BEEF STEW WITH BACON (Williams-Sonoma) (Slow Cooker) 4 oz. thick-cut bacon, chopped 3 Tbs. flour 1 tsp. salt, plus more, to taste 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper, plus more, to taste 3 lb. boneless beef chuck, trimmed of excess fat and cut into chunks 3/4 lb. fresh cremini mushrooms, halved if large 1/2 lb. baby carrots 1/2 lb. frozen pearl onions 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup dry red wine 1 cup beef broth 2 Tbs. tomato paste 1 Tbs. minced fresh rosemary In a large fry pan over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour off the drippings into a small heatproof bowl, leaving about 1 Tbs. drippings in the pan. Set the pan, reserved drippings and bacon aside. In a sealable plastic bag, combine the flour, the 1 tsp. salt and the 1/2 tsp. pepper. Add the beef chunks and shake to coat evenly with the flour mixture. Return the fry pan to medium-high heat. When the drippings are hot, add half of the beef chunks and cook, turning once, until well browned, about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer the beef to the slow cooker. Repeat with the remaining beef chunks, adding the reserved drippings if needed. Scatter the mushrooms, carrots, onions and garlic on top. Return the pan to medium-high heat and add the wine, broth and tomato paste. Mix well, bring to a boil and deglaze the pan, stirring to scrape up the browned bits on the pan bottom. Pour the contents of the pan over the vegetables and beef. Cover and cook on the high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours or the low-heat setting for 8 to 9 hours. The beef should be very tender. Stir in the reserved bacon and the rosemary. Cook, uncovered, on the high-heat setting for 10 minutes more to thicken the sauce slightly. Season with salt and pepper and serve. Serves 6.

I have Rachael Ray's recipe for vodka sauce. She calls it "You Won't Be Single Long" sauce. LOL! I haven't tried it because Publix makes a delicious one. It's a little early for the holidays but, then again, I expect the stores will start playing Christmas carols any day now :-) CHRISTMAS CRACK 1 12.8-ounce box Rice Chex cereal 1 12-ponce box Golden Grahams cereal 1 7-ounce bag shredded coconut 1 4-ounce bag slivered almonds 1 1/2 cups butter (3...yes 3...sticks of butter) 2 cups sugar 2 cups corn syrup Combine Rice Chex and Golden Grahams, coconut and almonds in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine. In a large sauce pan, cook butter, sugar and corn syrup to the "soft ball" stage...about 234 degrees on a candy thermometer. Pour over cereal mixture and stir until all is well coated. Pour mixture out onto 2 large cookie sheets to cool. Stir it around occasionally to prevent clumping. Store in an airtight container.

I love apple cake. Do you think a little cinnamon would enhance this recipe or not? CARAMEL APPLE CAKE (Paula Deen recipe from The Charm of Home) 2 1/2 cups sugar 3 eggs 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. vanilla 1 cup chopped walnuts 2 1/2 cups diced apples, canned or fresh Preheat oven 350 degrees. Cream together sugar, eggs, and oil. Add flour; mix together until well blended. Add vanilla, nuts, and diced apples. Spread into a lightly greased and floured 13 x 9-inch baking dish; bake for 45 to 60 minutes. Cake is done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. When cake is done, punch holes in it with a knife and pour topping over. Caramel Topping: (I cut all of this recipe in half, it was just way too much butter and sugar.) This is the cut in half version. 1 1/2 stick of butter 1 cup of brown sugar 1/8 cup of milk Heat all ingredients together over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Let boil for about 2 minutes. Pour over warm cake. Serves 15-20

Jerk Chicken with Cornbread (Real Simple) 2 bunches scallions, trimmed 2 tablespoons paprika 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil juice of 1/2 lime 2 tablespoons molasses 1 4-pound chicken, cut into pieces 1 8.5-ounce box corn muffin mix 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced lime wedges (optional) Heat oven to 400 F. Thinly slice the dark green tips of 4 scallions; set aside. Place the remaining scallions in a roasting pan. In a small bowl, combine the paprika, garlic powder, allspice, nutmeg, cayenne, salt, black pepper, oil, lime juice, and molasses. Spread the spice mixture over and under the chicken skin. Place the chicken on top of the scallions. Roast until the chicken is cooked through, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the corn muffin mix according to the package directions. Stir in the jalapeno and reserved sliced scallions and scrape the batter into a greased 8-inch-square pan. Place in oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve the chicken with the roasted scallions, corn bread, and lime wedges, if desired. **For more intense heat, rub the spice mixture over the chicken and marinate several hours in the frig.