Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

I love some buffalo chicken wings. That spicy meaty game day grub is one of my favorite indulgences. Heat and spice makes me happy, so I like having that flavor some other way, like the Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf I shared a while back. So I'm loving these meatballs which are perfect little appetizers without the mess of wings with bones. Dave even tossed a few of these on a sub roll for a buffalo chicken meatball sub--brilliant! Yes, we'll have these again for many parties, I'm sure.

Soft Pretzel Bites

Sometimes you just need a snack that's salty, soft and pairs well with mustard. Enter these soft pretzel bites. They make the perfect appetizer, game day treat, or really just an excuse to eat salty pretzels. You could easily turn this recipe into regular full size pretzel twists, but I made them into bites when I took them to two different parties and they were a big hit. Just the right size to have a few but not be committed to a huge pretzel. Although I probably popped enough of these delicious and doughy snacks to qualify for a huge pretzel, but that's not the point and really who's counting? As bites, these do take a bit more time, but they certainly aren't complicated. And the dough is super easy to make. Get ready for New Year's Eve or playoff football with these awesome treats.

Cheesy Enchilada Dip

Sometimes it's acceptable to have nachos for dinner. Even if it wasn't what you intended. In fact, I walked into the kitchen expecting to make a nice meaty casserole with enchilada flavor, lots of cheese and to dish it up for a hearty meal. Problem was, it never got thick enough to keep the structure of a casserole like I wanted. No matter, Because when life hands you cheese, seasoned ground turkey and lots of Mexican flavor, add some tortilla chips and grab a margarita--it's time for nachos.

Guinness Cheddar Dip

Do you have leftover Guinness floating around your fridge (um, why? Drink up, we don't waste!)? Need a fun appetizer? Good, because I've got one for you. This creamy and smooth cheddar dip is amped up with a bit of Guinness which leave a hint of something different without tasting like you soaked some cheese in some beer. As a dip or a spread, it's great with crackers, veggies, pita--just about anything. Ooh, I didn't try it with pretzels--do that, let me know how it is. A little bit of seasonings and herbs paired with some dark and delicious Guinness takes cream cheese and cheddar to the next level. And this dip makes a ton. You could roll into into cheese balls for a fun appetizer platter or just put out a big bowl with some dippable snacks like I did. Definitely a good way to use leftover beer.

Enchilada Meatballs

You know how much we love Mexican food here, and I loved the idea of a twist on traditional meatballs. These enchilada meatballs at made with a mix of beef and turkey, combined with cornbread crumbles, and flavored lightly with cilantro, onion, seasonings and lots of enchilada sauce. They come together quickly and are baked, so they are a bit healthier than a pan fried version. We enjoyed these with noodles, a little extra enchilada sauce and a sprinkling of cheese. Not too shabby for a quick weeknight dinner.

Pizza Dip

Cheesy, gooey, flavorful pizza with all your favorite toppings just went crustless. But then you dip other crunchy things into it, so I guess it's not completely crustless. Unless you just want to eat it with a spoon. Which is totally an option. No seriously, I won't judge. But the crusty bread or chips or crackers really do go well with this dip, so maybe not so much with the spoon. I love dips for parties (and subsequent dinners from the leftovers) and this might be one of my new favorites. I made two versions--a veggie lovers with sauteed peppers, onions and mushrooms and a classic pepperoni. Both were fantastic on their own, but Dave thought they could have been combined for one ultimate pizza dip party. This dip is perfect in that way though because you can customize it exactly to your liking with your favorite toppings, or divide it up and have different flavors based on your crowd and preferences. Either way, it's a big bowl of pizza flavored yum.

Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

I love my grocery store because they are always sending me coupons so whenever I get a mailer from them, I'm sure to scan through it to see if they might be discounting a pantry staple or some other frequent used item for our home.  Recently they sent a flyer with some coupons that also included a recipe for this corn chowder.  I was intrigued by a few things.  First, it was made for the slow cooker and since it's getting cooler out, my slow cooker will be making even more frequent appearances for dinners.  Second, I had a ton of corn in the fridge as the farm kept loading our CSA box with more huge ears of corn every week.  And third, this recipe uses the naked corn cobs to flavor the soup, so it ends up with this deep, roasted corn flavor that is really delicious.  Corn chowder isn't something I otherwise would have thought to make with all those extra ears of corn, but I'm certainly glad my penny-pinching side scanned through that mailer because this dish is definitely tasty.

Homemade Pesto

Confession: I've never been a huge fan of pesto.  I'm not sure why--maybe I just never had the good stuff.  But over time I've started having bits of it, spread on a wrap or maybe a fancy bruschetta.  And then we were faced with a huge bunch of basil in our CSA box a few weeks ago and Dave really wanted pesto.  (PS: I had no idea he liked pesto so much.)  So knowing what to do with basil was one thing, but what to do with the pesto?  Well, I figured that out and in doing so learned that this pesto is good enough for dipping crusty bread (aka: eating with a spoon) and loads of other fun things.  The flavors are fresh and bright (it helps that I used pesto that was freshly picked), with garlic and a nuttiness from the walnuts I used.  I'm glad Dave actually had an idea because this pesto is delicious, super simple (I made two batches) and incredibly versatile.

Corn and Black Bean Salsa

This might be my favorite thing I've made all summer. And it doesn't even have any chocolate in it, so it must be good.  Seriously, I've made this three times already this month and will probably make it again next week.  It all started with some awesome corn from our farm box.  Then some black beans, a little mango and red onion.  A lonely jalapeno pepper needing some love got thrown in.  Then dressed with a bit of olive oil and lime juice and tossed with some cilantro.  Amazing.  Light, fresh flavors but still essentially summer-esque make a nice alternative to my usual salsa.  This dip is hearty and I'm sure would be great with some sort of actual meal, but it's never made it that far since Dave and I have literally shoveled this into our mouths with tortilla chips until we run out.  And then I have to make it again.  I'll be sad with the fresh corn runs out, because I seriously love this salsa.

Zucchini Hummus

As the zucchini began their intrusion into our lives again this summer, I wanted to find some more unique recipes to use them instead of just bread or shredded for sauces.  So I found this recipe and really liked it.  Dave was still not keen on the idea of zucchini, even in a dip form, and since this recipe makes about 2 cups, I had a lot of hummus to pawn off on people.  I ended up taking this into work and you would have thought I fed the ladies in my office crack.  Seriously, they loved this stuff. First we ate it with some pretzels we had kicking around, then I brought it out with some fresh veggies during a staff meeting. This hummus is unlike most hummus you've likely had (no chickpeas!) and has a clean, fresh flavor, but at the same time is undeniably hummus-y.

Buffalo Pretzels

I've been wanting to make flavored pretzels for a while.  I snack on pretzels all the time--more than potato chips and I grew up in a serious potato chip house.  So I finally got around to trying these buffalo flavored pretzels for a recent party.  They are delicious.  A little spicy with a kick of heat at the end, these pretzels are great for snacking with a beer during the game, any game.  Or just while watching TV.

Skillet Chicken Nachos

Nachos.  The epitome of a big messy pile of yum.  You know I love chips and salsa any chance I can get, and nachos are something Dave and I order often when we go out.  And these nachos let me bring that big messy pile of yum right to my kitchen.  Chunks of flavorful chicken mixed with beans, corn and sweet peppers, then topped with lots of melty cheese--and it all came together in less than 20 minutes.  I topped this with pickled jalapenos, sour cream and chopped scallions, and we dove right in, scooping this up onto tortilla chips.  I love the chunkiness of these nachos and the flavors are wonderful.  We ended up sharing these for dinner, but these would be perfect for a buffet, game night, or a tailgate party.

Mini Crescent Dog Wreath

Are you busy this week?  Yeah, I thought so.  Me, too.  Lot of parties and events to go to?  Always.  Need to make something to take to said parties?  Of course you do because you are a good party guest.  Want to make it easier on yourself?  Yeah, I figured.  How about an adorable, festive, tasty, two-ingredient appetizer garnished with easy veggies and served with your condiment of choice?  You're welcome because everyone loves crescent dogs, and this is simple to make and so adorable that people will think you spent way more time that you did.  In less than 10 minutes, you can have this assembled, let it bake for another 12 minutes while you freshen your make-up and in less than a half hour total, you're out the door and on your way to enjoy your friend's party with a appetizer that everyone will love.

Corn & Black Bean Taquitos

Dave and I have a little infatuation with Mexican food and southwest flavors.  It's just so easy to make and super tasty that we often end up with it on the menu a few times a week.  So of course to have a little Mexican flare for football food, I jumped on these delicious taquitos.  They're vegetarian, but if you're inclined, a little shredded chicken wouldn't hurt.  They are actually pretty filling as is and a great party food.  Add a little salsa for dipping and you've got some amazing flavors going on.  I made these for dinner one night and all four of us enjoyed them.  Then I made a second batch to freeze so we could enjoy them on demand during football games.  Cheesy, a little heat and some crunch go a long way for these little treats.

Pepproni Pizza Puffs

Bite size treats are always a hit, whether for football games, parties, or just an appetizer for dinner.  I've made these a couple times now, once when I had a group of girlfriends over and again when Dave and I had a friend over for dinner.  I love that they are simple to make as well as delicious.  They are a hearty little bit with pepperoni and cheese mixed throughout, all in a pizza dough flavored nugget, perfect for dipping in sauce.  I like to add these to a appetizer buffet that needs something a little more substantial.

Cheddar Ale Spread

Doesn't this just sound delicious?  It's a great, cheesy spread with layers of flavor that really make it an upscale football food.  While it's a little thick for an actual dip, it's perfect spread on crackers or stuffed into celery.  I love the play of a touch of mustard with the beer and a fresh pop from the parsley mixed into a sharp cheddar base.  Just a few simple ingredients whirled in a food processor and you've got one tasty cheese dish for your football spread.

Texas Trash

Have I got a week of food ready for you.  It's a week's worth of tailgate and football food with some delicious items that will double as football snacks or full on meals perfect for eating while watching the game.  And I'm starting off with a simple party mix with an awesome name that will completely kick the booty of whatever snack mix you've been enjoying up until now.  Smoky flavor with a spicy kick, this Texas Trash snack mix is delicious and hearty with tons of different textures and delicious goodies.  Pretzels, nuts, cereal and corn chips all serve as the delivery mechanism for a lovely mix of seasonings and spices, perfect for munching while drinking a beer and watching the game.  Although it's pretty tasty for movie night, too.

Watermelon "Cookies"

Aren't these cute?  This isn't really a real post, but I wanted to share this twist on serving watermelon.  These would be adorable if you have kids and watermelon at your Fourth of July cook out.  Simple and festive, make these in whatever shape you like to keep with your festive theme. I particularly likes the stars, but this flamingo turned out quite adorable, too.

I saw this trick on Pinterest and immediately thought of my cookie cutter collection.  Which ones would be the best option?  I really wanted to make the Mickey ears, but waited too long and ran out of watermelon slices big enough.  The star, moon, heart, butterfly and flamingo turned out perfect.  The cupcake cutter worked too, but it looked like a house without any decoration for cupcake context.

Mini Corn Dog Muffins

One of those foods that just screams summer and amusement parks, corn dogs are just plain fun.  Deep fried with a sweet corn coating, it's just one of those treats many people have to have each year.  I am not one of those people, but when I saw this recipe, I knew it was something I had to try. We took these to a cook out at my aunt and uncle's house and everyone loved them.  Bite-sized, baked and just a little sweet taste reminiscent of the traditional on-a-stick version these will be sure to please a crowd for your Fourth of July gathering or other fun summer get-together.

Originally I saw this treat pinned on Pinterest, but I wasn't in love with the actual recipe.  So I adapted it, using my favorite corn muffin recipe from Jean Childress' Country Kitchen Muffin Cookbook as my guide and turning them into mini muffins rather than full-size.  Besides traditionally being deep fried, the batter on a corn dog is usually pretty sweet (one of the reasons I'm not a huge fan).  Depending on how sweet you like the batter, you may choose to increase the amount of sugar in the recipe, but I thought this amount was good.  Either way, these will be a hit if you serve them with mustard, ketchup and relish for dipping and enjoying.

Spinach & Roasted Garlic Hummus

I love appetizers and I love dips.  As I told you last month, I've been know to just have pita bread and hummus as a meal.  And this hummus is a perfect match for pita bread, whether the whole soft piece or with some crunchy chips.  I usually stick with the traditional flavored hummus, but I do like roasted vegetable variety and Dave and I recent discovered a buffalo-style flavor which is delicious.  This version of spinach and roasted garlic provides a lot of flavor in a creamy dip.  And all that protein and fiber makes for one filling dish--I really can have this as a meal!

It's Secret Recipe Club reveal day again and this month I had the pleasure to be assigned to Fit Mama Real Food who has A LOT going on right now.  Not only did Heather change her blog name (from Healthy with Heather) and redesign her whole website last month, but this month (or the beginning of June) she and her husband will welcome a baby boy into their family.  Heather is a healthy eater and fitness enthusiast who blogs about her food, fitness, home improvements and her pregnancy journey.  I really like Heather's spin on healthy eating because she's not afraid to give chocolate a home on her blog (I really considered making these) and most of her recipes have accessible ingredients.  Heather's sensible approach to food is definitely a bandwagon I can get on.  I didn't change a thing about Heather's recipe, it's hard to mess up hummus.  As long as you use the right ingredients and a food processor to make it all smooth and creamy, you'll love this dip.