Potato Skins

Potato Skins are a great appetizer to serve during a football game, which makes this perfect for any Superbowl party.  You can use any size potatoes, I used larger potatoes, but smaller or medium potatoes would work as well.  These were really easy to make and were just as good as the ones you can buy in the frozen aisle of the grocery store.

Potato Skins
(Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker's Cookbook: Bridal Edition)

4 large potatoes
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon bacon bits

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2.  Prick the potatoes with a fork and bake for 1 hour or until tender.  Let the potatoes stand until they are cool enough to handle.  Cut the potatoes lengthwise in half and carefully scoop out the potato meat, leaving about 1/4 inch shells.  You can save the potato meat for another use.

3.  Set the oven to broil.  Place the potato skin, skin side down on a cookie sheet and brush the top with the melted butter.   Broil on the lower rack for 8-10 minutes or until crisp and browned.  Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese and bacon bits over the potato skins.  Broil for about 30 seconds or until the cheese is melted.

Serve with sour cream or you can even serve it with ranch dressing.

*Alyssa*

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Oreo Footballs

These Oreo Footballs are a perfect dessert to serve at any football or Superbowl party.  They are really good and are made out of cream cheese and Chocolate Creme Oreos.    These could also be shaped into balls or any other shape.  They were also good without being dipped in chocolate. I made them into medium sized footballs, which made about 16, but they can be shaped into smaller sized footballs as well.   Even though the picture may not do them justice, they tasted very good.


Oreo Footballs
(Recipe adapted from Kraft)

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
1 package (15.25 ounces) Chocolate Creme Oreos, finely crushed
2 packages (8 squares each) Semi-Sweet baking chocolate, melted
White icing

1.  Mix the cream cheese and cookie crumbs until well blended (To crush the Oreos I put them in a Ziploc bag and hit them with a rolling pin)

2.  Shape into footballs with your hands and then freeze for 10 minutes.  Dip the footballs into the melted chocolate and then place onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Use the icing to draw laces on the footballs.   (I melted the chocolate by microwaving for 45 seconds, stirring, then microwaving for 10-15 second intervals until completely melted).

3.  Refrigerate for one hour or until firm.

*Alyssa*

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Cheese Football

This cheese ball is great for any football or Superbowl party.  Its really easy to make, it tastes great, and makes a nice themed appetizer.  This can also be made in any shape, in a ball, or whatever shape you need for the party that you are hosting.  Also the fact that it is covered with bacon bits doesn't hurt either!  This was really good served with Wheat Thins, but any cracker would work.  This tastes really good and I plan on making it again.

Cheese Football
(Recipe adapted from Kraft Food & Family Magazine, Fall 2009)

2 packages cream cheese (8 ounces each), softened
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 oz of bacon bits
A few pieces of shredded mozzarella cheese (for the laces)

1.  Beat the cheeses and mayonnaise in a large bowl, with a mixer until blended.

2.  Refrigerate for several hours.

3.  Form the cheese ball into a football shape on a plate and coat with the bacon bits.  Add the shredded mozzarella cheese for the laces.  Serve with crackers or Wheat Thins.

*Alyssa*

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Whet Your Appetite Wednesday {20 Desserts with Nutella}

Nutella is so great, I love the combination of chocolate and hazelnut. It is also great to use in baking and I have found many recipes on Pinterest that involve Nutella.  World Nutella Day is on February 5.  In honor of World Nutella Day here are some great desserts featuring Nutella for you to enjoy.

Homemade Nutella

{Bouffe e bambini}

Nutella Pinwheel Cookies

{The Galley Gourmet}

Nutella Strawberry Dream

{The Cottage Sisters}



Vanilla Nutella Butterball Cookies
{Make and Take}



Coconut Nutella Cookies
{Inside BruCrew Life}




Strawberry Nutella Crumb Bars
{Evil Shenanigans}



Nutella Marshmallow Pumpkin Bread
{Inside BruCrew Life}



Nutella Avalanche
{Daydreamer Desserts}



Nutella Cupcakes
{Chef in Training}



Nutella Heart Brownies
{Photo a Day}



Nutella Bread
{The Italian Dish}



Nutella Ice Cream
{Rumkihn Crafts}



Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Nutella Twix Bars
{Savory Sweet Life}




Nutella Banana Bread
{Rumkihn Crafts}



Nutella Truffles
{Cooking on the Weekends}



Pizza Nutella
{Diethood}



Nutella Scones
{Cats and Casseroles}



Nutella Cheesecake Layer Bars
{The Moonlight Baker}



Nutella Fudge with Sea Salt
{The Crunchy Mamacita}



Nutella Biscotti
{Always . . . leave room for dessert}

If you have been featured, feel free to grab a button on my sidebar.  I have pinned all of these recipes.  Enjoy!!

*Alyssa*

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Peanut Butter Pie with Fudge Topping

Happy National Pie Day!! Peanut Butter Pie is one of my and my husband's favorite desserts.  My husband really dislikes pie, especially fruit pies, but Peanut Butter pie is one of the only pies he will eat. 

This peanut butter pie was really good and very easy to make.  As I have stated on many occasions, I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter.  This peanut butter pie adds chocolate to it, to get that great flavor combination.  It has the chocolate Oreo crust, the peanut butter center, and the chocolate fudge on the top.  This is a great easy, no-bake pie, that is a great treat.

Peanut Butter Pie with Fudge Topping
(Adapted from Kraft Food & Family Magazine, Summer 2009)

1 package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tub whipped cream topping
1 Oreo pie crust
1/4 cup hot fudge ice cream topping

1.  Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and peanut butter in a large bowl with a mixer until blended.  Gently stir in the whipped cream topping until blended.

2.  Spoon the mixture into the crust.  Then spread the hot fudge topping on top of the peanut butter mixture.

3.  Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm.

*Alyssa*

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Blond Brownie Caramel Cups

I love blondies, they are so good!  I can remember the first time I had a blondie, it was sometime after I first started dating my husband and we shared a blondie and ice cream at Applebees.  It was so good and I remember wondering why I had never had a blondie before.  A blondie is basically a "blond" version of a brownie. 

When I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it.  This is basically a cupcake version of a blondie.  It has chocolate, caramel, and walnuts on top.  It was awesome and I really think I need to make them again.  I also really like that there was chocolate inside it as well.  The melted chocolate hardened, making it taste like a piece of chocolate candy inside the blondie.  These are so good and definitely worth trying. 

 

Blond Brownie Caramel Cups
(Adapted from Pillsbury Annual Recipes 2008)

Blondies

1/2 cup butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line 16 muffin cups with baking cups. 

2.  Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat.  Remove from heat.  Then stir in the brown sugar. 

3.  Then add the vanilla and egg and mix well.  Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing well.  Stir in the chopped walnuts.  Divide the batter evenly into the lined muffin cups.  Bake for 16-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Topping

20 caramels
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1.  Melt the caramels with the water in a small saucepan over low heat, stir constantly until smooth. 

2.  Immediately after the blondies are removed from the oven, place the chocolate chips evenly in to the middle of each blondie. 

3.  Then spoon 1 tablespoon of caramel over the chocolate chips on each blondie.  If necessary, stir additional water into the melted caramels to maintain a spoonable consistency. 

4.  Sprinkle the chopped walnuts evenly over the blondies. 

*Alyssa*

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Cheddar Bacon Ranch Dip

I love anything with Cheddar, Bacon, and Ranch.  When I found the recipe for this dip, I knew I had to try it.  I changed the recipe a bit because I did not want to have just sour cream as the base for the dip.  I decided to add cream cheese and mayo to the sour cream.  While this dip is definitely not healthy, it sure is delicious. I kept going back for more of it.  I made it for a party and everyone loved it.  This is a great dip to make for a party and would be a great addition to any Superbowl party. 

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Dip
(Recipe adapted from Taste of Home)

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 block (8 ounces) cream cheese
1/2 cup mayo
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 packet Ranch salad dressing mix
1/4 cup bacon bits

1.  In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.  Serve with crackers or Wheat Thins. 

*Alyssa*

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Peanut Butter Popcorn

My husband and I both love anything that is peanut butter flavored.  One time when we went to a party at my friend's house, she served peanut butter popcorn.  I decided to try to make it for myself and it was easy to make and it tasted really good.  It didn't turn out as sweet as my friend's, it was more of a savory popcorn, but was still really good. I think it would be a little sweeter if kettle corn was used instead of the natural popcorn that I used.  This makes a lot of popcorn, so it is great to serve at parties and I even gave it to people in baggies for gifts around Christmas. 

Peanut Butter Popcorn
(Recipe adapted from Taste of Home)

2 bags microwave popcorn, popped (I used natural popcorn, with no butter or salt but kettle corn can be used as well)
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup light corn syrup
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1.  Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. 

2.  Place the popcorn in a large bowl. 

3.  Combine the peanut butter, corn syrup, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil.  Remove from heat, add vanilla, then stir to combine.

4.  Pour the peanut butter mixture over the popcorn, stirring gently to combine.  When all the popcorn is evenly coated, spread evenly on a greased cookie sheet.

5.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from oven and allow to cool before serving. 

*Alyssa*

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Whet Your Appetite Wednesday {20 Winter Treats}

It's finally starting to get cold outside and resemble winter.  I don't really like the cold and prefer summer, but the one thing I do like about winter is staying inside during a snowstorm.  It gives us an excuse to stay at home and there is nothing better than baking during a snowstorm then cuddling up with a blanket and eating dessert with a nice hot mug of hot chocolate.  These are some perfect treats to bake during the winter and while it is snowing outside:

Snowflakes

Snowflake Cake Pops

{Pint Sized Baker}

Snowflake Cookies

{Mrs. Fox's Sweets}

Peppermint Snowflakes

{Happy Hour Projects}




Tortilla Snowflakes
{What's Cooking, Love?}



Snowflake Pretzels
{Mom Endeavors}



Snowflake Cupcakes
{Glorious Treats}


Snowmen





Melting Snowman Smores
{Relatively Reagan}



Snowman Cupcakes
{Meet the Dubiens}



Frosty Faces
{The Seven Year Cottage}



Snowmen Donuts
{Creative Holiday Gift Ideas}

Mixed Up Snowman Snacks
{Gourmet Mom on-the-Go}



Snowman Cookies
{My Pretty Purse}



Marshmallow Snowman Treats
{Shindig Parties TO GO}



Snowman Gingerbread Cookies
{Mrs. Fox's Sweets}



Snowy Snack
{Party Wishes}



Melted Snowman Cookies
{Crazy Domestic}


Snow





Coconut Snowball Cupcakes
{Bake it in a Cake}




Pink Snoball Cakelettes
{Sprinkle Bakes}




Apple Snow
{Scandi Foodie}



Snowball Cookies & Icicle Candy
{Sprinkle Bakes}

If you have been featured, feel free to grab a button on my sidebar.  I have pinned all of these recipes.  Enjoy!!

*Alyssa*

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