Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers Poppers

These Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers ready for yesterday's K-State tailgate! These mini bell pepper are  stuffed with two kinds of cheese, bacon. Sweet peppers mean this is a mild tasting version of the usual pepper poppers. I did add a jalapeño for a little spice -- just right for Barry; way too mild for me!
Make ahead instructions also included in step-by-step directions.

Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers Poppers   Makes 24 pepper poppers
12mini sweet peppers sliced in half, seeds and membranes removed
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese + extra for topping
1/4 cup green onions, sliced (use both white & green parts)
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeds & membranes removed, then minced -- optional
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 400°. (If preparing ahead, skip this step until ready to bake peppers.)
  2. Line a cookie sheet with nonstick foil and set aside. Optional: insert a cooling rack so the heat circulates around the peppers.
  3. In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, cheddar, green onions, jalapeno, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce with an electric mixer until smooth. Stir in crumbled bacon.
  4. Fill the sliced peppers with the filling, about a heaping tablespoon each. 
  5. Place on prepared cookie sheet, then sprinkle each pepper with a little extra cheese. Stuffed peppers could be covered and refrigerated at this point and then baked later.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly and peppers have softened.
Recipe without photos . . .
Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers Poppers   Makes 24 pepper poppers
12mini sweet peppers sliced in half, seeds and membranes removed
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese + extra for topping
1/4 cup green onions, sliced (use both white & green parts)
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeds & membranes removed, then minced -- optional
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 400°. (If preparing ahead, skip this step this step until ready to bake peppers.)
  2. Line a cookie sheet with nonstick foil and set aside. Optional: insert a cooling rack so the heat circulates around the peppers.
  3. In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, cheddar, green onions, jalapeno, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce with an electric mixer until smooth. Stir in crumbled bacon.
  4. Fill the sliced peppers with the filling, about a heaping tablespoon each. 
  5. Place on prepared cookie sheet, then sprinkle each pepper with a little extra cheese. Stuffed peppers could be covered and refrigerated at this point and then baked later.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly and peppers have softened.

S’mores Cake Roll

We made S’mores during her summers in Kansas. We made them at Big Cedar Lodge in Arkansas during family outings Now these classic campfire treats are transformed into a cake roll to celebrate our niece Erin’s birthday. 
By the way -- At about step #14 my phone's camera began to produce "fuzzy" photos and I could not figure out why! Barry to the rescue -- seems I had managed to smudge the lens with marshmallow cream!!!

S’mores Cake Roll    About 10 to 14 servings
4 eggs, separated
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water
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3 to 4 crushed graham crackers – divided use
Marshmallow Cream Filling (recipe follows)
Chocolate Glaze (recipe follows)
Mini marshmallow

1.    Preheat oven to 375° F. 
2.    Spray a 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan with pan spray (this insures parchment sticks to the bottom of the pan). Then line it with parchment paper, leaving an extra 1-inch of the paper sticking up on both 15-inch sides of the pan so that cake may easily be lifted out after baking. Spray top of parchment paper with pan spray. 

3.    In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy; gradually add 1/2 c. sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.  


4.    In another mixing bowl, beat egg yolks & vanilla on high speed for about 3 minutes. Gradually add 1/3 c. sugar, continue beating for 2 minutes.



5.    Combine cocoa, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to egg yolk mixture alternately with water on low speed (beginning and ending with the flour mixture), beating just until batter is smooth.  


6.    Gradually fold chocolate mixture into egg whites.


7.    Spread evenly in jelly roll pan.

8.    Bake at 375 for 12 to 15 min. or until the top springs back when touched lightly in center. 
9.    Immediately and carefully lift the parchment paper and cake out onto a flat (and heat-safe) surface. 

10.  Slowly use your hands to roll up the cake inside the parchment paper— rolling from short end to short end — until it is completely rolled up.  


11.  Transfer the cake roll to a wire rack, and cool until it reaches room temperature.

13.  Carefully unroll cake so it is flat; remove parchment as it unrolls.
14.  Spread Marshmallow Cream Filling over the top of the cake (leaving just about 1/4-inch free on each long side). Sprinkle with about 2/3 of the crushed graham crackers.


15.  Roll it back up into a log and place on a serving tray.
16.  Frost  with Chocolate Glaze. 
17.  Refrigerated for at least 1 hour.
18.  Before serving, add mini marshmallows to the top and edges of cake roll; use a kitchen torch to toast marshmallow. Sprinkle remaining graham cracker crumbs over cake.



Marshmallow Cream Filling: 
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
7 oz. container marshmallow fluff
About 1/2 cup whipping cream, divided
Add cream cheese, marshmallow fluff and heavy cream to mixer and beat until well combined.

Chocolate Glaze
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Over low heat, melt butter. Add cocoa and 2 tablespoons cream, stirring until smooth and slightly thickened. Do not boil.  
Remove from heat; cool slightly. 
Gradually blend in sugar, vanilla and enough remaining cream to create a thick but spreadable glaze.  

Recipe without photos . . .
S’mores Cake Roll    About 10 to 14 servings
4 eggs, separated
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water
-------
3 to 4 crushed graham crackers – divided use
Marshmallow Cream Filling (recipe follows)
Chocolate Glaze (recipe follows)
Mini marshmallow

1.    Preheat oven to 375° F. 
2.    Spray a 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan with pan spray (this insures parchment sticks to the bottom of the pan). Then line it with parchment paper, leaving an extra 1-inch of the paper sticking up on both 15-inch sides of the pan so that cake may easily be lifted out after baking. Spray top of parchment paper with pan spray. 
3.    In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy; gradually add 1/2 c. sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.  
4.    In another mixing bowl, beat egg yolks & vanilla on high speed for about 3 minutes. Gradually add 1/3 c. sugar, continue beating for 2 minutes.
5.    Combine cocoa, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to egg yolk mixture alternately with water on low speed (beginning and ending with the flour mixture), beating just until batter is smooth.  
6.    Gradually fold chocolate mixture into egg whites.
7.    Spread evenly in jelly roll pan.
8.    Bake at 375 for 12 to 15 min. or until the top springs back when touched lightly in center. 
9.    Immediately and carefully lift the parchment paper and cake out onto a flat (and heat-safe) surface. 
10.  Slowly use your hands to roll up the cake inside the parchment paper— rolling from short end to short end — until it is completely rolled up.  
11.  Transfer the cake roll to a wire rack, and cool until it reaches room temperature.
13.  Carefully unroll cake so it is flat; remove parchment as it unrolls.
14.  Spread Marshmallow Cream Filling over the top of the cake (leaving just about 1/4-inch free on each long side). Sprinkle with about 2/3 of the crushed graham crackers.
15.  Roll it back up into a log and place on a serving tray.
16.  Frost with Chocolate Glaze. 
17.  Refrigerated for at least 1 hour.
18.  Before serving, add mini marshmallows to the top and edges of cake roll; use a kitchen torch to toast marshmallow. Sprinkle remaining graham cracker crumbs over cake.

Marshmallow Cream Filling: 
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
7 oz. container marshmallow fluff
About 1/2 cup whipping cream, divided
Add cream cheese, marshmallow fluff and heavy cream to mixer and beat until well combined.

Chocolate Glaze
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Over low heat, melt butter. Add cocoa and 2 tablespoons cream, stirring until smooth and slightly thickened. Do not boil.  
Remove from heat; cool slightly. 
Gradually blend in sugar, vanilla and enough remaining cream to create a thick but spreadable glaze.   

Crazy Good Corn Dip

Jo Osbourn brought this dip to the last K-State football tailgate. It is truly "crazy good." Easy to make. Hard to stop eating!

Crazy Good Corn Dip
3 (11 oz.) cans Mexicorn, drained
1 small (4 oz.)  small chopped jalapeno peppers, drained
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream 
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic power
8 oz. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
------
Tortilla or corn chips
  1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except chips.
  2. Chill two hours to overnight. 
  3. Serve with chips.
Recipe without photos . . .
Crazy Good Corn Dip

3 (11 oz.) cans Mexicorn, drained
1 small (4 oz.)  small chopped jalapeno peppers, drained
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream 
1 teaspoon  pepper
½ teaspoon garlic power
8 oz. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
------
Tortilla or corn chips
  1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except chips.

  2. Chill two hours to overnight. 
  3. Serve with chips.
Recipe without photos . . .
Crazy Good Corn Dip

3 (11 oz.) cans Mexicorn, drained
1 small (4 oz.)  small chopped jalapeno peppers, drained
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream 
1 teaspoon  pepper
½ teaspoon garlic power
8 oz. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
------
Tortilla or corn chips
  1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except chips.
  2. Chill two hours to overnight. 
  3. Serve with chips.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cake

It's pumpkin season and we used our favorite Fairytale pumpkin puree to make this spice
cake with swirls of  cinnamon,  butter, brown sugar and pumpkin puree. Topped with a sweet pumpkin spice glaze, it is a pumpkin-lover's delight! While it's perfectly fine to used canned pumpkin (just make sure it has no added spice or sugar), we prefer the made from scratch puree.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cake Yield: 9x13” cake
Cake:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup butter melted
Topping:
3/4 cup butter softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
  1. Cake: Mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl.
  2. Add milk, eggs and vanilla; mix to blend..
  3. Stir in melted butter, slowly. 
  4. Pour batter into sprayed or greased 9x13” pan.
  5. ToppingMix softened butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and pumpkin puree. 
  6. Drop spoonsful (about 8) of topping mixture over cake batter
  7. Swirl topping into cake mixture with a knife going up and down the length of the pan and then back and forth crosswise—only partially insert knife into the cake batter. 
  8. Bake at 350° for about 35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
  9. While the cake is in the oven, make the pumpkin spice glaze and drizzle over the cake while it’s still warm. 
  10. GlazeWhile the cake is in the oven, make the pumpkin spice glaze by mixing powdered sugar, pumpkin pie spice, milk, vanilla. Drizzle over the cake while it's still warm. 
Recipe without photos . . .
Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cake Yield: 9x13” cake
Cake:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup butter melted
Topping:
3/4 cup butter softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
  1. Cake: Mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl.
  2. Add milk, eggs and vanilla; mix to blend..
  3. Stir in melted butter, slowly. 
  4. Pour batter into sprayed or greased 9x13” pan.
  5. ToppingMix softened butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and pumpkin puree. 
  6. Drop spoonsful (about 8) of topping mixture over cake batter
  7. Swirl topping into cake mixture with a knife going up and down the length of the pan and then back and forth crosswise—only partially insert knife into the cake batter. 
  8. Bake at 350° for about 35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
  9. While the cake is in the oven, make the pumpkin spice glaze and drizzle over the cake while it’s still warm. 
  10. GlazeWhile the cake is in the oven, make the pumpkin spice glaze by mixing powdered sugar, pumpkin pie spice, milk, vanilla. Drizzle over the cake while it's still warm.