Grilled Margherita Pizza

This is such a great way to make pizza especially in the warmer months.  The crust gets very crispy as if it was cooked in a huge wood fired pizza oven.  There is no better way to make pizza at home!

Ingredients:
1 pizza dough (homemade or store bought)
6 ounces tomato sauce (homemade or store bought)
6 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
5 basil leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Directions:
Preheat grill until it is about 400 degrees.

Roll out pizza dough until it is 1/8 inch thick.  Make sure to flour the dough and your surface to prevent sticking.  If you are using a rolling pin, put flour on the pin also.  Spread 1 tablespoon of olive oil on the top side of the dough.  Flip the dough over onto the grill.  Close the grill. Cook for about 5 minutes

While the pizza is cooking on one side, slice the mozzarella cheese very thinnly.  If it is too thick it won't melt on the dough.

Open the grill.  Check the bottom of the pizza.  It should be golden brown and crispy now. Oil the top side of the dough. Then using tongs and a spatula gently flip the dough over.  As soon as the dough is flipped, spoon the tomato sauce on and spread leaving a one inch border around the sides.  Then lay the mozzarella slices over.  Sprinle the salt and pepper.  Tear the basil leaves over the dough.  Close the lid and cook for another 5-6 minutes.  After this time open the lid to see if the cheese has melted.  Once melted take off the grill and slice into pieces.  Enjoy!

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Roasted Corn and Bacon Guacamole

This is an easy and delicious dip and great for parties.  I got the idea from Chili's, but changed it a little by adding bacon.

Ingredients:
2 Hass avocados
2 slices of bacon, sliced
1 cup corn kernels
1 garlic clove, chopped finely
2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped
juice from 1 lime
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
Tortilla chips for dipping

Directions:
Heat a small saute pan and add the bacon.  Cook the bacon until it begins to turn brown.  Then add the corn kernels and the garlic clove that has been chopped finely.  Saute these together until the corn begins to turn brown.  This will take about 5 minutes.  Add the cayenne pepper and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes. 

While that is sauteing, squeeze the lemon juice into the bottom of a medium bowl.  Take the skins off of the avocados and remove the pit and put into the bowl.  Add the hot sauce and the salt.  Mash everything together untilt the avocado is smooth and creamy. 

Stir in the red onion and the corn mixture.  Stir these together until combined.  Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!

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Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Do you love this dip out in a restaurant.  Now you can make it at home and it tastes 10 times better than the restaurant version. 

Ingredients:
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 slices of bacon, thinnly sliced
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
1 package frozen spinach
1 can artichoke hearts in water
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup provolone cheese
4 tablespoons parmesan cheese
Tortilla chips or bread for dipping

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat butter in a small sauce pan until melted.  Add the onion and bacon and cook until the onion is translucent and the bacon is brown.  Then add the garlic and continue to cook for 2 minutes.  Add the flour until a thick paste forms.  Add the milk slowly until all clumps are stirred out.  Allow sauce to thicken for 10-15 minutes stirring every 3 minutes. 

While sauce is thickening, defrost the spinach in the microwave and squeeze all of the water out.  Cut your artichoke hearts into small pieces. 

Once sauce is thickened add all but 1 handful of both the provolone and mozzarella cheese.  Add 3 tablespoons of the parmesan.  Stir until cheese is melted.  Then stir in the spinach and the artichoke hearts.  Put into a greased baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining handfuls of mozarella and provolone cheese.  Sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of parmesan cheese.

Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and bubbly.  Enjoy with tortilla chips or sliced bread!

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The Ultimate Cheeseburger

Ingredients:
1 lb of ground beef (preferably 20% fat, 80% lean)
2 medium sized onions
4 slices of bacon
1 avocado
4 slices colby jack cheese
4 hamburger buns
salt
pepper
garlic powder
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
jarred jalapeno slices (optional)
1/2 lemon or lime

Directions:
Slice each onion in half and lie the open part on the cutting board.  Remove the peel.  Then make very thin slices of the onion and separate the slices.  Put a little oil in the bottom of a saute pan and put onions in pan.  Leave onions on medium to medium low heat to cook them slowly.  If you put the heat on medium high or high they will burn.  The process will take about 20 minutes for the onions to fully carmelize.  After about 5 minutes sprinkle onions with salt and stir.  Continue to stir about every 3 minutes.  After 15 minutes add the balsamic vinegar and stir. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Lay the 4 slices of bacon on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until golden brown. 

Cut around the pit of the avocado and remove the pit using a spoon or a knife.  Using a large spoon scoop the flesh of the avocado out of the skin in one large piece.  Then make thin slices of avocado and squirt lemon or lime juice onto the slices so they do not turn brown. 

For the actual burger patties, take the meat and separate into balls of meat.  Some people like bigger burgers than others, so you can make them to suit people's tastes.  The trick to a juicy burger is to handle the meat minimally.  Form each ball into patties and make an indent in the middle with your finger so the middle is thinner than the outside.  Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder on both sides of the patties.   Get a large skillet very hot and put oil in the bottom.  Put the patties into the pan.  Do not touch them once they are in the pan.  Allow them to cook for 6-7 minutes without being touched at all in the pan.  A brown crust should have formed on one side, then flip the burgers once.  Again, do not touch the burgers at all.  After another 6-7 minutes, place the slices of cheese on the burger and either put a lid or tin foil over the pan to melt the cheese. It should take about 2-3 minutes to completely melt. 

One the cheese has melted, place the burgers on the bun.  Top with the onions, avocado slices, bacon slice, and jalapeno slices and enjoy!

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Chocolatey Raspberry Crumb Bars

These are the most delicious cookies ever.  They look so fancy and are so easy to make.  They are also a great gift because they are easy to wrap up and store!

Ingredients:
2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1-14 ounce can sweetended condensed milk
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 13 by 9 baking pan.

Beat butter in a large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in flour, sugar, and salt until crumbly.  With floured fingers, press 1 3/4 cups crumb mixture onto bottom of prepared baking pan and reserve the remaining mixture for later.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Microwave 1 cup morsels and sweetened condense milk in a medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute.  Stir.  Morsels may retain some of their original shape.  If necessary, microwave at additional 10 to 15 second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted.  Spread over hot crust.

Stir nuts into reserved flour mixture.  Sprinkle over chocolate layer.  Drop teaspoonfuls of raspberry jam over crumb mixture.  Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of morsels.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until center is set.  Cool in pan on wire rack.  Cut into bars.

Makes 36 bars.

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Snowball Cookies

These are such a delicious treat when it gets really cold outside.  They are very easy and such a delicious cookie.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 sticks of butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar + additional powdered sugar for rolling after they are baked
2 1/2 cups of flour
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Beat together the butter and the powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.  Then add the flour 1/2 cup at a time and beat together on low power.  Once everything is combined add the vanilla and chopped walnuts. 

Form dough into small balls about an inch in diameter.  Bake in the oven until golden brown.  It should take about 10 minutes.  Allow to cool for about 3 minutes.  Then roll in powdered sugar until they are completely covered.  Enjoy!

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Sweet Potato Pie

This is a really easy recipe and it is absolutely delicious.  My mom and I make this for every Thanksgiving and everybody loves it.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
3 cup canned sweet potatoes, juice drained
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 beaten eggs
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
pinch of salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 prepared pie shell
marshmallows for top

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl put the sweet potatoes that have been drained.  Mash the sweet potatoes up until they are fairly smooth.  Now add the brown sugar and continue to mash the swete potatoes.  Now you can switch to a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.  Add the beaten eggs, butter, and lemon juice and stir until all are combined.  Now add the cinnamon and salt and stir again until everything is very creamy and smooth.  There may be a few lumps here and there or sweet potatoe and butter which is fine. 

Pour the mixture into a store bought pie crust or a homemade pie crust.  Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes.  If serving today take out after 40 minutes and put the marshmallows on top to cover the entire pie and return to the oven until marshmallows become golden brown.  If you want to serve it another day, put in the refrigerator or freezer wrapped in plastic or foil.  When ready to serve bake for about 15 minutes or until the pie is warmed, and then add your marshmallows and bake until they are golden brown.  Enjoy!

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