Avocado Ranch Dip

This dip I discovered by accident when I wanted to eat my standard snack: cut up avocado and tortilla chips. I decided to add some sour cream and remembered I still had some Buttermilk Ranch Dry Mix made up from the Ranch Crack Potatoes. Threw it all in a bowl and decided to try out my new Cuisinart SmartStick Immersion Blender, Metallic Charcoal (Google Affiliate Ad) from Christmas. Vroom, Vroom, Vroom of the blender and done! It was great on the chips and I also spread on a bacon sandwich! Yummy!

Yields about 1 cup

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe avocado, peeled and cut into chunks
• 3 heaping tablespoons (generous dollops) sour cream (or substitute plain Greek yogurt)
• 1 tsp Buttermilk Ranch Dry Mix - MSG-Free

Directions:

Either:

1. Place all ingredients in small blender/food processor (I used my handy Cuisinart Smartstick Immersion Blender). Pulse until smooth. OR
2. Smash avocado into a creamy paste then blend with sour cream and ranch mix. Enjoy!

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Ranch Crack Potatoes

These potatoes are unbelievably great! This was the other new side dish I fixed to Christmas dinner and it got 2 thumbs up with permission to repeat anytime! Super easy to put together, and if you use the  Buttermilk Ranch Mix recipe, you can make it MSG-Free!

Ingredients:

• 32oz sour cream
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled (or use 6oz bacon bits)
• 1 pkg (2 tbsp) dry ranch mix - I used Buttermilk Ranch Mix to be MSG-Free!
• 1 large bag (28-30 oz) frozen shredded hash browns

Directions:

1. Cook bacon in microwave or frying pan until done. Pat dry with paper towels and crumble once cooled.
2. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
3. Mix first 4 ingredients together in a 9x13 casserole dish. Combine hash browns into mixture and spread evenly in dish.
4. Bake for 45-60 minutes until lightly browned on the top.

Courtesy of Crack Potatoes

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Oven Roasted Garlic Green Beans

These beans are awesome! I have permission to fix these at any time for the family. They said that they even prefer these to the Green Bean Bundles (I never thought I would see the day - lol). These are even easier to prep since you don't have to deal with the bacon wrapping. Don't get me wrong, I love my little green bean bundles, but if you are short on time, these are definitely the way to go. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lb fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
• 4-5 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper
• 1-2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp (6 cloves) minced garlic

Directions:

1. Wash and trim beans. Place in large (8 cup) seal-able container.
2. Mix the rest of the ingredients together (I used a small glass) and pour over beans. Seal container and shake to coat the beans evenly.
3. Place in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes (I left them in there for a couple of hours to marinate)
4. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line large baking sheet with aluminum foil.
5. Spread beans out on baking sheet in a single layer.
6. Bake for 8-12 minutes until crisp tender (depending on how well done you like your beans). 

Courtesy of Persnickety Plates

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Butterfinger Brownie Cookies

This recipe follows the Chocolate Mint Brownie Cookie Recipe but substitutes crushed Butterfingers in place of the Andes Mints. It was so good I thought I would share it as a separate recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups chopped Butterfingers candy bars (7.8 oz - 2 of the 6 packs you find on the candy aisle worked perfectly) (food processor or bag and hammer method work to obtain the chopped pieces)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper/baking sheets
2. Place butter and chocolate chips in glass microwave safe bowl/measuring cup.
3. Microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds, stir, then microwave an additional 15 to 20 seconds if needed until the mixture is melted and smooth. (or if you want to go old school, you can use the double boiler method to melt the chocolate and butter)
4. Stir in sugar, salt and vanilla into the chocolate mixture.
5. Add 1 egg, stir in completely, then add the 2nd egg and stir in completely.
6. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. Blend flour mixture in the chocolate mixture.
7. Stir vigorously (or use the hand mixer on low) for 2-3 minutes until thick, glossy, and smooth. 
8. Once batter has cooled, stir in the Butterfingers.
9. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of batter onto cookie sheets, leaving 2 inches between cookies. 
10. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until they look crackled but still soft and gooey. 
11. Transfer onto cooling rack after they have sat on cookie sheet for a few minutes to finish cooling.

Courtesy of Butterfinger Brownie Cookies

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Chocolate Mint Brownie Cookies

Yields ~ 2 1/2 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 5 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1 pkg Andes Creme de Menthe Baking Chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper/baking sheets
2. Place butter and chocolate chips in glass microwave safe bowl/measuring cup.
3. Microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds, stir, then microwave an additional 15 to 20 seconds if needed until the mixture is melted and smooth. (or if you want to go old school, you can use the double boiler method to melt the chocolate and butter)
4. Stir in sugar, salt and vanilla into the chocolate mixture.
5. Add 1 egg, stir in completely, then add the 2nd egg and stir in completely.
6. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. Blend flour mixture in the chocolate mixture.
7. Stir vigorously (or use the hand mixer on low) for 2-3 minutes until thick, glossy, and smooth. 
8. Once batter has cooled, stir in the Andes Mints.
9. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of batter onto cookie sheets, leaving 2 inches between cookies. 
10. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until they look crackled but still soft and gooey. 
11. Transfer onto cooling rack after they have sat on cookie sheet for a few minutes to finish cooling.

Inspired from Butterfinger Brownie Cookies

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Montreal Steak Seasoning - MSG-Free

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons crushed black pepper
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
• 1 tablespoon granulated onion
• 1 tablespoon crushed coriander
• 1 tablespoon dill
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Courtesy of Chow.com

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Cream Cheese Sausage Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 lb hot breakfast sausage, uncooked - good luck finding a MSG-Free version :(
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/4 cups Bisquick
• 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (feel free to be a little on the generous side)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients until well combined.- easier to use hand or stand mixer with dough hook attachment.
3. Roll into 1-inch balls and place onto lined (I used Reynolds non-stick aluminum foil - they slid right off!) baking sheet. 
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until brown.
5. Prepping for a party? These may be frozen if left uncooked. Just add a few minutes to the baking time.

Recipe courtesy of Plain Chicken

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Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Makes ~28 servings

Ingredients:

• 7 cups instant non-fat dry milk
• 1 lb confectioners sugar, sifted
• 2 cups cocoa powder, sifted twice
• 2 cups dry non-dairy creamer (french vanilla or your personal favorite will work!)
• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 1 cup (or use the whole bag!) mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup (or use the whole bag!) mini white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Sift cocoa powder into a large seal-able storage container.
2. Add the rest of the dry powder ingredients and chocolate chips.
3. Place lid securely on the container and SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE!, SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE! (Make sure you do a little dance while shaking)
4. Store in air tight container if you are keeping it for yourself or this makes a perfect inexpensive Christmas gift to be given in those cute little mason jars! 
5. If using as Christmas gift Mason jar: Place mix in the bottom of the jar (I would recommend measuring out in 1/3 cup intervals since this is a serving) - leave enough room for the marshmallows. Place marshmallows on top of the mix, then place the lid on the jar. Make sure you make it cute with  ribbon/fabric/tag etc!

Expiration: 1 year if kept in an air tight container

Directions for Reconstitution:

1. Place 1/3 cup mix into 8-10 ounces of hot milk. Stir until dissolved. Add marshmallows or whipped cream to the top. Then enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of my wonderful aunt! (not sure where she got it from)

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