Southwestern Potato Nachos

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The flavors of the southwest are one of my favorites. I never get tired of them. So when I found out that the theme for this month's Best BiMonthly Recipe Challenge Blog Hop Ever! was potatoes, I knew exactly what I wanted to create. Southwestern Potato Nachos! The base of the nachos are made of egg washed potato wedges. They are topped with lots of great southwestern flavor from salsa, green onions, black beans, 2 types of cheeses, roasted peppers and more. The secret to making this easy to assemble and keeping it hot for serving is to have all the ingredients cut and chopped prior to baking. Once it is out of the oven, it comes together quickly. Mix up the way the ingredients are added or change some of the ingredients if you want. Make it yours with your favorite southwestern flavors!

Southwest Potato Nachos

Carrot Cookies / #SundaySupper

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Today for Sunday Supper we are featuring root vegetables, which are very popular right now. So I thought that some Carrot Cookies needed to be on the menu! Root vegetables are not only good tasting, but they are very high in nutrients, they store well, and they give you the ability to use locally sourced food, even in the winter months. Carrots are a root vegetable that is extremely versatile. They can be used for everything from an appetizer to a dessert, and can be cooked in a bazillion different ways! These carrot cookies are quick to make, and even quicker if you leave off the frosting. They have a great taste, that I know you will love!

 Carrot Cookies

Happy Shamrock Cookies

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These Happy Shamrock Cookies are cute little St. Patrick's Day cookies that I hope will brighten your day! They are quick to bake and decorate, and they will put a smile on everyone's face. The dough I used is my "go-to" cookie dough that I have used for a while, and it never fails me. It can be mixed together one day, and if used within the next week of so, it is still fresh and tastes fantastic. The royal icing recipe is one I have used many times also. It stays fresh for at least a week or so, and I have read where other cookie bakers have refrigerated it and it stays fresh longer. When I made this cookie dough my plan was to make both shamrock cookies and Easter cookies out of the same batch. So after I baked these shamrock cookies, I put my dough back in the fridge, and I will bake the Easter cookies this weekend. I love that the dough doesn't have to be used immediately!

Happy Shamrock Cookie
 

Celebrate It! Blog Link Party!

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It's Celebrate It! Time!

Tortellini and Tomato Salad /#FoodieExtravaganza

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I know it is still winter, but I love summer salads. And cookbooks. Which is how I ended up making this Tortellini and Tomato Salad! I was browsing through a cookbook when I saw this salad and I loved all the ingredients including the tortellini! I was looking for a recipe that contained a noodle for today's post. So, it all came together perfectly!
The prep of this salad is simple and easy! Cook some tortellini, chop some veggies, blend together some dressing, and you are done!

 Tortellini and Tomato Salad 

Irish Shepherd's Pie / #SundaySupper

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Irish Shepherd's Pie is something I have made many times. Shepherd's Pie does not really have an Irish origin, but it is a staple of Irish cooking and it is so, so wonderful! It's like the poster child for comfort food! This pie is full of ground beef, corn, shallots, and seasoning. Then it is topped with mashed potatoes, covered with cheese and baked in the oven! Simple to make and a pleasure to eat!

Irish Shepherd's Pie

Southwest Santa Fe Pizza

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My love of Las Vegas is no secret. It is where I spent most of my adult life. It is where I  graduated college, and got engaged. It is where my son was born, and my husband and I went into business. We picnicked at Mt. Charleston, hiked Red Rock and skied Lake Mead. Needless to say, Las Vegas is such an important part of me, and close to my heart. I've teamed up with Vegas.com and I am excited! The Annual International Pizza Expo that is held in Las Vegas every year is coming up in March, and I am taking part in a fun challenge to create a unique pizza that is inspired by one of the hotels. I created a pizza that is southwestern in style, inspired by the Santa Fe Hotel and Casino.

Southwest Santa Fe Pizza

Celebrate It! Blog Link Party!

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It's time for Celebrate It!

Thank you for stopping by today! I am so glad that you are here!
I hope you have busy creating whatever makes you heart sing and
I hope you will be sharing them here!
We want to celebrate with you!
Have a Happy Week!

Here are last weeks most clicked links:

 Wedding Morning Gift

from

A Bride on A Budget

Stuffed Green Peppers 

from

Saving for My Family

Tangled Paper Lantern

from

Designs by Miss Mandee

Thank you to everyone that stopped by to link up or to look around!

So glad you are here to share your projects or just your thoughts!

We want to celebrate with you!

Here are a few things that will make this party fun for everyone:
 

1. Visit 2 or 3 other party goers if you can. It makes it so much more fun

to link up when someone clicks on your link and visits your page.

2. I pin each of your link ups to the Celebrate It! board,
 and I will also pin them to another one of my
 board that fits the pin.
 Your link up will get tweeted both times also!

3. By linking up you are giving me permission to feature your post on social media.

  Proper credit is always given. You may receive an 

email reminder about this party.

Let's start the party!

An InLinkz Link-up

Shamrock Mini Cheesecakes

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I am a huge St. Patrick's Day fan, so I am excited to show you what is definitely the first of several recipes to celebrate March 17. These Shamrock Mini Cheesecakes should be a part of your party plans! They start with a chocolate base, are filled with vanilla cheesecake, topped with a milk chocolate ganache, and the topper is melted candy melts shaped into a shamrock. It is easy to make these sweet, festive treats!

Shamrock Mini Cheesecakes

 (printable recipe)

Crust

1 1/4 cups Crushed Chocolate Graham Crackers

1/4 cup Melted Butter

Shamrock 

1/2 bag Green Candy Melts 

Gold Sprinkles 

Filling 

3-8oz. blocks of Cream Cheese, softened

2/3 cup of Sugar

1/2 cup Whipping Cream

5 teaspoons Cornstarch

4 Eggs

1 Egg Yolk

1/4 cup Vanilla flavored Syrup

2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Ganache 

8-10 ounces Milk Chocolate

1/4-1/2 cup Whipping Cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl, mix together the graham crackers and the butter. Place a tablespoon of crust in to each cavity opening of the pan. You can also use cupcake liners in a cupcake pan. They work great. There will be fewer cheesecakes because they are a bit larger.

Use your shamrock cookie cutter and trace around it on parchment paper. You will need one traced shamrock for each cheesecake. 

Melt the green candy melts, and place it in a plastic decorating bottle. Turn your parchment paper over and trace the outline of the melts, and then fill it in. Sprinkle the gold over the shamrocks while they are wet. Let dry.

Combine softened cream cheese, sugar, whipping cream, and cornstarch in a large bowl. Beat with mixer until smooth. Add the eggs and the egg yolk one at a time, beating after each addition. Add in the vanilla flavored syrup and the extract. 

Pour batter into each opening, on top of the chocolate graham cracker crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Check if it's done like you do for a cake~with a toothpick. Take a toothpick around each cake, then let cool completely. Remove from pan. Let cool some more.

Chop the chocolate in to small pieces. Place in a double boiler and melt on low. Heat the whipping cream in a separate pan or in the microwave. Add the warm cream to the chocolate a little at a time, until the consistency is smooth and drizzly.

 Use a spoon to drizzle the ganache over the cheesecakes.

Release the shamrocks by pulling the parchment from the bottom. They release very easily.

Place a shamrock on each cheesecake and enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by today! I am so happy you did!

Here are some past St. Patrick's Day treat you might enjoy! Look for some new ones coming soon!

 A Tip of Me Hat To Ya!

St. Patrick's Day Cookies

 

St. Paddy's Day Popcorn

 

Orange & Walnut Baby Spinach Salad w/Quinoa & a Citrus Vinaigrette / #SundaySupper

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Today, I am talking about this Winter Salad, just full of wonderful ingredients, like baby spinach, inca red grain quinoa, fresh orange segments, juicy grape tomatoes, and candied walnuts. Top it off with a citrus vinaigrette, and you have a quick to put together salad the whole family will love. This plateful is enough for one if it is the main course, or two if it's a side!

Orange and Walnut Baby Spinach Salad w/ Quinoa and a Citrus Vinaigrette