Da Bears Menu

Last Monday my husband and I hosted 15 of our friends for a night of da Bears and chili.  Since one of my friends is pregnant, another is breastfeeding, and another can't eat pork, I made two sets of chili so no one would go hungry. Here's what was served:

7 Layer Dip (by the Pioneer Woman) to start:

Giada's Chicken Chili: 

Beef and Chorizo Chili: 

***I substitute ground round for stew meat

Mac N' Cheese with Pancetta: a true crowd pleaser

(I add a few dashes of nutmeg)

Ina's Corn Muffins: equally delicious

(I add a 1/2 cup of drained sweet yellow corn to the batter)

Dessert: 

Sweet Mandy B's Cupcakes:

Lucky for me, the Bears won and the food was a hit so it was a good night had by all.  

 PC: Pioneerwoman, browniebites, green local living, bon appetit, food network, formerms

Superbowl 2011

Easy Take Along Appetizers:

7 Layer Dip:

Reuben Dip with Rye:

Homemade Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing

Salads (believe it or not people appreciate a nice salad)

Ina's Chinese Chicken Salad

-I add half a head of chopped iceberg lettuce, half a head of chopped napa cabbage, & Chinese noodles

Salad on a Stick

Desserts:

Outrageous Brownies:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

S'mores Bars: (What would be a Superbowl party without them)?

Recipe for S'mores Bars

Servings: 12

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups flour

4 ½ sheets crumbled graham crackers (broken into small chunks)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 (1.5 ounce) milk chocolate candy bars (I use Hershey's)

3 cups miniature marshmallows

Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease an 8 inch square baking pan. Beat butter and sugar together until well blended in a large bowl. Add egg and vanilla; beat well.

In another bowl stir together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Press half the dough into the prepared pan. Bake 15 minutes.

Unwrap chocolate bars; arrange over baked layer. They may not quite all fit, you may be forced to eat a couple pieces. Sprinkle with marshmallows. Scatter remaining dough over the marshmallows, forming a top layer.

Bake 10- 15 minutes or until just lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting.

PC: IVillage, Strawman3125, Martha Stewart, Stockfood, Ina Garten, BakeorBreak, Baking Bites



It's the Final Countdown...

Until the Superbowl. Here's another creative idea: dress up your potatoes to match your favorite team (even if they're not playing in the Superbowl).

Like the...

New York Jets: Deli Pastrami Potato Skins

-deli sliced pastrami, russian dressing, and dill pickle slices on cheesy skins

Kansas City Cheifs: KC BBQ Potato

Pulled Pork, bbq sauce and sliced scallions on cheesy skins

New England Patriots: Maple-Bacon Potato Skins

Apple Butter, crisp bacon and maple syrup on cheesy skins

PC: Food Network Magazine

Pizza Dip!

Here's a cute Superbowl idea: Pizza dip with homemade (or store-bought) breadsticks! Use whatever toppings you like on your pizza.

PC: Rachel Ray Mag