Cinnamon Cream Cheese Sticks

 Happy Friday!  Finally, the end of the week!  Ready for a great weekend treat?  I figured out a way I could keep cooking hygienically without my bandages freaking me out!  A glove!  NOTE: In the video of this recipe, the blue glove made my camera go orange, I apologize and know that for next time.  

These are in an entirely different zip code of goodness.  My mother-in-law made these years ago when they were super popular, don't know if they still are but I have never made them, so I wanted to try it.  Super easy and oh so delicious.  You can't NOT love these, I am convinced!  Not only are these a perfect dessert or treat but perfect for a brunch or big breakfast as well!

I believe they are also known as "crack sticks or rolls", I don't care for that name, so I call them cinnamon cream cheese sticks.  Just as a side note!  Let's get this party started...

You will need:

• 1, 8oz block of cream cheese at room temperature
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar (confectioners sugar, icing sugar)
• 1 loaf of white sandwich bread
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Flatten bread with a rolling pin.  You can cut off the crusts or not, I have never and will never cut off a crust!  Ok, I might but...  In a bowl using a hand mixer combine cream cheese and powdered sugar until a smooth consistency is achieved.  In a second bowl combine white granulated sugar and cinnamon, make sure it is also well mixed.  In a third bowl, simply melt your butter.

Now spread some cream cheese on your piece of bread, roll it up like you would a jelly roll, the cream cheese will hold it together, dip in the butter, then cover in cinnamon sugar and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat.  Do this until you are out of cream cheese, I would say anywhere from 10-14 rolls.  Just depends on how generous you are with the cream cheese.  

Bake for 20 minutes and prepare yourself for a little bit of heaven!  Store in airtight container!

ENJOY!

State Fair Noodle Bowls

I went to a very special event last weekend.  The GRAND OPENING and open house for an airbnb called "The Smith House" in Ord, NE.  The reason it was so special is because it was my forever home.  My sister, #3, bought the house after my dad passed away 1.5 years ago and has spent all this time renovating it.  It is cozy perfection, fit for a king and my parents would be so proud.

What does this have to do with this recipe you ask?  While I was there, my sister gave me an old ramen noodle cookbook that she found in the house.  She knows my secret, or not so secret love for ramen.  In it, there is a section of noodle bowls.  Hubby and I got on a roll of different kinds of noodle bowls we could do.  He said, "remember the smell of the sausage, onion and peppers at the fair"?  How could I forget?!  He asked if I could make THAT into a ramen bowl.  I agreed we could do it on pork flavored ramen and wa-laa.  Here. We. Are.

This recipe I am just making for 2! It's easy to double or triple. I am going heavy on the protein.

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3 pkgs Pork Ramen (chicken or beef would work as well)

1 Red Bell Pepper sliced into narrow strips 

1/2 of a small Yellow Onion also sliced thin.

5 links of Sweet or Hot Italian Sausage (cut into thick chunks)

1 TBSP oil (olive or veg)

1 TBSP butter

Salt to taste

1 tsp Italian Seasoning

In a deep skillet add in your oil and butter until butter is melted.  Add in peppers and onions along with Italian seasoning and salt. Stir often for 5 to 7 minutes until they are very soft.  If you cut them thicker they may take up to 10 minutes.  Add in sausage and continue to fry until cooked all the way through.  When this is done, cover and remove from heat.  Prepare your ramen however you prefer, stovetop or microwave.  Drain off almost all of the water when done and add in seasoning packets.  You can choose to leave water for broth as well, we just prefer no broth on this one.  To serve, place noodles in the bottom of your bowl and top with a generous spoonful of your sausage, peppers and onions mixture.  

ENJOY!

PS.  Got leftover sausage and peppers?  Toss those bad boys on a toasted roll, maybe with some provolone for lunch!