At Home with Henderson

You've never had the best bacon grilled cheese, until you have had this!
Seriously so good!

Blackberries, Bacon, Jalapeno Grilled Cheese

Ingredients Per Sandwich:
2 slices Sour Dough Bread
Butter
3-5 Cooked Bacon Strips
6 slices Jalapeno
3 slices Swiss Cheese
2 Tablespoons Blackberry Preserves

Layer as follows -

Butter
Bread
1 1/2 slices Swiss cheese
Jalapenos
Bacon
1 1/2 slices Swiss cheese
Blackberry Preserves
Bread
Butter

Grill on low until cheese is melted and both sides of bread are golden brown. Cut and Enjoy!

Tips: Choose a spicy jalapeno to round out the sweetness of the jam. Use crunchy bacon to give it that crunch. Make sure you get preserves with chunks of blackberries.

Homemade Alfredo Sauce

This is the best most flavorful Alfredo you will ever have. Forget that store bought stuff! Tip: Make extra for your breadsticks.

½ cup butter
1 pint heavy whipping cream
4 ounces cream cheese
1 ½ tablespoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
½ cup milk (as needed)

In a saucepan add butter, heavy whipping cream, and cream cheese. Cook over medium heat and whisk until melted.
Add the minced garlic, onion powder, italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Continue to whisk until smooth. Add the grated parmesan cheese.

Bring to a simmer and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Add the milk as needed until you get a nice creamy consistency.

Toss in your favorite pasta. Today we used 2 packages of Kirkland lobster ravioli. Highly recommend.

Roasted Red Pepper Potato Soup

1 large onion (diced)
Canola Oil
1 jar roasted red peppers (diced)
1 can chopped green chiles
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp pepper
3 lbs of potatoes (cubed)
1 teas minced garlic
4 cups vegetable broth
2 Tbls cilantro
1 Tbls Lemon juice

In instantpot, saute onion in the oil. Add the rest of the ingredients. Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes with quick release.

1/3 cup flour
2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup Parmesan Cheese

Mix flour with 1/2 cup of cream, then add to instantpot with the rest of the cream and cheese. Saute on high for 10 minutes.

Serve with Shredded cheese on top.

Crock Pot Baked Ziti

1 lb of hamburger
1 small onion (diced)
1 box Ziti
2 jars 4 Cheese Marinara
1 can of Crushed Tomato
1 tub of Ricotta Cheese
2 cups Parmesan Cheese
2 Cups Mozzarella
2 Eggs
Basil
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder

In skillet, brown hamburger with onion and then add tomato and marinara. Set aside.

Mix ricotta, parmesan, egg, basil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Set aside.

Grease crock pot and layer. Starting with 1/4 of the sauce, then 1/3 dry noodles, and 1/3 ricotta mixture, 1/2 cup mozzarella 3x, end with the last of the sauce.

Cook on low 5 hours or on high for 2 1/2. For the last 1/2 hour add last 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Serve with garlic bread or breadsticks and a salad. Enjoy!

French Dip in the Instant Pot

4lb Chuck Roast
3 cups Water
1/4 cup butter
1 yellow onion (diced)
1 cup Cooking Sherry
1/2 cup Soy Sauce
2 Tbls Minced Garlic
Salt
Pepper
Thyme

Sub Buns
Provolone Cheese

Throw everything in the Instant Pot for 2 1/2 hours on pressure cook. Use quick release and shred. Slice Sub Buns and toast then add Provolone Cheese until melted and add the meat. Save some broth to dip in. Enjoy!

Chili Pie

Hear me out, it may sound crazy, but it was so good. However next time, I think I'm going to add more jalapeños and a layer of cheese before the cornbread, and top it all off with some cilantro.

1 lb ground beef
2 green peppers
1 yellow onion
1 Tbls Chipotle Powder
1 Tbls Chili Powder
1 Tbls Minced Garlic
1 teas Salt
1 can chipotle refried beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
2 jalapeños sliced

1 box jiffy mix
2/3 cup flour
1 teas baking powder
2/3 cup milk
1 large egg

Preheat oven to 400°
Brown beef in large cast iron skillet on stove, add diced onion and green pepper. Cook until tender, add garlic, chili powder, salt and chipotle seasoning. Stir well and cook for 2 minutes, add refried beans, kidney beans and tomatoes. Stir well.

Meanwhile, slice jalapeños. Add half into beef mixture.

Add cornmeal, flour and baking powder to a bowl, mix in milk and egg. Stir well. Layer the other half of jalapeños on top of the cornmeal.

Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown on top and toothpick comes out clean. Let sit for 10 minutes and serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

This one is a quick and simple weeknight recipe. Feel free to use any Pasta you prefer. We just had lots of Rotelle on hand.

1/2 lb Rotelle Pasta
1 1/2 lbs peeled, deveined shrimp
1/2 Tbls Tony C's
1 Tbls Coconut Oil

Sauce:
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup Sweet Thai Chili
1 Tbls Sriracha
1 Tbls Lime juice
1 teas Red chili flakes
1 Tbls Minced garlic

Mix sauce ingredients and set aside. Boil Pasta, and rinse. In skillet heat coconut oil while you toss thawed shrimp into Tony Cs.

Cook shrimp about 6 minutes until pink. Toss Pasta, shrimp and sauce all together and top with Parsley. Enjoy!

Lime IceBox Cake

8oz Cream Cheese
2 cans Sweet Condensed Milk
1 can Evaporated Milk
1 c Lime Juice
2 pkgs Maria Cookies
Lime Zest

Mix Cream Cheese, SCM, Evap Milk, and Lime Juice until well combined and no lumps.

In an 8x13 pan, line cookies and top with mixture and layer 3x. Then garnish with Lime zest.

Stick in fridge overnight or atleast 8 hours.

Enjoy!

Teriyaki Chicken and Lo Mein

Teriyaki Sauce -
1/2 c low sodium soy sauce
1/4 c brown sugar
1 1/2 tsps minced ginger
1 tsp minced garlic
1 Tbls honey
1 tsp sesame oil
3 Tbls rice wine
1/4 c water mixed with 3 tsps cornstarch

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

Chicken Lo Mein-

Package of Dried Lo Mein
1.5 Tbls of Peanut Oil
1 lb of chicken (diced)
2 med carrots (peeled and sliced)
1 red Bell Pepper (sliced)
1 large head of broccoli
1 small yellow onion (sliced)

Boil Hoikken Lo Mein Noodles just until tender.

In a Wok heat oil, and cook chicken until white on the outside, not fully cooked. Add the carrots, bell pepper, and onion. Cook until veggies are tender, and chicken is cooked through. Add in the broccoli, noodles and sauce.

Serve immediately and Enjoy!

Cajun Chicken Pasta

3 Tbls Butter
1 Tbls Minced Garlic
1 lb of Diced Chicken
1 red Bell Pepper Sliced
2 teas of Cajun Seasoning (or more)

8oz Farfalle

4oz Cream Cheese
1 c Milk
3/4 c Shredded Parmesan Cheese
1/2 teas Salt
1/2 teas Black Pepper
1 Tbls Parsley

Boil farfalle until its cooked al dente, rinse and set aside.

Over medium heat, melt butter and cook garlic about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add Peppers, Chicken, and Cajun Seasoning. Cook until chicken is cooked well through.
Dice cream cheese and add to the skillet along with the milk, stir well. Add in the Parmesan and stir until melted and creamy. Add the salt, pepper and Parsley. Lastly toss in the pasta.

Serve immediately. Great with breadsticks.
Enjoy!

With the cold weather it was time for a good soup! Tonight was Tomato with Grilled Cheese and let me tell you this is the best grilled cheese and tomato soup you'll ever have.

1/4 cup salted butter
1 yellow onion
2 tbls Minced Garlic
5 Sprigs of Thyme

2 cans fire roasted tomatoes
1 small can tomato paste
32 oz chicken broth
1/2 cup diced roasted red peppers
3 tbls sundried tomatoes

1 teas Onion powder
1 teas Garlic powder
1/2 teas Cayenne
1/2 teas Black pepper
1 teas Smoked paprika
1 teas Oregano
2 teas Sugar
1 teas Salt

1 cup Heavy Cream
1/2 cup Parmesan

Saute your onion in butter, add Minced Garlic and Thyme. Saute until fragrant. Add your tomatoes and peppers as well as your seasonings. Low simmer for about 30 minutes.
With an immersion blender (or spoon into blender) puree the veggies until smooth. Add your cream and cheese and let simmer for another 15 minutes while you make your grilled cheese.

GRILLED CHEESE

Thick Sliced bread
Butter
Garlic powder
Salt
Shredded Cheddar

Havarti Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Colby Jack Cheese
Cream Cheese mix

Cream Cheese
Mayonnaise
Crushed red pepper
Garlic powder
Black pepper
Italian seasoning

Mix the butter, garlic, salt and Shredded cheese together and spread on outside of bread.
Heat pan with a little butter (1 tbls).
Add a slice of Provolone, Colby Jack, Havarti and a spoonful of cream cheese mix on the inside of bread, add the other slice of bread with butter mix.
Cover and cook on both sides until golden brown.

The only thing you'll regret with making this is not having enough bread to make more grilled cheese.

I hope you enjoy!

Peanut Butter Fudge

Soft, fluffy, smooth fudge. My all time favorite treat for Christmas!

4 c sugar
1 c milk

2 tbls vanilla
3 c peanut butter
14 oz marshmallow fluff

Boil sugar and milk together on medium heat for 3 minutes stirring constantly, until all sugar is melted. Avoid over boiling (it makes it too hard).

Remove from heat and add vanilla, peanut butter and marshmallow fluff, stir until well combined. Pour into a parchment paper lined pan. Cover and refrigerate, then cut into pieces.

You'll love this recipe!

Peach Jalapeno Salsa

I normally do this one with Habeneros but we didn't grow any this year and can't seem to find them in the store right now.

4 peaches (peeled and chopped)
1/2 red onion
2 jalapeños (diced)
1/2 cup cilantro
1 Tbls Minced Garlic
Juice of 1 Lime
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbls Brown Sugar

I usally dice things small and mix by hand, but this time I put everything in my food processor and pulsed it just a couple times till I got the size of chunks I wanted. Let sit in fridge for about an hour before enjoying to let all the flavors collide.

Serve with lime chips and enjoy within 1-2 days.

It is also really good over top of BBQ Chicken or Pork Chops.

Fresh Cucumbers from the garden made into Sweet and Spicy Pickles!

These are "Refrigerator Pickles", you leave them in the fridge for a couple days then you can enjoy.

My husband prefers part of the skin peeled off, so I use a vegetable peeler to leave stripes around the cucumber before cutting into slices.

Slice into 1/8 inch thick slices, salt and set aside.

Make sure to use clean jars, sterilize in a pot of boiling water if necessary.

To each jar add:
Cucumbers (packed tightly)
1 diced small jalapeno (We used our red jalapeños from the garden)
1 Tbls of Minced Garlic
3 Sprigs of Fresh Dill or 1 Tbls Dried Dill
1 tsp of Cayenne Pepper
1 tsp Celery Seed

Bring to a boil and let sugar dissolve:
2/3 cup Sugar
2/3 cup Water
1 1/4 cup White Vinegar

Pour liquid mixture into the packed jars, lid and ring. Give a little swirl/shake.

Refrigerate for 48 hours before enjoying.

We have a ton of Hungarian Hot Wax Peppers this year, and we just made the most amazing stuffed peppers.

12 Peppers
1 lb of Hot Breakfast Sausage
1 block of Cream Cheese
1 Tsp of Basil
1 Tsp of Oregano
1 Tbls Minced Garlic
1/3 Cup Bread Crumbs
1 Tbls Olive Oil
6 slices of PepperJack Cheese

Cut tops off the peppers and cut a slit down and pull out the seeds and meat of the peppers. Set aside.

Brown Sausage, once browned drain grease and return to pan add Cream Cheese, Basil, Oregano, Garlic, Bread Crumbs, and Oil. Mix until well combined.

Stuff the peppers with the sausage mixture.
We cooked them on the grill for 5 minutes until they are roasted. Add 1/2 slice of cheese on top and let cook until melted.

Serve immediately.

*You can substitute to suit your heat tolerance if you want to use a banana pepper or Colby jack cheese.

Our 3rd year with this grapevine, and it looks like we may actually get grapes this year!!

Just finished up this beautiful crib blanket! I love the way it turned out!

You know it's cold, when the chickens went back in the coop this morning after eating breakfast. Brr...🥶

White Chocolate PB Fudge

1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
1 pkg of thin White Chocolate Reeses
1 /2 cup Peanut Butter
1 11 oz bag White Chocolate Chips

Prepare your 8x8 square dish with parchment paper, cut slits in corners to make fit. Coat lightly with cooking spray.

Melt Peanut Butter, White Chocolate Chips and Sweetened Condensed Milk together in saucepan until fully melted, combined and smooth. Stir consistently to avoid it burning.

Pour into tour prepared 8x8 and place your thin Reese cups on top.

Place in fridge for 2-3 hours. Cut into squares and store in fridge.

*You can use any White Chocolate Reese cups you prefer, you could also add chopped into the mix before pouring into your pan.

Whipped Jalapeño Cream Cheese

1 Jalapeño (minced)
1 Garlic Clove (minced)
1 8oz Cream Cheese Bar
1/4 cup Buttermilk

I used my food processor to mince garlic and jalapeño. (You can continue the next steps in your food processor, however it whips better with your mixer.)
With mixer whip your Cream cheese, and garlic jalapeño mix together, add Buttermilk a little at a time until you get the consistency you want.

Enjoy with plain bagels or an Everything Bagel.

What do you do when berries are on sale? You make Jam ofcourse!! So freaking delicious!
Mixed Berry (Blueberry, Blackberry, Raspberry)

Beef Stew in the Instant Pot

1 1/2 lbs of Stew Meat
4 Carrots (Peeled, and thick sliced)
1 Large Onion (diced)
4 Potatoes (cubed)
3 Garlic Cloves (minced)
3 cans Beef Broth
1 Tbls Olive Oil
1 Teas Salt
1 Teas Pepper
1 Tbls Oregano
1/2 Teas Cayenne Pepper
2 Tbls Worcestershire
1 small can Tomato Paste
2 Tbls Water
2 Tbls Cornstarch

Turn Instant Pot to Saute mode, add your oil, once hot add Stew Meat. Toss in your seasonings. Cook meat until brown on all sides. Add your beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to lift up all the beef bits. Add veggies (onion, carrots, potatoes, garlic) Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste.
Close the lid and steam valve and cook on high for 35 minutes. Once cooked allow to natural release for 10 minutes then quick release. To thicken your Stew mix your Cornstarch and water and add, then mix well. Serve with Biscuits, Cornbread or Grilled Cheese.

I hope you enjoy this one as winter approaches!