Dilly Ranch Crackers

This crackers will forever make me think of my childhood and Christmastime. My mom would make these for a big Christmas party my parents hosted for years and years.  I would love eating these after their party was over and I got to munch on all the yummy leftovers! These are super easy and make a great gift in a cute little tin.

1 box oyster crackers
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 pkg ranch seasoning mix
3/4 dried dill weed
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Mix the oyster crackers with vegetable oil.  Add the seasonings and mix until all the crackers are coated well.

Turkey and Cheese Party Rolls

These were the perfect little pick up food for a get together I was going to!  Everyone raved about them and there wasn't a single one left at the end of the night! This recipe was adapted from Passion for Savings.

8oz cresecent rolls
8 thin cut slices deli turkey
8 slice provolone cheese
1 stick melted butter
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp poppy seeds

Heat oven to 350. Roll out the crescent rolls and press the seems together. Layer the turkey and cheese over the dough. Roll up tightly then cut into 12 pieces. Place in the bottom of a greased 9x11 pan. Mix together the melted butter, garlic powder and poppyseeds. Brush over the rolls until coated well. Bake for 12-16 minutes or until browned and melty. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Sloppy Joe Sliders

I was going to make these when we were getting together with friends but at the last minute that got cancelled so I just made them for dinner for my family.  There wasn't a single one left! They devoured them them all and my son was sad there weren't more.  My 2 year old called them "fluffy joes" which kept us laughing all through dinner too.  This recipe was adapted from Valerie's Kitchen.

1lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
8oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp mustard
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
12 slider buns
1 cup cheddar cheese
2 tbsp melted butter
1/2 tsp sesame seeds

Heat oven to 350. Cook the ground beef and onions in a skillet.  Drain off the grease. Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, garlic powder and cumin.  Let it simmer for 10 minutes. Place the bottom half of the buns in a 9x13 baking dish. Spoon the sloppy joe meat onto each bun. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with the other half of the bun then brush with butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Black Bean Layer Dip

This layer dip is a fun twist on a classic! I loved using the black beans and it gave the dip an overall fresher flavor in my opinion. It's perfect for tailgating or watching a football game at the house!

16oz black beans
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp lime juice
3/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups guacamole 
1 cup sour cream
1 cup pepper jack cheese
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
2 roma tomatoes (diced)
1/4 cup sliced black olives

Drain the black beans and place in the food processor with the garlic, lime juice, chili powder and salt. Place in the bottom of a 8x8 baking dish. Spread the guacamole over the black bean layer. In the food processor place the sour cream and and pepper jack cheese until smooth. Layer over the guacamole. Top with cheddar cheese then tomatoes and black olives. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. 

Bacon Jalapeno Popper Dip

I love a good dip and with football season just around the corner this is a must have at your next tailgate or football party! I served with both frito scoops and tortilla chips and no matter what you put this stuff on it's sure to be the winner!

16oz cream cheese (softened)
1 cup mayonnaise
4 oz diced jalapenos (drained)
4 oz green chiles (drained)
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup crumbled bacon plus 1 tablespoon for topping

Heat oven to 350. Mix together the cream cheese and mayonnaise until combined. Stir in the jalapenos, chiles, shredded cheese and 1/3 cup of crumbled bacon. Spread into a 9x11 baking dish. Top with remaing crumbled bacon. Bake for 25-35 minute or until bubbly. Remove from oven and serve with chips.

White Queso Dip

I've tried a lot of queso recipes over the years. A lot. Too many really.  Bad ones. Okay ones. No good ones. I finally asked a big group on FB and so many people gave me this recipe. My best friend was coming into town a few days later so we tried and it and yes. Yes yes yes. This is it! It was delicious and creamy and perfect!!! This recipe was adapted from Seeded at the Table.

1 1/4 lb block white american cheese (from the deli)
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup cold water
3 tbsp diced green chiles
3-4 tbsp diced pickled jalapenos
pinch of cumin

Cut the cheese into 1 inch cubes.  Place in the bottom of a  microwave safe bowl. Pour the milk and water over it. Heat in the microwave for 3 minutes stirring in between each minute. Continue to heat for 2 more minutes and whisk between every 30 seconds. Heat for 30 more seconds if it is still too clumpy. Stir in green chiles, jalapenos and cumin. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips. Store leftover in the refrigerator.

Salsa Fresca

This salsa is so easy to make and has the best flavor! I love being able to use all fresh ingredients to make something tasty, it was the perfect appetizer for a warm summer night! This recipe was slightly adapted from Mother Thyme.

1 lb roma tomatoes
1/2 sweet onion
3-4 garlic cloves
1 jalapeno (seeded)
handful of cilantro
juice of 1 lime
pinch cumin
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper

Quarter the tomatoes and place in the bottom of a food processor, top with the sweet onion, garlic, jalapeno cut into pieces, cilantro and lime juice then the seasonings. Pulse several times until it is finally chopped. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 

Hot Broccoli Dip

This dip is so so good! I love anything broccoli and cheese so I loved it. And served with buttery crackers.  Oh my! I doubled it when I made it for our small group. This recipe was adapted from Damn Delicious.




8oz cream cheese (room temperature)
2 1/2 cup chopped fresh broccoli
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tbsp creole seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
salt and pepper

Heat oven to 375. Grease a 9x9 baking dish. In a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, 1 cup cheddar cheese, sour cream, parmesan cheese, milk, creole seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Stir in the broccoli. Spread evenly into the baking dish. Top with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and serve with buttery crackers. 

BLT Chicken Salad

A friend shared this recipe with me and I flipped out over it! This chicken salad is amazing, the twist of it is perfection! It would be great on crackers or croissant but I served them on little slider buns to make them easy to pick up and eat! This recipe is from Lemon Tree Dwelling.

2 cups rotisserie chicken
1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon
1/2 cup chopped arugula
1/3 cup diced grape tomatoes
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder

Mix together the rotisserie chicken, bacon, arugula and tomatoes. In a small bow whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, parsley, garlic powder and onion powder.  Toss the chicken mixture into the mayonnaise mixture. Refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

 

Honey Goat Cheese Spread

This is the easiest thing in the world to make and it's so delicious! It only makes a little bit so if you are having a big party, double or triple it! I made mine the day ahead and it was perfect the next night for my party!

4oz goat cheese log
1 tbsp honey
pinch of salt

In a food processor add your goat cheese, honey and salt. Process until smooth and combined. Place in a refrigerator safe bowl and store until ready to serve.

Baked Buffalo Chicken Nuggets

Sometimes it takes me a while to blog a recipe and it has nothing to do with how good the recipe actually was. I just don't get to it or it doesn't fit into my flow...whatever that means and then I finally get to it and wonder why it wasn't posted earlier. I made this recipe for the Super Bowl and it was the perfect football pick up food!  This recipe was adapted from The Stay at Home Chef.

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
3/4 cup Frank's Buffalo Wing Sauce
1 cup plain bread crumbs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp italian seasoning

Cut the chicken breasts into bite size piece. Place in a seal-able container and toss in buffalo sauce. Place in the refrigerator for 3-6 hours. In a bowl combine the bread crumbs, salt and italian seasoning. Heat oven to 400.  Coat each piece of chicken in the bread crumbs and place on a lightly greased sheet pan.  Bake for 25-30  minutes or until the nuggets are cooked through.

Cheesy Bacon Spinach Artichoke Dip

I made this dip one night for our small group, it's a crowd pleaser for sure and pretty easy to throw together! It would also be easy to make ahead then refrigerate and just heat before you serve! This recipe is adapted from Food Lovin Family.

6 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)
1 can artichokes (chopped)
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 box frozen spinach (thawed)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 block cream cheese (room temperature)
1 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt

Heat oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl combine the mayonnaise and cream cheese. Mix in the artichokes, garlic, spinach and bacon. Stir in the mozzarella cheese, black pepper and salt. Spread into a 8x8 baking dish. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the dip is bubbly and hot. Serve with tortilla chips or pita chips.

Homemade Chex Mix

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I have had this recipe sitting here waiting to be typed up for over a year. Ridiculous. This is one of my absolute favorite things to make. I like to make it around football season because it's the perfect easy to eat salty snack.  Now I kinda always change it up and add or take away different things. I got this recipe from Mrs. Kathy, you have seen her recipes on my blog before. I'm going to post her original recipe. But sometimes I sub the cheerios for mini bagel chips, I used all peanuts and not mixed nuts, I also sometimes sub another box of cheez-its for 1 of the bags of pretzels. The great thing about this recipe is you can adapted it to the things you like best!

1 box Rice Chex
1 Box Corn Chex
1box wheat Chex
1 Box Cheerios
1 Box Chrispix
1Box Cheez-it's
2 bags pretzels
 1 lg (52oz) can mixed nuts
1 cup butter-melted
1 cup bacon grease-melted (or another cup of butter)
8T Worchestershire sauce
4t seasoning salt
4t garlic salt

 Preheat oven to 250. Mix all of the ingredients in a deep roasting pan. Mix together the butter, bacon grease, worchestershire sauce, seasoning salt and garlic salt.  Pour over the chex mix while stirring to coat well.  Bake for 2 hours, stirring every 20-25 minutes. Remove and let cool before storing in an airtight container.

Bacon Caramlized Onion Dip

I made this for the super bowl this year and it was a great dip. I  love onion dip and bacon can only make it better right? This recipe is adapted from The Cookie Rookie.

6 slices bacon
2 tbsp chives
1 large onion (diced)
16oz sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Cook the bacon then crumble it and set the the side leaving the grease in the pan.  Cook the onion in the bacon grease over medium low heat until the onions are caramelized and brown.  Remove and allow to cool.  Chop the chives.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the bacon, chives, caramelized onions and sour cream. Season with salt and pepper. Place in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours before serving with chips or veggies.

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Sliders

I made these when we got together with friends the other day, I made three pans of these and every single one was gone at the end of the night! These are great for a party or tailgating!

3 cups shredded chicken
8oz cream cheese (softened)
2 tbsp butter (softened)
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/3 cup bacon bits
1 pack pull apart dinner rolls
3 tbsp honey mustard
1 tbsp honey
1/2 cup butter
1 tbsp poppy seeds

Heat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl using a hand held mixer combine the cream cheese and butter.  Add the cheddar cheese. Then add the bacon bits and chicken.  Do not pull apart the dinner rolls, cut them in half and place in the bottom of a 9x11 pan  Spread the chicken mixture over the rolls then place the top on. Cut the rolls into sliders.  In a small bowl melt the butter then whisk in honey mustard, honey and poppy seeds. Pour the mixture over the sliders.  Cover and bake for 15 minutes then remove the foil and bake for 3 more minutes. Serve warm.

Cheesy Garlic Meatball Bombs

These are the perfect two bite party food! They are filling yet easy to make and always a hit.  This recipe is from Food Lovin Family.

2 cans pillsbury grands jr biscuits
frozen italian meatballs (thawed)
3 sticks mozarella string cheese (cut into pieces)
1/2 tsp italian seasoning
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup butter (melted)
marinara sauce for dipping

Heat oven to 375. Melt the butter in a bowl then stir in the italian seasoning and garlic powder. Separate the biscuits and flatten them. Cut the meatballs in half then place half a meatball and two pieces of string cheese in the dough then wrap the dough around and seal it.  Place the sealed side down in the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining biscuits and meatballs.  Brush with the butter mixture. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven and serve with marinara sauce.

Creamy Herbed Roast Beef Pinwheels

These are the perfect little bite size appetizers for your christmas party! I made them when I hosted a Noonday Collection Trunk Show and they were so easy to put together and also to eat!

4 large tortillas
1 lb thinly sliced rare roast beef
1 container garlic and herb boursin cheese

Spread 1/2 of the boursin over the tortilla then top with 1/4 of the roast beef.  Roll up tightly then roll in foil and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until right before your party.  Unroll from the foil and slice in 3/4 inch pieces.

Warm Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Who doesn't love a baked potato?  This dip was such a yummy hearty dip and was enjoyed by all! This recipe is from Nutmeg Nanny.

8 oz sour cream
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
6 strip bacon (cooked and crumbled)
3 green onions (chopped)

Heat oven to 350.  In a bowl combine the sour cream and cream cheese. Stir in 1 cup of cheese, the bacon and most of the green onion.  Pour into a 8x8 baking dish then top with the remaining cheese. Bake for 30 minutes. Top with the rest of the green onion. Serve with wavy chips.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza Rolls

This is the last in the trio of pizza rolls that I made several weeks ago. I have to say I think these might have been my favorite of the three.

1/2 Thin Crust Pizza recipe
1 1/2 cups shredded chicken
1/2 cup buffalo sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 425.  On a floured surface roll out the pizza dough into a thin rectangle. Mix together the chicken and buffalo sauce. Spread the chicken out on the pizza dough then top with mozzarella cheese. Roll up the dough and slice into 1 1/2 inch rolls. Place on a greased sheet pan and back for 15-18 minutes. Serve with a side of blue cheese or ranch.

BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls

I made these when I made a trio of pizza rolls one night for a party. BBQ chicken pizza is one of my favorites so it just seems obvious to make BBQ Chicken Pizza Rolls!

1/2 Thin Crust Pizza recipe
1 1/2 cup shredded chicken
1/2 cup bbq sauce plus extra for serving
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2  red onion thinly sliced (optional)

Heat oven to 425. On a floured surface roll out the pizza dough into a thin rectangle.  Mix together the chicken and bbq sauce. Spread the chicken out on the pizza dough then top with onion (if using) and mozzarella cheese. Roll the dough up and slice into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Grease a sheet pan and bake for 15-18 minutes or until cooked through. Serve with a side of bbq sauce.