Easter Dinner Hot Dish

 Happy Easter all! 

This is perfect for Easter or anytime.

1 package diced frozen hash browns

Nonstick cooking spray 

1 - 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1 c. milk

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup 

1/4 tsp. each: salt & pepper 

Preheat cooker to 375 F. Lower heat to 350 F, spray nonstick spray inside of slow cooker.

Put hash browns in pan. Pour cream of soup over potatoes. 

Pour milk over potatoes. 

Sprinkle cheese, salt, pepper over potatoes.

Stir potatoes with a clean wooden spoon.

Put lid on slow cooker and cook potatoes for 1 hr.

Serves 6.

Scallop Scampi

 This is perfect for Lent, an easy spring supper or anytime.

1 lb. scallops

2 - 3 T each: olive oil, butter
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper, parsley
1 - 2 cloves garlic: crushed and chopped
pinch red pepper flakes

Heat pan to high heat. 

Lower heat to medium. Add oil, garlic, butter to pan. 

Add scallops to pan. 

Add salt, pepper, garlic, pepper flakes, parsley to pan.  

Cook scallops on 1 side for 4 - 5 min. 

Squeeze lemon juice over scallops.

Flip over and repeat cooking process on other side or until done.

Serves 4.

Recipe To Help Northern Michigan and Flood Survivors

 Prayers, thoughts for Northern Michigan and the Ohio valley.

Once again nature can be fickle. 

Northern Michigan faced a major ice storm earlier this month that knocked power out to many, caused damage to Northern Michigan. 

Record rain fall had caused rivers to rise which flooded parts of Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. 

There are links on this site to some organizations that are helping with relief efforts.

Whatever you can do to help, donate will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for caring.

Play Ball Cajun Fries

Go Tigers!

Today the Tigers are having their home opener.

This is perfect while watching the game or anytime. 

3 - 4 medium potatoes
Non stick cooking spray

1/4 tsp. salt 

1/3 tsp. each: pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, granulated garlic, onion powder

1/4 c. oil


Preheat oven to 425' F.

Spray baking sheets with cooking spray.

Rinse potatoes, set aside.

On a clean cutting board, carefully cut potatoes into fries.

Spread potatoes over baking sheet, drizzle oil over fries, sprinkle spices over them and place in oven to cook. 

Cook fries 30 minutes or until brown. 

Halfway through cooking, remove sheet from oven and stir fries.

Place sheets back in oven to continue cooking. 

Keep an eye them, so that they don't burn.

Remove baking sheet from oven when done, and let drain a paper towel lined plate for a few minutes.

Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.

Serves 4.

Carrot Soup

This is perfect for the early day of spring or anytime.

2 celery stalks, chopped

1 onion, peeled cut into quarters

20 - 30 baby carrots

1 - 2 cloves garlic peeled and crushed

1/3 tsp. each: salt, pepper

non stick cooking spray

2 tsp. flour

1 /2 - 1 tsp. maple syrup

2 - 3 T. each: unsalted butter, olive oil

4 - 6 c. low sodium chicken broth

1/2 c. sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 F’

Spray cooking sheet with non stick spray.

Rinse, cut ends from, chop baby carrots and celery

Peel, rinse, cut onions into chunks.

Peel, crush garlic.

Arrange vegetables on cooking sheet, sprinkle salt, pepper over vegetables, place vegetables in oven to cook for 20 - 30 min.

Preheat soup pot to medium high heat, lower heat to medium.

Add butter, flour and stir to make a roux.

Remove vegetables from oven very carefully.

Add oil to pan.

Add vegetables, cook for 15 - 20 min, stirring occasionally. 

Add broth to vegetables, cover pot with lid and cook for 10 - 15 min. more.

 Turn off stove, remove pot from heat, add maple syrup, sour cream to soup, blend until soup is blended.

Serves 4 - 6.

Hot Honey Popcorn

 This is perfect for game night, movie night or anytime.

1 bag microwave popcorn

1/8 tsp. each: red pepper flakes, hot sauce, black pepper 

1 T. honey

1/4 - 1/3 c. butter

Microwave popcorn according to package instructions.

While popcorn’s cooking, preheat pot to medium heat. 

Lower heat to low, add butter until melted.

When butter’s melted, add honey, pepper, pepper flakes and hot sauce. 

Stir butter for 1 - 2 min. with a clean rubber scraper or a clean wooden spoon. 

When popcorn’s popped, carefully remove it from microwave and pour into a bowl.

Turn stove off,  let butter cool for a few seconds and very carefully pour butter over popcorn.

Serves 2 - 4.

Think Spring Bacon Bites

 This is my take on the viral bacon trend.

This is perfect for spring, a March Madness watching get together, or anytime.

1 c. softened cream cheese

6 - 8 strips bacon

12 green onions

Rinse & cut ends from green onions, set aside.

Remove cream cheese from refrigerator to soften a little bit, set aside. 

Preheat skillet to medium high heat, lover heat to medium & place bacon in skillet.

Cook bacon on both sides to desired donenes. 

When bacon’s finished cooking, turn off stove and transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain excess oil.

To assemble:

Crumple bacon into pieces.

With a clean knife, smear cream cheese onto the green onion ends. 

Roll green onions in crumbled bacon pieces to coat.

Serves 4.