Friday, January 31, 2014

Delish Super Bowl Sunday---- Buffalo Chicken Crescent Ring!

It's no secret that when your roots are from the Buffalo, NY area you love chicken wings. Even though our youngest daughter was "4" when we moved from WNY she grew up with a distinct palette for good ole' Buffalo chicken----actually anything with Frank and Teresa's on it!

I am always searching for different recipes that use Buffalo hot sauce, and end up reminding us of the flavors of Buffalo chicken wings. I came across a Buffalo Chicken Crescent Ring recipe that sounded delish. It's really easy to make, creates a beautiful presentation, and received rave reviews from my family.

I thought it might make a great hors d'oeuvre for you to take to the Super Bowl party!






Buffalo Chicken Crescent Ring

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
1/2 cup onions, finely diced
1/2 cup Buffalo sauce
2 packets (6 ounce) cooked chicken, very finely diced
2 tubes crescent rolls
1/2 cup ranch dressing (for dipping), optional
1/4 cup scallions, cilantro, or fresh herbs, finely chopped

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, celery, onions, Buffalo sauce, and chicken. (Or, if you'd rather, mix it all together in a food processor.)
  1. Open the tubes of crescent rolls and separate each roll into four rectangles. Lay the rectangles on a parchment lined or nonstick baking sheet to form a large circle.
  2. Spoon chicken mixture into the center of the crescent dough ring. Fold the top of each crescent dough rectangle over the chicken filling, pressing into place to secure the dough all the way around the filling.
  3. Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Garnish with chopped scallions, cilantro, or other herbs, if desired. (**Many thanks to cheekykitchen for sharing her recipe.) 
                                               Wishing you a warm and safe Super Bowl weekend!  

        Go Broncos!

    Kathleen 
                                                                          

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

National Wear Red Day,The Heart Truth

Calling all ladies.......if you aren't already protecting your heart against heart disease, it is time you start! Put your best "red" on, support the fight against heart disease. Jump into the world of information that is available to give us the power to prevent  the #1 killer of women.

For more helpful and healthful information, LIKE "The Heart Truth" on Facebook.

                                                           CHEERS to a heart healthy you!
                                                                                    

                                    Kathleen

                                                           

                                                               



Monday, January 27, 2014

Super Bowl XLVIII---Recipe for YUMMY Touchdown Bean Dip!

With the Super Bowl just around the corner I started pulling together some of my favorite party recipes that have brought some pretty hefty accolades from our guests.  One of them was a recipe from "27" years ago! My husband was working at General Motors at the time and we were invited to party at one of his colleagues homes in Western NY.

The Super Bowl spread was like no other we had ever seen. Each guest invited brought their favorite hors d'oeuvre and shared the recipe. As usual at parties there are always those that were so delish everyone was crazy about it.  Maria, who was from Mexico, was hailed the winner of the evening with everyone begging her for this delicious recipe.

For many years after, we either brought it to a party or included it in many of our parties. Maria's BEAN DIP sits at it's rightful place of honor, center stage, every Christmas Eve at our house.

Because it is Super Bowl time I temporarily renamed it.......Touchdown Bean Dip! It is simple,
easy, and I will guarantee you that you will hear lots of yummy comments from your guests!



TOUCHDOWN BEAN DIP RECIPE

1--8 oz. pkg. cream cheese (softened)
1--7oz. can Hormel Chili (if you like spicy you may substitute HOT Chili)
1--3oz. can chopped green chili peppers (drained)
5--chopped green onions
1--8oz. pkg. shredded cheddar cheese

Layer each ingredient in a 10 pie plate or similar dish.
Bake at 375 degrees for approx. 15 minutes or until bubbly around the edges

Serve hot with Frito Scoops or my girls like Doritos.

BUENA SUERTE!

  Go Broncos!
 Kathleen
***


 

                                        

   

                                                




Monday, January 20, 2014

Creating a Coffee Table Vignette

Creating a coffee table vignette can be as easy as starting with a scavenger hunt. Searching your home for those special gifts you have tucked away or a favorite book. Sometimes we are lost at where to put things. Sometimes it's a space issue........but most of us have a coffee table. Why not use it!

I have created three different vignettes with items I have had tucked away on my bookshelves and my china cabinet. They all brought back such fond memories for me. Gifts from my husband, my family and my friend. Gifts that made me smile and reminisce.....good thoughts, happy thoughts. Something I hope inspires you to go look for those treasures that make you smile!










Thanks for stopping by.



Wishing you a creative day!
Kathleen

**Feel free to use our comment section to tell us what you display on your coffee table!
 

Friday, January 17, 2014

It's Foodie Friday--Winter Cozy!

There are some things I love about winter. One of them is when my husband has a beautiful fire in the fireplace on a cold evening. I have to admit I am a snuggler. I've always had a basket of cozy warm afghans and blankets in our family room easily accessible for everyone to grab when they feel a little  chilly. It's so funny because our girls do this in their own homes now.


OK, so this looks pretty inviting........so what's missing? Ah, yes it's Foodie Friday---so where's the food? Wouldn't it be nice to have a little something sweet with that cup of tea? I had no idea when I chose the Red Velvet Cheesecake Cookies recipe, that #1 they would be so huge and #2 so delectable. You can cut each cookie into 4's and share with the family! The center cheesecake is gooey and so yummy----everything in moderation of course!


The recipe states that it makes 10 cookies, but honestly, if I did it again I would make 20 smaller cookies because they are so decadent.  I can't believe that you start out the recipe with a cake mix! How easy is that?

Red Velvet Cheesecake Cookies

Yield: 10 giant cookies
Cook Time: 11-13 minutes
Red velvet cookies with a creamy cheesecake filling and a drizzle of white chocolate. These bright red cookies are perfect for Christmas or Valentine's Day.

Ingredients:

For the cookies:
1 box red velvet cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the cheesecake filling:
4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the white chocolate drizzle:
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips, melted

Directions:

1. To make cookies, in a large bowl combine cake mix and flour. Whisk until clumps disappear. In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix together cake mix, flour, eggs, oil and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap. The dough will be oily. Refrigerate for at least two hours.
2. To make the cheesecake filling, using a mixer, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Using a teaspoon, scoop out cheesecake filling and place on a plate. Continue scooping out cheesecake filling into teaspoon balls until you have 10. Place plate in the freezer and freeze for at least two hours.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. To assemble the cookies, take about 1/4 cup of red velvet cookie dough and flatten in your hands. Place a teaspoon of cheesecake filling in the center and wrap the cookie dough around the filling. Gently roll into a ball and place on prepared baking sheet. Scoop onto lightly greased or parchment lined baking sheets. Only bake 3 cookies at a time. The cookies are large and will spread. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until the cookies begin to crackle. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Remove from baking sheet to a wire cooling rack and cool completely.
4. Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl or over a double-boiler. Drizzle the white chocolate over the cooled cookies. Let the cookies set until the chocolate hardens.

Note: if you are going to store the cookies for more than a day, you may want to keep them in the refrigerator. You can make the cookies smaller. Just use less dough and filling. You want to make sure you completely wrap the cookie dough around the filling before baking-so it doesn't leak.

Enjoy!


Wishing you a sweet cozy weekend!

  Kathleen

Thanks so much to my source for this recipe:
http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com