Chicken Bacon Cups were nowhere on the radar as the answer to What’s for lunch? I pondered the question as I stood in the open refrigerator door. Soup from two days before – but not quite enough for hearty servings. Hmmm, a can of biscuits. 3 grilled chicken tenders from the dinner Bytes cooked last night. Half a package of bacon in the cheese drawer. Cheddar and cream cheese. The perfect accompaniment to not quite enough soup! The lunch menu now starred Chicken Bacon Cups. With a little more broth, some mixed vegetables and a dollop of sour cream added atop the somewhat spicy soup it had a fresh perspective instead of a “leftover vibe”. The biscuit cups were a filling addition and no one realized the chicken had been on the table the night before. Every good cook has a way ... [Read More]
Appetizer
Mini Tacos
I made Mini Tacos for a family reunion get together where I served several mini foods. The Mini Tacos disappeared quickly, and have reappeared at all sorts of events since. Kids especially love them. . . you gonna make those baby tacos again? They are colorful – like a fiesta should be – and have a little zing. The size is perfect, for little or big appetites, because they can repeat as many times as needed to take care of hunger pangs. They make great appetizers, but are filling enough for a light meal. Make the filling and keep it warm in a small crockpot and let guests fix their own taco, adding whatever toppings they choose. OR -- If serving immediately, make the colorful finished tacos and serve from a warmed baking dish. This makes a great addition to an adult appetizer ... [Read More]
Cheeseburger Dip
Everything you love about a cheeseburger in one creamy bite. Cheeseburger Dip has it all -- hearty beefy burger, creamy cheese, ketchup, mustard -- in one spoonful. Serve it on a cracker, scoop it with a chip, it's all good! Top it with bacon chunks for even more goodness. Cut the bacon into small pieces before browning. It will crisp faster that way. It also saves burned fingers because you won’t be trying to cut hot bacon into pieces. I add half the mustard because its not my favorite flavor so I would order my cheeseburger without, but you can go all out and add all the recipe calls for. If you brown your bought on sale hamburger before popping it into the freezer, measure out two cups browned ground beef and save yourself some time. You can use any cheddar cheese or even ... [Read More]
Mississippi Sin Dip
Mississippi Sin Dip is creamy, cheesy, flavorful and so sinfully good! I understand the "sin" part of the name, but not why Mississippi should get all the glory. But then I am woefully undereducated about Mississippi, My mother taught us to spell it: M I crooked letter crooked letter, I crooked letter crooked letter I poke bonnet poke bonnet I -- a rhyme drawn from her incredible store of oral tradition and folk stories. I can tell you that we were hundreds of miles from Mississippi's location on the Gulf Coast and this still tasted sinfully good. It's sinfully easy to make, too. You can bake it in a dish, but the bread bowl makes a special presentation. Use the bread chunks torn from the inside of the loaf for dipping and when the dip is halfway gone -- start tearing chunks off ... [Read More]
Chili Cheese Dip
So quick and simple to make, Chili Cheese Dip goes together during the commercial and is ready to eat before the next break. Use the microwave, it will be ready in about 10 minutes including preparation, depending on your microwave. When ooey, gooey and hot through—it’s done. Or pop it in the oven and concentrate on the game, until the timer chimes. The ingredients are likely ones on hand and the directions are so simple anyone can do it themselves! If you can follow a Chilton’s manual, you tube directions on building a fence or figure out the newest phone – you can follow a recipe. No excuses, especially when the recipe is this easy. I used a handful of quartered grape tomatoes on top in the photo -- the last ones from the garden -- instead of chopping a whole tomato. You know ... [Read More]
Bacon Onion Cheese Dip
The Best Onion Bacon Cheese Dip / Spread. Based on the famous Neiman Marcus Dip, this is a little creamy, a lot cheesy, a bit crunchy and thoroughly scrumptious. I took it to a New Year's Eve party. It was gone before the rest of the goodies were in place! I have made this with all mayonnaise, but we like it best with half sour cream because that lets the other flavors shine more brightly. Do not substitute other spreads for the mayo. I also use the packaged bacon pieces – real bacon. It saves time and hassle during party prep time. I have also cooked a package of bacon ahead of time to use in recipes like this during holiday time. Cut the cooked bacon into very small pieces if you go this way. Use a four ounce package of slivered almonds and toast lightly in a small ... [Read More]
