cook: Super Bowl Party Favorites

As we head into Super Bowl weekend, I wanted to share some of our best tailgate worthy recipes.  These dips and appetizers are perfect for a group gathering and most can be made in advance/travel well.

Bacon Popsicles
Bacon coated in brown sugar + chili powder and cooked around an italian breadstick.  These crowd pleasers will vanish as soon as they come out of the oven!

Spinach Dip
This mayo-free spinach dip can be made the night before and cooked right before your guests arrive.  Serve with tortilla chips.

Wing Dip
All the flavor of Buffalo Wings without the messy fingers.  This dip is best served with Fritos and of course, carrots and celery sticks.

Kristi’s Aunt Jean’s Tortilla Soup
This spicy alternative to Chili is easy to prepared and packed a ton of flavor.  Serve with avocado, sour cream, cheese and tortilla chips.

Enjoy the weekend!  We can’t wait to watch the Harbowl!

xo,

Katie

make: halloween caramel corn

As a kid, the weeks leading up to Halloween were always filled with two flavors: Candy Corn and Caramel Corn. With Halloween only a little over a week away, I have been craving both so this weekend I went crazy and threw them all together. And added peanuts because I also was introduced to the genius pairing of candy corn and salted peanuts this weekend. Mind blowing and totally changes the flavor of the candy corn. If you haven’t tried it, try a few handfuls of each while you are making this. This is my mother’s recipe for Caramel Corn, in my very biased opinion it is the best and easiest way to make this treat.

Halloween Caramel Corn
Ingredients

+ Vegetable Oil
+ 1 /4 cup popcorn kernel
+ 1 cup light brown sugar
+ 1/4 cup light corn syrup
+ 1 pinch of sea salt
+ 1/3 cup unsalted butter
+ 1 tsp baking soda
+ One 11 oz. bag of candy corn
+ 2 cups salted boiled peanuts

Start by popping the popcorn. I prefer to do this in a pan on the stove so use a large sauce pan/stock pot, add enough vegetable oil to coat the bottom of the pan (approximately 1 tablespoon) and place 3 kernels of popcorn into the pan. When the three kernels pop, add 1/4 cup of popcorn. Shake the pan every 30 or so seconds until the popcorn has stopped popping. Remove to cookie sheet or bowl. This should make approximately 6 cups of popped-popcorn.

Next, make the caramel. In a medium sauce pan add butter, sugar, corn syrup, and salt to pan and stir until melted. Bring it to a boil and remove from heat. Add baking soda and stir–it will foam up a bit. Throw in popcorn and mix until the popcorn is fully coated. Add an entire bag of candy corn and 2 cups of peanuts and stir until mixed. You can either wait five minutes and then form the mix into balls or spread it out onto a parchment lined cookie sheet to cool.

Enjoy!

xo

kw

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cook: spinach dip

Yesterday, the temperature in Boulder dropped from 85 to  55 in a matter of hours meaning that fall (and probably the first frost) is finally here.  For years I’ve been in denial about my favorite season.  I love the beach, long days, the leisure and the humidity (what? it’s good for my hair/skin) during the summer but deep down the fall is my favorite.  It makes me want to buy new pencils and roast something, since I can finally turn on the oven without also needing to crank the AC.  And one  of the best perks of the fall is football.  There’s something about spending an afternoon or evening or entire weekend watching games, rooting for your home team and eating delicious food.   With the weekend almost here,  I thought I would share one of my go-to recipes for parties.  I have been serving this  Spinach Dip for over a decade and I rarely tire of it.  In fact,  there was a time in my life where my mother and I would make it for dinner.  Yes, I love it that much.  It’s mayo free, doubles well and can be prepared in advance so all you have to do is throw it in the oven.

Spinach Dip
Adapted from Denver Junior League Colorado Creme de la Creme Cookbook

Ingredients
+ 1 T diced pickled jalapeños (I buy them canned in the Mexican Food section of my store)
+  2 fresh tomatoes seeded and chopped
+ 1 10z. packed of frozen spinach thawed and squeezed dry
+ 8 oz. cream cheese
+ 2 c. shredded jack cheese
+ 1/3 milk or half and half (depending on what you have in the fridge)

Mix the ingredients together and pour into a 8×8 or 9×9 oven proof dish sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and browned at the edges.  Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes or until the first person starts to dig in.  I serve this with veggies  and tortilla chips. Enjoy!

xo

Katie

cook: strawberry + ricotta bruschetta

 

We are well into the dog days of summer and the very last thing I feel like doing is slaving over a hot stove.  I’ve hit the part of the year where i tend to subside on iced coffee, grapes and popsicles.  It’s just too hot to eat anything else.  this past weekend, I was invited to a  friend’s house for dinner and a movie and knew that grapes and popsicles would not be appropriate tob ring with me.  So I began looking for something that I could make and transport and yet didn’t require me to turn on my stove.  In the end, I decided to throw together these delicious little summer snacks.  Fruit soaked in balsamic vinegar is one of my favorite flavor combinations and these did not disappoint — the key here is to use the best ingredients that you can afford and can get your hands on.

Here is what you’ll need:

+ crusty bread (i used a french small boule)

+ olive oil

+ balsamic vinegar

+ strawberries

+ fresh ricotta

+ basil

+ salt and pepper to taste

start by hulling and dicing your strawberries.  i used about a pint of them to make 1.5 cups of diced strawberries.  then combine with 2 T of balsamic and let sit for 20 minutes.  then slice and lightly toast your bread.    once toasted drizzle with olive oil.  then stir in about a tablespoon of olive oil into your ricotta.  spread a healthy spoonful onto each slice of bread.  top with a healthy spoonful of strawberries.  chiffonade or tear the basil and sprinkle on top and add salt and pepper to taste.

voila. an impressive, delicious and simple summer time treat. i loved them so much, i plan to make these daily for lunch!

xoxo

katie

cook: “Healthy Mac” Turkey and Veggie Pasta

My cousin Clayton, who is studying to be a health coach, sent me an awesome recipe a few months ago called Clayton’s Turkey Tacos. It’s so good, the local news station did a segment on her which you can view here.  I decided to try out the recipe this weekend, but I was craving pasta so I switched the blue corn tortilla chips for glutten free pasta and then added a can of green chillies while I was cooking the turkey. The recipe was super easy to follow and rest assured I’ll be making it again in the near future. Clayton’s step by step recipe can be viewed here. Hope you enjoy my instagram documentation below! Cheers, Kristi

Trying to finely chop the broccoli

Cooking chopped veggies and turkey at the same time

End result = Deelish!

cook: grilled corn + avocado + black bean salsa

Happy 4th of July!

If you are like me, you’re probably headed to some type of cookout/clambake/bar-b-que situation this afternoon.   I thought I would pass along my quick and easy recipe for salsa that I’ve recently been making.  Inspired by one found on Spoon Fork Bacon, this recipe has been adapted so that it uses almost everything it calls for.  With the exception of the red onion (because I think the flavor would be entirely overpowering), this recipe leaves no left over half cans of beans or fourth of a jalapeno.  I’ve also added avocado simply because I love it.  This is an easy one, full of flavor and the jalapeno packs a little bit of punch to every bite.  It can be served immediately but I like to let it sit in the fridge for a few hours before serving so that the flavors come together.

Here’s what you need:

+ 4 ears of corn, husks removed

+ 2 T olive oil

+ 1/2 red onion, diced

+ 2 jalapenos, seeded and diced

+ 3 cloves of garlic, minced

+ 2 almost ripe avocado, diced (i like them to still be a little firm so they don’t melt and turn this into a guacamole)

+ 4 roma tomatoes or 1 large hot house tomato, seeded and diced

+ 1 15.oz can of black beans, rinsed and drained

+ Juice of 3 Limes

+ Kosher Salt & Fresh Cracked Pepper

Heat the grill to medium heat and close the lid.  Once you have husked the corn, using a pastry brush coat the outside of the ears with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and once the grill is hot, grill the ears until they begin to char.  Depending on your grill, this can take anywhere from 10 -20 minutes.  Don’t walk away.  Watch them so they don’t burn and turn them ever 2-3 minutes to insure they cook evenly.   Once cooked, remove from the grill and allow to cool to room temperature.  Sometimes, if I am in a rush, I put them in the fridge.

While the corn is cooling down, in a medium bowl combine the remaining ingredients and toss together.  Then when the corn is cool, cut the kernels away from the ear and toss with the other ingredients.  Salt and Pepper to taste.  Serve with tortilla chips.

Hope you have a great day filled with family, friends, fireworks and great food.

xoxo,

Katie

cook: bacon popsicles

This past weekend, I attended a bacon themed birthday party and if you follow us on Facebook, you saw a picture of my bacon popsicles as I was making them.  I call them popsicles because they are an equal parts savory and sweet and you eat your way through them in the same way you would bite a popsicle down the stick.  There are plenty of variations on these, this recipe is one of my dear friends and I’ve been using it at parties for the last five years or so, without fail, there are never any left.

Here’s what you will need:

+ 1 pound center cut bacon (get the best quality that you can afford)

+ 1 bag of prebaked breadsticks (found in the bakery department, like you would be served at an italian restaurant)

+ 1/4 cup of dark brown sugar

+ 3 T chili powder

Preheat your oven to 400° and line a sheet pan with a piece of parchment paper, then place a cooling rack inside of it.  Set aside.   In a bowl mix together the brown sugar and chili powder until the chili powder is evenly dispersed in the sugar.  Then place pieces of the bacon in the mixture and toss to coat.  Then taking one piece of bacon at a time, wrap the bacon around the breadstick and set on the cooling rack.  Repeat until you have used all the bacon.  Bake for 10-15 minutes until the outside of the bacon has started to caramelize.

Cool for about five minutes and serve.

Once baked, the brown sugar becomes almost like a candy coating and the chili powder adds a hint of kick to each bit.  You’re guests will thank you and beg for the recipe.

Enjoy!

xoxo

Katie

cook: chinese chicken salad

Guys, I love salads.  I feel like should be a line in the next Sh*t Girls Say, but it’s true.  I love them in a would be my last meal – have them at least once a day (sometimes twice) – dream about what I can put in them – like a guy loves sandwiches – kind of way.   I’m always looking for new ones to toss into my rotation (pun intended) so when I found this recipe for Chinese Chicken Salad on Design*Sponge and I knew I had to try it. I, of course, tweaked it based on what I had in my pantry/fridge and to meet my tastes. I have to say, this was AMAZING. The dressing really makes this salad, its so spicy and flavorful yet light.

Chinese Chicken Salad

Serves 2 (but could easily be halved for one)

What you’ll need:

+ 1 skinless boneless chicken breast

+ 1 heart of romaine lettuce

+ 2 cups spinach

+ 1 handful each of mint and cilantro

+ 2 celery stalks

+ 4 c. mixed vegetables (i blanched broccoli, green beans and sugar snap peas)

+ 1 c. bean sprouts

+ 2 green onions

+ 1 small red pepper

+ 1 small yellow pepper

+ 1/2 c. drained mandarin oranges (no sugar added)

+ 1/4 c. chopped roasted peanuts

+ 1/4 c. chopped roasted cashews

+ 1 T roasted sesame seeds (more if desired, give it a healthy tablespoon)

+ 1/2 jalapeno (seeded and chopped)

For the marinade

+ 2 T sesame oil

+ 1T chili powder

+ 1t ginger

+ 1t white pepper

+ 1t salt

+ 1T black pepper

For the dressing:

+  2 t grated fresh ginger or powdered ginger (I’ve made it with both and the grated fresh is great but the powdered works just fine too)

+  1 T Sriarcha chili sauce

+  2 T brown sugar

+  2 T rice wine vinegar

+  1 T soy sauce

+  1/8 tsp. sesame oil

+  3 T vegetable oil

+  1/2 jalapeno seeded and finely chopped

Start by marinating the chicken for at least an hour.  Grill or broil until it is cooked through, remove from the oven/grill, cover with tin foil and allow to rest while you put together the rest of the salad.

To make the dressing, whisk all ingredients together, set aside.

Chop all ingredients and combine all the in a large bowl.  Cut or shred chicken and add.  Then using tongs, toss the salad with the dressing.  Serve and enjoy.

xxoo

Katie

cook: Aunt Jean’s Tortilla Soup

Over the years I’ve come to realize I’m a fair weather cook. If it’s 90+ degrees outside (typical for Dallas) most evenings I find myself sipping margaritas with friends on a patio rather than cooking in the kitchen. However as the weather becomes cooler, I suddenly find myself in my kitchen more often than not. One of my favorite recipes to make when it’s cold and rainy outside is my Aunt’s famous tortilla soup. It’s become a winter staple and is a big hit with my friends. Please note you’ll need at least a 6 to 8 quartz pot as this recipe easily feeds 10 people.

INGREDIENTS:

1 large onion – chopped
2 4oz. cans of green chilies – chopped
6 cloves of garlic – crushed
3 tbl olive oil
4 medium tomatoes – seeded and chopped
2  32 fl oz cans Beef Broth
2 32 fl oz cans Chicken Broth
3 to 4 gluten free boullion cubes
4 cups of tomato juice (I prefer spicy bloody mary mix)
2 tsp of ground cumin
2 tsp fresh cilantro
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp of salt
1 tsp white pepper
4 tbl worcestershire sauce
4 tbl A-1 steak sauce
1 bag of tortilla chips
2 cups of Monterrey jack cheese – grated
2 lbs of  chicken – marinated overnight in Italian dressing, then cooked and cubed
1 bag of frozen shoe peg (white) corn
3 to 4 avocados – cubed

To start, place marinated chicken in the oven (preheated to 375) and bake for 30 minutes or until juices run clear. Then saute onions, chilies, garlic and olive oil until the onions are transparent. Add tomatoes, broth, tomato juice and seasoning. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. By this time the chicken should be ready to take out of the oven. Add cubed meat and shoe peg corn. Simmer the soup for an additional 10 minutes.

Garnish each bowl with sliced avocados, crushed tortilla chips, pour soup in the bowl and then top with grated cheese.

Enjoy!

cook: buffalo wing dip

It’s that time of year when football season is heating up and friends start getting together for the Sunday NFL games.   It’s also this time of year that I start to get requests for my wing dip recipe.  This dip takes one of the best parts of watching football — chicken wings — and puts them in dip form.   I wish that I could claim ownership over this one but like so many of my tailgating recipes, this one is courtesy of my friend Keri in Texas.

Here’s the recipe:

2-3 Chicken Breasts (or thighs if you like dark meat)

12 oz. bottle of Frank’s hot sauce (I tend to use the regular unless I know the crowd will like it extra spicy)

16 oz. bottle of Blue Cheese Salad Dressing (I use Ken’s Chunky)

8 oz. cream cheese

Shredded Cheese

Fritos Scoops

Carrots & Celery

Start by poaching the chicken breast in lightly salted water, then shred using two forks.  If I have any leftover chicken stock in my fridge, I will add it to the water for more flavor but its not necessary.  Once shredded, spread the chicken evenly in the bottom of an ovenproof dish and pour the Frank’s hot sauce over until just covered.  You want to make sure that every piece has Franks on and around it.  This should take about an entire bottle.

Then in a sauce pan melt the cream cheese over low to medium heat and stir constantly, you don’t want it to burn.  Once it is melted, add the blue cheese dressing and cook for a minute making sure to stir until combined.  Then pour over the chicken and spread as necessary so that the whole pan is covered.  Sprinkle top with cheese.

Then you throw it in the oven for 20 minutes or so until its all super hot.  I do it usually at 325 or 350 (temp doesn’t really matter since everything’s already cooked it just depends on how fast you want it to happen).  Remove from oven and serve immediately (it’s best when hot).  I put this out with Fritos Scoops Chips, carrot sticks and celery stalks.

Do you have any tailgating traditions or favorite recipes?