Cream Cheese, Rotel, Sausage Dip

One of my sorority sisters introduced me to this dip and I am pretty much obsessed now! It is one of the easiest and cheapest things you will ever make and its delicious!!


Ingredients:

• 1 can of Rotel tomatoes
• 16 oz cream cheese
• 1 package of Jimmy Dean sausage crumbles

Brown the sausage in a skillet.  Melt the cream cheese in a saucepan on medium heat, add the rotel and sausage to the sauce pan and let simmer until hot throughout. Serve with tortilla chips. THATS IT!!

Monte Cristo Sandwich

When I discovered this sandwich on Pitnerest, it almost seemed too good to be true!  It's a combination of  a panini, a grilled cheese, french toast and it has syrup...aka a combination of some of my favorite foods!  So I decided to put it to the test and guess what? It was fantastic!

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of white bread (I went cheapo but it probably would be better with nicer french bread)
• thinly sliced ham
• thinly sliced turkey
• sliced American cheese (I went with white American because its my favorite!)
• sliced swiss cheese
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1/8 cup of milk
• syrup!

1. Beat the 2 eggs in a bowl

2.Construct the sandwich...I went American cheese, turkey, ham, swiss cheese, but there is no correct way to construct this one.

3. Throw it in the microwave for about 30 seconds

4. Coat the sandwich with the eggs

5. Heat the skillet to medium heat, then add the sandwich and cook like a grilled cheese until golden brown on each side.

6. MOST IMPORTANT STEP: smother with syrup :) and ENJOY!!

Paula's Classic Banana Pudding

For the most part Bon Appetit, the Food Network, Martha Stewart and recently some Pinterest are my go to's for recipes however when Im making something truely southern Paula's my go to girl!  Banana Pudding is one of my friends' favorites desserts so when we were all cooking together on a Sunday night I decided to but out Paula Deen's Classic Banana Pudding Recipe!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 large egg yolks
• 4 cups whole milk
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) cold butter, cut into small bits
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Vanilla Wafers
• 3 large or 4 medium bananas, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• Whipped Cream

1. To make the filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together both sugars, the cornstarch, and the salt. 

2. Whisk in the egg yolks and 1/2 cup of the milk until thoroughly combined.

2. In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the remaining 31/2 cups milk to a boil over medium- high heat. 

Whisking constantly, gradually pour the hot milk into the egg mixture. 

3. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, until a few bubbles rise to the surface and the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.

4.  Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla.

5. Add nilla wafers and whipped cream and ENJOY!

Nutella Swirl Cupcakes

I have been seriously slacking on the blogging recently. But my mind has been other places with they whole graduation situation (that we must never speak about!).  That unfortunate time has come and I am freaking out.  I also gave up Pinterest for Lent, making finding recipes a challenge as it is one of my main sources.  But the good news is that I am back for good (at least I think!) so apologies for the delay!

As most of you know I am a marketing major, and am obsessed with all things related to brands.  I am currently in an international marketing class, where I was asked to present one food item with an international component to the class.  My mind immediately went strait to my study abroad experience and what I had eaten.  I very quickly decided on Nutella as my international ingredient and set out to find a recipe.  I decided on this one!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4-1/2 cup Nutella, room temperature

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees

2. In a medium bow, beat the butter, oil and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.

4. Add the flour, baking powder and salt; beat on low until just blended

** Your batter should be thick!

5. Divide the batter between 12 cupcake liners

6. Add a spoonfull of Nutella to each liner

7. Using a toothpick or skewer swirl the Nutella into the batter.

8. Bake for 25-30 minutes

*Only allow to cool for a short time period then put into a container that will lock in the moisture, I left mine out too long to cool so they were a little harder than I would have liked them

**Also this recipe says they are "self-frosting" without the frosting they are more like muffins so I would suggest just adding some more Nutella on top because lets face it you can never have enough Nutella!!