Irish Nachos

It's St. Patrick's Day and like all good (Not So) Irish people, we had to have some Irish food. Ok, since I have never been to Ireland, I am not a pro on this subject, but I have googled and researched and according to my research Potatoes, Corned Beef and Cabbage is Irish.... so let me know if I'm wrong. But I found a recipe that I really wanted to try called Rueben Nachos. However I dislike sauerkraut! Strongly! But I had an idea and changed the recipe. I actually changed it a lot. Here's my version of Irish  nachos.

Irish Nachos

Peel and slice 4 large potatos. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you want (I used a Pampered Chef Rosemary blend) Layer on a baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees till soft and edges are crisp. Scatter chopped corned beef over potatoes. Top with cheese. I used a fiesta blend and mozzarella. Bake till cheese is melted. When done top with ranch dressing. The recipe calls for sauerkraut but as I said before I dislike it, so I made a Zambian Cabbage.  Top the nachos and enjoy! 

For Zambian Cabbage, I heat some oil in a sauce pan, then add chopped onions and chopped tomatoes. Let it stew a little and then add Cabbage that is cut thin. Add just a little bit of water. Cover and let it cook and stir occasionally till its soft. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Date Balls

In my mind, one of my favorite Christmas treats in my mom's Date Balls. These are ALWAYS at my house for Christmas. They are habit forming and addicting and usually didn't last long at our house.  Mom would send these to school with us but RARELY ever made it off the plane. They would be devoured! They are great for parties and for treats to give friends. Try these yummy Date Balls. You will LOVE THEM!

Date Balls
In a sauce pan, bring to a boil:
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or Margrine
1 box of chopped dates
Boil for 3 minutes stirring continuously
Remove from heat and add:
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup pecans
2 cups rice crispies
Mix well and then scoop out by spoonful. Roll into balls( I use one of those small Ice cream scooper, The little tiny ones that are about 1 TBSP works great and you don't have to use your hands.) Drop into coconut and roll and coat with coconut. Place on wax paper to cool. Enjoy! They really are delicious!

Lari's Queso

This recipe is a family tradition every year at Christmas. When we are in Texas for Christmas we always have tamales and Mexican food at my Aunt Lari's house. This is the stuff I look forward to eating. She always makes it and it is always in the crockpot and hot and delicious! I could eat this all by its self as the main meal! So delicious!  I love this stuff and can't wait to get some at Christmas.  It is great for Large parties. You can half the recipe for smaller parties because this does make a lot!

Lari's Queso (this is a BIG recipe, if you want to half it you could)
 2lbs Velvetta
1 pound sausage (browned)
1 pound hamburger(browned and I think she puts taco seasoning in it)
8 oz cream cheese
1 can cream of Chicken soup
1 cream of mushroom soup
1 can rotel tomatoes
1 can green chillies
Brown meat, and put all ingredients in a crock pot. Turn on and let it melt all together. Stir occasionally.  You can melt it over the stove and then put it into the crock pot to keep it hot. Get the chips ready! DELISH!!!

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Buck-eyes

These are one of my FAVORITE treats at Christmas. How can you go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate? In my opinion you can't! These are a little time consuming but fun to make.

Buck-eyes
1 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter (soften)
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups powder sugar
Mix together well. Make into balls and lay on a pan covered in wax paper. Refrigerate for a few hours. In a double boiler melt 2 1/2  cup semi sweet chocolate. Dip balls in chocolate. Place on wax paper and let sit till chocolate hardens.

I learned a new way to melt chocolate to dip that is really easy. If you have a crockpot or slow cooker fill it with some water. In some mason jars pour the chocolate you are using. Place the jars carefully in the water. You don't want it to be to full of water that it gets in the chocolate. But heat slow cooker. When the chocolate starts to melt stir so it it melt fully. When melted you can dip whatever you need to dip. The chocolate stays melted and easy to use.

Baked Sugared Peanuts

This is a treat my mom always made while growing up. She would make it and send a bunch of it to boarding school with us. Mine never lasted to long! We got this recipe from a Chinese restaurant in Lusaka. They always had a yummy bowl of these nuts sitting on the table when you sat down to eat. It was teaser because it was always a small bowl and they were always delicious! When we went home to visit Mom and Dad April of 2012, Aunt Betty made me some because she new I LOVE IT!
I don't get to make these very often because getting raw peanuts is hard here in Galena and with Kaden's allergy to eggs really causes me to miss this yummy treat. It does NOT work with Egg-replacer.  It is really easy to make and is a wonderful treat for parties or just to snack on. Just the right amount of sweetness on a crunchy treat.   This can make a great gift that you could put in a jar with a pretty bow or little gift bags. If you give some away you may want to double or triple the recipe. Try it out!

Baked Sugared Peanuts
4 cups raw peanuts
Beat 2 eggs and mix in peanuts
In another bowl mix:
2/3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
Add this to the peanuts to toss till all wet. If it is not wet add a Tablespoon of water. Place on Wax paper covered cookie sheet. Bake 325 degrees for 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes. Peanuts are done when they are golden brown. Let cool and break apart.

Meema's Jello Salad

 Today I am busy cooking for our Thanksgiving feast with our neighbors and on the menu is Turkey, Sweet Potatoes, rolls, pie, Cheese Flan and Jello Salad and that is only coming out of my kitchen. Karin is cooking up some wonderful things too! I am looking forward to my Jello salad. I have just enough cool whip to make it this year. This is usually a dish that I have to wait to visit Texas to get. My Meema does make it best! And when I come to her house she ALWAYS has it waiting in the fridge! It is MY FAVORITE JELLO! I can never seem to make it quite the same but I think Meema puts in more LOVE into it. My cousins and I usually fight over it, but I always win! =) hahahaha. Meema has even sent it in a To-Go box for me if I have to travel. Seriously it is delicious! I am counting down the days till I can have some, which is 13 by the way! Can't wait to have a Christmas with my family this year! But I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving tomorrow! What a wonderful time of year to gather together with good food, great friends and be thankful for what we have. After the flood we had this spring, I realize there are many many things that I have not thought of to be thankful for this year.

Meema's Jello Salad
1 (15oz) can crushed Pineapple with juice
1  (6oz) box lime jello
2 cups buttermilk (use milk with a little vinegar)
1 cup coconut
1 cup Chopped Pecans
1( 8 oz) Cool-whip( or dream-whip)
Place the pineapple and juice in a pan on stove. Stir and Heat to boil. Remove from stove and add jello. Stir till jello is dissolved. Cool and add buttermilk, coconut and pecans. Cool completely and add cool-whip. Chill for 4 hours. Get a big spoon and enjoy!
( I know Meema sometimes puts in marshmallows but I think it takes away from the yummyness of this dish. SO I Omit them.)