Super Stuffed Sliders

I just LOVE making hamburgers in all different ways, this was my latest "creation" although not a new idea, I'm sure, feel free to stuff with any kind of cheese you have on hand, but the real key to the success is the seasoning that I got in town at Bosacki's Chocolates, but you can get it online at http://www.bosackischocolates.com/.  And just wait until I tell you about all the flavored oils that they have, but that's for another post...

Super Stuffed Sliders

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound ground round

1 clove garlic-grated

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon Chicago Steak & Chop Seasoning

1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs

1/4 cup onion-grated

4 tablespoons crumbled gorgonzola cheese

slider buns and misc. toppings

DIRECTIONS:

Mix first 6 ingredients together in a mixing bowl.  Portion out 6-8 equal amounts of meat and make into round burgers.  Push a hole in the middle and fill with gorgonzola cheese, cover the hole up and flatten the middle with your thumb (this will keep the pattie from getting too fat and puffed up when cooking).  Place on a preheated grill and cook to your liking

Creamy Blackberry Pie

Seriously, the blackberries this year are fantastic around here!!  I was presented with this beautiful pie the other day and good thing there was others in the house to eat it, because I may have just gobbled up the whole thing myself!!

Creamy Blackberry Pie

INGREDIENTS:

1 9" unbaked pie shell

4 cups fresh blackberries

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/3 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup sour cream

TOPPING:

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup butter, softened

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put berries in the shell.  In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour and salt.  Add eggs and sour cream.  Stir until blended.  Spoon over the berries.  Topping:  Combine sugar, flour and cut in the butter and mix until crumbly.  Sprinkle over the top of the berries.  bake for 50-55 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Serve cold, do not refrigerate.  Better the next day!

Caprese Bites

I know I'm on an appetizer kick lately but that will come to end soon as the days get shorter and cooler and the fun of fall cooking begins!  So bare with me and trust me that you will love this fast and delicious appetizer (or meal if you so prefer)...

BLT Pizza

Sometimes there's just nothing better than a good 'ol Bacon Lettuce and Tomato sandwich.  Seeing as how I don't care much for tomatoes (I will say I'm getting better though) my BLT is a BLCheese, but that's more information than you need to know.  This was a throw together appetizer that turned out way better than expected!  I was making a few appetizers for a recent get-together and was missing a few items for a different recipe, so i just started to improvize and now I have a new favorite appetizer, if you like BLT's you will love this...

BLT Pizza

INGREDIENTS:

1 tube Pillsbury crescent rolls

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon dijon mustard

2-3 cups shredded lettuce

9 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled

3 Roma tomatoes, seeded** and chopped

2 green onions, finely chopped

6-8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Roll out crescent roll dough onto a greased 9 x 13 inch sheet pan, seal perforations.  Bake for 12-15 minutes, watching so the edges don't burn.  Cool completely.  In a small bowl, combine the mayo and mustard, spread over crust.  Top with shredded lettuce, tomato, bacon, onions and cheese.

**Seeding the tomatoes with make for a better outcome because there won't be so much liquid, everything will stay crisper.

Jerk Shrimp Appetizer

I took these to a party recently and was told that they tasted just like the caribbean--perfect!  My job here is done--just kidding...They do take a little time to prepare, but do them ahead of time and enjoy your friends...


Jerk Shrimp Appetizer

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
4 teaspoons honey
3 teaspoons Caribbean jerk seasoning
1 medium mango, diced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced and seperated into rings
1 medium lime, quartered and sliced

DIRECTIONS:

Place cooked shrimp in a large resealabale bag.  In a medium sized storage container with a lid, combine oil, vinegar, lime juice, jalapeno, honey and jerk seasoning; shake well.  Pour 3/4 cup marinade over shrimp.  seal bag, mix; refrigerate for 2-4 hours, refrigerate remaining marinade.  Prior to serving, drain and discard marinade from shrimp.  In a large bowl, layer the shrimp, mango, onion and lime.  Drizzle with remaining marinade and serve.

Marinated Sausage Kabobs

Need a fast and easy appetizer for a party?  Then try these on for size, they are super fast and easy, and have proven to be a hit at a recent party.  I didn't end up with as many as I would have liked, because somebody kept eating the marinated ingredients before they got to the toothpicks...

Marinated Sausage Kabobs

INGREDIENTS:

1/3 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
12 ounces cheddar cheese, cut into cubes
1 can (6 ounces) pitted ripe olives, drained
1/4 pound salami-slices, quartered
1 medium sweet red pepper-cut into 1/2 inch pieces
toothpicks

DIRECTIONS:

In a large zip-loc bag, mix all ingredients together and let marinate in the refrigerator over night. Place 1 of each item on a toothpick and serve.

**Adapted from Taste of Home