CAMEMBERT and PEAR SALAD

This is one of my favorite salads. Camembert cheese gets tossed with honey Dijon dressing and honey roasted peanuts, then baked until soft. Very yummy over salad greens when served with pears.

2 (1-oz.) wedges Camembert cheese
3 tablespoons honey Dijon dressing, divided
2 tablespoons honey roasted peanuts, finely chopped
mixed baby salad greens
1/2 medium pear, cut into 8 slices

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In small zipper bag, toss cheese wedges with 1 teaspoon dressing and peanuts; shake to coat cheese with the peanuts. Place cheese on ungreased baking sheet. Reserve any peanuts still remaining in bag. Bake cheese about 8 minutes, or until skightly softened.

In a bowl, toss greens with remaining dressing and reserved peanuts. Divide evenly between 2 salad plates. Arrange 4 pear slices on each salad, then top each with warm cheese wedge.
Serves 2

TEQUILA-LIME DRESSING

This refreshing dressing is wonderful over any fruit salad but particularly over watermelon.

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons tequila
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Whisk everything together and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

SHRIMP CREOLE

One of my most requested recipes, this spicy shrimp dish struts its stuff in the crock-pot, making it extra easy on the cook. Serve over rice with a side salad.

1 1/2 cups chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup diced green pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28oz.) can diced tomatoes
16oz. tomato sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 bay leaves
3 to 6 drops Tabasco sauce
1 lb. fresh shrimp, shelled and deveined

Combine all ingredients in Crock-Pot except shrimp. Stir to blend well. Cover and cook on LOW 7 to 9 hours or 3 to 4 on HIGH. During last hour add shrimp and turn to HIGH. Cook until shrimp turn pink. Serve over rice.

FROM MY EYES...THE BEST PIZZA PIE...MAYBE NOT EVER...BUT I'M JUST SAYIN'

Pizza pie...it can be round..it can be square..it can be a figure eight..pie r round..cornbread r square..not always though..

I prefer my own pizza. In my time I have had a lot of different pizza experiences. May I say that I always wander back to mine. Like a cow to water. Like a dog to a bone...need I say more?

I prefer the homemade sausage to the hamburger that is in the freezer but Larry normally wins out to the hamburger...is it just me or is it all of us "Southern Women", who were raised to take care of your man, that feels this way? I am going to work on getting over that!

That being said, turn your oven to 400 degrees. Get out your blackest baking sheet. Open up a roll of refrigerated pizza dough and then commence to pat it out a little at a time until you are almost covering all surfaces. Prick it with a fork like you would a pie crust. That's right! Pour a thin layer of olive oil over the crust and take a pastry brush to it or the back of a big spoon, spreading all around. Place in the oven for 5 to 8 minutes, just let it get a little frisky, then pour some store-bought pizza sauce over it, however much you like...we like a happy amount.
Cover with a thin layer of grated mozzarella cheese. Let set while you prepare squares of green, red, and yellow bell pepper; sliced mushrooms (which I barely saute out in a little olive oil or butter); place these strategically over the sauce. Top with all the mozzarella you can get your hands on....Place in 375 degree oven and bake for 20 minutes...check it at this point and if you think it is ready, have at it, or let it cook for 5 more minutes. Enough said.

MOON PIE BANANA PUDDING

There is nothing ordinary about this banana pudding! MoonPies take the place of vanilla wafers for a taste of chocolate marshmallow sandwich with each bite. Worth a try.

2 (4.6oz.) pkgs. cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix
4 cups milk
1 (8oz.) sour cream
8 (2.75oz.) MoonPie sandwiches, cut into eighths
3 bananas, sliced
1 (8oz.) Cool Whip, thawed

Cook pudding mix and milk according to package directions. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Whisk in sour cream; let stand until thickened.

Pour half of pudding into a 2-qt. dish. Layer about 40 of the MoonPie wedges evenly over pudding. Top evenly with banana slices and remaining pudding. Top with Cool Whip. Arrange remaining MoonPie wedges around outer edge of dish. Cover and chill overnight.
Serves 12 to 15

"I never met a banana pudding that I did not like."~Adele Forbes

NOT YO' MAMA'S BANANA PUDDING

This is a Paula Deen recipe and one of the most delish' banana pudding recipes ever. Not only is mouth-watering beyond measure, it is also delightful to look at...but you better look quick...........

2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessman cookies
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
1 (5oz.) pkg. instant French-vanilla pudding
1 (8oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (14oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8oz.) Cool Whip, thawed

Line bottom of a 9X13 pan with 1 bag of cookies. Place sliced bananas on top. Blend milk and pudding, mix well with electric mixer. Beat cream cheese and condensed milk together in another bowl until smooth; fold in Cool Whip. Add to pudding mixture, stirring until well blended. Pour over cookies and bananas; cover with remaining cookies. Refrigerate no less than 2 hours. (I myself and me would give it at least 6 hours. Yum Yum...eat um up.

"We need more BUTTER!"~Paula Deen

KRISS-KROSS CHEESE WAFERS (For Bev Staring)

Rice Krispies strut their stuff in this krispy cheese wafer. Turn up the volume on the cayenne pepper!

1 stick butter-room temperature
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Rice Krispies
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper....like I mentioned..turn up the volume if you dare

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter then stir in the cheese and next the flour. Add cereal and cayenne. Form into heaping teaspoon size balls and place on baking sheet; flatten with a fork, making a kriss-cross pattern. Bake for 10 minutes. That's enough, don't over do it! Excellant served with cocktails.

"Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty."~Sicilian Proverb