Bacon Delight Hors D'oeuvre (throwback thursday)

Going thru my old cookbooks and posting recipes that sound like something I'd still want to make, when I came across this one for 'Bacon Delight':

• 12 slices bacon
• 12 chicken livers
• 12 water chestnuts
• salt
• toothpicks

Um, yeah... No. But I did Google for a recipe using bacon + water chestnuts - chicken livers and AI gave me this which sounds way better:

Common Preparation Method:

• Prep: Preheat oven to 375°F–400°F. Cut 1 lb of bacon into halves or thirds.
• Assemble: Wrap each (drained) water chestnut with a piece of bacon, secure with a toothpick, and place on a baking sheet.
• Glaze: Mix 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2–1 cup ketchup, and 1–2 tbsp soy sauce/Worcestershire sauce.
• Cook: Bake for 25–30 minutes, then pour or brush the sauce over the chestnuts and bake for an additional 20–30 minutes until bacon is crispy and caramelized. 

Tips for Success:

• Crispiness: Use a wire rack on top of your baking sheet to allow the bacon to get fully crispy and not sit in grease.
• Variations: Add Dijon mustard for tang, or marinate the chestnuts in soy sauce for 4 hours to overnight.
• Serving: Serve warm, directly after baking.
• 
  

3.19.25: paper mache Easter eggs 

3.19.24: produce carton planter

3.19.23: 🔥 week 12

3.19.22: pet poison prevention week

3.19.21: flourless chocolate raspberry cake

3.19.20: TBT orange cranberry ice

3.19.19: TT sewing on vinyl

3.19.18: crocheted bunny cozy

3.19.17: zucchini and quinoa cakes

3.19.16: vodka gimlet 

 

Pickled Brussels Sprouts (Frog Balls)

As I've mentioned before, I really really don't like Brussels Sprouts - but I do love pickles so maybe 'Frog Balls' would change my mind? 😂

• Rinse Brussels sprouts under cool water. Trim stem ends and remove any loose outer leaves.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add Brussels sprouts and blanch for 3–4 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
• Place garlic, dill seeds, and red pepper flakes into clean jars. Pack blanched sprouts tightly into jars.
• In a saucepan, combine vinegar, water, pickling salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.
• Pour hot brine over sprouts, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Ensure sprouts are fully submerged and remove air bubbles.
• Seal jars, cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for 24–48 hours before serving.

3.18.25: TT decorating bag tip

3.18.24: perler bunny sign

3.18.23: words

3.18.22: standing computer desk

3.18.21: corned beef grilled cheese

3.18.20: spaghetti squash mac & cheese

3.18.19: hanging jewelry holder

3.18.18: corned beef and cabbage soup 

3.18.17: wine bottle storage 

3.18.16: duct tape pencil holder 

Tip-sy Tuesday: Cornstarch vs GF Flour

I've been substituting gluten-free flour in a lot of the family meals and desserts lately with great success; the one thing I haven't been pleased with tho is making a roux (melted butter+flour+liquid is the base of a lot of sauces and gravies) with it. The gluten-free flour doesn't melt fully into the butter and liquid, I end up having to strain it and it still isn't right - and the texture is off. I just read in one of my old cookbooks that 1 T. cornstarch = 2 T. flour for thickening, I am going to try that next time (most cornstarch is acceptable for gluten free cooking, check the label).

Other handy substitutions in this book:

• 1 t. baking powder = 1/4 t. baking soda plus 1/2 t. cream of tartar
• 1 cup milk = 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water
• 1 oz. (1 square) baking chocolate = 4 T. cocoa plus 1/2 T. fat (I assume that'd be butter, oil, or shortening)
• 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup milk plus 1 T. vinegar

3.17.25: corned beef hash 

3.17.24: 🔥 week 11

3.17.23: crock pot ziti 

3.17.22: pizza pasta by Jen

3.17.21: pot o'gold cupcakes

3.17.20: TT: marinated artichokes

3.17.19: 🔥week 11

3.17.18: shamrock plant

3.17.17: mini trash can by Brooke

3.17.16: photo class - landscapes 

Leprechaun Veggie Tray (re-run)

3.16.25: 🔥 week 11

3.16.24: words

3.16.23: deco mesh wreath

3.16.22: leprechaun veggie tray (by Jen) 

3.16.21: TT steamer basket

3.16.19: St. Paddy's 2019 Plan

3.16.18: felt shamrocks

3.16.17: green tassel earrings

3.16.16: leprechaun coloring page 

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 11)

 Dear Campers ~ 

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

3/8: 🔥week 10

3/9: world down syndrome day treat project

3/10: TT common clutter culprit

3/11: cottage cheese chips by Jenny 

3/12: creamy white chili (throwback thursday)

3/13: Friday the 13th

3/14: words (try your luck)

That's it for this week! See you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, whatever we can think of to make at camp - bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

3.15.25: words (welcome mat)

3.15.24: cucumber jalapeno margarita 

3.15.23: Irish soda bread

3.15.22: TT taco salad

3.15.21: leprechaun veggie tray

3.15.20: 🔥week 11

3.15.19: stuffed zucchini

3.15.18: corned beef dinner

3.15.17: caramel chocolate chip cookies

3.15.16: Irish creme delights  

3/14 ~ Words

3.14.25: green pancakes with whipped cream and sprinkles

3.14.24: korean beef and veggies

3.14.23: TT starchiest foods

3.14.22: ManDay Monday: chicken salad

3.14.21: 🔥 week 11

3.14.20: bloody mary rim salt

3.14.19: Jen's Hello Fresh review

3.14.18: irish cream bundt cake

3.14.17: rope covered curtain rod (poll)

3.14.16: ribbon bracelet

Friday 3/13

 

makes me laugh - happy Friday!

3.13.25: spinach and cheese shamrock quesadillas 

3.13.24: broccoli rice cheese bake by P

3.13.23: carrot candy

3.13.22: 🔥 week 11 

3.13.21: pet poison prevention week

3.13.20: copycat shamrock shake

3.13.19: island cupcakes

3.13.18: shamrock sun catcher

3.13.17: shamrock butterflies and paper garland 

3.13.16: crock pot corned beef

In case you need a good recipe, I've had great success with this one!

CROCK POT CORNED BEEF

4 lb. corned beef with seasoning

1 cup water

1 cup guinness (enough liquid to fill 1/2 way up or so)

2 bay leaves

1 t. extra cloves

cook on low x10 hours.

add carrots last 4-5 hours

add cabbage last 3 hours (if you're adding to the crock pot)

Creamy White Chili (Throwback Thursday)

I've been going thru old recipes (I still have an old box that I used to use before I changed to a binder system, it hangs out in the top of my cookbook cupboard and I have to get a tall stool out in order to access that high shelf haha, I decided to go thru some of these old ones and share with you even if I don't have a picture!).  

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 t. garlic powder
• 1 T. vegetable oil
• 2 (15 oz) cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth
• 2 (4 oz.) cans chopped green chilies
• 1 t. salt
• 1 t. ground cumin
• 1 t. dried oregano
• 1/2 t. pepper
• 1/4 t. cayenne pepper
• 1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
• 1/2 cup whipping cream

In a large saucepan, sauté chicken, onion, and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream and cream. Serve immediately. 

makes 7 servings

I don't know how old this recipe is or where it was published, but judging from the heart and tea kettle graphics across the top it looks 80's to me haha. 

3.12.25: sham-rocks (painted rocks)

3.12.24: tt reheating corned beef 

3.12.23: 🔥 week 10

3.12.22: pot o'gold cupcakes

3.12.21: kid craft: paper leprechaun by Brooke

3.12.20:  TBT: St. Patrick's day luncheon and Green Pea Soup recipe

3.12.19: TT: single cupcake container

3.12.18: make a layered paper shamrock 

3.12.17: blueberry chutney (delish with pork tenderloin!)

3.12.16: copycat shamrock shake

Sissy Tried It: Cottage Cheese "Chips"

Jenny sent me this idea she saw on Facebook, here's what she has to say in her words:

Sissy Tried It.. Again. 

So first off, I would like to say that I am not sure why I continue to try recipes that I see on Facebook. Perhaps social media is not the best source for quality recipes? This one I kept seeing over and over, or some variation of it and it seemed too good to be true. As usual, you know what they say if something seems too good to be true…..

I gave it a try. This first picture below is where I actually saw the recipe. The other less perfect photos are of course, all mine.
First of all the cottage cheese did not stay in a circle like it did in their pictures. It spread out and all mushed together. It looked slighty like a giant friend egg. It did get slightly crispy on the bottom though, and I could peel it off. I say “peel" because it did not come off in a round-chip form as their example did. Again, it was more like peeling up a well done egg white. 😂 

The taste itself I have to say tho wasn’t terrible.  Is “wasn’t terrible” a booming endorsement? No. Was it edible if forced? Yes. 

Some thoughts. Maybe not low-fat cottage cheese? Perhaps I’ll try it again. If anyone else tries it and has better results, let me know because I want to love this! 

Jill here - these actually sound good to me if we can figure out how to get them crispy and not fried egg looking and trying to peel them off the pan. Also the inspo photo looks like it has way more shredded cheese on top, I wonder if the melted cheese is holding the cottage cheese together and making it crispier. I don't know but if I try this I will update with my findings! Thanks sis - keep up the good work trying random social media recipes haha! 

3.11.25: TT shamrock cookies (decorating idea)

3.11.24: wine cork shamrock

3.11.23: words

3.11.22: leather feather earrings

3.11.21: shamrock pretzels

3.11.20: grilled scallops with chili-lime cream sauce

3.11.19: carpet freshener

3.11.18: instant pot love (and a creamy chicken pasta recipe) by Jenny

3.11.17: create a baking center

3.11.16: shamrock garland

Tip-sy Tuesday: Common Clutter Culprit

I got an email from BHG titled "the one item professional organizers wish people would stop saving".

Of course I opened that one to see what item they were referring to ('cuz I could make lots of guesses like plastic grocery bags, old keys no one knows what they go to, old paperwork, pens - LOL so much stuff!), and the answer is just as boring as old keys and pens...they'd like us to let go of old cords and chargers. Very true that we have drawers full of them, and chances are we'll never need them again - but saving them for 'just in case' is hard to get past!

So what do you think - do we purge and free up some clutter? I don't know, I'm kinda scared hahahah. 

Read the entire article here at BHG or go to their website and search for it under the title I printed in the first line above. 

3.10.25: march 10th

3.10.24: 🔥 week 10

3.10.23: crockpot spinach white bean soup

3.10.22: MSIH peanut butter dream bars

3.10.21: crock pot corned beef - check this out if you need a good recipe for corned beef, I make it every year!! 

3.10.20: TT: hidden bank by Brooke

3.10.19: 🔥week 10

3.10.18: pots of gold

3.10.17: makeup brush holder by Brooke

3.10.16: creative photo class - portraits