Category Archives: Party
September 12, 2021
Cake Pops

Cake Pops are a fun phenomenon and something I had to try. When I think of a Cake Pop, I think of cake that is coated in melted chocolate, skewered on a stick, and served as a bite sized treat. They can be made in most cake flavors and decorated as simple or elaborate as you want. They are very similar to truffles but are often a little lighter and truffles aren’t served on a stick. I started my Cake Pop venture before the 4th of July (can you see I’m a bit behind on writing this? :)) but thought these are great treat for any time of year! You could make some to celebrate Labor Day, the end of summer and kids going back to school, dessert at a BBQ, or just make them because you love cake 🙂 I purchased this fancy Cake Pop maker (little countertop appliance … Continue reading
September 7, 2021
Caprese French Bread Pizza

When I think of crisp and refreshing, I think of caprese salad. It has juicy, ripe tomatoes, slices of soft mozzarella, and is finished with incredibly fresh basil leaves. If you add some French bread and a smear of pesto and can turn a lovely caprese salad into a tasty pizza. It’s bursting with flavor and is to toasted to perfection. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the French bread in half, horizontally. If the bread is too long to fit on a baking sheet, slice the bread in half so it will fit. Make sure you look for soft Italian bread or French bread. You don’t want to use a hearty baguette or anything that will be too hard and crusty after baking. I like to use store-bought basil pesto, but you can make homemade pesto if you have … Continue reading
August 30, 2021
State Fair Home Edition

The Minnesota State Fair is in full swing. Do you plan on going? I know a lot of people that plan on attending the fair and a lot of people that don’t, for various reasons. I sure love the fair and missed not being able to attend last year. Unfortunately, this year, it’s also not in the cards for me. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy some delicious fair food at home, and you can do the same! First off, I want to share with you a link to a blog I wrote last year. The blog is called Your Favorite MN State Fair Food…at Home, because that’s what the blog is about – creating and enjoying all the classic state fair foods in the comfort of your own home. I wrote this blog because the fair was cancelled last year and wanted to give everyone the option of … Continue reading
August 28, 2021
Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwiches

Chicken. Bacon. Ranch. Three things that pair amazingly well together. Combine them in sandwich form and you have one mighty fine meal. Think tender chicken, creamy ranch (which really goes with just about anything), and crispy bacon smothered between a bun with some melted cheese for good measure. This is what dreams are made of. I may be getting ahead of myself, but I do sure enjoy a good Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich! The recipe can be found here. Start by cooking the bacon according to package instructions. I like to move the bacon to a paper towel lined plate to absorb some of the grease and set aside until I’m ready to use. Add the cream cheese to a large saucepan or pot and heat over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally to melt the cream cheese. Once it’s about halfway melted, add the entire packet of ranch seasoning (Ugh, it … Continue reading
August 6, 2021
Grilled Jalapeno Poppers

If you are searching for the perfect appetizer or side for your next cookout, look no further! Grilled Jalapeno Poppers are the way to go! They are stuffed with an addictive mixture of bacon, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese. The rich and creamy combination of the stuffing contrasts the spicy jalapeno peppers leaving you wanting more. This is a great alternative to the breaded and fried version because they are fresh, cook up nicely on the grill, and are quite addicting 🙂 You can even skip the bacon for a vegetarian option if you prefer. The recipe can be found here. We own a Jalapeno Grill Rack that we use for this recipe, which I find quite wonderful to use. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend getting one! Start by preheating the grill to 325 degrees F. It can be tricky to keep the grill temperature consistent once … Continue reading
June 28, 2021
4th Of July Celebration

The 4th of July is right around the corner and as things seem to be returning to normal, I’m sure a lot of people are planning a gathering with friends and family to celebrate. I know we sure are! The weather is predicted to be beautiful and sunny, and we haven’t entertained in a while, so we are really looking forward to the holiday. I have a few new recipes to share with you today. They are all 4th of July themed and something you can easily add to your menu – or anytime throughout summer! I plan on making a few of these this upcoming weekend and look forward to enjoying them at our party. The first recipe is for Firecracker Hot Dogs. Think hot dog wrapped in breadstick or crescent roll dough and baked to perfection. They are super simple to make, will satisfy even the pickiest eater, … Continue reading
June 13, 2021
Air Fryer Blooming Onion

We don’t use our air fryer often but every now and again it’s fun to try a new recipe. This time we tried an Air Fryer Blooming Onion. A blooming onion is essentially a large onion that is sliced to resemble a flower, battered, deep fried, and served as an appetizer. My recipe removes the deep-frying step and has you air fry it instead. The batter creates this lovely crust that is crispy, the onion is tender, and the dipping sauce adds a nice tang to each bite. The recipe can be found here. Start by preparing the onion. Peel the onion and slice off the stem. Do not remove the base on the other side of the onion – only remove the stem or end of one side. Otherwise the onion will fall apart! Turn the onion so the cut side is down. Cut an inch from the … Continue reading
June 4, 2021
Wing Time

If you read my last blog, you know how much we love sandwiches (or sliders) at our house. Another food we are obsessed with is chicken wings. They are so easy to make and can be pair with tons of different sauces to create different flavor combinations. I want to share with you 3 new chicken wing recipes that are inspired by Asian and Mexican dishes. Orange Chicken Wings Asian Zing Chicken Wings Taco Chicken Wings All 3 recipes are pretty simply to whip up and have amazing flavor! First up is Orange Chicken Wings. Think of the orange chicken dish you order at a Chinese restaurant – these chicken wings have a very similar flavor and are bursting with an orangey-citrus taste. So good! The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the … Continue reading
May 30, 2021
Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken

Are you ever hosting a party or having a few guests over for dinner but don’t know what to serve? I always struggle with what to cook because I want my guests to enjoy the meal but also want time to socialize and not be stuck in the kitchen. Pulled chicken or pulled pork is always a good option. You can prepare it in the slow cooker so it’s no fuss, it feeds a crowd, and is great to serve for a build-your-own-sandwich bar. Or you can make it for yourself to enjoy for meals through the week or to freeze for later. Today, I want to share my 2 recipes for pulled chicken. I haven’t tried these recipes with pork, but I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t substitute the chicken for pork to make pulled pork sandwiches. If you do try this, let me know how it … Continue reading
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