The Superbowl is around the corner and I know you are all trying to decide what to feed the carnivorous men that will be watching the game in your home. I am going to be generous and post two recipes that I get requests for all of the time; in fact I had a request for the Bacon Swiss dip today. This is one of those recipes that I came across a few years ago. I got it from a caterer who swore by this recipe as a crowd pleaser. I thought I'd take her word for it and try it... it was delicious. I serve it at parties all of the time...it is a true friend that will never let me down. So many people requested this recipe that I thought I would share it with my awesome readers.

I realize you don't get the full impact of the Bacon Swiss dip with this picture but let me tell you...it is delicious on a corn chip or toasted baguette or Melba Toast etc. Truly a crowd pleaser.

Bacon Swiss Dip

12 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz swiss cheese, shredded
1/2 cup mayo
2 Tbs. Dijon mustard
2 Tbs. horseradish (optional) I never use it!
3 green onions - chopped

Combine all ingredients and put in a shallow casserole dish. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbly and slightly brown - serve with corn chips or sliced baguette. Printable recipe.

The Sweet and Sour Meatballs speak for themselves. Another highly requested recipe in my recipe box. The great thing is you can put this baby together in the a.m., put it in the Crock Pot, and let it simmer all day...the flavors just blend beautifully. I hope you like these tried and true friends.



Sweet and Sour Meatballs (I double for big groups)

14 oz. canned crushed pineapple, with juice
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white vinegar
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
Cornstarch
Water
36 frozen meatballs

Put first 4 ingredients into saucepan on medium heat. Stir bringing to a boil.
Stir cornstarch and water together in small cup. Stir into boiling mixture until slightly thickened. Pour over three dozen meatballs (I buy mine frozen at Costco or any grocery store). Pour into Crock Pot and cover. Cook an low for 8 to 10 hours or on high 4 to 5 hours. Printable recipe.

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Hey y'all I am getting so excited for the Superbowl mainly because this year it will be played at Cowboys Stadium in good ol' Arlington Texas. My family and I lived in a suburb of Dallas for 8 years and believe me when you hear "everything is bigger in Texas" it is so true. Every sports arena in Dallas is spectacular. Whether you're a Steelers fan (fingers crossed) or a Packers fan the game will be a lot more fun to watch if you have some yummy snacks. Add a little panache to your Superbowl snacks with these recipes and invite your friends over for a Superbowl Par-tay. They will be impressed no matter who wins.

Butt Putty (I beg your pardon?)
*Jenny C.

2 bags Bugles
2 c salted peanuts (not dry roasted)
1 c Karo syrup
2 c brown sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 c butter (2 cubes)

Mix Bugles and peanuts in a large bowl and set aside. Mix all other ingredients and cook to softball stage, stirring constantly. Pour over Bugle mixture. Toss to coat. Separate and let cool on cookie sheet. Printable recipe.

Mix Bugles and peanuts and set aside. This mixture is a great salty-crunchy flavor that mixes well with the sweetness of the carmel.

When sugars are incorporated and butter is melting.

Rolling boil (10+ minutes) stirring until you hit softball stage.

Pour over Bugle mix and let cool on cookie sheet. This mix is addicting...perfect for watching the big game.



Sausage Dip
*Teresa C.

2 16 oz. Jimmy Dean sausage (1 hot, 1 regular)
16 oz. sour cream
8 oz. Herdez Salsa Ranchera ( I find mine at Fred Meyer/Kroger)
1 can sliced olives

Brown and drain sausage. Put everything in crock pot on low all day or on high if you have only a few hours. Serve with corn chips or toasted baguette slices (or alone). Printable recipe
Hold the presses. This doesn't look very good...how about if I put it on a chip like this:


Much better! This sausage dip is fantastic.

Posted in appetizer , party , snack , superbowl , 0 Comments

My daughter, Morgan just had her birthday. She wanted a "stay late" which meant 5 of her girlfriends met at our house at 6:00pm and stayed until 10:00 pm. Morgan is getting to be quite the party planner. (stay tuned for the surprise anniversary party she threw for her parents) She knew exactly what she wanted to do with her darling friends. We started by making individual pizzas. The girls all got to choose what they wanted on their pie...fresh basil anyone? She also wanted a drink bar. Lots of ingredients for the girls to make a specialized drink. The hit was Italian sodas. The girls loved making them and drinking them. They are so yummy! Here is a recipe for you to use at your next party or stay late. divertirsi! (enjoy!)


Icy Italian Soda

Carbonated water

¼ cup half and half

7 tablespoons flavored syrup (raspberry is our favorite)

ice

whipped cream

Measure syrup into a 20 oz cup. Add Ice.

Pour in half and half. Add carbonated water.

Stir well. Top with whipped cream if desired.

Enjoy!

I also made a (non-alcoholic) drink bar for my Christmas party. Creating drinks always seems to be everyone's favorite thing to do.



I came up with a list of recipes that my guests could use if they wanted. For my Christmas party, I made the drink recipes more holiday-ish. You can change the names of the drinks to anything that works for your party...Shirley Temple, Roy Rogers, Oscar Gold. I think you get the idea. These were my recipes.

Delicious Holiday Drinks

Raspberry Lime Rudolph

1 lime, quartered

8 oz carbonated water

1.5 oz raspberry syrup

Fill glass with ice. Squeeze each of

the lime wedges into glass and drop in.

Fill glass nearly to the top with carbonated

water, and top with raspberry syrup. Mazeltov!

Icy Italian Soda

Carbonated water

¼ cup half and half

7 tablespoons flavored syrup

ice

whipped cream

Measure syrup into a 20 oz cup. Add Ice.

Pour in half and half. Add carbonated water.

Stir well. Top with whipped cream if desired.

Enjoy!

Mrs. Claus

6 oz Sierra Mist

1 dash grenadine syrup

1 maraschino cherry

Into a tall glass, pour soda and grenadine over ice.

Add cherry and straw. Prepare to be delighted.

Cranberry Twist

12 oz cranberry juice

12 oz Sierra Mist

¼ lemon wedge

Mix cranberry juice with Sierra Mist. Pour over ice.

Squeeze lemon wedge on top and drop in glass.

Bottoms up!

North Pole Fire Bolt

1 tbs grenadine

1 tbs lime juice

12 oz Diet Coke

1 lemon wedge for garnish

Pour the grenadine and lime juice into a tall glass.

Pour in the Coke to mix. Float the lemon wedge on

top to garnish. Cheers!

Posted in beverage , cool idea , party , 0 Comments

My mantra each day is "I'm not Martha Stewart". I have to tell myself that because I think I wish I was. In reality she has a team of people that come up with and execute "her" ideas. I am just me with simple ideas. So, when I decided to make play dough for my son's pre-school Christmas party, I actually thought Martha would have been proud of me. It was easy to make and the kids loved it (although they all mixed the colors and ended up with an interesting brown color). Try it the next time your kids are bored. They will think you are amazing.


Cooked Play Dough (I doubled the recipe for each color)
*Ashli B.

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water (add food coloring to the water before you add it to mixture)
1 Tbs. oil
1 Tbs. cream of tartar or alum

In a saucepan, mix all ingredients. Cook over medium heat until mixture starts to leave the sides of the pan. Knead at least 5 times or until play dough consistency. Keep in airtight container.
Printable recipe

Posted in activity , cool idea , non-food , party , 0 Comments

I think an important part of parties is the ambiance. The decor, the lighting, the scent, and the music. I love going to a party that has a playlist specific to that party. My friend Lisa is a master party DJ. I came up with a little playlist for my Halloween party that I think is a keeper. To add a little game to your gathering, play the playlist and give a prize to anyone who knows the most titles and/or artists. Let me know what you think. Here goes:

Dead Man's Party (Oingo Boingo)
Thriller (Michael Jackson)
Werewolves of London (Warren Zevon)
Devil Inside (INXS)
Witchcraft (Frank Sinatra)
Moondance (Van Morrison)
Building a Mystery (Sara McLaughlin)
I'm Your Boogie Man (KC and the Sunshine Band)
The Ghost in You (Counting Crows)
Ding Dong The Wicked Witch is Dead (Ella Fitzgerald)
Witch in the Ditch (Erasure)
Hungry Like a Wolf (Duran Duran)
Walking After Midnight (Patsy Cline)
Black Cat (Janet Jackson)
Zombie (Cranberries)
Voodoo (Spice Girls)

Posted in Halloween , music , party , 1 Comment