A HUGE THANK YOU!!

I want to thank each and every one of you who voted for my recipe during the contest at www.wevv.com.  On Friday I got the call that I WON!! I never win ANYTHING!! I get my recipe featured in a Holiday Guide that will be distributed throughout the tri-state and I also won a $100 gift card to a local grocery store!! I am thrilled! I have to go into the station next week with my dish and get my picture made for the guide! Thanks again to each and every one of you for voting for me!! I appreciate it so much!!

Caesar Pasta Salad

This is a wonderful, yummy salad! It is not your typical side salad.  I served this the other night with steak and it was a hit!! We loved it!

Ingredients:

1 lb pasta, any shape cooked
1 envelope Good Seasons Italian dressing, dry
2 cups  cherry tomatoes, halved
Romaine lettuce, washed, chopped
croutons
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 to 3/4 (32 oz) bottle Caesar Dressing, refrigerated before using if possible

Directions:

Make ahead- if possible, the night before serving:

Place cooked pasta in a bowl. 

Sprinkle with dry dressing and about 1/2 cup of the dressing. Refrigerate overnight.

The next day, before serving:
Place the prepared pasta, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, croutons and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl. 

Toss with about 1/2 of the bottle of dressing. 

Let sit for a few minutes, add additional dressing to taste just before serving.

ENJOY!!

Marinated Steak with Caramelized Onions

I made these steaks last night and they were amazing!!!! They were so full of flavor and so juicy!  A must try!!! 

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Kraft Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

3 TBSP A1 Steak Sauce, divided

2 TBSP brown sugar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 boneless beef sirloin steak (1 lb.)

1 TBSP olive oil

1 large onion, thinly sliced


Directions:

Mix dressing, 2 TBSP steak sauce, sugar and garlic until well blended. 

Pour over steak in shallow dish; turn steak to coat both sides.

Refrigerate at least 1 hour to marinate. (I left mine in the fridge for about 4 hours and it was so flavorful)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Remove steak from marinade; discard marinade.

Place steak in baking dish and place in oven.  Let cook approx. 35-45 mintues or until done. 
    
Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions.

Cook and stir 5 min. C

Cover; cook on medium-low heat 15 min. or until onions are golden brown, stirring occasionally. 
Remove from heat and stir remaining steak sauce into onions. Serve with the meat.

ENJOY!!

Ranch Macaroni Salad

This might possibly be one of the best pasta salads I have ever had. I will definitely make this on a regular basis. 

Ingredients:

1 (14 ounce) Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese Dinner
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (1 ounce) package of ranch dressing mix
1 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped onion

Directions:

Prepare macaroni and cheese according to package directions

In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream and ranch dressing mix.  Stirring well to combine.

Stir prepared macaroni and cheese into ranch mixture. 

Stir in tomatoes and onions. 

Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until chilled.

ENJOY!!

Crockpot BBQ Chicken

YUM!! This chicken was delicious and SUPER easy to put together.  This is perfect for a busy weeknight or if you looking for something quick and easy, but delicious to throw together in the crockpot!

Ingredients:

4-6 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts ( I put them in frozen, which makes this even easier!)
1 bottle BBQ sauce
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

Mix BBQ sauce, vinegar, red pepper flakes, brown sugar and garlic powder.  

Place chicken in crockpot. pour sauce over it and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours.

ENJOY!!

Holiday Recipe Contest!!

Hello everyone!! I need your help! I am in a contest at www.wevv.com.  It is a local news station and they are having a holiday recipe contest and I have three recipes in there and I am hoping to win.  So if each of you that reads this blog could please go to www.wevv.com and click on the recipe contest and register and vote for me I would greatly appreciate it.  My recipes are #3, #4, and #5.  They are Caramel Apple Cupcakes, Caramel Coconut Pecan Pie and Pumpkin Dump Cake.  As of right now the Pumpkin Dump Cake is winning.  The voting period started today and runs through the 16th.  You can vote 5 times per day!! So please VOTE VOTE VOTE! I would appreciate it so much!! Thanks in advance!

Pumpkin Dump Cake

Oh my goodness!! This is the absolute BEST pumpkin dessert I have ever had!! It would be the perfect dessert for the holidays!!! Even if you do not like the taste or texture of pumpkin you should at least give this a try.  It is so yummy!!

Ingredients:

1 15 oz can Pumpkin Puree

1 10 oz can Evaporated Milk

1 cup light brown sugar

3 eggs

3 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 box yellow cake mix

1 cup (2 sticks) butter melted

1 cup coarsely crushed graham crackers

Dash of Cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Spray a 9×13 baking pan lightly with cooking spray
In a large bowl combine the pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs and pumpkin pie spice and dash of Cinnamon.

Stir to combine.

Pour into your prepared pan.

Sprinkle your entire box of cake mix on top

Sprinkle graham crackers to cover top of cake. 

Pour your melted butter evenly on top.

Bake for 45-50 minutes until center is set and edges are lightly browned.

Serve with ice cream with a dash of Cinnamon.

ENJOY!!