Corn Dog Mini Muffins

I'll tell you that these weren't exactly easy to photograph. Trying to portray their deliciousness all while thinking these look a lot like boobs was not an easy task. I found myself smirking as I held them up on their little white plate trying to snap a photo. Ah well, whether you think they look like mutant boobs or not is totally up to you. One thing for sure is they're tasty!

I saw these posted by Tablespoon.com and thought they seemed like a simple and easy snack, an easy dinner option, or something to take along to a BBQ because they'll be happening soon! I am going to be making roasted sweet potato and yukon gold french fries to go with thes

e! This is also such a kid friendly snack. What kid doesn't like a hot dog? Don't have all the ingredients? That's okay! You can always use a box mix. I used turkey dogs in these for a healthier version, but you could always use regular hot dogs, polish sausage or even those cocktail wieners. I like mine with a squirt of mustard and ketchup!

Corn Dog Mini Muffins

from happygoodtime.com

1 package of your favorite hot dogs (make sure these are pre-cooked hot dogs)

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce (you can substitute with vegetable oil or butter)

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl combine flour, cornmeal, salt and baking powder. In another bowl mix toge

ther eggs, milk, sugar and apple sauce. Gently fold in the wet mixture with the dry mixture to coat. Do not over stir, be gentle with your batter! Over stirring with cause tough, dry cornbread.

There will be lumps in your batter. Relax, it's okay!

Spray your muffin tin well with cooking spray or use muffin liners. Fill each muffin cup 3/4 full. Be sure not to fill all the way to the top.

Cut your hot dog into one each pieces. I found that you get 3 good size pieces out of a standard hot dog. Insert hot dog into center of the muffin with the flat side down so they stand nicely.

Bake muffins 10-15 minutes or until done. At the 10 minute mark do the toothpick test to see if they are done. Mine were perfect at 15 minutes, but some ovens run hotter.

Remove from pan while warm to avoid over cooking.

Enjoy with ketchup, mustard or your favorite condiment!

This recipe created 14 standard muffins for me.

Amigos Taco Soup Olé (Crockpot)

I'd like to tell you I slaved away over the stove to make this soup, but to be honest I didn't. We're having a weird winter and spring here in Indiana and its hot hot hot! At least for a native Alaskan like me it is. Lately it's been coasting around 70 degrees here and I'm putting off turning on the air conditioner for as long as I can. I've been keeping busy volunteering and would rather throw a bunch of ingredients together in a crockpot and walk away while I'm out helping animals in need!

Speaking of animals we recently became foster failures and adopted our fo

ster named Checkers. He was previously adopted and returned. I fell in love with him and scooped him up and took him home. After many a drama we tried to find him a home and ultimately I was absolutely torn up over him not being in my life. We filled out the adoption papers and the rest was history! Who is Checkers? Let me share his handsome face with you!

He was hunting flies in this picture, haha. He is a big boy and about eight months old.

Anyway! About this taco soup! It's quick, delicious, and full of flavors! I am a tomato hater, but I think the stewed tomatoes in this worked well and I was OK with eating the big old chunks of em'! For some reason tomatoes are tolerable for me when they're cooked down. The beef gets incredibly tender as it cooks on low for hours. Try this! It's inexpensive and easy. I call it semi-homemade, hehe.

Amigos Taco Soup Olé

adapted from Easy Slow Cooker Recipes (Cookbook Resources)

1 pound of lean ground beef

2 (15 ounce) cans chili beans with liquid

1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn with liquid

2 (15 ounce) cans Mexican stewed tomatoes

1 (1o ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies

1 packet of ranch dressing mix

1 packet taco seasoning

Shredded cheddar cheese (optional topping)

Sour cream (optional topping)

Brown ground beef in large skilled, drain and transfer to sprayed slow cooker.

Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours. When serving, sprinkle cheese and/or sour cream over each serving.

Serves 6 to 8.

Party Sandwiches (Crockpot)

So lately my honey and I have been on a food budget as he's our only income while I'm on vacation. I managed to plan my meals cheaply and only spent about $68 at the grocery store for two weeks of dinners (plus other essentials like milk, eggs, etc.) Not too shabby if you ask me! We normally spend $100 or more so I think I did pretty well with what I had. I bought a lot of canned beans, haha! That's okay though, I love beans!

This is a great simple and delicious sandwich. There's no fuss or muss and it really doesn't need any kind of dressings to it. It's plain delicious on a bakery fresh hot d

og bun! This would be even better on a hoagie bun too! I'm really falling in love with my ancient crockpot....I should take her picture some day! Best $3.00 I ever spent!

We ate this with pasta salad, but your sides are endless. Corn on the cob, fresh garden salad, potato chips, the options go to infinity and back!

On to the recipe!

Party Sandwiches

from Easy Slow Cooker Recipes (Cookbook Resources)

3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

2 tablespoons Caribbean jerk seasoning

1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped bell peppers and onions

2/3 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup ketchup

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

8 hot dog buns/hoagie buns, split

Rub chicken thighs with jerk seasoning and a little pepper. Place in sprayed slow cooker and add bell peppers and onions.

Combine broth, ketchup and brown sugar in bowl and pour over chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.

Remove chicken from cooker with slotted spoon and shred chicken using two forks.

Return chicken to slow cooker and mix well. Fill buns with chicken mixture.

Yields 8 sandwiches.

Enjoy!