Tater Tot Casserole

Cheese and potatoes...what's not to like?!

http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Opie_s-Cheesy-Tater-Tot-Casserole-Recipezaar?columns=4&position=3/15

Since I was serving this as a main dish (read:only dish) for supper, I decided to add a pound of ground beef. I also opted not to add the Colby Jack, as I thought 1 pound of cheese plenty! And just as I was getting ready to finish up this baby, I realized I had no french fried onions. Dang it!

Bottom line: This was "cheesy, creamy, delicious goodness," according to Nate. It was pretty good. It also required very little effort, which is great after a long, busy day. I had neither, but it was refreshing to only need 15 mins to put dinner together. I'm glad I added the beef, it filled the dish out nicely. I wish I'd had the onions, but oh well. This baby was plenty cheesy without the Colby Jack, and that's coming from a girl who really loves her cheese! I will be making this again.

Lemon bars

The author of these bars calls them brownies, but I just couldn't do it. They aren't brown and contain no chocolate...they aren't brownies. But, they will satisfy a sweet tooth.

http://www.beckycharms.com/2012/04/lemony-lemonies-lemon-brownies.html

Mmmmm, butter! I love butter, as you will come to find out. The juicing and zesting of the lemons, not so much. But it made the kitchen smell wonderful. 

This seriously took like 4 minutes to prepare.

The only thing I changed is the pan size. I don't have an 8x8 pan (people, if you are gonna make a dessert, go big or go home). I was just gifted this new half pan (weird name) by Nate, so decided to use it. I doubled the recipe to fit this pan, but left everything in proportion.

Baked french fries

Yay! Healthy fries!

http://www.foodrepublic.com/2011/05/12/basic-baked-french-fries-recipe

I made these just for me, so I only used one potato. I also changed the oil to 1 teaspoon instead of a whole tablespoon, and I'm glad I did. I baked these for 10 minutes, turned them over, and baked another ten minutes. I seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic salt. 

Bottom line: I was pleasantly surprised. I was initially bummed they weren't as crispy as deep fried french fries, but I got over it. I will be making this again. I like how cheap and easy these are. I also like that my pants won't feel tight tomorrow. 

Apple Crisp

Let me start by saying I do not like apples. At all. Why did I choose to make this? Nate has been asking for apple crisp for about a month. I felt like baking, so there you go! I turned to Martha for this recipe and she didn't disappoint.

http://www.marthastewart.com/316288/apple-crisp

There are pleasantly few ingredients in this recipe. I had everything on hand except for the apples (naturally). Which brings us to the apples...

What a huge pain. I now remember why I don't cook anything requiring peeled, sliced, cored apples. Once that torture was over with, the topping was a breeze.

Cowboy Caviar Chicken Salad

I have had this as a dip before, and it was great. When I saw the recipe using this as a base for a salad, I was all in.

http://www.greensnchocolate.com/2012/05/southwestern-chopped-chicken-salad.html

Of course, I changed up a few things. I viewed some other recipes that added a can of black eyed peas, and that sounded good. I also used Rotel (2 cans) instead of fresh tomatoes. I opted out of lettuce altogether, as I will be eating this for several days and didn't want it to get soggy. I also used bottled lime juice...Northeast Wisconsin isn't exactly a hotbed for fresh fruits at the end of October.  I also opted out of mayo for the dressing (sidebar: I have a legit mayo addiction that I am just now breaking after years of artery abuse). I used the yogurt in its place, and I added lime juice.

Bottom line: this stuff is good. The cilantro and lime go so well together. I could eat just the 'caviar' in a tortilla or as a side. I'd like to make this next summer with fresh roasted corn. Yum. The dressing was a bit grainy, I could certainly taste the absence of mayo. Next time I will add some full fat sour cream or even use full fat Greek yogurt. It wasn't inedible at all, just gritty.

Chicken n Dumplings

I love chicken and dumplings! It was one of the (very) few meals my mother made that us kids liked. It's okay, she knows she's not a Martha, and we survived! I am obligated to say that she does make fantastic chocolate chip cookies.
Now, back to this recipe...I really liked it. That being said, I changed it around quite a bit. I used  3 quarts of broth and a rotisserie chicken. I also added about 2/3 cup flour to the broth, as I like a thicker base. I let it simmer about 35 minutes and then added the dumplings. Now, I didn't use the dumplings in this recipe. I used good ol' Bisquick dumplings (recipe is on the side of the box). The dumplings in the recipe looked a bit too thin, more like noodles. If you like noodles, go for it, but I like a big, chewy dumpling!

http://cajunmamacookinblog.com/2013/09/24/cracker-barrel-chicken-and-dumplings/

Bottom line: I'd make these again in a heartbeat! This is a super-easy recipe that takes very little effort. Nate (my fiancé) loved it, and my brother and his girlfriend enjoyed it too.

Homemade dog treats!

Look at these two awaiting fresh baked dog treats!

Or...dag treats, as we call them. And, yes, I have eaten one. These are basically a peanut butter cookie with no sugar. Our dags love these! They are a bit painstaking with the rolling and cutting, but are worth it. I am certainly not a health freak, but I do like knowing exactly what is in these little delicacies.

Bottom line: I make these as often as I can. I don't always have the time or energy, so I supplement with store bought treats on occasion. These are very cheap for the amount of treats the recipe yields. I have also frozen the dough for up to 3 months. http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2007/11/03/gone-to-the-dogs/

Loaded M&M Oreo Cookie bars

These sound delicious, don't they?

First off, this woman's blog made me salivate. So many good ideas...and all sweets! I literally spent over an hour perusing. 
Okay, as for the food at hand. These were good. Not great. Not quite chewy enough for me, though I doubled the recipe so had to cook it longer (in a 9x13). The edges were crunchy, which I greatly dislike in a bar or cookie of any kind! I think if I had made the bars as directed, instead of doubling up, they would have worked better. That being said, they were gone in 2 days between my fiancé, my brother's girlfriend, and my coworkers (read: my father). I love that I only dirtied one bowl. I also enjoyed smashing up the Oreos! 

Bottom line: I wouldn't make these again, but I am super grateful this recipe lead me to such a great blog! If you like cookie dough, Oreos, or chocolate covered candies, give them a try. If you don't like them, it won't be hard to find someone who will. 
http://www.averiecooks.com/2013/09/loaded-mm-oreo-cookie-bars.html