Spring Fever!

It was 68 degrees here today!  YA-HOOoooooo!  Since it was so nice out its Kabobs for dinner tonight!!!

Clooney + Cold Out = Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

While listening to Rosemary Clooney sing and feeling chilled from the cold temps today, I thought it would be a perfect time to make Scalloped Potatoes and Ham.  I know there are a ton of recipes out there, I once was a strict fan of Betty Crocker’s version, but this is my version and my Mini Meringue’s eat it up.  I do understand I call for a few unusual ingredients but they are both worth it!  The first unusual one in the recipe is for Space Aliens (restaurant back home) Garlic Seasoning Goup. It’s a jar of onion powder, garlic salt, celery salt and other seasonings and I love to add it to just about anything.  The other unusual one is the plunger.  I swear every time I peel potatoes it never fails that the garbage disposal gets clogged.  It is not an LOL moment either.

Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

7 baker potatoes and a plunger!

Rinse them, peel them, and cut them into bite size chunks.  Place in water pot on stove to boil for 10 minutes to soften them, which helps cut down on cooking time in the oven.  I can only wait so long for this yummy dish so the more shortcuts I can do the better!  J  While potatoes are on the stove boiling, start to curse at the sink because once again it’s clogged. 

In a separate sauce pan put in:

4 tablespoons of butter

1 chopped medium onion

1 cereal spoon of minced garlic

2 tablespoons of Space Alien Garlic Seasoning Goup

Over medium heat, melt the butter and begin to sauté the onions.  Once butter is melted I add in 3 heaping cereal spoons of flour and mix till combined.  If too wet add more flour then but if it’s pretty balled up with no extra moisture in the pan its perfect.  Whisk in 1 pint of half and half a little at a time ,which I find helps the sauce thicken as you go.  Whisk in an additional cup of milk.  Once thickened add 1 lb cubed ham and 2 cups of cheddar cheese.  Drain the potatoes and add to casserole dish then pour the delicious ham & cheese sauce on top and mix well.  Place in a 350 degree preheated oven and cook for an hour and a half.

Anyone want to lick the spoon?!?!  Yummy!!!!

Sad day for my Mini Meringues "(

Last night my Mini Meringues' guinea pig past away and although I was sooooo not a fan of it, I am sad for them.  Hopefully nothing says your mommy feels bad for you and condolences to you than a cake plate with a yummy brownie made in bundt form!  I will have to recall this when those Mini Meringues are in high school and dumb boys hurt their feelings.  Thank goodness that that is years away and today it was just a guinea pig that broke their little hearts!!!  Here is the recipe for THE brownie bundt cake....oh it is soooo good.  The mini meringues gave it a "wow"!

Brownie Bundt Cake

1 1/2 sticks butter

5 squares Baker's chocolate

 (i had bittersweet on hand so that is what i used)

2 1/2 cups sugar

6 eggs

2 cups flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

2 tspns vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Melt butter and baking squares in a microwave safe bowl. In

the Kitchen Aid mixer cream the melted butter and chocolate mixture. Add in sugar and vanilla and beat until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add in eggs, beating one at a time. Add flour and cocoa powder and stir just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips. I used chocolate chunks because I thoughts they said YUM!  Grease a bundt pan thoroughly with butter. Pour batter in the pan. Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until brownie is set. The top will be a bit crunchy and the insides will be fudgey. I topped ours with the new Duncan Hines Amazing Glazes.

This amazing recipe came from blogger "How Sweet It Is".  She posts amazing stuff!