Winstead Wandering

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Lemon Meringue Pie Bites

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Lemon Meringue Pie Bites are wonderfully light, refreshingly tart, and absolutely satisfying. Don’t let the fanciness fool you- these little bites of perfection are surprisingly easy to make.

Lemon Meringue Pie Bites are wonderfully light, refreshingly tart, and absolutely satisfying. Don't let the fanciness fool you- these little bites of perfection are surprisingly easy to make.

Most weeks I incorporate taking recipe photos into everyday life. After all, nearly every recipe I make is meant to be enjoyed by my family. It isn’t uncommon for me to make dinner and then take photos before serving the food.

Lately, though, life has been a little crazier, and making time for photos has been tough, especially with the sun setting so early. So a few Saturdays ago I had a marathon recipe session. I made Jalapeño Popper Twice-Baked Potatoes, Lighter Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese, Crispy Baked Potato Wedges and, of course, these adorable little Lemon Meringue Pie Bites.

Lemon Meringue Pie Bites are wonderfully light, refreshingly tart, and absolutely satisfying. Don't let the fanciness fool you- these little bites of perfection are surprisingly easy to make.

I knew I’d be making these as soon as I realized I had leftover lemon curd from making Baked Lemon Hand Pies, as well as leftover egg whites from making the Homemade Lemon Curd. There wasn’t quite enough curd left to make a full pie, plus these meringue nests are just too darn cute to resist.

I’m not prepared to admit how many of these guys I ate. It was a few, okay? They’re so light and airy! I got too excited and filled all the meringues, meaning they needed to be eaten that day. Looking back, I should have left some of them empty, stored them in the fridge, and then filled them to be eaten on Sunday.

Oh, well. Looks like I’ll just have to make them again!

Lemon Meringue Pie Bites are wonderfully light, refreshingly tart, and absolutely satisfying. Don't let the fanciness fool you- these little bites of perfection are surprisingly easy to make.

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Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip

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Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip is a unique, sophisticated twist on a classic. You’ll find the bold flavors and creamy texture irresistible.

Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip is a unique, sophisticated twist on a classic favorite. You'll find the bold flavors and creamy texture irresistible.

I first made this dip years ago, back when we still lived in Oregon. I don’t even remember now what I made it for, but I remember it was the first time I’d ever made caramelized onions. It was the first time I’d roasted my own garlic, too, and I felt like quite the successful cook afterward.

I went several years before making this Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip again, but, in true foodie fashion, I thought longingly about it quite a few times. As a proud lover of both garlic and onions, I dream about this stuff. Don’t worry, though, if not all the people in your life are as fond of those ingredients as I am; the process of caramelizing the onions and roasting the garlic develops the flavors into sweeter, smoother, toned-down versions of themselves.

You can rest easy making this recipe for just about anyone.

Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip is a unique, sophisticated twist on a classic favorite. You'll find the bold flavors and creamy texture irresistible.

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Southern Sausage Balls

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Loaded with hearty sausage and plenty of golden, melted cheese, Southern Sausage Balls make the perfect appetizer, snack, or party food.

Loaded with hearty sausage and plenty of golden, melted cheese, Southern Sausage Balls make the perfect appetizer, snack, or party food.

I’m not saying sausage balls are an exclusively southern dish. I’m just saying that, while the only ones I ever had while growing up in Oregon were made by southern relatives, they’re a staple at nearly every wedding and baby shower in The South. And because most people are huge fans of anything that combines cheese, pork, and some of form of bread, Southern Sausage Balls are always a hit.

I ate them for years and loved them; I even made them myself. Then one day my mother-in-law made a batch (actually, I’m sure it was at least a double batch) with a new secret ingredient. That secret ingredient was cream cheese and, y’all, it revolutionized the sausage ball eating experience. If you think that’s an exaggeration, you’ve clearly never eaten Southern Sausage Balls with cream cheese.

The addition of the cream cheese ups the moistness of the recipe and leaves all other versions tasting dry and boring. Even if regular sausage balls are already in your repertoire, I implore you to add cream cheese. It’s a total game-changer. If you’ve never made Southern Sausage Balls at all, what are you waiting for? Make them for game-day, for a party, or just for breakfast or a snack at home.

Loaded with hearty sausage and plenty of golden, melted cheese, Southern Sausage Balls make the perfect appetizer, snack, or party food.

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How to Make Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions

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With their deep color and they’re surprisingly sweet and appealing taste, you really need to know how to make slow cooker caramelized onions!

With their deep color and they're surprisingly sweet and appealing taste, you really need to know how to make slow cooker caramelized onions!

I distinctly remember the first time I tried onions. My brothers and I were spending the summer at my grandparents house in Mississippi and, like a lot of nights, we were gathered around their large table eating supper. Like any self-respecting southern woman, Granny had prepared cornbread. I remember Gramps using his to scoop up onions; I turned my nose up at the combo.

He gave me the same response I’ve now given my own children a few hundred thousand times: “How do you know you don’t like it if you’ve never tried it?” I wasn’t a particularly adventurous eater as a kid (okay, fine, I was ridiculously picky), but for some reason I grabbed myself a serving of diced onions and ate a bite. Yup, just onion. No cornbread. I was surprised to discover I actually liked them.

It wasn’t until years later, though, that I first tried caramelized onions. They’re surprisingly sweet and mild, the opposite of the sometimes harshness onions are known for. That unexpected flavor is the perfect way to win over the onion haters in your life.

With their deep color and they're surprisingly sweet and appealing taste, you really need to know how to make slow cooker caramelized onions!

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Two Ingredient Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse

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With just two ingredients, this Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without ruining all your hard work.

With just two ingredients, this Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without ruining all your hard work.

Since my gluten-free experiment morphed into low-carb eating (it seemed to make the most sense), I haven’t had too much trouble curbing my sweet tooth. That’s not to say I haven’t craved sweets at all because, well, duh. Clearly I love chocolate. My solution to the need for chocolate? This stuff right here.

When we were in Oregon over the summer, my sister-in-law requested a low carb/ketogenic dessert to celebrate her birthday, so I made this Two Ingredient Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse. To make it a little more special, I turned the mousse into parfaits. I layered it with sliced strawberries and topped it off with homemade whipped cream that I made using the leftover cream and a little sweetener (I used a sugar alternative, but I can’t remember which one).

It was a huge hit, even with those of us who were still regularly indulging our sweet tooths (sweet teeth?). The mousse was so good that I made it again during that visit, and now I’m making it at home. This mousse is the perfect evening treat to keep in the fridge. A little goes a long way due to its richness, so a batch lasts me about a week.

With just two ingredients, this Low Carb Whipped Chocolate Mousse is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without ruining all your hard work.

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Cheesy Bacon Rotel Phyllo Cups

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Cheesy bacon rotel phyllo cups are tasty little phyllo cup bites stuffed with melted cheese, chewy bacon, and the spicy goodness of Rotel tomatoes.

Cheesy bacon rotel phyllo cups are tasty little phyllo cup bites stuffed with melted cheese, chewy bacon, and the spicy goodness of Rotel tomatoes.

These cheesy bacon rotel phyllo cups are hard to describe. They’re an instant hit with everyone who tries them and, considering all the baby showers, tailgates, and family gatherings my mother-in-law has made them for, that’s a lot of people. Bite-size appetizers are always appealing, but when you throw in bacon and cheese, they’re irrestible.

Don’t let the use of mayonnaise throw you. I don’t care for mayonnaise in general, but you don’t taste it in this recipe. Instead, it just serves as a binder for all the ingredients you can taste, like the melted cheese and the chewy, salty bacon. If you’ve never had phyllo cups, you’re in for a treat. This Greek dough is thin and crispy, making it the perfect vehicle for what’s inside.

Cheesy bacon rotel phyllo cups are tasty little phyllo cup bites stuffed with melted cheese, chewy bacon, and the spicy goodness of Rotel tomatoes.

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Tomato Black Bean Avocado Dip

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Tomato black bean avocado dip is an easy, healthy, and crowd-pleasing recipe that’s as perfect for an afternoon snack as it is for your next party.

Tomato black bean avocado dip is an easy, healthy, and crowd-pleasing recipe that's as perfect for an afternoon snack as it is for your next party.

My mom made this tomato black bean avocado dip, among other things, for my little sister’s high school graduation party last June. There’ some sort of magic that goes into this recipe because, I have to confess, I don’t even care much for tomatoes, avocados, or black beans. Despite that, I could.not.stop. eating this stuff. If that isn’t the sign of a great recipe, I don’t know what is.

There was plenty of other killer food there that day, including cinnamon roll bars with cream cheese frosting and a few other as-yet-unblogged recipes, but I kept coming back to this tomato black bean avocado dip. I enjoyed it with tortilla strips, but I can imagine how great it would be on pita, nachos, or tacos. Basically, it’s a dip and a condiment in one. I won’t even judge you for going after it with just a fork. It’s healthy enough you can do that guilt-free.

Tomato black bean avocado dip is an easy, healthy, and crowd-pleasing recipe that's as perfect for an afternoon snack as it is for your next party.

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Brown Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Sausages

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These brown sugar bacon-wrapped sausages are seriously like crack. They’re sweet, savory, addictive, and perfect for any party you’re having.

These brown sugar bacon-wrapped sausages are seriously like crack. They're sweet, savory, addictive, and perfect for any party you're having.

There are some big changes afoot in the Winstead household. While I typically try to avoid vague statements (like the one I just made) without further explanation, I’m too excited about what’s happening to not say something. I’m excited, nervous, hopeful, and anxious all at once, and I’ll be sharing more details in coming weeks.

In a season of life when there are still so many unknowns, it occurs to me that I have so much to be thankful for. In addition to the obvious, like the health of my family and a beautiful home to live in, I’m so thankful for answered prayers and peace of mind amidst uncertain circumstances. During a time when so much of the future is up in the air, I’m thankful for confidence that God’s timing is perfect.

Things might be looking different around the Winstead house soon, but some things never change. One thing that will always remain the same is my love for cute little bite-size appetizers, particularly those that include bacon-wrapped anything. These brown sugar bacon sausages are a recipe my mother-in-law has made for a few years. They’re a huge hit with anyone who tries them, and with good reason.

The sausages themselves aren’t anything special. They’re the kind often served smothered with barbecue sauce at parties. The bacon is where the beauty begins. The strips are the same width as the length of the sausages, making them a perfect pairing. When the dish bakes, the brown sugar on top gets sticky and caramel-y. The result is a perfectly sweet and savory bite that’ll be a hit at any holiday or game day event.

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Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars

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Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars are a no-bake, four-ingredient, gluten-free alternative to the packaged version. So easy, fast, and incredibly tasty!

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars are a no-bake, four-ingredient, gluten-free alternative to the packaged version. So easy, fast, and incredibly tasty!

The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is downright irresistible. At least it is to J and me and, based on the number of people who love store-bought peanut butter cups, we’re just two of millions. I started making a homemade version several years ago. They were rich and smooth and one of the best things we’d ever eaten. Making them, drizzling the melted chocolate into individual muffin liners, was a little tedious, though.

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars are a no-bake, four-ingredient, gluten-free alternative to the packaged version. So easy, fast, and incredibly tasty!

More than a year ago, I had the brilliant idea to make the recipe into bars, to skip the cupcake liners and use a sheet pan instead. Best. Idea. Ever. Now, a recipe that was already impossible to resist is also sinfully simple to make. These homemade peanut butter cup bars are just as good as the homemade peanut butter cups, but they come together so much more quickly. Bonus: they’re gluten free!

 

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars are a no-bake, four-ingredient, gluten-free alternative to the packaged version. So easy, fast, and incredibly tasty!

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Homemade Freezer Garlic Bread

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Don’t waste your money on the processed store-bought stuff. It only takes ten minutes and five ingredients to make your own homemade freezer garlic bread.

Don't waste your money on the processed store-bought stuff. It only takes ten minutes and five ingredients to make your own homemade freezer garlic bread.

I don’t love to admit it, but I have a weakness for store-bought frozen Texas toast. You know, the oval-shaped stuff you bake from frozen? It just pairs so perfectly with any sort of pasta dish. Of course, I much prefer homemade garlic bread, but we rarely buy any type of bread that isn’t regular whole wheat sandwich bread. You can bet if I make a loaf of French bread from scratch, I’ll be using at least a few slices to make homemade garlic bread.

Don't waste your money on the processed store-bought stuff. It only takes ten minutes and five ingredients to make your own homemade freezer garlic bread.

It occurred to me a while back that it wouldn’t be difficult at all to make homemade freezer garlic bread. It only took me a few minutes to put together the spread, butter the toast, and stick everything in the freezer. Now we have access to garlic bread any time we want it and we didn’t pay for the over-priced, over-processed version from the freezer section of the grocery store.

Don't waste your money on the processed store-bought stuff. It only takes ten minutes and five ingredients to make your own homemade freezer garlic bread.

One of the best things about this homemade freezer garlic bread- other than how awesome it tastes- is that it can totally be adapted to your own preferences. You can use any sort of homemade or store-bought bread. You can adjust the amounts of the seasonings I use, or you could add in your own favorites. You can even toss in some Parmesan cheese to kick it up a notch.

Don't waste your money on the processed store-bought stuff. It only takes ten minutes and five ingredients to make your own homemade freezer garlic bread.

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