Need class reunion bonfire "snackage" suggestions!?!
AND they have chickens that run around and beg for handouts! (I've never had a chicken begging from me before!)
Of course, what I bring should WOW everyone that I haven't seen in XX years, too!! LOL! Am I asking for too much?!
Answers:
Since no one has actually given you a recipe yet, and tonight is the night, here is my VERY simple recipe for poppers.
20 Jalapeno Peppers, destemmed, deseeded and spit lengthwise (I wear dish gloves when I do this)
1 Brick of Cream Cheese, at room temperature.
1 package of bacon; not turkey bacon. Pick a type that is on the thin side to "stretch". Cut in half.
20 toothpicks
Fill the cleaned and split peppers with the cream cheese like you would a deviled egg, wrap a 1/2 piece of bacon around it and stick a toothpick in it to hold it all together. That's it.
Cover a baking pan with foil and place all the poppers on there, it's ok if they're touching. Bake for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees, then BROIL on LOW for about 10 minutes until the bacon is crisp. Let them cool a little bit (so they'll solidify a bit) before putting them in whatever you plan on transporting them in.
We dip them in Hidden Valley "Spicy" Ranch dressing or just plain Ranch.
Yum!
7 Layer taco dip
Chili con queso
Taquitos w/sour cream, guacamole, lime and shredded cabbage
BLT finger sandwiches
Hot dogs.
Pretzels.
Chips.
These are easy to grab and eat, not as sweet as a cupcake (so you won’t be competing with the s’mores as much), and delicious! They nabbed me my boyfriend (true story!).
From BarnacleJake:
Pumpkin Bread
Makes two loaves
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1/2 cup water
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups solid pack pumpkin (see note)
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup raisins
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans. Combine sugar and oil in a large bowl. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in water. Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and ground cloves. Stir into egg mixture. Mix in pumpkin. Stir in pecans and raisins. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, about one hour.
Cool bread in pans 10 minutes. Turn out onto racks and cool completely. Wrap loaves tightly and refrigerate two days or freeze up to one month.
*For muffins, grease bottoms of muffin pan; fill 2/3 of the way with batter. Muffins bake in 25-30 minutes. I usually only bake 8-12 muffins at a time; the rest of the batter freezes fine.
One minor note: I only find solid pack pumpkin in a 15 oz can these days -- close enough to two cups.
Changes necessary to make them cranberry-licious:
Ditch the pecans.
Ditch the raisins.
Grab a bag of fresh cranberries and cut each in half, rolling in brown sugar once cut. I used between 1 - 2 cups of cranberries.
OR grab some dried cranberries, soak them in water or the liquor of your choice until plump, add to batter.
These are some really great baked goods. Really.
