Hot Dog Chili Sauce!!!

Sometime there is nothing better than a good chili dog!  However, I find the canned chili dog sauces available to be lacking for the most part.   That is why I usually make my own.  It's so easy and tastes so much better.  This sauce can be doubled and then froze for future use also which is nice.

 Here is what you need:

1 lb. ground chuck or ground beef

1 small sweet onion, diced fine

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 Tbs. chili powder

1/2 tsp. cumin

1  (15 oz.) can tomato sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

2 Tbs. brown sugar

dash of hot sauce to taste

1 (15 oz.) can chili beans (optional)

Brown the ground chuck along with the diced onion in a skillet.  Drain excess grease.  Add the seasonings, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar and hot sauce.   Mix well and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to simmer.  If you are adding the beans add them now.  Beans are optional.  Some people like a plain, beanless hot dog chili.  We like the beans in it so I add them.  Leave this uncovered and simmer until it thickens up, then it's ready to use.   

This sauce is great on hot dogs, brats, smoked sausages, whatever.  I also use it on nachos, baked potatoes, tater tots, and chili cheese fries!   It's very versatile.  

Christmas Crack!

I don't usually name any of my recipes anything with 'crack' in the name, just because the internet and Pinterest is full of crack this and crack that.  It's been highly overused.   However, this name just fits this to a tee, because of the highly addictive nature of it!!!  This is the second batch I have made already this season and I haven't even taken it to anyone yet!    It's also so easy you won't believe.

 Here is what you need:

14 cinnamon graham crackers

1 cup butter  (2 sticks)

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped

1 cup white chocolate chips (you can use chocolate also)

1 cup M&M candies (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment or nonstick foil.  Lay the graham crackers end to end on the sheet.
 Place the butter, brown sugar and salt in a heavy saucepan.   Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Cook for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and add the vanilla flavoring and nuts.    Pour evenly over the graham crackers.   Place in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Remove and sprinkle with the white chocolate chips and M&M's.   You can use whatever toppings you like here.  Mini chocolate chips are good or even crushed peppermints works for a little twist!!!   Cool in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, then break in pieces.   You can break this in irregular pieces or use a pizza cutter and cut along the broken lines of the crackers to make squares!!!  This is delicious and it disappears fast!!!  

Cranberry Orange Muffins!

I had some leftover fresh cranberries from making my Cranberry Chutney so I decided to make muffins and they were so yummy!!!    These were great warm from the oven, but they were good the next day also!!!  The citrus and the tartness of the cranberries went well together.  Here is what you will need:

2 cups self rising flour

1 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

3/4  cup orange juice

1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. orange zest

1 cup fresh cranberries

1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Glaze

1 cups confectioners sugar

3 Tbs. orange juice

 Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, mix the flour and sugar.  Stir in the egg, orange juice, oil, sour cream and vanilla just until mixed.  Fold in the orange zest, cranberries and chopped nuts.   

Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with nonstick spray.  Fill each cup 3/4 full.  You can also make 9 of the super large muffins instead.   Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes.  

In a bowl, mix the confectioners sugar and the orange juice for a glaze.   Drizzle over warm muffins. 

*** You can use all purpose flour, but add  1 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda and 1/2 tsp. salt.