Cheesy Sausage Stars

Scouring the stacks and stacks of mags and books that decorate my shelves and floors for Christmas/holiday recipes, I came across a vintage gem that was added to the “to-make” list, immediately.

From a Better Homes & Gardens from 1992 had an add for Hidden Valley Sausage Stars, I followed up this discovery with a Pinterest search and saw that this recipe has been a staple in many homes for years.

Oddly enough, I rarely if ever saw deviations from the original.  I could have taken this as a sign to not mess with perfection… but when have I ever done that?

Vegetarian Sloppy Joes

Crudités.  Cheese cubes.  Pretzels.  Really? This is all we’re gonna offer our vegetarian friends come Sunday?! I don’t think so!

If you can chop 2 veggies, measure some spices, open cans, and toss everything into a CrockPot and walk away, you can have a delicious vegetarian/vegan Sloppy Joe on your Super Bowl table that will fool even the meatiest of meat eaters.

Sun-Dried Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Dip

With slightly over a week left until the Big Dance, you’ve undoubtedly been scouring Pinterest, food blogs, mags, and the like – in search of the perfect dips, wings, drinks, spreads, sandwiches, and other glutinous goodies.

In your search – let me point you in the direction of today’s dip – that unbelievably doesn’t contain cheese or bacon – but get this… real live veggies!

Spicy Grilled Corn Salad with Black Beans and Queso Fresco

We lost a lot of good men out there today… at least they pummeled to their fateful end, inhaling the delicate perfection that is charcoal.

Cornbread Salad

Hoping this post finds you enjoying your holiday weekend –  you know, flags flying, beer flowing, endless tables of delicious eats!

If your celebrating continues into the weekend, have I got a dish for you.  This is one of those dishes that has been around for ages, the origin is unknown, everyone has a different take on it, but, it, without a doubt, belongs on every picnic table.

Queso Fundido

No Super Bowl spread would be complete without a mass of cheese disguising itself as a dip, so here she is!  This fondue-like mess is chalk full of yummy bits- jalapeños, chorizo, cilantro and tomatoes, just to name a few.

Touchdown Thursdays: Hot Corn Dip

Depending on your team of choice, each year holds something different for you.  For us sad Browns fans, all most years we chalk up to “rebuilding.”  For other teams, that Lombardi Trophy is so close, yet so far away.  Others plain suck, but look forward to that nice draft pick.  Others feel like sting of riding that middle .500.  And others, believe it or not, just win!

This year, and this team of Touchdown Thursdays, we’re going all the way.  No mediocrity.  No buffalo chicken dip.  No football decorated cupcakes.  This is “put on your big girl panties, and DIG. IN. food.”

Enough with the pep talk, on to the hot deliciousness.

Kick-Offs & Recaps

The Fantasy line-up is set.  The jersey perfectly rumpled.  The beer cold.  The chips and dip aplenty.  Dish with clear line of sight of the southern sky – for maximum Sunday ticket reception.

It’s here dear friends.  The day of days… NFL FOOTBALL!!!

Macaroni Salad

Options.  In football it helps manage the game clock.  At the grocery store it’s paper or plastic.  At the bar it’s Bud Light or Bud Heavy.  At the salon it’s blonde or brunette.  The world is full of options, and this weekend I’m hitting you with a bevy of options in a very serious department – pasta salads!

Soupy Sundays: Golden Gazpacho

Step 1.  Chop up a bunch of fresh veggies.  Step 2.  Throw everything in the food processor and blend.  Step 3.  Let in mellow for a few hours in the fridge.  Step 4.  Enjoy the fruits of your tiresome labor.

This would normally be the part where I tell you that I’m exaggerating, but this time, I’m totally not.