Creamy Parmesan Artichoke Dip--- YUM

Let's just say eating this with a spoon is perfectly acceptable! I made this crockpot recipe this past weekend for a holiday dinner with friends and it was a huge hit!

2 14 oz cans artichokes (If you buy the hearts, you'll have to dice them up!)

2 cups Mozzarella cheese

1 and 1/2 cups parmesan cheese

1 and 1/2 cups mayo

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp garlic

Cook on Low for 2 hrs or until everything is melty and cooked through... I would recommend stirring every so often! I did not because we ventured into DC's Eastern Market for the afternoon and some of it started sticking but no catastrophe there. Dip with veggies, pita chips, or regular chips!

yum yum. Now I am quite hungry!

Happy Friday with some Pumpkin Scones!

Normally when asked to contribute to a faculty/staff breakfast, I offer to bring juice or paper goods....But I am getting brave with my baking! These pumpkin scones turned out to be delicious and not too difficult to make. (However, make sure you have all the ingredients so you don't have to dash over to your neighbor's house at 9:30 pm to borrow two eggs) I doubled the recipe and made rather large scones..I think it made around 16-20 big scones!!

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground allspice

1/4 cup margarine/butter

Chocolate chips

Wet Ingredients:

1 egg

3/4 cup pumpkin

2 tbsp plain yogurt

Combine wet and dry separately....Combine both and mix well--dough will be sticky!

If you want...flour the cupboard and spread it out to 3/4 in thick...Use a biscuit cutter and place scones on greased cookie sheet! (I just used spoonfuls which made them slightly less pretty but no less delicious) Cook for 10-15 minutes at 350.

Yum Yum

Have a great weekend and enjoy the last of the fall colors--Wow!!

MMM Wings in the Crockpot :)

First here are some pictures of "Three Satin Dresses" and some fellow teachers' works on display at the FCPS Artist Teacher Exhibition! What talented art teachers we have!!! It was so funny how they put the masculine stapled-wood "sculpture" in between my painting and my friend's paintings.. Nice contrast I guess! My least favorite part of the exhibition was the hanging and then take-down at 8am on a Sunday... who scheduled that time slot? PW decided that if /WHEN I enter any more shows, I better check out the set-up/take-down times first :P.
I am very excited to have my painting home safe and sound.
















Yesterday was a fabulous relaxing Sunday! I am not sure what we do on Sundays during the football off season....There is nothing I like more than having people over for a casual dinner party and watching the games. My old roommate came over with her pug, Ellie (snort snort snort) and her new BF (PW had another MAN to hang out with!) . She brought chips and guacamole and a veggie tray+ dip and cookies AND wine! sheesh!

To complete the buffet, I made wings in the crockpot--YUM. It is my latest crockpot endeavor. I have followed recipes in the past courtesy of two fabulous crockpot cookbooks, but created my own simple concoction this time.... First I browned the wings in the broiler--about 5-10 min on each side... Then I put them in the crockpot and dumped a mixture of buffalo wing sauce, bbq sauce, and garlic (of course!). I also but jalapenos in the bottom to add some spice. Onions would have been yummy too but I was lazy... .

They were done in 2 hrs and made the house smell SO GOOD! If you want them crispy, I guess you could put them BACK in the oven to broil for a little time on each side.... I wish I had leftovers!

Ok time to grade stacks and stacks of projects from last week!