Hot Pizza Dip

Tonight is our April girl's game night & I am forever trying to figure out what appetizer to bring to the festivities. I usually like to try new recipes on the girl's & get their feedback but tonight I decided to make a dip that I have brought before & is always a hit. I haven't made it for almost a year so it is time to bring it back!

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Hot Pizza Dip

1 (8oz) package of cream cheese, softened

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp dried basil

*may use Italian seasoning instead of above seasonings

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup pizza sauce

2 T chopped green bell pepper

2 T chopped white onion

2 oz Hormel pepperoni sausage, chopped

2 T sliced black olives

*may add 2oz sausage as an option

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, oregano, parsley, basil & garlic. 

Spread mixture in the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate, or a shallow microwave-safe dish. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese & 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese on top of the cream cheese mixture. Spread the pizza sauce over all. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, then top with green pepper, pepperoni, onion & olive slices. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min uncovered. Serve hot with sliced french baguette bread or bagel chips.

Yield: 16 servings

Meatball Sliders

I found this recipe on Pinterest & have made it a couple of times for a quick dinner. The hubby seems to enjoy them & they are super easy to make - especially if you need to whip up an appetizer for an unexpected get-together!

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Meatball Sliders

Ingredients
1 bag frozen Italian Style meatballs (32 meatballs)
1 jar (28 oz.) pasta sauce
2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
11 slices mozzarella cheese, cut into thirds

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Simmer meatballs and sauce over low heat until warmed through (5-10 minutes). Separate crescent rolls into triangles. Cut each triangle in half to form two triangles. Place 1/3 slice of mozzarella cheese on top of each crescent roll, top with meatball and roll up. Bake at 375 for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown. Enjoy :)

Snicker Salad

Peeked your interests, didn't I?

This strange named "salad" comes from my Aunt Denise as she would often bring it when the family gathered for holiday's or birthdays. It is a dee-lish recipe & one I have made often which is always a hit with whomever eats it! Perfect to take to your own family get-together's this summer!

  

Snicker Salad

1 small package French Vanilla instant pudding

1 cup milk

1 8oz carton Cool Whip

2-3 Granny Smith apples, cut into chunks

4 Snickers bars, cut into chunks

Mix milk & pudding; add Cool Whip. Just prior to serving, fold in the apples & candy bars. Enjoy :)

*FYI: this recipe does not do well as leftovers the next day. The apples turn brown & the Snickers get gooey. Usually it is so yummy that there aren't any leftovesr!

Cilantro Lime Shrimp

This is another fabulous Weight Watchers recipe that I found over at Skinnytaste.com. Shrimp is one of my favorite "skinny" foods to cook with. It has a lot of protein, is low in calories & cooks up quickly for a fast & easy meal. I made this for dinner tonight & served it over jasmine rice along with a salad - YUM!

 

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Cilantro Lime Shrimp

2 tsp olive oil

2 lb shrimp, shelled & deveined

6 cloves garlic, crushed

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 lime

salt & pepper

Heat a large frying pan on med-high heat. Add oil to the pan, when hot add shrimp. Season with salt & pepper. When he shrimp is cooked on one side - about 2 min - turn over & add garlic. Saute another minute or two until shrimp is cooked, careful not to overcook. Remove from heat. Squeeze lime all over shrimp & toss with cilantro. Serve hot.

Servings: 4 * WW points +: 6 pts   (old WW points: 4)

Calories: 197 * Fat: 4.1g * Protein: 35.9g * Carb: 2.4g * Fiber: 0.1g

Bacon Wrapped Brussel Sprouts

I have talked about this recipe before when I made them for the first time here & have made them several times since then. They are a really good appetizer & a unique way to eat a veggie that is really good for you. Who doesn't like "stuff" wrapped in bacon with a dipping sauce anyway??

Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients

• 10 bacon slices
• 10 Brussels sprouts
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Creamy Mustard Sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°. Microwave bacon slices, in batches, between paper towels, at HIGH for 1 1/2 minutes. Cut slices in half crosswise. Cut Brussels sprouts in half lengthwise. Wrap 1 bacon piece around each Brussels sprout half; secure with a wooden pick. Place sprouts, cut sides down, on a lightly greased wire rack on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with pepper to taste. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until bacon is crisp & Brussels sprouts are tender. Serve with Creamy Mustard Sauce, if desired. Makes 6-8 servings.

Creamy Mustard Sauce 

Stir together 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 tsp. whole grain mustard, 1  tsp. brown sugar, salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.

* I would not suggest using turkey bacon or thick-sliced bacon.

Calico Beans

I first tasted this yummy side-dish when I was visiting my parents in South Dakota this past New Years weekend. My mom had made these beans to go with the broasted chicken we were having & got the recipe out of one of her church community cookbooks - which usually contain some pretty awesome recipes by the way. They were SO good & can't wait to make them again for a "potluck" or during our next cul-de-sac get together!

Calico Beans

1 lb hamburger

1 sm-med onion, chopped

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp salt

2 T vinegar

1 can red beans, drained 

1 can pork & beans, do not drain

1 can kidney bean, drained

1 can butter beans, drained

1/2 lb bacon

1 cup ketchup

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp mustard

1 envelope onion soup mix

1 cup water

Brown hamburger & onion together. In a separate pan, cook bacon. Drain meat & bacon grease. Crumble bacon into bite sized pieces. Mix all ingredients together in crock-pot & cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Chocolate Chip Dip

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This dip tastes as good as it looks & your friends will be begging you for the recipe! If you love eating raw chocolate chip cookie dough then you will LOVE this yummy dessert dip! Huge hit for the kids OR adults :) 

Chocolate Chip Dip

8 oz package cream cheese

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup confectioners sugar

2 T brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup ( 6 oz) miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

Graham cracker sticks or honey Teddy Grahams or Vanilla Wafers

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese & butter until light & fluffy. Add the sugars & vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Serve with graham cracker sticks, teddy grahams or vanilla wafers. Yield: 2 cups

Nutritional Facts: 

2 tablespoons (calculated without graham cracker sticks) equals 180 calories, 14 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 31 mg cholesterol, 84 mg sodium, 14 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein.