Jello Worms Recipe great for Halloween!

Do you have a Halloween Party coming up?  Do you want to have the spookiest, creapiest, crawliest dessert of all?  Then have I got a treat for you!  I made this the other day for my work's Halloween party and I won $$ for having the spookiest dessert of all.  These Jello worms are so awesome and  worm-like that it is just a bit on the foul side.  They wiggle and squirm just like a worm would.

You will need 100 bendy straws with the bendy parts extended
You need a package of red Jello..most of the recipes call for Raspberry, but I was a rebel and got Dark Cherry.
You also need 3 packets of unflavored Gellatin to amp up the firmness..nobody wants a soggy worm.
You need about 1/3 Cup of Heavy Cream
Then add in about 14 drops of food coloring.  I used a gel coloring and sadly added too much and my worms went green and weren't too wormy.  Then I decided to do some orange ones for contrast.


Put the Jello and extra Gellatin in a large bowl and mix in 3 Cups of Boiling water.  Whisk together well until everything is melted and combined.  Then let the mixture cool for a bit.  I stuck mine in the fridge for about 15 minutes or so.

Then add in the Cream.  You can either mix well to get a good and cloudy colored worm..or mix gently for a more marbled look. 


Stick the straws with the bendy part on the bottom and place a rubber band around the top and bottom.  Then place them in a tall but narrow container.  I used a drinking glass.  Pour in a little bit of the jello...not too much.  Place the glasses in the fridge for about 20 minutes to get a good solid base started.

After the 20 pour in the rest of the Jello and let sit overnight.

The next morning you will have a gelatinous mound of goo in your glass.  Use a butter knife or something to help get it out.  Peel off the excess Jello and run the straws under slightly warm water to clean them off.

There are several ways to get them out of the straws..but the best way is to use a rolling pin.  Just pop 3 of the straws on the counter..steamroll over them with the rolling pin and watch the creepy worms just squiggle on out.

Believe me when I say that trying to get them out by hand SUCKS!  They are slippery..messy..gooey..and just plain hard to hold onto.  You can always go the pliers route..but the rolling pin is by far the best!

Make sure you wiggle them like a good worm as you eat them.  It makes it feel a bit more real...

 Enjoy as you take in the glory of your wormy dessert.  Praises and prizes galore!


Source:  Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Oven Peanut Butter S'mores Recipe

I love nothing better than a fun night out in the canyon with good friends.  Hot dogs cooked over an open fire pit, kids running around getting filthy, having to bum salt from the guys next to you cause ya'll forgot yours, and the s'mores!  Oh yes, the s'mores!  They weren't kidding when they named those beauties s'mores..cause you always want s'more!

Alas, you don't always find yourself in the canyon when the craving for a tasty, toasty, melty s'more arises.  So what do you do?!  Check this baby out and you'll never be hungry again!  Or at least you can curb a craving quickly and easily.

You will need Graham Crackers, Peanut Butter, Marshmallows, and Chocolate Chips (I used semi sweet)

Get your awesome and absolutely adorable helper to pitch in on this recipe.  Just have her slather those Grahams with Peanut Butter.  Excellent..that looks great!

Hey now!  what do you think you are doing?  Get back to work.

Next have your helper place a few Marshmallows on each graham.  Nicely done!

What?!  Wait!  This is a serious food blog..there is no room for tomfoolery!

Excellent, let's focus on the food!  Place a few chocolate chips here and there amongst the Mallows.

Place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet and put in the oven under a warm broiler...but be careful!  These cook up very quickly...usually in a minute or so.  Just keep your eyes peeled because one second they aren't done and the next they are darker than you want!

Enjoy..Just like my kids did!

Oven Peanut Butter S'mores Recipe

Graham Crackers
Peanut Butter
Marshmallows
Chocolate Chips

Pre-heat the oven's broiler.  Spread PB on the Grahams then top with Marshmallows and chocolate chips.  Place in oven on a parchment lined baking sheet... but watch very closely because these go from not done to over done very quickly.  Takes about a minute or so to toast the Mallows.

Enjoy!

Ham Roll Appetizer Recipe

Have I mentioned that I am less than 3 weeks away from having my third child!  This is so crazy to me.  I am so not ready...is it possible to request more time?  Although, with how uncomfortable I am maybe I am ready after all.  Such a shame that things get so crowded at the end of pregnancy.  I was remembering back to when I had my first child recently.  One of the funnier memories involves a delicious appetizer and my baby shower.

My Mom and sister threw me a very sweet baby shower and you should have seen the spread of food they prepared.  It was fantastic in every way.  There was so much amazing and delectable treats that it was hard to choose what to snack on.  They made on of my favorites..Ham Rolls!  They are always so yummy and a bonus they are pretty low calorie.  I must have gobbled down a dozen ham rolls, at least.  After the party was over I peeked in the fridge and found that the ham that I had bee consuming all afternoon had expired!!!  Not just by a day or two either.  It was horrible!  Luckily nobody got sick and my sister decided to always check the expiration date when shopping at the Walmart.  You should give these babies a try when you have a party to go to.  Perfect any time of year and in any setting. 

You will need Cream Cheese (the whipped kind spreads more easily), Ham, and Green Onions.

Grab a slice of Ham.

Spread the Cream Cheese almost to the edges of the Ham.

Slice the Green Onion up. 

Evenly sprinkle a little Green Onion over the meat.

Roll the ham up.

Slice into little rolls and Enjoy!

Ham Roll Appetizer Recipe

Ham
Cream Cheese
Green Onion

Evenly spread a TBSP or so of the Cream Cheese over the top of the Ham slice.  Chop the Green Onion up into little slices and sprinkle over the top of the Cream Cheese.  Roll the ham up and slice into mini rolls. 

Enjoy!

Sausage Ranch Star Appetizer Recipe

Two posts in one day!  Yeah!  This is a recipe that my family enjoys every year at Christmas time.  It' is the perfect appetizer for any party or activity.  They are so easy to whip up and taste amazing.  These would be a perfect addition to any Superbowl party.  My Mom has been making these for about as long as I can remember.  It is one of my cousins favorites and he has worked on customizing altering the recipe a bit here or there.  He loves them minus the Olives and he has tried them adding roasted chili peppers.  These are so good no matter what you do with them.

You will need Canola Oil, Cooked and crumbled Sausage, Wonton Wrappers, Cheese, Red Pepper, Olives, and Ranch Dressing.

Ad a bit of oil to your Muffin tins.  I just used a paper towel with a bit of oil on it and swirled it around each cup.

Grab your Wonton wrappers and and a bit of Canola Oil.  Lightly rub the Oil all over the Wonton.

Place the Oiled Wonton Wrapper in the Muffin Tin and try to arrange it so that the edges poke out fairly evenly.  This will make the best cups.

Bake at 350 Degrees for about 5 minutes.

Done.  They should should be hardened but you don't want them overly browned.  Set aside.

Meanwhile..add the cooked and crumbled Sausage and the diced Red Pepper into a large mixing bowl. 

Also add in the Ranch Dressing, Cheese, and Sliced Olives.

Mix together really well.

I took these little beauties to a party so I moved them from the Muffin tin to a parchment lined baking sheet.  You can cook them directly in the Muffin Tin also.

Evenly stuff the cups with the Sausage mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes until the mixture is hot and bubbly.

I don't have a finished product picture because once they were done they were gone. 

Sausage Ranch Star Appetizer Recipe                                             Printable Recipe


1 Lb Sausage (Jimmy Dean Sage is my favorite)
1/2 Red Pepper, Diced
24 Wonton Wrappers
Ranch Dressing
small can of Sliced Black Olives
Canola Oil

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Grab a Muffin tin and grease the cups using the Canola oil and a paper towel.  Take each Wonton Wrapper and lightly rub oil over both sides and place in the muffin tin cups.  Bake for about 5 minutes to set the shape of the wonton wrappers but not to brown them.  Set aside.

Meanwhile in a large mixing bowl Combine the cooked and crumbled Sausage, Red Pepper, Cheese, Olives, and Ranch. 

Add the Sausage mixture evenly to the Wonton Wrappers.  You can either cook them in the Muffin tin or you can transfer them to a parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake for 10-15 minutes until they are warm and bubbly.

Enjoy!

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe

It's time for an appetizer blast!  Superbowl is on Sunday and have I got a couple of amazing appetizers that will make your party appetizer awesome!  These Stuffed Mushrooms are incredibly quick and easy to make.  They are absolutely delicious and they will leave you and your guests happy even if your team doesn't win. My family has been enjoying this appetizer at family get together's for about as long as I can remember.  Yum!  These are great for any get together from Christmas and Thanksgiving to New Years and Birthday Parties.

You will need  Mmushrooms (try to pick a pack with big ones), Cooked Bacon (reserve a little Bacon Grease), Shredded Cheese, and Garlic Salt.

This part is a bit controversial and I'm just not sure what is right.  But I wash my mushrooms and then let them sit upside down on a paper towel.  If you are against washing you can just dust off any dirt.

Using your thumb just kind of pop the stem off the shroom.

It will make a nice stuffing spot.

They look so nice and ready to fill my belly.

Don't toss those stems!  Oh no..they are going to be a major component of our stuffing.

Grab a skillet and set it over medium heat.  Once it is warm add a couple TBSP of the Bacon Grease.  Bacon Grease makes everything taste better!

Finely chop up the stems.

Add the stems to the warm pan and stir them around really well.

Add in a sprinkle or a few of Garlic Salt.  At this point season delicately because you'll be adding other ingredients in a few.

Crumble the Bacon.

Add the Crumbled Bacon and stir well to incorporate.

Now add the Cheese!  Oh yeah!

Mix it together quickly.  The Cheese will melt really quickly.  Give it a taste and add a bit more Garlic Salt if needed.

Fill the Mushrooms and don't be scared to add a heaping spoonful.  No need to be scared if the topping overfills the shroom..just more flavor awesomeness per bite.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Enjoy!  Just a note..these little babies will drip down your chin and onto your shirt if you give them the chance.

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe

Package of Mushrooms
1 LB Bacon
2 TBSP Bacon Grease
1 Cup Cheese (Sharp Cheddar is amazing in this)
Garlic Salt to taste 1/2 - 2 tsp

Wash the Mushrooms to remove any dirt on them.  If washing with water let sit on a paper towel for a few minutes.  Cook your bacon and reserve some Bacon Grease.  When the Bacon is cool enough to touch crumble it into small bits.

Using your thumb pop the stem off the Mushrooms.  Place the caps on a parchment lined baking sheet for later.  Warm a skillet over Medium heat and add in the Bacon Grease.  Finely chop the removed stems and add to the hot pan and stir well.  Add in the Garlic salt but go a little easy because with the other ingredients you may not need too much.  Add in the Bacon and Cheese stirring to incorporate between each ingredient.  Let cook and melt together.  Taste and add more seasoning if needed.

Spoon the Stuffing into the caps and don't be shy to let the stuffing hang out over the top.  Bake 375 for about 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Ham Wrapped Asparagus Recipe

This is one of my very favorite recipes for an appetizer!  It is so easy and tastes delicious.  Asparagus is an absolute favorite of mine and when you wrap it up in a little ham you have an amazing flavor sensation that will get you coming back for more.  These are a great appetizer or side dish for the holidays.  Try them, you won't be sorry.  My Mom has made these for years but she wasn't home to ask how she makes them so I referred  to this site for instructions.

You will need Asparagus( I find that the larger stalks are better in this recipe), Ham, and Toothpicks.

Wash your Asparagus and trim or snap off the tough bottom part.

Cut the Ham in half.

Wrap the ham around the Asparagus and secure with a Toothpick.

Drizzle a bit of Canola Oil over the top.  Bake at 400 Degrees for about 7 minutes.  Then flip them over and go another 7 minutes.

Enjoy!

Ham Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
Source:  Kalyn's Kitchen

1 Lb Asparagus spears
1 Lb Sliced Deli Ham
Toothpicks
Canola Oil for drizzling





Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Wash your Asparagus and either cut or snap off the tough ends.  Depending on the size of your Ham you may want to cut it in half.  Roll a slice of Ham around every Asparagus spear using a toothpick to secure the ham in place.

Line a Baking sheet with Parchment and arrange the Asparagus on the parchment.  Drizzle a little Canola Oil over the spears.  I didn't use much maybe a TBSP but I doubt I used that much.

Place the baking sheet in the hot oven and roast for about 7 minutes on the first side.  Turn the spears over and roast another 5-7 minutes.  You want the Asparagus to be nice and tender and the Ham to be browned.


Enjoy!