Spinach and Artichoke Dip (Great dish to take to a party)

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

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1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup sour cream

1 cup Alfredo sauce (store bought)

1 block cream cheese, at room temperature

1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1 package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated finely

1 small can Ortega chili's

1 small can water chestnuts, chopped finely

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Combine mayonnaise, sour cream and cream cheese along with the Alfredo sauce

 in a medium sized mixing bowl.

Add Parmesan, artichokes, spinach, chilies and water chestnuts. Stir until combined.

Bake in ovenproof dish at 350* for 30 minutes .

Serve with toasted sliced bread or tortilla chips.

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Build a Better Cheese Burger

 The Perfect Cheese Burger

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2 lbs. ground beef  80/20 (fat equals flavor)

12 slices of cheese

a good amount of salt and pepper

a sprinkling of Greek seasoning

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Preheat grill on high for 15 minutes.

Roll ground beef into 6 balls. Flatten to 3/4".

Working ground beef as little as possible.

Season with salt, pepper and Greek seasoning.

Place burgers on hot grill and cover for 6 minutes.

Turn burgers and place 2 slices of cheese on each, cover and

cook for 5 minutes or until cheese has thoroughly melted.

Toast buns. Dress both sides of bun with mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup.

On bottom of bun add onion, sliced pickle and tomato.

Placing burger and bun on top. Pressing together then slice in half.

Enjoy!!!

Big Daddy's Deluxe Chex Mix

Big Daddy's Deluxe Chex Mix

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1/2 box rice chex

1/2 box corn chex

1/2 box kix cereal

1 bag bugles

1 bag Parmesan goldfish

1 bag baby cheddar goldfish

1 bag pretzel goldfish

2 cans cashews

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 packet ranch dressing mix

2 TBS. dill

1 tsp. onion powder

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

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Preheat oven 300*

Mix cereals, goldfish and cashews in large roasting pan.

Mix melted butter, ranch mix, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce.

Pour over cereal and nut mixture. Add Parmesan cheese. Mix until well combined.

Bake for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool completely.

Store in air tight containers.
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Serbian Eggs (Great dish for a crowd, can be made night before & baked in the morning)

Serbian Eggs

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6 eggs

1 pint cottage cheese

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

2 cups jack cheese, shredded

1 cup milk

1 cup Bisquick

1 cup butter, melted

1 TBS. dried onions

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Pre heat oven 350*

Lightly beat eggs. Mix well with other ingredients,

Coat 9x13" with cooking spray. Bake for 40 minutes.

Cut into squares. Serve with green chili salsa, sour cream and sliced avocados.

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Candied Sweet Potatoes (made a few calls for this one)

Candied Sweet Potatoes

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5 or 6 sweet potatoes

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 1/2 - 2 tsp. cinnamon, to taste

1/4 tsp. ground clove

1/2 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg

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2 cups mini marshmallows (optional)

or

1 TBS. Italian parsley , chopped (optional)

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Pre heat oven 375*

 Wash and bake sweet potatoes 45 minutes  to 1 hour.

Or until  when squeezed are slightly soft in center. Cool completely.

Can be done the day before. Peel and sliced into 2" pieces.

Place cut side down in a 9x13" plan. Make sauce.

In a sauce pan melt butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.

Cook until bubbly and candy like. Pour over sweet potatoes.

Place in a pre heated oven at 350* until warmed through.

Cover with marshmallows and put back into oven and bake until golden brown.

Or top with chopped parsley and serve warm.

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Had to make a phone call for this one. Trust me its was worth it!!!

Thank you Cheryl for one of the best Thanksgivings I have ever tasted!!!

Butter Cookies (These are to die for!!!)

Butter Cookies

***

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup butter, use top quality (Kerry Gold)

2/3 cup sugar

2 egg yolks

1 tsp. vanilla

1 vanilla bean, split and seeds removed

* \

1 egg white

1/3 cup coarse sugar

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Pre heat oven 325*

Mix butter and sugar, 5 minutes until light and fluffy.

Add egg yolks and vanilla along with vanilla seeds.

Mix in flour, salt and baking powder until smooth.

Divide dough into 2 pieces and form into 1"  logs.

 Wrap in plastic and chill 1 houror overnight.

 Brush each log with egg white and roll in sugar.

Slice into 1/4" slices. Bake on parchment paper lined cookie sheet for 18 minutes.

Cool completely.

These are so yummy, you better make a double batch.

Its also important that you use parchment paper or these little bugger will stick to the cookie sheet.

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Spaghetti and Meatballs (the best I've tasted)

Spaghetti and Meatballs

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2  28-oz cans whole peeled tomatoes, chopped juice reserved

1/2 cup butter

2 onions, peeled, halved root to top
1 TBS. oregano, dried

1/2 tsp. salt

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1 cup fresh breadcrumbs, from crust less slices of bread

1/3 cup milk

1/2 lb. ground beef

1/2 lb. ground pork

1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped

1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

2 eggs

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 lb. spaghetti

Parmesan cheese, for serving

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Sauce:
Combine tomatoes with juice, butter, onions and salt in large stock pot.
Bring to simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat, simmer 45 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
Discard onions. Process sauce briefly to break up any large pieces of tomato.
Season sauce with more salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
Meatballs:
Combine breadcrumbs and milk. Let stand a few minutes.
In a large bowl combine beef,  pork, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.
Whisk eggs to blend, add garlic and breadcrumbs. Add to meat mixture.
Using hands mix until just combined, roll into golf ball sized balls. Bake for 15 minutes at 350*
Bring sauce to a simmer and arrange meatballs in a single layer.
Cover and simmer until meatballs are cooked through, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Cook spaghetti in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, but still firm to the bite. Drain well.
Add meatballs and sauce to spaghetti and toss until pasta is well coated.
Serve with grated Parmesan cheese.
YUMMY!!!
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7 UP Pound Cake

7 UP Cake

***

1 cup butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup Crisco

5 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon extract

1/2 tsp. salt

3 cups sugar

3 cups flour

1 cup 7UP, from freshly opened can

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Glaze:

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

*

Pre-heat oven 350* and grease 9x4" loaf pan.

Mix butter, Crisco, vanilla, lemon extract, salt and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time. Blend in flour and 7 UP  mix until well combined.

Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Or until

when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Glaze:

Mix together butter, powdered sugar and lemon until smooth.

Pour glaze over warm cake.

Best Ever Banana Bread (Great to bring along for the Holidays)

Best Ever Banana Bread

***

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups banana, very ripe and mashed

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 cup nuts, chopped

*

Heat oven 350* Grease bottoms of 2- 8x4" loaf pans.

Mix sugar, butter, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Stir in flour, baking soda, salt and nuts. Just until moistened.

Pour into prepared pans and bake for 1 hour,

 or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

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Buffalo Chicken Dip (AWSOME)

Buffalo Chicken Dip

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3 chicken breast, cut up and shredded

1/2 lemon

1 cups Franks Hot chicken wing sauce
1 cup Bobs Big boy blue cheese dressing

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1 block cream cheese, at room temperature

*

Season chicken with salt, pepper and juice of 1/2 lemon.

Bake @350* for 20 minutes or so.

Spread cream cheese over bottom of 9x9" pan.

Mix together cut up chicken, wing sauce and blue cheese dressing.

Pour over cream cheese. Top with shredded cheese.

Bake @ 350* for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve with scoop tortilla chips.

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Taste so good makes me want to jump up and slap your Mama!

Cranberry Orange Vodka ( great Christmas gift )

Cranberry Orange Vodka\

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4 bags cranberry's

4 oranges, peels only

 2 cups sugar

2 vanilla beans, split

1 large bottle vodka

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In large sauce pan heat cranberry's and sugar, just until cranberry begin to pop.

Remove from heat and cool completely.

Add vodka, orange peels, cranberry mixture and vanilla beans.

Store in airtight container for 7-10 days in cool dark place.

Strain and bottle.

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Makes a great Christmas gift.

Neiman Marcus Bars

Neiman Marcus Bars

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1 box yellow cake mix

3 eggs

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup nuts, chopped

8oz cream cheese, at room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla

1 box powdered sugar

1 bag semi sweet chocolate chips

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First layer:

Mix together cake mix, 1 egg and butter. Press into 9x13" pan.

Next layer:

Sprinkle chocolate chips and nuts over first layer pressing into mixture.

Top layer:

Mix together cream cheese, 2 eggs, vanilla and powdered sugar.

Pour over top of mixture. Bake @ 300* for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Cool, then put into refrigerator for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars.

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Thanks, Martha Jane...

Sangria

Sangria

***

2 bottles red wine

1 16oz. can kerns  peach nectar

1 16oz. can squirt soda

1/2 cup sugar

2 oranges, sliced into 1/4" rings, halved

2 tangerines, sliced into 1/4" rings, halved

1 lemon, sliced into 1/4" rings

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Mix wine, juice, soda and sugar along with fruit.

Let stand 1 hour to overnight.

Serve over ice.

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I wonder...

 As I sit here putting up another recipe on my blog does anybody really read this???

If  you do I would really love to hear from you

@ bigdaddyscookingtonight@Gmail.com

Keep Big Daddy motivated. Tell me if your reading my blog...

Thanks to all of my loyal followers.

French Onion Soup ( SO Yummy!!! )

French Onion Soup

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2 TBS. butter

5 red onions, halved and thinly sliced

2 tsp. fresh thyme, minced

or 1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup dry sherry

6 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 cups beef broth

2 bay leaves

Fresh ground pepper, to taste

1 baguette, cut into 1/2" slices

8 oz. Swiss cheese, shredded (2 cups)

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Melt butter in large stock pot over medium heat. Add onions, thyme and salt.

Cook stirring occasionally, until the onions are dark brown and sticky. About 30 minutes.

Stir in balsamic vinegar and scrape the brown crust from the pot. Add broths and bay leaves.

Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Discard bay leaves. Pre heat oven 450*

This soup requires oven safe bowls, because the cheese is browned directly on top of the soup.

Portion the soup between 8 soup bowls. Top each with 2 slices baguette.

Top with heaping 1/4 cup of shredded Swiss cheese .Bake until cheese has melted about 5 minutes.

Serve hot

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Kahlua Cake (this recipe rocks!!!)

Kahlua Cake

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1 package devils food cake mix

4 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 cup Kahlua

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp. flour

1 package semi sweet chocolate chip

*

Pre heat oven 350*

Mix devils food cake with eggs, sour cream, Kahlua and vegetable oil.

Mix on high for 5 full minutes. Mix chocolate chips with flour and fold into batter.

Pour into well greased bunt pan.

Bake 55-60 minutes. Or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan.

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Limoncello (Serve frozen)

Limoncello

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8 lemons, must be untreated (organic)

4 cups vodka

2 cups sugar

4 cups water

*

Peel lemons, yellow part only. Put peels in a large container, add vodka.

Seal tightly and place in a cool dark place for 10 days. Stir every couple of days.

After 10 days, prepare syrup.

 In sauce pan add sugar and water, simmer for 5 minutes cool completely.

Strain lemon and vodka mixture. Add cooled syrup and mix well.

Bottle and let stand 2-3 days. Store in freezer.

Great over fresh fruit...



Crab Cakes ( I love these, check out comments)

Corn Crab Crab Cakes

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1 lb. lump crab meat

1 cup fresh corn

1/2 cup red onion, diced

1/2 cup celery, diced

1/2 cup red pepper, diced

1 cup mayonnaise

1 ts. dried mustard

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

salt and pepper to taste

 1 egg, slightly beaten

2 1/2 cups saltines, finely crushed

*

Combine crab, corn, onions, red pepper and celery.

Add mayonnaise, dried mustard,Cayenne,

 egg and 1/2 cup saltines along with salt and pepper.

Form into patty's, coating with remaining saltines.

Heat 1 TBS. butter and 1 TBS. EVOO.

Cook crab cakes 3 minutes each side or until golden brown and crunchy.

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Gingersnaps

Gingersnaps

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1 1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup molasses

2 eggs

4 cups flour

4 tsp. baking soda

3 tsp. cinnamon

3 tsp. ginger

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. salt

*

Pre heat oven 350* 

Whisk together dry ingredients and set aside. Combine butter and sugar.

Add eggs and molasses, mix well. Mix in dry ingredients.

 Combine until thoroughly incorporated. Roll into 1" balls and roll in sugar.

Place balls 2" apart on baking sheets for 12- 15 minutes.

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Lemon Cake

Lemon Cake

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1 box yellow cake mix

1 small package lemon jello

3 eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup water

1 tsp. lemon extract

*

Mix all ingredients an high for 5 full minutes.

Pre heat oven 350*

Grease bunt pan. Bake cake 35-45 minutes or until toothpick poked into center comes out clean.

Glaze

*

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

juice of 1 lemon

1/2 cup butter, melted

*

Mix well until combined.

 Poke holes into cake and pour glaze over warm cake.

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A special thanks to Mary C.

Grilled Halibut with Cilantro Cream Sauce

Grilled Halibut with Cilantro Cream Sauce

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6 pieces halibut, about 1" thick

1 TBS. EVOO

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp. Cajun seasonings

juice of 1 orange

Marinade fish about 10 minutes, heat BBQ for 10 minutes on high.

Grill fish 4 minutes each side, or until cooked through.

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Cilantro Cream Sauce

*

1 bunch cilantro, stems removed

1/4 cup sour cream

Juice of 2 limes

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

fresh cracked pepper

*

Place all ingredients in food processor, process until smooth and creamy.

Top fish with sauce and enjoy

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