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

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. 

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.

Peanutty Apple Dip

"I love the combination of peanut butter and apples so I came up with this yummy dip that's perfect for snacking."

 

"Peanutty Goodness!"

 

8 ounce package cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon apple pie spice*

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

 

With a mixer, cream together cream cheese and peanut butter. Add powdered sugar and apple pie spice.  Mix until completely combined.  NOTE:  The mixture will be very thick, just keep mixing until everything is combined and it will come together completely.  Spoon into serving dish.  Top with chopped peanuts and sprinkle with additional apple pie spice.  Serve with apple slices, graham crackers and even banana slices.  Refrigerate leftovers.

 

*Tip:  If you don't have apple pie spice, you can substitute cinnamon. 

 

Hot Crab Dip

"This recipe was given to us by one of my hubby's coworkers.  It is so delicious and the best thing about it is that it's made in the slow cooker so it's perfect to make for parties.  Take it along to your next hors d'oeuvre party and be the hit of the bash!"

 

 

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup salsa

3-(8 ounce) packages of cream cheese

16 ounces of crab meat

3-4 green onions, sliced

1-(4 ounce) can green chiles, such as Ortega

 

 

Combine milk and salsa.  Place everything in a slow cooker.  Cook on low heat for 3-4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes to combine.  Serve with tortilla chips or your favorite dippers.

 

 

 

 



Feta Chip Dip

"One of my cousins shared this recipe.  It is a very easy, quick and delicious dip that can be served at any gathering.  Try it at your next appetizer party or maybe at the big game!"

 

1 ripe avocado, peeled and diced

2 plum tomatoes, diced

1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, finely minced 

1 Tablespoon fresh oregano, finely minced

1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, minced

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon red or white wine vinegar

4 ounces of Feta cheese, crumbled
Salt & Pepper, to taste

 

 

Carefully mix together the avocados, tomatoes, onion and garlic in a bowl.  Add in the oregano and parsley.  Gently stir in the olive oil and vinegar.  Add feta cheese.  Season with salt & pepper, if desired.  Cover the dip and place in the refrigerator to chill for 2-6 hours.  Serve with tortilla chips or your favorite dippers.

 

*This recipe is easily doubled and believe me you will want to make a lot of it because it's absolutely delicious!

 

  



Marshmallow Fruit Dip

"I love this dip that my Mom makes!  It's yummy served with any fruit, but especially with strawberries and apples!"

 

1 (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened

1-(13 ounce) or 2-(7 ounce) Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme

1 teaspoon almond extract

Combine all ingredients with an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl.  Serve with your favorite cut-up fruit.



Herb Vegetable Dip

"This dip is so easy to put together and is delicious served alongside any vegetables."

1 (8 ounce) container sour cream

1 cup mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon dried onion flakes

1 Tablespoon dried parsley flakes

1 teaspoon Bon Appetit seasoning*

1 teaspoon dried dill

Mix all ingredients together.  Chill.  Serve with cut up vegetables like carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, sliced sweet peppers, green onions, broccoli or cauliflower.

 

*Bon Appetit is a seasoning blend of onion and celery.  It can be found on the baking aisle near the other seasonings.  If you can't find it you can use 1/2 teaspoon onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon celery salt instead.   

Chia's Simple Salsa

"My Hubby invented this delicious salsa.  We love to eat it with chips, over omelets and slathered on any Mexican food that we make.  It's Divine!"

Chips n' Dip

4-(14.5 ounce) cans Hunt's Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes with Garlic, drained

1 red onion, quartered
4 cloves garlic

1-(7 ounce) can Ortega Diced Fire Roasted Green Chilies

1-(4 ounce) can La Victoria Diced Fire Roasted Jalapenos

Juice of 2 limes

1 Tablespoon salt

1/2 Tablespoon or 1-1/2 teaspoons black pepper

1 Tablespoon garlic powder

1-1/2 teaspoons cumin

1 Tablespoon dried cilantro

In the bowl of a food processor, process drained tomatoes until desired consistency and transfer to a large mixing bowl.  Add red onion and garlic to food processor and process until finely minced; stir into tomatoes.  Add green chilies and jalapenos.  Add lime juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin and cilantro and mix well.  Serve with tortilla chips, if desired.  Makes approximately 2 quarts.

TIP:  Store in quart jars in the refrigerator until ready to use.

    

Chia's Guacamole

"This is one of my favorite recipes that my Husband has invented.  We use it as a dip with tortilla chips and as a condiment on tacos, nachos, enchiladas and any other Mexican dishes that we cook." 

Creamy, Spicy Goodness!

juice from 1/2 of a lemon
2 avocados
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
Pickled jalapenos, chopped, to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
salt, to taste
chipotle chili powder, to taste
garlic powder, to taste
pinch of cumin

Mash avocados up well.  Add onion, tomato, jalapenos and garlic.  Squeeze lemon over mixture.  Add mayonnaise and sour cream.  Add salt, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder and cumin.  Mix well.  Serve with tortilla chips or on tacos.

TIP:  The Chipotle Chili Powder is really spicy so start out with a small amount and add more if desired.

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.