Chili Cheese Dog Dip

Howdy Strangers!

For all 4 of you who may still follow me- I took a long hiatus, but I am back.

Hopefully consistently!

I can't even tell you where the last couple of years disappeared to.

New position at work...

Pandemic...

I don't even know.

I miss blogging, I miss adding to my recipe pile.

Things have been so wonky, I haven't even been cooking much. Hubby has taken over that duty for the most part, which is wonderful- but strange all wrapped up in one tasty package. (reminder to self: thank MIL for teaching hubby and his brother hw to clean, cook, and do laundry!)

Every now and again I find myself back in the kitchen, but it has been to make family faves. Not a lot of creativity happening.

Add along no parties, pot lucks, or any type of get togethers- so not many opportunities to try out new recipes on a crowd.

I hope you and yours have weathered this storm well, and I hope to keep in touch much more frequently!

In the meantime, here is a comfort food dip to warm your soul.

Ingredients:

4 Hot Dogs

15 oz Chili

8 oz Cheddar Cheese (shredded, divided)

4 oz Cream Cheese (soft)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Dice hot dogs
3. Combine hot dogs, chili, 4 oz cheddar cheese, and cream cheese
4. Place dip into 9x9 dish
5. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top
6. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until melted and bubbling

Print

Adapted From: White Lights on Wednesday

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Cheese Dip

It's that crazy crazy time of the year!
No matter what you celebrate, one theme is the same....everyone thinks they have a good handle on it until crunch time, then it's panic season.

In my case, the shopping is done and wrapped.
Lists are made.
Plans completed.
Yet I am still AAAARGH on the inside.

I decided not to stress over this all this year. Left hubby and the girl child a list of everything that needs to get done between now and when everyone shows up Christmas Eve.
(hey, it's his side of the family...get to dusting!)
At least this way, when they each have a minute, there is no question as to exactly what I want done around the house.

Since I was doing the whole "leaving lists around" thing, I added my grocery list too. Everything I need for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. As they find themselves out and about, they bring me home bits and pieces. The girl ran to Target last night and came back with all the cream cheese I need (since it was on sale). Yay!


I am so looking forward to the craziness, it's just part of the whole season.
Hope everyone has some wonderful memories to make!

What do you do for the holidays?




Ingredients:

8 oz Wispread Sharp Cheddar

8 oz Cream cheese (softened)

8 oz Sour Cream

1 Tbsp White wine

½ Tsp Garlic Powder

½ Tsp Onion Powder

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients

2. Stir until smooth

Print

Come party with me HERE!

Sausage Dip

Wow...what a long, strange trip it has been!

I knew I was going to take a bloggy break over the holidays, but I was glad I left room for an extra week of break.

It started when my aunt had to put her fur baby down. Gizmo was almost 10 and had congestive heart failure. She was more than slightly miserable. Her coughs sounded like a hammer. They tried medicines, they did everything they could...but, the inevitable came to be.
She is all sorts of missing her "baby". Her hubby, my uncle, is retired, and didn't realize how much he would talk to the dog all day!
Religious or not, I love the idea of the rainbow bridge.

My parents came up to visit for abut 10 days.
We went north towards the beach and let my father have his fill of seafood.
2 lobsters, fried clams, shrimp, scallops, and haddock. He had no shame getting his fill!
I miss my parents so much, and it was beyond words to get to spend so much time with them.
We introduced them to our fave game, Scattergories. My father says he will be running out to get his own version as soon as he gets home.

During our trip, which included us 3, my parents, and the same aunt and uncle that just lost their doggie...

We found out that my uncle's brother in law passed away.

It was not a surprise, but that does not make it any easier.

I knew before we left for the beach that he was in his final moments, and on our way up, we got the call that he had passed.
Hubby and I went to the wake, it's a huge family, and it was such a mixed blessing. Hugs and happiness for those still with us, but sad (and happy!) memories of those who have gone past.

During the same trip, a family friend called and revealed that her cancer has returned and that she has made some decisions revolving around her care.
Such a hard topic to discuss.

We got home, and my mother in law called to let us know that hubby's uncle has passed on. Once again, it's not a surprise, but, it's the hole that will be left in the family.


Mr Fuzzy Face didn't fare so well with us gone. It was just different for him this time I guess. With my parents here, he was off kilter having new people around, and then we left for days.
My neighbor, whom Fluffernutter LOVES came to check on him every day...multiple times. He just needed his people though. He was shedding like crazy when we came back. The other night he even climbed up on my chest for scritches like he used to as a kitten.
Today...well...today was a little more "vomity" than I would like to know about.
He just needs to know we are home and not leaving him.
Breaks my kitty cat loving heart though!

The girl child started her next semester of school.
Hubby is still healing from back surgery.
We are SO short staffed at work and I am working crazy hours.
Had a long talk with a friend who had a cancerous tumor removed from her esophagus. (not her first bout with cancer)
Hubby's truck is still in the shop.

It's a lot as of late. So much.

Opened my mail...and there is a random "thinking of you" card from my friend who has NO idea that all this just happened.
I love her for just reaching out for no reason.

Thanks for allowing me to have a break, and thanks for listening to me rant!

Ingredients:

2 (16 oz each) rolls of bulk sausage

2 (8 oz each) packages of cream cheese (softened)

28 oz Picante sauce

Directions:

1. Brown the sausage, crumbling as it cooks

2. Drain sausage

3. Mix sausage, cream cheese, and picante sauce

4. Warm in crock pot on low, stirring occasionally

Print

Adapted from: Brown Eyed Baker

Come party with me HERE!

Bacon and Cheddar Dip

I have the living room (read: remote) to myself for awhile tonight!

Hubby is off with the guys, probably doing a bunch of burping and bad joke telling. You know, guy stuff.
The girl is in her room listening to music and working on homework.

What is one to do?

I own the Golden Girls seasons 1-3.
Hallmark/Lifetime movies are on demand.

No, I pick to watch Tiny Toons and Animaniacs on the Hub.
Yeah. I promise you that I really am (age wise) an adult.

Ingredients:

1 Pkg ranch dressing mix

½ Cup milk

½ Cup miracle whip

8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

8 oz cream cheese (softened)

⅓ Cup bacon bits

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients

2. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving

Print

It is difficult to make a bacon cheddar dip without cheddar. Duh.

Adapted from: Copy Kat

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http://celebrateanddecorate.com/

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

It can't just be me, I know there is a whole legion of people out there who have sat there and managed to consume a roll of unbaked cookie dough.

Yeah, I can see your cheeks blushing from here.

Then they came out with that whole "don't eat raw dough" bull hockey.
:::sigh:::

Where is that happy medium? Between being afraid of dying of some egg born illness...and being able to drown one's sorrows in a tube-o-deliciousness?

Here is that middle ground.
Enjoy.
Eat until you feel sick.
Share with your girlfriends.
Be the hero. The wind beneath their wings.

Ingredients:

½  Cup butter

⅓ Cup brown sugar

8 oz cream cheese (softened)

½ Cup powdered sugar

1 Tsp vanilla extract

¾ Cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat

2. Whisk in the brown sugar until dissolved

3. Stir in vanilla and set aside to cool

4. In bowl, cream the cream cheese and powdered sugar

5. Add in brown sugar and butter mixture, mix until combined

6. Stir in the mini chocolate chips

7. Serve with vanilla wafers or graham crackers

Print

Adapted from: What Megans Making

Come party with me HERE!

http://celebrateanddecorate.com/

Pumpkin Dip

I have a confession.
I feel very strongly about this.

Pumpkin is not a food!

I can't help it, it's just the way I am.

I have an aunt who feels the same way. At Thanksgiving, while everyone else is gobbling it down...we shiver in the corner.

That being said...

I really like this dip! There is enough spice between the dip and the cookies...and the sweet sugar, that masks the pumpkin taste for me.

My mother handed this recipe down to me. She made it all the time for functions. She was able to find cute little pumpkins to serve it in...me...not so lucky. OH WELL, a bowl will work!

This one time we were driving about an hour to friend's house.

Dad took a corner...and so did this dip.

Oh the mess!

Pumpkin everywhere!

That car smelled like pumpkin pie spice for the rest of it's "life".

Ingredients:

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese (softened)

1 Cup powdered sugar

1 Tsp vanilla

3 Tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together

2. Serve with ginger snaps

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This recipe was shared with:

Monday:  Flour me with Love, Kitchen Table Art, Feeding Big, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, A Southern Fairytale, Pioneer Momma, A Pinch of Joy, Mom Favorites, The Modest Mom Blog, The Chicken Chick, Huckleberry Love, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Uncommon Designs, A Mama's Story, All Things Fee, Boogieboard Cottage, Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, Skip to my Lou, 21st Century Housewife, Sew Can Do, Mom's the Word

Tuesday: The New Mrs Adventures , Pint Sized Baker, Memories by the Mile, Kathe with an E, Cornerstone Confessions, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Inside Bru Crew Life, Lou Lou Girls, Time Warp Wife, Minivan Dreams, Mandy's Recipe Box, Hope Studios, Stone Gable Blog, Hot Momma's Kitchen Chaos, The Journey Back, Hope in Every Season
Wednesday: Recipes for our Daily Bread , Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Milk and Cuddles , Raising Homemakers, White Lights on Wednesday, Lemoine Family Kitchen, Buns in my Oven, A Peek into my Paradise, Ginger Snap Crafts, Mom's Test Kitchen, Crafty Allie, The Newlywed Pilgrimage
Thursday: Katherine's Corner, Sweet Bella Roos , Lambert's Lately , Sweet Haute , What's Cooking Love, Saving 4 Six, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Embracing Change  
Friday: Play Party Pin , Pure Grace Farms, The Grits Blog, Happy and Blessed Home, Coffee with Us 3, Simple Nature Decor, Daily Dish , The Better Baker, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Thirty Handmade Days, City of Creative Dreams , The Diary of a Real Housewife, Craft O Maniac, The Girl Creative , Morsels of Life , Lady Behind the Curtain
Saturday: Beauty Through Imperfection , Six Sisters Stuff, Raising Memories , Belle of the Kitchen, 
Sunday:   A Peek into my Paradise , Three Mango Seeds        

White Bean Dip with Parmesan and Sage

Would you believe before I tried this recipe I had never heard of Cannellini beans, much less knew what they were?

I stood in the grocery, checking out the canned beans until I finally found them.

I found out the following trivia

• They are a member of the kidney bean family
• They are mistaken for great northern beans frequently
• They are available canned or dried all year long
• They have a fluffy, yet smooth texture when cooked

Now that I am familiar, I will be using them more often. Cannellini beans are a great source of iron and we could always use more of that in our diet!

Ingredients:

1 (15 oz) Can cannellini beans (drained and rinsed)

¼ Cup firmly packed finely grated parmesan cheese

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 Clove garlic (minced)

¼ Tsp kosher salt

⅛- ¼ Tsp cayenne pepper

1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh sage leaves

1 Tbsp minced chives

Directions:

1. In food processor, combine beans, cheese, oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and cayenne pepper

2. Puree until smooth

3. Add sage and pulse to combine

4. Serve with pita bread, pretzels, or vegetables

Print

This recipe was shared with:
Monday: Flour me with Love, Pioneer Momma, Homemaking with Style, Mom Favorites, Kitchen Table Art, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, Feeding Big, A Southern Fairytale, A Pinch of Joy, The Modest Mom Blog, Huckleberry Love, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Uncommon Designs, A Mama's Story, All Things Fee, The Chicken Chick, Boogieboard Cottage, Enchanted Home Schooling Mom, Skip to my Lou, 21st Century Housewife, Sew Can Do, Mom's the Word
Tuesday: Kathe with an E , The New Mrs Adventures, Cornerstone Confessions, Inside Bru Crew Life, Pint Sized Baker, Memories by the Mile , Lou Lou Girls, Time Warp Wife, Minivan Dreams, Mandy's Recipe Box, Hope Studios, Hope in Every Season , Stone Gable Blog, Hot Momma's Kitchen Chaos , Our Table for Seven     
Wednesday:  Dizzy Busy and Hungry , Buns in my Oven , Milk and Cuddles, Raising Homemakers, White Lights on Wednesday, A Peek into my Paradise, Gingersnap Crafts, Mom's Test Kitchen, Crafty Allie, Mostly Homemade Mom, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lemoine Family Kitchen         
Thursday:  Miz Helen's Country Cottage , What's Cooking Love, Lambert's Lately, Saving 4 Six, Sweet Haute, Katherine's Corner  , Sweet Bella Roos, Embracing Change, Nourishing Gourmet
Friday: O Taste and See , The Grits Blog , Coffee with us 3, Pure Grace Farms, Simple Nature Decor, The Better Baker, Endlessly Inspired, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Marly's This and That, Thirty Handmade Days, City of Creative Dreams, Lady Behind the Curtain, The Diary of a Real Housewife, Beauty Through Imperfection, Craft O Maniac, The Girl Creative, Morsels of Life
Saturday: Six Sister's Stuff , Simply Gloria, Raising Memories , Weary Chef, Sewlicious Home Decor
Sunday:   Three Mango Seeds, A Peek into my Paradise  

Recipe adapted from Cookin Canuck