Creamy Bacon Parmesan Dip

So, a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that we had recently had a thunderstorm and according to Southern folklore we could expect snow in 7-10 days.  Well, it took a little longer than that but we did get snow last night.  They cancelled school today and everything.  How much snow did we get? About and inch.  Yep, that's all. The road are really icy so I am glad school was cancelled but there isn't even enough snow to make a snowman.  Not to mention it's not sticky enough.  Oh well, we'll take it.

If you're stuck home like we are today you might want to work on your game day plans, or maybe you just want a tasty snack.  If you're a bacon fan, you'll be in heaven with this one. Bacon is the star ingredient in this dip, ton's of flavor from the crunchy bacon and the creamy cheeses. Easy to throw together and the ingredients are readily available at most every supermarket.

I made this dip to the Bronco/Patriot game at a friends house

Make sure the dip is good and hot when served!

Creamy Bacon Parmesan Dip

Recipe from Buns In My Oven

Ingredients

• 4 slices bacon, cooked
• 1/4 whole sweet onion, minced
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature and cut into pieces
• 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp ground black pepper

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350º
2. Mince the onion and add to a hot skillet with the butter. Cook until the onions have softened and started to brown slightly. Should take 5-10 minutes.
3. In a medium bowl, crumble the bacon into small pieces and then add the remaining ingredients including the cooked onion.
4. Stir together until creamy and add to a small heat proof dish.
5. Bake for about 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly. 

Superbowl 2014

Is your favorite team playing in the Super Bowl this year?

We are sort of divided in my household since my husband is a die hard Patriots fan (I love them too) and being from a state where we don't have a professional football team I could either grow up loving Seattle or Denver….I chose Denver.  Luckily my husband was at work for the last game so I didn't have to hide my schizophrenic episodes of rooting for two teams at the same time in the same game.  It was a no lose situation for me, sadly not the same for my husband.

I've compiled some great recipes you could use to entertain some friends for the big game!

Spinach Roll-ups

This roll-up has everything but the kitchen sink in them but the flavor's meld together perfectly.  You get the creaminess of the cream cheese, the crunch of the water chestnuts, the bite of the jalapeno and the heat from some spice.  What more can you ask for? 

Onion Strings

My mouth waters every time I think of these onion strings.  They are perfect. Crunchy, flavorful, I use a lot of pepper in the batter and I recommend you do to.  Well if you like pepper that is. Perfect game day food, but you might want to hide all remaining onions in your house or else you'll be frying all night.  People LOVE this recipe. 

Quick Queso

Cheesy, spicy goodness.  Who doesn't love cheese dip?  You can throw this together in literally minutes and it's always a hit. 

Samoa Brownies

This post is taking off on Pinterest.  If you're looking for a gooey, rich, chocolaty brownie then you've found it.  It's nice to have a decadent dessert that you can hold in one hand for the big game and this fits the bill. If you've ever had a Somoa Girl Scout cookie and loved it then you will love these!

Ham and Bean Soup

Everyone is going to be making chili for the game, why not switch it up a bit with this yummy, thick, satisfying soup.  Serve it along side a bottle of hot sauce and some crackers. Yum!

BBQ Chicken Crescents

Another quick and easy recipe that your guests will love, BBQ chicken!  Wrap it up in a store bought crescent roll and you've got yourself a quick bite for people to grab and gobble up. 

Restaurant Style Salsa

Salsa and chips are the classic snack food for so many types of get-togethers. This recipe will quickly become your favorite.  Ton's of flavor but don't worry about the heat level, you can customize it to your own liking.  Great to top off some nacho's!

Pizza Balls

Pizza might be an easy way to get your crowd happy for the game but did you know you can make it quickly and easily in your own kitchen? The kids love em and so do the adults.  They are easy to eat and very portable, yet not as messy as traditional pizza. 

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

What's the last thing you want to do on game day? Be stuck in the kitchen!  Don't be, use your crock pot to your advantage! Meatballs do so well in a slow cooker and this sweet and sour sauce is right on!

Sharp Cheddar Cheese Crackers

Finger food is key to a good party and who doesn't like cheese crackers? Everyone loves these crackers.  Full of cheesy flavor and a classic cracker crunch.  You can't go wrong with these crackers.  Make sure to give yourself a day or two before the game to make them since they do require some time.  Totally worth it. 

Ruth's Chris New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp

Happy Friday everyone!  Any big plans for the weekend? We have a pretty uneventful weekend ahead of us, which makes me happy.  Time to do what we want at our own pace.  Love it.

We, like much of the rest of the country are experiencing a cold snap, they are even saying possible snow next week!  I am thrilled that we might get some snow.  It makes me want to dive into the kitchen and make some good ol' comfort food.

This recipe is one that I saw on Facebook, it made me run out to buy shrimp for dinner. We don't eat that much shrimp in this house so when we do, I want it to be very memorable. I would say this recipe fit the bill.  We loved the tanginess of the spices in the sauce.  I will make this again for sure.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Ruths Chris New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp

Recipe found on Facebook

Ingredients

• 20 large (16/20 ct) shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 ounce canola oil
• 1 Tbsp + 5 tsp green onions, chopped
• 2 ounces dry white wine
• 1 tsp fresh garlic, chopped
• 4 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 tsp Tabasco
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 2 sticks salted butter

Cooking Directions

1. Use a large skillet (cast iron is best) add the oil and cook the shrimp until just done.
2. Remove shrimp and set aside.
3. Add the green onions to the skillet and cook for about 1 minute.
4. Add the wine and let simmer until reduced by half.
5. Add the garlic, Worcestershire, Tabasco, cayenne and paprika to the pan. Shake the pan and cook for 1 minute. Turn heat to low.
6. Cut the butter into small pieces and slowly add to the pan, shake the pan after a couple of additions of butter so the mixture combines. Once all the butter has been added, put the shrimp back in the pan and shake the pan to coat and to heat the shrimp back up.
7. Plate the shrimp and enjoy.

Skinny Shake

If you're anything like me, you're trying to find ways to get your chocolate fix without eating a cupcake or candy bar. OK, that might just be me.

I'm attempting to stay off sugar for a while.  Not forever, just until I don't require it during the day or at dinner.  It's been my one and only true addiction.

So back to this skinny shake. This does require a blender or in our case a NUTR-bullet.  So quick and easy and best of all it totally takes care of my chocolate craving.  The post I used for this shake said it tasted like a Frosty.  I wouldn't go quite that far but it does taste good and you don't have to feel guilty about it. Definitely worth washing the blender.

Skinny Chocolate Shake

Modified slightly from Anastasia Young via Facebook

Ingredients

• 15 ice cubes
• 1/3 whole banana
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
• 1 - 2 tsp unsweetened cocoa
• 1 Tbsp honey

Cooking Directions

1. Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

How to separate egg whites from yolks

I just got emailed this link and decided I needed to share it.  I wish I thought of stuff like this.

It's a much easier way to separate egg yolks from the whites.  People are so smart.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/iAp8pEaWB1Y

KAF Perfect Pancakes

Doesn't it seem like all kids love pancakes? My daughter particularly love chocolate chips added into hers. I usually make a batch of silver dollar size pancakes and put them in the refrigerator for quick weekday breakfasts or put them in her lunch box.  She absolutely loves them.

The instructions for these pancakes make them so light and fluffy, they are just like the title of the recipe, perfect. I'll bet you have all the ingredients for this recipe in your house right now.  Give them a try sometime soon.  They are great refrigerated and reheated in the microwave for just a couple of seconds.  Perfect for busy weekdays or long relaxing weekends.

Perfect Pancakes

Recipe from King Arthur Flour

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 3 Tbsp melted butter or vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 Tbsp sugar or 1/4 cup malted milk powder

Cooking Directions

1. In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the eggs and milk and beat until light and foamy, about 3 minutes. Add the melted butter or oil and mix. 
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. 
3. Gently mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and then let sit for about 15 minutes.  The mixture will thicken while it sits. 
4. Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop the batter onto a hot griddle, cook until the edges look dry and bubbles are forming on the pancake, flip over and cook briefly on the other side. They're done when golden brown on the second side. 
5. You can also make silver dollar size pancakes by using a Tablespoon.
6. Serve hot. 

Mushroom Risotto

You're looking at one of my favorite side dishes.  There is something so comforting to me about Risotto in general but mushroom is a favorite.

Typically Risotto is made with Arborio rice but I've been trying to be good and that means no white rice in my house.  This short grain brown rice was just as good even though it did take slightly more liquid and a little longer cook time. The taste was creamy and flavorful and just as comforting as the Arborio that I usually use.  I also used less mushrooms than the original recipe called for but still found it to be plenty.  Click on the link below for the original recipe.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is a healthy side dish because of all the butter and cheese but it's certainly "healthier" when you use the brown rice.  That is the excuse that I used while piling my plate high and not sharing any. :)

Mushroom Risotto

Recipe modified from AllRecipes

Ingredients

• 7 to 8 cups chicken broth, divided 
• 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
• 1 pound mushrooms (I used cremini)
• 2 whole shallots, diced
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked short grain brown rice (Arborio is typically used)
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3 Tbsp chives, finely chopped
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Cooking Directions

1. In a large pot, warm the broth over low heat.
2. In a large skillet add 2 Tbsp olive oil and cook the mushrooms until they soften. About 3 minutes. Remove the mushrooms and their liquid to a bowl and set aside.
3. Use the same skillet to add 1 Tbsp olive oil and add the shallots. Cook for 1 minute and then add the rice. Stir around to coat with oil and cook for a couple of minutes or until the rice changes color slightly. Since I was using brown rice there wasn't much of a color change.
4. Add the wine and cook until it has fully absorbed into the rice.
5. Add the chicken broth 1/2 cup at a time, waiting for each addition to be absorbed into the rice before adding more. Stir frequently. This process took me about 30 minutes.
6. Toward the end of the broth, test the rice for doneness. You're looking for the rice to be cooked through but with a slight bite, you definitely don't want mushy rice. Add more broth if needed. When the rice is al dente remove from the heat.
7. Add the mushrooms, butter, Parmesan cheese and stir until the butter and cheese have melted. Season with salt and pepper and top with chives.