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!

Summer Savories: Fresh Fruit & Cheese Salad with a Lemon-Strawberry Vinaigrette Drizzle

As you read this post, please imagine a lovely, musical melody playing in the background of Nelly’s soothing song, “Hot In Herre.” Yes, that is how he spells it. 

I swear each summer is hotter than the one before. At least when I was pregnant with E, it oddly rained more than normal during those summer months. Currently, we are not even getting the typical rainy, afternoon showers. Even our grass is getting brown spots! For those who are unaware, my husband is a yard fanatic. Seriously. If our putting green is changing colors, then you know it is hot.

Lucky for you, I have a tasty, refreshing dish that will be a cool treat during these hot months. It is a perfect complement to any BBQ, can be eaten for breakfast or to satisfy that sweet tooth after a large meal.  

Fresh fruit is always tasty, but is so much better paired with cheese. Hello, my name is Adrienne and I am a cheese addict. Additionally, the dressing is flavorful and pink. Who doesn’t love the color pink?!

Fixings

1 apple (I prefer a Kanzi apple) -chopped

1 cup of blueberries

1 cup of strawberries- quartered

½ lemon juice

Goat cheese crumbles (substitute with Feta cheese, if desired)

Lemon-strawberryvinaigrette dressing

Fix It

1.  Wash your fruit. I feel like this should go without saying, but if you skip this step regularly, then we need to have a chat.
2. Cut your fruit.
3. Place the apple in a serving dish and squeeze the heck out of that lemon half. It gives your taste buds a little kick and prevents the apple from turning brown.
4. Add and lightly stir the blueberries and strawberries in with the apple.
5. Top with the cheese crumbles.
6.  Drizzle with the dressing.

It’s fresh, easy and tasty!

Plus, the color scheme is on point for festive occasions that utilize red/pink. While I was writing this my husband came in and also used the phrase “on point” (talking about our front yard, believe it or not). E is so blessed to have such hipster parents.

Need something compliant for your diet? Forgo the cheese and it’s perfect for Whole 30 and Paleo followers. 

Yes, even the dressing.

Want to share some of your favorite concoctions with me? Let’s connect on Pinterest and make that happen! It's a fairly new account so save your judgement. :)

Summer Savories: Fabulous Feta Salad

Since my last two entries were toddler focused, I wanted to quickly switch gears to something everyone enjoys – food! Welcome to the first post in my new series, “Summer Savories.”

One of my favorite things about this time of year are the cookout opportunities. Whether we are hosts or attendees, I love a good cookout. There is nothing better than quality time with good friends and delicious meals, which is why I am excited to share an easy, flavorful recipe with you.

I stumbled across the Fabulous Feta Salad years ago in one of my cookbooks.

What is a cookbook? It’s a book containing recipes that people used before the internet. Don’t say I didn’t warn you about my sarcastic tendencies.

This recipe is simple to make (only four ingredients), mouthwatering and perfect for a light summer side. My only advice is to have the recipe on hand because someone will want a copy. 

Fixings

2.5 cups uncooked bow tie pasta

4 cups torn spinach leaves

1/2 cup feta cheese

1/2 Italian salad dressing (I recommend Annie’s Natural Tuscany Italian) 

Fix It

1.  Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain under cool water.
2. Toss the remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Add the pasta and mix together.
4. Drizzle with the dressing and toss to coat.
5. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve!

 See, it’s really that easy!

What are your favorite summer recipes?

Brittany's Beans



Are beans even that pretty to look at?

1 Lb. Ground Beef - browned
1 Large Can Bush's Vegetarian Style Baked Beans
16 oz. Crushed Pineapple
1 Bell Pepper - Chopped
1C Brown Sugar

Cook the ground beef and dispose of excess fat. Mix the beef with remaining ingrediants.Warm the dish throughout on medium/high heat and serve hot.

Since Independance Day is one of the biggest days people grill on I wanted to share a perfect side dish for you. For the record I am not a huge baked (or any form really) bean fan. I like a few bites here and there and that's about it. However, the pineapple gives it a fantastic flavor. Try this instead of serving beans straight out of the can. Disclaimer: by adding meat to the vegetarian style bean makes the dish no longer vegetarian friendly. :)

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Homemade Taco Seasoning
1T Chili Powder
1.5 t Ground Cumin
1 t Sea Salt
1 t Pepper
1/2 t Paprika
1/4 t Garlic Powder
1/4 t Onion Powder
1/4 t Red Pepper Flakes
1/4 t Dried Oregano

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container. Increase the red pepper for spiciness.

I swear I could eat these for days upon days upon days. You get the idea. Making tacos is so easy. It was one of the first things I made when we were married. In fact, I was so clueless in the kitchen that I did not know you needed to put the taco shells in the oven for a few minutes. I wondered why they tasted stale straight from the store. True story. J started to hate tacos or he hated them all along, but our marriage was too new to judge my cooking. I had made a homemade seasoning before and he surprisingly enjoyed the meal. I made this blend because I had everything, but seasoning for the meat. Loved this. If you randomly cook or you have a spice rack, you should have most of the ingredients on hand. I saved what I had left. Cheers for no more store bought seasoning packets!

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!

Green Bean Bundles

Green Bean Bundles

Fresh Green Beans

1 Package Turkey Bacon

2 T Olive Oil 

Cavendars Greek Seasoning 

Lemon Pepper 

Garlic Powder 

Garlic Salt 

Cracked Black Pepper 

Italian Dressing

Trim the ends of green beans and rinse (kitchen shears are perfect for this). Place beans in a large bowl and add 2 T of olive oil, and as much of each seasoning as you desire. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spread green beans in single layer in a baking pan. Bake for about 15-20 minutes turning beans every 5 minutes. Place the strips of bacon flat on a cookie sheet and cook for 5-7 minutes at the same temperature. The bacon should be half way cooked through and flexible. Let everything cool.Take a small bundle of green beans and place them at the end of a bacon strip. Roll the bacon and form a bundle. Place these in a 9x13 baking pan. Once all are completely formed you can cover with italian dressing or whatever dressing of your choice. Cook at 350 degrees and bake for about 10-15 minutes. 

When J & I grilled a lot this was a go to recipe for a healthier option. We also used asparagus in place of the green beans. The recipe sounds complicated, but it is really quite easy. Bacon is great with anything and I promise you cannot tell a huge difference between turkey bacon and regular bacon. Save on some calories and fat! A very complimentary pair.

Roasted Potatoes

Roasted Potatoes
3 or 4 Large Potatoes

1 Package McCormick Roasted Onion & Garlic Potato Seasoning

2 T Olive Oil

Preheat oven per directions on season package. Cover potatoes in oil and sprinkle seasoning over potatoes. Shake to cover potatoes evenly. Spread evenly on a baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Yum! Potatoes are such a great side because you can do almost anything with them. Trying to lean towards the healthier side, S decided on roasted potatoes. These were so full of flavor and required no butter, just a tad of oil. A very easy and inexpensive addition to a meal.

Broccoli & Cheese Casserole - Crock Pot Style

Broccoli & Cheese Casserole
2 Packages Thawed Broccoli
1 Can Cream Of Celery Soup
1.5 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/4 C Chopped Onion
.5 t Worchestershire Sauce
1/4 t Pepper
1 C Crushed Butter Flavored Crackers
2 T Butter

In large bowl combine the broccoli, soup, 1 C of cheese, onion, worchestershire sauce, and the pepper. Mix and pour into the crock pot. Sprinkle crushed crackers on top and dot with butter. Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hrs or on low 7-8 hours. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and cook until cheese is melted.

Granted the picture may not seem appetizing, but the taste was fantastic. I love anything with cheese so this was right up my ally. It's an easy side dish that can be cooked in the crock pot. The broccoli literally falls apart in the cooking process and the cheese mixture is amazing, but not to heavy.  

HHBC: Black Tie Affair (January)

Before the month ends I will try to get a complete post of this month's HHBC. It was a NYE/Black Tie Affair although we did not dress up. B was our wonderful hostess and I think it was one of the best so far! For our favors we painted HHBC wine glasses. Due to my horrible artistic skills, there will be no picture of this cute idea.

Pork Loin
Broccoli & Cheese Casserole
Roasted Potatoes
Green Bean Bundles
Banana Pudding
Cotton Candy Cosmos

Who knew cotton candy came in a creepy snowman container?

Scalloped Crack Potatoes - Crock Pot Style

Scalloped Crack Potatoes

6 Baking Potatoes - Large

Bacon Pieces
1 Sweet Onion - chopped

Cheddar Cheese - Shredded

S & P

2 Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup

Spicy Ranch Hidden Valley Seasoning

Pam Spray

Use Pam to spray and coat the crock pot. Pour one can of soup into the crock pot. Cut 3 of the potatoes into thin slices and season with S & P. Place on top of soup and pour half of the ranch packet on top. Pour onions on top. Cover with half of the cheese and half of the bacon pieces. Cut the remaining 3 potatoes into thin slices and season with S & P. Pour half of the ranch packet on top and cover with the second can of soup. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Top with remaining cheese and bacon 1 hour before serving.

I must admit I first attempted this recipe at HHBC and then altered a few things before serving it at the Christmas work party. However, once the changes were made the dish lived up to it's name. There is nothing I love more than a potato with tons of toppings. So delicious. So NOT healthy. I try to make a lot of my recipes in the crock pot for HHBC since we typically have the dinner on a work night. Thus, the scalloped crack potatoes were created. Obviously you can change out the toppings if they are not your favorite, but keep the ranch seasoning. It does not make the food spicy, but it gives it a nice flavor - especially after sitting in a crock pot all day. If you like a firmer texture than beware. The potatoes will be extremely delicate, but delicious.

HHBC: Christmas Elves

I am overdue for the December HHBC considering that it is almost the end of January. What can I say? Things have been crazy busy! For the December HHBC, DJ was the host and decided on a Christmas theme. Dinner was yummy and the holiday decor made it easy to get into the Christmas spirit! Plus, because she and I are basically sisters separated at birth it was no surprise that the music of choice was Hanson's Christmas album, Snowed In. It's just not Christmas without some Hanson. DJ also gave us reindeer head piece things, a stylish business card holder and a festive drinking glass. Without delay, here is what was on the menu:

Beef Brisket
Scalloped Crack Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Strawberry Shortcake
Fruity Pebble Cocktail

Crock Pot: Taco Soup

Photo courtesy of Google

Taco Soup

1 Lb. Lean Ground Beef

1 Can Kidney Beans - with juice

1 Can Corn - with juice

1 Packet Spicy Ranch

1 Packet Taco Seasoning

1 Large Can Crushed Tomatoes

1 Small Can Tomato Sauce

2 C Water

Season the beef with pepper and garlic. Brown the meat and drain the fat. Combine all ingrediants and the meat in a crock pot. Cook on low for a few hours. Serve with sour cream, cheese, tortilla chips, etc.

This meal was fantastic. If I had more time I would chop up an onion and a bell pepper for more flavor. I am a firm believer that the longer the seasonings sit, the better it will taste. Great dish anytime.

Sliced Baked Potatoes

Sliced Baked Potatoes

A Baking Potato
Olive Oil
Butter
Seasoned Salt
Extra Toppings: Bacon Pieces, Cheese, etc.

Wash and dry the potato. Lay the potato on the flatter side. Using a knife, begin at one end of the potato and thinly slice. Take the knife almost to the base of the potato, but DO NOT cut completely through. Once completed, drizzle olive oil and seasoned salt over the potato and place a small amount of butter throughout the sliced potato. Add any extra toppings in between the slices. Bake the potato at 425 degrees for an hour or until done.

Again, I can thank Pinterest for this idea. It was a nice change from the standard baked potato. When we cook baked potatoes, we do not eat the skin and I always feel like a lot of the potato is wasted. J & I actually split a potato when I made this and it was a filling side. The potato slices are tender, but with a crispiness around the edge. We used seasoned salt, EVOO and butter. I would love to play around with it and add other toppings, but that was all I had on hand. Next time!

Dump Salad

Dump Salad

Head of Lettuce
1 Pint Grape Tomatoes
1/3C Onion - Chopped
1/3C Green Olives
Cavendars All Purpose Greek Seasoning


Dressing:
Lemon Pepper
Garlic Salt
Olive Oil
Red Wine Vinegar or Balsamic Vinegar - very small amounts

Wash the lettuce and shred by hand. Cut the tomatoes and olives in half. Dice the onion. Mix ingredients together and sprinkle the desired amount of seasoning into the salad. Start out with about a teaspoon and slowly build the flavor. Add the olive oil and the red wine/balsamic vinegar. Toss with a large spoon and fork. Adjust as needed for flavor.
 
This salad is quick and easy to throw together. It is also very tasteful and goes great with an Italian dish and could probably be used with many recipes that are not classified as Italian.   

Sausage & Cheese Crescent Squares

Sausage & Cheese Crescent Squares
2 Cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls 
1 Lb Spicy Sausage
1 Package (8 oz) Cream Cheese
2 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Heat the oven to 375°F. Unroll 1 can of dough into 2 long rectangles. Place in ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish; press over bottom and 1/2 inch up sides to form crust.  Cook sausage over medium heat and discard drippings once it is cooked. Add the cream cheese and cook over low heat until melted. Spoon mixture evenly over crust in baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Unroll second can of dough on work surface. Press to form 13x9-inch rectangle; firmly press perforations to seal. Carefully place over cheese. Bake 21 to 26 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 15 minutes. Cut into small squares and serve.

Okay. Where do I start? I was so excited about this recipe as it was the first one I have tried from Pinterest. I decided to use spicy sausage for a little kick and because I already had it in my freezer. I began to run behind schedule because I was watching crazy cat videos on You Tube - no lie. Because of the time constraint or because I have issues, it appeared that I did not have enough dough in the second can to roll out the top layer. Regardless, I thought the recipe was yummy and I would use regular cream cheese and dough sheets (or purchase another can of crescents). A friend of mine also made this and threw in some veggies to add a healthier aspect to it. My picture displays how it lacks in presentation, but I promise if you have enough time and concentrate on the recipe that it will look like it does on Pinterest. 

HHBC: Italian Thanksgiving

Last night was our second super club meeting of the Hungry Hungry Bia's Club. The theme was an Italian Thanksgiving and our wonderful hostess did a fabulous job with the decor, gifts and food. Plus, a few of us were able to jump into a Jersey costume. Poofs were everywhere!

An Italian Thanksgiving

Antipesto Tray
Three Layer Lasagna

Dump Salad

Sausage & Cheese Crescents

Tiramisu Cheesecake

Red Wine

The lovely table before dinner.

Our cute gift from our hostess - a wine stopper.

Hostess R shaking up the Italian Salad.

Jersey Shore DJ was in attendance.

And I have a poof the size of Snooki.

Check back in a few days for the recipes from the Italian Thanksgiving!

Roasted Asparagus

Seasoned Asparagus

Asparagus - cut/break off ends
Olive Oil
Garlic Powder
S & P

After rinsing the asparagus, drizzle olive oil over the veggies and season with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Roll the asparagus in the olive oil and seasoning to make sure that the asparagus is completely covered. Preheat the oven to 450 and bake 20-25 min until tips look crispy!

Yum Yum! A great way to make a vegetable taste delicious.