• Appetizers,  Entertaining,  Party Food,  Quick,  Side Dishes

    Easy Pizza Dip

    With the big game coming up this weekend, I’m sure many of you are in planning mode, too.  Around here, we’re all making lists of our favorite game-day treats, shopping for ingredients and definitely looking forward to snacking – maybe more so than the game itself.  It’s a tradition in our family to gather at my parent’s house for the game – and since our team hasn’t been in the Super Bowl for many years, it’s become all about the food (and the commercials, right?)…

  • Appetizers,  chocolate,  Entertaining,  Peanut Butter

    Firecrackers & Football Cookies

    This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ScoreMoreFans#CollectiveBias Can you believe the big February football game is almost here again?  I mostly can’t believe it because January just flew by – which is really ok because as you know, I’m not a winter kind of girl – I’m counting down the seconds until warm weather. I really shouldn’t complain about this time of year though, because it’s actually pretty fun.  With all of the football…

  • Appetizers,  Beverages,  Breakfast,  Entertaining,  Lemon

    Champagne Brunch with KORBEL

    This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of KORBEL California Champagne for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. Last week I hosted a small brunch for some friends who were passing through town for the holidays.  Nothing big, but I wanted to have a few dishes for them to nibble on and some delish champagne cocktails to go with. I kept it simple with a fruit tray, a few pastries from a local bakery and then added in a couple of my…

  • Appetizers,  chocolate,  Dessert,  Party Food,  Quick,  Summer Favorites

    Chocolate Dipped Cannoli Cups

    I don’t like to leave my house on New Year’s Eve.  I like to hunker down with my family, watch TV, eat some YUM food and make a cocktail or two with my husband.  The thought of venturing out and dealing with crowds just doesn’t do it for me anymore – although I’m not sure it ever did. I love to pick a bunch of one-bite appetizers and desserts for our evening, and these cannoli cups will definitely be on the list this year.  They…

  • Appetizers,  Garden,  Pastry,  Side Dishes,  Weeknight

    Loaded Baked Potato Quiche

    So, we probably need to address my love for potatoes. I’m kind of obsessed.  Mashed Potatoes are probably my favorite food.  A baked potato topped with cottage cheese and pepper is my favorite go-to lunch.  I always have a ten pound bag of them in my pantry.  When I’ve had a bad day, my husband will cheer me up with his amazing smashed, buttered potatoes.  (Holy cow, delish.) So, when I saw a mini baked potato quiche at my local grocery store deli, I knew,…

  • Appetizers,  Entertaining,  Party Food,  Side Dishes

    Jalapeno Popper Fillo Bites

    Game Day! Doesn’t it seem like every day this time of year is spent prepping for, planning for, looking forward to or participating in some sort of game day? Whether it’s your kids, your favorite team (Go Royals!) or just an excuse for a social gathering, there is just always something going on.  If you happen to be hosting or attending a game-day gathering soon, this recipe MUST be on your radar! I’ve raved before about Athens Mini Fillo Shells.  They really are lifesavers!  I…

  • Appetizers,  Party Food,  Summer Favorites,  Vegetarian,  Weeknight

    Cream Cheese and Pepper Jelly Fillo Shells

    So, how many social events have YOU been to this month?  Weddings, showers, graduations, anniversary parties, end of school year parties – holy cow, it’s a busy time of year!  We’ve hosted a few events at our home lately, and since we’ve been pulled a million different directions, it’s nice to have some quick and easy appetizer options at my fingertips. These little Fillo cups from my friends at Athens are amazing, and have saved me in an entertaining-pinch many, many times.  Fillo (or Phyllo…

  • Appetizers,  Beverages

    Summer Sauvignon Blanc White Wine Party

    This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. I am fortunate to have a small, tight-knit circle of girlfriends.  Our friendship has grown over the past 15 years, starting as co-workers and continuing even after everyone has gone their separate ways to new jobs.  They’re the kind of friends that get your inside jokes, but we can also go a few weeks without talking and pick up just where we left off. Good,…

  • Appetizers,  Gluten-Free,  Side Dishes,  Vegetarian

    Roasted Smashed Potatoes

    Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love potatoes.  Mashed, scalloped, baked, fried – I love them all.  My guiltiest pleasure of all is a recipe my husband makes occasionally – simple, buttered potatoes – they’re just boiled potatoes smothered in butter and just barely mashed.  They are SO indulgent and soooo good.  I’d share that recipe with you, but I have a feeling I’d be kicked off the internet by the snark police.  (They’d ♥ them too, if they’d just try them.…

  • Appetizers,  Party Food,  Quick

    Charleston Cheese Dip

    Yay, dip!  I LOVE me a good dip.  Like the guacamole homer I am, I get WAY excited when I see a good seven-layer dip at a party (my sister-in-law makes a GREAT one, I’ll have to share it soon) but I’m all about trying new dip concoctions, too. Except, never put shrimp in my dip.  Just don’t, k?  I’m weird about shrimp. And now dip looks and sounds funny, ’cause I’ve written it way too many times. Dip, dip, dip. This dip, though –…

  • Appetizers,  Main Courses,  Quick,  Summer Favorites,  Vegetarian,  Weeknight

    Hearts of Palm Street Tacos

    So, guys.  Gals.  Friends.  We need to talk. This taco is LIFE.  CHANGING. I’m not one to be overly dramatic (haha…no, seriously) about food, but holy-fried-middle-of-a-palm-tree-leaf, this is a tasty, tasty taco. Uh, yeah.  The guts of this taco are totally fried palm tree leaves.  Wikipedia says so.  Well, if we’re being technical, they’re actually the inner core of certain types of palm tree leaves, but either way, I had no idea that they were even a thing.  Especially an edible thing. PS, they’re also called…

  • Appetizers,  Entertaining,  Party Food,  Quick,  Summer Favorites

    Spinach Queso Dip

    So, let’s talk football. My family is obsessed. College football on Saturday, NFL on Sunday, Monday and even Thursday sometimes. High school football on Friday nights, fantasy football leagues everywhere I turn, and pick-up games of catch before and after Sunday dinner. Now, I like football as much as the next person (ok, well maybe a *tiny* bit less), but I have to say that I get more excited about the football parties and the tailgating than I do the actual games. And right at…