Mediterranean Dip

I'm all about tasty and EASY appetizers. Especially when hosting a party. With everything to do to get party ready, preparing the food usually gets left until the last minute. I usually have friends walking through the door as I'm making the appetizers. Over the years, I've learned to have a few easy appetizers that are easy to make before the party starts. Appetizers that don't have to be baked in the oven or heated up. Ones that can be taken right out of the fridge and served.  This appetizer is that kind of recipe.  

 love Greek food. I could live off of greek salad and tzatziki with pita bread. This dip was right up my alley since it was filled with some of my favorite ingredients. I still can’t get over how easy this dip was to make. Definitely a semi-homemade win. 15 minutes was all it took to make the dip. Make it before a party and take it out as the first guest walks through the door!  This is a definite party pleaser! 

Ingredients

• 1 10 oz container hummus (I used Sabra's classic)
• 1 cup greek yogurt plain
• 2 cucumbers
• 1/2 cup tomatoes chopped
• 1 red pepper chopped
• 1/2 cup feta cheese
• 1/4 cup kalamata olives chopped
• 1/4 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp paprika

Directions

1. In an 8x8 pie (or any serving) dish, spread the hummus evenly along the bottom.
2. Peel the cucumbers. You can peel them in sections to create the look in the picture. Chop 2/3 of one of the cucumbers to create about 1/2 cup of chopped cucumber. Slice the rest into rounds.
3. Sprinkle the chopped tomato and cucumber evenly over the hummus.
4. Mix the paprika with the greek yogurt. Then spread the greek yogurt on top of the tomato/ cucumber layer. The easiest way to do this is putting spoonfuls over the top and gently spread it with a spatula. 
5. Sprinkle the garlic salt over top.
6. Place the cucumber rounds along the outside of the dish, gently pressing them down. Once you've used all of your cucumber rounds, sprinkle the peppers, olives and feta cheese on top of the greek yogurt mixture.
7. Serve with pita chips.

Cranberry Crockpot Meatballs

For the past 20 years, my parents have hosted an open house on Christmas Eve. It's a day I always look forward to. Every single year, my mom makes crockpot meatballs. She usually uses grape jelly with cranberry sauce, but this year I wanted to change things up a bit. I wanted to make the recipe a little more festive, so instead of using grape jelly, we used cranberry sauce. As always, the meatballs were a hit at the party and gone by the end of the night. 

Did I mention that these take no time to make. They're a simple appetizer, which makes them a must for holiday parties.  Enjoy! 

Ingredients: 

1 26 oz bag of frozen meatballs (fully cooked)

1 jar of chili sauce (14 oz) 

1 can of jellied cranberry sauce (12 oz) 

Directions: 

Pour meatballs into the crockpot. 

In a large bowl mix together cranberry sauce and chili sauce. 

Pour sauce mixture over meatballs in the crock pot. 

Cook on low for 4 hours. 

Avocado Tomato and Feta Dip

Guacamole is a weekly staple in our house. Hubs, the little one and myself all love it. Since hubs lived in New Mexico growing up, he has special ingredients that he uses to make his guac. I've tried to replicate his recipe many times, but I don't come close. It's famous among our friends and always a favorite at a party.

Since I did the menu planning and most all of the cooking for the 4th of July, I wanted to surprise him with a new guac recipe. Not to replace his, but something different. I found this recipe on Pinterest. As someone who loves feta cheese, I knew I would love it. I was a tad worried about what everyone else would think. 

Results: A welcomed change to the normal guac appetizer. Unbelievably fresh and full of flavor. Perfect for summer BBQ's! 

Avocado, Tomato and Feta Dip

Adapted from A Sunshiny Day

Ingredients

• 2 hass avocados diced and slightly mashed
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (quartered)
• 3/4 cups crumbled feta cheese
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt 
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

Directions

1.	Combine all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.
2.	Serve with tortilla chips.

Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are an Easter tradition at our house. I absolutely love them and have no idea why I don't make them more often.  Every holiday I try a new recipe.  Not because I haven't found one I like, but because there are so many amazing recipes out there.  This one was probably a personal favorite.  It's the first time I've made them with bacon and I don't think I'll go back from here.  Hubs agreed.  We definitely won't be waiting until Easter to make these again. Enjoy!

Bacon Cheddar Delived Eggs

Courtesy of Kitch Me

Ingredients Serves 24

1. 12 egg
2. 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise
3. 4 slice bacon
4. 2 tbsp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
5. 1 tbsp mustard

Directions

1. Place eggs in a saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, and cool. To cool more quickly, rinse eggs under cold running water.
2. Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Alternatively, wrap bacon in paper towels and cook in the microwave for about 1 minute per slice. Crumble and set aside.
3. Peel the hard-cooked eggs, and cut in half lengthwise. Remove yolks to a small bowl. Mash egg yolks with mayonnaise, crumbled bacon and cheese. Stir in mustard. Fill egg white halves with the yolk mixture and refrigerate until serving.

Sausage & Cheese Muffins

This year we decided to have a last minute get together for the Super Bowl.  Usually I spend a good amount of time planning our get togethers or parties.  In this case, I had about 48 hours. I immediately headed to Pinterest to look for some quick and easy recipes that wouldn't have me spending a fortune. 

I chose these sausage & cheese muffins because they would be a great compliment to the rest of the menu I had planned.  We were also having chicken wings, chips and queso, seven layer dip and buffalo chicken dip.  I also knew the boys would eat these up.  

Results: A hit of the party, not only with the men but with the ladies as well.  I loved that they were bite sized and full of flavor.  I had a few left over and enjoyed them for breakfast reheated the next morning.  Enjoy! 

Sausage & Cheese Muffins

Courtesy of Plain Chicken 

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb. hot ground pork sausage
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 3 cups all-purpose baking mix
• 1 (10.75 oz) can condensed fiesta nacho cheese soup
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup buttermilk (water or milk will work too)

Directions: 
Cook sausage and onion powder in a large skillet over medium to med-high heat, stirring until it crumbles and no longer pink. Drain and cool. 

Preheat oven to 375. Combine sausage, baking mix, and shredded cheese in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the mixture. Stir together the soup and buttermilk; add to sausage mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon until lightly greased mini muffin tins, filling to tops of cups. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. 

Turtle Cheeseball

I'm way behind on posting the recipes I've been making these past few months.  Life around here seems to get busier and busier…this blog always seems to fall on the back burner.  

Anyhow, we traveled home to FL for the holidays this past year.  Every year my parents host a Christmas Eve open house.  They've been doing it since we moved to FL over 20 years ago.  Neighbors and friends stop by throughout the night, enjoying food, friends and some delicious drinks.  It's a night I look forward to all year long.  

One of the recipes I added to the sweets menu for the party was a turtle cheese ball.  I found it while going through my appetizer board on Pinterest.  It looked easy enough to prepare ahead of time, wouldn't take up too much space in the already full fridge and how could you go wrong with caramel, chocolate and cream cheese? 

This sweet treat was a hit of the party.  Many guests asked for the recipe.  It was very rich, so you didn't need a lot to satisfy your sweet tooth.  And it was just as good the left over.  My mom has requested this be added to menu again for next year.  Will do, mom! Enjoy. 

Turtle Cheeseball

Courtesy of Shurgary Sweets 

Prep Time: 1 hour

Yield: serves 8-10

Ingredients

• 1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 Tbsp caramel sauce (found with ice cream toppings)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp light brown sugar, packed
• 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup Kraft caramel bits 


Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese with butter until fully blended. Add caramel sauce and sugar and beat until combined. Add 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.
2. Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on counter. Drop cheeseball onto plastic wrap and cover cheeseball completely. Once covered, shape into a ball. Refrigerate for one hour.
3. In a bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips, pecans and caramel bits. Unwrap cheeseball and roll into bowl of chocolate chip mixture. Press toppings gently into the cheeseball. Rewrap in plastic wrap (a new piece) and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Once it's on the serving plate, drizzle some additional caramel syrup over it.
   
   
   ENJOY.

10 Game Day Snacks

The Super Bowl is just a few days away. 

Hubs and I decided to throw a last minute Super Bowl get together.  

Since we only have a few more days to plan, I started looking for things to make immediately.  

I put together a list of things that are either tried and true or looked perfect for the big game.  

Buffalo Chicken Kabobs from A Night Owl Blog

Nieman Marcus Dip from Simply Made with Love

Crock Pot Bourban Little Smokies from Tammilee Tips

Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza Puffs from Plain Chicken

Artichoke Dip from Simply Made with Love

Buffalo Wing  Hummus from Skinny Mom

Twisted Pretzel Bites from Six Sisters Stuff

Cheesy Spinach and Bacon Dip from Simply Made with Love

Buffalo Chicken Nachos from The Girl Who Ate Everything 

Sweet Potato Pulled Pork Sliders from Lauren's Latest

What is on your menu for the big game?  

Nieman Marcus Dip

While planning our super bowl menu I realized I never posted this dip I made back in September.  When we first moved we had my parents in town along with friends visiting for the weekend.  It was also one of the first weekends of football season. This dip had rave reviews all over the WWW.  

It was easy to make and a big hit with our family and friends. It was VERY rich, I could only have a little bit at a time.  Nonetheless, it was full of flavor.  Definitely worth making, especially for a game day party. Enjoy! 

Courtesy of Just a Spoonful of…

Ingredients: 

5 - 6 green onions

 8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

1 jar Hormel Real Bacon Bits 

1 pkg. slivered almonds

Directions: 

Chop the green onions.

Shred the cheddar cheese.

Mix the onions, cheese, mayo, bacon bits,

 and slivered almonds together.

Chill for a couple hours.

Serve with Ritz crackers.

Orange Glazed Chicken Wings

Hubs and I made these last night for the Sunday Night Football game. 

We've never made wings at home before.  

I found this recipe in a book I have at home and decided it looked easy enough to try.  

Results:  Happy husband.  He raved about them (of course he added a little wing sauce to his).  He kept saying over and over how good they were.  That was followed by, I didn't think wings would be this easy to make...we need to make them more often.  I would say these are a win.  And the fact that they are baked...even better!  Enjoy! 

Orange Glazed Chicken Wings 

Adapted from Taste of Home 

Ingredients: 

2-3 pounds of chicken wings 

1 cup of soy sauce

1 1/2 cup of orange juice

1 tsp garlic powder 

Directions: 

Cut wings into three sections, discard wing tips.  

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine soy sauce, OJ and garlic powder.  

Seal bag and turn to coat. 

Refrigerate overnight. 

Drain and discard marinade. 

Place wings in a large greased foil lined baking pan.  

Bake at 350 for one hour, until glaze is set, turing twice in between.  

•