How to Cut A Watermelon...Easily

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!

Normally after a long weekend I would be sharing all of our weekending details with you - and believe me, ours was busy, busy, busy! However, today's post discusses a wonderful strategy that is sure to be useful during the upcoming months.

One thing I love about summer is the wide variety of fruits and vegetables available in the grocery stores, farmer's markets, and sometimes in our own backyard. Summer eating can be so easy and simple, yet healthy at the same time.

One of my favorite things to do when the weather is nice is to host or attend a BBQ with friends. I love socializing over a crisp cocktail while trying different dishes that were lovingly prepared (or bought - I've been there too). Sometimes life gets in the way and you find yourself scrambling to bring something yummy that doesn't require a million ingredients or take hours of your time.

When I find myself in a situation described as above, I have the perfect solution - cut up a watermelon!

Watermelon is a healthy snack, perfect for those with specific eating requirements, it's sweet enough for kiddos to devour, and to me it just screams "SUMMER!" Add it to a salad or use it to inspire an adult beverage - the possibilities are practically endless.

In the past I've always stayed away from this fruit because I am HORRIBLE with a knife and felt that I was wasting so much of the melon whenever I attempted to cut one up. That changed when I learned to carve the flesh in a grid like pattern....and for some reason that reminded me of Dexter. Yikes.

Take your watermelon and use a knife to cut horizontal and vertical rows across the flesh. The more "lines" you slice, the smaller the pieces will be. Be sure to cut all the way through until you hit the rind.

Once your melon has been cut, simply pull the pieces out. As you get closer to the rind, you may need to slice them off if you did not cut all the way down.

This method is so easy and eliminates the hassle of eliminating the rind. It's also a relatively clean process - the juice sits in the melon and doesn't leak over your counters, floors, children....

I do not have a melon baller so I have no idea if this is a quicker process, but assume that it is. If you do not have a melon baller or have a fear of knives, use an ice cream scoop to carve that melon up!

Once all the pieces have been plucked, enjoy a piece (or five) for yourself.

If you choose to douse a few with vodka or tequila and store them in the freezer for a rainy day, I won't tell as long as you invite me over! Haha.

Have you tried this a different way? Do tell. E has been wanting to "cook" with me lately and I love that this is something we can do together.

Cheers to a short work week!

*Linking up with Lindsay's Sweet World 

Whole 30 Buffalo Chicken Dip

Fixings

• 1/2 cup Frank's Red Hot Original Sauce
• Plain cream cheese from Kite Hill,
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing (Whole 30ers - you will need to use a compliant ranch. I use my homemade mayo and follow this ranch recipe)
• 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken
• Celery and/or carrots for serving

Fix It

1. Mix all ingredients (except for the veggies) in a baking dish. 
2. Cook for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  

Whole 30 Jalapeno Poppers

Fixings

• 6-10 Jalapenos
• Plain cream cheese from Kite Hill,
• Compliant bacon (I buy the Maverick brand from Publix)

Fix It

1. Wash & cut the jalapenos lengthwise. Deseed the peppers accordingly (I wear gloves when doing this ever since my sister cut jalapenos and even after washing her hands, tried to change her contacts. Three days and a milk wash later, she lived.)
2. Spread cream cheese on each pepper. 
3. Wrap in bacon (I cut each strip in half). 
4. Place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and cook for fifteen - twenty minutes at 400 degrees. 

Guilt-Free Super Bowl Snacks

Starting in high school, I developed a love for Super Bowl weekend - primarily because I was paid extra to babysit during the game or I actually went to a party. I vividly remember hanging out at my BFF Perry’s house (P.S. we are still besties) during one of the games when I witnessed the absolute best halftime performance of ALL times! Does 2011 ring a bell?

I mean – JT shoots sparks from his hands AND my girl Britney (or as I called her "Baby Britney" as this video makes me feel old) makes an appearance, what’s not to love?!

While I doubt any game can replace that memory, which is totally engraved in my heart FOREVER, this year’s game is pretty special to our household. Being from Atlanta and living in the wonderful state of Georgia, our home team the Atlanta Falcons are making a long overdue appearance in the championship game this year. Even though I typically cheer for certain players in the NFL, I am a supporter of the Falcons since my husband has been a lifelong fan. In fact, one of our memories from this last year included a date to the Falcons v. Panthers game. Needless to say, we are thrilled to watch them compete this Sunday!

In preparation for the big game, I wanted to share a few healthy snacks that you can chow down on (and serve) guilt free. I threw these together when my husband decided to invite people over to watch the playoffs and it happened to be during my first week on Whole 30. :insert cranky face emoji here:

Fruit Salad

Homemade Guacamole for Veggies

Veggie Tray with Salsa

Buffalo Chicken Dip with Carrots & Celery

Jalapeno Poppers

The Buffalo Chicken Dip and Jalapeno Poppers were made with cream cheese from Kite Hill, which is Whole 30 approved. However, you can only purchase this from Whole Foods. Since we don't have one here, I stocked up on a few the last time we were in Atlanta and am so glad I was able to use these for this occasion. I plan on making another batch of poppers on Sunday! If I can think of any other compliant recipes that use cream cheese, I'll be sure to attempt them this weekend as well.

There you have it. My Whole 30 meal plan for week two will be posted next week since Super Bowl snacks clearly take priority! If you have a favorite football dish to share, please leave a link in the comments so I can check it out. And, if you feel so inclined, drop a comment with your pick for the Super Bowl LI!

Here's to a hopefully awesome game for our Falcons - RISE UP!

Pepper Jelly Appetizer

                                                                                    

1 Block of Cream Cheese (8 oz)

1/2 C Pepper Jelly

Set the cream cheese on a serving tray and spread jelly over the block. Serve with crackers such as Wheat Thins or Triscuits.

I feel like this appetizer is a typical Southern appetizer, but I really have no basis for that theory. This may be one of my favorite things to eat. No, it does not look pretty, but who doesn't love cream cheese with a hint of spice? The pepper jelly adds a mild hotness and did I mention how tasty it was? Plus, this is very easy to make so you can throw it together as people are pulling up to your house. It's that quick and easy. You may not want to have jelly oozing all over the plate as displayed in the picture as it can terrify those who are new to the pepper jelly appetizer concept.

Veggie Cups

Veggie Cups
Celery
Carrots
Ranch Dressing
Dixie Cups

Cut the celery and carrots into sticks. Squirt the dressing into the bottom of the cup and place the sticks in the cup. Voila!

This is almost to obvious to write out directions for. I cut the veggies and stored them in a ziplock bag overnight. Everyone loves a healthy snack option, even if it is covered in rich dressing. I discovered this idea on pinterest and thought about how genius it was. Little clean up and no one gets mad if you double dip. You know you are growing up when the same cups used for jello shots are used for veggies. Sigh.

Ham & Turkey Tortilla Rolls

Ham & Turkey Tortilla Rolls
Sliced Ham
Sliced Turkey
Medium Sized Tortilla Rolls
Ranch Mix Packet
8 Oz Cream Cheese

Mix the ranch packet and cream cheese until the mixture is soft enough to spread onto a tortilla. Lightly cover the tortilla with the spread and place turkey or ham on top. Make sure the tortilla is lightly covered with the meat and cream cheese, but that nothing is on the edge. Tightly roll the tortilla in a log shape. When ready, cut into smaller rolls. You may have to discard the ends.


This is another great appetizer I love to snack on. I made these the night before and stuck the tortilla logs in the fridge for half an hour. Once the cream cheese chilled it tightened the roll so the log would not unravel. I cut the log into smaller rolls, stuck in a ziplock bag and kept them in the fridge until ready to serve. These are great for game day and have more substance than munching on chips the entire night.

Crock Pot: BBQ Meatballs

BBQ Meatballs
Large Bag of Frozen Meatballs
2 Bottles BBQ Sauce
1/2 C Ketchup

Throw all ingredients into a crock pot. Heat on low for 6-8 hours. After a couple of hours, mix the ingredients so the sauces combine and to ensure even coating for the meatballs.


I have a real problem making homemade meatballs. They fall apart no matter what I do. Therefore I am not ashamed to purchase frozen food. This is a great dish that requires minimal effort. Serve with toothpicks. This is great leftover.

French Onion Dip

French Onion Dip
Onion Soup Mix
16 Oz. Sour Cream

Mix the onion soup and sour cream. Chill until ready to serve.

Although you can buy pre made dips in the store, I swear the flavor on this recipe is much better. Not to mention you can take credit for it being homemade. Kinda. Plus, if you use light or fat free sour cream you can cut back on the calories. This is a staple in the dip world and what it can be mixed the day before. Remember to keep it in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container.

Super Bowl Food

Peanut Butter Cocoa Crispie Treat

 There is nothing I love more than eating party food - football food, shower food, etc. Give it all to ME!

I just love to snack on yummy appetizers throughout the party and I also love making these types of food. Easy yet tasty and full of flavor.

This year J and I decided to have a very small get together for the Super Bowl. We have yet to have our housewarming party (this was not it), but we decided to invite a few friends over to snack and watch the game.

This year I spent a couple hours the night before making food for Sunday. Making things ahead helps so much. We also had company in town so it was nice to relax on Sunday and not have to spend so much time in the kitchen. Friends also brought food over.

I should have taken more pictures, but I only took images of what I made. Along with the food listed below, we had pigs in a blanket, buffalo chicken dip, and some amazing cupcakes with cream cheese icing.

French Onion Dip

Cheddar Bacon Dip

BBQ Meatballs 

Turkey & Ham Tortilla Rolls

Veggie Cups

Don't forget to check out the healthy snacks we made for Super Bowl LI!

Cranberry-Pistachio Cheese Log

Cranberry-Pistachio Cheese Log

8-10 oz log of fresh goat cheese
2T Cranberries - dried, chopped
2T Pistachios - chopped
Crackers

On a large plate combine the cranberries and pistachios. Roll the cheese log in the mixture to coat. You will most likely need to press the mixture into the cheese to make it hold. Repeat as many times as necessary until the cheese is covered. Place in the fridge until ready to serve.

This is such an easy appetizer that can be made a day ahead or even minutes ahead. This is another Pinterest recipe that drew my attention mainly due to the fact that it mostly consisted of goat cheese. Goat cheese has become a staple in my cheese obsession. I also loved this recipe because I thought it was great for holiday parties. I made it for my family as part of our Christmas Eve dinner. I will absolutely be making it again and adding it to my recipe box. Goat cheese tends to be slightly bitter, but the flavor is wonderfully mixed with the sweetness and saltiness from the cranberries and pistachios.

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

Iphone pic after someone had tried it. Oops.

12 oz Fresh Cranberries

1/4 C Green Onion - chopped

1/4 C Cilantro - chopped
1 Jalapeño Pepper - small
1 1/4 C sugar
1/4 t Cumin
2 T Lemon Juice
Dash of Salt
16 oz Cream Cheese
Wheat Thins

Put the cranberries in a food processor or chop them up by hand. Chop the green onion, cilantro, and jalapeno pepper into small pieces. Add all the ingredients (but the cream cheese and the wheat thins) into a bowl. Mix them together, cover, and store in the fridge for at least 4 hours. The sugar needs time to soak in to the cranberries and break up their bitter taste. After the mixture sits for a while it can become slightly juicy so absorb as much juice from the mixture before spreading it on the cream cheese. When ready to serve, place the cream cheese on a plate and spread the cream cheese out as evenly as you can. Pour your cranberry mixture over the cream cheese and spread it all around. Serve immediately with Wheat Thins, Ritz Crackers or Tortilla Chips.

Taste better than it looks. I promise!

This is a wonderful, holiday appetizer and I promise that you will not be disappointed. I have served it twice for Thanksgiving and Christmas parties, and it was a huge hit each time. It’s addicting and the flavors make a great combination. Plus, it can be prepped the night before which can save time.

Cheddar Bacon Dip

Cheddar Bacon Dip

2 C Sour Cream

1 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese

3 oz. Bacon Pieces (in bag)

1 Packet Spicy Ranch Dressing Mix

Mix all of the ingredients together and refrigerate for at least 24 hours. Serve with potato chips.

Where do I even begin? Pinterest is EVIL. This is another recipe I tried for tailgating last weekend. It was amazing. I kid you not. The picture does not do it justice. I used the spicy ranch packet to add more of a kick, but a regular packet would be yummy as well. It was a perfect dip because it does not need to be heated. Plus, it can be made a day ahead. Not to mention that you simply mix all the ingredients together. How easy is that? I would also use the finely shredded cheese, but that's a weird personal preference. It was a big hit with my friends and I was craving it the following days. It was served with plain Ruffles potato chips. Other sites suggested veggies. I would use any leftover dip to put over a baked potato, but chances are there will be none left. I will be making it for our last tailgate of the season, but this time I will be doubling the recipe. SOOOOOO good.

Pretzel Hugs

Pretzel Hugs:
1 Large Bag of Waffle Pretzels (the square kind)

1 Large Bag of Hershey's Hugs Candy

Spread the pretzels on a baking sheet lined with foil. Make sure the pretzels do not overlap. Unwrap and place a Hug candy on each pretzel. Place in the oven at 300 degrees for 2 minutes. Take the baking sheet out of the oven and let it sit for one minute. The Hug candy should be soft at this point, but not fully melted.

Place another pretzel on top of the candy and lightly press down. Once all of the sandwiches are formed place the tray in the fridge for roughly thirty minutes to cool.



This is another idea from Pinterest - I am an addict. I decided to try these for last week's tailgate. They can be served cold or at room temperature so it was perfect for being outdoors. These were really good and it only took around twenty minutes to make.. It was a prefect combination of salty and sweet. The directions are so simple and you only need two ingredients. Plus, you can transport these easily. I kept it classy and threw some in a ziplock bag. :) These would be perfect for any Holiday parties and they are kid friendly! A great choice for everyone.

Antipesto Tray

Antipesto Tray
Boar's Head Mozzarella
Italian Pecorino-Romano
Salami
Prosciutto

Parmesan Bread Chips

There is nothing I love more than appetizers, especially appetizers with cheese. Keeping in line with the Italian Thanksgiving theme, our hostess had this delicious antipesto tray awaiting our arrival. You cannot go wrong with meat and cheese!

Pumpkin Dip



Pumpkin Dip

3.5 oz. Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix

1 C Canned Pumpkin

1/4 C Milk

1t Pumpkin Pie Spice

8 oz. Non-dairy Whipped Topping

Whisk the first 4 ingredients together. Fold in whipped topping. Chill at least 2 hours. Serve with graham crackers or anything else fitting with the pumpkin flavor.

There is something about the weather cooling down and people going crazy over pumpkin flavors, decorations, etc. My mom sent this recipe because it was right up her ally: quick, easy & good. Mom can cook, but doesn't have the passion for cooking so recipes need to have little instruction, but a big taste. This recipe was a hit. It's a perfect appetizer to celebrate the amazing fall weather!

Lemon Cheesecake Cheese Ball

Lemon Cheesecake Cheese Ball

10 oz cream cheese
2.5 t sugar

4 t fresh lemon juice

3 graham crackers

Zest from a large lemon

Apple slices, graham crackers, etc.

Combine the cream cheese and sugar in a bowl. Mix well. Add the lemon zest and lemon juice. Continue to mix until the substance is blended. Once smooth, take the mixture and mold it into a ball. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours. Next, crush the 3 graham crackers and roll the ball in the crackers for an even coat. Once it is covered, place it back into the fridge until you are ready to serve. Serve with apples, graham crackers or anything to your liking.

Rating: 5/5

I will bet you money that this will be a HUGE hit with anyone who tries it. At work we had a retirement party and I searched the Internet for something that would be different and inexpensive to make. I found this recipe and it was perfect! Incredibly simple to prepare, very cheap ingredients, and it was such a refreshing surprise from the typical cheese ball. Everyone enjoyed munching on it and one of the party goers decided to take it home. It is sweet, but not too sugary. The lemon is a great addition to this recipe, but it is in no way overpowering.

BLT Dip

I am a huge foodie when it comes to fun, appetizer type food. I would probably crash a baby shower or wedding shower just for the food. In reality I am not that classless, but that should give you an idea of how passionate I am about shower food! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. This is another reason I love BBQ with friends. Back in Texas we would have people over all the time - I severely miss those days. These past few weekends we have socialized with new friends which gave me the chance to taste new dishes and make some new recipes to bring. Please allow me to introduce you to my new love, BLT dip.

BLT Dip
1 C light mayo
1 C light sour cream
1 package Ranch seasoning
1 package bacon pieces
Shredded lettuce
Chopped Tomatoes

Mix mayo, sour cream and ranch seasoning. Add bacon pieces and stir. Cover and place in fridge until ready to serve. Before serving, garnish with lettuce and tomatoes. Or you can garnish with tomatoes and place dip on top of lettuce for a prettier picture. Serve with wheat thins, club crackers or whatever you desire.

Like most dips this is great because it can almost be fully prepared a day before. I am obsessed with this dip and hope we have more BBQs to attend so I can make it again. And yes it may look like a hot mess - it's old news that my recipes taste A LOT better than I make them look. Serving it on top of lettuce looks way better.

Tortilla Rolls & A Baby Shower

A horrible picture, but the invitation once again from Jessica at Empress Stationery.

As you can gather from the picture above, I helped throw a baby shower this weekend! I love throwing any kind of parties, showers, etc. I cannot wait to have kids and get all detail crazy (think Tori Spelling on a BUDGET) for their parties. And I absolutely LOVE shower food!

 

Our display: spiced cupcakes, a fruit tray, spinach dip, ham & turkey pinwheels, a veggie tray, BLT rolls, tortilla rolls and a meat and cheese tray. We served cran-apple juice, cranberry margaritas and water for the mommy to be!

This is the heavenly dip I blogged earlier about. It recieved lovely reviews. You can get the recipe here. I served it with Wheat Thins and the Wheat Thin (honey harvest?) sticks.

Tortilla Rolls:
1 package of large tortillas
16 oz. cream cheese
1 small can of chopped olives

Drain and mix the olives with the softened cream cheese. Evenly spread the mixture on the tortillas. Roll the tortilla into a log shape and cut the log evenly.

*I cannot stand the taste of olives. I don't know why, but this recipe does not taste too olivey for my liking. Very yummy!

Hostesses and mommy to be: Marlena, Becca, Veronica & myself.

"All I Do Is Win." - Game Day Food

I have become OBSESSED with this song. Why? Because it reminds me of one of my favorite places in the fall - Auburn. I think they come up with a new, "pump up" song each year. Since the only game we will be attending this year will be on Nov. 13th - the GA game - AGH, Saturdays have become a semi relaxing tailgate at our house in preparation of watching Auburn on TV. Therefore, I wanted to give a few recipes that are a MUST with football games and a game day drink in hand!

Somewhat Healthy Layer Dip:
I like this because I don't see it as being too fatty like some cheese dips and it is VERY easy to make.
Shredded Cheese - 4 Cheese Mexican (low fat)
Salsa
1 Cup of Light Sour Cream
1 Taco Seasoning Packet (I used it with HOT taco seasoning)
1 Can of Refried Beans

In a small serving bowl mash (if needed) and place the refried beans as the first layer. Next, mix the taco seasoning packet and the sour cream - yes this will turn the sour cream a dull orangey color. That will be your next layer. Then top with as much salsa as you would like and sprinkle with cheese on top. You can serve with tostitos, tortillas or anything else of your choosing.

Other layers to throw in:
Guacamole
Lettuce
Olives - yuck


I Almost Died Spinach Dip:
This recipe is AMAZING. It is from my mother's sweet friend, Mrs. N. I had it last week and could not stop snacking on it.
10 ounce frozen chopped spinach
16 oz sour cream
1 cup mayo
1 package KNORR vegetable mix (in green and yellow package on soup aisle in Publix)
8 oz sliced water chestnuts (drained and chopped)

Thaw and totally drain the spinach - squeeze ALL the water out of it. It has to be dry. You can use your hands or cheese cloth to get it all drained. Mix all together, cover, chill several hours. It's very good if you mix the day ahead. When it's ready to be consumed, stir well and serve in a bowl. This dip goes well with crackers (wheat thins or the wheat thin sticks), vegetables, bagel crisps, whatever!

Annie's Eats Jalepeno Popper Dip:
I will be trying it this weekend! I saw it on one of my FAVORITE food blogs. Since I love jalepeno poppers I hope this dip will be just as satisfying.
2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayonnaise
1 (4 oz.) can chopped green chiles, drained
1 (4 oz.) can diced jalapeño peppers, drained
½ cup shredded Mexican style cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cooking spray


Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, green chiles, jalapeños, and shredded cheeses. Mix thoroughly with a spoon or spatula until smooth and evenly combined. Spread the mixture into a baking dish (approximately 9 x 9-inches).


In a second bowl, combine the Panko and Parmesan and stir with a fork until combined. Sprinkle over the cream cheese mixture in the baking dish. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the mixture is hot and the topping is golden. Serve warm with baguette slices, vegetables, etc. as desired.

*I made this dip and followed the recipe exactly. I added bacon pieces and served with Bagel chips/crisps. It was AMAZING.