Recipe:: Sausage Balls

Sausage Balls are a family favorite around here. We make them every holiday season. But more than that, they are THE easiest little appetizer out there! You can also bake these ahead of time, and just warm them up on the day.  Helps make party prep  a bit easier the more you can do the day before.  I love me some sausage, and Scotland makes some FANTASTIC sausage! Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of my sister Katie Drake

Serves: 6-8
Prep time: 10 min
Bake: 20 min
Oven: 350 F

INGREDIENTS:

1 LB Sausage
1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 Cups Bisquick

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix all ingredients together in large bowl with hands. Add water if more moisture is needed.
2. Form into 2-inch balls and place on cookie sheet (I use wax paper)
3. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.

What's YOUR favorite Appetizer?

Recipe:: Butterscotch Cornflake Cookies

Growing up we called these Paul's Easiest Cookies. I don't know who Paul is, but these ARE the easiest cookies I have EVER made. 3 ingredients only. For some reason we make these every Christmas. Add some colored sprinkles and they make a nice addition to any cookie tray.

Enjoy!

Make in: 9x13 inch pan
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
1 (12 oz) pkg. Butterscotch Chips
6 Cups Cornflakes

Directions:

1. Mix peanut butter and butterscotch chips in microwave at low temperature until creamy.

2. Slowly pour in cornflakes, mixing as you go.

3. Press into a 9x13 inch greased baking dish.

4. Let cool. Sometimes I put them in the fridge for a few minutes because I want to be able to eat them immediately.

You'll cut them like a bar cookie. They are yum all around. I can eat a whole pan. We don't have butterscotch chips here in Scotland, so a couple of times per year I'll have family send me a box of goodies and butterscotch chips are always there. If you make them let me know!

Recipe:: To Roll or Not To Roll Sugar Cookies

This is another recipe from my sisters cookbook. I didn't even really notice this recipe until around Christmas time this past year. I wanted to make sugar cookies but I didn't want ALL that work. You know what I mean. You have to make the dough, then it has to sit in the fridge forever, then you have to roll them out, cut them, bake them, ice them, blah blah blah. I wanted me some sugar cookies, and I wanted them NOW. I was 8 months pregnant afterall!

These are SO quick and yummy! I was really surprised HOW fast they were to make. I don't even own a rolling pin. Hello! Fast and easy is what I'm looking for. These cookies are perfect. They are ready in just minutes. You can ice them up and send them fresh to friends or be ready for a birthday party.  Enjoy!

What's your favorite dessert recipe?

Recipe:: Summer Sauce For Pasta

As a Wedding present, my sister Katie made me a book of her best recipes. She made all the dishes, took the pictures herself and compiled them into a book.  I use it all the time. We have eaten some of our very best meals from her book. This recipe comes from the book she made me:

Everyday Gourmet by Katherine Drake

I love this recipe because it is SO easy! I am ALL about easy folks. By the time dinner rolls around I'm just so tired and I want to make anything that is easy to throw together. You just dump all the ingredients into a bowl and let it set for at least an hour to let all the flavors to mingle. Then when ever you are ready you just boil up some angel hair pasta! Voila! You're done! Can't get any easier that this guys! You serve the sauce cool, with warm pasta. It is really nice on those hot summer days when all you want is something cool and healthy.

I like to serve it with Asparagus! My sisters way is THE ONLY way I'll eat it now! Super yummy!

If I'm feeling like dessert I will serve it with some sorbet and fresh fruit. Makes for a super healthy and filling summer meal! Enjoy!

What is your favorite dinner recipe?

Recipe:: Black Bean Enchiladas

As a Wedding present, my sister Katie made me a book of her best recipes. She made all the dishes, took the pictures herself and compiled them into a book.  I use it all the time. We have eaten some of our very best meals from her book. This recipe comes from the book she made me:

Here is one of our favorites: Black Bean Enchiladas with Gooey Jack Cheese. We eat this probably once per week, we LOVE it! It is SO yummy and it really fills you up. We have changed the recipe around a few times to make it vegetarian! Just add more vegi's and no chicken!! We had made different types of rice for it too. Just have fun. See what all you can fit into a tortilla!

We serve it with a side of fresh corn on the cob! YUM!!

What is your favorite dinner recipe?

I'm participating in Show Us Your Life: Favorite Main Course Recipes at Kelly's Korner

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree....

This is our little Christmas Tree set up. Our tiny tree is back, and we lost part of the stand in the move, so LD rigged it up. We are getting excited for Christmas here! Even though we won't be home, we are together and we are blessed.

Originally we had planned to go back to the States for Christmas, but then I got pregnant. I'm TOO pregnant to fly. So, we are staying here in Scotland this yr again. It has been 3 Christmases since we have seen our families. This is our last Christmas as just the two of us before our little guy comes!

I'm on maternity leave now, so I am baking and decorating. Planning some fun activities for our holidays! LD promised me that we would have all the baby nursery set up and ready to go by Jan. 1st. I am counting on that because I really need the help! Our baby furniture will be delivered this week,and once it is all up I can start filling all the drawers etc. But I will need to make shopping trips first though! We still don't have anything! EEK!!!!!

It has finally stopped snowing here. Roads are getting clearer, just not OUR street, and I seem to be getting bigger by the day. I've planned our Christmas Eve dinner/Christmas Day brunch and I'm salivating over the food I will make. We are healthy and happy!