Why have I never thought of this? My family loves deviled eggs. This year I am going to dye the eggs to make this festive platter. Just boil the eggs like normal, then peel and scoop out the yoke, like normal. Then add different food coloring to cups, and dip the half egg into the food coloring and wah-lah! You’ve got colored deviled eggs! Maybe I should start doing this for all holidays?

Complete step-by-step instructions can be found at foodjimoto.com.

Also, I watched Tricia Yearwood’s cooking show on the food network a few months ago and she said the trick to perfect hard boiled egg shapes is to center the yolk by inverting the eggs in the carton the night before you boil them! Let me know if you try it!

Happy Easter!

Ahhhhh, the time has come.  My favorite part of Thanksgiving. Desserts. So here is just a sampling of some of my favorites. And yes, I make all of these. Don’t judge me!

 

Chocolate-Pecan Pie (we call it “Chococan Pie”)

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Other Time: 55 minutes

Yield:  Makes 8 servings

 

• 1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated piecrusts
• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
• 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate morsels
• 1 cup dark corn syrup
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup bourbon or water
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 2 teaspoons cornmeal
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Fit piecrust into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate according to package directions; fold edges under, and crimp.

Sprinkle pecans and chocolate evenly onto bottom of piecrust; set aside.

 

Combine corn syrup and next 3 ingredients in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

 

Whisk together eggs and next 4 ingredients. Gradually whisk about one-fourth hot mixture into egg mixture; add to remaining hot mixture, whisking constantly. Pour filling into prepared piecrust.

 

Bake at 325° for 55 minutes or until set; cool on wire rack.

 

 

Remember when I gave you Paula Deen’s recipe for Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake? Feel free to make that for Thanksgiving.  You can also be seasonal and make the Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake.  Same premise: two sticks of butter, a box of confectioner’s sugar, and a slab of cream cheese.  What’s not to love?

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

Is everyone excited for Thanksgiving? I have a love/hate relationship with appetizers. Much like the chips they bring out at a Mexican restaurant, eat too many and there is no room for the main course! And who doesn’t want the main course? But who doesn’t want appetizers? Below are some of my favorites, and a few that my friends have shared.

Shawn’s Stuffed Mushrooms

 

Two large packages of mushrooms

Two packages of cream cheese

One pound bacon cut into small pieces

One yellow onion – chopped

Worcestershire sauce to taste

1 teaspoon garlic powder (or to taste)

Pull tips off mushrooms

Brown bacon

Add onions

Drain grease

In a separate bowl add all ingredients except mushrooms and mix well

Spoon into mushrooms and broil until tops are brown and bubbly.

You can spoon out more of the mushroom to make more room for filling.

Nancy’s Corn dip recipe (we call it CRON)

2 cans of Mexicorn, drained
1 small can of chopped green chiles
1 cup of mayonaise
1 cup of sour cream
2 cups of cheddar cheese
1-2 tbsp of sugar

chill before serving. enjoy with fritos!

Beverley’s Veggie Bars

 

2 8 ox. Cans refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

2 8 oz. Pkgs cream cheese softened

¼ c. mayo

1 (1 oz) envelope Ranch style salad dressing mix

1 medium size sweet red pepper, chopped

1 medium size green pepper, chopped

¾ c. (3 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese

½ c. coarsely chopped broccoli flowerets

½ c. coarsely chopped fresh mushrooms

Unroll crescent roll dough.  Place in lightly greased 15x10x1 jelly roll pan*, pressing edges and perforations together to line bottom of pan.  Bake at 350° for 7 to 8 minutes or until brown.  Cool.

Combine cream cheese, mayo, and Ranch mix, beat at medium speed with mixer for 1 minute or until smooth.  Spread over crust in pan. 

Combine peppers, and remaining ingredients; sprinkle over cream cheese mixture

Cover and chill 8 hours.  Cut into 1 ¼ inch squares

Yield = 8 dozen

(*I just use a 13x9x2 pan)

 

Beverley’s Pimento Cheese

 

1 – 8 ounce package cream cheese

1 – 12 ounce package extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (or about a 4 cup bag of the shredded, just make sure it’s extra sharp)

Mayonnaise to moisten

1 – 4 ounce jar pimentos, chopped

I stuff celery and jalepenos for appetizers.  Then use with leftover rolls the day after, if there is any left.

 

 

Sausage Balls

 

3 cups Bisquick

1 lb. breakfast sausage cooked

1 lb or 2 cups grated cheese

little dab of water to help mix together

Mix all ingredients well.  Shape into marble size balls.  May be placed in covered container or storage bag and frozen until ready to cook.  

 

Arrange balls on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until slightly browned.

Years ago, I tried teeth whitening strips, and liked them, but was unhappy with how hard it was to keep them adhered to my teeth during treatment. I started using the whitening gel with trays, and was also happy with the results, but let’s face it, that was sort of a hassle. So, I decided to give the strips a try again, and was very pleased with the results I got from the Crest 3D White Intensive Professional Effects Whitestrips in just a few weeks. Very, very pleased. So much so, I’m willing to share with you my before and after photos. The before is my coffee stained icky teeth, and after is my pearly photo-ready whites!

 

Quite a difference for about $35, wouldn’t you say? Don’t judge me. Just look at the toofers!

I purchased mine through drugstore.com, but naturally, as with all things I love, it’s no longer available. I checked with crest.com, and they still make these, but I will not be giving you a link to Amazon, because they are from third party sellers there and WAY overpriced. You can find them at Walmart, or any other drugstore or superstore.

I was very pleased with the way the strips adhered to my teeth and stayed on. I was also pleased with the thirty-minute treatment, while still being able to speak (without trays in my mouth) and go on with my daily function. Also, I didn’t get that sensitivity that I had before after using a whitening strip.  I call them zingers! They are a little shooting pain that lasts for half a second.  Not with these.

My packet also came with two 1-hour express treatments, which I gave to my son to use before his engagement photos. I’ll let you know if he ever gives me any feedback or actually uses them!