Bytes and Wheels are Rueben collectors. Whenever they eat out and there is a Rueben sandwich on the menu – everything comes to a halt until they order one. And when it arrives, attention is focused on nothing but the Rueben and the whole Rueben. This Rueben Dip has the same effect. Nothing can interrupt the inhalation. You can layer this dip if you want. But I’ll tell you, it’s a waste of time. Nobody is going to pay any attention to nice layers. It’s dig in, every dog for himself until it’s gone. So just soften the cream cheese by bringing it to room temperature. Stir in the Thousand Island dressing. Add one cup of the Swiss Cheese, the drained sauerkraut and the corned beef. Stir well and spread into an 8x8 pan or a 9 inch diameter pie pan. Sprinkle the remainder ... [Read More]
appetizer
Sausage Bites
I made Sausage Appetizer Bites for New Year's Eve because the guys love it! It's a filling, hearty appetizer with no fancy flavors or parts -- just good stuff together! I made it again recently and barely saved enough for a picture. You're lucky I have no compunction about grabbing food off their plates for a photo! Bytes tried to put teethmarks in all of his but I was faster. And then I couldn't get a knock your socks off photo . . . . You'll have to take my word with scant photographic proof that this is a taste worth fighting for. . . it is! Use the full crescent sheets if you can. Otherwise press the seams together on the perforated crescent dough. Grease or spray the baking sheet and work with the first package of crescent dough directly on the cookie sheet. Stretch it ... [Read More]
Potato Nests and holiday menu suggestions
I served this at a tea party brunch for something a little more substantial and with a different texture and savory taste than the usual fare. I served in the fancy ramekins in which they were baked. A platter of these nicely turned out would be spectacular, especially with a few chopped chives over the top and perhaps a bit of other green garnish tucked in between the cakes. Foods that are already portioned make a buffet line move quickly. This is quick to make because you start out with packaged shredded potatoes. I used the kind found in the refrigerated section. The shredded Parmesan cheese adds to the flavor and you can use your choice of cheese for the remaining measure of cheese. I didn't want my potato nests to have a bright yellow color so chose a white yellow mix of ... [Read More]
Cinnamon Apple Baked Brie
The first time I tasted this, I couldn’t stop saying Oh my gosh! This is so GOOD, this is SOOO good. Everyone laughed at me. Then they scooped out some of this fabulous creamy, buttery, warm and spicy wonder onto a cracker. And could not stop saying Oh wow! This is SOOOOO GOOOOD!!! We all circled around, scooping and savoring and MMMMMing, until 20 minutes later – empty plate. It is so easy to make. Leave the peel on the apples to add color. In fact, you could use a green apple and a red apple for more color. I used Gala, but any crisp cooking apple will work. You can leave the entire rind on the Brie if you like, but that is not our favorite part so I scrape off the top. The side and bottom rinds will form a container for the cheese. Water biscuits are good, but we also ... [Read More]
Cream Cheese Toffee Dip and Happy Anniversary!
A Pinch of Joy is one year old! Actually, it is older than that because I did a lot of research and learning and planning before posting the very first post. And that was August 22 – just one year ago! In case you missed it – and I’m sure most of you did! – here it is again. The first month, readers were numbered in the tens – and I knew the name of every one of them! Your words and feedback were so encouraging! I can’t thank you all enough for taking the time to write those notes! You know who you are. . . . This has been a learning year! I was fairly proficient at using MSWord and knew my way around the internet really well. And I heard about C Prompts and FAT 32s when Bytes studied for his certification exams. None of that was any help at all in blogging! I had to learn ... [Read More]
Chili Cups
Chili cups. Quick and easy main dish, hearty appetizers or Friday night staple. When Bytes and his brother were grade school sprouts, they got to picnic on a big green beach towel on the living room floor every Friday night and watch their favorite tv show. Forget Family Night. It was Exhausted Mommy and Daddy Night! They had an early bedtime the rest of the week and we were those mean parents that restricted tv watching. Watching that show meant they could keep up with their friends. Reliving and reenacting the show, through the “get into your pajamas and bed routine”, allowed the parents to interject some critical thinking into the process. “Do you think that was the best way to handle that?” kind of question. Well, maybe Mom, if she wasn’t busy corralling flying shoes ... [Read More]
