Super Yummy Spinach and Artichoke Dip

I made this dip a couple weeks ago for a girls night snack!! It was so good!!

I plan to make it again for New Years!

A big thanks to our facebook friend Kelly for sharing the recipe with us!!

Start by putting all your ingredients in a crock pot including the alfredo sauce. 

Cheese

Mix.

Add cream cheese. 

artichokes

garlic

crushed red pepper

and spinach

Heat until blended and enjoy!!

Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip

6 oz shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese (not the grated stuff in a can)

8 oz mozzarella cheese

16 oz jar of Alfredo or garlic Alfredo sauce

8 oz cream cheese

10 oz package frozen spinach, chopped

14 oz can artichoke hearts, chopped

1 heaping tablespoon crushed red pepper

1 heaping tablespoon minced garlic or 6 to 8 cloves if using fresh

Mix it all together in a crock-pot and heat until well blended.

Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, pita bread, whatever you like! 

Linked to:
Trick or Treat Tuesday @ Inside BruCrew Life

Christmas Ornaments

Lots of things have changed in my life since becoming a mom and one of those has certainly been our Christmas Tree!!! We went from artificial and very formal (white lights, red ribbon, gold ornaments, etc.) to REAL and very homemade!

Last year was our first venture out to choose and cut down a real tree and we had so much fun that we decided it was a must-do every year! This year, we went to our friend's farm - Sickels Tree Farm and had a blast. We decided on a pine tree instead of a fir tree and just love it. It's so full and pretty and smells great!

So, I still stick with the white lights but we have ditched the ribbon, garland and gold balls for an ornament-only Christmas tree. And, like most kids - we make EVERYTHING in our house an ornament!! Toys, cars, food, hair bows, etc...

Here are some photos of our tree this year!

Turtle Cake - 2 Maids a Baking

This is one of my family's favorite items to bake at Christmas time (or any time really!!)

If you like Turtle chocolates - this is a dessert for you! It's simple to make and only takes 6 ingredients!

Mix 1 German chocolate cake mix, 1/2 C. evaporated milk and 3/4 C. butter. Put half of this mixture into greased 9x13 cake pan and bake at 350 for 10-12 min.

While this is baking, melt together 1 (14 oz.) pkg. of caramels - I used these caramel bits and 1/2 C. evaporated milk. Pour gently over the baked cake.

Spread 1 C. walnut pieces and 1 C. chocolate chips on top. Then spread the other half of cake mix mixture on top and put back in oven at 350 for 20 min. Enjoy!!!

I had a taste tester waiting for this one!!!

Turtle Cake:

1 German chocolate cake mix

1 C. evaporated milk 

3/4 C. butter 

1 (14 oz.) pkg. of caramels

1 C. walnut pieces

1 C. chocolate chips

Mix 1 German chocolate cake mix, 1/2 C. evaporated milk and 3/4 C. butter. Put half of this mixture into greased 9x13 cake pan and bake at 350 for 10-12 min. While this is baking, melt together 1 (14 oz.) pkg. of caramels - I used these caramel bits and 1/2 C. evaporated milk. Pour gently over the baked cake. Spread 1 C. walnut pieces and 1 C. chocolate chips on top. Then spread the other half of cake mix mixture on top and put back in oven at 350 for 20 min. Enjoy!!! 

Lemon Bars - 2 Maids a Baking

I love making lemon bars this time of year!!

It is like a little bite of summertime!!

I little bite of sunshine to help you get through the winter!!

Plus they are a pretty addition to any holiday cookie tray!

Start by making the crust. Add flour, 

butter

and powdered sugar. 

Mix until crumbs are formed. 

Pour the crust in a 9x13 pan and pat down lightly. 

Bake for 15 minutes

While the crust is baking start the filling. I use the same bowl because I don't like to do any more dishes than necessary!! Add you eggs.

And beat them a minute.

Add sugar, 

flour

lemon juice

and lemon extract.

Pour filling over hot crust.

Bake and let cool.

Top with a light dusting of powdered sugar.

 Enjoy!!

Lemon Bars:


Crust:
2 cups flour
1 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar

Filling:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tablespoon lemon extract

Mix crust ingredients until a crumb mixture. Pat in the bottom of a 9x13 pan and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees or until edges are slightly brown. Mix filling and pour over hot crust and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until center has set up.

15 Gourmet Grilled Cheese Recipes

Baby it's cold outside.

Which means it is perfect soup weather!

And since grilled cheese is soups best friend. I thought it would be fun to feature a post dedicated to this yummy creation!

I must be honest I have been a very traditional grilled cheese eater until recently.

There was the Gouda Grilled Cheese. Which I made with a tip from Beyer Beware on how to make a killer grilled cheese.

I took it up a notch when I tried the Hamburger Grilled Cheese 

Cranberry Treasure Cookies and a Giveaway- 2 Maids a Baking

We have something super exciting for today's 2 Maids a Baking!!

My friends The Real Farmwives partnered with Gooseberry Patch for a virtual cookie swap with recipes from the Gooseberry Patch Online Recipe Box! Gooseberry Patch also gave us a COOKBOOK to GIVEAWAY to one lucky person who links up a cookie recipe!!

Miss Cris from Goodeness Gracious kicked it off Tasty Cookie Pops for Miss Heather. 

Heather from 3 Kids and Lots of Pigs made some yummy looking Graham No-Bake Cookies for Miss Marybeth.

Miss Marybeth from Alarm Clock Wars baked up some 3-2-1- Lemon Cookies for Miss Meggie 

Miss Meggie from Hoosier Farm Babe made some awesome looking Granny's Chocolate Fudge Cookies for Miss Jeanette. 

Miss Jeanette from FenceRow to FenceRow made some tasty Black Bottom Banana Bars for ME!! Thanks Jeanette! 

Today is my day to bake for Miss Megan at Gal in the Middle!! I remembered that Megan use to work for the cranberry growers and so I found the perfect recipe for her!!!

Cranberry Treasure Cookies!! 

Head on over to the Real Farmwives page for the recipe!!

We are having a joint linky party with Real Farmwives and 2 Maids a Baking this week!!! One lucky person will WIN a Gooseberry Patch Cookbook of their choice for sharing a recipe with us!!!

Rules:

Link up your cookie recipe below! 

You can enter up to 5 recipes

If you don't have a blog you can post your recipe in the comments on either blog (up to 5 as well)

*If you are seeing this post in a reader you have to visit either of the blogs to see the widget to enter

NOTE: To be officially entered for the cookbook you must enter through the widget below and click, "I did this." 

Thanks!

Sausage Potato Casserole

Years ago, a great friend of mine made this dish for our family. I had gone back to work after having Miss Bug and she was SOOO gracious to make us a few meals those first couple of weeks back to work for me. This is one that has stuck with us! It's quick, easy and only takes 5 ingredients!!!

Start with browning 1 pound of sausage and drain.

Add sausage, 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and 1 can of milk. Pour into casserole dish.