Buffalo Chicken Dip

This creamy, tangy dip with a kick tastes a lot like Buffalo Chicken Wings.

I usually serve with corn chips or tortilla chips, but it’s great served warm with crackers and celery sticks.

It’s kinda spicy for some folks, but the delicious flavor keeps’em coming back for more!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

6 chicken tenderloins, cooked and shredded
2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup Ranch dressing (I made my own)
3/4 cup pepper sauce (*see below)
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat shredded chicken and hot sauce in a large pot over medium heat, until heated through.  Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing.  Cook, stirring until well blended and warm.

Mix in half of the shredded cheese, and transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover and cook on low setting until hot and bubbly.  Serve with celery sticks and crackers, corn chips, or tortilla chips.

* I used Louisianna brand hot sauce:

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This is the birthday of a special lady…my Aunt Mary.

Love and miss her very much!

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Sharing with

Warm Cream Cheese and Bacon Spread

This has become one of our favorite cream cheese spreads.

Full of flavor, it is a tasty and quick party or anytime appetizer!

Warm Cream Cheese and Bacon Spread

2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese

1/2 cup mayo

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

8 slices crisp bacon, crumbled

3 green onions, diced

1 T ranch dip mix

Heat and soften the cream cheese in the microwave on 70% power.  Mix softened cream cheese and mayo together with electric mixer.

Add all other ingredients and mix by hand.

Shape into 1 large or 2 small cheese balls and refrigerate for about 3-4 hours or serve warm with your favorite crackers, chips, or veggies.

One Saturday my girls had a friend over and we had an appetizer lunch.

It felt like we were having a party!

We had Pizza Rolls, Party Meatballs, Warm Cream Cheese and Bacon Spread, and fresh fruit.  It was delicious and hit the spot!

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For low carbers…serve the cheese spread with Almond Thins.

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I’m joining the parties over at

 

Cream Cheese & Bacon Stuffed Peppers aka Poppers!

Previously I posted my recipe for Poppers.  In fact, it was

one of my first foodie blog posts!  I’ve posted several

recipes since then and hope you’ve enjoyed them.

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Here’s another way to make poppers.  They’re delicious

and naturally low carb!

Instead of wrapping the stuffed peppers in bacon…add the

cooked bacon to the cream cheese stuffing!

Easy-peasy!

 

Here’s what you’ll need…

oops!  Forgot to include the bacon.

 

Soften the cream cheese and add the rest of the ingredients.

 

 

Stuff the peppers and place on a baking sheet.  Sprinkle with the

parmesan cheese.

 

yum-yum!

I’m one of those cooks that rarely ever measures anything so it does make

it hard to pass on the recipe.  But, looking at my

previous Poppers recipe, I’d say I used about

the same amount of ingredients.

Poppers

Jalepeno peppers (cut open and remove all seeds)

8 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

seasoning such as Soul Seasoning or Seasoning Salt, garlic, Old Bay, etc

2 green onions, sliced

6 -8 slices bacon, cooked, drained, crumbled

Parmesan cheese

Mix the cheeses.  Add the seasonings, onions and bacon.  Fill the peppers with the mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake in a 375º oven for about 20-30 minutes.  Keep a check on them after 20 minutes and bake until the peppers look done and the filling is all melty and gooey.  Cool and enjoy!  I served these with Ranch Dressing.

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In case you’re wondering about my readers…here’s the results! Apparently readers from all over enjoy low carb and Southern cooking!  Thanks to all who participated.

Canada – 2

Florida – 2

West Virginia-2

Georgia-1

Hawaii-1

Indiana – 1

Kentucky – 1

Mississippi – 1

Pennsylvania – 1

Texas – 1

Washington – 1

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Bacon-Wrapped Lil’ Smokies

Yum, yum!  When I saw these on 2 different sites, I just had to make me some!  Anything wrapped in bacon…can it get any better?!

When these came out of the oven, I had to share!  So I quickly snapped a shot with my cell phone and uploaded it even quicker!

Make these and soon.

I made them like my friend, Grace, but since I didn’t have the Sugar Twin Brown Sugar (she’s right! it is very hard to find!), I used Splenda and added some spices…like garlic powder, bbq seasoning, and some Cajun seasoning I had on hand.

These would be great for a Super Bowl Party! or have them for breakfast with a low carb biscuit and cuppa Joe, like me.

Happy Sunday to you all!

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Party Cheese Ball

As the year 2010 comes to a close, I just want to say thank you for all the visits, comments, and new friendships made during this past year. Here’s wishing you and yours a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

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This cheese ball would be great to serve at your New Year’s celebration!

(Click on the picture for the recipe)

linking to…

 

It’s a gorgeous Thursday…

and I’m joining the link party over at

Check out the great vinyl ideas and so much more!

7 Layer Taco Dip and Party food!

My youngest turned 12 on Valentine’s Day.

We had already passed out party invitations for Saturday, when I found out my mom would be having emergency surgery on her broken hip on Saturday morning.

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Mom came through the surgery just fine!  We are so thankful.

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I spent my morning at the hospital with her and around lunch quickly ran home and started getting the party food together.

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I had already planned the menu along with Brooklyn and we had everything ready to go.  My hubby made the Tuna Sandwiches while I was at the hospital and Brooklyn made the Ham Rolls the night before.

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Everything turned out to be delicious!

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Our Menu:

Cocktail Weiners

7 Layer Mexican Dip and chips

Tuna Sandwiches

Ham Rolls (will share recipe soon)

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (these were yummy!)

Skillet Cake with pourable Chocolate Icing

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So on to the 7 Layer Mexican Dip recipe!

This is my first time making it and believe me, I will make it again!

Combine the refried beans and taco seasoning.  Spread on a large plate or tray.

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Spread the combined sour cream and cream cheese over the bean layer.

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Spread the combined salsa or picante sauce ove the cream cheese/sour cream layer.

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Spread shredded lettuce over the salsa layer.

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Finally, top with shredded cheese and chopped green onions.  Grab some chips and dig in!

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7 Layer Mexican Dip

1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (16 ounce) container sour cream

1 (16 ounce) jar salsa or picante sauce

1 bunch chopped green onions

1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained (optional)

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In a medium bowl, blend the taco seasoning mix and refried beans. Spread the mixture onto a large serving platter.

Mix the sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Spread over the refried beans.

Top the layers with salsa or picante sauce.  Place a layer of lettuce over sauce and top with Cheddar cheese and chopped onions.  Optional: Garnish with black olives.

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Super Bowl Party Time!

If you’re planning a Super Bowl Party, here’s some great recipes to get you started.

Whether it’s burgers, wings, chips and dip, cake, brownies…lots of great recipes can be found online.

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Below are some of my favorites places:

The Pioneer Woman Cooking

Tasty Kitchen

About’s Super Bowl recipes and Party Tips

Deep South Dish

Taste of Home Super Bowl Recipes

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No matter what you make, enjoy the game, family and friends and may the best team win!!!

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My Valentine and Chocolate Cake

My Valentine gift turned 11 this year. 

I made her a layered chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream icing.  This started out being for the cake eaters at her party, since she had requested an ice cream cake from the local Dairy Queen.  DQ Ice cream cake has no cake and I wanted some cake, myself. 

After she saw this cake, she changed her mind on the DQ idea and I picked up some Vanilla & Chocolate Swirl Ice Cream to go with the cake.  No Neopolitan this time! 

Handyman grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and talked to the adults (family) while the kids (8 of them) played outside.  There was some type of mystery they were investigating.  They’re all into Nancy Drew at this age and are intrigued by any type of mysterious finding!

After her party, we went to the mall to spend some of that birthday money.  She found a fluttery cream and brown skirt, a cream sweater and a fancy top.  At Claire’s she got a small coin purse and at Bath and Body she got shimmery lip gloss.  She had a blast shopping and enjoyed her birthday very much!

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Below is one of the best chocolate cakes you’ll ever eat.  This recipe was given to me by a friend years ago and happens to be my mom’s favorite cake.  It can be made as a sheet cake or a layered cake.

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake

2 C sugar
2 C flour
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 T baking soda
1 C buttermilk
2 eggs
1/2 cup baking cocoa dissolved in 1/2 cup hot water.
 
Mix all together.  Bake at 350 until done, about 40 minutes or until
toothpick comes clean.

Chocolate Buttercream Icing

2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

3 tablespoons cocoa

1/4 cup butter

2 tablespoons heavy cream

1 t. vanilla

In a mixing bowl, cream  cocoa, butter, heavy cream and vanilla. Add confectioners’ sugar until desired spreading consisteny.  This makes a stiff icing.  If you desire thinner icing, add small amounts hot water or hot black coffee until desired spreading consistency is reached.