Frozen Peanut Butter Banana

Carson came home from work the other day and was raving about this easy recipe: a banana, sliced in half, smothered in peanut butter and frozen.  What a great thing to keep in your freezer for a sweet, savory, healthy snack!  I, of course, would dip it in dark chocolate, maybe roll it in coconut... but I don't know when to stop.  You should make this, thanks Joy Bauer!    

Speaking of Carson, I wrote a little something about him for Father's Day here.  If you enjoy, please share, and vote, or better yet... join the site and write your OWN!    

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Snacking Chocolate

I recently discovered that 'snacking chocolate' is a thing that exists in this world.  Now tell me... what is a more brilliant than taking wholesome foods like nuts, seeds, pretzels and coconut, covering them in dark chocolate, sprinkling them with sea salt and proclaiming to the world, eat this snack and feel good about it!?  I'll tell you what's more brilliant... saving some money and making your own.  It's basically chocolate bark... but if you call it 'snacking chocolate' it's much more acceptable to eat at various times throughout the day, like for a pre-breakfast snack and a mid-morning snack and a pre-lunch snack and then a post-lunch snack and a mid-day snack and so forth...

It's super easy to make.  Just scatter whatever you want on parchment paper, in my case pumpkin seeds and broken-up pretzel pieces...    

Melt good quality dark chocolate in the microwave for 30-second intervals.  Pour over snacks using a rubber spatula to spread (it won't be perfect, but that's the beauty of snacking chocolate!), and immediately sprinkle with sea salt (if desired)...

Let harden on counter or in fridge, and then break apart.  Snack away!

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Oscar Party Ideas

If you're having an Oscar party this weekend, or you just want to make something festive for yourself, here are some ideas from my blog.  I haven't seen many of the movies, but if Julianne Moore doesn't win for Still Alice, I will throw things at my TV.  Have a great weekend!

Popcorn: 4 Ways

Parmesan and Herb Cheese Straws

Orange Sugar Cookies with Orange Icing

Buffalo Deviled Eggs

Parmesan and Herb Cheese Straws

Three Green Bites

Cocktails: 5 Ways

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Hot Ham & Cheese Party Rolls

I was trying so hard to get this post done yesterday, but instead the day was spent mostly in my pajamas, watching movies with my kids because school was cancelled, slowly cleaning up the remnants of a gigantic Super Bowl party and... there were leftovers.  Aren't you supposed to spend "Super Monday" eating light and healthy and cleansing your body of the junk you consumed the day before?  Yeah, that didn't happen.  (In fact, with three pounds of shredded cheese that was supposed to get turned into nachos and never did, I made Beer Cheese Soup.  More on that ridiculous-ness later in the week.)  Our party was insane.  It was as if we thought the snow would force us to hibernate for weeks, and therefore we needed every kind of food under the sun to keep us fed.  Shall I list off some of it?  Careful reading, you might throw up.  

Chips and salsa and guacamole and french onion dip, layered taco dip, buffalo chicken dip, nuts of every kind, freshly popped parmesan popcorn, crockpot chex mix, pretzels, homemade soft pretzels with a horseradish cheese dipping sauce, rice and beans and short ribs and empanadas, three gigantic logs of sandwiches from the deli, buffalo wings, stuffed mushrooms, swedish meatballs, italian meatballs, baked ziti, pigs 'n a blanket, fried chicken 'n a biscuit (more on that later too), a bowl of fruit and a tray of veggies (because you have to), a beef chili station, and this:

I'm probably forgetting something (and no, I did NOT make all of that you crazy people).  Of course, we all know how I feel about our friend Lucy's Ham Sandwiches, so obviously they are a staple at any large gathering.  This time, however, a friend sent me this recipe for a pizza roll version with the same sticky, delicious ingredients.  So I had to make both, duh.  They were a hit!  And a fun twist on a family favorite.  I think I will always be partial to the original sandwich, but you must try both at your next gluttonous gathering.  

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Crock Pot Chex Mix

If your crock pot isn't full of chili or dip on Sunday, why not throw this easy Chex Mix in there!?  I know... a savory, crunchy snack made in a slow cooker seems insane, but I made it yesterday and it's not insane, it's magical.  Actually, I'm not sure why I made it yesterday because it will most likely be gone before the weekend, but snow days are for making irresponsible food choices, so there.

I followed this recipe and it worked perfectly.  See her note on ventilation to ensure your mix stays crunchy, as mine did.  What snacks are you going to make for the game?      

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Game Day 2015

Only a few more days until Sunday Funday Fill-up-your-Tum Day!  

(Erase that phrase from your memory, for like, ever.)

Here are some game day snack ideas...

Be back tomorrow when the kid are (probably?) back in school!

Lucy's Ham Sandwiches

Homemade Goldfish

Homemade Potato Chips

Fried Cheese Curds

Homemade Snickers Bars

Citrus Marinated Olives

Parmesan and Garlic Lavash

Rosemary Marcona Almonds

Nacho Bites

Baked Sweet Potato Skins

Spiced Nuts

Black and White Cookies

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Crispy Capers

I am a big fan of texture when it comes to salads or pasta - a little extra crunch can transform a dish.  I'm also a big fan of salt, so it's no wonder that I love these Crispy Capers.  They're also the easiest thing in the world to make.  Oh, except for I burnt the first batch and nearly set off the smoke detector.  But the second batch was the easiest thing in the world to make!  A couple tablespoons of canola oil, a bottle of drained and dried capers, a few minutes over medium-high heat... done.  Let them dry on some paper towel and they're ready to sprinkle over pasta or salad.  Or you can just snack on them, like I do, with everything in life. 

They are also delicious over roasted cauliflower...

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#VoiceTailgate: Nacho Bites + Grapefruit Cocktail

Our Monday night #VoiceTailgate will be dedicated to Mr. Shelton.  Oh, Blake.  Blake is probably the coach I know best, he's like the tremendously tall older brother from the South I never had.  We all know how funny he is, how well he points at the top of his own head, and how that's probably not Starbucks in his Starbuck's cup during the show.  But what I like best about him is how genuine he is, and how he truly cares about people.  He'll meet any stranger and instantly want to know something about their life.  Even if he annoys the heck out of me by sending me ugly photos of myself he sneakily snaps with his iPhone camera.  So for the giant teddy bear, I thought I'd make something tried and true, and manly, of course, like iddy biddy bite-sized nacho cups.             

(By the way, I did not mean to make that one on top look like a cartoon character.)

Nachos are awesome anyway you make them.  But messy, and almost always accompanied by a cluster of hands reaching and grabbing at the same time.  So I thought, why not make them individual sized?  These are three-bite snacks that can be customized with a variety of toppings.  You can even make a basic nacho, create a toppings bar, and let your guests go to town on their own appetizer.  

THAT'S NACH-YO MAMA'S NACHO!!

I don't, I'm sorry, I had to.  

 I decided to keep these Blake-themed and make them Tex-Mex.  Even though Usher's the one from Texas, not Blake.  But just go with it.  So these are smothered with sweet and spicy BBQ sauce.  Yum.  They would make great Cinco de Mayo party food as well!  

And they are "Blaked," like Blake, but with a "d" at the end.       

"Blaked" BBQ Chicken Nacho Bites

(Makes 12)

Printable Recipe

4 flour tortillas

Cooking spray

2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded 

1/2 cup BBQ sauce

1 cup shredded Mexican cheese

Desired toppings (like diced tomatoes, black olives and chopped cilantro)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter (or a glass similar in size), cut circles out of tortillas.  I was able to cut 3 out of each.  

Spray a regular-sized muffin tin with cooking spray.  Place tortilla rounds into muffin tin, pressing down lightly with fingers to create a small bowl.  Spray top of each tortilla with more cooking spray.  Bake for approximately 10 minutes, until slightly golden around edges.  Remove from oven, and turn heat up to 400 degrees.  

In a small bowl add BBQ sauce to shredded chicken and stir.  Place about a tablespoon of chicken into each tortilla bowl.  Top with cheese.  

Place back in oven, and bake for another 8-10 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.  Carefully remove nacho bites from muffin tins, top with desired toppings and serve.    

On to the liquid portion of our diet.  This is a summer staple in our house, often consumed on our annual camping trip.  It's great with tequila or vodka (definitely Carson's preference), and the combo of grapefruit and pepper is so enticing.  A perfect beverage for your Cinco de Mayo, Blakey Blake #VoiceTailgate.  (Above coasters purchased here.)

Carson's Spicy Grapefruit Cocktail

Printable Recipe

2 parts fresh grapefruit juice

2 parts tequila (or vodka)

1 part cointreau 

Thin slice of Serrano pepper

Shake the above liquids in iced martini shaker and pour into glass if making individual cocktails.  Add a slice of Serrano pepper per glass.  For bigger quantities, pour into closed pitcher that can handle being shaken, then pour over ice in glass.  

*Note: the longer you let the pepper sit in the cocktail, the spicier it will get.  If you remove the seeds from the pepper, it will be less spicy.

*Another note: that is a Jalapeño pepper above because I could not find a Serrano pepper.  Find Serrano peppers, they are better.

*Ohmygosh one more note: if you would like a virgin spicy grapefruit mocktail, omit the alcohol and add fresh lime juice and some simple syrup to taste.

Make sure to watch the Top 8 perform tomorrow night at 8/7 Central on NBC!

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#VoiceTailgate: English Muffin Pizzas + Pimm's Cup

To celebrate the fact that tomorrow night Rixton is performing live on The Voice, our Monday #VoiceTailgate will be all about this particular British Invasion!  I remember very clearly (at least my eardrums do) when The Wanted hit The Voice stage and therefore it's safe to assume that Rixton, a talented pop/rock band from the UK, will most likely make a few women in the audience faint.

UNLESS THOSE WOMEN HAVE THESE ENGLISH MUFFIN PIZZAS IN THEIR STOMACHS!

(I'm working on my segues which, by the way, is a very oddly spelled word).

We make these a lot in our house.  They're simple, fast, and individual - therefore everyone can enjoy a delicious pizza unique to their own tastebuds.  For your tailgate, you can have a variety of pizzas already prepared OR you can create a toppings bar and let people make their own.  Either way, you're guests will say, "Bob's your uncle!? These muffins are the dog's bullock's! I am properly gobsmacked! All is tickety-boo in my world!"  

Um, because your guests will be required to speak using googled British phrases.      

*You might be wondering how "English" English Muffins really are.  Well, Wikipedia says that "despite being considered as quintessentially English, and available in most British supermarkets, they are less widely eaten than crumpets or scones."  By the by (British people say that), what on Earth is a crumpet??  I'm going to ask Rixton.   

For our #VoiceTailgate, we're making Roasted Garlic + Swiss Chard and Mushroom + Sausage Pizzas (I sautéed the swiss chard and mushrooms in olive oil, cooked the sausage until it was nice and crispy and roasted the garlic prior to cooking the pizzas).  Other good toppings would be roasted peppers, olive tapenade, broccolini, burrata, roasted chicken or plain old pepperoni for the kiddos.

(You can also REALLY impress your friends and make Homemade English Muffins.)

English Muffin Pizzas

Printable Recipe

Sliced English muffins

Jar of pizza sauce (or we use a 28oz. can of crushed tomatoes)

Mozzarella cheese

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

Desired toppings

Preheat your oven to 450.  Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.  Place English muffins slices on baking sheet, top with pizza sauce, cheese and toppings.  Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.  Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.

On to our proper English-style cocktail.  Pimm's!  You said that with a British accent, didn't you?  The first time I ever had one of these was at a pool party with Carson and his friends, way way way way way back in the day before children and one-piece bathing suits.  A classic English liquor, which tastes a bit like fruit and spices, served often with ginger ale or lemonade and garnished with all sorts of fruits and veggies.  For this tailgate, I will be drinking an "Iced Tea Cup" instead, which doesn't sound as cool in my fake British accent but still tastes delicious.  Cheerio! 

   

Carson's Pimm's Cup
Printable Recipe

Pimm's No. 1 Liqueur (or Iced Tea)
Ginger Ale
Ice
Assorted sliced fruits and veggies like apples, oranges, lemons, strawberries, raspberries or rhubarb
Sprig of rosemary for garnish

Place ice in tall glass.  Fill halfway with Pimm's (or Iced Tea) and the rest of the way with ginger ale.  Stir well.  Add desired fruits and veggies.

*Note: it can be easier to make a large pitcher of this, still using the half and half ratio.  Fill glasses with ice and fruit/veggies and then pour in Pimm's mixture.

Have fun watching the Top 10 tomorrow night on NBC at 8/7 Central!

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#VoiceTailgate: Popcorn + Soda

As you probably know by now, I love The Voice on NBC (I mean, there was even this cake).  So you can imagine how thrilled I was when they asked me to participate in their new #VoiceTailgate: a place for fans to connect with the coaches, contestants and others across social media before every live show (check it out on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest).  What's my part, you ask?  I will be creating a special appetizer and beverage (with Carson's help in that department) to contribute to the social party, Voice-themed of course, and then YOU can recreate it at home for your own viewing pleasure!  First up, popcorn!

         Who doesn't love popcorn?  No, seriously, who?  Come out, come out, whoever you are, so I can study your brain.  It's a classic snack that brings people together (unless you're me at the movies because I will NOT share my popcorn oh, no).  Place a large bowl of it on a coffee table with The Voice on the TV and you'll have an instant snack fest.  The best part is you don't have to rely on those microwavable bags full of lordknowswhat because it's extremely simple to make from scratch.  All you need is a pot, some kernels, oil and salt, and after that... the possibilities are endless.  You can create your own unique flavor, as I did here for each of the four coaches:

  

Classic Pop for Adam (get it? pop music? get it?), RED hot buffalo-flavored popcorn for Usher (okay I know his shoes are gold this year, but just go with it), kettle corn for sweet Shakira with a touch of salty sass and bacon plus whiskey for Blake.  That one needs no explanation.  

How do you pop?  (I should write commercials...)

VOICE TAILGATE POPCORN: 4 Ways
Printable Recipe

For the popcorn (makes 3 1/2-4 quarts):

3 tablespoons vegetable (or canola/peanut) oil
1/2 cup popcorn kernels

Place oil and kernels in a large pot, and turn heat to medium.  Cover, leaving lid slightly ajar to let steam out.  It may take a few minutes to begin popping.  Once popping slows down considerably, remove from heat.  Be careful when removing lid, as kernels will continue to pop.  

Blake's Maple Bourbon Bacon:

Popcorn
6 slices of bacon
1/3 cup good maple syrup
2 tablespoons bourbon
Salt



Preheat oven to 400.  Place the bacon on a foil lined baking sheet (you can also use a baking rack if you have one).  Bake for 15 minutes.  While baking, whisk together the maple syrup and bourbon in a small bowl.  Carefully remove bacon, and brush with syrup on both sides (reserving some of the syrup for later).  Place back in oven and cook for another 5 minutes.  Let cool on a rack or parchment paper (do not use paper towel, as syrup will stick to it).  Cook popcorn as directed above.  While kernels are popping, break apart bacon into small pieces.  Once popcorn has popped, place in bowl and toss with bacon, salt to taste and desired amount of reserved syrup (optional).

 






Shakira's Sweet & Salty Kettle:

Popcorn
1/4 sugar
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste

Begin to cook popcorn as directed above.  Once kernels start to pop, sprinkle in sugar and salt and stir  quickly.  Cover, leaving lid slightly ajar to let steam out.  Once popping slows down considerably, remove from heat.  Place popcorn in bowl, and add more salt to taste.  

Usher's Red Hot Buffalo:

Popcorn
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 cup buffalo sauce
1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
Salt

Cook popcorn as directed above.  While kernels are popping, heat butter and buffalo sauce over medium-low heat in a small saucepan.  Let cool slightly.  Once popcorn has popped, place in bowl and toss with buffalo sauce.  Sprinkle in blue cheese and salt to taste.

Adam's Classic Parmesan Pop:

Popcorn
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt

Cook popcorn as directed above.  Once popcorn has popped, place in bowl and toss in Parmesan and salt to taste.

Now, you can't eat popcorn without drinking soda.  I mean you can, you can stick with water and be all healthy and boring, but a bubbly beverage with the salty snack is preferable in my opinion.  Carson came up with some classic fountain sodas, for the kiddos/pregnant ladies and the grown-ups... 

And by grown-ups I mean Blake.

(And by Blake I mean, really tall kid who sort of resembles a grown-up.)   

Carson's Shirley Temple

Printable Recipe

Ice

Diet Lemon Lime Soda

Cherry Grenadine 

Cherries for garnish

Vodka (optional)

Lemons

Place ice in glass.  Add soda and drizzle in desired amount of grenadine (about a spoonful).  Stir, and garnish with cherries.  For adult version, add desired amount of vodka and lemons.

Carson's Roy Rogers

Printable Recipe 

Ice

Diet Cola 

Cherry Grenadine

Cherries for garnish

Whiskey (optional)

Limes

Place ice in glass.  Add soda and drizzle in desired amount of grenadine (about a spoonful).  Stir, and garnish with cherries.  For adult version, add desired amount of whiskey and limes.

Enjoy the first live show of Season 6 tomorrow night at 8/7 Central on NBC!

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