Bacon Wrapped lil Smokies

I love Hillshire Farms lit'l smokies® any time... we can have a party just so I can serve these! When we wrap these little cocktail weiners in a good smoked bacon, and top with brown sugar... oh my goodness. Over the top good! 

These sweet little niblets are served at our annual New Year's Eve party, and they are on my Super Bowl menu. I know. I treat my guys so good.

Bacon Wrapped lil Smokies 

Ingredients

• 1 package lil smokies 
• 1 package smoked bacon 
• 3/4 cup brown sugar

Directions 

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees
• Cut bacon slices into thirds 
• Wrap sliced bacon around each lil smokie and place them into a pan, 
• Evenly spread brown sugar over the top of the bacon wrapped lil smokies.
• Bake 40 minutes - until the bacon is crispy and the sugar is melted.

 Notes**

• It is easier to wrap the bacon if it is cold
• You can make these ahead and reheat at party time
• I prefer Hillshire Farms lit'l smokies®, but you can use any brand cocktail links. 

 I'll be posting a few more of our Super Bowl Sunday recipes as it gets closer.

Baked Jalapeno Popper Dip

Jalapeno Popper dip is a favorite for our annual New Year's Eve party, and it is a great dip to serve at a Superbowl football party. It is hot and melty, but with the crunchy topping, it really resembles a fried popper.

My son-in-law threatened to hide with the dish and a spoon... yes. It is that good.

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Ingredients

• 16 oz cream cheese (2 - 8oz packages)
• 1 Cup mayonnaise (Kraft or Best Foods)
• 1 4oz can chopped green chillies drained 
• 4 oz canned jalapeno pepper chopped 
• 1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese - divided
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• In a small, microwaveable bowl, microwave the cream cheese for about 30 seconds just to soften it, making it easier to mix with the other ingredients. 
• Mix in the mayonnaise, chopped green chillies (sometimes I add in a teaspoon or so of the liquid from the can)
• Mix in the jalapeno peppers and 2/3 cup of Parmesan cheese. 
• Spray a baking pan with pam cooking spray - a deep dish pie pan or similar size baking dish, then pour the mix into the dish
• Mix the bread crumbs with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese and spread over the top of the dish
• Bake uncovered for about 10 - 15 minutes - it is ready when the dip is hot and melty and the top crust is lightly brown.

NOTES**

•  For a milder flavor, use half the canned jalapeno peppers, for more flavor you can add more. You may want to add half the jalapeno peppers and taste test it before adding more. 
• You can use fat free cream cheese / mayonnaise or low fat versions
• Remember, the flavor of the dip is only as good as the ingredients you use. In other words, do not use cheap mayonnaise. It makes a difference - Kraft or Best Foods.
• Serve with French baguette sliced thin - it is also good served with ritz crackers or Keebler® Town House crackers, but we prefer it with the sliced bread. This is the bread we used NYE. The texture was really good with the creamy dip.

Pumpkin Pie Alternative Gooey Pumpkin Butter Cake

Oh how I love a good pumpkin pie. I always use the recipe from the back of the Libby Pumpkin can. Super easy to make and oh-so-good. Some of my family members don't like pie.

Hmmmm..... really?

Yes, it's true. Some people don't like pie.

Well, some years ago, I was watching Paula Deen and she made the yummiest looking dessert, pumpkin gooey butter cake. Ohmy.... it looked so good, I had to make it. My family may not all love pumpkin pie, but they are in luv with this pumpkin dessert. This might sound like a complicated recipe, because it is in layers, but it is really easy to put together.

Ingredients

• Cake: 1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix


• 1 egg


• 8 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened1 (15-ounce) can


• pumpkin


• 3 eggs


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 8 tablespoons butter, melted


• 1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar


• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well.

Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey.

Serve with fresh whipped cream.

Paula Deen's Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake Recipe