Fire & Ice

The weather can change so fast in Arkansas. 

One day you could be wearing capris, a short sleeve shirt and flip flops. 

 And spend your afternoon fighting grass fires all over the county.

This is the husband fighting fire, Sunday, January 30, 2011.

Or two days later, Tuesday, February 1, 2011 there is freezing rain and sleet. 

So you have to bundle up and let the husband drive to Fort Smith for my appointment with the Orthopedic Surgeon. 

Cold Weather Comfort Food

Blueberry Muffins

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chicken & Dumplings

Chicken Pot Pie

Oreo Balls (truffles)

Mountain Dew Dumplings

Creamed Tamales

1 Reynold's Slow Cooker Liner if you prefer.
Warning this recipe can scorch easily.
Add the following ingredients to your slow cooker:

1 whole can of rotel
1 can chopped chilies
1 can drained kidney beans
1 1/2 pounds cubed velveeta*
*(that's about 3/4 of a large block of velveeta)
1 whole can of tamales, mushed up (remove the wrappers)
1 pint whipping cream


* Additions you can add*

Corn
Chopped jalapeno's
Or use a can of "hot" rotel
Due to your preference you can add another can of tamales

Cook in the crockpot on high or low until melted, stirring until cheese is melted and ready to eat.
Serve with chips, top with sour cream. I turn the crockpot off when done to keep it from scorching.

(This is not too spicy at all unless you add the "hotness" to it)


Note: According to a recent discovery of mine if you use the Great Value brand of rotel instead of the Rotel brand you may experience some hotness.
Seems that the great value regular rotel is hotter than the actual Rotel brand.

Lemonade Cheesecake

1 8oz Philly Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 Cup Countrytime Lemonade Drink Mix
2 Tbsp Sugar
1/3 Cup Cold Milk
1 8oz container of Cool Whip
1 6oz Honey Maid Graham Cracker Crust

Cream together the first three ingredients, then add in the milk give it a few stirs then add in the cool whip.
Spoon into the crust and place in the frig till set, approximately one hour. 
Serve plain or with fresh berries.   

*Remember you can soften you cream cheese in the microwave, it is alot smoother that way
**You can also make this into a lower fat version simply by changing your cream cheese and cool whip

***It is very good if you prefer to make your crust by using graham cracker crumbs, a little sugar and some butter


This is so easy and quick to make and a great cool dessert in the summer time, Enjoy!

Crock Pot Lasagna

I used my bigger crock pot for this recipe.

IF you don't use a crock pot liner you will need to spray the inside of your crock pot with Pam!

1 pound of lean beef ground meat, seasoned, browned, drained (sometimes I use half beef and half sausage, the guys really like that)

1 and 1/2 to 2 jars of Ragu pasta sauce, we like tomatoe, garlic, onion flavor

(the amount of sauce used depends on how much sauciness you like)

I always add a little water to the jar to get more sauce out of it and to add moisture to the recipe

1 Tbsp Italian seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

Mix these first four ingredients together, set aside 

*hint* at times I finely grate carrots into my sauce (the boys never know) and you get another serving of veggies and a healthier version of lasagna

1 box lasagna noodles, I used the ones that you don't have to precook (personally I think that's just too cool)

16 oz small curd cottage cheese

(yes you can use ricotta, but this is the only way any of us eat cottage cheese and my grandma tells me it's good for you)

2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Mix these together, set aside 

4 Cups Mozzarella Finely Shredded Cheese

2 Cups Colby & Monterrey Jack Finely Shredded Cheese

You will layer your lasagna just as if you were making it in a baking dish. 

You will need to break your noodles up to fit in the crock pot. I alternated the direction I turned my layers, so each layer was like cris-crossed.

This is my lasagna recipe. 

I cooked my dish on high for three hours I believe it was, but you're suppose to cook it on low for like 4 hours I think. 

Since I was home I just watched it till I saw the sides turning colors and turned the crock pot off, let it set another 30 minutes and we dug in. 

Brrrrrr........it's cold out baby!

Winter at our place