Fried Plantains

About 9 years ago the Mr. and I took a trip to San Juan Puerto Rico and had an amazing delicacy of food! One of my favorites was they would serve plantains in every form and fashion and in the most delicious way.
I'm going to share the easiest and quickest way. They are good and flavorful and can be sprinkled with salt, confectioners sugar or honey. (I do not recommend all three at the same time)
They are wonderfully crisp on the outside and tender and creamy on the inside! I sliced mine on the thin side so that they would be more like chips! You may also choose to use ripe yellow and brown plantains but I chose green to have more of a dried banana chip.

Fried Plantains
Place approximately 2 tablespoons of oil in a hot pan and bring it to medium-high heat, add 2-3 peeled and sliced plantains in a single layer. Allow them to soak in salted ice water in a bowl.

Allow to cook leaving for a minute or two, or until a golden crust forms on the plantain.

Flip over and fry for 2 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and place on plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.

baked corn dogs!

My family likes corn bread and we like your occassional hot dog as well. This is a simple quick snack or dinner that can be thrown together in minutes.
If you like little corn dog bites you could cut your hot dogs in bite sizes and place them in your pan as well.
I do not have a twinkie pan. Click this link to see a twinkie or canoe pan. Which I would love to have. My family also adore pancake sausages on a stick. This pan would be perfect for that. I am sure I could save myself a ton of money making our own. So, in retrospect the cost for this pan might be worth it for us.
I found this recipe idea here

Ingredients needed.
Jiffy corn bread mix
1 egg
1/3 cup milk.
8 hot dogs
oven on 350 degrees and bake for 15 to 20 minutes
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this is what I should have done
*******I would divide this mixture evenly into two 9x13 pans and instead of 8 hot dogs use 16 because you have another pan.**************.
This is what I did.
I used three jiffy corn bread mixes, so 3 eggs and 1 cup milk is needed.
Mix ingredients according to directions on box. I used one 9x13 pan and poured the mixture into a greased pan.

Serve with ketchup, chilli or mustard.

Chocolate covered Rice Krispies

These are fun for the kids. You can have them look much cuter. I think I saw these on Martha Stewart's site or Family circle or fun magazine. I was in the check out lane at the grocery store. All that matters is it was not my original idea.


Make your rice krispies according to directions on package. WE make ours in the microwave.

WE use a large glass bowl, one stick butter and one package of large marshmellows.

Place in microwave and cook for 3 minutes or until marshmellows double in volume
use 3/4 of a full box of rice krispy cereal.

Stir and pour out into a lightly buttered pan. You can use cookie cutters to shape your treats or just slice into squares.

IF you are going to make bunny treats.
Place krispies in fridge for 10-15 minutes. Remove from fridge.

Melt chocolate. Using white chocolate also. Tint the white chocolate with food coloring for a pink hue.

Immerse entire front and edges of crispy treat into either the chocolate or white chocolate. Lay on wax paper. Repeat this for all treats.

In a ziploc baggie or in a chocolate funnel add pink frosting and pipe eyes, nose, ears and whiskers.

Last stick a lollipop stick through the bottom. These are sold by wilton and can be found at any cake store or walmart in the baking section.

Chocolate Covered Oreos

This is a quick and oh so yummy way to make a holiday cookie.
We took chocolate and melted it in a glass bowl in increments of 20 seconds and stirred each time until it was a nice smoothe consistency.

If you are going to make lollipop oreo cookies. Skewer your cookie through the middle with your stick and let sit in the refridge for at least 15 minutes. ( A MUST DO STEP)

Then dip cookie completely into melted chocolate. Lay out on waxed paper.

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Rosemary nuts

An easy, delicious addition to any holiday buffet.

Rosemary Nuts

1 lb unsalted assorted nuts (cashews, almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pecans, brazil nuts, etc)

2 Tbls fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped

1/4 - 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (depending on your heat tolerance)

2 tsp dark brown sugar

2 tsp kosher salt

1 Tbls butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Toss the nuts in a large bowl to combine. Spread nuts on a cookie sheet and toast in the oven about 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Watch carefully so as not to burn.

While the nuts are roasting, combine the rosemary, cayenne, brown sugar, salt and melted butter. When the nuts are browned and still warm toss with the rosemary mixture to coat. Allow to cool completely, then store in an airtight container.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

A has been begging me to buy FLIPZ. They are $6 for a 11oz, and for a family of 6 we would have them gone before we even made it to the car. The mini pretzels. I knew I could make them cheaper and better. I asked A, to let me try and if he didn't like them I would then buy him a bag. They were a HUGE success! I did 16oz. for $4.
CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS
A bag of your favorite pretzels
Any brand melting chocolate
A double broiler, or microwave or stove

Just melt your chocolate. Be careful not to scorch your chocolate. If chocolate is burned it will become grainy and lose that glossy look. It is still edible but visually appealing it is not. The reason is because the cocoa butter or fat has been absorbed too quickly. If you use white chocolate. This has a faster heating point and remember chocolate when melted will hold its shape. Be sure to stir until smoothe.

Melt chocolate in your method of preference. I used the microwave. Heat for 1 minute and then 15 seconds until smoothe and creamy. Stir - each time.

Dip pretzels front and back in melted chocolate. You can use your fingers or fork.
Lay out on wax paper or foil to harden. We love using pretzel sticks and making wands. Dipping the pretzel stick half way into chocolate and rolling into sprinkles, chopped nuts or crushed candy.