Easy Super Bowl Appetizers

The Super Bowl is coming.  In case you're like me and forgot when the Super Bowl was... it is this Sunday!  Whether you're hosting your own viewing party, going to a friend's house, or planning a chill evening at home, chances are you are making some appetizers.  Little bites and tasty dips are easy to throw together and it's always nice to bring extra food to a party (always better to have leftovers than not enough).  :)  So here are some easy recipes to score a homerun (I mean, touchdown) with your guests....

spinach artichoke dip
buffalo chicken dip
baked crab ragoons
creamy spinach pinwheels
cauliflower croquettes
chicken and spinach taquitos

  

Weekly Menu

Another weekend has flown by!  If you're in Columbus or a big hockey fan you may have spent some time at the winter park downtown or watching the skills competition/allstar game.  We stopped downtown for a bite to eat (at Arch City Tavern, where I had lamb sliders with goat cheese and my husband had their market burger) and then walked around the park.  I'm not a fan of winter, well, really I just hate being cold.  So I have never really tried any winter sports... everyone looked like they were having fun on the outdoor ice rink, but I'll pass.  I'd rather sit cozied up by the fireplace.

Before the weekend started, I went to the Seasoned Farmhouse where they were hosting edible columbus and native for a little new years shindig.  Cocktails were served using native cold pressed vegetable juices and local spirits along with some raw appetizers and treats.  Certainly an example of how happy hour can be quite healthy.

 

 

After being outside in the cold, we came back home and I made some fish and shrimp stew.  It's kind of like fish and chips in a steaming hot bowl of soup, but nothing is fried.  A nice way to warm up!  Especially next to some bright flowers that serve as a reminder that Spring is less than two months away.  :)

I spent a couple hours today prepping several freezer meals which will appear on the blog as they make their way to the oven.  Last week, my husband did most of the cooking... and neither of us want that to continue... so freezer meals are the temporary solution.  Hopefully everything turns out tasty so we can keep a couple in the freezer for those busy days!

This week's meal plan includes some repeats because boxed mac and cheese replaced the more 'difficult' recipes last week.  ;)  

broccoli stuffed chicken with buttered carrots
spinach enchiladas
calzones or pizza night
salmon burgers
lobster mac and cheese

Weekly Menu

Hope you had a great weekend... and maybe it is an extended one if you have MLK Day off tomorrow!  Ours was rather chill (ugh, literally) which seems like every weekend in the winter is.  But we were excited to start playing with our new coffee gadgets we ordered earlier this week.  After loving the espressos, cafe lattes, and cafe cremes in Italy and France we have been wanting to make our own.  So our little espresso pot and milk frothing wand came in the mail on Friday and we made mochas and lattes all weekend.  Good thing we stocked up on Snowville milk this week!

 

We also ventured out with some friends to Hofbrauhaus finally!  My husband and I both have a lot of German roots and we like German beer (I mean, bier), so I don't know how it took us this long to get our butts over there.  It's definitely a lot of fun with the open haus setting, long tables, and live polka/folk music.  People were standing on their chairs singing and dancing along with giant liter beir steins.  We'll definitely be back soon!  :)

Alright, here is my plan for this week!  What are you planning on making?

fish and shrimp stew (or baked potato soup)
chicken fajitas with homemade chips and guac
broccoli stuffed chicken with buttered carrots
seared scallops with salad
pizza night

Caramelized Onion and Pear Grilled Brie Sandwiches - total time 15 minutes

One cooking secret I learned from my mom was how to make the best grilled cheese sandwiches EVER!  My sandwiches have come a long way from Kraft singles and Wonder bread.  Rustic wheat breads, sophisticated cheeses, complex flavor combinations... you name it, I have probably made it into a melty cheesy sandwich.

I mentioned a week or so ago that I was inspired by one of Harvest Moon Cafe's bison burgers with caramelized onions, pears, and brie... soo good!  I knew it would taste just as good (or better) without the meat.  So only a few days later, I made these sandwiches, and then again, and again.  Definitely addicting!  Perfect to go with a cup of soup or a side salad.  And it doesn't take long at all.  

Weekly Menu

Happy Monday!  Hope you were able to stay warm this weekend... we tried to stay inside cozy by the fireplace most of the weekend, but when the sun was shining we had to get out of the house (even though that was probably the coldest day)!  I love to try new restaurants which gives me inspiration on new things to cook at home.  We checked out Double Comfort for some brunch and Fox In the Snow for some afternoon espresso drinks.

Double Comfort in the Short North specializes in southern cooking and proceeds from every order go to local food banks, which is pretty cool.  I had a southern take on eggs benedict and my husband had mac & cheese waffles (the mac & cheese was in his waffle!).  Everything was delicious and so filling, so we had to walk it off in the brutal cold, but soaking in that sunshine and some vitamin D.  After perusing around North Market and picking up some spices and pastries from Pistacia Vera for later, we head to Italian Village for some coffee at Fox in the Snow.  If you're used to sugary Starbucks drinks, this place is not for you.  Instead it is very traditional Italian and French espresso drinks with a selection of buttery breakfast pastries.  I defaulted to a mocha (since I knew they would do one of those pretty fern designs in the milk that reminds me of Seattle).  They make it with melting chocolates, so it was super rich.  Much later, I enjoyed my caramel espresso tart we picked up earlier... these espresso drinks and tarts were giving me flashbacks to Europe and I ended up dreaming we went back to Paris that night!  Oh, if only money was unlimited...

 

Although we did just book a vacation to St. Lucia so we can leave the frozen tundra for a bit.  Only for five days, but can't wait to see sunshine and be warm at the same time!

Alright... time for meal planning this week!  

pizza night

spaghetti bake with salad

butternut corn chowder with grilled cheese

broccoli stuffed chicken with buttered carrots

fish tacos with grilled brussel sprouts

What are you planning on making this week?

My Little Sister's Wedding

Since the Columbus Bride Show was this past weekend and the Bridal Expo is coming up soon, a lot of people are thinking about weddings.  We have several save-the-dates coming in already for this year... I don't know if all of a sudden everyone is getting married or if it is just my friends and family (maybe it comes in waves, since we had one of those kind of years seven years ago when we got married).  Any way, wanted to share some pictures from my little sister's wedding back in October.  :)

It's funny how Pinterest has changed weddings so much over the years... both in the fact there are a lot more creative touches... and a lot more creative touches expected.  Oh and camera phones... people are catching everything and then posting, adding a hashtag, and then you can find all of those fun pictures and videos so easily.  Haha, it makes me feel old thinking neither of those existed when we got married!

 

All photos were either done by our uncle or my iPhone.  ;)

Weekly Menu

The first weekly menu of the new year!  If you're trying to make meal planning part of your New Year's resolution, of course you can take inspiration from what I'm planning, but there are also meal plans with grocery lists if you go to the Menus link in the top navigation.  I'll be adding more meal plans and grocery lists as I can to give you more options and variety, so check out the link for updates!  :)

Here is this week's meal plan...

creamy tomato bisque with grilled cheese
sloppy joes
lemon chicken with steamed broccoli
alley doughs (aka veggie calzones)
creamy shrimp bowties

Hope your New Years Eve was great!  We had a fabulous time going to Milestone 229 for dinner and then partying at the Hyatt.  We danced so much my toes still hurt (weird, I know, but my shoes were pinching my toes).  We were on the 16th floor of the Hyatt, so there were some great views in the morning of Cbus.

 

 

Took the Snoop dog on a little stroll around the neighborhood.  I absolutely love the Metroparks system and having one so close to home gets us away from the old sidewalk routine.  It was so cold that day, but clear skies and sunshine made it so worth it!

Even though we had plenty of time at home with all of our end-of-year PTO and holidays, we kept getting the itch to go out to eat (maybe a little cabin fever?).  So after Amanda from girlaboutcolumbus mentioned Harvest Moon Cafe in Canal Winchester, it has been on my list to check out.  Finally did and they have some great bison burgers (the one pictured is inspiring my grilled cheese this week).

Oh and I got to play with my new kitchen tool today (Christmas present) while making soup to combat this blustery cold day outside.  I'm ready for summer, how about you?