Game Day Snacks: Buffalo Chicken Dip & Nutella Football Cupcakes

It's Game Day!! 

(It's also Downton Day - I feel I should point that out as well)

I hope you had a chance to check out my 

SuperBowl Sunday Menu from Friday.  

If not, click HERE to see it.

But it's Game Day. 

And maybe you are still in need of some last minute, 

super fast recipes for the big party tonight. 

No shame. 

I know how time gets away from us. 

So take a deep breath and relax. 

I've got you covered. 

You can throw this Buffalo Chicken Dip 

in the crockpot to be ready in minutes, 

or use a box mix for these delicious cupcakes that will decorate so fast, 

you're friends won't believe you when they see how cute they look! 

Game on!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Shopping List:

8oz pkg of Cream Cheese

1/2 C Ranch Dressing

1/2 C Frank's Red Hot Sauce

1/2 C Shredded Mozzarella

2 12.5oz cans Premium Chunk Chicken Breast, drained

Method:

1. Combine ingredients in slow cooker on high 2-4 hours, then on warm to serve.

2. Serve with tortilla chips or french baguette slices. Enjoy!

Nutella Football Cupcakes

Shopping List:

1 box Chocolate Cake Mix

Ingredients on box

(i.e. eggs, butter, oil, water, etc.)

1/2 C Nutella

Cupcake Papers

Frosting:

1 container Chocolate Frosting

1/2 C Nutella

Piping Bags, Tips, and Couplers

White Gel Icing in writing tube

Method:

1. Preheat oven according to box and line cupcake tins with cupcake papers.

2. Prepare box mix according to box instructions. Before mixing, add 1/2 C Nutella.

3. Bake according to box instructions. Allow to cool.

4. In a small mixing bowl, combine chocolate frosting and 1/2 C Nutella.

5. Place appropriate tip and coupler on piping bag and fill piping bag with frosting.

6. Pipe football onto cooled cupcake (see picture). Draw lacing on using white gel icing. Enjoy!

May the best team commercial WIN!!

We'll see you Tuesday as a share a special DIY project 

(but this is a cooking blog you say!) 

that'll have you feeling a little more warm about this freezing cold weather!

SuperBowl Sunday Menu

This weekend is the SuperBowl! 

I love the SuperBowl - not so much because I care about football 

(or at least NFL football - this family is allllllll about Penn State Football!), 

but because I do love watching a good game, 

I looove funny commercials, I Loooooove SuperBowl food, 

and I LOOOOOVVVEE any excuse to have a party with friends. 

So whether you will be rooting for the 

Denver Broncos for the Seattle Seahawks, 

you are gonna need some delicious munchies for you and your guests! 

And Quick and Easy is best because who wants to be slaving away 

in the kitchen while the game and all your guests 

are in the living room crowded around the tv?!

Let's start with things you can use as the main meal. 

I'm fine to snack on appetizers all night, 

but my friend Ryan says we have to have "something substantial." 

Well for all of the Ryan's in the world, here are some suggestions:

Meatball Subs

Now there is nothing special about this recipe. 

In fact, I really didn't make any of it. 

But we said quick and easy, right? 

Throw these puppies in the slow cooker, 

set out some buns and cheese, 

and you have a self-serve meal that is ready all night.

Click HERE for the recipe.

Slow Cooker Cola Pulled Pork

Pulled Pork is another recipe you can throw in the slow cooker, 

set some buns beside and walk away. 

Always warm, always ready to eat. 

And this fun recipe has an extra fun taste 

by adding a can of your favorite soda!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Chocolate-y Crockpot Chili

When I think of SuperBowl food, 

I automatically think of Chili. 

Make ahead in the crockpot, 

and set out a fun toppings bar! 

Some cheese, sour cream, diced green onions, 

maybe some fritos! So good! 

Annnd! This recipe will have you ready for 

Valentine's Day at the same time! 

CHOCOLATE is an ingredient. Yes, I said it. Chocolate.

Click HERE for the recipe.

Meat & Veggie Stromboli

Stromboli's are another perfect football-watching food. 

And you can stuff them with several different things 

to have a variety for your guests! 

Here are two recipes for Meat and Veggie Strombolis. 

Excuse the poor photo quality. 

This was my first recipe on Teach Me How to Cookie!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Ok, let's switch gears to appetizers. 

Here are some Awesome Apps your guests will love to snack on!

Quick and Easy Guacamole

Last night I bought a huge bag of avocados. 

With several parties this weekend, 

I plan to be making lots of guac. 

This recipe is so simple, yet sooo good!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Originally this was a Halloween recipe, 

so you can ignore the cute little Frankenguac cup 

and just make the guacamole. 

And you may want to double triple this recipe!

Crescent Pizza Rolls

These are one of my favorites! 

And your kids will love this one too. 

3 ingredients and done.

Click HERE is for the recipe.

Mandy's Fresh Avocado and Feta Salsa

My friend Mandy shared this wonderful recipe a few months ago. 

It's a fun twist on traditional salsa, and since everything is fresh, 

it is actually a more HEALTHY option!

Click HERE for the recipe.

Cabbage & Ramen Noodle Salad

Now this recipe isn't technically an appetizer, 

but this salad is such a hit, I just had to include it. 

I have had so many people tell me how much they love this salad, 

or that they took it to a party and it was gone as soon as they served it. 

It's one of my top 5 viewed recipes! 

Your guests will LOOOVE this salad!

Click HERE for the recipe.

That's all for today! 

But on Sunday, I will be sharing 2 last minute recipes 

for those of you who are still scrambling. 

Nutella Football Cupcakes and Buffalo Chicken Dip. 

Both quick. Both easy. 

See you on Game Day!

Halloween Post 2013

Happy Halloween!

Such a fun holiday! 

Today I am going to share a quick and easy 

Halloween recipe that you can throw together last minute 

if you are rushing to a Trick-or-Treat party tonight. 

So easy. So yummy. So cute. 

And then we will recap all of the Halloween recipes from this week.  

First things first...

FrankenGuac Cups

While, I'm excited to share this super cute recipe with you, 

I'm MOST excited to share this guac recipe. 

Seriously the most simple thing you will ever make 

and maybe the most delicious. 

1 packet. 2 Avocados. Mix. Done. 

No seriously. That's it. 

You'll wanna save this little gem for more than just Halloween. 

If you love guac like me, this little recipe will become a staple at your house.

Shopping List:

8 Avocados

4 packets Concord Foods Mild Guacamole Mix

1 bag Tostitos Blue Corn Chips

12 small Clear Plastic Cups

Method:

1. Mix avocados and guac mix packets using a potato masher.

2. Draw face on clear plastic cup. Full cup with Guac.

3. Add chips to top to create "hair." Enjoy.

Tip: To keep guac from turning brown, place pits back in mixed guac until, ready to divide into cups and serve. OR, cover top of guac with a thin layer of water. Just before dividing into cups and serving, pour of water.

Now let's recap...

On Friday, we celebrated Week #8 of Pumpkin Fall Fridays 

AND Halloween with these adorable little Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars. 

How cute are these ghosts?!

On Sunday, I put together for you the perfect Trick-or-Treat night menu. 

You want to spend your time helping your little ones get dressed up 

and parading around the neighborhood collecting sweets, 

NOT slaving away over dinner... 

My crockpot Meatball Subs, Caesar salad, and Spiderweb Brownies 

are just the quick and easy meal you need!

Yesterday, my sister Hannah guest posted this delicious Spooky Snack Mix. 

So yummy. So festive. And will be enjoyed by the whole family!

Have a Spooktacular Halloween folks!

See you tomorrow for Week #9 of Pumpkin Fall Fridays!

Guest Post: Spooky Snack Mix

I feel so lucky that my sister is willing to 

contribute to this blog so frequently. 

Hannah and her husband Thomas

She always shares WONDERFUL 

recipes - often times YOUR favorite ones! 

And today she is getting in on the Halloween action. 

Last week she sent me this awesome Spooky Snack Mix 

she made from Fake Ginger, and I just knew it had to be posted. 

This kid-friendly recipe will be great to share with the family, 

or perfect to take to your next fall party. 

Maybe even pack it up and take it to the big game this weekend! 

Super easy, and so yummy. 

Thanks Hannah!

Spooky Snack Mix

Shopping List:

5 cups Corn Chex

2 cups cinnamon-flavored Teddy Grahams

2 cups salted peanuts

2 cups tiny twist pretzels

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup butter or margarine

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups mini marshmallows

2 cups candy corn

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

2 teaspoons coconut oil

Method:

1. Stir together cereal, crackers, peanuts and pretzels in a large bowl that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

2. Combine sugar, corn syrup and butter in saucepan over medium-high heat. Stirring frequently, bring to boil and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add vanilla. 

3. Drizzle glaze over snack mix and toss to coat. Gently stir in marshmallows and candy corn; immediately spread on baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

4. Melt white chocolate chips and coconut oil until smooth. Drizzle over snack mix and allow to sit for about 2 hours until chocolate has set completely.

5. Store in airtight container. Enjoy!

Tomorrow is Halloween!! 

We will recap all of the recipes from this week, 

as well as share one quick little recipe you can throw together last minute 

to take to your Halloween party tomorrow night! 

It's so cute!