Pizza Skins Appetizer

I haven't made this in years, but I'll have to make it soon now (so I can add a pic) and because it's so good.  It's a cross between pizza and potato skins.

Super easy, super yummy and once again, wide open to options.

This is a small one I made. It was actually pretty deep. I put left over baked ham in it and we had it for dinner. Why is that one part white?  I don't like cheese on my potatoes. *Gasp!* I know - scandalous - but true! My picky daughter went back for 2nds.

Ingredients:

1 can Pillsbury pizza crust
2 cups instant mashed potatoes (or left over potatoes)
1 bag shredded cheese of your choice (I usually use cheddar)
6 slices crumbled bacon (microwave bacon is good)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 500 (yes, 500)

Make instant potatoes according to package directions.

Cook bacon.

Spread out pizza crust into a pan with deep sides, with dough going up the sides a bit.  (any size or shape pan. Sometimes I use a cake pan. Just as long as the dough fits)

Bake the crust for 5 minutes at 500

Remove crust from oven.  Reduce heat to 450.

Fill pizza crust with mashed potatoes.  Cover with shredded cheese. Crumble bacon over the top.

Bake at 450 until cheese is bubbly and crust is cooked.

TIPS: You can do so many things with this. You can season/flavor the crust before the first bake.  You can use flavored mashed potatoes. Many brands sell garlic mashed or even loaded mashed flavors. Or you can flavor the potatoes yourself with any kind of seasoning/herbs/spices you want.  You can use any kind, or combination, of cheese that you like.  You can add lots of topping. Pepperoni, black olives, jalapeno slices, diced tomatoes, refried beans, salsa, ham and pineapple, sausage, ground beef, avocado, queso, shredded chicken or pork, the possibilities are endless!

Junior Mint Pie

This is another simple, but yummy recipe.  I used to make it a lot when my husband and I were first together.  He and his brothers loved it when I would bring it to the annual family holiday party.

It's basically just a pudding pie with Junior Mints in it. But I think people too quickly discount how delicious a pudding pie can be.  They think it's too easy, too basic. Sometimes easy and basic hits the spot.

Ingredients:

1 ready-made chocolate pie crust
1 packages Jell-O chocolate instant pudding/pie filling
Milk (for the Jell-O)
Junior Mints (about a dozen)
Cool Whip

Directions:

Make Jell-O according to the package instructions for pie filling.

Chop up the Junior Mints and mix into the pudding. (you can add more or less as you like)

Pour mixture into the pie crust.  Top with Cool Whip.

Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Tips: You can decorate the top with extra Junior Mints.  I like to take some chocolate and shave it over the Cool Whip.

Sometimes you get a crust that is broken.  I have melted chocolate and spread it over the crust to hold it together.

Obviously, this is a recipe you can turn into anything.  I know someone who doesn't like chocolate (shocking! I know) and I made a pie in a regular graham cracker crust with banana pudding and I crumbled up shortbread cookies into it.  It was very yummy.  You can be very creative with it.  Think of the pudding pie as a blank canvas for you to paint on!

Enjoy!

SUPER BOWL PARTY RECIPES

Here is my collection (in progress) of Super Bowl Ready Recipes for your game day party!  More to come!

Spinach, Sun Dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Appetizers

Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce

Broccoli and Craisin Salad

Triple Crockpot Meaty Triple Threat

Chinese Chicken Wings

Pizza Skins Appetizer

Junior Mint Pie

Chinese Chicken Wings Recipe

This is another recipe from my big sister. I love these wings. No, no. I mean I LOVE these wings. I could eat them until I made myself sick. Well, until I started to feel sick. But you know what I mean. She actually got asked to make these so often that she boycotted for awhile.

The key to this recipe is letting the wings marinate overnight.  The flavor is sooooo good.  It's a pretty simple recipe and you can use frozen or fresh chicken wings. I usually use frozen, unless there is a big deal on fresh wings.  But with frozen wings, you don't have the useless tips and the pieces are pre-cut.  Yes, you can leave the fresh ones whole. Nothing wrong with that. But it's nicer, IMO, to have them in more manageable pieces for a party. And you can easily double it, or even triple it, if needs be.

As you can see, the meat is falling right off the bones.

Ingredients:

5 lbs chicken wings
3/4 cup soy sauce
1 cup orange juice
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp garlic salt
1/4 cup molasses

Directions:

Place wings in a large baking pan (I usually use a foil one for easy clean up).  Mix all the other ingredients together in a bowl and pour over the wings.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  You should try and give them a stir a couple of times to get them marinated evenly.

Bake, covered with foil, at 400 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.  Then drain off the excess liquid, remove foil, reduce heat to 350 and bake until wings are brown. (about another 45 minutes to an hour)

This is a recipe that's easy to reheat too, so you can make these ahead of time. You could even make them ahead of time, let them cool completely, and freeze them until you needed them.

These will be a big hit for your party!

Enjoy!

Triple Crock Meat Appetizers Triple Threat

I have 2 fabulous triple crock pots. My husband hates them. They weigh a ton and he has to carry them up from the basement when I need them.  But I love them. They are fabulous for entertaining.  My crocks are like the 2nd one shown below, the long one (but mine are red).  I gave my older sister the round one below for Christmas because I thought it would be good for her and her partner when they take the nieces and nephews for sleepovers. Easy to put up different dishes at once.  Wish I could justify buying one of the round ones. It takes up so much less room. Great price - just $29 too. (click pic to buy one for yourself!)

Anyway... I've got 3 very simple recipes you can do for your Super Bowl Party. Nice, meaty recipes, because after all, the guys want meat - right? And you could get all 3 of these done and in the crock in under half an hour. 

Farberware 3-crock Round 1.5qt. Oval Slowcooker, Stainless Steel

 

 

 

 

FarberWare 3-Crock 2.5Qt. Triple Slow Cooker

 

 

These are basic recipes and you probably already have your own version of some of them, if not all of them.  But now and then I find someone who has never heard of kielbasa and brown sugar. Seems impossible! That delicious candied meat treat is unknown to some, but it's true.  The best part about these appetizers, you pretty much dump them and leave 'em. So here we go with a triple threat of meaty appetizers for your triple crock! (Of course, you don't have to have a triple crock. And these can easily be made on the stove top as well)

 

Note: I use ground mustard a lot in recipes. Make sure it's powdered and not the seeds.

 

 

Kielbasa and Brown Sugar

 

2 links kielbasa, Polish sausage, sliced

1 box brown sugar, light or dark (I prefer dark)

2 tbsp. ground mustard powder

1 tsp. black pepper

 

Slice up the kielbasa and put in the crockpot. Place all the ingredients on top. Cook on low for 4 - 6 hours or on high for 2 - 4. Stir occasionally.

 

I prefer the kielbasa sliced thin, but it's a matter of preference.  You can use turkey kielbasa, it's great. Less greasy.  There are endless variations out there of this recipe. I find the bit of mustard and pepper help to cut the sweetness just a hair.

 

 

Drunken Wieners

 

3 packages little smokies or any kind of cocktail frank

2 cups ketchup

1/2 cup beer, of your choice

 

Put cocktail franks in the crockpot. Place all the ingredients on top. Cook on low for 4 - 6 hours or on high for 2 - 4. Stir occasionally.

 

Again, this recipe lends itself to easy variation.  Adding a specialty beer will add a little extra flavor. 

 

"Baked" Ham in Brown Sugar

 

4 ham steaks

1/2 box brown sugar (light or dark)

3/4 cup honey

1 large can sliced pineapple rings

3 tbsp. ground dry mustard

approx. 12 maraschino cherries

3 tbsp. juice from maraschino cherries

 

Dice up the ham into bit size pieces. Put into the crockpot.  Mix all the other ingredients together in a bowl.  Pour over the ham.  Cook on low for 4 - 6 hours or on high for 2 - 4. Stir occasionally.

This is also the same glaze I use if I was making an actual baked ham. Perfect!

 

 

See - simple. But oooohhhhhhh so yummy!

 

Enjoy!

 



Broccoli Craisin Salad

This is a favorite recipe of my big sister's.  She usually makes it in the summer time, but it can be made any time of year. It's a salad where the "green" is broccoli instead of some form of lettuce.  I think it's a great choice for your football party since people often offer raw broccoli as part of a crudité.  This is a nice twist.

It's a simple recipe with simple ingredients and lends itself to easy add-ons and customization.  You can whip it up in a snap and even make it ahead the day before.

Salad:
5 to 6 cups fresh broccoli florets                                       
1/2 cup craisins                                                                
1/2 cup sunflower seeds                                                 
1/2 cup crumbled bacon  (I used microwave bacon to make it easier)

Dressing:
1 cup mayo (would not recommend Miracle Whip, it would be too sweet)
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp. vinegar (I used apple cider, but white would be fine)


Cut up florets that are overly large. Place all the salad ingredients in a large bowl.

Combine all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.  Add sugar a little at a time until the sweetness is right for you.

Pour dressing over salad and mix to combine. Either serve right away or cover and refrigerate.

Tip: I added a dash of lemon juice to the dressing, though my sister's recipe does not call for it. My hubby liked the lemon. It's a matter of preference.

You could easily add other items like shredded carrots, a combination of broccoli and cauliflower, pine nuts instead of sunflower seeds etc.  It's an easy recipe, but always a hit.

Enjoy!

Turkey Stuffing Meatballs in Cranberry Sauce Appetizers

Here's another appetizer I made for my Christmas Eve party. It was a huge hit! My dad went back for thirds!  Even the picky kids liked it (it lead to the Thanksgiving Dinner Meatloaf recipe)

Fortunately, I do have measurements for this one. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pics :(  Sorry. Didn't know I was going to start a blog lol!

This will be a great recipe for Super Bowl Sunday.  You can leave them in a crock pot or chaffing dish and let your guests help themselves to these yummy little meatballs. They are a wonderful change from the tired old Italian meatballs and, IMO, much tastier than the Swedish variety.

This recipe uses packaged cornbread stuffing. This is a great ingredient you will think of lots of uses for.

Ingredients:

Meatballs
1/2  cup chicken stock
1 egg   
1 cup cornbread stuffing mix   
1/4 cup finely chopped celery   
1 teaspoon sage
1/2 tsp ground rosemary
1/2 tsp onion powder 
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 lb. ground turkey  

Sauce
1 (16-oz.) can jellied cranberry sauce   
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

Heat oven to 375°F. Sauté celery in pan until soft.

In large bowl, combine turkey, salt, pepper and egg.

In a separate bowl, stir in stuffing mix, stock, cooked celery and remaining seasonings; blend well. Add turkey mix; mix well. Shape into 4 (1-inch) balls. Place in ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

Bake at 375°F. for 20 to 25 minutes or until meatballs are browned and no longer pink in center.

Meanwhile, in large saucepan combine all sauce ingredients; mix well. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add meatballs to sauce; stir gently to coat. Cook over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally. Serve in chafing dish or slow cooker.

This should make approx. 48 mini meatballs.

Enjoy!

Spinach, Sun Dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Appetizers

I made these appetizers for my Christmas Eve party and thought they would be good for Super Bowl parties.  If you've got the room in your fridge, you can easily make them ahead of time and then cook them when you are ready.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pics of these, and I didn't measure - typical me! So, I am going to estimate the measurements of the ingredients.  Feel free to adjust as you see fit for your needs.

Now - for the cup, you can use many different items.  I used crescent roll dough formed into the cups of a mini muffin pan.  You could use that, or pizza dough, or phyllo cups that are already baked. Even ready made pie crust.  Just make sure whatever you use that you are sure of what you will need for baking time. Will you need to bake them empty first in order to cook the dough thoroughly?

Ready made phyllo cups would make this super easy

 

 

Ingredients:

 

 

1 cup Baby spinach (this is a guess, I just grabbed a big handful from the bag.)

1/4 cup Sun dried tomatoes in oil (Plus 1 tsp of the oil from the jar)

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 lb crumbled Goat cheese

2 tbsp. Pine nuts, (I prefer to toast them first, but that's a matter of preference)

3/4 tsp Basil

1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

1/2 tsp Black Pepper

 

dough/cup of your choice

 

 

Directions:

 

Preheat oven as needed.  Precook dough if needed.

 

Finely chop spinach and sun dried tomatoes. Place in bowl.  Add remaining ingredients (except dough) and mix.

 

Fill cups and cook according to instructions for the type of dough you used.  If no baking is needed for the dough, bake for about 20 minutes at 375, or until the filling is cooked.

 

These are best warm from the oven, but can be eaten warmed up the next day.  You can assemble them and refrigerate them and then cook them right before eating.

 

This will make a little more than one 18 cup mini muffin pan.  I believe I got 24 out of it.

 

If you make this, I'd love to hear how it turned out :)

 

Enjoy!