Guacamole :)

I have always wanted to make homemade guacamole. :) My mother has always told me that avocados can be expensive, which is true. However, you just need to know where to buy them! I went to Aldi's several weeks ago and bought them for 33 cents each. Then, I went to Walmart and they were 1.25 each. :) I definitely made the better bargain, which is the first sign of becoming a domesticated woman! When picking out the right avocado, you must first decide your purpose. If you are making guacamole choose the softer ones because you are mushing them anyway. If you are putting them in a salad, you may want them a little bit firmer.

Ingredients: 
4 avocados peeled, pitted, and mashed
2 Tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup diced onion
3 Tablespoons cilantro
2 roma tomatoes diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic

First, you need to pit and peel the avocado. This is actually a very easy task to complete. :) Get a large knife and cut around the pit. Eventually you will have two halves of the avocado and one wil contain the pit. Then, use a spoon and remove the pit into the trash can. Then spoon the avocado out of the skin into a bowl. Then, mash all the avocados with a spoon or fork. Add the lime juice and salt. Mix in the onions, and tomatoes once you have chopped them. Then, add the cilantro and garlic. Refrigerate for one hour to get all the flavors interacting with one another to make GUACAMOLE. :)

Cheeseburger Soup

This recipe is from the lovely Christea Reiser. :) I have to say that this soup was simply delicious! It tastes like potato soup mixed with cheeseburgers! What could be better?

Ingredients:
1 lb of ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup diced celery
1 teaspoon parsley
4 Tablespoons melted butter
3 cups chicken broth
4 cups of cubed potatoes (I left the skin on)
1/4 cup flour
8 oz Velveeta
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup sour cream

First, brown the beef in the skillet and then drain! Chop or shred the onions, carrots, and celery. Mix these with the parsley and 1 Tablespoon of butter. Sauté them in a sauce pan. Then, add the broth, potatoes, and beef and bring to a boil. Then, in another saucepan, mix the remaining butter, flour, Velveeta, milk, salt, and sour cream. Then, I put both pots of ingredients into the crock pot and cooked it on low for several hours to mix all the wonderful flavors. Serve and enjoy! :) This will make an entire Crockpot full. You will be prepared to serve a small army.

Turtle Pumpkin Pie

This recipe is from the lovely Katherine Jesus. :) I used her simple recipe to make an amazing pie! :) It's quick, easy, and splendid!

Ingredients: 
1/4 cup carmel
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup or carmel.
1 6 oz. Graham Cracker crust
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 cup milk
2 vanilla instant pudding packages
1 can of pumpkin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 8oz container of cool whip

First, pour the 1/4 cup carmel topping into the pie crust. Then, beat the milk, dry pudding, pumpkin, and spices with a whisk until they are throughly blended. Sire in 1 1/2 cups of cool whip. Spread the filling into the crust. Top with the remaining cool whip. Then, refrigerate 1 hour and top with pecans and top with chocolate syrup or carmel! Enjoy!

Brazilian Cheese Bread Brushetta

Well, my mother has a food sensitivity to gluten. So, for a Christmas present I was making her dinner, so I wanted to find something that was "bread like" that she could enjoy! :) I found the answer. Brazilian cheese bread is delicious, cheesy, and gluten free! So, I took it one step further and turned it into brushetta!

Dough Ingredients:
1/2 cup olive oil or butter
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups Tapioca flour (This is not Tilapia flour... that is a fish!)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2/3 cup grated parmesan
2 beaten eggs


Topping Ingredients:
Tomatoes
Green onions
Shredded cheese
Basil
Olive oil

First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Then, medium sized sauce pan on the stove, mix olive oil, milk, water, and salt. Let this mixture boil. Once it comes to a bowl remove it from the heat and stir in the Tapioca flour and garlic. Then, let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, mix in the beaten eggs and parmesan cheese. It will look like cottage cheese and be very clumpy. This is the way it is supposed to look do not become overwhelmed.

Then, form the dough into small circles. The dough doesn't rise or expand, so the size you make them is the size they will be. Then, leave them in the oven for 15 minutes or until almost golden brown. In the mean time in a bowl mix together soem chopped tomatoes, green onions, some shredded cheese (mozzarella), olive oil, and shake some basil in there. :) Then, place a little of the mixture on each bread circle. Put back in the oven for 5-10 minutes until all the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown. Remove for the oven and enjoy! :)

Before they were put back in the oven.

Cranberry Spinach Salad

Are you looking for a beautiful spinach salad that will taste delicious? Do you want others to think you slaved over a dish when it took you 10 minutes? Well, this is the salad for you!

Ingredients:

Salad:
1 package of baby spinach
1/4 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Dressing:
1/3 cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
1 Tablespoon sour cream (yes, I do put this in many things)
1/2 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

First, wash your spinach, chop your almonds (I bought these prepackaged cause they were on sale), and open your package of dried cranberries. Combine all of these ingredients into a bowl. Then, in a small tupperware, mix together the olive oil, sugar, vinegar, sour cream, and mustard. Shake well! Then, let it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours. Pour all over your salad, toss, and enjoy!