Holiday Recipe Spectacular - Broccoli & Cheese Casserole

    THE PERFECT SIDE DISH TO ANY MAIN COURSE!
My mother in law got me started on this dish, and now I make it every year.  It's from the south so you know it's packed with calories and fat...however it's absolutely delicious and for Christmas?  Who cares!  Indulge!

Ingredients:
1 Bag of Frozen Broccoli
1 Stick of Butter
1/2 Large Onion or 1 Medium Onion - chopped
Bag of Microwavable Brown Rice
Jar of Cheez Whiz (the jar!)
1/3 Cup of Milk
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup

Instructions:
Melt butter in medium skillet, then brown the onions.  Add Broccoli, cream of mushroom soup, cheez whiz, milk and cooked rice according to directions.  Once it's all mixed together and creamy, pour into baking dish and bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbily.

Holiday Recipe Spectacular - Christmas Swirl Chocolate Bars 12/16/11

How gorgeous are these?  Great for a party, family get together, to take to co-workers...whatever!

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 14 ounce cans sweetened condensed milk
• Pinch salt
• 10 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 4 ounces white chocolate, melted
• Red and green food coloring
• Red and green mini M&M candies
• Red and green fruit leather

Directions

1. Make crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees F; place rack in center. Line a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing paper to extend on two sides.

2. In a mixer bowl, beat together butter and confectioners' sugar on medium speed until light, about 2 minutes. Beat in extract, then flour and salt until combined well. Press along bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake until just golden brown around edges, 12 to 18 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool completely.

3. Make filling: Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, milk and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened and a deep caramel color, about 15 minutes. Pour over crust and spread evenly; refrigerate until completely cool, about 1 hour.

4. Melt semisweet chocolate; let cool slightly. Using a spatula, evenly spread over filling (for swirled top, see below). Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Using a knife, score chocolate layer into 1-12-inch squares.

5. For swirled top: Divide white chocolate into three parts. Tint one part red and one part green. Leave remaining part white. Dollop red, green and white chocolates over semisweet layer. Using a toothpick, gently swirl together colors.

6. For decoration: Using white chocolate, adhere candies to squares, making holly or wreaths. Using a small, clean paintbrush, make a snowman out of white chocolate; decorate with candy.Let stand until set, about 20 minutes.

7. Run a sharp knife under hot water; dry. Following score marks, cut into squares. Wipe knife after each cut (run under hot water and dry as needed). (Can be made ahead. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week.)

The Anti-Chicken Fingers Movement ~ Healthy Sweet Potato Bake

All you health nuts- this is the health friendly version of this dish.  I love sweet potatoes, as a side for a regular meal or of course, for the holidays!  This mixture may not sound appetizing, but I promise you, the blend of flavors is amazing!




2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 large apple, peeled, cored, and cubed
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup apple cider
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Chop sweet potatoes and apples into approximately 1/2" cubes.  Divide potatoes and apples evenly among to two ramekins, divide cranberries among baking dishes.  Add half of the cider to each ramekin.  Combine spices in a small dish and sprinkle over potato mixture.  Toss to combine.    

Bake approximately one hour, stirring every twenty minutes until cider has cooked down to a glaze and potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.