Sharing a recipe....yum!

Dinner tonight was yummy, even if I do say so myself....

 and pretty easy (don't tell that part to RyDaddy)

and as a bonus...even the girls like this dish!

I haven't shared a recipe in awhile....here is a simple standard wintertime favorite of mine that you really can't go wrong with.....Prep time is only 15 minutes, you use only a 1/2tsp. & 1/2c. measuring utensils and this yummy dish bakes in the crock pot.  Crock pot meals are my absolute favorite!  It turns out looking pretty fancy too...like you surely must have slaved over it!

Cornish Game Hens:

Prep Time: 15 min.

Bake Time (in crock pot): 4 hrs. & 30 min.

Ingredients:

·         1/2 tsp. salt

·         1/2 tsp. pepper

·         1/2 tsp. onion powder

·         1/2 tsp. garlic salt

·         1/2 tsp. dill weed

·         1/2 tsp. dried oregano 

·         1/4 tsp. paprika 

·         2 Cornish game hens (thawed and rinsed inside and out)

·         1/2 c. chicken broth

·         1/4 c. juice any flavor (I've used orange, pineapple, or apple.......and today fruit punch from the girls' juice boxes, as that's all we had on hand....it all turns out good--the juice just adds a tinge of flavor and mostly moisture).

Mix first seven ingredients in small bowl.  Mix liquids in separate small bowl.  Place hens in crock pot.  Pour liquids over hens inside and out.  Sprinkle other mixture generously over hens inside and out.  Cook on low in crock pot 4 hrs. & 30 min., or until 170 degrees F. 

As sides, we (yes we, RyDaddy jumped in and helped finish up this meal....such a good hubby......who is now finishing dishes while I blog; I must be spoiled!) made mashed potatoes, gravy from the game hens' drippings, and steamed carrots with butter.  We also had apples in the fridge that were needing used up quickly, so I found and adapted new recipe that's now a favorite for dessert....

Spiced Baked Apples: 

(Prep Time: 15 min./Bake Time 30ish min.)

Ingredients:

·            4 Tbsp. chopped walnuts 

·         1 tsp. grated orange peel 

·         6 Tbsp. chopped dried plums (raisins would work too)

·         1/4 cup packed brown sugar 

·         1/4 cup water 

·         1 Tbsp. butter

·         1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

·         1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

·         orange slices as garnish

·         4 large apples 

Combine nuts, orange peel and dried plums; set aside. In a saucepan, bring brown sugar, water, butter, cinnamon and nutmeg to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Core apples and place in an ungreased 8" baking dish; fill with nut mixture. Pour sugar mixture over and around apples. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until apples are tender. Pierce with fork to check if done.  Garnish with orange slices.  Firm apples, or standard baking apples will probably need more baking time. This dessert smells so yummy and tastes wonderful.....certain to please!