Bacon Ranch Wraps

"These wraps are so easy to put together for an easy lunch or dinner.  They are perfect for those on-the-go days when you need a quick solution to mealtime!" 

For each wrap you will need:

3 slices of ham

3 slices of turkey

2 slices of Colby-jack cheese

1 Tablespoon chopped bacon

1-2 Tablespoons Ranch dressing

1 flour tortilla

On flour tortilla, layer ham, turkey and cheese.  Drizzle on Ranch dressing and sprinkle with bacon pieces.  Roll up wrap and secure with toothpicks, if desired.  ENJOY!   

Game Day Grub

"One of the best parts of Game Day is the FOOD!  Here are some of my favorite recipes that would be perfect for your half-time munching, no matter what team you are cheering for."

*Just click on the links below to go to the recipes.

1.  Chia's Chipotle Chili
2.  Pizza Pasta Salad
3.  Mexi-Ranch Dip
4.  Copycat Specialty Classic Hot Buffalo Chicken (Like Domino's)
5.  Festive Shrimp Cocktail Appetizer
6.  Shrimp Macaroni Salad
7.  Smokehouse Cheese Ball
8.  Feta Chip Dip
9.  Spaghetti Salad

Cheesy Garlic Bread

"What can make Spaghetti & Meatballs even better, THIS can!  Garlicky and cheesy, this bread is the perfect addition to any meal!"

 

2 hoagie or other crusty deli rolls, split in half lengthwise

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place bread cut sides up on cookie sheet.  Mix together butter, parsley and garlic.  On each piece of bread, spread about 1 Tablespoon of butter mixture and sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese.  Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. 

Serve and ENJOY!

Mexi-Ranch Dip

"The Summer barbecue and party season is on it's way.  There will be Graduation parties, Memorial Day barbecues, Birthday bashes and 4th of July potlucks to attend.  This dip is layers and layers of YUMMINESS and will be a perfect addition to any event menu."

16 ounce can of refried beans
8 ounce container of sour cream
1 ounce packet of Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix
1 Tablespoon Taco Seasoning mix (from packet of mix)
1 cup of prepared Guacamole
15 ounce can of black beans, drained and rinsed
8 ounce package of shredded cheddar cheese
4 ounce can of diced green chilies, drained
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
3 green onions, sliced
4 ounce can of sliced black olives, drained
pickled jalapeno slices, desired amount
Tortilla chips

In a 10 inch platter or pie plate, spread refried beans.  Stir together sour cream, Ranch salad dressing mix and Taco seasoning mix.  Spread over refried beans.  Layer the remaining ingredients in order listed.  Serve with tortilla chips. 

Copycat Specialty Classic Hot Buffalo Chicken (Like Domino's)

"My hubby and I love to order boneless chicken wings to eat with our pizza on the weekends or to eat while watching football.  One of our new favorites is the Specialty Classic Hot Buffalo Chicken from Domino's.  I came up with our own version and it's pretty darn delicious if I do say so myself!  This chicken appetizer would be a perfect addition to your Super Bowl menu this year!" 

6 Frozen Breaded Chicken Strips, prepared according to package directions (We use Foster Farms brand.)
1/3 cup Buffalo Wing Sauce
1/4 cup Ranch Dressing
1/3 cup Feta Cheese, crumbled
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
Bleu Cheese Dressing for dipping

Prepare chicken strips according to package directions.  Chop chicken into bite-size chunks.  Toss chicken chunks in buffalo wing sauce until fully coated.  Place sauce-covered chicken onto a cookie sheet that has been sprayed well with non-stick cooking spray.  Drizzle chicken with ranch dressing.  Combine feta, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses and sprinkle on top.  Bake at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.  Serve with bleu cheese dressing for dipping.

  

Easy Peasy Cheesy Quesadilla-Y! (Sorry I got carried away!)

"This is an easy recipe that is perfect for lunch, dinner or a snack.  It's so quick and easy that you can have a yummy meal on the table in minutes!"

 

To make 1 quesadilla you will need:
1 Tablespoon canola oil
2 flour tortillas
1 wedge of The Laughing Cow brand garden vegetable flavor cream cheese spread (or your favorite cream cheese)
1/2 cup shredded Mexican-style cheese or your favorite flavor
sour cream, for topping
salsa, for topping

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Spread cream cheese on one side of one of the tortillas.  Sprinkle shredded cheese over cream cheese.  Place second tortilla on top of cheese.  Place into skillet and cook on each side until golden brown.  Remove from skillet and using a pizza cutter, cut into wedges.  Top with a dollop of sour cream and a spoonful of salsa. 

Festive Shrimp Cocktail Appetizer

"This appetizer is so, so simple to make.  It is a perfect addition to your holiday menu whether you're hosting your family for a traditional Christmas dinner or you're attending a holiday buffet.  Add this dish to the menu and you will be the star of the holiday party!"  

 

1-(8 ounce) package of cream cheese

6 ounces of cocktail sauce (1/2 of a 12 ounce bottle)

1-(4 ounce) can of tiny shrimp, drained and rinsed

Old Bay Seasoning, desired amount

Your choice of crackers

 

Open can of shrimp and pour into a colander.  Run cold water over shrimp to rinse and allow to drain well.  Place block of cream cheese in center of a serving platter.  Pour cocktail sauce over cream cheese.  Place shrimp on top of cocktail sauce.  (Sauce and shrimp will cascade over the side of the cream cheese.)  Sprinkle with Old Bay Seasoning.  Place crackers around edge of platter.  Serve by spreading on crackers.  Enjoy!    

Breaded Zucchini Chips

"These Zucchini Chips are little bites of breaded heaven!  My husband liked them so much that he didn't even wait to dip them in Ranch dressing (If you know my Hubby, you know that's a big deal!).   They are perfect as an appetizer, snack or side dish."

1 medium zucchini, sliced
1/4 cup flour
1 egg, beaten with 1 Tablespoon water
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders and dried oregano, desired amounts*

You will need 3 separate dishes for your breading station.  In one dish, place the flour.  In another dish, add egg + water and in the third dish, place the bread crumbs.  Add desired amount of seasonings to each dish and stir well.  *(I season the flour, egg and bread crumbs very well because we like very seasoned zucchini chips.  Season according to your family's taste.)  Dip zucchini slices first in the seasoned flour, then into the egg mixture and finally into the seasoned bread crumbs.  Lay breaded zucchini on a sheet of waxed paper until canola oil is heated.  This will help the breading to stick to the zucchini.  Pour enough canola oil to cover the bottom of a large frying pan and heat oil on medium heat.  Fry zucchini chips until golden brown on each side, about 2-3 minutes per side.  Drain on paper towels.  Serve with Ranch dressing for dipping.    

Zesty Cocktail Sauce

"Whether you are preparing breaded shrimp, coconut shrimp, a zesty shrimp cocktail or any other seafood dish, this cocktail sauce is a perfect condiment.  I have also used it in recipes that call for store bought cocktail sauce as an ingredient.  It gets it's spicy 'kick' from lots of horseradish and hot sauce."

 

6 ounces Homade brand Chili Sauce, from a 12 ounce jar (I have also used Heinz Chili Sauce.)

2-3 Tablespoons cream-style Horseradish (The more horseradish you use, the spicier the sauce!)

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2-3 drops of Tobasco hot sauce, or desired amount

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

 

Combine all ingredients.  Refrigerate for a couple hours to allow flavors to blend together.  Serve with your favorite shrimp or seafood recipe.

 

Smokehouse Cheese Ball

"This Smokehouse Cheese Ball is another one of my hubby's yummy recipes.  We enjoyed it as an appetizer before Thanksgiving dinner this year.  It has the most delicious, smoky flavor and is a perfect topper for your favorite crackers.  This recipe is an easy appetizer or snack for any party or get-together that you might be having this holiday season." 

2-(8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/3 cup chopped scallions or green onions
1/4 cup Hormel Real Bacon Bits (from 3 ounce container-found by salad dressings)
4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke (Found on the condiment aisle near the ketchup)
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3-4 ounces of Smokehouse Almonds, finely chopped

Using a mixer, blend together cream cheese and cheddar cheese until combined.  Mix in green onions, bacon bits, Worcestershire, liquid smoke and seasonings.  Stir until completely combined.  Form mixture into a ball and roll in chopped almonds.  Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm.  Serve with crackers.

Mini Chicken Salad Croissants

"I made these yummy mini sandwiches for my Mom's Bunco group recently.  They are very tasty and are a perfect appetizer for any gathering."

Chicken Salad

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

salt, pepper and poultry seasoning

Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-45 minutes, depending on how large the chicken breasts are, or until thoroughly cooked. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Cut into chunks and set aside.

4 green onions, minced

2 celery ribs, minced
1/2 cup mayonnaise 

1/3 cup sweet pickle relish

juice of 1/2 a lemon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Combine ingredients and add to cut up chicken.


Mini Chicken Salad Croissants
Mini croissants or you can use large croissants that are cut in half
butter, at room temperature
Red leaf lettuce or your choice of lettuce
Chicken Salad

Split croissants open using a serrated bread knife.  Spread a small amount of butter on the top half of the croissant and spoon chicken salad on the bottom half.  Top chicken salad with lettuce and put sandwich together.   

Layer sandwiches onto a large serving tray and cover with foil.  Refrigerate sandwiches until ready to serve.

Nachos Deluxe

 

"My husband and I love, love, love nachos on the weekends.  My hubby came up with this yummy version that we can make at home.  I told him that they taste better than any nachos that we've ordered at the local Mexican restaurants.  Lucky for me, now he can make them for us all of the time.  Probably not so lucky for him though huh!  Ha, ha!!"

"Yum!  You're craving Nachos now huh?"

Meat

1 pound of hamburger

salt & pepper, desired amounts

chili powder, desired amount

cumin, desired amount

onion powder, desired amount

garlic powder, desired amount

 

Brown hamburger with desired amounts of seasonings.  Drain. 

 

Cheese Sauce

1-(22-3/4 ounce) jar of Tostitos Smooth and Cheesy flavored dip

desired amounts of salt & pepper, chili powder, cumin. onion and garlic powder

 

Heat cheese sauce in a saucepan with desired amounts of seasonings. 

 

To assemble nachos

Tortilla chips

2 cups shredded cheese of your choice (We used Colby jack cheese.)

1 can of Ro*Tel diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained 

sliced pickled jalapenos

sour cream

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  On a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, spread out a layer of tortilla chips.  Sprinkle shredded cheese over the chips.  Bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted and chips are warmed through.  Remove from the oven and pour warmed cheese sauce over chips.  Spoon on seasoned hamburger.  Sprinkle on Ro*Tel and  jalapeno slices.  Spoon dollops of sour cream on top of the nachos.  Serve while hot.      



Easy Stuffed Celery

"This is a very easy appetizer to make and only takes 3 ingredients.  Make it and take it to your next potluck!"

Celery ribs, cleaned and cut into 3-4 inch pieces
Kraft Pimento Spread from 5 ounce jar*
Hormel Real Bacon Pieces from a 2.8 ounce jar**

Simply stuff celery pieces with Pimento Spread and sprinkle with desired amount of bacon pieces. 

See I told you it was easy, almost TOO EASY!

*The Kraft Pimento Spread can be found by the Velveeta cheese in your supermarket.

**If you would rather make your own bacon pieces, just fry bacon until crispy and then crumble it into pieces.

Ham & Pimento Cheese Finger Sandwiches



"These sandwiches wouldn't win a prize for the prettiest, but they might be voted one of the tastiest.  I can remember my Mom making these little sandwiches for party hors d'oeuvres since I was a little girl.  My Mom and I recently made them for her Bunco get together and she said that everyone loved them.  I hope that you will try them and that you will like them too!" 

1 loaf of white bread

3-(4.25 ounce) cans of Underwood Deviled Ham Spread*

1/4 cup Miracle Whip Dressing

2-(5 ounce) jars Kraft Pimento Spread**

 

Combine ham spread and Miracle Whip.  For each sandwich, spread ham mixture on one slice of bread and pimento spread on another slice of bread.  Put sandwich together and using a serrated bread knife, trim the crusts off.  Cut each sandwich in half diagonally and stack on platter.  If not serving sandwiches right away, cover with foil or plastic wrap to keep bread from getting dry.

 

*You can find the Underwood Deviled Ham Spread by the tuna fish in your grocery store.

 

**The Kraft Pimento Spread is located on the same aisle as Velveeta.   

Stuffed Strawberries

"Strawberries stuffed with almond cream cheese buttercream.  Need I say more!!! 

"These strawberries are perfect for showers, parties or barbecues.  They are always a hit!" 

2 pounds of strawberries

Almond cream cheese buttercream (Recipe follows) 

 

Almond Cream Cheese Buttercream:

4 ounces of cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup of butter, softened

1 pound box of powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon almond flavoring

2 drops of red food coloring, if desired

 

Cream together cream cheese and butter.  Add powdered sugar a little at a time until all combined.  Add milk and almond flavoring.  Color with food coloring, if desired.  Place in a piping bag fitted with a star tip and set aside.  (I keep the piping bag of buttercream refrigerated until I'm ready to stuff the strawberries so that it won't get too soft.)

To assemble Stuffed Strawberries:
Wash and hull strawberries.  (I used a melon baller to hull the strawberries.)  Cut a small amount off of the bottom of the strawberries so that they will stand up on the platter.  Pipe desired amount of buttercream into the strawberries.*  Serve immediately.

*TIP:  If you have leftover buttercream, you can freeze it until the next time you want to make Stuffed Strawberries or you can use the leftover to frost a cake or ice cinnamon rolls.

 

'Ready for Stuffing'

Chipotle Chex Mix

"We LOVE Chipotle Chili Powder and we LOVE Chex Mix so we decided to put the two together!  The result is a Smoky and Spicy snack perfect for Munching!!! 

4 Cups Corn Chex Cereal
4 Cups Rice Chex Cereal
2 Cups Mini Pretzels
2 Cups Cheez-Its Crackers
1 Cup Salted Peanuts
1 Cup Salted Cashews
12 Tbsp Butter, melted
5 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp Liquid Smoke Flavoring
2 Tbsp Seasoned Salt
1 Tbsp Chipotle Chili Powder
2 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Onion Powder

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Mix first 6 ingredients in a large roasting pan.  Whisk together melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke and powdered seasonings until thoroughly combined.  Pour 1/3 of the butter mixture over the cereal mixture. Mix thoroughly.  Repeat with the remaining butter mixture, 1/3 at a time.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 min.  Allow to cool.  Store  in airtight container.

"Ready for munching."

Sweet and Spicy Mixed Nuts

   

"The name says it all.  These nuts are a little bit sweet, a little bit spicy and a whole lot of yummy!  They would be a wonderful snack food while watching the game, a perfect appetizer at your next party or a sweet Christmas gift."

1 egg white

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

2 cups salted mixed nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Whisk together egg white, sugar and spices with a fork.  With a wooden spoon, toss together egg mixture and nuts.  Spread on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Stir and continue baking for 5 minutes.  Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.

Jalapeno Specials

"This is a recipe that my Dad has made for as long as I can remember.  Many of my family request it at special occasions.  My Dad shared it with me a few years ago and now I'm sharing it with you."

Cheesy Goodness!

Guacamole:
5 very-ripe avocados, sliced, then diced into very small chunks, do not mash
1/2 of a sweet onion, like Vidalia, diced
2 small tomatoes, diced
1/4 of a jar of jalapeno peppers, minced
2 heaping Tbsp. mayonnaise
1 tsp. garlic powder
chili powder, to taste
salt and pepper, to taste
2 Tbsp. jalapeno juice from jar of jalapeno peppers
Juice from 1/2 of a lemon

Combine all ingredients. 

NOTE:  As you stir ingredients together, avocado will become creamy.

Additional Ingredients:
Tortilla chips
Shredded cheddar cheese

To Assemble Jalapeno Specials:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spoon about 1 Tbsp. of guacamole mixture onto each tortilla chip.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Place on cookie sheet.  Bake until heated through and cheese is melted.

Jalapeno Green Chile Artichoke Dip

"My husband and I first tasted a dip similar to this at a local restaurant.  We liked it so much that we decided that we would try and make it at home.  I think that our version is even better if I do say so myself!!!  

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

2 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayonnaise

2 (14 ounce) cans of artichoke hearts (I like to use 1 regular and 1 marinated), drained & chopped

1/2 cup chopped green chilies

1/2 cup chopped pickled jalapenos

2 cups mozzarella cheese

Mix together all ingredients, except mozzarella cheese.  Place in a baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  Top with mozzarella cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly.  Serve with crackers, crostini or vegetables.