Mama Sherri's Million Dollar Bacon

 Ingredients:

• 1 pound thick-sliced bacon
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup maple syrup (may need to add more later)

Directions:

1. Cook bacon. (I usually put bacon slices in a cold oven on an aluminum foil lined cookie sheet; then set the temperature to 400°. Bake for approximately 20 minutes.)
2. Put cooked bacon on paper towel to soak up grease.
3. Mix brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne pepper & maple syrup in skillet and cook on low to medium low until it is all blended together.
4. Dip bacon in mixture with tongs, letting it drip a little before transferring it to a cooling rack with foil under it (to catch any extra drippings).

*** SOMETIMES I COOK THE BACON THE DAY BEFORE I PLAN TO SERVE IT. THEN ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DIP IT IN THE MIXTURE THE NEXT MORNING. ***

Cheddar Biscuits (Twisted Biscuit Home Version)

 Ingredients:

• 12 count bag frozen Pillsbury Grands Buttermilk Biscuits
• 2 sticks melted butter
• 8 oz. mild or sharp shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 packet powder Ranch seasoning
• 1 bag real bacon bits
• green onion, chopped (you choose the amount)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Lay biscuits in a single layer in 9"x13" dish.
3. Evenly pour melted butter on top of biscuits.
4. Evenly sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
5. Evenly sprinkle Ranch seasoning on top.
6. Evenly sprinkle real bacon bits on top.
7. Evenly sprinkle chopped green onion on top.
8. Bake for 30 minutes in 375° oven.

Egg Bites (makes 6)

 Ingredients:

• 3 eggs

• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 3-4 strips bacon

• 1/2 red pepper, chopped

• Optional ~ chopped onion

• Salt & pepper to taste

• ***Any meat or vegetables can be added***

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Spray muffin pan.

3. Mix eggs and whipping cream together.

4. Mix in shredded cheddar cheese.

5. Add and mix in remaining ingredients.

6. Season with salt & pepper.

7. Pour into muffin pan and stir each section to balance all ingredients.

8. Bake 18-20 minutes.

Low Carb Breakfast Bowl (4 servings)

Net Carbs per serving = 1.5 

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. breakfast sausage

• vegetables of your choice (peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, etc.)

• 8 eggs

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• salt & pepper to taste (1/8 tsp. each)

• 1 tbsp. butter, melted

• shredded cheese of your choice

• Chopped green onions (optional)

Directions:

1. Brown sausage in skillet.

2. Add vegetables to sausage and cook until they are softened.

3. Mix eggs, heavy cream, salt, pepper & butter together in a microwave safe bowl.

4. Cook egg mixture in microwave on high for 2 minutes, and stir with a wooden spoon. Repeat this process until eggs are done.

5. Stir together sausage mixture, egg mixture and cheese.

6. Sprinkle chopped green onions on top. (optional)

7. Serve or put into meal containers.

Super Easy (& Delicious) Homemade Doughnuts

Having sleepovers with our four year old granddaughter is so much fun! Madeleine and I have a tradition that involves going through Dunkin' Donuts drive-through in our pajamas as soon as we wake up. She LOVES doughnuts!!! This morning we didn't want to get out of the house (brrr!!!), so we made our morning fun by making these homemade delicious doughnuts.

Ingredients:

Doughnuts

1 can biscuit dough (8-10 biscuits) ~ I usually get Walmart's Great Value brand. The "homestyle" biscuits work great!

1 quart vegetable oil

Glaze

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3-4 tbs hot water

Chocolate Frosting (for dipping after glazing)

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tbsp milk (start with 1 tbsp, but may need to increase if not smooth enough)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Heat electric skillet to 375 degrees.
2. Place 2 paper towels on a wire rack where you will place donuts when they come out of the hot oil.
3. Set up another wire rack next to the first one for the glazing station. Place a paper towel underneath to catch excess glaze for easy clean up.
4. Mix glaze ingredients together until smooth. Add more hot water as needed for desired consistency.
5. Separate biscuits and cut circles in the center of each disk. (I use the cap from my small salt shaker...after I make sure I free the cap from salt.)
6. Roll each cut out into balls (these are for the donut holes).
7. Place donuts 2 at a time into hot oil until golden. Flip onto other side and fry again until golden. This should only take about 30 seconds-1 minute for each side.
8. Scoop donuts out with a slotted spoon and place on paper towel lined wire rack. Repeat the frying process for the rest of the donuts and donut holes. In between each batch, coat the hot donuts in glaze on both sides by dunking each side quickly. Set them on the second bare wire rack to let the excess drip off onto the paper towels underneath.
9. If adding chocolate frosting, just dip one side of a glazed doughnut halfway into the chocolate frosting and then return to the wire rack to dry.
10. ENJOY!!! THESE ARE QUITE TASTY!

Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole

This is a copycat version of the hashbrown casserole at Cracker Barrel. It is a compliment to breakfast or dinner. It is a treat at our house on Christmas morning.

Ingredients:

2 lbs frozen hash browns
1/2 cup margarine or 1/2 cup butter , melted
1 (10 1/4 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1 pint sour cream
1/2 cup onion , peeled and chopped
2 cups cheddar cheese , grated
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray an 11 x 14 baking dish with cooking spray.
3. Mix the above ingredients together, place in prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes or until brown on top.

Perfect Bacon

Thanks to Culinary Arts for sharing this easy way to make bacon...easy clean up too!

1.Line a baking sheet with foil. This will make cleanup easier later.

2.Arrange bacon slices on the foil and place the baking sheet on the center rack of a cold oven. Close oven door. Turn oven on to 400°F. Walk away.

3.Come back 17 to 20 minutes later. As soon as the bacon is golden brown, but not excessively crisp, it's done. The exact time will depend on the thickness of the bacon slices, and also on how quickly your oven reaches the target temperature.

4.Remove the pan from the oven. Transfer the bacon to another sheet pan lined with paper towels to absorb the fat.

Tips:
1.Don't pre-heat the oven! Make sure the oven is cold when you put the bacon in.
2.Keep your eye on the bacon during the final few minutes of cooking to make sure it doesn't burn. Also, remove the cooked bacon from the hot pan right away. The heat from the pan and the hot bacon fat will continue cooking the bacon.
3.You can slightly undercook the bacon, then cool it and freeze it in a zipper bag. Then, to reheat, cook two slices in the microwave on medium power for 30 seconds or so.

Simple Sausage Balls

Makes 50 sausage balls.

Ingredients:

1 lb. spicy pork sausage
10 oz. grated cheddar cheddar (mild or sharp)
3 cups Bisquick
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Combine sausage, cheese and Bisquick until well blended. (I usually put on plastic gloves and do this part with my hands, but it can be done with a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.)
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and arrange 1 inch apart on a dry cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 20 minutes, or until browned.
6. Drain on paper towels, then serve hot or at room temperature.
***I have been known to make the balls, freeze them and pop them in the oven as I want to serve them.***

Pumpkin Muffins

My neighbor Lisa is a wonderful cook! She brought some of these pumpkin muffins over the other day, and I had to have the recipe. Not only are they scrumptious, but they are healthy too (well, minus the sugar...but you gotta have it ☺)...no butter, though. ☺ Anyway, it's quite an autumn treat.

Ingredients:

2 cups white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
15 oz. can pumpkin
1 cup chocolate chips
walnuts (optional)
raisins (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease the muffin tins or line them with paper baking cups.
3. Mix the flours, sugar, eggs, oil, cinnamon, baking powder & baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Stir until well blended.
4. Add the pumpkin and mix well.
5. Blend in the chocolate chips (or walnuts or raisins)
6. Spoon the mixture into the muffin tins until each cup is about half full.
7. Bake for 19 minutes.
*makes about 35 muffins*

7-Up Biscuits

These biscuits are very good...light and fluffy! You can find the 7-Up Biscuit recipe at one of my favorite cooking blogs.

Strawberry Butter

I found this simple, but delicious, strawberry butter recipe at allrecipes.com. I use it on bagels, toast, croissants and biscuits. No matter when or where I serve it, it is ALWAYS a BIG HIT!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 Tablespoons confectioner's sugar
1 Tablespoon strawberry preserves (I sometimes add more ~ ☺)

Directions:

1. Beat all ingredients until creamy.
2. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Cinna-Buns

SUPER EASY & SUPER DELICIOUS

Do you like those Cinnabons you get at the airport? If you do, you're going to love this recipe!

Ingredients:

1 loaf frozen white bread dough (I use Rhode's.)

Filling:
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon

Icing:
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (Optional ~ I usually leave it out.)

Directions:

1. Place loaf of dough on plate and let sit at room temperature until thawed.
2. Once thawed, roll out onto floured surface to a size of about 9"x16".
3. Spread 1/4 cup margarine over dough.
4. Mix together brown sugar and 3 Tablespoons cinnamon.
5. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over top of cinnamon roll, stopping about 1/2" away from the sides so it will seal.
6. Carefully roll up cinnamon roll into a log and press lightly to seal.
7. Slice into one-inch slices with serrated knife.
8. Place in greased 9x13 baking dish and cover with cling wrap.
9. Place in warm spot and allow to rise until doubled in size.
10. Remove cling wrap and bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until done.

Icing: Mix all ingredients together and beat with electric mixer until creamy. Spread over cinnamon rolls.

Honey Bun Cake

Ingredients:
1 pkg. yellow cake mix (with pudding)
4 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup water
1 (8 oz.) carton sour cream
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup chopped pecans

Glaze: Combine all ingredients below and beat at medium speed until smooth.
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 Tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a mixing bowl; beat at medium speed with mixer until smooth.
3. Set aside.
4. Combine brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans; set aside.
5. Pour half of batter into a greased and floured 13x9 baking dish.
6. Sprinkle half of cinnamon sugar mixture over batter.
7. Repeat #5 and #6.
8. Gently swirl batter with knife.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until wooden pick comes out clean.
10. Remove from oven and drizzle glaze over cake.
11. Cool.

Breakfast Casserole

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Layer in 9x13 casserole dish:
1. crescent rolls (1 can)
2. cooked and crumbled sausage (or crumbled bacon ~ I usually used pre-packaged Oscar Mayer bacon bits.)
3. mixture of 3 eggs, 1/4 cup milk, 2 level Tablespoons dried onion
4. grated cheddar
5. Bake approximately 20 minutes. It's done when it begins to brown on top.

Garlic Cheese Grits

Ingredients:
2 cups grits
2 rolls garlic cheese (I can't find this in the Northeast, so I add garlic powder with 4 oz. Velveeta
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese
worcestershire sauce to taste
salt to taste
8 cups water
2 sticks margarine
2 eggs, slightly beaten
cayenne pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Cook grits in 8 cups water.
2. When done, add all other ingredients while grits are hot. Mix well.
3. Bake in 9x13 dish at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Grits will begin to brown on top.

Paula Deen's Apple Dumplings

Oh, my goodness! This recipe is SO SIMPLE and SO DELICIOUS!!! Serve this to your family or guests, and they will think you have spent a lot of time preparing this fantastic dessert.

Ingredients:
2 cans crescent rolls
2 Granny Smith apples
1 stick butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/3 cup sugar (or Splenda)
12 oz. DIET Mountain Dew

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Peel and core apples.
3. Cut each apple into 8 wedges.
4. Roll each wedge in a crescent roll. (Be sure to seal the crescent roll.)
5. Place rolls in a 9x13 baking dish.
6. Melt butter in small saucepan.
7. When butter is melted, add sugar (or Splenda).
8. Add cinnamon to butter/sugar and mix well.
9. Spoon cinnamon/butter/sugar mixture over crescent rolls.
10. Pour diet DIET Mountain Dew over rolls.
11. Bake 45 minutes.