or food processor so there aren't any clam chunks...sorry that just sounds gross...Stir in the green onions at the end if you use a food processor, if not just blend them right in.  Chill and serve with corn chips.  Ps. Frito Scoops are the shiz...

Apple Crumb Pie

This was my first try at an apple pie.  I did some thinking and changed the recipe a little, (1) so I could call it my own, and (2) because I hate a soggy crust and I figured that was inevitable.  I will say that it got rave reviews...Someone even said that it was the "best apple pie they had ever had..." :)

Filling:
1 (9 inch) deep dish pie crust - if you want to make your own...fine...I just haven't perfected the art of pie crust yet...
5 cups apples - peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon (I add a touch extra)

Topping:
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
6 tablespoons cold butter

Preheat oven to 400.  Toss the apple slices in the 1/4 cup of flour.  In a small separate bowl, mix the 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon.  Arrange half of the apple slices in unbaked pie shell (this is personal preference, I thought maybe I would need to bake the pie crust by itself for 5 minutes or so but the crust didn't come out soggy at all!)  Sprinkle about 1/3 of the cinnamon/sugar mixture over the apples.  Layer the rest of the apples and sprinkle the rest of the sugar mixture over the top.  (Don't worry if your pie looks super tall...the apples will bake down).  Use two knives or a small food processor to cut in the butter/sugar/flour.  Cover the top of your pie with this mixture.  Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until apples are soft and the top of the crust is a little browned.