Baked Green Cheese Grits

Baked Green Cheese Grits



In Georgia, we take our grits seriously.  Whether it's Shrimp and Grits or Cheese Grits, we are ready for anything.  Show them how much you love them this St. Patrick's Day with this recipe for Baked Green Grits.  

Items needed:

3 cups Chicken Broth
1 cup Jim Dandy Quick Grits
1 stick Margarine (1/2 cup) (cubed)
Green Food Coloring
2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 large Eggs (beaten)
1 teaspoon bottled Minced Garlic
Pepper (to taste)
½ cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Non-Stick Cooking Spray

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 inch or 2 quart glass baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Over medium heat, bring chicken broth to a boil, then add grits. Stir and cover. Turn heat to low and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add margarine and stir until melted. Stir in desired amount of green food coloring. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add eggs and stir until blended. Stir in minced garlic and pepper until combined. Pour into baking dish. Top with parmesan cheese. Bake covered on the 3rd middle rack for 25 minutes.

Bourbon Balls

Make this special treat for your significant other this Valentine's Day!  Chocolate and bourbon always have a special place in my heart! 

Ingredients:

·         9 oz. 60% dark chocolate chips

·         1/4 cup heavy whipping cream (or coconut milk for dairy free)

·         2 tbsp bourbon

For Caramel Swirl:

·         1/2 cup sugar

• 1/8 cup water
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 tbsp butter

For Coating:

·         Cacao powder

·         Sprinkles

Instructions:

1. Combine sugar and water for caramel in small saucepan on med. Heat for 10 min (1/4 cup sugar + 1/8 cup water)
2. Add 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
3. Simmer 2 min, then add butter and remove caramel from heat
4. Chop chocolate into small bits
5. In a small saucepan heat 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream to simmer, remove from heat, pour over chopped chocolate in heat safe bowl
6. Stir until smooth
7. You may use the microwave in 15 second increments for additional melting help if necessary
8. Let cool for 2 min and pour in bourbon, mix
9. Swirl in about 2/3 of the caramel, marble style.
10. Cover and place in fridge to chill for 1 hr
11. Scoop out chocolate using a melon baller, roll gently between hands until round
12. Coat in cacao or sprinkles by rolling ball on plate

Recipe courtesy of Brynn HouskaBreaking Bread XO

Thanks to David Nicholson Reserve for providing the bourbon to make this special treat! 

Gifts for the Kitchen They will Love

The Ninja® Intelli-Sense™ Kitchen System with Auto-Spiralizer™ features a smart and powerful base that transforms into four high-performance appliances. Intelli-Sense Technology delivers optimal results every time—all at the tap of a touchscreen. Features include:

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All attachments are BPA free and dishwasher safe

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• 43 oz. Glass Carafe and Intelligent Warming Plate
• Removable water reservoir

Both products are available at major retailers everywhere. Get that Ninja gift for your loved one.

Crown Royal Gift Set

One WINNER will win a The Crown Collection – Crown Royal Gift Set Read review here

Sponsor by: The BroBasket

Hosted by: Night Helper

Open to: USA only 18yrs. +

Start date: 12/04~12/11 12am

The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply

Disclosure: We reserve the right to make revisions, to cancel, or suspend this contest for any reason. We are not associated with any of the companies named above. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received Open to the US 18+ only. Confirmed Winner(s) (by Random.org) will be contacted by email. Winner(s) have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this giveaway. Night Helper Blog (and any other blog participating) is not responsible for product shipment/delivery. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements. Entrants must only enter with either one email address, IP address and/or Facebook account, anyone found violating these rules will be disqualified. It is at the sole discretion of the admin of the giveaway if the winner has met the rules or not.

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Pearson Farm Taste of Pecans Gift Box Giveaway

If you live in the South, you know pecans are a staple in the kitchen during the holidays.  For those of you that want to give the gift of pecans, I bring you Pearson Farm  Check them out for ALL of your holiday gifting needs.  I received this delectable  Taste of Pecan gift box with four bags of pecans. 
Flavors include: Toasted & Salted, Cinnamon Roasted, Southern Praline, and Seasoned. Packaged in a  resealable poly gift bags, boxed and tied with a bow!

My fave was the toasted and salted.  If you have a pecan lover on your gift list, hurry and order now!

 One of my readers will win this Taste of Pecans Gift Box gift box from Pearson Farm!
Enter the Rafflecopter below. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or forfeit prize.
 Pearson Farm will ship the gift box to the winner.

Dixie Vodka for the Holidays

Dixie is crafted from vodka 6x distilled from non-GMO corn. Dixie  then utilizes an innovative process called TerrePURE to strip out additional impurities post-distillation. Dixie comes in our base vodka, plus three all-natural flavors: Citrus, Black Pepper and Mint. As a corn-based product, Dixie is gluten-free.  Dixie Vodka is proudly blended and  bottled in N. Charleston, South Carolina. Contact your local package store to get The South's Best Tasting Vodka!

Here is my fave recipe from Dixie Vodka:

Just a Pinch Punch

1 bottle Dixie Mint Vodka
3 large tea bags (or 12 individual bags) for iced tea, or purchase your choice of pre-made sweet tea
4 cups water
1 cup sugar
fresh mint sprigs
4 cups of lemonade
8 lemon slices

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Remove from the heat and add in tea bags. Let tea bags steep for 5 minutes then remove. Stir in one cup of sugar until dissolved. Pour tea, lemonade, and vodka into preferred punch serving bowl. Add additional 3 quarts of water and stir together. Muddle handful of mint leaves in a separate bowl and add to punch ingredients. Cover and chill until cool. Fill mason jars with ice and pour in tea. Garnish with mint sprig and lemon slice.

Please drink responsibly.  

How To Cook The Best Thanksgiving Turkey

Everyone wants to know how to cook the best Thanksgiving turkey. First, you have to buy a Butterball turkey!  This is one time of year I am brand loyal.  Consider this Sweet Spiced Tarragon Roast Turkey.  This succulent roasted turkey is sure to please your palate and your guests.  Make sure you have your roasting pan, your spices,  basting brush, aluminum foil, just to name a few.  If you have questions, Butterball will is here to help!

·         Text Help (844-877-3456): Send the Turkey Talk-Line a text! Holiday cooking text help will be available starting Nov. 1, with extended hours starting the week of Thanksgiving.

·         1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372): Turkey Talk-Line experts will be available this season starting November 1, 2017, through December 24, 2017, to answer questions and assist all Thanksgiving cooks.

 Make sure you are prepared with the rest of your meal!  Here are a few interesting facts from Butterball:

Butterball conducted its first-ever consumer survey this year for a pulse on Thanksgiving preppers’ expectations and realities when it comes to one of the most important meals of the year. I wanted to share some interesting findings for you to include. The survey found:

·         Two-thirds of Americans rank Thanksgiving as one of their favorite holidays.

·         Two-thirds of Americans like to incorporate new traditions into their celebrations…many of which include cooking up new and different recipes for loved ones to enjoy.

·         Out of all things Thanksgiving preparers cook up, they’re most proud of the turkey. And 88 percent prep it the old-school way: in an oven.

·         84 percent feel excited about preparing the meal, and 74 percent of Americans don’t expect Thanksgiving to be perfect.

·         It’s the turkey!  Despite the overall positivity around the holiday, first-time millennial preparers are still feeling the pressure. Eight in 10 first-time cooks worry about cooking the turkey correctly.  This number drops among experienced preparers, but still 43% worry about getting it right.

Butterball.com, YouTube, Butterball Cookbook Plus App, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. 

Please reach out to Butterball with any questions!  Butterball has offered 2 gift checks to buy your Thanksgiving turkey! Winner will have 24 hours to respond to email.  

I was provided promotional items in exchange for this post.

Enter below.

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How to make the best Pumpkin Cheesecake

If you're a fan of all things pumpkin, this recipe is for you.  And it's cheesecake  Yes, yummy, yummy cheesecake.  If you have fresh pumpkin, use it.  I use canned for this recipe and everybody loves it.  Make two.  Make three,  Just make it.  You and your family will be delighted. 

Items needed:

Crust:

1 ½ cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
3 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter (melted)

In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and light brown sugar. Stir together, then blend in melted butter with fingers. Press into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a 9 inch spring form pan.

Filling:

3 (8-ounce) packages Cream Cheese (softened)
1 cup Sugar
1 (15-ounce) can Pumpkin
3 large Eggs
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon Ground Cloves
1 ½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/2 cup Sour Cream

In a large mixing bowl and with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese while slowly adding sugar. Beat in pumpkin. Beat in eggs. Beat in cinnamon, cloves and vanilla extract. Beat in flour and then sour cream. Pour into crust. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees on the 3rd rack for 1 hour. Center should be set. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Place in the fridge for several hours to set.

Topping:

1 ½ cups Heavy Cream
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

In a large mixing bowl and with an electric mixer, beat heavy cream, sugar and vanilla extract on medium-low speed for around 5 minutes until soft peaks form. Serve with pumpkin cheesecake.

Winc

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$22 Off Your First Month of Winc Wine - Winc offers 4 personalized wines each month. Bottles start at $13 each. www.trywinc.com/usfamilyguide

Savory Shrimp Sliders

If you love shrimp, this recipe is for you!  Combine with herbs and spices to make a savory meal. Definitely not an average slider.  If fresh shrimp is available to you,it's even better!

Ingredients:

Shrimp
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp olive oil, divided
2 cups peeled and cooked shrimp
2 tbsp parsley minced
3 cloves garlic ran through a garlic press

Seasoning:

1/2 tbsp lemon pepper
sea salt to taste
freshly cracked black peppercorns to taste

Directions:
Rinse and pat dry shrimp.
Place the shrimp into a large bowl.
Add the lemon juice, parsley, 1 tbsp of olive oil, garlic, lemon pepper, sea salt, and freshly cracked black peppercorns. Toss the shrimp to evening coat with ingredients.
Place a cast iron skillet or non-stick skillet over med-high heat. Add the remaining 2 tbsps of olive oil.When the oil is hot, place the shrimp one by one into the hot oil. Do not pour the shrimp into the skillet; you don't want the liquid, just the seasoned shrimp.
This recipe uses pre-cooked shrimp, so you are just getting the shrimp hot. Remove shrimp and place into a bowl. Set aside.
Serve.

French Buns, sliced and toasted

In a large cast iron skillet over med-high heat, add 1 tbsp of olive oil. Spread butter over each half of the bun. Place the cut side of the bun down into the hot olive oil and toast until golden brown. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Toppings:
red bell pepper sliced
cucumber sliced
red onion sliced
romaine lettuce thinly sliced into ribbons
jalapenos thinly sliced
sriracha mayo
roasted red pepper bruschetta

Build Sliders:

Place both side of the toasted bun on a plate. Spoon about a tablespoon of roasted red pepper bruschetta onto one-half of a bun, add shrimp, red onion, and romaine ribbons.
On the remaining half of the sliced toasted bun add sliced red pepper, cucumbers, jalapenos, and sriracha mayo.

Bring both sides together and enjoy.

Have I successfully made your mouth water?

Financing Family Feeding: 5 Ways To Cut Costs

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Keeping the family fed can cost a lot of money with some families regularly spending over a hundred pounds on weekly shops. Being frugal with your finances can reduce this to almost a third – and you don’t have to starve yourself and your family in the process. Here are 5 ways to cut your costs whilst still eating healthy foods and wholesome portions.

Take advantage of coupons and deals

Supermarkets always have deals on - although some are set up to make you spend more money by making you buy more than you would do originally. The deals to avoid are ‘buy one get one half price offers’. Instead stick to reductions on sole items and BOGOF deals.

Many supermarkets may also accept vouchers and coupons. Newspapers may provide these. You may also be able to find a voucher online such as a Walmart coupon code.

Use leftovers

It’s okay to overportion, so long as the leftovers get eaten. Quite often they can make great lunch tomorrow (leftover meat can make a tasty sandwich or soup). Other useful meals for using up leftovers are curry, stew and lasagne. Shove in any meat or vegetables from the night before and use up half tins or semi-opened packets that are close to their sell-by date.

Lower your meat intake

Aside from alcohol, meat is the most expensive item on most people’s shopping list. That said you don’t have to go veggie just to cut costs. Instead, simply limit your meat-eating to every other day. You can also use meat more sparingly by filling out meals such as stews and curries with other foods such as beans, potatoes and carrots. Avoid tinned meat substitutes as these processed foods aren’t as healthy.

Say bye bye to big brands

Okay, so you treat yourself occasionally to well-known brands. But in most cases is the quality really that different? Most supermarkets’ own brand substitutes will do the job and save you a lot of money. This includes sauces, juices, pasta, rice and snacks like biscuits and crisps. Some supermarkets may hide these own brand foods on the upper and lower shelves so take the time to look at prices carefully and don’t just pick up the first item you see on the shelf. Markets can also offer great deals on organic fresh foods such as fruit and veg.

Shop around and don’t be loyal

Visit different supermarkets to get an idea of which ones offer the best deals on various different foods. This may make shopping trips longer by having to visiting multiple stores, but will ultimately save you money. Don’t forget to also visit independent stores such as corner shops and pound stores that may have deals on specific items. Feel free to buy into certain loyalty schemes such as loyalty cards but don’t allow these to dictate where you visit each time – unless you need to go back to that store for its specific deals you may be better off buying certain foods elsewhere.

Rubbermaid Giveaway

You can win this 3 piece Fresh Works set from Rubbermaid!  Enter below!

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