Game Day Recipes

This year, I've been trying different recipes out for our Patriots' Game Days.  Today, I seemed to score a touchdown with the dishes I served for my Patriots family and Ravens friends.  I have to admit, I'm no egomaniac, but this stuff was AWESOME.  Here are some great recipes to try for your Pro-Bowl or Superbowl parties.

BLT Dip

1 lb. bacon cooked & crisped
1 C. mayonnaise
1 C. sour cream
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1 tomato, seeded and chopped OR 1 can diced tomatoes, drained and rinsed with water
1/2 C. chopped green onions


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix mayo, sour cream, and cream cheese in a bowl until thoroughly combined.  Crumble bacon into mixture and stir.  Add shredded cheddar, green onions, and tomato, and mix well.  Pour into a baking dish and bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbling.  Serve with Fritos or other corn chips.  As my niece said, "Full of bacony-cheesy goodness!"

Cheesy Pigs in a Blanket with a Tangy Sauce

1 pkg. (8 oz.) crescent rolls (ie. Pillsbury)
1/4 C. Steak Sauce (ie. A1)
1-2 C. shredded cheddar
1 pkg. (16 oz.) beef hot dogs
Poppy seeds, to taste
1/4 C. barbecue sauce
1/4 C. mayonnaise
4 tsp. dijon or spicy mustard
1 tsp. yellow mustard

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Separate crescents into 8 triangles.  Brush each triangle with a bit of steak sauce, sprinkle a bit of cheese over it.  Place one hot dog over the wide end of each triangle.  Roll up and place seam-side down on greased baking sheet.  Sprinkle with poppy seeds.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.  Meanwhile, mix all remaining ingredients until well blended.  Cut each "pig" in half and serve on a tray with a bowl of the sauce on the side.  Yummy!

Collard Greens and Artichoke Dip

1 10 oz. pkg. frozen collard greens, thawed and well-drained
1 jar (6.5 oz.) marinated artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
1 C. Mexican-style finely shredded four-cheese blend
3/4 C. mayonnaise
3 cloves of garlic, put through a garlic press
1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce (we use Frank's Red Hot)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine all ingredients in a baking dish.  Bake 20 minutes or until heated through.  Serve with Ritz crackers.

As my Hubs would say, we had some "Gud Fud" today.  I hope you all enjoy these dishes as much as we all did today.  A good game day was had by all.  The Ravens gave the Patriots a real run for their money and made for some splendid (and heart-attack inducing) moments.  So happy my team will be going to the Super Bowl!

Bye-bye 2011, hello and so glad to welcome 2012!!!

The year 2011 turned out to be a really bad year for both the Homesteader's Wife and her dear Hubs, and our family--including our beloved pets.  We lost our first set of ducks to Mr. Fox several months ago.  It was very traumatic for all involved.  Walking out to find out that 3 out of our 4 dear duckies were mauled and maimed and left for DEAD was really stressful.  We thought that was THE worst thing that could ever happen to our family.  

Luckily, Lily, our Khaki Campbell female duck, survived the fox-ridden carnage.  We took her to the vet (Chadwell Animal Hospital) and they were able to treat our girl and bring her back to health.   We ended up ordering four more duckies and are now keeping our feathered/furry friends very close to us, in the hopes that we will be able to keep our ducky pets alive, no matter what.  I'm thankful that we now have a really secure duck-house AND that our other pets (aka kitty-cats) continue to choose to come inside to keep warm. 

Unfortunately, a few months later, we lost two of our beloved kitty-cats to Mr. Fox as well.  Still can't believe both of our dear cats, 3-year old Harley and 14-year old Squeaker (who traveled with us from VA to PR, then from PR to Japan, and finally from Japan to MD), were taken out in that manner.  Then to make matters worse, also this fall, we had to put down our beloved 14-year old doggie, Gus, as he was demonstrating the devastating traits of "doggie dementia."  I wouldn't wish this on any other dog parents. 

We ended up ordering four more duckies and are now keeping our feathered/furry friends very close to us, in the hopes that we will be able to keep our ducky pets alive, no matter what.  I'm thankful that we now have a really secure duck-house AND that our other pets (aka kitty-cats) continue to choose to come inside to keep warm. 

I wish each and everyone of my friends/family a truly happy new year!  Many prayers and blessings are sent from the Cichonowicz family!