SPROUTS OF BACON

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic Vinegar

This side is so addicting. Brussel Sprouts are an underrated vegetable, their so tasty. If you don't like brussel sprouts, these will for sure change your mind about them. Their mixed with bacon for crying out loud! I served them along side some roasted salmon and cous cous.

Ingredients:

1/2c balsamic vinegar
1 small shallot
4 slices cooked bacon
1lb of brussel sprouts
EVOO
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat your oven to *375. Rinse your brussel sprouts and cut them in half. Place the brussel sprouts on a cookie sheet sprayed with PAM. Drizzle EVOO on the top of sprouts and add some salt and pepper. Throw them in the oven for 30 minutes, flipping them over after the first 15 minutes. Meanwhile poor vinegar in a pan on medium high pan and let it slowly boil for about 5 minutes.  Take the vinegar off the heat and let cool until ready to serve. Saute shallot and bacon for 2 minutes and set aside. Once the brussels are done throw them in with the onion and bacon mixture. Saute for 1 minute on medium low. Just before serving drizzle balsamic reduction all over brussel sprouts.

FOOTBALL IS OVER

But cupcakes never go away! I bought these cupcakes from Mind Over Batter in Tempe for Billy's 38th birthday! He loves football and his team is the NY Giants! Aren't they cute?!

CABBAGE PALE KIDS

Billy loves cabbage. I found this cabbage recipe on Pinterest. I don't usually look at Pinterest for recipes but this looked easy enough to try. I sent Billy the recipe and he made it for me on Friday. It was FANTASTIC! He served it with grilled chicken and roasted potatoes. He's awesome!

Ingredients:

1 head of cabbage, cut into wedges
EVOO
salt and pepper to taste
lemon juice

Directions:

Preheat your oven to *425 and place wedges on cookie sheet that's been sprayed with pam. Drizzle with EVOO, salt and pepper, and lemon juice. Bake for 15 minutes and flip, bake for another 15 minutes. They're a great side to any dish. They have a perfect texture and tanginess to them. I will definetely be making these again, or Billy will!!

PARTY TIME

Billy and I went to our friends Super Bowl party and this was our spread. This was just for starters. They also had chili dogs and sausage sandwiches. The table is just adorable and all the food was YUMMY!

FRUIT DIP

This is just another creamy addicting dip! During the holidays Billy and I had picked up some extra bags of Stacy's cinnamon and sugar pita chips. They were a $1 after the holidays. I was bringing over some appetizers for a Super Bowl party we were invited to. I immediately thought of those pita chips. Here is what I came up with. A sweetened cream cheese layered with fruit salsa.

Ingredients:

Fruit Salsa

1/2 c strawberries, chopped
1/2 c blueberries, chopped
1/4 c blackberries, chopped
2 kiwis chopped
1 tbsp honey

Dip

1 c whipped cream
1 c cream cheese, softened
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp sugar

Directions:

Combine all fruit and honey. After that mix the cream cheese and whipped cream with a mixer on low, slowly add sugar and cinnamon. Once the cheese is soften use a spatula to scoop it out into a small bread/ meatloaf pan. Once you've leveled out the sweetened cheese pour fruit salsa right on top. I used a little sprinkle of cinnamon on top and served it with cinnamon and sugar pita chips. This is like a seven layer dip but with fruit. Add any fruit combinations you want it's sure to be DELISH!

SUPER FOOD

How crazy is this Super Bowl setup? I will be posting some super yummy looking appetizers for any party on the blog soon!

LINGUINE

Smoke and a pancake? Sausage and linguine? YES! I love shrimp and I love chicken sausage. This is a dish I whipped up fast because Billy and I were hungarryy and it was getting late that evening.

Ingredients:

1 frozen bag of uncooked deveined shrimp
2 chicken sausage links, sliced (I used Johnsonville's cajun style).
1 package of linguine ( I used barilla's whole wheat)
1 very big garlic clover or 2 small cloves, chopped
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2-3 tbsp butter (I did use real butter)
handful of spinach
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook linguine according to package. Meanwhile in a saute pan on medium-high heat toss in butter and garlic for about a minute. Add in sausage and crushed red pepper flakes. Once sausage gets some brown edges and it smells FANTASTIC in your kitchen, throw in the shrimp. Cook shrimp until almost pink and throw in the remaining ingredients. It should be just about the right time that your pasta is done. Drain the pasta, DO NOT RINSE! Rinsing your pasta removes the starch so your buttery sauce won't stick. DUH! Toss the pasta right into your saute pan with the sausage and shrimp. I added a little butter at the very end, I'm so bad! Serve immediately with some shredded cheese or have it as is. I have to say I had the hiccups so bad after eating this because I didn't come up for air when eating it. So DELICIOUS!