Kid Friendly Recipe - Italian Grilled Cheese

I was talking to my hair stylist the other day and she was telling me how hard of time she was having making "real" food for her one year old. 

We can all fall into a rut with the recipes we make for our kids and family. (My rut is usually Mac & Cheese or Chicken Nuggets).

This one has been a favorite in my house lately, so I wanted to share it with you. It is so easy and I always have the ingredients on hand. 

Recipe: Gorilla Bread (Like Monkey Bread Only BETTER.. it contains Cream Cheese)

WARNING: This recipe may be life changing in a way that will cause you to be invited to every social event because they hope you will bring this recipe. (Of course, I'm kidding... but it is really good!)

While searching for a Monkey Bread recipe last week.. I came across this recipe: Gorilla Bread. I made it for my life group last week and they went CRAZY for it. It is going to make an appearance again at our Super Bowl party (YES! it is that good!)

I made a couple minor changes, which might be sacrilegious because it is a Paul Deen recipe and WHO AM I to change a Paula Deen recipe? (I just added vanilla to the recipe and removed the nuts).

Anyway.. Here it is in all its deliciousness.

Gorilla Bread

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 2 (12-ounce) cans refrigerated biscuits (10 count)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. 

Mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon. 

In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over low heat, stirring well. Stir in vanilla; set aside. 

Cut the cream cheese into 20 equal cubes. 

Press the biscuits out with your fingers. 

Coat each side with cinnamon sugar. 

Place a cube of cream cheese in the center of each biscuit, wrapping and sealing the dough around the cream cheese. 

Place half of the prepared biscuits in the pan. 

Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, pour half of the melted butter mixture over the biscuits.

Layer the remaining biscuits on top.

Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar, pour the remaining butter mixture over the biscuits. 

Bake for 30 minutes. 

Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. Place a plate on top and invert. (I can never invert it to come out right, so I just scoop out each piece and nicely arrange on a plate.)

This is also a great comfort food recipe. We had a crazy day today, so it will be enjoyed!

Here is an easier version you can copy and print.


GORILLA BREAD

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 2 (12-ounce) cans refrigerated biscuits (10 count)

Directions

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  Spray a bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. 
3.  Mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon. 
4.  In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over low heat, stirring well; Stir in vanilla and set aside. 
5.  Cut the cream cheese into 20 equal cubes. 
6.  Press the biscuits out with your fingers.
7. Coat each side with cinnamon sugar. 
8. Place a cube of cream cheese in the center of each biscuit, wrapping and sealing the dough around the cream cheese. 
9. Place half of the prepared biscuits in the pan.
10. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, pour half of the melted butter mixture over the biscuits.
11. Layer the remaining biscuits on top, sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar, pour the remaining butter mixture over the biscuits.
12. Bake for 30 minutes. 
13.Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes. 
14. Place a plate on top and invert.
15. Serve Warm

ENJOY!

Easy Wing Recipe - Italian Parmesan Wings

In honor of it being Super Bowl week... I have to share a wing recipe.

This recipe is easy and involves no frying.

The first restaurant where best wings in the country are made is in my home town. The name/place is controversial... so I'll leave it up to your imagination.

I grew up with a single dad... I am a wing connoisseur. (I know, I'm fancy like that.)

I prefer my wings breaded, fried, smothered with hot buffalo sauce and served with ranch.

I live in Arkansas now, and they don't have a great wing place (they have some ok ones).

I wanted to share an EASY and versatile wing recipe. It is not as good as the breaded and fried ones, but a good and healthier alternative. The base recipe can be made with any dressing or even BBQ sauce.

Italian Parmesan Wings

Ingredients:

10 lbs of Chicken Wings
1 16 oz Jar of your favorite Italian or Vinaigrette dressing (it is best if it has Parmesan in it)
1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (it can even be out of the jar)
Salt & Pepper to Taste

1. Place Chicken Wings in 2-3 gallon size zip lock bags.

2. Season generously with Salt and Pepper.

3. Evenly pour dressing over chicken.

4. Let marinade (in fridge) for 1-3 days.

5. Line 2 large jelly roll pans with foil (for easy clean up).

6.  Lay chicken out on 2 large jelly roll pans.

7. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.

8. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cook for another 5 minutes.

I sprinkled them with a little parsley for color.

Enjoy!

Parmesan Herb Wings

Ingredients:

10 lbs of Chicken Wings

1 16 oz Jar of your favorite Italian dressing (it is best if it has Parmesan in it)

1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (it can even be out of the jar)

Salt & Pepper to Taste

1. Place Chicken Wings in 2-3 gallon size zip lock bags.

2. Season generously with Salt and Pepper.

3. Evenly pour dressing over chicken.

4. Let marinade for 1-3 days.

5. Line 2 large jelly roll pans with foil (for easy clean up). 

6.  Lay chicken out on 2 large jelly roll pans. 

7. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cook for another 5 minutes.

Party Food Recipe: Bacon & Cheese Stuffed Sliders

My husband is laying aside his diet for the Super Bowl. So the pressure is on to make him (and my small group) something good!

I'll be testing recipes this week and sharing them with you (if they are good).

This one was AMAZING!

Our neighbors in Wake Forest were the best cooks. (We miss them so much! Not only for their cooking.) He made us stuffed burgers one night and they were the best burgers I'd ever had.

Here is my "party food" version of his burgers.

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Sliders

makes: 16 sliders

Ingredients

5.5 lbs of Ground Chuck  

4 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

Montreal Steak Seasoning (I used McCormick's)

1 cup of chopped onions (sauteed) 

8 oz Block of Colby Jack Cheese

8 slices of bacon

16 Soft dinner rolls

Directions:

In a large bowl mix together Ground Chuck, Worcestershire, Steak Seasoning and Sauteed Onions. Set aside.

Fry Bacon, let cool and crumble. (I also added some bacon grease to my above burger mixture.. don't judge)

Divide Ground Chuck into 16 equal sized balls. Then divide into 32 equal sized balls.

Flatten each ball to make a burger shape and press thumb in center to make a well.

Slice 16 pieces of Cheese. Place one slice of cheese in well of 16 burgers.

Top cheese with crumbled bacon.

Top each burger with the unfilled burgers.

Press sides to seal.

Fry or grill each burger. I used the same pan I cooked the bacon and onions in. I want as few dishes as possible!

Cook for 3 minutes on each side for medium or 4 minutes on each side for well done.

Place cooked burgers on rolls and serve with favorite burger fixings.

Here is an easier version of the recipe. You can copy and print.

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Sliders

makes: 16 sliders

Ingredients

5.5 lbs of Ground Chuck
4 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
Montreal Steak Seasoning (I used McCormick's)
1 cup of chopped onions (sauteed)
8 oz Block of Colby Jack Cheese
8 slices of bacon
16 Soft dinner rolls

Directions:

1. In a large bowl mix together Ground Chuck, Worcestershire, Steak Seasoning and Sauteed Onions. Let sit.

2. Fry Bacon, let cool and crumble.

3. Divide Ground Chuck into 16 equal sized balls. Then divide into 32 equal sized balls.

4. Flatten each ball to make a burger shape and press thumb in center to make a well.

5. Slice 16 pieces of Cheese. Place one slice of cheese in well of 16 burgers.

6. Top cheese with crumbled bacon.

7. Top each burger with the unfilled burgers.

8. Press sides to seal.

9.  Fry or grill each burger.

10. Cook for 3 minutes on each side for medium or 4 minutes on each side for well done.

11. Place cooked burgers on rolls and serve with favorite burger fixings.


Tomorrow I am posting an easy wing recipe.

What is your favorite party food?

What are you making for your Super Bowl Party?

Leave a comment below. I'd love to hear!

My Favorite Family Recipe- Sausage Spinach Alfredo Lasagna

My mom found this recipe in a magazine. It quickly became my favorite dish she cooked. I made it the other night and remembered why I love it so much.  It is a little time consuming, so plan on about 45 minutes to put it together.  It also freezes really well.  I made two small pans.  I cooked both of them, and put one in the freezer.  All you have to do it let thaw and reheat for 30 -45 min.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs. Hot Italian Sausage (in casings)
4 large cloves Garlic, chopped
1 Medium Size Onion, chopped
1 (12 oz) jar Roasted Red Peppers, drained & chopped
1/2 cup White Wine (or chicken stock or chicken broth) - I used chicken broth
1 (10oz) package Frozen Chopped Spinach
1 (15 oz) container Ricotta Cheese
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Pepper
1 large Egg, lightly beaten
2 (15 oz) Jars Alfredo Sauce (I used Bertolli Garlic Alfredo)
12 Lasagna Noodles, uncooked
2 (6 oz) packages Sliced Mozzarella cheese
1 cup Grated or finely shredded Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

-Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
-Remove and discard sausage casings. Brown sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, using a wooden spoon to crumble sausage as it cooks.
-Drain sausage, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet.
-Cook garlic and onion in reserved drippings over medium-high heat until onion is tender.
-Stir in sausage, chopped red pepper and wine (or chicken stock). Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer uncovered 5 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
-Meanwhile, cook spinach according to package directions; drain and squeeze between paper towels to remove excess liquid.  (Squeeze Spinach in paper towels to remove all the liquid)
-Combine spinach, ricotta cheese, salt, pepper and egg; stir well.
-Spread 1 cup Alfredo sauce in a greased 13"x9"x2" baking dish.
-Top with 4 uncooked noodles.
-Top with half of spinach mixture and half of sausage mixture.
-Place sliced mozzarella over sausage mixture.
-Repeat layers, using 1 cup sauce, 4 noodles, remaining spinach mixture and remaining sausage mixture.
-Top with remaining 4 noodles and mozzarella slices.
-Spread remaining Alfredo sauce over mozzarella cheese.
-Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
-(If desired, cover and chill overnight.  Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking.)
-Cover and back at 350 degrees for 1 hour, uncovering during the last 15 minutes of baking.
-Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Serve with garlic bread and enjoy!

Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe + Snow = Perfect Combination

Our neighborhood and city is covered in snow.  While I would never drive in snow (I'm from Florida and a terrible driver - bad combination in snow), the beauty of it blows my mind.
I love how David uses snow to give us a vivid picture of what Jesus has done for us as he offers up this prayer of confession and restoration in Psalm 51.

Psalm 51:7-12
⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
   let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
   and blot out all my iniquity.
 ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me. 
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Homemade Hot Chocolate is the perfect drink on a cold day.  Since most of the country (except my friends and family in Florida) is experiencing snow, I thought I would post an easy Hot Chocolate recipe.  I adapted this from a recipe I found on All Recipes.  I usually have all the ingredients on hand.
Rich and Creamy Hot Chocolate (4 servings)
Ingredients
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch of salt
1/3 cup boiling water
2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups half-and-half cream (if you don't have this on hand, just use milk)
Whipped Cream Topping
Mini Marshmallows
Directions
Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan.  Blend in the boiling water.  Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir.  Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes.  Watch that it doesn't scorch.  Stir in 2 cups of milk and 2 cups of half and half and heat until very hot, but do not boil!  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Divide between 4 mugs.  Top with marshmallows and whipped cream.  
Here are some pictures from today for your enjoyment because snow and hot chocolate make the perfect combination.

Yes, this is what Kate has on.. if it makes you feel better about my parenting skills, I have the heat on 76 degrees, so it is warm in our house.