snacks

Neiman Marcus Dip

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

neiman marcus dip

Next Sunday is the Super Bowl – an annual event in the U.S. that even non-football fans often enjoy just for the great commercials, celebrity national anthem and half-time show, parties, cocktails, beer, and yummy food and SNACKS!

This Neiman Marcus Dip is a MUST-HAVE for Super Bowl parties, whether you are hosting, taking something as a guest to a party you are going to, or just hanging with the family at home.

It is so amazingly easy and even  more incredibly addictive and delicious (though probably should not be eaten too often as it is a bit far from healthy, which is probably why it is so amazing!)   

I am pretty sure you will be considered a snack dip rock star if you make and serve this to your family and friends.

neiman marcus dip closeup

I first tried this Neiman Marcus Dip at my DIL Colleen’s Christmas Cookie Exchange Party this past December, and I made it for a recent Steelers Playoff game when the family was all over.

And though our Pittsburgh Steelers did not make it to the Super Bowl this year, we will still be watching, and we will surely be snackin’!

So whoever you are rooting for, win or lose, you will still be happy that you had this yummy dip!

Neiman Marcus Dip

Ingredients:neiman marcus dip closeup

  • 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 lb bacon, chopped and cooked very crispy
  • 1 cup chopped green onions
  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • 2 cups mayonnaise

Directions:  Mix all together in large bowl and refrigerate at least 2 hours for flavors to meld together well.  (The day before is even good.)

Serve with crackers, corn chips, tortilla chips or celery sticks.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Goji Berry Energy Bars – A Super Food Snack

/ Jodi / 21 Comments

Goji Berry Energy Bars 3

So this is pretty out of character for this cookie-baking, haluski and halupki making – lover of all comfort foods – but it IS the new year –

and we ALL seem to go off on little kicks….

Well, my son, Nick has been making healthy breakfast smoothies lately, so we bought him a Super Food Smoothie cookbook to go with his new Ninja for Christmas, and we’ve been discussing super foods.

We decided to try some new things like Goji Berries and Chia Seeds, and Cacao Nibs and Maqui Berry Powder.

I’m not really big on drinking my breakfast.

I like something I can sink my teeth into.

So I found and tweaked a recipe for these healthy, tasty, energy bars that make a great breakfast or mid-morning or mid-afternoon pick-me-up snack.

Goji Berry Energy Bars 2

I love all the ingredients in them – almonds and walnuts and sunflower seeds with a bit of sweetness from the cacao and goji berries and dates.

Goji Berry Energy Bars

Who says healthy and good for you can’t be tasty and comforting!?

Give them a try.  Throw them in a ziploc in the freezer and grab when on the go!  Let me know what you think about them if you try.   And keep in mind, this recipe can be tweaked and improvised in many ways.  Change up the nuts or berries.  Use local honey instead of agave, whole wheat or coconut flour, raisins instead of dates.  The possibilities are endless.  Just like the taste!

Goji Berry Energy Bars a Super Food Snack

Ingredients:Goji Berry Energy Bars 3

  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 cup almonds
  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 12 dates
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 Tablespoons almond flour
  • ½ cup agave
  • ½ cups cocoa nibs
  • 1 cup goji berries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Grind walnuts, almonds and pumpkin seeds in a food processor or Ninja or blender. Add the dates and pulse, making sure not to pulverize, but leaving some texture.

Pour into a mixing bowl, and add the rest of the ingredients.  Mix well.

Spread into an 8×8 baking dish, and bake for 20 minutes.

Cut into squares, and serve.  Freeze in Ziploc bag to maintain freshness and have on hand for snacks on the go.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Cinnamon Popcorn & How I Flunked out of Poetry School

/ Jodi / 5 Comments

cinnamon popcorn

 

So just yesterday I announced how I was taking on a two-week poetry challenge for the WordPress Daily Post…  Right?

Today’s assignment was the topic of Trust using an Acrostic Poem and using Internal Rhyme…….. YIKES!

It is 10 pm.

I’ve worked all day, spent the evening at a fun card class with Colleen (and Katie :)).

I’m sipping a G&T, and… WTH!

Too much to deal with…  too many rules…

I like poetry and all, but….

Can I just share a recipe instead?  🙂

How about some yummy and SUPER easy Cinnamon Popcorn?!

At first try, I was so-so on this, but after my G&T (and skipping dinner), I think I might have to throw the rest of this stuff away before I eat it all!!

Some of you may recall my super-addictive, super-delicious, super-amazing Homemade Caramel Corn.  It is so crazy delish – seriously!  A MUST Make recipe.  DO NOT HESITATE!

Well – when I saw recipes circulating for cinnamon popcorn, like Rachael Ray’s, I envisioned a kicked up version using Hulless Butter Popcorn.

I happened to have a bag of  Cinnamon Red Hot Imperials on hand.  Isn’t this an item in everyone’s pantry?!?!  🙂

cinnamon popcorn red hots

I also happened to have a bag of Snyder’s of Berlin Hulless Butter Popcorn.

cinnamon popcorn 1

So I adapted and created this Kicked-Up Version of Cinnamon Popcorn that I think you will like.

Give it a go…. or NOT if you are on a DIET! 🙂

cinnamon popcorn 2

This is how simple this stuff is:

Jodi’s Kicked Up Cinnamon Popcorn

1 bag (approximately 8 cups) Snyder’s Hulless Butter Popcorn (or you can pop 8 cups of popcorn)
1 cup Cinnamon Red Hot Imperials (or any other type of cinnamon candy)
1/2 cup water

 

Spread popcorn out on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
Melt cinnamon candy and water in a saucepan until completely melted.
Pour cinnamon candy over popcorn.
Bake in 250 degree F oven for approximately 20 minutes.
Let cool completely.

DEVOUR! 🙂

 

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Crazy Addictive Homemade Caramel Corn

/ Jodi / 6 Comments

Caramel Corn bowl

Sometimes I like to fuss and make fancy schmansy appetizers and snacks for company or to take somewhere.

Other times, I rely on tried and true no-fail crowd pleasers like this A M A Z I N G  homemade Caramel Corn.

No matter when or where I serve it or what else is on the table, there is rarely, if ever, a kernel left.

I originally got this recipe from one of my very dear friends, Pam (aka Bubby or the Bubster as I affectionately like to call her – have you noticed a trend in nicknaming with me??!!…) who brought it to our house one holiday season years ago.

I have made this stuff (that is literally like CRACK it is so addicting!) to give as gifts, take to parties, or just serve when having a crowd over many, many times over the years since Bubby first brought it and got us all hooked.

You have got to try this.

And then you have to let me know if you have any leftover.

I dare you – even double dare you – to resist this stuff.

You start with 2 bags of Snyder’s Hulless Puff’n Corn Popcorn.  (You know – that melt in your mouth puffy kind that doesn’t have the kernels that get caught between your teeth).  Dump them in a large roaster pan, and turn your oven on 250 degrees to preheat.

Caramel Corn 1

Then you melt 2 sticks of BUTTER and 1 TBSP of peanut butter in a saucepan.

Add 2 cups of packed brown sugar and 1/2 cup Karo Light Corn Syrup, and boil for 5 minutes.

Caramel Corn 2

Remove from heat, and add 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 tsp baking soda, and watch the crazy chemistry work.  (Not sure why – maybe some of you that paid a bit more attention in high school chemistry class know why – but it just completely grows and changes consistency after that little bit of baking soda.)  And if you didn’t start out with a large enough saucepan, you can easily overflow, so be prepared!

Caramel Corn 3

Pour this mixture over the popcorn in the roasting pan and stir well.

Caramel Corn 4

Then bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour (stirring every 15 minutes or so).

Caramel Corn 5

I made this along with about 10 zillion (ok I exaggerate) other things for our Father’s Day Picnic Celebration this past Sunday, and it is the only thing that I did NOT have any leftover of…..

Just saying……  You gotta try this stuff!

And let me know if you have any leftover…

Caramel Corn bowl

Cheers and hugs,

Jodi