Chocolate Pecan Pie

Chocolate Pecan Pie
3 large eggs
1 cup lite Karo syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 pie crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine eggs, Karo syrup, sugar, butter, and vanilla in bowl; mixing together with whisk. Then stir in pecans.

Spread chocolate chips on the pie crust.

Pour mixture over the top, and bake 50 to 55 minutes; or until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

The kiddos around my house love this, plus my friend Jamie does to. Serve with fresh whipping cream and YUMMY!

Happy New Year's Eve. Be careful everyone.
Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!

Muffin Cheesecake

One of my mother's friends made these, and she shared the recipe with me. They are a treat and a must try.

Muffin Cheesecakes
20 paper muffin cups
2- 8 ounce cream cheese
1 can cherry pie filling or  blueberry
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
20 vanilla wafers

Beat cream cheese; add sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Put a vanilla wafer in the bottom of the muffin cup, and fill 3/4 full with the mixture. Bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees.

Natalie put a little green food coloring in hers, to make it more festive looking.

Cool for 10 minutes. When cool, top with cherry pie filling. Cover and refrigerate, for at least 30 minutes.

These are so festive and great for family gatherings, Christmas or New Year's parties.

Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!

Chocolate Pie

Chocolate Pie
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
dash of salt
3/4 cups sugar
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 egg yolks (save the whites)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups milk
1 baked pie crust

Preheat oven to 450 and cook crust.

In medium sauce pan on medium heat, mix together all ingredients, except the milk, gradually pour in the milk 1/2 cup at a time, and cook on medium heat; stir until smooth and thicken.

Pour into cooked pie crust.

Mix 4 egg whites and 1/4 cup sugar and beat until fluffy. Top the pie and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes or until lightly toasted top.

This pie is delicious. My mom use to make it all the time, and come to find out my mother-in-law Diane uses the same recipe. Its a keeper and you'll impress your guest.

Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!

Lucky New Years Black-Eye Peas

This is great and all in one pot, crock pot that is. They say, you have to have a bite of black-eye peas and something green for good luck the next year. I'm doubling my green in take this year, if its luck for money. ha!

Lucky New Years Black-Eye Peas
1 pound black-eye peas, soaked and cooked
2 cans vegetable broth
1/2 chopped onion
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
10 ounce Rotel
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
16 ounce smoked sausage, sliced
2 cups shredded cabbage
leftover  ham or ham bone (you don't have to use this, but good if you have it leftover)

You can serve it over brown rice, cooked in one can of the vegetable broth.

Dump all ingredients (except rice and 1 can vegetable broth) in crock pot. Give it a quick stir and cook on low heat for 5 to 6 hours.

Happy NEW YEARS!!!! I hope you and your family have a blessed new year.

Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!

Lucky "Greens" Pork Loin with Cheese Grits

This is great for New Year's Day. They say if  you eat greens on New Year's Day you'll be lucky in money. Give me a double portion. ha! I tried something new and it turned out delicious.

Lucky "Greens" Pork Loin
3 pound pork loin
1 bunch turnip greens
1/4 chopped onion
2 leeks, chopped (white part only)
3 strips bacon
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup mushrooms
6 tablespoons fig jam
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt and black pepper

Cheese Grits
1 cup instant grits
4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup cut up Velveeta cheese
1 teaspoon minced garlic

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut bacon into small pieces and fry in large skillet.

Wash turnip greens and tear stems off. Chop your onion, leeks, and slice your mushrooms.

After your bacon is done, add in 1 tablespoon olive oil and vegetables.

Stir in 2 tablespoons fig jam and your salt and pepper. Cook until greens are limp; then stirring in chopped walnuts.

Slice your pork loin lengthwise, leaving 1/2" to the back side.

Spoon your mixture inside the loin, and with kitchen string tie it together.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper; then smear fig jam around the outside of your loin, sides, top and  bottom. Bake for 2 hours covered. Take out of the oven and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove kitchen strings and slice.

Cook your grits, when done add 1/2 stick butter; stirring until melted. Now cut your Velveeta in small pieces; adding to grits and stirring until its melted.

Stir in salt and pepper. Pour into casserole dish and bake for 45 minutes. You can fit this in with your loin on one side.

Ready to serve? Spoon cheese grits out first onto your plate, adding your sliced pork and greens on top; then in your skillet you have the good stuff spoon out a little and drizzle on top of your pork.

I have to say, this turned out scrumptious. I love it when I have a hit in the kitchen and find a new favorite meal. You might think its too  hard, but its not, besides its New Year's Day.

Happy New Year's!!!

Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!

New Years Grocery List

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I sure did, but I have to say, I'm looking forward to the new year. I have some changes coming up in my life, and I'm getting excited. I'll have to share them with you later.

Okay ya'll, I have to toot my own horn on this one, but the Lucky "Greens" pork loin is so yummy. I did a test run on it last month and I'm so excited to be cooking it again. Also, Sunny Jo's, my niece, has Spinach Hog recipe this week that you don't want to miss.

Let's get to the store and get to cooking.

Spinach Hog
6 pork loin cutlets
4 ounce cream cheese
1 cup fresh chopped spinach
one garlic, minced
1/3 cup chopped pecans
Teriyaki Pineapple marinade
6 strips of bacon

Muffin Cheesecakes
20 paper muffin cups
2- 8 ounce cream cheese
1 can cherry pie filling or blueberry
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
20 vanilla wafers

Chocolate Pie
2 tablespoons coco powder
dash of salt
3/4 cups sugar
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 egg yolks (save the whites)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups milk
1 baked pie crust

Easy Barbecue Crock Pot Pork
1 1/2 pound pork loin
12 ounce barbecue sauce, use your favorite
Cole Slaw
1/2 head of cabbage chopped
1 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup chopped fine onion
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cup Miracle Whip
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt

Lucky "Greens" Pork Loin
3 pound pork loin
1 bunch turnip greens
1/4 chopped onion
2 leeks, chopped (white part only)
3 strips bacon
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup mushrooms
6 tablespoons fig jam
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt and black pepper

Lucky New Years Black-Eye Peas
1 pound black-eye peas, soaked and cooked
2 cans vegetable broth
1/2 chopped onion
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
10 ounce Rotel
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
16 ounce smoked sausage, sliced
2 cups shredded cabbage
leftover ham or ham bone (you don't have to use this, but good if you have it leftover)


Chocolate Pecan Pie
3 large eggs
1 cup lite Karo syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 pie crust

Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!

Merry Christmas! The Birth of Jesus

The Birth of JesusMatthew 1-2, Luke 1-2

The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High." (TNIV)

An Angel Visits Mary
One day about 2,000 years ago an angel named Gabriel appeared to a young Jewish woman named Mary. Gabriel told Mary she would have a son, Jesus, who would be the Son of God! Mary was confused and worried about this sudden news, but she had faith in God and said, "I am the Lord's servant; let it be as you say."

Journey to Bethlehem

Mary and her husband-to-be, Joseph, lived in a town called Nazareth. But they had to travel to the city of Bethlehem to register for a census ordered by the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus. Both Nazareth and Bethlehem are in the country now called Israel. It is about 65 miles (105 km) from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and the trip probably took them several days.
When Joseph and Mary got to Bethlehem, there was no place for them to stay because the inn was already full. They ended up spending the night in a stable, a place where animals were kept. There was probably fresh hay on the floor that they used for beds.
That night, Jesus was born. There was no crib, so they laid baby Jesus in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. The manger probably had fresh hay in it and made a nice bed for the baby.

Shepherds Visit Jesus

Jesus was born in a stable and laid to sleep in a manger. The shepherds came to see firsthand the things the angel had told them.

That night, some shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks of sheep. An angel appeared to them and gave them the good news that a Savior, the Messiah, had been born. The angel told the shepherds they could find Jesus lying in a manger. Suddenly a whole group of angels appeared saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
The shepherds hurried into Bethlehem and found Jesus in the manger, just as the angel had told them. After they had seen Jesus, they spread the news, and everyone who heard was in awe.

Wise Men Visit Jesus

Wise men from the East came to worship Jesus, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Some time later, wise men, or magi, from eastern countries saw a star in the sky that signaled the birth of a new king. They came to Judea, the region around Jerusalem and Bethlehem, to worship Jesus, the new king.
A man named Herod was the king of Judea. He called the wise men to a meeting and told them to find the new king so he could go and worship him, too.
The wise men continued on to Bethlehem and followed the star until it was directly above the house where Jesus was. They found Mary and Jesus in the house and knelt down to worship Him. They brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, some of the finest things in the ancient world. Frankincense was burned to make a sweet smell, and myrrh was an expensive perfume.
After visiting Jesus, the wise men had a dream that warned them not to go back to King Herod, so they took a different route home.

I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas!

Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!

Christmas Eve Story

Happy Christmas Eve Box. Every Christmas eve morning we would rush to the phone to see who could be the first to call and say "HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE BOX". I think my Great Aunt Madge came up with it. We still carry the tradition on to this day.

                                              "Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

                                                Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

‘Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!’

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound,

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

and filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

and laying his finger aside of his nose,

and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

‘Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.

 Clement Clarke Moore wrote the Christmas poem twas the night before Christmas for his children in 1822.

Now don't forget to put out your reindeer food, and cookies (or low calorie weight watcher bar) for Santa!

Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!
Merry Christmas!
Love, Robin

Bobo's Cheese Ball

Bobo's Cheese Ball
3 - 8 ounce cream cheese
4 green onions, chopped
1 jar dry beef, chopped
2 1/2 tablespoons Accent salt

Mix all together and form into a ball. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving, or  you can make it a few days ahead of time.

My grandmother Bobo made this every Christmas, along with Christmas candies, and boiled shrimp to snack on before our meal. We always wanted to open presents before we ate. Christmas would not be the same without her cheese ball. I still miss her and think of her always, but having her recipes brings her memories in my house.

GiGi gave me this cake plate for Christmas. She hand painted it and its absolutely gorgeous.
Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!

Enchilada Casserole

I WILL NOT BE BROKEN BEEF ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

(Serves 4 to 6)

1 to 2  pounds hamburger meat, browned and drained

Velveeta cheese, about 20 slices

1/2 chopped onion

4 ounce chopped black olives

2 to 3 chopped green onions for garnish

1 10.75-ounce can of enchilada sauce

2 10.75-ounce can of cream of mushroom soup

Flour tortillas

Brown and drain hamburger meat with onions.

Add the enchilada sauce and mushroom soup, stirring until heated.

In a 9x13 casserole dish, tear tortillas and cover the bottom of the dish.

Pour ½ of the hamburger mixture over the tortillas and top with slices of Velveeta cheese.

Repeat another layer, adding black olives on top, and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Garnish with sour cream and green onions.

Laura:

My good friend Laura gave me this recipe back in high school. We cooked this all the time at our bunking parties. A few years ago, she took me to see Bonnie Raitt. We had seats in the fourth row, and even Bonnie herself said, “The girls down front are having a good time.” We did. I fell in love with the song “I Will Not Be Broken”. I had to get the CD right away. It’s my theme song now – I will not let a man break me.

This is another insert from "Blind Ingredients". This was my theme song until I met  my wonderful Steve. His birthday is this month, and so is two of my very good friends. I served this at the birthday celebration party.  Its fast, easy and so good.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve...I'm starting to get excited.
Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!

Reindeer Food and Santa's Cupcakes

Reindeer food, Santa's cupcakes



Reindeer food
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons green food decorating crystals (you can use red to if you want)

I heard if you sprinkle the reindeer food in your yard, it makes is sparkle so the reindeer know where to land; then they have a snack. They need refueling to.

Santa's Cupcakes
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 stick butter
4 eggs
8 ounce cream cheese
1 pound powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and use cupcake liners for your muffin pan.

Mix cake mix, butter and 2 eggs together. Fill each cupcake liner half full.

Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, 2 eggs, and vanilla. Pour on top of mixture.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. This is a remix of ooey-gooey butter cake made with yellow cake mix, but my Santa loves chocolate.

One of my favorite deserts is ooey-gooey butter cake. Santa's cupcakes is the same recipe, with the exception this Santa loves chocolate. So, I exchanged a yellow cake mix for a chocolate one.

Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcakes
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa
4 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup butter milk
2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

I used cupcake holders in my muffin pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream shortening and 1 1/2 cups sugar; adding eggs and beat well.

Make a paste of cocoa and red food coloring. Add to creamed mixture. Mix salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla and buttermilk together. Add alternately the flour with the milk m mixture to the creamed mixture. Mix soda and vinegar and fold into cake batter. DO NOT beat or stir now.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Frosting:
1- 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup coconut

Beat the cream cheese and butter in a mixer bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually add the sugar in, one cup at a time, alternating with heavy cream. Beat in the salt and vanilla extract. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and spreadable. I did half my cupcakes with just the cream cheese frosting and the other half I sprinkled coconut on top of the frosting. The coconut just made it look more like Christmas to me.

I served these at my December Birthday Celebration Dinner. I also, did German Chocolate Cupcakes, that I'll have to give you that recipe sometime, along with my food gift baskets, and my salsa party favors. We had such a great time.

Come back tomorrow for reindeer food and Santa's cupcakes.

Be Sweet and Stay Sweet!