Chili Cheese Dip

Please ignore the terrible picture. 

 This is my favorite dip.  It's similar to Chili's queso dip which I absolutely love!

Chili mixed with creamy cheese scooped up with a salty chip (tortilla or pita works well).  I could eat the whole bowl by myself!  It only takes two ingredients and 5 minutes to make.  Perfect for the big game or as an appetizer at your next get-together.

Chili Cheese Dip

1 (8 oz.) block of cream cheese

1 can chili

In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, melt cream cheese until smooth.  Add chili and heat until hot.  Serve with tortilla chips, pita chips, or as the cheese on nachos.

Scotcheroos

If a Peanut Butter Bar and a Rice Crispy Treat were to have a baby, the'd have a Scotcheroo.

Peanut butter, rice cereal, chocolate, and a little butterscotch make this yummy no-bake treat.

SCOTCHEROOS

1-1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

Scant 6 cups Rice Crispy cereal

1-2/3 cups butterscotch chips

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine peanut butter,sugar, and corn syrup in large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until melted. Remove from heat. Add cereal; stir until thoroughly coated. Press onto bottom of a greased 9 x 13 x 2 inch baking dish (or 9 x 9 if you want a thicker bar). Microwave butterscotch morsels and semi-sweet chocolate morsels in large, bowl for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, until melted and smooth.  Spread over cereal mixture. Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes or until topping is firm. Cut into bars.

Step-By-Step

 Into a large saucepan combine 1-1/2 cups of peanut butter

 1 cup light corn syrup

 and 1 cup sugar.  Melt over medium-low heat

 stirring frequently, until melted.

 Now add a little less than 6 cups of rice cereal (about 5-1/2 - 5-3/4 cups).

I've found that 6 is too much and the bars are dry.

 Mix until thoroughly coated in peanut butter mixture.

 Press into the bottom of a greased pan.  I used a 9 x 13, but if you want a thicker bar, use a square pan (9x9, or 8x8).

 In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add 1-2/3 cup butterscotch chips

 and 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

 Melt on low heat in the microwave until smooth and melted. 

 Frost the bars and then refrigerate 15-20 minutes until the chocolate has set.

Basics: Pizza Dough

This is my absolute, favorite pizza dough.  I think I like it so much because 

1. You can easily mix it by hand.

and

2. It doesn't have to rise.

Favorite Pizza Dough

2-1/2-3 cups flour

1 Tbs yeast

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup warm water

2 Tbs oil

Combine 2 cups flour, yeast, and salt. Add water and oil. Stir until smooth. Add remaining flour to form dough. Roll out and shape. Now you're ready to make whatever kind of pizza your heart desires.

STEP-BY-STEP

 Into a medium bowl, add two cups of flour (I'm using regular all-purpose, but any kind - whole wheat, bread, gluten free, etc- will work.)

 Add 1 tablespoon instant yeast

 and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  Mix together.

 Now add 1 cup of warm water (not too hot, not too cold - about the same temperature you would wash your hands in)

 and 2 tablespoons of oil.

 Using a spoon mix well until it forms a ball.

 Now a 1/4 cup at a time, keep adding flour until the dough is no longer sticky.

 It's easier if you dump the dough out onto a clean counter top and knead the remaining flour in.

 To knead, you pull the dough on top of itself

 and then push it flat with the palm of your hand and then repeat.

 Once the dough is no longer sticky, form it into a ball and cover it with a bowl ( I use the one I mixed it in).

Let it rest for 10 minutes.

 To shape it, I flatten it out (in my greased pan),

 and use my fingers to uniformly press it into the bottom of a pizza pan.

No flipping or punching required.

Now you're ready for the toppings.

Winger's Sticky Fingers- Copycat Recipe

We love Winger's Sticky Fingers at our house.  Three years ago I posted THIS recipe for Winger's Sticky Fingers Salad.  However, the sauce wasn't exactly right.  After trying a few more recipes over the years, this one is a pretty close, if not exact, copycat to the real thing.

Winger's Sticky Fingers

1 package frozen breaded chicken breasts

6 tablespoons of Frank's Hot Sauce (no substitutes)

1/4 cup water

1-1/2 cups brown sugar

Prepare chicken strips according to package directions.  To make the sauce:  heat hot sauce, water and brown sugar over medium-high heat until sugar is totally dissolved.  Dip chicken strips into hot sauce.  Serve with celery and your favorite Ranch or Bleu Cheese dressing.

STEP-BY-STEP

Prepare chicken strips according to package directions - you'll want them nice and crispy.

 While the chicken is baking, make the sauce by placing 1-1/2 cups of brown sugar

 1/4 cup of water 

 and 6 tablespoons (1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons) of FRANK's Hot Sauce into a medium saucepan.  

(it must be Frank's) 

Heat over medium-high heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Dip each chicken strip into the sauce.  You could also just pour the sauce over the chicken strips but I prefer to dip. 

Serve with celery and your Favorite Ranch or Bleu Cheese dressing.

Puppy Chow aka Muddy Buddies

Puppy Chow also know as Muddy Buddies - yummy chocolate peanut butter covered cereal coated with powdered sugar. 

Did you know that according to Wikipedia (a totally reliable source) Puppy Chow is most often consumed in the the Northern Midwest (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, and Missouri) and my house.  

They say the name Puppy Chow is based on the look and consistency of this snack which resembles the Dog Chow brand of dog food in its appearance.  In my opinion, this snack looks nothing like dog food, and it definitely does not taste like it (although I've never eaten dog food, but I've smelt it, and that counts)!

 Into a microwave-safe bowl (I'm using a glass measuring cup) place 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter

 and 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter.

 Microwave on High for 1 minute, stir.  

 Continue microwaving and stirring at 30 second intervals until nice and smooth. (This will probably only take one time).

You can stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla to this mixture right now if you'd like (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't).

Place 9 cups of corn, rice, or wheat cereal (or a combination) into a large bowl.

 Pour chocolate mixture over cereal

 carefully stir as you pour until the cereal is evenly coated.

 In a large plastic bag, place half  (3/4 cups) of the powdered sugar.

 Carefully spoon chocolate coated cereal into the baggie.

  Add the rest (3/4 cup) of the powdered sugar.  Close the baggie and shake, shake, shake until all the cereal is well coated in sugary goodness.

 Puppy Chow

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

9 cups corn, rice, or wheat cereal

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips, butter, and peanut butter together 1 minute on High; stir.  Microwave 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth.  Stir in vanilla.  Measure cereal into a large bowl.  Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Into a 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag, add the half powdered sugar, chocolate coated cereal, and then the rest of the powdered sugar.  Seal bag; shake until well coated.