Cheesy Bacon Jalapeno Poppers

Cheese? Bacon!? Jalapeno Poppers??! Just you TRY to pass these puppies up! Who says these are only for parties or football season? I make these as a dinner side whenever my little heart desires.

I made mine without any chicken, but you could easily add some cooked chicken to this (chopped or shredded) if you had some on hand.

As a friendly reminder- be careful handling these peppers as they are spicy and if you happen to wipe your face with a jalapeno juiced hand you will be very sorry. I choose to wear gloves just to be safe! If you don't wear gloves remember to wash your hands throughly. No burning eyes, please!

10 Jalapeno Peppers
8oz Cream Cheese
1 cup Mexican Shredded Cheese
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
4 strips Bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese


Mix cream cheese, mexican cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, salt and crumbled bacon in bowl. Slice peppers in half (lengthwise) and remove all the seeds. Spoon cream cheese mixture into each pepper half and place on baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and then return to oven. Broil on High a few minutes until cheese is melted. Try not to drool and serve them warm.

Twice Baked Potatoes

I am not the biggest fan of plain old baked potatoes, but for some reason I love, Love, LOVE if they are twice baked! They really are not difficult to prepare and are super tasty. You can add whatever garnishes you wish- just keep those little green chives to yourself. I prefer my plates chive free!

Start these off by baking some generously washed and forked potatoes in your microwave or oven.

While the potatoes are cooking, grab yourself some of your favorite variety of bacon and fry it up.

We will use this to top our masterpieces in the very end, and also as a bonus air freshener while they are frying. Bacon on the stove always beckons even my laziest dog to get up off her ever-so-warm-and-comfy spot on the sofa to offer her test testing assistance in the kitchen. Too bad that never really works out in her favor.

Once the potatoes are tender, cut off the tops and spoon out their innards for us to work our magic on.

They look kind of sad all empty, but once they are done they will be over flowing with potato innards of flavorness.

YUM.

Bake them once more with some cheese and bacon toppings and voila! Spud heaven!

Twice Baked Potato Recipe
by: MamaHoots... Food is Love

4 Russet Potatoes
Olive oil
Salt (1/2 teaspoon for inside, plus extra for seasoning skins)
Garlic Powder (1 Tablespoon for inside, plus extra for seasoning skins)
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1/2 cup Milk
1/2 stick Butter
1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese (plus extra for garnish)
4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Wash potatoes thoroughly and prick with fork. Drizzle the outer skins with olive oil and season with some garlic powder and salt. Either bake the potatoes in an oven at 350 for 1 hour OR heat in microwave for about 10 minutes until soft. Slice a section lengthwise off the top of each potato and spoon out the inside into a mixing bowl. Be sure to leave enough around the edges to help the potato shells keep their shape. Add sour cream, milk, butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 Tablespoon garlic powder and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese into the mixing bowl. Mash potatoes until fluffy and all ingredients are blended throughout. Spoon the potato mixture back into the potato skins and place the filled potatoes on a baking sheet. Top the potatoes with cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Roasted Balsamic Green Beans and Tomatoes

This is a super easy super delicious side I like to make. Lots of flavor and not a lot of ingredients. I love roasting vegetables in various seasonings and this one is always a winner.

1 package frozen Whole Green Beans
1 package fresh Grape or Cherry Tomatoes
Coarse Kosher Salt
Garlic Powder
Pepper
Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil (extra virgin)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place green beans and tomatoes in 9 x 13 baking dish. Coat with a little olive oil and generously with balsamic vinegar; stir well. Season with salt, garlic powder, and pepper; stir again. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until tomatoes have shriveled and began to release their juices.

'Fancy' Potato Rounds

This is a recipe I found online and changed a little to my liking. Looks pretty fancy compared to typical mashed potatoes or baked potatoes. Would probably be great with some minced garlic on top as well!

3-4 lbs Russet Potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
1/4 cup Butter, melted
Olive Oil (extra virgin)
Coarse Kosher Salt
Garlic Powder
Thyme
Red Pepper Flakes

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place sliced potatoes neatly on their side in rows in a small, greased baking dish. Drizzle melted butter and olive oil evenly over top of the potatoes. Season with salt, garlic powder, thyme and red pepper flakes. Bake for about an hour or until edges of potatoes begin to turn golden brown.

Barbecue Green Beans with Bacon

This is a nice way to dress up your green beans and also makes them super tasty for the kids! Something different. Something GOOD!

4 slices of Bacon, cut into pieces
1/4 cup Onion
1/4 cup Sugar
2 cans Green Beans, drained
1/2 cup Ketchup
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup Brown Sugar

Brown the bacon and onion in skillet.  Add ketchup, sugar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce; stir. Simmer for 2 minutes. Place beans in oven safe dish; pour sauce over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Oven Roasted Garlic and Herb Carrots

I once struggled to get my children to eat enough of their vegetables. That is, until I came up with this quick and delicious carrot side dish.

Large bag of Carrots
Olive oil
Garlic Salt
Basil

Rinse, peel and slice/chop carrots as even as possible. Place in baking dish. Add olive oil and toss. Season with garlic sauce; Toss. Sprinkle again with garlic salt and basil. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

You could easily add other vegetables to make this even more satisfying.

Mama's Simple Baked Potatoes

Baked Potatoes are a very simple side to serve with many many dishes. We don't like to waste in this house and ensure we make the potato skins delicious as well.

6 baking potatoes
olive oil
garlic salt

Wash potatoes and scrub clean.  Peirce with fork and place on foil lined baking sheet with shallow rim. Coat in olive oil and garlic salt. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for an hour or until done. I serve with butter and sour cream.