Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip

This is a dip that I keep on hand for fresh veggies.  

Ingredients:

• 2 T Penzey's Buttermilk Ranch Seasoning
• 4 teas. Penzey's Salsa and Pico Seasoning
• 16 oz. sour cream

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a small batter bowl  Refrigerate.

Click Here to Print Recipe:

Caesar Salad Dressing

I must confess, I stole/borrowed this recipe from OnceUponaChef.  My twist on it is that I use avocado mayonnaise.  I do not use "vegetable" oils of any kind in my kitchen.  I use olive, avocado and coconut oils in my kitchen because of the inflammatory nature of "vegetable" oils.  If you are making the change to olive or avocado mayonnaise, be sure to read the labels.  Brands like Kraft and Hellmann's Olive OIl Mayo are made with soybean and canola oils.  I use Chosen Foods Avocado Mayonnaise that I find at Costco.

Ingredients:

• 2 small garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp anchovy paste
• 2 T lemon juice ~ I use Minute Maid frozen if I don't have fresh lemons~
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
• 1 c avocado mayonnaise
• 1/2 c grated Parmigiano Reggiano
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 ground black pepper

Directions: 

In a medium glass bowl, whisk together garlic, anchovy paste, lemon juice, dijon mustard and worcestershire sauce.  Add mayonnaise, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt and pepper; whisk until well combined.  Adjust seasoning to taste.  Pour into glass jar or container and refrigerate.

Click here to print recipe.

What If . . . ?

At the beginning of the Coronavirus panic, Steve Deace said that if this was a Biblical plague, a face mask wasn’t going to save us.  As I have watched the panic spread around me even to those who call themselves Christians, I have asked, “Who is our faith in?”  My daughter’s mission trip to Central America was postponed.  Our church canceled Sunday services.  People are in a panic to find toilet paper.  Schools were canceled.   Public events were canceled.  Life as we knew it came to a sudden stop.

  

Last night, I was on a mini-rant with my girls about how all of this is so dumb.  Why are we not using the brains that our Creator gave us?  What happened to critical thinking?  Cities are enacting curfews, so does that mean that the virus goes to bed at dark?  Costco has pallets to divide the entrance from the exit.  It has two lines divided by pallets to enter ~because of social distancing~ but both lines end up at the same place while they have an employee that wipes down your cart handle.  So, you wait in a single line to wait for an employee to wipe down your handle after you’ve touched it and the person who used it before you touched it?  Does this make any sense?!? 

And then God convicted me . . .   Who is my hope in?  Is my hope in our political system?  Or is my hope in God?   As I was getting ready for bed, it hit me.  

What if this is God’s blessing in disguise?

How many times have we lamented that life is just too busy?  We are constantly running our kids to this practice and that game.  To this school event and that meeting.  We are running ourselves ragged; and for what exactly?  When was the last time that you sat down with your kids for dinner at home?  Or made pancakes for breakfast?  Or played a game with your kids?
  

What if this is God’s blessing in disguise?

What would it look like if we pushed the reset button on all of our busyness?  What if we were to reprioritize?  What if we took care of our family and neighbors instead of looking to the government to solve our problems?

As Followers of Christ, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  What does that look like?  What does the world think when we are panicked?  Who is our hope in?  

What if this is God’s blessing in disguise?

The family is the backbone of civil societies.  As followers of Christ, how are our families different than those without Christ?  Are we just as busy and chasing after the American dream of two cars, house in Germantown or Collierville, kids in competitive sports and trips to the beach during all of the kids’ school breaks?  Don’t get me wrong.  I am all for those things, but at the expense of whom?  Our children?  Our neighbors?  Our civil society?  How much is enough?

Many, if not all, of our churches have canceled services.  What if we took this opportunity to invite a friend over for dinner?  Or for a game night?  Here’s a novel thought.  What if we met in small groups to worship together on Sunday?  Home churches?  Where have I heard this before?!?  Have you checked with a neighbor who has health issues to see if you can get them something at the grocery store?  How about taking your neighbor a meal?  

What if this is God’s blessing in disguise?

When this craziness is over, we will have a lot of rebuilding to do.  So many have been hit financially.  How will we help our neighbors?  The Bible teaches us that we as individuals are to help our neighbors in need.  When it’s time to go back into the office because it’s “safe,” will we rethink our priorities?  When the kids go back to school, will we have learned anything as a family?

What if this is God’s blessing in disguise?  

Buttermilk Pancakes

My family loves these pancakes especially for supper.  With the addition of whole wheat flour and coconut oil, they are a bit healthier.  Serve them with bacon or sausage to balance out the carbs. 

Ingredients:

2 eggs

3/4 c unbleached flour

3/4 c whole wheat flour

1 1/2 T baking powder

3/4 t baking soda

3/4 t salt

1 1/2 T sugar

1 1/2 c buttermilk ~may need a bit more if pancakes are too thick~

3 T coconut oil, melted

Directions:

1. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.
2. Beat eggs; whisk together with buttermilk and oil.  
3. Add to dry ingredients, mixing until mixture is smooth.  You may need to add more buttermilk to thin batter.
4. Use butter or bacon drippings to grease a hot griddle.
5. Pour pancake batter onto griddle; watching for bubbles.  Flip.  Serve hot.

Tips:

• If you don't have buttermilk, simply squirt a bit of lemon juice into measure cup and fill with milk.  Let sit and sour for a few minutes.
• The 1 cup prep bowls from Pampered Chef are perfect for melting butter and coconut oil.
• The Batter Bowls from Pampered Chef are great for mixing and pouring pancakes.  I usually mix the wet ingredients in the Small Batter Bowl and the dry ingredients in the Classic Batter Bowl

Click Here to Print Recipe:

Large Bar Pan by Pampered Chef

Party Meatballs

This is one of my favorite recipes to bring to a party.  The Rockcrok Slow Cooker Set is perfect for this recipe because you can start the meatballs on the stove and then keep them warm in the Slow cooker stand.

Ingredients:

12 oz jar of chili sauce

1 1/2 cups of grape jelly

40 - 60 frozen meatballs.

Directions:

1. Mix chili sauce and grape jelly in Rockcrok Everyday Pan over medium heat. 
2. Add meatballs and cover.
3. Bring to simmer.  Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Transfer to Rockcrok Slow cooker stand set on low to keep warm.

Click Here to Print Recipe:

Better Than "Pancho's" Cheese Dip

Pancho's cheese dip is one of those signature tastes of Memphis.  For those that don't live in Memphis, you can find it at your grocery store.  Now you can make it at home with the Deluxe Cooking Blender by Pampered Chef.   My family says it tastes like Pancho's cheese dip but better.

Ingredients:

• 1 c cream
• 1 c whole milk
• 1 T Pampered Chef Southwest Seasoning
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 10 oz can Rotel
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 8 oz American cheese, cubed 
• 1/2 c colby-jack or Monterey jack cheese, grated
• 1/4 c Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients except cheese in the order listed to the Deluxe Cooking Blender pitcher.  Replace and lock the lid.  Turn the wheel to select the SAUCE setting:  press the wheel to start.
2. When prompted to “Add” press CANCEL.  Remove the vented lid cap and carefully add the cheese.  Replace the cap and blend on speed 3 of the CUSTOM BLEND setting for 1 minute, or until the cheese is fully incorporated.
3. Serve with tortilla chips.

Click Here to Print Recipe:

Tip:  Buy American cheese from the deli.  Do not use Velveeta.

Caramel Sauce

Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup cream
• 6 T. Butter
• 1 ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
• ½ teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Add ingredients to the Deluxe Cooking Blender in the order listed.   Replace and lock the lid.  Turn the wheel to select the JAM setting; press the wheel to start.
2. When prompted to “Add” press CANCEL.
3. Pour into another container and store in refrigerator.

Tips:

• The Deluxe Cooking Blender is the latest power tool by Pampered Chef.  Not only does it do the normal stuff that blenders do, ~margaritas and smoothies~ it also cooks and cleans itself.  I know!  I know!  A blender that cooks and cleans?!?  Unbelievable!  Well it's true.  It has pre-programmed settings for jams, sauces, alternative milk and heated purees.
• This sauce is great for dipping apples.  Simply use the apple wedger to core and slice an apple.  Sooo good.

Click Here to Print Recipe: