Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip

This dip always goes over well (you can adjust the spiciness/heat by how much of the buffalo wing/hot sauce you choose to use) at parties. Pair with chips/pita wedges and a good chilled white wine. (Recipe doubled and modified from Dinner At The Zoo Food Blog). This recipe works great for those of us who prefer ranch instead of blue cheese.

3 cups cooked chicken shredded
16 ounces (2 blocks) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup buffalo wing sauce or hot sauce such as Frank’s® (You can adjust this up, for more heat; down, for less)
1 package dry ranch dressing mix
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
6 green onions, diced
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, mix together the chicken, cream cheese, buffalo wing/hot sauce, ranch mix and sour cream, until combined. If using a mixer, be sure not to break up all the chicken, or you’ll have a paste for a dip.
Coat an 12 inch skillet or chafing dish with cooking spray. Spread the chicken mixture into the skillet.
Top with cheddar cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes or until browned around the edges and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with diced green onions.

You can use rotisserie chicken, or bake off boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs) and shred by hand.

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Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip

The ultimate easy dip — served cold with corn chips, crackers, crostini or pita wedges. You can lighten up the calories by using reduced fat cream cheese and reduced fat sour cream, but don’t go for the fat-free. The texture will be way off and you probably won’t enjoy it.

1 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese (go for a thicker shred than the feather – it makes the dip have a better “mouth feel”)
1 packet powdered ranch dressing mix
8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
5 or 6 sliced green onions
Optional garnishes: additional cooked crumbled bacon, sliced green onions

Place the cream cheese in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer until completely smooth (1-2 minutes).
Add the sour cream and beat for 1 more minute until thoroughly combined with the cream cheese.
Stir in the cheese, ranch mix, bacon and green onions until well combined.
Serve chilled, topped with additional bacon and green onions if desired.

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Loaded Tot Appetizers

More recipes coming soon — I’ve discovered three dips that are beyond wonderful.

(Original recipe courtesy of Kraft Foods)

48 (about 1/2 of 32-oz. pkg.) frozen tater tots
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 cup Sour Cream
4 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled
2 green onions, sliced

Heat oven to 450ºF.

Place 2 tater tots in each of 24 mini muffin pan cups sprayed with cooking spray; place on bottom oven rack. Bake 10 min.

Spray bottom of shot glass with cooking spray. Use (in twisting motion) to press tots in each muffin cup to make potato cup. Return to oven; bake additional 15 min. or until deep golden brown.

Add cheese to potato cups; bake 1 min. or until melted. Transfer to platter; fill with remaining ingredients.
Makes 24 appetizers

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Endless Vacation Cocktail

A dynamic drink from a former watering hole in Hampton Roads, Charades.

Endless Vacation Cocktail

2oz Malibu Rum
2oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
2oz Triple Sec
2oz Blue Curacao
6oz Pineapple juice
1 maraschino cherry
1/2 orange slice

Combine all liquors with juice, shake to combine, and serve over ice in a tulip glass, garnished with the orange slice and cherry.

(If you wish to make this in volume:

1 cup Malibu Rum
1 cup Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1 cup Triple Sec
1 cup Blue Curacao
46 oz can Pineapple juice
12 maraschino cherries
orange slices

Combine all liquors and juice in a punch bowl. Add 3-4 cups of ice. Provide cherries and orange slices for garnish.)

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Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Hearty enough to be a main course in itself, use this recipe as a springboard to your own favourite creation!

1 lb of tri-colour rotini pasta, cooked to al dente.
1 lb artichoke hearts in brine
4 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 large yellow onion
1 lb white button mushrooms
8 oz sun dried tomatoes in oil
4 large garlic cloves, minced
8 oz Kalamata olives
8 oz grated Parmesan
8 oz Zesty Italian Dressing (home made, or store bought; regular or light)

Slice yellow onion in half and then into not too thin wedges. In a wok, heat 2 tbsp olive oil until just shimmering. Add minced garlic and cook until just fragrant (not allowing to brown too dark or it will taste burnt) about 30-40 seconds. Add onion and reduce heat to medium low, cooking until onion is translucent.

Drain sun dried tomatoes, reserving oil for other purposes. Add to onions and garlic, and add 1/2 cup water. Sauté for six to eight minutes.

Remove veggies from wok. Add remaining 2 tbsp olive oil to wok and heat until shimmering. Add sliced mushrooms and sauté until cooked through and slightly browned. While this is happening, drain artichokes and discard brine. Rinse and roughly chop. Slice half the olives, retaining the other half whole.

Reserving some sauteed mushrooms for garnish, return reserved veggies, artichokes and olives to wok. Cook for 1-2 minutes further in order to allow flavours to meld.

Combine veggies with the pasta in a large bowl, adding Zesty Italian dressing and tossing to coat.

To serve, dish into individual serving bowls, top with sauteed mushroom garnish and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Buon appetito!

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Cranberry Wild Rice Soup (Lighter Version)

This recipe has been ‘lightened up’ slightly and is a wonderful soup that, while meat-free, is able to satisfy the carnivores in your life!

Cranberry Wild Rice Soup (Lighter Version)

3 tbsp unsalted butter
1 large carrot, diced
1 celery stalk, sliced no larger than 1/4″ pieces
1/2 cup onion, minced
3 tbsp all purpose flour
3 cups organic vegetable stock
1 1/2 cups cooked wild rice
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 cup skim milk or fat free half and half
2 tbsp dry sherry
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Melt butter in stock pot over medium heat; sauté the carrot, celery and onion, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender (about 8 minutes). Add the flour and stir until smooth. Gradually stir in the vegetable stock, whisking as you go to avoid lumps from forming. Increase the heat to medium-high and stir until soup is thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rice and cranberries. Reduce the heat to barely a simmer, cover, and stir occasionally, until the cranberries are plump and soft (about 15 minutes). Add remaining ingredients. Stir occasionally until heated through. Season to taste and ladle into bowls. Top with a teaspoon of grated Parmesan cheese as a garnish. If desired, serve with toasted baguette rounds.

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