Sunday night, Tony and I went all out and cooked dinner. We started with a super easy Artichoke Dip. Here's the recipe!
ARTICHOKE DIP
Modified from: Williams-Sonoma Bride and Groom Cookbook
Serves: 2-4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes
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| Artichoke Dip |
Ingredients
12 oz can/jar of artichoke hearts
1 tsp lemon juice
1/3 cup mayo
3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp cream cheese
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Drain artichoke hearts and cut into pieces.
3. Mix together artichoke hearts, lemon juice, mayo, 3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, parsley, and cream cheese.
4. Place in a baking dish and top with remaining (1/2 Tbsp) Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes
6. Serve warm with Naan, Frito-Lay Tortilla Chips, or pita.
Enjoy!
One of my favorite appetizers is my grandmother's crab dip. This is something super quick and easy. There's two ways to serve it and they're both yummy! If you want something more formal, layering them is the way to go. If you want something for a larger group, kids, or to take to a party, mixing everything together is the way to go.
GRAMMY'S CRAB DIP
Serves: 2 -8
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
Bar of cream cheese
Can of Crab meat
Bottle of Cocktail Sauce
Directions:
1. Layer cream cheese, crab meat, and cocktail sauce.
- or -
Mix cream cheese, crab meat, and cocktail sauce.
2. Serve with crackers (I prefer Sociables)
Enjoy!
With an impending 11 hour road trip, I started planning what snack food we would take with us. I had the normal cheerios, raisins, almonds, and string cheese. I wanted something salty. I settled on chex mix. Below are two different ways to make it. I always make it in the oven but I am sure the microwave directions work just fine. I left out the mixed nuts in the original recipe since Tony's allergic to peanuts.
CHEX MIX
(modified from Chex website)
Makes: 10 cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
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| Peanut-Free Chex Mix |
Ingredients:
3 cups Corn Chex-type cereal
3 cups Rice Chex-type cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex-type cereal
1 cup pretzels
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions:
1. Heat oven to 250°F.
2. In large bowl, mix cereals, and pretzels.
3. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. I used my dutch oven.
4. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in cereal mixture until evenly coated.
5. Bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
6. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes.
7. Store in airtight container.
Quicker Instructions:
Total time: 25 minutes
1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, and pretzels
2. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted.
3. Stir in seasonings.
4. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
5. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes.
6. Spread on paper towels to cool.
7. Store in airtight container.
Enjoy!
Since Tony and I bought our house, we've had family visit, a few friends over to hang out, and one Christmas Party. I've wanted to have a dinner party but timing was always an issue. We looked at the next several weekends and they were booked. We decided this past weekend was the weekend to do it. We invited over two other couples. That was the easy part. Next, I had to decide on the menu.
Here's what I wanted:
- something simple and not too different/exotic
- easy, casserole type meal where it cooks and can't overcook
Here's where I ended up:
Appetizers:
Cheese, Pepperoni, and Crackers (prepared that morning)
Main Meal:
Ceaser Salad
Rolls
No Work Chicken with Rice (prepped Friday night, switched to casserole Saturday mid-day, put into oven when guests arrived)
Broccoli
Dessert:
Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream
Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream
Easy Classic Brownies
All that was left was to set the bar and the table.
We had a great night and I can't wait to hold another dinner party!
