Super Bowl Party Food Ideas

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?  (I know, I know....lame.) haha  Seriously, the only reason I even watch the Super Bowl is for the food, and the commercials.  Do you feel the same?

Well, even though I am completely outnumbered by men in my house, I am a good sport - and we have made a nice tradition of having our own little Super Bowl party.  (I think my boys really just like the fact that they get to eat in front of the tv - which we never do.) haha

Here for your commercial football-watching pleasure is a compilation of our favorite appetizers and snack foods:

 Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

 Baked Pizza Dip

Restaurant-Style Guacamole

 Bacon Cheese Ball

Wingers Sticky Fingers

 Queso Dip

 Texas Caviar

Salsa

 Pepperoni Rolls

Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Chocolate Covered Apple Bites

 

 Chocolate-Strawberry Shish Kabobs

Peanut Butter Cheese Ball

 

 Caramel Heavenlies

Cake Cookies

 

Thanks for stopping by - hopefully you'll find at least one good recipe on here! haha :) Well, feel free to look around in case we missed anything.

 

Enjoy!

 

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites

 Oh. my. deliciousness.  These are soooo good!  Seriously, anything wrapped in bacon would be pretty good in my opinion, but I really liked the chicken. Waaay better than lil' smokies. My boys were dipping them in soy sauce.  Whatever.  They always have to change the recipe. :) haha

Ingredients:

1 pkg bacon

3-4 chicken breasts (mine were really small, so I used 4)

1/3 cup brown sugar

Directions:

Cut up chicken into bite-sized chunks.  Cut bacon in half, wrap around chicken pieces and secure with a toothpick.

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. (Trust me, you'll want to do this.  Very messy.)

Set bacon wrapped chicken bites on cookie sheet, and sprinkle brown sugar over the top.

Bake at 325 F for 45 min.  I wanted mine crispier, so after 45 min, I turned the oven to broil for about 5-10 minutes.  Perfect!



Baked Pizza Dip

I've been wanting to try this recipe for awhile now, and last night I finally did.  It was really good! 
It was super cheesy, with a nice Italian flavor.  We tried dipping in tortilla chips and breadsticks, and they were both good. 

I made some ravioli to go with it, so we ended up just scooping the dip right on top of the ravioli with a little extra sauce. Yum!

Tomato sauce ingredients:
(I doubled this, and used it with the pasta - it's great by itself.)

2 TBS olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (14 oz) can chopped tomatoes (I blended mine, because we don't like tomato chunks)
 3 TBS tomato paste
1/2 tsp dried Italian Herb Seasoning
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 pinch black pepper

Preheat oil in saucepan over medium heat.  Add garlic and cook about 1 minute.  Add remaining ingredients and cook about 5 min, stirring frequently.

Dip ingredients:
1 cup tomato sauce recipe (above) or just use pizza sauce
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup Ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 tsp dried Italian Herb Seasoning
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
mini or regular pepperoni (optional)
dried Basil (for top)

Preheat oven to 400 F.  Grease bottom and sides of pie plate or small casserole dish.

Mix together cream cheese, 1/2 cup Mozzarella, Ricotta, seasoning, salt and garlic powder together in large bowl. 

Spread into prepared dish. Spread 1 cup tomato sauce recipe on top, and sprinkle on remaining Mozzarella cheese. Add pepperoni and sprinkle basil on top.

Bake uncovered 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and golden.

Restaurant-Style Guacamole

I've had a couple requests lately for my guacamole recipe - so I thought I'd put it on here.

I have only two requirements when it comes to guacamole:  1) It has to have enough salt and lime flavor, and 2) It has to have a nice kick to it. That's it.  I could seriously live off of this guacamole! Sooo good!

I don't usually have specific measurements, I just add stuff until it looks and tastes how I want it, but when I made it today, I wrote down everything I put in - just in case anyone cares. :)  Haha

Ingredients:
4 avocados
1/2 bunch cilantro (about 1/4 cup), chopped
2-3 serrano peppers, finely chopped (yep - the hotter the better!)
1 green onion, diced
1 roma tomato, finely chopped, no seeds
juice from 1 1/2 limes
1/2 tsp salt

Scoop insides of avocados into a large bowl, smash with fork.  Add all other ingredients, stir until combined.  Taste to make sure it's exactly how you like it.  Serve with chips. (or whatever) :D

Hope you like it!

Orange-Frosted Cranberry Cookies

These are the best cookies EVER!!!  They are my family's new favorite holiday cookies--and I'm soooo sorry I didn't get them on in time for Christmas!

This recipe makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Cookies:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 egg
2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups coarsely chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
1/2 cup chopped nuts, if desired

Orange frosting:
1 & 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice

Heat oven to 375 F.  Spray cookie sheep with cooking spray.

In large bowl, beat sugars, butter, orange peel, orange juice and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon.  Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.  Stir in cranberries and nuts.  Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto cookie sheet.

Bake 12-14 minutes or until edges and bottoms of cookies are light golden brown.  Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.  Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

In small bowl, stir all frosting ingredients until smooth and spreadable.  Frost cookies.

ENJOY!!!!!!  And make lots--they go fast!!!

Chocolate-Strawberry Shish Kabobs

 I don't really know what to call these - so we'll just call them Chocolate-Strawberry Shish Kabobs, even though there are marshmallows in there, too.  These are really good, and they look ah-mazing! The picture doesn't even do it justice.  Seriously, they are gorgeous!  Very Valentine-y. :)

Ingredients:
Little Debbie Swiss Rolls or HoHos
Marshmallows
Strawberries
1/4 c chocolate chips

Directions:
Cut Swiss Rolls into thirds, and the strawberries and marshmallows in half. (You could do whole marshmallows, but I thought they were too big, & I'm not a big marshmallow fan anyway, so it's up to you.)
Place on skewers.
Melt chocolate chips in the microwave & drizzle on top.

YUM-MY!

Slowcooker Honey Barbecue Chicken

This honey barbecue chicken was so good! We served it on rice, and the boys ended up crumbling tortilla chips on top.  It tastes a lot like Cafe Rio Chicken.  I think next time I will serve it with the Cilantro Lime Rice and Creamy Tomatillo Dressing.  We all thought it would be really good served on buns as well. 

Ingredients:
5 - 6 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
1 c chicken broth

Dry Rub Ingredients:
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
2 TBS brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Honey Barbecue Sauce Ingredients:
1/2 c honey
1/2 c ketchup
1/4 c margarine
1 TBS apple cider vinegar
1 TBS spicy mustard
2 TBS brown sugar
1 TBS soy sauce
1 tsp chili powder
pinch of salt, onion powder and garlic powder

Directions:
Mix together dry rub ingredients.  Rub spice mixture all over chicken breasts and place in a slowcooker.

Pour chicken broth around chicken breasts, cover and cook 3 -4 hrs until chicken is cooked through.

Remove chicken and discard juices.  Shred chicken with a fork, and return to slowcooker.

Combine honey barbecue sauce ingredients in medium saucepan and cook on medium heat until well combined. 

Pour over chicken in slowcooker, and let cook on low about 15 - 20 minutes more or until ready to serve.

(Serve with rice, black beans, tortilla chips, lettuce or just serve it on buns!)

Enjoy!

Broccoli Cheese Soup

For some reason every time I go out to eat, Broccoli Cheese Soup seems to be on the menu and sounding delicious! So, since it is still winter I am posting this FABULOUS, fast and easy recipe, from Mel's Kitchen Cafe!

Ingredients:

1 can (14 oz) chicken broth
1 small onion, diced
1/3 c. flour
1/4 c. butter
1/2 tsp pepper
2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. shredded sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 c. shredded Swiss cheese
2 cups steamed chopped broccoli

Directions:

Simmer chicken broth and chopped onion for 15-20 minutes in a covered small saucepan, until onions are soft. Heat milk in microwave for 1-2 minutes. In a separate medium-sized pot, melt butter then add flour and pepper. Cook together for a couple of minutes, then whisk in warmed milk. Stir and heat together on medium-high heat until soup starts to thicken. Next add chicken broth and continue to stir until well blended. Add cheeses and steamed broccoli. Serve immediately.

Crispy Cheddar Chicken

 

I just found this at Jamie Cooks It Up via Pinterest (I love that place)  Where there are lots of good recipes I am anxious to try! (She is exactly my style of cooking, easy with ingredients I've actually heard of)


Ingredients:
Chicken:
4 large chicken breasts
2 sleeves Ritz crackers
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper
1/2 cup milk
3 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1 t dried parsley

Sauce:
1  14 oz can cream of chicken soup
2 Tbsp sour cream
2 Tbsp butter

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400*   Spray a 9x13 baking dish. 
Cut each chicken breast into strips.  In a zip lock bag, crush up the Ritz crackers and add 1/4 t salt and 1/8 t pepper.
In 3 separate small bowls, poor milk, cheese and cracker crumbs. 
Dip each piece of chicken into the milk then cheese and finally the cracker crumbs.
Lay the chicken in 9x13 baking dish.
Sprinkle chicken with dried parsley.
Cover pan with foil and bake at 400* for 35 min.  Remove foil, bake for an additional 10 min, or until edges of the chicken are golden brown and crispy.

In a medium sauce pan combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream and butter with a whisk.  Stir constantly over medium high heat until the sauce is hot.  Serve over chicken!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

 Okay, I know - another soup recipe. But it really is a great time of year for soups. And this one is really good! It's hearty, and a little spicy, and the bacon adds a great crunchiness, too. Yum!!!

Ingredients:
4 large potatoes
6 slices of bacon
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
1/4 c butter, cut into chunks
2 c chicken broth
2 c whole milk
1 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
salt and pepper, to taste
2 TBS cornstarch
Toppings:  shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, sour cream

Directions:
Bake potatoes (I put mine directly on the rack, and bake at 400 F, for about 1 hour or until tender).
Remove from oven and set aside to cool a little.
Leaving the skins on, chop 2 of the baked potatoes into small chunks. Scoop out the insides of the other 2 potatoes and mash them up with a fork. (I left mine a little chunky, not too smooth.)

Fry the bacon in a large pot, until crisp.  Remove to a paper towel to cool, and then crumble for topping.  Add chopped onion and garlic to the pot and cook in the bacon grease until just softened.

Stir in butter chunks until melted.  Add milk, chicken broth and all of the potatoes.  Stir to combine. Heat soup on low (do not boil) and when heated, add cheese, cayenne and salt and pepper.

In a small bowl, combine cornstarch with equal parts water, stirring until smooth.  Add to soup and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.

Serve soup with crumbled bacon, onions, extra cheese and sour cream (if desired).

Serves 6

Enjoy!

Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup

This soup is the same one I've made for my family a million times before, and they've never said a word about it.  The other night, I added chicken broth and cooked things in a little different order.  Suddenly they all LOVE it!

My oldest son asked if it was hard to make, because he wanted to have it alot more often. (Obviously my family knows I only cook really like recipes that are easy and fast.) Huh. Crazy.

That being said, this soup is really delicious, hearty, and pretty easy to make.

Ingredients:
1 c chopped onion
1 c chopped celery
2 c chopped carrots
2 TBS butter or margarine
6 c chicken broth
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 c milk
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 pkg (16 oz) egg noodles
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
Melt butter or margarine in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add vegetables and saute until just tender. (about 5 min)

Add chicken broth, and bring to a boil.  Add chicken breasts (I threw mine in frozen) and boil until chicken is cooked through.  Remove chicken, shred with forks and put back in pot.

Add milk, noodles, and cream of chicken soup. Simmer until noodles are tender.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

That's it! Enjoy!

Healthy Ice Cream

Okay, seriously - Is it already time to start eating healthy again??  I ate soooo bad over the holidays, and the one thing I ate a lot of was ice cream!  So when I started thinking about getting back to eating a healthier diet - I remembered this recipe.  I originally got this from Bill Phillips' Eating For Life. (An amazing book for healthy recipes!) 

Anyway, I used to make this "fake" ice cream all the time, but I had forgotten about it until recently.  It really does taste just like ice cream!

The secret ingredient is: frozen bananas!  That's it!  It's great because whenever you're bananas start to get a little over-ripe and you don't think you'll eat them - peel them and stick them in the freezer to use as ice cream later.

Ingredients:
1/2 c skim milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional, but hello? added protein!)
2 c frozen banana slices (about 2 medium bananas)

Toppings:
4 tsp sugar-free chocolate syrup
4 TBS fat-free whipped topping
2 tsp chopped nuts

Directions:
Pour skim milk into blender.  Add protein powder and blend on high speed for about 15 seconds.
Add frozen bananas and blend until smooth.

Serves 2

Note:  Immediately after blending, this resembles more of a soft-serve ice cream.  However, if you want to make it ahead of time and put it back in the freezer, it will firm up a bit more like regular ice cream.


Chunky Monkey Variation:

You can probably add all kinds of fruit and different things to this 'Healthy Ice Cream' recipe - but one of my favorites is the Chunky Monkey version.

Ingredients:
1/2 c skim milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (gotta add that protein in) haha :)
3 peeled and frozen bananas
2 TBS peanut butter
1/4 c chopped walnuts
2 TBS chocolate chips

Other Variations:
Strawberry Banana - Add frozen strawberries (I tried replacing the bananas with strawberries and it didn't turn out very well for me, so I just add them in with the bananas)

Tropical Blizzard - Add coconut and pecans

Chocolate Banana - Add sugar-free chocolate syrup - or - chocolate protein powder! (am I selling you the protein powder idea, yet?)

Well, I'm sure you get the idea.... :D
Get out there and experiment! (and let me know what you come up with)

Enjoy!