Two Cheese Quesadillas

I got this recipe from my great aunt. It's yummy and fast--what's not to love??

Ingredients:
4 flour tortillas (8 inch)
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Mozzarella cheese
2 small tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup finally chopped green pepper (I don't add this)
1/4 cup chopped onion (I think I used red?)
sour cream and salsa

Directions:
Sprinkle each tortilla with cheeses, tomatoes, and onion. Fold in half and press edges lightly to seal. On an electric griddle, cook quesadillas over low heat for 1-2 minutes on each side or until cheese melts. Cut into wedges. Serve with sour cream.You can also use the microwave for a softer quesadilla.

Six Layer Rainbow Ribbon Jell-O

Please note, before attempting to create: make sure that your refrigerator is indeed sitting perfectly level, or you may find your anal-retentive self panicking, crying, and wanting to throw out a perfectly fine-tasting, but perfectly slanted, rainbow ribbon salad, convinced that everyone at your husband's family reunion will notice and judge you for it. ;) *Whew!* Nothing like sweating the small stuff, huh??

This is good, but SO time-intensive. After this last debaucle, I'm still trying to decide if it's worth more tears and frustration. I mean, it's good...but is it 4-hours-work-worth of good? I'm sure anyone enjoying the fruits of my labor would say yes; me, I'm not so sure yet. :) Maybe I'll try a second time and see how that goes??

**The picture included is NOT my creation. I truly wish it were.


Ingredients:
1 pkg. of:
Black Cherry Jell-o (bottom)
Strawberry Jell-o
Lime Jell-o
Lemon Jell-o
Orange Jell-o
Cherry Jell-o
16 oz. sour cream

Directions: Make each box of Jell-o with 1 cup of hot water. Mix 1/2 cup Jell-o with 1/3 cup sour cream. Layer in pan. Cool in fridge for 20 minutes. Then pour the rest (regular colored Jell-o) on top. Pour into a spoon first so as not to melt the Jell-o already there. Repeat with all layers.

Takes at least 4 hours to make!!

Mango Strawberry Salsa with Cinnamon Pita Chips

I admit...I haven't actually tried this recipe...YET. Seeing as I'm salivating just thinking about it, I don't think it will be a stretch to say that at least someone in our family will enjoy it. :) I promise if it's really terrible, I'll take it down!

Ingredients:
2 TBSP. balsamic vinegar
2/3 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 TBSP. lime juice
2 diced fresh mango
2 pints strawberries, diced small

10 10-inch flour tortillas
butter flavored cooking spray
2 cups cinnamon sugar

Directions:
Stir together the balsamic vinegar, orange juice, lemon juice, and lime juice in a large bowl. Gently fold in the mango and strawberries until blended. Allow the mixture to rest at least 20 minutes before serving. Only 51 calories!

Preheat oven to 350. Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.

Bake in a preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Cool for at least 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture

Jalapeno Poppers

Yet another one from good old PW. What a great recipe! My husband despises cream cheese, but LOVES these poppers (by the way, I keep typing "poopers"...not sure what that says about me!). One important step with these instructions, make SURE you wear gloves when seeding the peppers!! Do it outside, if possible, or turn on the fan in the kitchen. Otherwise, your eyes, nose, and fingers will sting SO bad! :( Trust me on this one...

Ingredients:
fresh jalapenos 2-3 inches in size
softened cream cheese
thin, regular bacon, sliced in thirds

Directions:
Cut jalapenos in half lengthwise. With a grapefruit spoon, remove the seeds and white membrane (the source of heat). Smear cream cheese into each half or pipe it in using a bag with a hole. Wrap jalapeno with bacon pieces (1/3 slice). Secure by sticking a toothpick through the middle. Bake on a broiler pan in a 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. You don't want the bacon to shrink so much that it starts squeezing the jalapeno. If, after 20 minutes, the bacon doesn't look brown enough, just turn on the broiler for a couple minutes to finish it off. Serve hot or cold.

Variations: mix w/ cream cheese: chipotle, onion powder, garlic salt, shrimp

Grandma Jane's Devilled Eggs

This is a recipe handed down from my husband' maternal grandmother, so, of course, the fact that it's "vintage" means I'm going to love it. Actually, I just saw on the recipe card that it actually came from Great-Grandma Day! Even better!

Now, I will say that at one point in my life, I completely abhorred anything and everything to do with eggs. I had gone to a birthday party (at around the age of 10 or so?) and had gotten sick from a hardboiled egg. SO...for the next 5 years or so, the sight, smell, taste, texture of anything-egg made me seriously gag. Thankfully, I was able to get over it because these devilled eggs are amazing! I think they were the first devilled eggs I had post-incident. :) They helped lure me back into the world of amazing egg products. I love this recipe because it has just the right amount of kick! I'm still not a fan or the rubbery egg whites, but the yellow filling more than makes up for it.

Ingredients:
12 extra large eggs
2 TBSP. yellow mustard
2 TBSP. vinegar
2 TBSP. mayonnaise
salt and pepper
paprika

Directions:
Cover eggs with water and boil 20-25 minutes. Cool and peel eggs. Slice in half lengthwise and place yolks in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Using a pastry blender or potato masher, mash yolks thoroughly. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Fill egg halves and top with paprika. Hint: Since yolk size varies, add more or less mustard, mayo, or vinegar, according or your tastes.

Alice's Imitation Crab Salad

My M-I-L made this recipe for a family reunion, and I was hooked! I then made it for my whole family, and they loved it! This recipe sure makes a lot, but the way that my family ate it, that wasn't a problem!

Ingredients:
6 eggs
1/2 loaf (1 1b. sourdough bread, cubed)
1 1b. imitation crab meat, flaked
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 cup mayo
2 TBSP sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
dash of lemon juice

Directions:
Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil. Turn to medium and let boil for 15 minutes. Dump hot water off and run in cold water . Let them sit. (My mom taught me that HB eggs are easier to peel if they're not fresh--i.e. older than a week). Cool, peel, and chop.

Trim crust from bread and dice into cubes.

In a large bowl, combine bread cubes, eggs, crab, celery, onion, mayo, sour cream, salt and pepper. Mix together well and refrigerate.

Variations: Can add green onions or bacon bits (have not tried).