Bacon Wrapped Lit'l Smokies

Whoever said bacon makes everything better, was a geneous! The first time I tried these, I was at a friends reception.  I was hooked.  Then when I heard how simple they were to make I got really excited.  They taste like something you would have to bay big money for at a restaurant, cause slaving away all day over a hot stove is out of the question.  Its just three simple ingredients.

Bacon Wrapped Lit'l Smokies

1 lb bacon (cut strips into fourths)

1 package Lit'l Smokies (I like the beef)

1/2 cup brown sugar

Wrap a piece of bacon around the sausage link.  Secure with a tooth pick (the bacon will shrink, so the toothpicks help it to shrink around it instead of come loose) Place on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with brown sugar.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until bacon is to desired doneness. (I like mine crispy) I like to rotate my half way through so that both sides soak up the delicious juices!

These can be done in a crock pot at well. 

Baked Jalapeno Poppers

Well its Super Bowl Week here at Mommy's Kitchen Creations! You are in for some serious fun this week.  Tonight we have Baked Jalapeno Poppers.  Much healthier than the deep fried ones, and they taste better too!

Baked Jalapeno Poppers

15 Large Jalapenos

2 cups finely shredded Cheddar Cheese

2.5 oz package Cooked Chopped Bacon (1/2 cup)

2 (8 oz) bricks Cream Cheese (at room temp)

1 1/2 cups Panko Bread Crumbs

Slice Jalapenos lengthwise.  Make sure to remove all stems, seeds and ribs.  Is a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, bacon and cheese.  Mix well.  Scoop mixture into jalapeno halves and roll in bread crumbs. Bake at 350 for about 30 min, or until skin starts to bubble a little bit.



Delicious Baked Beans

I have to admit, making homemade baked beans has always intimidated me. There are a few things that I have always avoided making, because of intimidation. And because they are just so much easier to pull from the box or the can. Because of this blog, I've jumped to higher heights. Thanks everyone for the motivation!!!  Brownies, cakes, tortillas, tamales and baked beans are on my list.  Tortillas are the only things I haven't checked off the list so far.   The funny thing is, these hurdles are so much easier than what I thought they would be, but for some reason, they just seemed so out of my league.  Do you have some like that?  Seriously, what a rush, to tackle a recipe that you have been avoiding because you were too intimidated.

So yesterday I was browsing around, wanting to give it a try. I was looking for a from scratch recipe (almost all recipes I had seen added canned baked beans... It doesn't make sense to me! Why not just eat it straight from the can then.) I found a few recipes to get an idea of what I needed in it, and then decided to just create my own recipe.  I figured, hey, face the fear and try something new. 

I am not going to lie... I am so proud of myself.  To me, tweaking someone else's recipe to be my own, is easy.  Even creating my own recipes on every day meals, is pretty easy for me now. (It hasn't always been.  Actually following others' food blogs and seeing what they do, has really helped me to be more confident in the kitchen.  I am realizing that a recipe, is just a guide, not a "must do") For this though, it was a huge accomplishment for me.  I've never seen anyone make baked beans from scratch, and only know of two people in my entire life that have. It was a huge shot in the dark, but it turned out fabulously!!!

Ok I'm off the bragging train now :) I made these more of a southwest style. But play around and change things to your tastes.  My husband who doesn't like bell peppers, LOVED these beans.  There is no greater feeling than to create something and then to have your family chow down on it because they like it so much!!  I wanted the beans to be done, that day, so I opted out on soaking them etc.  So not 100% from scratch, I used canned beans, but not canned baked beans :)

Delicious Baked Beans

1lb bacon crumbled

1 medium onion minced

1 green bell pepper minced

1-2 cloves garlic

2 cans northern beans

1 can red beans

1 can black beans

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup molasses

3/4 cup ketchup

1 ½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 ½ tsp dry mustard



First: chop your onion and bell pepper. (I liked mine chopped pretty small)

Chop bacon into pieces.  You can do this after it is cooked, but I like it better this way.

Toss the bacon in a skillet and fry until done. (I liked mine crispy)  When done, take bacon out of the pan and set aside. What ever you do... save the bacon grease.  Tons of flavor it this stuff!!!

Fry the onions, garlic and bell peppers in the bacon grease until tender.  (It's ok to even fry it all with the bacon too)

Combine all ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.  

Black Angus' Baked Potato Soup

This has got to be the best potato soup that I have ever tasted!  I got the recipe from a friend of mine. I'm not sure if it's a copy cat or their actual recipe, but either way it's delightful! I know it's getting a little warm for soups right now, but I love my soups even in the dead of summer, so I wanted to post it. 

Black Angus' Baked Potato Soup

4 Lg. Baked potatoes

2/3 C. Butter

2/3 C. Flour

6 C. Milk

4 green onions (diced)

12 slices bacon, cooked crisply and chopped

¼ tsp. pepper

½ tsp. salt

1 ½ C cheddar cheese, shredded

8 oz sour cream

Bake Potatoes. Remove skins and discard. Put rest of potato in mixing bowl . Set aside. In a large pot, melt butter; then add flour. Whisk to paste. Cook for one minute. Add Milk. Stir constantly until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat. Add potatoes, salt, pepper, bacon and green onion. Stir until combined. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add sour cream. Serve in soup bowls or bread bowls. Top with extra cheese, onion, bacon, and/or sour cream.

Tip: if you need to, smash the potatoes up witha a wisk or a potato masher either in the bowl or in the pot.

Bacon Wrapped Grilled Corn on the Cob

Oh boy oh boy, this recipe puts a whole new twist to corn on the cob. Bacon seems to make anything better.  And there is nothing more satisfying to me than a nice ear of corn on the cob.  What a great combo! We have been grilling a bunch lately. I went to the library and got a video about grilling from Paula Deen. There was some fabulous recipes on there. I am so excited to try them!  I just love Paula Deen.  That woman knows how to make some serious comfort food. I also have another one of hers called Tastes Like Lasagna Soup on here, that is just heavenly. 

Bacon Wrapped Grilled Corn on the Cob

8 ears of corn

1 lb bacon



Gently pull back the husk exposing the corn. Do not remove the husk. Remove the corn silk and use a brush to make sure all the silk is removed. Soak the corn with the silks removed in water for 30 minutes. This will prevent the husks from charring.


Preheat a grill to medium heat.


Remove from the water and pat dry. Take a strip of bacon and wrap it around the corn. Fold the corn leaves back over, covering the bacon and corn. Tie the leaves with butcher string and repeat the process for each ear of corn. Place the ears of corn on the hot grill and cook, turning occasionally until bacon is cooked and corn is tender, approximately 15 to 20 minutes.