Category Archives: 4th of July
June 25, 2019
4th Of July Entertaining
Summer is finally here and now it’s time to look ahead to the 4th of July. Can you believe it’s only a week away? We plan on celebrating with family and friends – backyard bash, BBQ, yard games, drinks, the whole shebang! If you are as unprepared as I am, you are probably in need of a few quick and easy food options 🙂 First up is Buffalo Chicken Firecrackers. These are fun to assemble and a great themed food for your spread. Feel free to use your favorite homemade Buffalo Chicken Dip if you prefer but I like to order fresh from the deli. Saves me some time and effort, and it’s delicious! Plus, any leftovers can be set out to enjoy with the rest of the food. Start by laying out wonton wrappers on the counter. Place a spoonful of the Buffalo Chicken Dip on each wonton wrapper. Then … Continue reading
January 31, 2019
Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joe’s
When was the last time you ate a Sloppy Joe? It’s not a common meal in my house but there is something about a Sloppy Joe that reminds me of family dinners as a child. I wanted to create a new version of a Sloppy Joe that combines another favorite food of ours – buffalo chicken. The result was a Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joe. It was amazing! These Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joe’s have enough heat without being too spicy and veggies hidden within the meat that add great flavor. I recommend drizzling some ranch or blue cheese dressing on top to offset the heat. And because who can enjoy buffalo sauce without ranch or blue cheese? It really completes the sandwich! The recipe can be found here. Let’s get cooking! Start by doing all the prep work. I like to chop my veggies, measure out my dry and liquid ingredients, … Continue reading
January 5, 2019
Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites
Do you ever crave those soft, chewy, irresistible smelling soft pretzels you get from street vendors or mall kiosks? If so, you’re in luck! I have a recipe for Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites that is a perfect replica. These Homemade Pretzel Bites have a perfectly doughy center, crispy crust, and buttery and salty flavor. They are fun to make and fun to eat. Great for dipping – the perfect finger food! A bit of work is required to make these but it’s worth it. They are SO good right out of the oven. The recipe can be found here. Start by preparing the dough. I recommend using a stand mixer if you have one. You can mix the dough by hand, but your arms will be quite sore! Add the water, brown sugar, yeast, and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer and let sit for 5 minutes. Add … Continue reading
October 24, 2018
Chicken Cheddar Apple Burger
I have a great recipe for Chicken Cheddar Apple Burgers to share with you today. If you love Fall and are looking to put the apples you bought at the orchard to good use or if you just aren’t ready to put the grill away, this recipe is for you! The complimentary Fall favors come together to create a new take on classic BBQ. The recipe can be found here. Start by combining all ingredients in a mixing bowl. The apple will need to be shredded before mixing. This is simple to do by using a cheese grater or potato peeler, depending on how big you want the apple shavings. The apple will help keep the burger moist and ensure the flavor is included in every bite. Next form into 4 equal size patties. Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook on each side for about 6 minutes or … Continue reading
September 7, 2018
Kabobs
Most Minnesotans are familiar with kabobs because we love to grill when the weather is warm. However, if you aren’t familiar with kabobs you are in for a treat! Kabobs are basically cubes of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, and other foods placed on a skewer and grilled to perfection. And with the MN State Fair recently ending all I can think of is food on a stick so blogging about kabobs seemed like the perfect fit! I have 4 different kabobs to share with you today. Chicken Breast Kabobs (available from the meat counter) Black Angus Beef Sirloin Kabobs (available from the meat counter) Salmon Kabobs with Rainbow Veggies Ham and Pineapple Kabobs The Chicken Breast Kabobs and Black Angus Beef Sirloin Kabobs are available from the meat counter at your local Festival Foods. The veggies are fresh, including green pepper, red pepper, and red onion, and the meat is thick cut. Each skewer … Continue reading
June 9, 2018
Refreshing Summer Cocktails
Summer is the best time of year for a refreshing cocktail. Whether you are sitting on the deck enjoying the weather, hosting a BBQ, spending a day at the beach….you get the idea 😊…a festive cocktail can really help beat the heat. I’ve compiled a list of 4 of my favorite cocktails. They are fun, bright, and full of flavor. Blue Hawaiian Cocktail This cocktail is essentially a blue version of a Pina Colada and promises a little taste of tropical paradise. It’s designed to make you feel like summer no matter how bad the weather is outside. I chose to serve this drink “on the rocks” style by pouring over ice but you can also create a blended version of the cocktail by mixing all the ingredients with ice in a blender. It’s very easy to make – shake the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker, pour over ice, … Continue reading
May 23, 2018
Baked Chicken Wings
There’s no denying it – I love chicken wings! With so many flavor varieties and dipping sauces, they’re not only a delicious meal but allow you to try something different each time. Think potluck, football party, backyard BBQ, afternoon snack, etc. Chicken wings fit the menu for most occasions. I have 4 baked chicken wing recipes to share with you today. These are some of my favorite recipes, so I hope you enjoy them. Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings are super easy to make. You basically toss the chicken wings and oil and bake until crispy, then toss in a delicious combination of hot sauce and melted butter. These are probably the most popular wings around due to the mildy sweet and sour taste with a spicy aftermath. I prefer to dip mine in ranch dressing, but blue cheese dressing is a great alternative. Because the wings can be spicy it’s … Continue reading
May 18, 2018
(Chicken) Burger Bar
There is nothing like a juicy burger hot off the grill, chilled cocktail in hand, and warm weather to cure those winter blues. I want to share some of my favorite chicken/turkey burger recipes with you now that it’s starting to feel like summer! These are all a nice break from typical hamburgers and healthier for you (well, maybe not once you add all the toppings). I think they are very flavorful, simple to make, and delicious to eat. The first recipe I want to share is for Buffalo Chicken Burgers. These are ¼ pound burgers that taste just like buffalo wings but without the mess. Who wouldn’t want that? I like to top my burger with extra buffalo sauce and a little ranch dressing, then add a small amount of each onto my plate for extra dipping sauce. This burger would also pair well with blue cheese. The recipe … Continue reading
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