Category Archives: Party

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

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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

Posted in 4th of July, Breakfast, Dessert, Grilling, Holidays, Labor Day Weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, Party, Pizza, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on State Fair Home Edition

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Who doesn’t love a good sandwich?  I’m always looking for new sandwich recipes, or slider recipes, in this case.  They make for a great tasty little bite, work well as appetizers, or can be packed for a light lunch.  My favorite thing to do is make a 9×13 pan of sandwiches that can be portioned out, wrapped in foil, and grabbed each morning on my way to work. Today I want to share with you 4 different recipes for sliders.  These are all simple recipes and are something the whole family will enjoy.  I like to keep these recipes in my back pocket for holiday weekends (like the 4th of July) or you could make a pan to serve at a sleepover when the kids have the late-night munchies! First up is Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders.  Think traditional Chicken Cordon Bleu but in sandwich form.  You get the savory ham, tender … Continue reading

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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

Posted in 4th of July, Holidays, Labor Day Weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, Party, Poultry, Super Bowl, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken

Growing up I always loved a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  I mean, who didn’t?  It was a staple in my daily life and it’s making a comeback.  However, instead of sandwich form I’m pairing it with another food I love.  What for it……chicken wings.  Yes, peanut butter and jelly chicken wings.  A little louder for those in the back…PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY CHICKEN WINGS! The recipe can be found here. These wings are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and will satisfy any craving.  They are the perfect combination of sweet and spicy while being incredibly savory.  The chicken wings are coated in a delicious peanut sauce and the raspberry jelly dipping sauce brings it all together.  The combination of peanut butter, jelly, and chicken might sound weird, but I strongly suggest putting your hesitation aside and giving these wings a try! Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees F and lining … Continue reading

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