Comfort Food ~ Giveaway

No, I'm not giving away comfort food!  I suppose my post title might give that impression.  Haha!   

Most of my cooking these days falls into the "quick and easy" category, and this recipe and another for chili that I will share definitely qualify.  If you are a fan of Ree Drummond's blog, then you may have seen this recipe on her blog.  It's called Cherry Cheesecake Shooters.  This is my version of her recipe and my photo.  You can find the compete recipe here with step by step photos showing how to put this together.  It's a really simple yet tasty little dessert to serve your family or guests.  Best of all, if you use canned pie filling, it is very quick to put together.  Enjoy!

Cherry Cheesecake Shooters

 1-8 ounce package cream cheese
1 can (14 ounce) Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 sleeve (8 whole) Graham Crackers, crushed
1 can cherry pie filling
1/4 cup sliced almonds, optional

Crush the graham crackers and spoon into the bottom of
small wine glasses.  If not using almonds,

reserve a few graham cracker crumbs for garnish.

Mix cream cheese and approximately 3/4 of the can of
sweetened condensed milk in a medium bowl with an
electric mixer until fluffy.

Carefully spoon the filling mixture onto the crumbs in each
of the wine glasses.

Top with a large spoonful of the cherry pie filling and then top
with a few sliced almonds, if desired.  (I used a few reserved
crumbs for garnish.)

This is a smaller version of Ree's recipe and it made enough for about 6 servings, depending on the size of the wine glasses.  My glasses are of average size.

Next up...Chili!

Also on the menu was my Quick and Easy Chili.  I made quite a large pot so that we would have enough for anyone who might drop in and it is good the next day, too, if you like leftovers.  Now there are a gazillion chili recipes out there and I've shared a little more involved chili recipe here that we like, but my Quick and Easy version is our favorite.

Quick and Easy Chili

1-30 oz can chili-style beans
1-30 oz can red kidney beans
1-30 oz can petite diced tomatoes
1 can tomato soup
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 med. onion, diced  (I used dried onion flakes)
1 1/2 pounds ground beef

Place first five items in a large pan like a dutch oven.  

Brown ground beef and diced onion, drain.
Add browned ground beef and onion to bean mixture and heat through.  
Serves 8 more or less, depending on how many bowls they want!

Note:  I often make a similar recipe for just BG and I using two 15 ounce cans of beans and one can diced tomatoes and 1 pound of ground beef.  I add a small can of tomato sauce, and onion flakes, but omit the chili powder.  It's good, too!

How is your week going?  Our water heater conked out again last night and BG decided that it was time for a new one.  He's taking the day off so he can go pick one out and get it installed.  In the meantime, we are roughing it without hot water!  Have you ever washed your hair in really cold water?  That will wake you up!!

My Giveaway:  I have added a couple of pairs of handcrafted earrings to the gift card in my giveaway.  There may be another surprise or two, I haven't decided yet.  The drawing will be on February 15, according to the GYB guidelines, so be sure to sign up soon if you haven't already done so.  You don't have to be a participant in the Grow Your Blog party to enter!  

   

I'll be giving moral support helping BG with the water heater as best I can, so if I don't get around to your blog today, you know we are hard at work so we'll have hot water!!  Happy Wednesday to you!  And enjoy having hot water, too.  :)

Until next time...