Air Fryer Meatballs

 I love, love, love this dinner. It is easy, quick and delicious!!! It is also a great way to serve meatballs without pasta although you could serve pasta on the side. We probably cook this meal once a week.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef (We prefer lean.)
• 1/2 of a small onion diced 
• 3 cloves of minced garlic (I use jarred 1 1/2 teaspoons.)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup Italian Breadcrumbs (like Progresso)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• jarred marinara

1. In a medium bowl combine all ingredients except marinara and shape into 2" meatballs.
2. Place a single layer of meatballs in the air fryer basket preferably lined with a disposable liner.
3. Cook at 400 degrees for 12 - plus minutes (will be browned on the top).
4. Serve with sauce spooned over the meatball and possibly grated parmesan cheese.
5. This recipe will most likely require two batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

Steamed Crab Legs

Crab legs in a restaurant can be quite pricey but don't be fooled they are very easy to prepare at home. 

I recommend this as a quick, impressive, different meal.

1. Place a steamer basket in the bottom of a large pot with several inches (just below the basket) of water.
2. Bring the water to a boil,
3. Place the crab legs in the pot on top of the basket and cover with a tight lid.
4. Steam the entree for 7 minutes.
5. Serve with melted butter!

Air Fryer Pork Chops

 As a big fan of pork, I really enjoy this recipe. My husband being rather lukewarm on pork approved of this dish also. So, I think you will enjoy the flavorful, moist selection.

Ingredients:

• 2 pork chops with bone
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon of paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

1. Combine all the dry ingredients.
2. Rinse the meat with cool water and dry thoroughly with a paper towel.
3. Coat the chop with oil.
4. Coat the chops liberally with the dry rub. (You will use it all.)
5. Cook in air fryer at 400 degrees 12 - 14 minutes flipping halfway through cooking time.
6. Verify the chops are cooked thoroughly with a thermometer - 140 degrees.

Shrimp Victoria

I received this recipe from Rhonda (yes the same Rhonda famous for her cakes). The recipe was included in a  memorial cookbook for her mother, Toots. I knew this was one of her favorites and have been meaning to try it forever. 
Well today was the day and now I regret not trying it earlier. It is quick, fairly easy and delicious!!! Next time I will add a little more cayenne pepper but other than that it was perfect!

• 1 pound raw shrimp (peeled)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• dash cayenne pepper
• 1 can mushrooms
• 1 1/2 cup rice or pasta

1. Saute the shrimp and onions in butter for 5 minutes, add mushrooms and cook additional 2-3 minutes.
2. Sprinkle flour, salt and cayenne pepper over shrimp. 
3. Stir in the sour cream and cook three minutes. Don't let it come to a boil.
4. Serve over prepared rice or pasta.

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

 Chicken Parm is a popular dish. Utilizing the air fryer makes it simple, quick and easy for smaller numbers. This recipe has quickly become a fan favorite in our house. Serves 2-4 but can be easily doubled for more or to have leftovers.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless chicken breasts (halved and cut into cutlets)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1/3 cup flour
• 2 eggs - beat lightly
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon dry Italian seasoning
• more parmesan cheese
• 1 cup jarred marinara
• 4 slices of mozzarella cheese
• cooking spray (like Pam)

1. Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees.
2. Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper.
3. Combine in a shallow dish number 1 - flour and garlic powder.
4. In shallow dish number 2 - place beaten eggs.
5. In a third shallow dish combine - breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning.
6. Dredge chicken in flour mixture then egg then panko mixture.
7. Spray chicken with cooking spray and place in the basket treated with cooking spray (or preferably a disposable liner treated with cooking spray) in a single layer which may require batch cooking.
8. Cook at 375 degrees for 6 minutes on each side (a total of 12 minutes). It is recommended to check the chicken with a thermometer at this point.
9. Leave chicken in basket and spoon two tablespoons of sauce on each piece with a piece of cheese on top (about 3-5 minutes).
10. Return basket to fryer and cook until golden and bubbly.
11. Serve with parmesan cheese.

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

 Air Frying has revolutionized much of our recipes. I was slow to utilize my air fryer but have recently made a concentrated effort which has resulted in a few recipes I am eager to share. This crab cake recipe is not only delicious but easy! I hope you enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup of mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup of diced red (or use a frozen option of mixed colors)
• 2 tablespoons of scallions or finely diced onion
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons of Old Bay Seasoning
• kosher salt
• black pepper
• 1 pound of lump crab
• 3/4 cup of panko breadcrumbs
• cooking spray (like Pam)

1. Whisk together the egg, mayo, bell pepper, scallions (onion), lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, 1 teaspoon (or less) salt, and a dash of pepper.
2. Gently fold in the crab and breadcrumbs.
3. Cover mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate a minimum of 30 minutes or maximum of one day.
4. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.
5. Spray fryer basket (or better yet the disposable liner) with cooking spray.
6. Divide crab mixture into 3 1/2" patties and place in basket.
7. Spray the tops of the patties with cooking spray and cook until golden (about 8 minutes).
8. Flip the patties. Spray tops with cooking spray and cook another 8 minutes.

Seve with your favorite sauce (ex. - hot sauce, tartar sauce, remoulade, cocktail sauce).

It is Christmas Cookie Time again!

Christmas cookie baking at Rhonda's means Christmas is near!! This year we had tried and true recipes along with a couple new. Enjoy the new recipes! (The oldies but goodies can be found under cookies!)

The Bakers

Cookies Galore

Jennifer's Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies

Ingredients:

• 8 oz cream cheese, room temp.
• 1/2 cup butter, room temp.
• 1 egg
• 1 cup white or semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup macadamia nuts, roughly chopped
• 15 oz. box strawberry cake mix
• 1/3 cup powder sugar

1. Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth
2. Mix in egg
3. Add dry cake max stir until combined
4. Stir in chips and nuts
5. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll in powdered sugar.
6. Place cookies on a cookie sheet and refrigerate (1 hr) or freeze (15 minutes).
7. Place in an oven preheated to 350 degrees.
8. Bake 8 - 10 minutes.
9. Cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes then move to cooling rack.
10. Sprinkles may be added prior to baking if desired.

Rhonda's Orange- Cranberry Pinwheels (bottom)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons orange zest 
• 3 cups all purpose flour

1. In a food processor blend cranberries, pecans and brown sugar until pieces are small. Chill.
2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer cream butter and sugar. Add  baking powder, salt, eggs and zest. Beat on medium low for 1 minute or until lumpy. Slowly add flour while beating at a medium speed until mixed well. Chill at least an hour.
3. Divide dough in half. Place one section between two piece of wax paper. Roll into a rectangle approximately 1/4  thick. remove top piece of wax paper and spreed cranberry mixture over evenly but allowing a 1/2 inch border on all sides.
4. Begin rolling rectangle from short  to seal ends. Place roll on a clean piece of wax paper and shut. (To avoid a flat bottom place between two large drinking glasses).
5. Repeat with remaining dough.
6. Chill at least 24 hours. (After a few hours roll gently to avoid flat spots.)
7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice into 1/4 " thick slices. Space 1 - 2" apart on a cookie sheet and bake 8- 10 minutes. Leave cookies on sheet a couple minutes then move to cooling rack.

Rhonda's Chess Cake

There is no limit to Rhonda's talent!

She will make a cake to meet any occasion or interest!

... and her cakes are delicious too!

Baby Shower Cake Pops for Baby Harper

Cake Pops to Welcome Our First Grandchild

by 

Rhonda

Rattle Cake Pops 

Grandma and Great Great Grandma to be 

More shower cake pops!

Rhonda's talent with cake is endless! Here she out does herself again!

Moist Banana Bread

Thoroughly mix the following:

3-4 ripe bananas - well mashed
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk

In a separate bowl sift together the following:

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Add dry ingredients to banana mixture and mix with electric mixers for two minutes.

Add the following to your batter and beat for one minute:

2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup milk

Transfer batter to loaf pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick when inserted comes out clean.

Rhonda had a busy Fall ... more cakes!!

Rhonda's cakes never disappoint!
I think you will agree the impossible has happened ,,, Rhonda's cakes keep getting better!

Gender Reveal Cake - Ricky and Erin -Before!

Gender Reveal Cake - After - It's a Girl!

Blair's Bridal Shower Cake

Rhond'as Halloween Party Cake

Don't be fooled!
Cheese ball cake for Blair's Bridal Shower!

Cake Balls for Blair's Bridal Shower!

John's Groom Cakes!

Jello Groom's Cake

Mary Jane's Potato Chip Cookies

Mary Jane's Potato Chip Cookies

Mary Jane is the mother of a dear friend. She contributed a new cookie idea to our annual Christmas cookie baking day. The new cookie was "Potato Chip Cookies". I could attempt to describe the unique flavor of this cookie but you would be better served cooking up a batch for your own test. The end result is a new favorite was born. 

Potato Chip Cookies are the first cookie right of the cooling rack!

• 2 sticks butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 cup potato chips, crushed
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar.
Gradually add flour and mix well.
Add vanilla and potato chips ... mix well.
Add pecans and mix well.

Drop by tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet (a small scoop was used to derive uniform results). Flatten dough with the bottom of a drinking glass dusted with powder sugar,

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Allow cookies to cool 5 minutes before removing from baking sheet.

Move cookies to a cooling rack and allow cookies to cool completely.

Artichoke Chicken Bake

A friend pinned a recipe recently. I made a few adaptions and came up with this version. We really like the ease and flavor of the dish. With minimal preparation time and an hour in the oven you will have a "new way to cook chicken".

• 4 pounds of chicken pieces (I used legs and thighs)
• 1  bag of frozen artichoke chunks (Trader Joe's)
• 1/2 bag frozen diced onions (Publix)
• 1/2 bag frozen sliced mushrooms (Publix)
• 2 tablespoons brown mustard
• 2 - 3 cloves minced garlic (as usual, I use the jarred)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup sherry vinegar (I'm sure red wine or cider vinegar would work too.)
• 1/4 cup white wine (apple juice or chicken broth would work)
• 3/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper (just a shake or two depending on your personal taste.)

 Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place frozen artichokes, onion, and mushrooms in the bottom of a baking dish that was sprayed with Pam, cooking spray.
Place chicken piece on top of the veggie layer.
In a separate bowl thoroughly combine mustard and the remaining ingredients.
Pour the mustard mixture evenly oven the chicken.
Bake 1 hour, until the chicken starts to crisp (baste several times during the hour).

Red Hot Jelly

Do you like the candy Red Hots? I love the flavor cinnamon and love Red Hots! 
At a recent party at Lorrie Ramsey's house she served Red Hot Jelly. I instantly fell in love with it. I immediately searched for a recipe on line and found the following on Food.com supplied by gingerkitten D. It is wonderful!!

• 4 cups apple juice or cider
• 1 pkg. dry pectin
• 4 cups granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup red hot candies

1. Combine the apple juice and pectin in a large microwave safe bowl.
2. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and bring to a boil in the microwave (on high setting for 12- 14 minutes).
3. Stir twice during the cooking.
4. Remove from microwave: add sugar and red hots, stirring well.
5. Return to microwave and cook until mixture returns to a boil (about 10 -12 minutes) stir occasionally.
6. Boil hard for 1 minute.
7. Remove from microwave and skim any foam.
8. Pour into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space.
9. Cap and seal.
10. Process 5 minutes in boiling water.  

Delicious Easy Ice Cream Cake

This cake was served for my son's birthday. It was a BIG hit! You can make with any flavor of ice cream but I used Publix Moose Tracks and can't imagine anything better!!

• 1/2 gallon ice cream (softened at room temperature)
• butter
• Oreos (about 2 rows)
• magic shell ice cream topping
• caramel ice cream topping

Generously butter a spring form pan.
Chop the oreos in a food processor.
Mix with magic shell.
Once ice cream is softened to a spreadable consistency spread approximately half of the ice cream into a bottom layer of the cake pan.
Top this layer with the layer of cookie crumb mixture.
Top cookie crumbs with another layer of ice cream.
Drizzle top of cake with some magic shell and caramel topping.
Freeze until ready to serve.
(Remember to make at least the night before to allow to freeze solid.)
Loosen the pan sides, remove and serve!

Pitcher of Mai Tai

Mai Tai

32 oz. Orange Juice (with no pulp)

32 oz. Pineapple Juice

24 oz. Sour Mix

8 oz. grenadine

24 oz. rum (original recipe split this 16 oz dark and 8 oz light)

8 oz. triple sec

Mix and serve. 

Also can freeze until slushy.

You can eliminate last two ingredients for a non-alcoholic version.

Rhonda Roger's Cakes

Rhonda's "Cake Corner"

Rhonda's cakes have been featured on this blog over the years. She has provided a selection of photos of the cakes she has made through out her career. The cakes will be featured here. If you have ever had a "Cake by Rhonda" you may find it here! Enjoy your tour.
To view all of Rhonda's cakes on this blog select the label "Rhonda's Cakes".

Halloween

Lucky Kindergartners -2006 !

1997 Inspiration!

2005 

Niece Holly's 6th birthday 2002

1998

Rob's Birthday!!

Tom's 8th Birthday 1998

1981 Strawberry Festival Entry

Mee Mee's Birthday 1996

1980

Rob's Birthday 1996

1980

1979

1981

Robby's 8th Birthday 1996

Pee Paw's Birthday 1996

Nephew Corey's 5th Birthday!

Robby's 2nd Birthday 1990

Rob's Birthday 1989

Robby's 7th Birthday 1995

Robby's 3rd Birthday 1991

Mother's Day 1990

Jim & Christy Smith 1980