Cecily's Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

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Today's post comes to us from Husband Man.  He's been doing most of the cooking around here lately since I've been trying to heal and get back to my normal self.  He's doing such a great job too ;)  

I've never been an asparagus fan until I tried these scrumptious wraps.  My tune about asparagus quickly changed after that.  This is not my recipe and I must give credit where credit is due.  This recipe comes from my lovely sister-in-law, Cecily.  It was introduced to us 3 years ago during my son's first birthday.  And it has made a HUGE impression on all of us since then :)   Husband Man tweaked it a little, but the basics of it all are still the same.  

So...take it away Husband Man..............

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We first tasted this when my family (Libby’s in-laws) visited our home and attended my son's first birthday (3 years ago).  My stepmother told me we "had to try" this recipe, so my little sister whipped it up, and boy it's good!  It's very easy to make and tastes delicious-don't be surprised if you don't have left-overs.  

Cecily's Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Ingredients:

1 bundle of asparagus

1 package of bacon

Worcestershire Sauce (or soy sauce)

1/4 to 1/2 cup brown sugar

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Butter (optional)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.  Wash approximately 3-4 asparagus stalks, then wrap in bacon (don't worry if it's not perfect).

3.  On large cookie sheet, place bundles at least 1/2 inch apart.

4.  Brush tips of asparagus with olive oil.

5.  Mix brown sugar with enough Worcestershire or soy sauce to create a thick, liquid mix.

6.  Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon over each bundle, making sure to get a bit under the bacon.

7.  If you want butter, place small pieces on the stalk bundles.

8.  Bake in the oven for 35 minutes.  Bundles are done when bacon is dark brown and sauce has started to caramelize.  Tips of asparagus will turn crunchy-sooo delicious!

9.  Remove from oven and serve hot.

Recipe Source:  My Sister-in-Law, Cecily

Attention: To All Google Friend Connect Followers.....

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I am not sure if y'all heard the news or not, but beginning March 1st, Google Friend Connect (GFC) will no longer be available to non-Blogger blogs all over the world. Which means, if you don't use Blogger.com for your blogging platform, you will no longer be able to use Google Friend Connect.  

If you are a follower of this blog through GFC, today is your lucky day because I have compiled a list of other ways you can follow this blog, should you choose to do so ;)

Ways to Follow Cooking With Libby

Linky Followers Widget:

I have replaced the GFC Widget on here with this widget, which can be located on the right hand column of this blog.  You must sign up for this service in order to start following.  It is free and totally confidential.  Just by poking around so far with it, I can tell you that it offers the same service as Google Friend Connect.  It will allow you to follow this blog, and others if you choose.

"Like" This Blog on Facebook:

Take a chance and 'like' us on Facebook.  The Facebook Page is an extension of the blog.  Here, you will not only be notified of the latest posts, but also get to participate in fun, social interactions with me and other fellow foodies.  I also tend to pull recipes out from the blog's archive every now and then ;)  

Click HERE to catch us on Facebook

Follow The Blog on Twitter:

Like the Facebook Page, the Twitter page is the same.  Anything that is posted on the Facebook Page automatically goes to the Twitter Page, so you will not miss a thing :)

Click HERE to catch us on Twitter

Follow The Blog on Pinterest:

Come follow us on Pinterest.  I'm still trying to navigate around here, however, I do have a Cooking With Libby board on there and have started pinning the latest recipe posts on the blog. 

Click HERE to follow us on Pinterest

Follow The Blog Through E-Mail Subscriptions:

If you don't want to go through the hassle of this social media, follow the blog through our e-mail subscriptions.  It is free and completely confidential.  Find the latest posts delivered completely to your inbox every week.  

To subscribe by e-mail, go to the right column of the blog and scroll all the way until you see the

"Subscribe Via E-Mail"

Follow The Blog Through RSS Feed:

Still not completely sure how RSS works...LOL...however, you can follow us through there as well.  

Click HERE to get the RSS Feed

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I hope that most of you who are on Google Friend Connect will take the time follow the blog through the other avenues listed above.  It saddens me to see GFC disappear, however, I am very thankful for the support of each and every one of you.  

4th of July Apple Pie {Cookbook Review and Giveaway-WINNER!!}

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****WE HAVE A WINNER FOR THIS GIVEAWAY!!!  

CONGRATULATIONS TO.........

Comment # 8 sent in by Cheryl over at the blog, Cheryl's Place!!!

Cheryl, I have contacted you for more info. about the giveaway ;) 

I must say....I had soooooo much fun reading all the entries!!!  It was so exciting to read everyone's favorite 'heirloom' recipes ;)  Thank y'all so much for entering!  ******

****THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED****

Hey y'all!!  For those who did not know, I have been on a hiatus from cooking/baking for practically the whole month of January due to health issues.  Well, I am back and am ready to take on the blogging world again...per doctor's orders :) 

 I think Husband Man was getting a little tired of playing Mr. Mom so he has traded in his apron for his ACU's (Airmen Combat Uniform for all the non-Military folks out there) and is returning to work this week.  Meanwhile, I am left with trying to pick up where I left off in my life before all this medical craziness happened.  I am still in recovery mode though and think it's going to take at least 2 or 3 more weeks until I am completely healed.  Husband Man insisted that I still need assistance so he has switched his work schedule around to where he is home during the day.  Sweet of him huh?  This is one of the many reasons why I love the man ;)

Anyway...I can go and on and on and on about things...but I will spare y'all....

Let's get to that recipe shall we ;)

I originally made this pie back in November and I had all intentions of posting the recipe.  However, the holidays crept up on us and well...y'all know how that goes.

This recipe comes from the cookbook, Sugar, Sugar and I am so happy to be able to share it with y'all today.  When the representatives from the publishing company contacted me to ask to review the book, I was  more then thrilled to do so.  I LOVE to bake so this book was right up my alley!  

I am secretly on a quest to find the perfect homemade apple pie recipe so when I found this recipe in the book, I squealed with delight.  This pie definitely made me call off my search.  From the crust to the filling, it totally fit the bill.  What made it even more appealing was the story that went along with the pie.  When we ate it, we literally felt like we were eating a piece of history.  I will not go into detail about the story because it can be found in the cookbook ;)  Suffice to say, my family and I really loved it.

Make it for your family and friends ;)  They will LOVE it!  I promise ;)

4th of July Apple Pie

(adapted from the cookbook:  Sugar, Sugar)

(makes one double crusted 9 inch pie)

To Make The Crust, You Need:

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

6 tbsp. (3/4 stick) butter, chilled and cut into thin slices

6 tbsp. vegetable shortening

4 to 6 tbsp. ice cold water

Directions For The Crust:

1.  Place the flour, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a food processor.  Pulse a few times to mix.  Add the butter and shortening.  Pulse 10 to 15 times until the mixture forms small nuggets.  

2.  Pour the mixture into a large bowl.  

3.  Add the cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, using a fork to mix it until the mixture holds together.

4.  Carefully turn out the dough onto parchment paper and shape it into a ball.  

5.  Divide it roughly in half, wrap each half in plastic wrap or parchment paper and chill for 1 hour or up to overnight.

To Make The Pie You Need:

1 cup granulated sugar 

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

2 tbsp. all purpose flour, divided

6 or 7 Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled and sliced

1 batch of the double crust above

1 tbsp. butter, cut into small pieces

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2.  In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon of the flour.  

3.  Place the apples in a large bowl.  Sprinkle the sugar mixture over them and toss to coat.

4.  Roll out half of the chilled pie dough on a lightly floured work surface until it is large enough to fill your 9 inch pie plate and leave 1/2 to 1 inch hanging over the edges.  

5.  Loosely roll the dough around the rolling pin, then unroll it into the pie plate and press gently against the bottom and sides.

6. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tbsp. flour over the bottom pie crust.  Pour the apple mixture into the crust.  Dot evenly with the butter.

7.  Roll out the second half of the dough to about 10 inches in diameter.  Gently cover the apple mixture with the top pastry.   

8.  Crimp or flute the edges.  Make three 1-inch slits on the top crust to allow steam to escape.

9.  Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees, then decrease the heat to 350 degrees and bake for 45 minutes longer or until crust turns golden and the juices begin to bubble.  

10. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

***The Giveaway***

Today is a lucky day for all of you :)  

The wonderful people over at Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC have agreed to giveaway one copy of Sugar, Sugar to one very lucky reader of this blog!  

Trust me when I say that you WILL want a copy of this book :)  

Let's start with the basics.....who are the wonderful writers of Sugar, Sugar?

They are Kimberly "Momma" Reiner and Jenna Sanz-Agero.  Reiner founded Momma Reiner's Fudge, which gained national attention as one of Oprah's Favorite Things in O, The Oprah Magazine.  She has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show and her fudge has been featured on Rachael Ray.  Jenna, Kimberly's law school classmate, previously worked as an entertainment lawyer and rocked as the lead singer of the band, Vixen.  Now she works with Kimberly to spread the love of sugar.  They both write regularly for modernmom.com and live near Los Angeles.

Take A Look Inside The Book...

To quote the press release from Andrews McMeel Universal:

"Sugar, Sugar contains recipes from across the country, each with its unique story.  From cakes sent as a symbol of love to pies perfect for parties, the tales behind these recipes are as enticing as the concoctions themselves.  Each recipe includes a nostalgic "ingredient" to convey the personalities and warmth of the friends or family behind it."

One of the things I love about this particular cookbook is the beautiful illustrations of the recipes and the comedic titles of each section, such as the one listed above.  Also, each recipe has a story behind it and the authors do a really great job at bringing these stories to life. So when you are eating that yummy 4th of July of Apple Pie that just came out of your oven 15 minutes ago, you are also eating the same apple pie that graced Celia "Muffy" Hunt's family every July while growing up...thanks to her grandmother, Ms. Ida Vaughan.  

At the end of each recipe, there are also specific tips given to you by the sugar mama's themselves to make the recipe easier and tastier.  Each tip has a symbol to go with it.  It either falls into one of five categories..or all of them (sugar momma note, old school, modern variation, carpool crunch, or sass it up).  Such a wonderful thing to read if you want to learn even more about the recipe.

Seriously, who would not want to win this cookbook?!   And heck, even if you don't win it, go out and purchase it!  Trust me, you WILL NOT regret it ;)  I really enjoyed reading it from beginning to end.  The stories behind the recipes will make you laugh and make you cry.  Y'all will LOVE it!

What You Need To Do To Win:

1.  Comment on this post telling me your favorite heirloom family recipe.

2.  Leave an e-mail address after your comment so I know to contact you should you win.

For Extra Entries (only one will count for an entry):

1.  Tell all your friends on Facebook about this giveaway...with a link back to this post.

2.  Tweet about this giveaway...with a link back to this post.

3.  Post about this giveaway on your blog...linking back to this post.

Note:  Please, please, please be sure to come back here and tell me that you have done one of the following so I can give you that extra entry.

Deadline is Sunday, February 5th.  

Open to U.S. Residence only.

Winner will be chose by Random.org.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

For more information about Sugar, Sugar and the Sugar Mama's....visit their website at:

http://www.sugarsugarrecipes.com/

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bouquet {Valentine's Day}

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Can y'all believe that Valentine's Day is almost here?  I certainly can't.  It seems like only yesterday when we were celebrating Christmas.  Now we are heading into February, where everything is hearts and candy galore.  It's all just going by so quick these days.  

Since I started this blog, I have made it a point to post something festive every year, depending on the occasion.  This year for Valentine's Day, I found myself trying my hand at making these cute little babies.  We had everything on hand to make them except for the chocolate hearts.  

For this recipe/project, you are going to need one batch of chocolate chip cookie dough, either store bought or your favorite recipe....and these nifty little things.....

These can be found at any craft store in your area (Michael's, Hobby Lobby, A.C. Moore, etc..).  

If you choose to make your own chocolate chip cookie dough, make this first before you do anything.  I used my family's recipe for homemade dough, which can be found HERE.

It's been a while since I wrote a tutorial post, so I'm going to take you through the steps on how to make these ;)

Step One:

  Preheat the oven as directed on the package of store bought dough or in your recipe.  Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.  If you don't have any, aluminum foil works well too.

 Scoop cookie dough and form into 1 and 1/2 inch balls (I used my handy dandy cookie scooper).  

Place the ball gently on one end of the stick....like so....

Step Two:

Continue to do this for how ever many you want to make, making sure the sticks are 2 inches apart.  After you are finished, gently press the dough down on each stick like you are flattening it.  The purpose of this is to make sure the dough adheres properly to the stick.

Step Three:

Place in oven and bake according to the directions on the package or in your recipe.  Let them cool for 7 or 8 minutes.

Once cooled, unwrap chocolate hearts and press them in the center of each cookie.  I made sure the bottom tip of the heart was aligned with the top of the stick.

While I was experimenting, the chocolate started to melt around the bottom of the heart.  If this should happen to you, quickly place the cookies in your freezer or fridge to stop the melting process.  

Mine resulted in this cute little design:

......which made me smile because I thought it was so flippin cool ;)

Step Four:

After cooling completely, decorate as desired.

Take some green floral tape and wrap it around each stick to make it look more 'flower-like.'  

You can make your own bouquet holder by taking a shoe box (or something that looks like a shoe box), filling it with filler, then lining it with green and red tissue paper.  Place the cookies inside and give to recipient.

Or you can place the cookies inside a glass jar and tie a ribbon around the sticks or the opening of the jar. 

Some ideas:  mason jars, empty spaghetti sauce jars, Starbucks bottles, etc....

Whichever way you choose to decorate, your loved one will be thrilled to pieces to receive this cute and tasty bouquet ;)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bouquet

(makes enough for one batch of cookies)

Ingredients:

1 batch of chocolate chip cookie dough (you can use the one on the blog which can be found HERE, or you can the use store bought kind, or your own recipe)

1 package of cookie and/or lollipop sticks

1 package of chocolate Valentine Hearts

Decorating supplies as needed

Directions:

1.  Make cookie dough as directed if you are using a homemade recipe.

2.  Preheat oven according to recipe or packaged directions.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

3.  Place a stick on top of the cookie sheet.  Scoop cookie dough into 1 and 1/2 inch balls and place on the edge of each stick. Continue doing this for desired number you want.

4.  Gently flatten the cookie dough on each stick, making sure the dough adheres to the stick.

5.  Place cookie sheet in oven and bake according to the recipe/package.

6.  Let cool for 7 or 8 minutes.  

7.  Press a chocolate heart in the middle of each cookie, making sure to align the bottom tip of the heart with the stick.

8.  Cool until ready to decorate.  Place quickly in the freezer or fridge if the chocolate starts to melt.

9.  Decorate as desired.