Football Parties

Fall means football, which also means get togethers to watch the football games.  It seems like almost every weekend, we are having a party to watch "the game."  For me, this means Alabama, for Jarrett "the game" means Florida State, and for all of our other friends, it means Georgia.  We somehow work it out.  Probably because none of our teams hate each other, so everyone's willing to watch each other's games.  We did once have a Gator intruder...that didn't turn out so well.  She never came back!!

As I've mentioned before, I DO NOT BAKE!  So my favorite things to put together on football weekends are dips and snacks.  My absolute favorite dip ever is Pizza Dip. Everyone loves it and everyone expects it now when they come over.  The pizza dip actually has an interesting story behind it.  My 10th grade French teacher made it for my class one day.  I asked her for the recipe and she gave it to me, but I misplaced it.  I tried to find the recipe for the longest time.  I searched websites, tried to email my teacher (who had retired by then), and looked through all my mom's cookbooks and recipes.  Then, I got "The Best of Bainbridge" cookbook for a wedding present (this was eight years later, mind you).  I was reading through it and there it was - PIZZA DIP! I couldn't believe it.  Turns out, one of my classmates had also gotten the recipe, saved it and submitted it to be put in the cookbook.  I was so excited and have been making it all the time, ever since.  Try it, you'll like it!

PIZZA DIP
Ingredients:
8 oz. Cream Cheese (softened)

1 jar Pizza Sauce
1 pkg. Turkey Pepperoni(or regular)
1 sm. can Black Olives, chopped (optional)
1 pkg. Mozzarella or Pizza Blend Cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Spread cream cheese on bottom of a small baking dish.
3.  Pour pizza sauce over cheese, then add pepperoni and olives. Top with cheese.
4. Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is brown and bubbly
5.  Serve with tortilla chips or toasted bread.

Check back next Friday for another Foodie Friday!



Okay, on another note, I created my own blog background...what do you think?  I am working on it until I perfect it.

Hope y'all have a fabulous weeked! ROLL TIDE!

T.G.I.F.

I don't know about you, but it's been such a long week for me. I am so happy to see Friday! It hasn't been a bad week, but a weird one that seems to drag on and on! I am looking forward to tomorrow and getting to watch the Tide take on North Texas!

Even though it's been a weird week, it's been a good week for food! On Monday, we had Chicken Spaghetti, which I love but haven't eaten in a while. Tuesday I made something new called Biscuit Casserole that may be one of the best things I've ever eaten! Last night, I made Nachos with homemade tortilla chips. Since I can't decide which to share, I think I'll share them all. Let me know if you try any of them and which you like!

Easy Chicken Spaghetti
Ingredients:
1 lb. rigatoni pasta, cooked
4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1 can each of cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup and cream of mushroom soup
8 oz. sour cream
1 bag shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Combine all ingredients and top with cheese.
3. Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Supper Sandwich
Ingredients:
1 recipe for biscuits
1 lb. ground turkey (or beef)
1 onion, chopped
1 can mushrooms
8 oz. sour cream
1 egg, beaten
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 bag shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Brown meat and add onions and mushrooms until soft. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in tomatoes and sour cream. Then fold in egg.
4. Grease bottom of a 9x13 dish, pour 1/2 the biscuit mix in the bottom. Top with meat mixture, then cheese. Pour the rest of the biscuit mix on top. Bake for 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.

Nachos
Ingredients:
4 flour tortillas
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can Black Beans
1 onion, diced
1 lb. ground turkey (or beef)
Cumin
Ground Red Pepper
1 bag Colby and Monterey jack cheese

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350. Cut tortillas into triangles or strips, place on baking sheet, and top with olive oil.     Bake until golden brown.
2. Meanwhile, brown meat and onions. Add cumin and red pepper (just guess - a couple of shakes each), then black beans and rotel tomatoes. Cook until heated through.
3.  In a baking dish, layer tortillas, meat sauce, then cheese. Bake until cheese is melted on top and bubbly.

And on a completely unrelated topic, I was looking at Martha Stewart's Best Halloween Costumes and found  the cutest thing I've ever seen!

See, I told you - cutest thing ever.  Waffles and syrup...haha!

They Say It's Your Birthday...It's Foodie Friday Too!

Well, today's the big day.  I'm now officially half way to 50 - ha!  It has been a good day so far, aside from the fact that I woke up at the butt crack of dawn! Jarrett gave me my presents - a Pandora bracelet with a charm and an Alabama apron.  I am very excited about both!  I am also very excited that my Dad has offered to buy me a new BlackBerry for my birthday.  I have been wanting to upgrade.  I bought a Pearl when I first got it because I wasn't sure if I'd like it and didn't want to spend too much money on one incase I didn't, but I love it and want more.  I just love gadgets!

Yesterday, I went to HollyCakes in Bainbridge on my lunch break to buy some cupcakes.  A lady at the office has a birthday on Sunday, so I wanted to celebrate with her.  Holly makes the BEST cookies, cakes and other goodies!  Last year, my sister had her make me a giant cookie cake.  It was about two inches thick, so moist and chewy.  It's the best cookie cake I've ever had, and was too cute.  Holly also made my wedding cake, which I just adored. 

Check out Holly's Website or you can find her on facebook and she her new cakes each week.  If you're in Bainbridge, head to 110 Water Street.  My sister's store is in the same building as HollyCakes, so you can pick up some goodies there too.  Allison Wonderland has all kinds of kitchen gadgets, things for kids, wedding presents, antiques....almost anything you can imagine. 

Today is the 8th anniversary the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Please take a moment to pray for those who lost loved one on the tragic day.  Also, pray for the military and their families and our President and other leaders. 

Another Foodie Friday

My 25th birthday is just a week away! I can't believe I'm already 25. It seems like just yesterday I moved to Bainbridge and started in the woods with my neighbors.

You know, I am an easy person to buy presents for. Anything to do with the kitchen completely excites me! Last year, Jarrett gave me a meat thermometer as part of my gift and I couldn't wait to use it. It totally upstaged the flavor injecter he got my for Valentine's Day (ha!). Here are a few things that I would love for my birthday this year:

Have I mentioned how much I just adore the Neely's? They are so funny and are perfect together. I get home everyday just in time to watch their show and their food looks so good. I even made their BBQ sauce a few weeks ago and it was fantastic. Their cookbook looks really good too. Maybe it'll help "kick up" my cooking a little bit!

I would also love to be the proud owner of this Rachael Ray lasagna pan. I love her bake ware! I have a few pieces already, but you can't have enough, can you? This is perfect for going from the oven to the table. This green color is too cute, too!

Jarrett and I have a huge kitchen, but not much counter space. I'd really like to get rid of my knife block, so this magnetic knife rack would be great to have. You just attach it to the wall and stick your knives up there!

In addition to these three fabulous things, I have included a new Blackberry, Alabama football tickets and a trip to Chicago on my birthday list. I am sure that I will receive none of these, but it was worth a shot! If Jarrett can ask for a boat every year for his birthday and Christmas, I can keep these on mine. I am also getting to take my birthday off work. I can't wait to sleep in and be lazy all day before going out to eat with some friends. I also have to pay for my car tag that day. I think I am going to try to treat myself to the new Alabama car tags. I haven't made up my mind yet, but if I have to pay for it on my birthday, I should at least turn it into something I actually want, right?