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Stuffed French Bread

This is what is for dinner at our house tonight!

recipe adapted from Life In The Lofthouse
1 loaf French bread
1 pound lean ground beef
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

salt and pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 Tablespoon chopped parsley (optional)
Directions
1. Slice the French bread in half, lengthwise, so you’re left with two equal pieces. Scoop out the bread in the center of each piece, making two bread ‘boats’. Place the extra bread in a large bowl and tear it into very tiny pieces. Trust me, you want them tiny. Place both halves of  bread onto a large baking sheet and set it aside.
2. In a skillet over medium high heat, brown both the beef and the onion until fully cooked. Strain the grease and return to the skillet. Next, add in the celery and garlic. Cook until the celery is tender, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the soup, milk and Worcestershire sauce. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Add parsley.Cook another 5 minutes, or until the meat mix is heated through, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the meat to the bread in the bowl, stirring to combine. Pour mixture into the center of one half of the french bread and spread out evenly. Spread out evenly. Sprinkle the meat mixture with the cheddar cheese. Top with the other half of bread to make it a sandwich.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. When done cooking, let your bread sit for 5 minutes so everything ‘sets’, before slicing and serving. Then, eat up!

For a different variation of this:  If you like spicy brown mustard, you can spread some mustard on the bread before filling with meat mixture or you can add a couple tablespoons of mustard to the meat mixture before filling the bread.

 

Kay's Broccoli Slaw

Do you need a great side dish for a gathering or pot luck?  This one is always a winner.


2 bags (12 ounces) of pre-grated broccoli slaw
 (I get the kind that has broccoli, carrots, and red/purple cabbage mix)
1  4 ounce package of real bacon bits
3/4 cup golden raisins or dried cranberries
3/4 cup salted sunflower kernels
1 medium red onion, diced
1 apple, diced
1 1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. black pepper

In large bowl, mix broccoli slaw, bacon bits, apple, raisins/cranberries, sunflower kernels, and onion.  In small bowl, whisk together mayo, vinegar, sugar and pepper until smooth.  Pour over vegetables and toss. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour prior to serving.  It gets better overnight.  I have also added almond slices and pineapple tidbits (drained) to mine at different times. 

Praline Crusted Cheese Ball

Here is a recipe I found online and tweaked a bit.  Great for holiday parties. 




8 oz cream cheese, softened
1-2 green onions, finely diced
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup butter 
1/4 cup brown sugar 
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard 
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans 

Combine cream cheese, onions, garlic, 1 tsp Worcestershire and Cajun seasoning in a bowl. Mix well and shape into a 4-inch circle, about 1 inch thick. Refrigerate for one hour.

In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard and pecans. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, until sugar is dissolved.

Remove cheese ball from refrigerate and place on serving platter. Pour pecan mixture over cheese ball. As praline mixture cools, press into cheese to complete cover

Cheese ball can be refrigerated until ready to serve. Remove cheese ball one hour before serving to come to room temperature. Serve with crackers.