Harper Beans

So Shawn's grandma makes some of the best beans that I have had. I think it is the combo of smoke and vinegar that I like. You can usually find of pot of these at family gatherings or with traditional BBQ flair.....I usually make them in a slow cooker but they can be made on the stove. We also add in 1-2 links of smoked hot sausage that has been browned and sliced and changed the Butter Beans to Black Beans. If you need a good standard bean recipe look no further!

Makes: 8-10 servings

1/2-1 lb of Hamburger, browned and drained

1/2-3/4 lb Bacon, Cut up, browned & drained

1-2 Smoked Hot Sausage Links, browned & sliced (Optional, not in original recipe)

1 C Onion, chopped

2 Cans Pork & Beans

1 Can Dark Kidney Beans

1 Can Black Beans (or Butter Beans which was the original recipe)

1 C Ketchup

1/4 C Brown Sugar

1 T Liquid Smoke

3 T White Vinegar

Salt & Pepper, to taste

Add all ingredients into a crock pot, mix gently and cook on high for about 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6 hours. Until bubbly and hot. Enjoy!

County Line BBQ's Potato Salad

We started trying BBQ places the minute we moved to Texas. One of the first places we went to was County Line (it is pretty close to where we live) anyway their BBQ was ok (Rudy's is still my fav place for BBQ), but CL potato salad was out of this world, at least by my standards. I think it is because it is dill picklel-y and not mustard-y like the deli ones can be.....I was thrilled when the local paper printed the recipe courtesy of County Line....I still have the tattered old cut out, which I must say makes a ton, so I have 1/2 the recipe, which is about 9 servings or so....you can also lighten up by using reduced fat Sour Cream and Mayo (I usually always use reduced fat sour cream).......

Serves: 9

2.25-2.5 lbs of Idaho Potatoes

1 med Onion, chopped (I only use sweet onions)

3 ribs of Celery, chopped

8 oz Dill Pickle Relish

12 oz Sour Cream

6 oz Kraft Mayo (I am a Hellmans/Best Foods girl, but do use Kraft for this recipe)

1 heaping T Coarse Black Pepper

1/2 heaping tsp Garlic Salt

1/2 heaping tsp Celery Salt

1/2 T Salt, to taste

Sprinkling of Paprika, garnish

Sprig of Parsley, garnish

Put unpeeled potatoes in a large pot salted cold water; bring to a boil and cook until tender throughout about 20-25 min. Test by inserting a knife into the potato. Refrigerate for 30 min to allow potatoes to cool. Carefully peel potatoes and cut into 1 inch cubes (or smaller), set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, blend together onions, celery, relish, sour cream, mayo, pepper, garlic salt, celery salt, and salt. Add cubes of potato and mix gently. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Orange Bars

I suppose you could call them Orange Brownies, which I think was their original name, but when I think of brownies I think of chocolate and these do not have any chocolate in them....they actually remind me a little bit of orange rolls but of course different.....My friend Brittany made these for a girls night and they were a big hit....I made them for Shawn and he loved them too....so nice to have a new dessert that does not contain chocolate, even though chocolate is probably my first love! Ha!

Makes: 13x9

1 ½ C Flour
2 C Sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 C (2 sticks) Butter, softened
4 Eggs
2 tsp Orange Extract
1 tsp Grated Orange Zest

Glaze:
1 C Powdered Sugar
2 T Orange Juice
1 tsp Grated Orange Zest

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9 x 13 and set aside. In a mixing bowl, stir flour, sugar, and salt. Add butter, eggs, orange extract and orange zest and beat with a mixer until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown and set. Remove from oven and pierce top of entire cake with a fork.

For glaze: Combine all ingredients in a bowl, stirring until smooth. Pour glaze over hot cake. Cool cake and cut into squares. Enjoy!

Almond bars

So many of you that know me, know that I LOVE the smell and flavor of Almond Extract.....I could seriously smell a bottle of it all day....I love adding it when I can and I usually add it to boxed brownies to give them a little more pizazz....anyway my friend Sarah made these for a make-up party we had at her house....she also makes this yummy punch with almond extract but I will save that for another post....anyway these Almond Bars are simple and made with ingredient most have in their pantry.....They are so tasty but of course not the healthiest but what dessert is.....anyway lots of things you could do with these, top with fruit.....So explore! I find them highly addicting just the way they are.......

Makes:13x9

4 Eggs
2 C Sugar
1 C Butter, melted
2 C Flour
2 1/2 tsp Almond Extract
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until lemon colored. Add the melted butter, flour and extract. Mix well. Spread into greased 9 x13 baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Enjoy!

Basil Goat Cheese Sliders

I love hamburgers, I seriously think I always will. I have never met a hamburger I didn't like....Well, I guess that is not true since some of the fast food joints have some pretty nasty burgers.....anyway......Sliders seem to be the big deal these days, which totally cracks me up because I remember being a kid and eating Burger Bundles from Burger King, I think you could get 6 little burgers all together or 3.......HA! This recipe is probably one of my favs simple yet different burger.....I LOVE Goat Cheese.....we use it a lot in wraps, pasta, stuff in burgers or chicken, and on crackers......I am sure there are more condiments and toppings you could have on this but I try to keep my sliders as simple as I can....these can be served on small dinner rolls or mini buns too........I just love chewy, dense, and sturdy bread which is why I use ciabatta......I am not a big fan of my bun falling apart......as usual the meat mixture can be adjusted to your tastes....

Makes: 6-8 mini burgers depending on your size

1lb Hamburger

1-2 T Fresh Basil, chopped

1 T Sweet Onions, minced

1 Garlic Clove, minced

1-2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

Garlic Salt, to taste

Salt & Pepper, to taste

Ciabatta Bread/Rolls, Cut to the size of your burger (We toast our on the grill)

Goat Cheese, sliced

Toppings:

Basil Mayo

Arugula

Campari Tomatoes (or Romas), sliced

Preheat your BBQ Grill. Gently mix hamburger, basil, onions, garlic, Worcestershire, Garlic Salt, Salt & Pepper. Form into mini patties, gently pressing in the middle so your patties will stay more flat. Grill to your desired tastes, in the last 2-3 min of cooking add on a slice of goat cheese to warm it up. Serve on ciabatta rolls with Basil Mayo, Arugula & Tomatoes....

Basil Mayo

This goes well with many different dishes....I really like it on burgers & sandwiches for something different....Suppose if you are like the French you could dip your fries in it.....I am fry tarter sauce girl myself......Anyway.....This is super simple and I usually do not measure and is basically made to taste.....but you get the basic idea.

Makes: About a Cup

3/4-1 C Mayo (I love Hellmans\Best Foods)

12-14 Basil Leaves

Juice of Lemon

1-2 Cloves Garlic, Minced

1/2-1 T of Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper, to taste

Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend together. (I use my magic bullet, yes I have one!) Store in the fridge....Spread on your favorite sandwich, burger or whatever your heart desires!