Marinated Mushrooms

These Marinated Mushrooms have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EasyHolidayEats #CollectiveBias

These Marinated Mushrooms are an easy-to-make savory side dish! With flavors of fresh herbs, garlic, tangy red onion, red pepper and lemon juice these mushrooms pack a serious punch of delicious flavor. Try these Marinated Mushrooms as an appetizer, on salads, in pastas or served alongside cheesy pizza.

Warm Triple-Cheese Olive Dip

This Warm Triple-Cheese Olive Dip packs bold flavors and is perfect for serving at parties during this chilly season! It's a cream cheese based dip that is loaded with the tang of feta cheese and zing of chopped blue-cheese stuffed olives. Serve with pita chips and/or sliced baguette bread for an easy and pleasing appetizer.

I personally believe that the best way to enjoy olives is to simply pop them in your mouth. With quality olives I like to taste the flavors and feel the textures - so I rarely include them in recipes as an ingredient. However, I recently saw a holiday recipe for a cheesy olive dip and the idea sounded amazing. It seemed to me that by using minimal ingredients in a cheesy dip the flavor of the olives would still shine through - and I was right! Just a few ingredients for a TON of flavor.

Tavern Style Pot Roast Sliders

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauces for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Whether it be for an every day dinner or a game day get-together, I love to make homemade food. Yeah, it would be easier to order a couple pizzas or pick up some deli trays from the supermarket - but where is the fun in that? This past weekend we had some friends and family over for game day and I decided to whip up something delicious, hand-held and fitting for a bunch of football fans - Tavern Style Pot Roast Sliders. These were seriously phenomenal. Melted Muenster cheese, juicy pot roast, crisp fried onions, spicy pepperoncinis and a garlic mayo spread - all sandwiched into a soft egg dinner roll. These sliders are flavorful, easy to make and were a hit with everyone in attendance.

Spicy Coca-Cola Cheese Dip with Bacon

This Spicy Coca-Cola Cheese Dip with Bacon has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareYourSpirit #CollectiveBias

To kick off football season we headed over to our friend's for a football game party and were served Coca-Cola BBQ Ribs that were amazingly good. I was weary at first, but after one taste I wanted to eat the whole plate. They were tender, sweet & smoky - and totally inspired me to whip up a recipe using Coca-Cola as an ingredient! I started thinking about dips and spreads and finally decided to make a delicious bowl of Spicy Coca-Cola Cheese Dip with Bacon. A blend of cheeses, spicy sriracha sauce, cool and sweet Coca-Cola and the smoky flavor of hickory-smoked bacon. Served with sliced baguette bread {or crackers, pretzels, veggies}, this dip is perfect for football games, tailgating parties or just to enjoy on a lazy Sunday.

11 Delightful Ways to Enjoy Nachos

Whether it be for an appetizer, lunch or dinner our family loves nachos! They're easy to make, versatile and fun to eat - making them a perfect mealtime solution around our house. Although we love traditional nachos it always fun to switch things up and put a spin on the favorite classic - so I went on a Nacho Hunting Mission and found these 11 Delightful Ways to Enjoy Nachos!! Enjoy!

1. Surf + Turf Nachos

SoupAddict

2. Pizza Nachos

The Comfort of Cooking

9 Deliciously Cheesy Dips

While checking out ideas online for what to serve at our annual 4th of July party this year I kept coming across ooey-gooey, cheesy dips that looked fabulous. It could have been that I was hungry at the time, or maybe that I just absolutely love cheese - but these dips were calling to me. To make, to share and of course - to eat. So, I thought I'd do a quick round-up of 9 Deliciously Cheesy Dips, perfect for serving or bringing to the holiday celebration this weekend. These are fun dips that aren't your run-of-the-mill recipes - they are delicious, unique and likely to have other party-goers begging asking you for the recipe!

1. Cheesy Pineapple Dip with Bacon

Hungry Harps

2. Charleston Cheese Dip

Lemon-Sugar

Weeknight California Nachos

These Weeknight California Nachos have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EverydayEffortless #CollectiveBias

I am a huge fan of homemade nachos; they are easy, cheesy and a surefire hit with my kids. I also like that ingredients can be switched up to make for a new nacho-experience every time! During the activity-packed, busy days of summer nachos are one of my favorite meals to whip up in a snap. They can be popped in the microwave for quick cooking {that doesn't heat up the kitchen} and can be personalized to suite each person's tastes. I tried a new twist on this family favorite of ours earlier this week and created these delicious Weeknight California Nachos. Not only do they taste awesome, but they only take about 15 minutes to prepare + cook. If I can make a quick dinner that makes everyone happy - it's a keeper in my book!

Roasted Garlic Feta Cheese Dip

I am a dip lover through and through. Whether it's a get-together at a friend's place or to enjoy at home with the family - there is just something I love about digging into a homemade dip! And if you know me, you know that including cheese into the mix is a must. I love cheese. Semi-hard cheeses are my usual go-to when it comes to making cheesy dips, but this time I decided to switch things up and use feta cheese in this Roasted Garlic Feta Cheese Dip. The flavors of freshly roasted garlic and feta cheese blended together perfectly, a serious match made in heaven! This dip is cool, tangy and creamy with a kick of sweet + spicy - plus it's a serious cinch to make, even with roasting the garlic. Show up with this dip {plus a bag of pita chips} at your next shin-dig and get ready to be asked for the recipe!

Carne Asada Sweet Potato Fries

This delicious spring-inspired recipe for Carne Asada Sweet Potato Fries has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SpringIntoFlavor #CollectiveBias

Although I sure do miss the cold weather of Wintertime, there is something about the crisp, fresh air of Springtime that can't be beat! The mornings are the best - especially for heading out to your local farmers market. We have several in our local area to choose from, all of them unique and wonderful! This past weekend our family headed out to explore the treasures at one of our favorite farmers markets and to pick up ingredients for these Carne Asada Sweet Potato Fries. My kiddos have recently started requesting the Carne Asada Fries when we dine-out at our favorite Mexican restaurant - but let's be honest, it's not a healthy dinner option. The Carne Asada fries are deep-fried russet potato fries smothered in cheese, carne asada, guacamole topped with more cheese. I decided to healthify this entrée by adding fresh produce from the market and using less meat and cheese - and by ditching those greasy, fried french fries with all-natural Sweet Potato Fries.

Apple Pie Hummus

Oh yes, you read that right - Apple Pie Humus! I was inspired to make this delicious creation by the tasty Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips that I kept seeing at the store. Although I wanted to buy a bag to just stuff my face with, I knew that wasn't an actual valid reason to buy a bag... But now I've got myself a reason - to pair with this Apple Pie Hummus! Made with Easy-As-Pie Apple Pie Filling, this Apple Pie Hummus is a breeze to make and has all the flavors that we love in Apple Pie. It's almost hard to believe that there is a can of garbanzo beans in this dip - it tastes like an apple-y dessert that was made just for springtime. Is dessert hummus even a thing? If there wasn't before, I'm thinking this Apple Pie Hummus could certainly qualify for the job now!

Perfect Popcorn for His + Hers Movie Night

These delicious recipes for Lemon Cheesecake Popcorn and BBQ Bacon Popcorn have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PopIntoSAMS #CollectiveBias

Sometimes the best way to reconnect with your significant other is to just snuggle up on the couch, watch a movie {or two} and share a bowl of popcorn {or two}. That's usually the date-night of choice for my husband and I - it's easy, inexpensive and doesn't involve finding a sitter for the kids. I recently decided to jazz up our movie night routine and make each one of us our own special popcorn. I tried to come up with popcorn flavors that would be a good match to our favorite movie genres and I think it was a great success! We paired BBQ Bacon Popcorn with my husband's action/adventure movie choice and Lemon Cheesecake Popcorn with a chick flick I had picked out.

Spicy Avocado Cheese Dip

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DelimexFiesta #CollectiveBias

Sometimes life isn't fair - sometimes the most fun holidays are on a weeknight and your only option is to stay in and celebrate from home sweet home. But don't let the fact that Cinco de Mayo is on a Tuesday this year deter you from making fabulous plans for your own little at-home celebration! I've found with the help of easy Mexican recipes, a weeknight Cinco de Mayo can still turn out fabulous and delicious. I created this Spicy Avocado Cheese Dip for an easy addition to diy taco bars and let me tell you, it will certainly be a hit! This dip is thick, creamy, cheesy and packed with fresh + spicy flavors - a must for an at-home Happier Hour this upcoming May 5th!

Peanut Butter Wontons with Jelly Dipping Sauce

These Peanut Butter Wontons with Jelly Dipping Sauce were inspired by the classic comfort food of Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches. With only 5 simple ingredients you can't go wrong with this crispy tasty treat that will remind you of those smooshed, yet oh-so tasty, PB&J sammies of our childhood!

What would you bring if asked to make an awesome finger-food for a friend's baby shower? You'd bring Peanut Butter Wontons with Jelly Dipping Sauce, of course. Because 1) you are an awesome friend and 2) you are awesome. But really, my friend has been craving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches during her pregnancy - so I thought I'd fancy up the classic comfort food and make these beauties. These Peanut Butter Wontons with Jelly Dipping Sauce are a cinch to make and from my experience, a total crowd pleaser. {And yes, preggos can eat peanuts, as long as they aren't allergic to them - you might be surprised at how often I heard that question at the baby shower.} With only 5 simple ingredients you just can't go wrong with this tasty treat that will remind you of those smooshed, yet oh-so tasty, PB&J sammies of our childhood!

Mast-o-Khiar and a Spice Journey with RawSpiceBar

This post is sponsored by RawSpiceBar. All opinions are 100% mine alone.

This past weekend was Nowruz {the Persian New Year} and I was lucky enough to celebrate with a big ol' bowl of Mast-o-Khiar and a plate of Advieh Khoresht Marinated Chicken Kabobs. Now, do not be fooled - I had no idea what either one of these things were up until a couple weeks ago. I knew what the Persian New Year was, but had no idea about Persian cuisine. I must give credit where credit is due and that is to RawSpiceBar. RawSpiceBar is a subscription service that delivers some of the most flavorful, freshly ground spice blends from around the world and this month's spice journey was to Tehran, Iran.

Chicken Puffs {Family Favorite}

The first time I had tried a Chicken Puff was at my in-law's Christmas Party. As soon as my husband's aunt showed up with a couple big containers of Chicken Puffs my hubby was snagging a couple so I could try one. He had told me {on several occasions} that they were amazing, so I was a bit excited to taste the magic. He was right, they were amazing. I had asked his aunt for the recipe to which she told me that they were just puffs filled with chicken salad. The next year came and I was asking her again for the recipe - to which I was faced with the same answer. So, I had to take matters in to my own hands.

What were these "puffs" that she spoke of?

Irish Beer-Cheese Dip {with Guinness and Corned Beef}

St. Patrick's Day and beer go hand-in-hand, so I thought an Irish Beer-Cheese Dip would be the perfect appetizer for next Tuesday. {Or Wednesday, using leftover corned beef from the night before!} I took a bunch of flavors that scream Irish to me and created this dip that goes perfect with a cold bottle of Guinness. It can be served with rye bread, sliced Irish soda bread - or really anything that you want to slather it on. The flavors are a perfect blend of cool, fresh and tangy, almost reminded me of a spinach dip - but it obviously doesn't taste like spinach. {If you are looking for something spicier, you may be interested in Spicy Beer-Cheese Dip with Bacon!}

25 Delicious Ways to Celebrate National Meatball Day

March 9th is National Meatball Day, so here are 25 Delicious Ways to Celebrate the day!!

1. Skillet Meatballs in Marinara Sauce

Recipe Runner

2. Cashew Chicken Meatballs

A Zesty Bite

#AD General Tso Boneless Wing "Nachos" {Deli Wings}

These General Tso Boneless Wing "Nachos", which are perfect for game day, have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GameTimeHero #CollectiveBias

If you have plans to attend a party next weekend for the big game but don't know what appetizer to bring along - I've got you covered! These General Tso Boneless Wing "Nachos" are General Tso Boneless Deli Wings smothered with melted Monterey Jack cheese, avocados, green onions, crushed pineapple, sesame oil and sesame seeds. The "nachos" are perfect for hungry appetites on game day, especially those that like an extra kick of spice in their food. This recipe is oh-so good on the taste-buds and an absolute cinch to make. My secret? Tyson General Tso Boneless Wings. But not the frozen ones you can find in the freezer section - I'm talking hot & ready, prepared Tyson Deli Wings from the Walmart Deli.

The wings don't need to be smothered with anything {besides that delicious General Tso sauce!} to be delicious - just give me a fork and I'll devour a small container of the General Tso Boneless Wings. {pair with an apple from produce plus a yogurt from dairy for the perfect lunch!} They make a great bite for game day, team them up with a favorite sauce or two and your all set. Tailgating? You can just pick these bad boys up from Walmart, on the way to the game, for a perfect appetizer that involves no prep and is ready to eat.

We gave these General Tso Boneless Wing "Nachos" a test run before the championship game next weekend and they were devoured in no time. {Even our 2 year olds were digging in!!} Check out how easy these are!

Pick up some General Tso Boneless Wings from Walmart Deli - and also whatever ingredients you don't already have on hand. I topped our "nachos" with Monterey Jack cheese, avocados, green onions, crushed pineapple, sesame oil and sesame seeds.

Heat oven to 400 and place boneless wings on baking tray. I used no-wax parchment paper to make the transfer to a plate easier.

Then top the boneless wings with the delicious toppings...

and bake until the cheese is melted.

Serving with chopsticks is optional - but it does add some novelty to the dish, and it's fun to see everyone's chopstick skills! I didn't make a sauce to serve with the General Tso Boneless Wing "Nachos" since I thought they would be flavorful enough and didn't want to overpower them - however, I think they would be fabulous served with spicy mustard. {Not that these need more flavor, the spicy mustard would just be the perfect accompaniment!}

General Tso Boneless Wing "Nachos" {Deli Wings}
(PRINTABLE RECIPE)
Ingredients
2lbs. Tyson General Tso Boneless Chicken Wings {from Walmart Deli}
½ cup monterey jack cheese
1 avocado, cubed
8oz crushed pineapple, drained
3 green onions, chopped
2 tablespoons sesame oil
½ tablespoon sesame seeds
Directions
1.Heat oven to 400. Place chicken on baking pan. {I used no-wax parchment paper to make transferring “nachos” to a plate easier.}
2.Top chicken with remaining ingredients. Bake for 5-7 minutes or until cheese has melted.
3.Serve immediately so cheese is still gooey and delicious!

At my local store, the Walmart Deli is located right next to the product department.There is a nice selection of ready-to-eat food; from boneless wings, jalapeño poppers, fries, rotisserie chickens and more! If you'd like to try out the delicious Tyson Deli Wings at Walmart, they will be having a demo this weekend {1/29 - 2/1} between 12pm-3pm - for participating stores please check this list. 

Quick Bites for Game Day and DIY Dry-Erase Scoreboard Snack Canisters

These delicious Quick Bites for Game Day and this festive DIY Dry-Erase Scoreboard Snack Canisters have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BigGameSnacks #CollectiveBias

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the best part about football season is the food! For as long as I can remember, football Sunday has always been about the game grub. Besides hanging out with family and friends, it's the delicious appetizers, snack-foods and ice-cold beverages that I'm looking forward to during football season. This year I've decided to keep it simple and make a couple Quick Bites for Game Day; a Crunchy Party Mix and Chili-Ranch Dip. These two recipes are no-cook, can be made ahead of time and will travel well - saving time and making it easy! Since I made it so easy on myself this year with the food I decided to use my saved time to get a little crafty and make DIY Dry-Erase Scoreboard Snack Canisters.

Not that it's necessary to do anything to Pringles cans this football season - check out their awesome packaging!! I am a huge fan of seasonal and holiday packaging, so when I saw these Pringles cans at the store I instantly fell in love.

Pringles are one of the most fashionable choices for your game day food table and they also happen to be a favorite amongst the masses, myself included. I've been in love with Pringles since I can remember, however they've never been my go-to when it comes to dipping - until now.  Since Pringles are a touch thinner than regular potato chips I was always worried about them breaking under the weight of a dip. So, I took matters into my own hands and created a thin dip that is perfect for dipping Pringles. This Chili-Ranch Dip is only 5-ingredients and the perfect solution to your Pringles-dipping-needs - it's light, not chunky and full of zesty flavor!

Chili-Ranch Dip for Dipping Pringles
yields approx 4 cups
{PRINTABLE RECIPE}
Ingredients
15oz can No Bean chili
1oz packet ranch dip powder mix
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
¾ cup milk
diced chives to garnish
Directions
1. Mix together ranch dip powder mix, mayo, sour cream and milk.
2. In food processor, add ranch mix and No Bean Chili and process until fully combined and smooth.
3. Chill for 2 hours, serve with Pringles. Enjoy!

I also made this Crunchy Party Mix that combines a plethora of flavors and is a snap to put together. With wasabi peas, beef jerky, rye chips, unsalted cashews, sesame sticks and Cheez-It Crunch'd {a new Cheez-It product made with 100% real cheese!} it is sure to include something for everyone, plus be a refreshing change from the same ol' party mixes that are full of pretzels. Yay!

Crunchy Party Mix made with Cheez-It Crunch’d
yields approximately 7 cups
{PRINTABLE RECIPE}
Ingredients
2 cups Cheez-It Crunch’d
1 cup wasabi peas
1 cup beef jerky sticks, chopped
1 cup rye chips
1 cup unsalted cashews
1 cup sesame sticks
Directions
1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Enjoy!

Black-Eyed Pea Salsa

I can't believe it's the last day of 2014! This year flew by and although it was amazing, I'm glad to wipe the slate clean and start a new year of fun and memories. To start 2015 off with a touch of good luck, I've decided to make a Black-Eyed Pea dish for my family. If Black-Eyed Peas truly do bring prosperity, I say bring it! I wasn't sure what dish I was going to incorporate Black-Eyed Peas into this year until I received a Christmas present from my fantastic husband - The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays: 140 Step-by-Step Recipes for Simple, Scrumptious Celebrations.Black-Eyed Pea Salsa is one of the first recipes in the book and I was immediately sold!

I'm completely guilty of wanting to cook everything that Ree Drummond has shared and this was no exception. Plus, I love that starting the New Year with this Black-Eyed Pea Salsa means having a healthy beginning to 2015 - this recipe is packed with fresh produce!!

Before we get to the recipe for this delicious Black-Eyed Pea Salsa - I must give a big ol' shout-out to the book it came from! The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidaysis a great cookbook for anyone who likes down-home cooking and loves to get festive during the holidays. This cookbook starts off with recipes for New Year's Day and ends, after a yearful of scrumptious holiday recipes, with recipes for New Year's Eve. This book makes my heart go "pitter-patter" with love!!

Plus it's packed full of Ree's entertaining anecdotes and adorable family photos. It was one of my favorite Christmas gifts this year! I didn't even know this book existed, which probably makes me a HORRIBLE Ree Drummond fan - however, I'm trying to make up for it by spreading the word on this amazing cookbook. From the Valentine's Day Romantic Dinner for Two that includes Bacon-Wrapped Filets and a Bacon-Cheddar Wedge Salad to a Gingerbread House and Rum Pudding Cake for Christmas - I want it all!! {like Veruca from Willy Wonka, no shame here...} Awesome cookbook, enough said. :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year's Eve tonight! Be safe and happy - see you next year!!

Black-Eyed Pea Salsa
{printable recipe}
yields approximately 4 cups
Ingredients
3 cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
3 celery stalks, diced
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
½ teaspoon salt
Directions
1.Combine all ingredients together and allow to chill for at least one hour before serving. Serve alongside tortilla chips and enjoy!
adapted from The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays