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Desserts/ Events & Entertaining

Football Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites

Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites

You’ve all heard of the fluffer nutter, right? A peanut butter and marshmallow cream sandwich. I don’t know a lot of football terms, but one I do know is “fumble.” And when I do brainstorming, I tend to think in sound-alikes so I started thinking about what I might do with a brownie for the Big Game. My brain went from ‘fumble’ to ‘fluffer nutter’ to ‘fumble nutter’ in about 90 seconds, so this brownie recipe incorporates yummy peanut butter and it’s topped with a marshmallow butter cream frosting.

Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites 4

After you’ve baked the Football Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites, let them cool on a wire rack or platter. Then prepare your frosting.

Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites 8

Frost half of your brownies in one team’s color, then the other. Let them set a bit after you frost them. I found they can set out for a few hours with no issues, but I recommend putting them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve them. We all know how long the Big Game can last and you want to make sure to practice proper food safety when entertaining your guests.

Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites 3

Football Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites (Peanut Butter Brownies with Marshmallow Butter Cream Frosting)

Rating: 51

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Yield: approximately 3 dozen

Football Fumble Nutter Brownie Bites (Peanut Butter Brownies with Marshmallow Butter Cream Frosting)

Ingredients

For Brownies:
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 ounces milk
For Marshmallow Butter Cream Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
8 ounces marshmallow creme
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
16 ounces confectioners' sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk, divided
food coloring (optional)

Instructions

For brownie bites: Preheat your oven to 350 F degrees. Generously grease a mini muffin pan with non-stick spray.

Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the milk and eggs to the melted butter. Stir in the peanut butter. Stir in all the dry ingredients and mix just until blended.

Using a small cookie scoop, add batter into the prepared mini muffin pan. Do not fill the mini muffin cups more than 2/3 full, or it will overflow into the others as it bakes.

Bake for about 12 minutes or until the brownies are dry around the edges. Cool before frosting.

For frosting: Place the butter, marshmallow cream and vanilla in a small bowl. Beat with electric mixer on medium until well blended. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, beating after each addition until well blended.

Blend in 1 tablespoon of milk. Add remaining tablespoon, if necessary, for desired spreading consistency. Frost brownie bite and let set.

http://bakedchicago.com/fumble-nutter-brownie-bites-recipe/

Desserts/ Events & Entertaining

Celebrate International Stout Day with these Scrumptious Stout-glazed Brownies

stout glazed brownies

Happy International Stout Day! You don’t have to be Irish to appreciate these stout-glazed brownies. Many people aren’t familiar with stout, which is simply a strong, dark beer brewed with roasted malt or barley. If a beer is a stout, it’s considered to have a strong or the strongest flavor.

Irish stout

There are several kinds of stout beers: dry (Irish), imperial (Russian), porter, milk, oatmeal, coffee, oyster and even chocolate! Chocolate and beer often makes for a great combination in recipes. These stout-glazed brownies will have you dancing an Irish jig with each bite.

Want to share these stout-glazed brownies with the kids? Here are some things to consider when baking or cooking with alcohol:

  • alcohol boils at 172° F, so almost any kind of baking or cooking with alcohol won’t leave any in the food once it’s done. It evaporates quickly. 
  • there’s not much alcohol in beer to begin with. It’s mostly water.
  • there’s not enough alcohol in beer for it to burn.

Bob’s your uncle!

Stout-glazed Brownies

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Yield: 16 servings

Ingredients

1 cup stout
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, divided
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
12 ounces plus 4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped, divided
1 1/4 teaspoons and 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350° F.  Lightly grease the bottom of a 9x9-inch baking pan with butter or shortening. In a medium saucepan, bring the stout to a boil and cook until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 10 minutes). Let cool and set aside.

In a medium heatproof bowl set on a small saucepan of simmering water, melt 12 ounces of dark chocolate and 1 cup butter. Stir constantly, until smooth. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

Whisk the sugar, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in the chocolate mixture and 1/4 cup stout, reserving the remaining stout. Fold in the flour and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt.

Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the brownies surface begins to crack. Toothpick inserted in the center should come out with moist crumbs. Cool for 20 minutes.

Stir the remaining 4 ounces of dark chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl, set on top of small saucepan of simmering water, until melted and smooth. Add the reserved 1/4 cup stout, remaining 2 tablespoons butter and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Whisk until well blended.

Pour the warm glaze over the brownies. Let stand until glaze is set (about 40 minutes). Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows to make 16 stout-glazed brownies.

http://bakedchicago.com/international-stout-day/

 

Entrees/ Events & Entertaining

We’re Celebrating National Cheeseburger Day 2017 with the One-and-Only Ranch Patty Melt

#SayCheeseburger #CollectiveBias #shop KRAFT Classic Ranch Patty Melt

Ranch Patty Melt

The cheeseburger is as American as food gets. It’s truly iconic. But when you ask a group of people to visualize what’s on (or in) their favorite cheeseburgers, there are no two descriptions exactly the same. That versatility is one of the exciting things about the cheeseburger – and why I like to experiment with new variations of ingredients in a never-ending quest for the perfect cheeseburger. A recent cheeseburger experiment that has come the closest to burger nirvana is my Ranch Patty Melt.

The patty melt itself is deceptively simple. Aside from the seasonings and butter, there are only four primary ingredients: meat, onion, cheese and bread. It’s the preparation and how these ingredients are combined that give the patty melt its sizzle.

The patty melt will usually be served with onions and Thousand Island dressing. That tangy, creamy flavor of the Thousand Island dressing is a great pairing with the sautéed onions. But for my Ranch Patty Melt recipe, I’m substituting the Thousand Island dressing with a classic ranch dressing as a topping and with extra on the side for dipping.

Ranch Patty Melt

With all of your ingredients en place, mix together the ground turkey, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Don’t skimp on the Worcestershire! Form four oval patties with the meat, matching the relative shape of the crusty rye bread. Set the patties aside as you prepare the onions.

Slice up a yellow onion and sautée it in a skillet with butter over medium-low heat. It takes about 25 minutes to properly brown the onions, but be patient. Don’t rush the process; the onions could easily burn. Can you see the buttery steam rising from the pan in the photo below? It smells so, so, so, so good.

Ranch Patty Melt

Cook the patties in a skillet over medium heat until done in the middle and browned on the outside. When the patties are cooked, you’re ready to start the final assembly. In another skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.

You’re going to assemble each Ranch Patty Melt as follows:

  • slice of crusty rye bread
  • slice of Swiss cheese
  • turkey burger patty
  • one-fourth of the sautéed onions
  • two tablespoons ranch dressing
  • another slice of Swiss cheese
  • another slice of crusty rye bread

Grill the sandwiches in the skillet until golden brown on one side.  Add the remaining butter to the skillet and flip the Ranch Patty Melt sandwiches over. Cook until golden brown and crisp. The cheese should be all melted and gooey. Cut in half and serve immediately.

Ranch Patty Melt

Doesn’t this look like absolute cheeseburger perfection? How can it get any better? That’s my challenge for my next cheeseburger adventure…Ranch Patty Melt

Ranch Patty Melt

Rating: 51

12 minutes

Cook Time: 28 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Ranch Patty Melt

Ingredients

8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 large yellow onion, skinned, halved and sliced
1 1/4 pounds ground turkey (93% lean)
8 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
8 slices Swiss Cheese
8 slices crusty rye bread
1/2 cup ranch dressing, plus more for dipping

Instructions

Organize your ingredients and cooking instruments. You'll need a medium bowl and three skillets (one small, one medium and one large) to prepare the onions, burgers and the completed patty melts.

In a medium bowl, mix together ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Form into 4 oval-shaped patties, similar to the size of the rye bread slices. Put patties on a plate; set aside.

In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Toss in the onions and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Onions are done when they are golden brown and soft. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Cook the turkey burger patties on both sides, until done in the middle and browned on the outside. Set aside.

In the medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Assemble the patty melts first with a slice of rye bread topped with a slice of Swiss cheese. Add the turkey burger patty and one-fourth of the cooked onions. Cover the patty with 2 tablespoons ranch dressing followed by another slice of Swiss cheese. Top with another slice of rye bread, and grill the sandwiches until golden brown.

Repeat until all 4 sandwiches are in the skillet. When browned on one side, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Carefully flip each sandwich over, and cook until golden brown, crisp and cheese has melted.

Cut in half and serve immediately. Serve with additional ranch dressing on the side for dipping.

http://bakedchicago.com/celebrating-national-cheeseburger-day-2017-one-ranch-patty-melt/

Entrees/ Events & Entertaining

Celebrating National Cheeseburger Day with a Sizzling Ranch Patty Melt

#SayCheeseburger #CollectiveBias #shop KRAFT Classic Ranch Patty Melt

Ranch Patty Melt

The cheeseburger is as American as food gets. It’s truly iconic. But when you ask a group of people to visualize what’s on (or in) their favorite cheeseburgers, there are no two descriptions exactly the same. That versatility is one of the exciting things about the cheeseburger – and why I like to experiment with new variations of ingredients in a never-ending quest for the perfect cheeseburger. A recent cheeseburger experiment that has come the closest to burger nirvana is my Ranch Patty Melt.

The patty melt itself is deceptively simple. Aside from the seasonings and butter, there are only four primary ingredients: meat, onion, cheese and bread. It’s the preparation and how these ingredients are combined that give the patty melt its sizzle.

The patty melt will usually be served with onions and Thousand Island dressing. That tangy, creamy flavor of the Thousand Island dressing is a great pairing with the sautéed onions. But for my Ranch Patty Melt recipe, I’m substituting the Thousand Island dressing with a classic ranch dressing as a topping and with extra on the side for dipping.

Ranch Patty Melt

With all of your ingredients en place, mix together the ground turkey, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Don’t skimp on the Worcestershire! Form four oval patties with the meat, matching the relative shape of the crusty rye bread. Set the patties aside as you prepare the onions.

Slice up a yellow onion and sautée it in a skillet with butter over medium-low heat. It takes about 25 minutes to properly brown the onions, but be patient. Don’t rush the process; the onions could easily burn. Can you see the buttery steam rising from the pan in the photo below? It smells so, so, so, so good.

Ranch Patty Melt

Cook the patties in a skillet over medium heat until done in the middle and browned on the outside. When the patties are cooked, you’re ready to start the final assembly. In another skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.

You’re going to assemble each Ranch Patty Melt as follows:

  • slice of crusty rye bread
  • slice of Swiss cheese
  • turkey burger patty
  • one-fourth of the sautéed onions
  • two tablespoons ranch dressing
  • another slice of Swiss cheese
  • another slice of crusty rye bread

Grill the sandwiches in the skillet until golden brown on one side.  Add the remaining butter to the skillet and flip the Ranch Patty Melt sandwiches over. Cook until golden brown and crisp. The cheese should be all melted and gooey. Cut in half and serve immediately.

Ranch Patty Melt

Doesn’t this look like absolute cheeseburger perfection? How can it get any better? That’s my challenge for my next cheeseburger adventure…Ranch Patty Melt

Ranch Patty Melt

Rating: 51

12 minutes

Cook Time: 28 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Ranch Patty Melt

Ingredients

8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 large yellow onion, skinned, halved and sliced
1 1/4 pounds ground turkey (93% lean)
8 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
8 slices Swiss Cheese
8 slices crusty rye bread
1/2 cup ranch dressing, plus more for dipping

Instructions

Organize your ingredients and cooking instruments. You'll need a medium bowl and three skillets (one small, one medium and one large) to prepare the onions, burgers and the completed patty melts.

In a medium bowl, mix together ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Form into 4 oval-shaped patties, similar to the size of the rye bread slices. Put patties on a plate; set aside.

In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Toss in the onions and cook for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Onions are done when they are golden brown and soft. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Cook the turkey burger patties on both sides, until done in the middle and browned on the outside. Set aside.

In the medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Assemble the patty melts first with a slice of rye bread topped with a slice of Swiss cheese. Add the turkey burger patty and one-fourth of the cooked onions. Cover the patty with 2 tablespoons ranch dressing followed by another slice of Swiss cheese. Top with another slice of rye bread, and grill the sandwiches until golden brown.

Repeat until all 4 sandwiches are in the skillet. When browned on one side, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Carefully flip each sandwich over, and cook until golden brown, crisp and cheese has melted.

Cut in half and serve immediately. Serve with additional ranch dressing on the side for dipping.

http://bakedchicago.com/national-cheeseburger-day-ranch-patty-melt/

Events & Entertaining

What Makes a Fanboy’s Saturday Night Extra Fun? A Sci-Fi Marathon + Pizza!

#DIGIORNO #YouBeTheJudge #CleverGirls #ad DiGiorno pizzeria thin supreme speciale pizza

Every Saturday night in early summer, you’ll find my TV set ready to record my latest science fiction obsession: Season 3 of Orphan Black on the BBC America channel. Typically, I record it so I can watch it whenever I want. But before the season premier of season three, I had to watch the entire second season in a Saturday night marathon filled with clones, intrigue and DIGIORNO®’s new pizzeria! thin supreme speciale pizza.

#DIGIORNO #YouBeTheJudge #CleverGirls #ad DiGiorno pizzeria thin supreme speciale pizza

DIGIORNO has four new pizzeria! thin pizzas: primo pepperoni, spinach & mushroom, margherita and supreme speciale. The supreme speciale is topped with Italian sausage, premium pepperoni, red and green pepper strips, and caramelized onions. The sauce is made from vine-ripened tomatoes, basil, thyme and oregano — and it’s topped with real mozzarella cheese.

I ADORE THIN CRUST PIZZA. And I’ve been a fan of DIGIORNO’s Rising Crust Pizza. But I’m extremely picky when it comes to thin crust pizza. You want the crust to be crunchy without being dry or easily burned.

So what makes DIGIORNO’s new pizzeria! thin crust different? It’s drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and it’s proofed for almost 90 minutes before being baked in a 700° oven. Wow! When you open the freshness wrap you can see the quality of ingredients.

This new thin crust delivers on the promise of a crispy outside and a soft & airy inside. Because of the herbs and olive oil, it reminded me of a great Italian focaccia bread fresh out of a hearth oven. For the culinary-challenged, it’s easy to get these results by following simple baking directions.

#DIGIORNO #YouBeTheJudge #CleverGirls #ad DiGiorno pizzeria thin supreme speciale pizza

Preheat your oven to 375° F. It’s important to keep the pizza frozen until it’s ready to go into the oven. After the oven is done preheating, remove the pizza from the freshness wrap.

#DIGIORNO #YouBeTheJudge #CleverGirls #ad DiGiorno pizzeria thin supreme speciale pizza

Place it directly on the center oven rack. I took a wire baking rack, which I lightly sprayed with olive oil non-stick spray, and placed the pizza on that to make removing it from the oven easier.

#DIGIORNO #YouBeTheJudge #CleverGirls #ad DiGiorno pizzeria thin supreme speciale pizza

After about 18 minutes, the pizza should be ready. You’ll know it’s done when the cheese is melted and the edges are a golden brown. Let is stand for a few minutes before slicing and eating.

#DIGIORNO #YouBeTheJudge #CleverGirls #ad DiGiorno pizzeria thin supreme speciale pizza

As you slice the pizza, you can hear how crunchy the crust has turned out.

#DIGIORNO #YouBeTheJudge #CleverGirls #ad DiGiorno pizzeria thin supreme speciale pizza

I really like the square shape, which makes it easier to slice into uniform pieces. And there’s plenty of slices to share with the guys. Add in a side salad, or some humus with chips, and you’re ready for a marathon viewing session of mind-blowing science fiction.

#DIGIORNO #YouBeTheJudge #CleverGirls #ad DiGiorno pizzeria thin supreme speciale pizza

So far I have tried three of DIGIORNO’s new pizzeria! thin flavors: margherita, supreme speciale and primo pepperoni. The margherita reminded me of the margherita pizza I had in Naples, Italy, on a family trip a few years back. You could tell the mozzarella couldn’t have been any better unless you made it fresh yourself. But I think my favorite is the primo pepperoni because the pepperoni is so darned good.

If you’re a true fan (or fanboy!) of thin crust pizza, then you should try DIGIORNO’s new pizzeria! thin pizza. And DIGIORNO is so confident that you’ll agree this new pizzeria! thin is delicious that it offers a “Love It or It’s Free Guarantee” refund. If for some reason you don’t like it, you can visit DIGIORNO.com for information on how to get a refund.

#DIGIORNO #YouBeTheJudge #CleverGirls #ad DiGiorno pizzeria thin supreme speciale pizza

Now I’ve told you what I think of DIGIORNO pizzeria! thin. DIGIORNO would love to hear from other fanboys and fangirls about what you think of the new pizzeria! thin pizzas. Taste one for yourself and visit DIGIORNO on Facebook or Twitter to share your feedback and photos. Be sure to use the hashtag #YouBeTheJudge.

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Entrees/ Events & Entertaining

Panda Express Chinese Spare Ribs: Boldly Chinese and Classically American

Panda Express

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Panda Express. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Panda Shoots and Scores

Just in time for your next March Madness viewing party, Panda Express has introduced Chinese Spare Ribs to its menu. These Chinese Spare Ribs are slow cooked for five (5) hours with sesame oil, red chili bean paste, garlic, mirin (a sweet rice wine) and red peppers for a one-of-a-kind flavor that is both boldly Chinese and classically American.

Since 1983, Panda Express has been a family-owned company dedicated to bringing families together at the dining table with delicious, high-quality food. The new Chinese Spare Ribs are perfect for any family gathering or celebration like Uncle Bill’s 50th birthday party or entertaining your neighbors and friends for the next big basketball game. The sweet, spicy and savory goodness and fall-off-the-bone tenderness of Panda Express Chinese Spare Ribs will satisfy kids and adults alike.

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East Meets West On Your Tongue

This is the kind of casual, contemporary Chinese dish that is uniquely Panda Express. Inspired by authentic Chinese BBQ flavors, these Chinese Spare Ribs are premium, high-quality ribs conceived in the Panda Express kitchens by Chef Andy Kao, a 30-year veteran who leads the Panda Express culinary team. In this dish, Chef Kao brings together American slow cooked St. Louis-style spare ribs with Char Siu, a traditional Chinese barbecued pork.

Available only for a limited time, it’s easy to Order Online from Panda Express and enjoy these authentic Chinese BBQ flavors at home with your entire family. Learn more about Panda Express Chinese Spare Ribs, and other menu items, by visiting Panda Express on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

chī hǎo hē hǎo 

This literally translates as “eat well and drink well” but it actually means “enjoy your meal.” When you bring Panda Express Chinese Spare Ribs to your next family gathering, you’re guaranteed to enjoy your meal and the company!

Visit Sponsors Site

Events & Entertaining

Celebrate World Pistachio Day: 7 unbelievably delicious recipes to go nuts over

It’s World Pistachio Day and Baked Chicago is in full-on celebration mode! Pistachios are one of my favorite ingredients to cook with and snack on. I had a small bowl of in-shell pistachios last night while viewing “Watch What Happens Live” with one of my funny goddess icons: Chicago’s Jane Lynch.

pistachio principle

Here are Baked Chicago’s 7 most popular recipes featuring #PistachioPower:

Learn more about the Power of Pistachios at the American Pistachio Growers website.

Events & Entertaining

Be The Hero At Your Next Holiday Party

Get Canada Dry products at Safeway

This post brought to you by Dr Pepper Snapple GroupThe content and opinions expressed below are that of Baked Chicago.

The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends. Entertaining them in your home can be festive and exciting. But it can also be stressful if you don’t have a game plan.

And it can be expensive to have a fully stocked bar and fridge with every kind of beverage your guests MIGHT like. Emphasis on the “might.”

Instead, I recommend having a few signature mixed drinks that utilize versatile ingredients. That way you can stock up on those key ingredients and make your holiday entertaining much more affordable.

Around the holidays, I like to have fun with creative concoctions that fit the mood of the party and have my guests in mind. And whether your party has all adults or a mixture of kids and parents, it’s always good to have at least one non-alcoholic option. Especially if everyone is driving to your home. That makes it easier for the designated drivers to enjoy themselves and feel like part of the celebration.

Stock up your holiday bar with Canada Dry products from Safeway

One of the hardest working, versatile drink ingredients is ginger ale. It’s the perfect mixer for holiday cocktails. I’ve been drinking Canada Dry Ginger Ale since I was a kid, and I love that it’s made from real ginger. You can really taste it!

I’ve moved a great deal in my life, but I’ve been lucky that I could always find a local Safeway store wherever I moved, including Chicago, Houston and San Francisco. At Safeway, I can get a wide variety of Canada Dry Ginger Ale products, like Diet Ginger Ale, TEN Ginger Ale and – just in time for the season – Diet Cranberry Ginger Ale.

Get table decorations, cups, fresh ingredients for drink garnishes and all your holiday party needs at Safeway

I can also get everything I need for holiday entertaining at Safeway in just one stop, including: cups, cocktail stirrers napkins, table decorations, holiday decorations (did you know that candy canes can double as drink stirrers?), and lemons/limes/fresh mint for garnishes.

Santa's S'minty Spritzer is made with Diet Canada Dry Ginger Ale

I decided to make the featured cocktail for my next holiday party a drink I call Santa’s S’Minty Spritzer. It’s only got four ingredients and the fresh garnishes of mint and lemon make it taste extra refreshing. The lemon and mint also help clear the palate, so my guests can enjoy whatever delicious foods that I decide to pair.

Santa’s S’Minty Spritzer

Ingredients:

  • 5 cups orange juice
  • 2 cups Canada Dry Ginger Ale
  • 1 1/2 cups vodka
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • lemon slices, for garnish
  • fresh mint leaves, for garnish
  • ice cubes

Directions:

Stir together all of your liquid ingredients in a large pitcher. Serve over ice and garnish each drink with fresh mint and lemon slices. Makes about 9 cups.

Christmas Cranberry Smash with Canada Dry Diet Cranberry Ginger Ale

The next holiday drink showcases very seasonal ingredients and is low-sugar, low-calorie because of the Canada Dry Diet Cranberry Ginger Ale and low-sugar cran-raspberry juice used.

Note: After you drop in the dried cranberries for garnish, this drink will also entertain you. The cranberries interact with the bubbles of the ginger ale and they start dancing around in the glass. It’s almost like a cranberry-ginger ale lava lamp in your glass! Seriously. 

Christmas Cranberry Smash

Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 4 ounces low-sugar cran-raspberry juice
  • 2 ounces Canada Dry Diet Cranberry Ginger Ale
  • dried cranberries, for garnish
  • ice cubes

Directions:

Stir together vodka, juice, and ginger ale. Serve over ice and garnish with dried cranberries. Makes one drink.

Non-Alcoholic Options

Every party needs at least one non-alcoholic option. But the bubbles in this Very Merry Mock Mimosa can trick your taste buds a bit, because it’s every drop as delicious and refreshing as the alcoholic version can be. I’ve used the Canada Dry TEN Ginger Ale and a low-sugar orange juice in this recipe to keep the calories lower. Lower calories mean I don’t feel guilty when I have my second glass!

A Very Merry Mock Mimosa with Canada Dry Ginger Ale

A Very Merry Mock Mimosa

Ingredients:

  • 6 ounces Canada Dry TEN Ginger Ale, chilled
  • 2 ounces orange juice, chilled

Directions:

Pour orange juice into a champagne flute or tall glass. Next pour in ginger ale. Serve immediately. Makes one glass.

Holiday Party Hero Tips

Ginger ale is such a versatile ingredient that you can easily pair it with virtually any other beverages you have on hand to create a myriad of bubbly beverages your guests can enjoy, such as:

  • Shandy – mix half beer and half ginger ale
  • Jack & Ginger – mix 2 ounces of whiskey or bourbon with 10 ounces of ginger ale
  • Raspberry Release – mix 1 ounce of raspberry liqueur with 3 ounces of ginger ale and serve in a brandy snifter
  • Holiday Highball – mix 2 ounces of liquor (your choice) with 4 ounces of ginger ale and serve over ice in a tall glass

And you don’t need a lot of fancy bartending tools to have a successful holiday party. Just remember these few tips:

  1. Refrigerate soft drinks and carbonated mixers for any chilled drinks, whenever possible, to keep the ice from melting prematurely and drowning the bubbles.
  2. Avoid stirring drinks with metal, which can squelch the bubbles. Instead use plastic or glass swizzle sticks.
  3. Using narrow-mouthed glasses helps preserve the bubbles in your guests’ drinks.

Find more fun holiday drink recipes and entertaining tips!

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Events & Entertaining

Santa Has Elves. Why Shouldn’t You Have Help With Your Next Holiday Party!?!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Buca di Beppo. All opinions are 100% mine.

Santa has a whole workshop full of elves and eight high-flying reindeer to help him deliver holiday joy around the world. Just think of Buca di Beppo as your own personal Italian elves who can make your next office holiday party stress free.

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When you cater your holiday party with Buca di Beppo, rest assured that they can accommodate any size group or budget. Buca’s diverse menu of family-style dishes is perfect for sharing with friends and co-workers:

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Like lasagna with towering layers of meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan cheeses. Or spaghetti with Buca’s famous half-pound meatballs with homemade marinara sauce. Buca di Beppo has a wide range of menu options with something for every taste in your office.

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And for dessert, don’t miss the chocolate chip cannoli. These crispy shells are stuffed to order with a sweet, cannoli cream filling mixed with chocolate chips. 

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Let the team at Buca di Beppo take the hassle out of holiday party planning for you. Buca di Beppo makes it easy to Order Party Pans To Go. Buca’s delicious and authentic Italian cuisine is available in half and full party pans for pick-up or delivery.  

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Top Tips For A Stress-Free Office Holiday Party

  1. While you manage the menu, delegate others in the office to be in charge of music (like a holiday play list), decorations (keep them simple) and entertainment (such as games or door prizes – like Buca di Beppo gift cards)
  2. Make the attire casual (everyone has more fun when they’re comfortable)
  3. If you’re serving alcohol, plan for designated drivers (or a taxi service) for your guests
  4. Instead of a full bar, pick one or two signature drinks to serve that can be made up ahead of time in large pitchers so guests can serve themselves
  5. Put your local Buca di Beppo restaurant on speed dial and delegate, delegate, delegate!

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Buca di Beppo is a perfect option for catering all your office and private parties. Buone Feste!

Visit Sponsor's Site

Entrees/ Events & Entertaining

Talking About Culinary Fight Club

The first rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club! Well I’m not Brad Pitt, so I’m going to break the rules and talk about the upcoming Culinary Fight Club TasteBud Challenge set for August 21.

Culinary Fight Club 1

Never heard of the Culinary Fight Club? The Culinary Fight Club produces live monthly cooking competitions in Chicago called “TasteBud Challenges.” It’s been recently selected as an official qualifying event for the World Food Championships in Vegas, where chefs of all levels go to compete for the “Golden Ticket” and win their spot in the highest stakes “Food Sport” Competition in the world!

Culinary Fight Club 2

One of the things that impresses me about Culinary Fight Club is its focus on #payingitforward. All ticket proceeds benefit Fight2Feed, a Charitable Organization on a mission to “KO” hunger in Chicago.

The theme of the next TasteBud Challenge (August 21) is “The Amazing Culinary Fight Club Race.” [Every month has a new theme.] Competing chefs will have to drive to different restaurants around Chicago to pick up their ingredients. [My advice to the competitors: Uber!]

Culinary Fight Club 1a

Chef AndrewOne of this week’s competing teams is Pure Kitchen Catering, led by Chef Andrew. He looks very confident and calm!

Chef Andrew is kindly sharing his recipe for Stuffed, Braised Short Rib Prime Burgers. Now that’s what I call inventive. I think I’m going to try this recipe out for my Labor Day weekend barbecue.

I can’t wait to see what Chef Andrew’s team whips up at the next Culinary Fight Club TasteBud Challenge on August 21. Tickets are available on Eventbrite. Good luck to all the competitors – and may the best food win!

Stuffed, Braised Short Rib Prime Burger

Ingredients

8 oz boneless short ribs
8 oz grass-fed prime ground beef
1 farm egg
1 ½ cups mirepoix
½ bottle red wine
2 cloves garlic
2 cups beef stock
1 bouquet garni
2 slices white Cheddar
1 brioche hamburger bun
1 slice heirloom tomato
Arugula, enough for burger
1 oz garlic aïoli
½ stick unsalted butter
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a medium skillet sear off your short ribs seasoned with salt and pepper. Add vegetables and cook till soft, deglaze with garlic and wine, add the short ribs to a dutch oven or a roasting pan and add beef broth and wine/vegetable mixture, toss in bouquet garni, braise meat for three hours at 350 until buttery tender. Let cool to stuff the burger.

Split your 8 oz burger in half and patty into discs, make a divot in the center and add the short ribs, make sure is not too much leave a length around patty so it will bind with other patty, form other patty into same size and mold over the short ribs, set in fridge to set the patty so it does not fall apart when cooking.

In a medium sauté pan add some olive oil to coat pan on high heat, season and sear burger on high heat on both sides, add butter and baste until nice and browned. Top with cheese and roast at 350 for 5 mins for med rare. In that time cook your egg and arrange your garnishes(bun,arugula, tomato, aïoli) enjoy!!

Notes

This recipe is from Chef Andrew of Pure Kitchen Catering

http://bakedchicago.com/talking-culinary-fight-club/

Events & Entertaining

The Guy’s Guide for the Perfect Mother’s Day Picnic

canta mato salad #FuelTheLove #ad

Collective Bias Social Fabric

My mom and her cutest child (me!) #MyMarianos #CollectiveBias guy's guide for the perfect mother's day picnic

My mom and her cutest child (me!)

Finding the right gift for mom on any occasion can feel like an impossible mission for some guys (me included!). And when it comes to Mother’s Day, the pressure seems to grow exponentially.

How do you say a proper “thank you” to that person who changed your diapers, wiped your runny nose when you were sick and basically made sure that you and your siblings didn’t kill yourself or each other through the course of growing up?

A big bouquet of flowers or a huge box of chocolates? My mom would consider both extravagant. She’d eat one chocolate and share the rest, suggesting she has to watch her sugar and calorie intake.

Jewelry or a gift certificate for a massage? She usually only wears her wedding ring, and she’d much rather take a hot bath in her own tub than go to a stranger for a massage. Fancy perfume? Ivory soap is good enough for her.

On the surface, my mom might seem like a hard person to buy a present for. So what’s a son to do? The answer for me is NOT to buy a present, but rather to create the gift of an experience we can both enjoy.

I found my muse for the perfect Mother’s Day gift for my mom at Mariano’s on this #shop for #CollectiveBias. It hit me as I was exploring the delectable deli and bountiful bakery departments at the Jefferson Park #MyMarianos: a Mother’s Day picnic.

deli croissants #MyMarianos #CollectiveBias, guy's guide for the perfect mother's day picnic

When Mariano’s asked me to share a story about what inspires me about my mom, I didn’t know where to begin because my mom is inspiring in many ways. But the thing that is most amazing is that she’s always giving of herself and her time to others, to the point where she rarely takes time just for herself. She’d rather spend her money and time on her grandchildren or to help others in greater need.

To understand my mom, it helps to know where she came from. She was the 2nd youngest of 11 kids, and grew up right after the Depression. Money was always tight for her family, and some of the simplest things today were considered great luxuries back then.

One of her fondest memories growing up was when she and her mom (my grandmother) would eat ice cream right out of the carton. Back then, ice cream was a rare treat if you were poor. And they didn’t have the kind of refrigerator-freezers we have today, so storing ice cream was a challenge.

But my mom and grandmother had a solution for that: grab a spoon and eat it quick. When you’re one of 11 kids, you share everything so you just grab a spoon and dig in until it’s gone!

Pulling together a picnic doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, a successful picnic menu should be simple. All the food and drink need to be portable, easy-to-consume. Where most guys get it wrong is either by over-thinking it, or not giving it any thought at all. Success lies somewhere in the middle, so I wanted to share my tips for The Guy’s Guide for the Perfect Mother’s Day Picnic.

The Guy’s Guide for the Perfect Mother’s Day Picnic

Tip #1: Show that you’ve been listening (at least some of the time).

Growing up, mom cooked for you. Now it’s your turn to make the meal. That doesn’t mean you have to make everything from scratch. Pick a menu from all the great prepared foods you can find in the deli and bakery aisles, and be sure to include your mom’s favorite foods. Show her that you’ve been paying attention all these years!

My mom absolutely L-O-V-E-S fresh tomatoes and cold vanilla milkshakes. [Hold the whipped cream and cherry so there’s room for more milkshake in the glass!]. For as long as I can remember, my mom has planted tomatoes and cantaloupe (and sometimes watermelon) in her garden. Some days, she’ll go out to her garden and pick a fresh tomato for her lunch or dinner. She cuts up the tomato and uses a little salt and pepper. Bam! She’s got a simple, yet satisfying, meal that she loves.

For this Mother’s Day picnic menu, I’ve selected a few special items from Mariano’s bakery, deli and fresh produce section that make up the majority of the menu. I am going to make one simple dish that combines two fresh foods my mom loves: tomatoes and cantaloupe. I call the dish Canta-Mato Salad. The recipe (below) is so simple that anybody who can hold a knife and drizzle olive oil can make it. It’s deliciously simple and making at least one dish demonstrates an honest effort to give of yourself.

canta mato salad #MyMarianos #CollectiveBias, guy's guide for the perfect mother's day picnic

Picnic Menu

  • All-white meat chicken salad on buttery croissants
  • Crunchy home-style potato chips
  • Tomato-cantaloupe salad with fresh mint
  • Vanilla milkshakes

You can find chicken salad in the deli and croissants in the bakery. And select your favorite chips (for crunch) from the snack aisle.

chicken salad on buttery croissant #MyMarianos #CollectiveBias, guy's guide for the perfect mother's day picnic

Then pick three ingredients from the fresh product department: a pint of cherry tomatoes, a cantaloupe and some fresh mint.

tomatoes cantaloupes mint #MyMarianos #CollectiveBias, guy's guide for the perfect mother's day picnic

That’s all I need for a perfect picnic lunch that my mom will love. [I’ll pick up the vanilla milkshakes from the drive-through down the street from mom’s house so they’re good and cold.]

Tip #2: Don’t forget the flowers!

You might be saying, “hey, wait a minute! You said she really didn’t care about flowers!” That’s true. You don’t have to buy a huge flower bouquet, but a simple corsage that she can wear to church is something that would make her feel extra special. When people comment on her flowers, she gets to “brag” that her son gave it to her.

Tip #3: Sometimes, it’s okay to lie.

I don’t mean that it’s alright to tell your mom you’re in Hong Kong on business if you can’t be with her in person on Mother’s Day. Unless you are. Let me explain what I mean with an example of how I sometimes “lie” to my mom about the gift I’m giving her.

My mom is always thinking of others, and I know she really enjoys helping others in thoughtful ways. So I’ll sometimes get her two of something, like two differently colored corsages. Then I’ll say something like “I couldn’t decide which you’d like more” [the lie!] and suggest she give the one she doesn’t wear to a friend or someone at church who’d appreciate it. That could be an aunt, the minister’s wife or the church organist. It’s a chance for me to help my mom spread a little sunshine, because that gives her such joy to help others.

Tip #4: Your Mother’s Day celebration doesn’t have to be on Sunday only.

I’m one of six kids and everyone wants to spend time with Mom on Mother’s Day. Sometimes that’s not logistically possible.

Pick a time when you don’t have to rush around or deal with competing family schedules. In our family, one of my younger brothers always takes our mom out for a Mother’s Day lunch fundraiser at the local fire station. So I’ve chosen to treat mom to a Mother’s Day picnic on Saturday, the day before Mother’s Day. That way mom gets to celebrate a Mother’s Day weekend and I can give her the corsage in time for her to wear on Sunday to church.

Tip #5: The “perfect Mother’s Day” isn’t really about being perfect.

The perfect Mother’s Day is more about being present, being real and spending time with Mom in an authentic way that you both enjoy. Rather than putting your energy into buying a gift, show mom how much you appreciate her by spending time together and making the shared experience the gift.

For my mom, the only thing better than a Mother’s Day picnic with her cutest kid (me!) would be a Mother’s Day picnic with a side of bingo!

How are you planning to make your mom’s Mother’s Day perfect for her? Share your ideas in the comments section below. For other inspiring ideas to help make your mom’s Mother’s Day as perfect as it can be, follow Mariano’s on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. And check out the Mariano’s TasteMaker series featuring some of Chicago’s most innovative chefs.

Canta-Mato Salad

Rating: 51

12 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Canta-Mato Salad

Ingredients

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cantaloupe, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

Instructions

Gather your ingredients. Slice the cherry tomatoes. Cut the cantaloupe. Chop the mint.

Put the tomatoes and cantaloupe in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil, Add chopped mint and gently toss.

http://bakedchicago.com/the-guys-guide-perfect-mothers-day-picnic/

Appetizers/ Events & Entertaining

Some Bunnies Bring A Fresh Take To Easter Brunch!

Collective Bias Social Fabric

Some Bunnies Baxter and Bing - KRAFT #FreshTake #CollectiveBias

Everybunny needs a little extra help and a fresh take in the kitchen when it comes to getting ready for family holiday gatherings, like Easter.

Honestly, I get bored with “traditional Easter” menus. I don’t love ham and I prefer my eggs scrambled or omeletted (yes, that’s a word in my world). Many of the traditional Easter foods I grew up with I just don’t care for as an adult. But that’s not to say that I don’t like to cook with many of the ingredients found in these dishes. I’m simply challenged to find a way to incorporate those ingredients in ways that will excite my palate – and those of the 23 members of my immediate family when we get together for an Easter brunch. [Yes, when the ENTIRE family gets together we have that many in the immediate family, not counting pets!]

So I accepted a challenge to use three varieties of KRAFT #FreshTake Cheese & Breadcrumb mixes to create side dishes for Easter brunch on this #shop for #Collective Bias. But I knew I had to get some help from some bunnies (actually, they’re apricot-fawn pugs) named Baxter and Bing. They are rescues and the MOST FOOD OBSESSED DOGS my vet and dog trainer have ever seen! That’s probably why the universe put us together. Their help in deciding on what to make for an Easter brunch menu is (almost) always invaluable.

Now Baxter and Bing don’t actually help prep any food (I thought I should call that out, as I’ve been told I’m somewhat obsessive when it comes to my dogs). But Bing (the father) and Baxter (the son) may occasionally taste test an ingredient as I cook.

Bing and Baxter aren’t very vocal, unlike their constantly-barking-at-the-wind black pug sisters, Della and Marlo. [Della and Marlo aren’t yet 2 years old, so they’re too young to help out much in the kitchen for now.] But Bing and Baxter can communicate “the world” with a single look, so I pay close attention to their eyes when we “collaborate” on what to make. We “conferred” and decided on using three varieties of KRAFT Fresh Take Cheese & Breadcrumb mixes for our Easter brunch menu:

  • #FreshTake Italian Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes [Sweden’s version of baked potatoes]
  • #FreshTake Southwest Three Cheese Stuffed Peppers [hearty enough to be a satisfying entrée on its own]
  • #FreshTake Cheddar Jack with Bacon Deviled Egg Cups [a modern take on a traditional app]

So it was off to my local Walmart to get the ingredients. You’ll find KRAFT Fresh Take in the refrigerated cheese aisle.

KRAFT #FreshTake at Walmart, #CollectiveBias

For a limited time, you can save $1.00 on the purchase of any KRAFT Fresh Take Cheese & Breadcrumb Mix and fresh chicken at Walmart. Get your $1.00 coupon here.

$1 coupon for KRAFT #FreshTake at Walmart #CollectiveBias

Hasselback Potatoes

If you’ve read Baked Chicago before, you may know that I’ve never met a potato I didn’t like. And while I love a good baked potato, it can be kinda boring to serve for a special occasion. But not Hasselback Potatoes, which are Sweden’s version of baked potatoes. They were made popular by the restaurant inside the Hasselbacken Hotel in Stockholm that created the dish.

By using a simple cutting technique (which also helps the potatoes to cook faster) and adding some simple ingredients inside or atop the potatoes while they bake, you have a simply elegant – and unbelievably delicious – potato dish that everyone is going to gobble down at the Easter table. [I guess that’s a better description for the Thanksgiving table, but you know what I mean.]

This dish would also be something that you could cook to impress someone, like a first date, because they look like they would be difficult to make. But they’re not. It’s all in the presentation, and (from where I sit) there’s no need to let them know just how easy it was!

KRAFT #FreshTake #CollectiveBias Hasselback Potatoes

During the cooking process, the potato start to fan out – making for a beautiful presentation on the plate.

closeup of KRAFT #FreshTake Italian Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes, #CollectiveBias

  

Hasselback Potatoes with KRAFT Fresh Take Cheese & Breadcrumb Mix

Rating: 51

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

18 small Yukon Gold potatoes (about 3 pounds), peeled
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 package KRAFT Fresh Take Cheese & Breadcrumb Mix, Italian Parmesan Recipe
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
sea salt and ground black pepper, for seasoning

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400 F degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Place peeled potatoes on a cutting board. Cut a narrow slice from the bottom of each potato to help the potato lie flat; discard the slice.

Place one wooden chopstick (2 total) on each side of the potato, lengthwise. Use a knife to slice each potato crosswise making slices about 1/4-inch apart for the length of the potato. The chopsticks will prevent the knife from cutting through the bottom of the potato. You want to leave about 1/4-inch on the bottom of the potato intact.

After cutting the potatoes, gently rinse them to rid excess starch which can impede fanning. Carefully flex the potatoes while rinsing under cold running water. Dry the potatoes well before baking.

Place the contents of the entire KRAFT Fresh Take Italian Parmesan package in a food processor, along with olive oil. Pulse until well blended.

Brush the potatoes with melted butter. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Pat the prepared KRAFT Fresh Take cheese & breadcrumb mixture on top of each potato.

Place potatoes onto the prepared baking sheet. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until they turn crispy and are fork-tender.

Notes

Hasselback potatoes are also known as the Swedish version of baked potatoes, popularized by the restaurant at the Hasselbacken Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden. As the potatoes bake, the slices fan out slightly - making for an elegant presentation.

http://bakedchicago.com/hasselback-potatoes/

Slow Cooker Southwest 3-Cheese Stuffed Peppers

The next dish I made was a slow cooker version of stuffed peppers. Many cooks use green bell peppers, but I personally think the vibrant colors of the orange, yellow and red bell peppers are much more visually appealing. As a kid, I hated most green vegetables. While my palate grew up, my eyes still find the same green of most vegetables to be quite dull.

Go veggie! You can also turn this into a vegetarian dish by simply eliminating the ground turkey.

What I love best about this recipe is that it’s another slow cooker home run. I have [undiagnosed] adult ADD. So anytime I can put something into the slow cooker and forget it for a few hours, I am so HOPPY…I mean HAPPY!

KRAFT #FreshTake #CollectiveBias Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

  • 6 large bell peppers, tops removed and seeded
  • 1 pound ground turkey, browned and crumbled
  • 10 ounces frozen kernel corn
  • 15 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup chunky salsa
  • 1/4 cup chopped onions
  • 1 cup brown rice, cooked
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 package KRAFT Fresh Take Southwest Three Cheese & Breadcrumbs

KRAFT #FreshTake #CollectiveBias mise en place for stuffed peppers

Directions

In a skillet, cook the ground turkey until browned. Crumble it as you stir. Set aside. Cook the brown rice according to package directions. Set aside. Cut off the tops of each pepper, then core and remove seeds, membranes. Rinse out with cold water. If needed, slice off any uneven portion of the bottoms of each pepper in order for them to lie flat. Set aside.

Preparing peppers for KRAFT #FreshTake Southwest 3-Cheese Stuffed Peppers, #CollectiveBias

In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, salsa, onions, brown rice and Worcestershire sauce until blended. Stuff peppers with mixture and top with KRAFT Fresh Take cheese & breadcrumbs. Stand peppers in a slow cooker. Add 1/2 cup water in the bottom and cover. Cook on low for 6 hours (or on HIGH for 3 hours), or until peppers are tender. Makes 6 servings.

Deviled Egg Cups

The final recipe for my Easter brunch is a twist on deviled eggs. I have always liked the taste of deviled eggs, but I’m not a fan of the rubbery texture that hard-boiled egg whites can sometimes have. Deviled egg cups use phyllo dough for the vessel, so it adds a nice crunchy texture that I find irresistible.

And the filling couldn’t be easier. You essentially puree the hard-boiled eggs (yolks and whites!) and mix in the rest of the ingredients. Then pipe the filling into the phyllo shells and you’ve got a somewhat fancy appetizer that is great for a large gathering.

But don’t forget to garnish with thick-cut bacon. That’s Bing and Baxter’s tip, because they love anything topped with bacon. And I concur.

KRAFT #FreshTake Cheddar Jack and Bacon Deviled Egg Cups, #CollectiveBias

Ingredients

  • 30 (2 boxes) frozen mini phyllo shells
  • 6 hard-boiled large eggs, peeled
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 package KRAFT Fresh Take Cheddar Jack with Bacon Cheese & Breadcrumbs
  • 5 slices thick-cut bacon, crispy and chopped, for garnish

KRAFT #FreshTake Cheddar Jack and Bacon with Kraft Mayo, #CollectiveBias

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 F degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the phyllo shells on baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Let cool.

In food processor, puree eggs, mayonnaise, lemon juice, pepper, salt and contents of Fresh Take Cheddar Jack with Bacon. Put egg mixture in a resealable plastic bag, cut off tip and pipe into shells.

Garnish with chopped bacon and serve at room temperature. Makes 30 deviled egg cups.

Finally, Some Fun For The Kids

I hope you found some inspiration in these recipes as you prepare your Easter menu. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or for a super-humongous group, make it easy on the chef! Simple can also be delicious and a crowd-pleaser. What’s going to be on your Easter menu this year? Share your comments below.

Dig out the plastic eggs from the basement or attic and get ready for some marathon Easter egg hunts! [For those with kids under age 6, you know what I mean. I have 13 nieces and nephews, of which 8 are under 10 years old. So I’ve hosted my share of egg-citing – and unending – egg hunts. Just don’t forget where you put the eggs. Seriously. Don’t forget.]

Many of my nieces and nephews have iPads and hand-held electronic games, so anything as “manual” as an Easter egg hunt may see alien to them as they get into their teens. I remember as a younger kid that I loved to color with crayons and do word games/puzzles, so I wanted to share with you an Easter coloring page and maze puzzle (both are downloadable PDFs) that you can share.

Who knows? It might just buy you 10 minutes of uninterrupted time in the kitchen. And for that, you’ll thank me!

Happy Easter!

Free Printable Easter Coloring Page (for personal use only), #FreshTake #CollectiveBias

Free Printable – Easter Coloring Page (for personal use only)

Free Printable - Easter Maze (for personal use only), #FreshTake #CollectiveBias

Free Printable – Easter Maze (for personal use only)