Last Minute Potato Wedges (they are to die for)

So the day after any big holiday at my house, everyone comes over again to keep feasting on the leftovers. 

This year we didn't have a ton of people coming so we didn't make a ton. We actually had more people for leftovers than for the actual meal. So I decided to make something fresh and yummy to fill in with. 

I went for something easy because I had just gotten home from Black Friday shopping and still had to wash the kitchen floor. 

These potatoes were perfect. I think more potato wedges were eaten than pieces of pie. 

These things are easy and perfect for the last minute. They only take 20 mins in the oven! 

Here's what y'all need:

1/2c balsamic vinegar 

1/2c olive oil

1T salt 

2T fresh rosemary 

(Mix all those together in a bowl) 

You also need Russet potatoes that have been washed and scrubbed clean. Then cut them into wedges (I like them thin but my sister likes then thick) they don't have to all be the same. I get about 8 wedges per potato. Start with about 4 potatoes and see how many you can get out of your marinade. I don't always use all mine so I pour it into a cute little jar and serve it for dipping when it's just for my family rather than a crowd. 

Then just toss a few wedges at a time in the marinade or whatever ya want to call it. 

Then place them on a baking sheet that had been lines with parchment paper. 

Stick them in the oven at 450 for 20 mins. You need to turn them over half way through. 

If they are done but you aren't ready for them leave them in and just turn off the oven they will get a little crispier and I think that's a good thing :) 

Happy holidays y'all. 

Sugared Cranberries (they should be illegal)

Hey y'all. I've been gone for awhile but these cranberries have brought me back. They are so sinfully delicious and perfect for the holidays. 

Before last night I had not eaten a cranberry that wasn't shaped like a can. Why fix what isn't broken? 

But then I came across these cranberries and I thought they would be nice to serve with the holiday appetizers. 

They were so good. I sent them out of the kitchen to be served while still helping my mom with dinner and I regretted it. I should have kept them for myself. 

This could be the first step to me eating actual cranberry sauce and not the canned stuff. maybe 

I know it's something little that might seem like a waste of time in the busy holiday kitchen but you can start these the day before. 

Here's how to do it:

I just poured a 16oz bottle of pure maple syrup into a medium sauce pan and heated it for a min. If its too hot the cranberries will burst. 

Then remove from heat and add in a bag of fresh cranberries. 

Stir it around to coat them and then chill in the fridge overnight or 12 hrs 

Then full a bowl with sugar and start rolling the cranberries in it. It actually takes a lot of sugar because it starts to clump and you have to throw it out and start a new bowl but it is worth it. 

People thought I soaked them in bourbon which is a good thing I guess but I don't care what they were soaked in they were too Good! 

Happy holidays y'all :)  

The BEST, most comforting Ham and Bean Soup

I am a ham freak mainly because when we have ham we get to have ham soup the next day. 

Anyway, there are some things in life that taste so good that you think only your mom can make it. This ham and bean soup is one of those things. I love love love it but I would never have dreamed of making it.

Last night my mom called and asked me to make the soup becaus she was stuck at work. I was so scared I would mess it up. But to my surprise it wasn't that hard and it turned out just like my mom's. 

This is how to do it. 

After your lovely ham dinner take the leftover ham still on the bone and put it in a large stock pot. The bone has so much flavor so if theres not a ton of ham left on it dont worry. Then cover with water and let it boil then simmer until you go to bed. Then just stick it in the fridge. 

The next day take the pot out and the fat from the ham will be hardened on top of the broth. Scrape off the fat. Then turn on the burner and start heating the soup. Meanwhile add  bay leaf or two and pull out the ham and trim some fat and slice it. You can throw out the bone now and add the ham back into the pot. 

Then add in the tomato soup, tomato paste and beans. Keep cooking until the beans are nice and tender. 

Ingredients 

Bone-in ham 

Water to cover 

1-2 bay leaves 

4  cans of tomato soup 

2 small can of tomato paste 

6 cans white beans 

We serve this soup with Hawaiian sweet rolls. It is so good! 

 

"Healthy" Almond Dark Hot Chocolate

So after purchasing dark chocolate cocoa powder and measuring it out I realized we didn't have milk. Shucks! 

However, we did have almond milk so into the pot it went. 

It was surprisingly good and I'm calling it healthy but I once forgot the egg yolks in an Italian cream cake and called it diet cake so I don't know. 

But anyway here's what you need for my "healthy" hot chocolate 

4c almond milk 

1/2c water

1/4c dark cocoa powder 

1/2c sugar 

3/4t vanilla 

Dash of salt

Stir the milk as it heats in a pot 

Don't boil it just make sure it's nice and hot 

Then add all the yummy stuff and whisk to combine :) 

WHIPPED CREAM! 

Cheerwine Baked Apples

Okay my life will never be the same now that I made these apples. I don't know why but for some reason I have always been intimidated by baked apples. Maybe I'm just lazy or I thought they were some fancy thing but they really aren't. It's just a baked apple... I feel a little stupid.

Anyway, in a weird, sleep deprived and festive moment (fall is ending too soon) I thought "why not bake apples in cheerwine" so I did. 

And with one bite I was told I have to make then for thanksgiving. 

They are really easy but for some reason little individual desserts always impress me and seem perfect for a big holiday meal. And these are easy enough to make for a crowd on a busy day like thanksgiving. 

I used six apples and two cans of cheerwine but you can get up to four apples per can. 

Ingredients 

6 cored apples  (I love my apple corer) 

2 cans cheerwine or diet cheerwine or black cherry cola or diet black cherry cola. Or maybe dr pepper.... Hm maybe another day 

3t sugar (about 1/2t per apple) 

Next cinnamon... I didn't measure but I think I used about 1/4t per apple it is really about how much you like this recipe is hardly a recipe. Mix it up do what you like. 

Put the cored apples in a casserole dish and pour on the cheerwine get it in the holed in the apples. 

Then sprinkle on sugar and cinnamon 

Next bake at 375 for 45 mins (I left mine in longer while we finished dinner but I did turn off the oven after 45mins) 

Then plate them. Spoon on some of the yummy cheerwine in the dish and top with whipped cream. 

Simple and delicious 

Amen 

"You're Missin' Out" Hot Chocolate

If you haven't had this hot chocolate you're missin out! My dad taught me how to make this when I was little I think so I would make it for him. After you have this there is no turning back. 

Forget those packages that call for boiling water I want the good stuff. This is the only way to drink hot chocolate. 

Ingredients 

4c milk 

1/2c water 

1/4c unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2c sugar 

3/4 t vanilla 

Dash of salt 

The milk shouldn't boil but stir it constantly and watch for it to get hot and a little foamy looking. 

Then just stir in the rest of the ingredients until the sugar dissolves and it is all combined. 

And of course add marshmallows ! 

Southern Comfort Pretzel Pudding

So for some reason I feel like soft pretzels are a fall thing, maybe because you can always find them at Oktoberfest. Anyway I had this weird idea to try to make bread pudding with soft pretzels instead of bread. I'm not sure why considering I have never even made a normal bread pudding before but last night I decided to try it out. 

There's what I used. The amounts are a little weird because I was trying to feed a crowd. 

5-8c cut soft pretzels 

2-1/2 to 3c milk 

1-1/2c sugar 

4T melted butter 

2-1/2t vanilla 

2-3 eggs 

Chopped pecans 

For sauce 

1c cream 

1c butter

1c sugar 

1/2c southern comfort 

It's pretty easy

Just throw the pretzel pieces in a dish

Then in a separate bowl whisk the eggs and add the milk, sugar, butter, and vanilla. 

Next pour it over the pretzels and sprinkle on plenty of pecans. 

Bake at 350 for 60-70 mins 

Now for the sauce just put all four ingredients in a sauce pan and let the butter melt and sugar dissolve until it all comes together. It shouldn't be very thick. 

I know this is a little crazy but it turned out pretty good :)