Category: Starters

Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip

One of my favorite party dips is buffalo chicken dip! I make it a lot when I go to parties or events. I seem to always get asked to make this dip. I love it because it reminds me of chicken wings which I LOVE! You can easily adjust the spice level on the dip.

There are a few different variations out there. I traditionally bake mine in the oven vs use a crockpot. However, I LOVE the idea of the crockpot because you can keep in there to serve and it will remain warm. See the notes after the recipe for tips on baking, making ahead of time and what chicken to use! Enjoy!

Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked chicken, (canned chicken, rotisserie chicken or 2 chicken breasts shredded)
2 8 oz packages cream cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup Frank’s Red Hot (more or less based on taste)
1 cup Ranch salad dressing

Directions: Preheat oven to 375. In a deep sauté pan add in hot sauce on medium heat. Add in the cream cheese and heat until melted. Add in Ranch and mix well. Fold in the cheese and let it melt slightly. Stir in the chicken to completely coat. Add the chicken mixture to an oven safe dish. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and completely warmed through. Serve with celery, crackers or your choice of chips.

Note: You can make ahead and bake when needed. Just add about 10-15 minutes to cooking time when the dip is refrigerator cold. You can use any kind of chicken you’d like. If you’d prefer you can add all these ingredients to a crockpot and cook on low 2-3 hours. This is great for a party if you want to keep the dip warm.

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Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup

There is nothing more comforting than a nice bowl of soup. This chicken enchilada soup is full of flavor and is relativity healthy. I actually use no butter at all. Cheese just goes on top and it’s full of some delicious veggies.

Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup

Ingredients:

Chicken:
1.5 -2 lbs chicken breast
1 cup jarred salsa (red any spice level)
1/4 cup water
1/2 packet low sodium taco seasoning

Soup:
15 oz can black beans, no salt (drained and rinsed)
6 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 10 oz can mild red enchilada sauce
1/2 packet low sodium taco seasoning
2 T tomato paste
10 oz can Rotel with green chilies, no salt added
1 cup frozen corn
1 medium onion, diced
1 t salt
1 t pepper
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Toppings:
avocado
sour cream
cheese
cilantro
onions
jalapeños
tortilla strips or chips

Directions: Add chicken to crockpot. Sprinkle with half the taco seasoning. Top the chicken with the 1 cup of salsa. Add in 1/4 cup of water and cook on low 3-4 hours or until the chicken is tender enough to shred. Once chicken is done remove and shredded using 2 forks.

Next Add the chicken back to the crockpot and add in the rotel, corn, black beans and onion and mix well. Next add in the chicken broth, the rest of the taco seasoning and cilantro. Then next mix in the tomato paste and let cook for 2 hours. After 2 hours add in the red enchilada cause and let cook another hour.

To serve add to soup bowl and top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Note: I cook for longer to build the flavors and give it a stronger taste. You don’t need to do that. Once the chicken is cooked you can really just add the rest of the ingredients and cook for like another hour or 2. This soup is healthy and great to freeze! I you have cooked chicken, just add that with all the ingredients to crockpot and let cook.

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Cream Cheese Ranch Roll Ups

There are so many variations of these roll ups out there. You can really mix whatever ingredients you want and be able to create one that is DELICIOUS. However, this is one that I go to a lot. It’s my family’s favorite and it’s super flavorful and yummy. A super simple appetizer that can be made ahead of time and just sliced the day of. Give this a try and make sure to save for later!

Cream Cheese Ranch Roll Ups

Ingredients:
2 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 Ranch seasoning packet
3 green onions (white & green), chopped
1 4 oz can diced green chilies
1 can pimentos
1/2 can black olives, drained & chopped
tortillas, any size (Note: if you use bigger burrito size tortillas you this recipe should make about 4 roll ups)

Directions: In a medium bowl add in the soften cream cheese and smash down with a fork. Next add in the ranch seasoning packet and all remaining ingredients, green onions, chilies, pimentos and black olives and mix until everything is fully incorporated.


Take a few scoops of the cream cheese mixture and put in the middle of the tortilla. Spread the mixture evenly across the tortilla, do not go fully to the ends of the tortilla. (This will make it easier to roll) Once fully spread, start with one side of the tortilla and roll as tight as you can. Complete with all the cream cheese mixture.

Wrap the tortillas in saran wrap and place in the refrigerator for a least 3 hours up till over night. When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator, take off saran wrap and slice into thin slices and serve. Just wait and see how fast these go at your next gathering!

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Creamy Potato Soup

Fall is upon us here in Chicago. I love fall for some many reason, but mostly for the food! I love a nice comfort dish, like a delicious bowl of soup, or a stew or chili. Anything I can put in a cute little bowl and enjoy on a crisp fall day.

Potato soup is one of my favorites. It’s usually the first kind I think about when I am craving soup. This potato soup is nothing short of delicious. I use half and half vs. heavy cream to keep it a little lighter. This is finished off with some sour cream which really takes this soup to the next level. You can easily adjust the flavors. Keep in mind all recipes of mine have my taste buds in mind. However, the spices can easily be adjusted.

I need to talk about these adorable soup/chili bowls I got from Amazon. I ordered them and couldn’t wait for them to arrive and couldn’t wait to use them. They are absolutely perfect for soup, chili, pasta, stew, or anything that need to go in a bowl. Check out my Amazon favorites https://www.amazon.com/shop/garlic_and_oliveoil_veins for the bowls. They are fairly inexpensive and they are oven, microwave and dishwasher save! I can’t wait to use them over and over!!

So, check out this delicious recipe!

Creamy Potato Soup

Ingredients:
4 T butter
2 T olive oil
1 1/2 cups celery, diced (about 4 stalks)
2 cups onion, diced (2 medium onions)
4 cups russet potatoes, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 -32 oz chicken stock
1 cup half and half (or heavy cream)
1/4 cup light sour cream
8 oz shredded cheese ( I used cheddar jack)
2 T grated Romano cheese
6 slices cooked bacon, chopped
3 T flour
2 t thyme
2 t rosemary
1 t crushed red pepper flakes
2 t garlic powder
2 t onion powder
2 t salt
2 t pepper

Toppings:
cheese
chopped bacon
green onions

Directions: Heat a large stockpot/ soup pot on high heat. Add in the olive oil and let heat 2 minutes. Add in the celery, onions and garlic, cook till tender and fragrant. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add in the butter and let melt. Sprinkle the onion mixture with the flour and mix well. Let the flour cook about 3 minutes.

Next add in the chicken broth and mix well. Add in the potatoes and half of the thyme and rosemary. Reduce heat to medium and cover. Simmer 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender. After the 30 minutes make sure the potatoes are fork tender.

Remove pot from the stove and use an immersion blender to break up the potatoes. If you want to keep the soup a little heartier you can keep some of the potato pieces whole. I prefer a smoother finish so I make sure all the potatoes are pulsed.

Next add in the shredded cheese and half and half and mix well. Make sure that the cheese is fully melted. Season the soup with the garlic and onion powder, the rest of the thyme and rosemary, the crushed red pepper and salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Add in the chopped bacon. Let simmer on low for 10 minutes mixing a few times .

To finish the soup, add in the sour cream and Romano cheese and mix till it’s fully melted. To serve using a ladle add into a soup bowl and top with shredded cheese, chopped bacon and green onions. Enjoy!

Notes: You can adjust this to make it vegetarian. Use veggie broth and remove the bacon! It will still be delicious. I use low sodium chicken broth in this as well. Keep in mind with doing that you will need to make sure the soup is seasoned enough with salt. I prefer to add my own salt vs getting all the salt from the broth, therefore I can control the salt level.

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Cheesesteak sandwich on Garlic Butter Roll

This cheesesteak sandwich is filled with tender NY strip steak, peppers, onions and mushrooms on a crispy garlic butter roll with gooey melted cheese. This is simple to make and will sure be a favorite. This sandwich can be made on a grill, flat tip or a large skillet!! It’s the perfect meal for a crowd, too! Give this spectacular sandwich a try!

Cheesesteak Sandwich on Garlic Butter Roll

Ingredients:
2 lb boneless NY strip, fat trimmed, thinly sliced
2 green peppers. sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
6oz mushrooms, sliced
2 T olive oil
1/2 T steak seasoning
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t onion powder
8 slices cheese, mozzarella, provolone, white cheddar

Rolls:
4 hoagie rolls
1/2 stick butter, softened
2 t dried parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t onion powder

Directions: Preheat oven to 400. In a small bowl add soften butter, garlic cloves, parsley, salt and pepper and set aside.

Seasoning the thinly sliced beef with seasonings above. Heat a large skillet on high heat. Add in 2 T oil. Let heat 2 minutes. Add beef to one side of pan and veggies to the other. Seasoning veggies with salt and pepper. Let the beef and veggies cook to your preference. I cook the beef with a little pink inside and I cook the veggies till the peppers are soft but still have a bite.

Slice the bread rolls in half. Using a brush, brush on butter mixture over all the rolls. Toss in the oven for 7-8 minuites until rolls are crispy.

Take a spoonful of beef and veggies and cover with sliced cheese, do this 4 times. Make 4 small piles covered with cheese.

Remove the toasted buns from the oven. Using a spatula transfer the beef mixture to the roll. Continue with rest of the beef. Serve immediately!

Note: You can switch up what kind of beef you want to use. I just bought a NY strip. Use any cheese you like. I use what I had which was white cheddar. Make this dish lower carbs and turn into a bowl. Top the veggies & steak in a bowl over cauliflower rice or on it’s own. It’s a great keto option!

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Creamy Ranch Coleslaw

During summer I always try and make some light salads to have with meals.  I love to make pasta salads or cucumber and tomato salads.  This one beyond simple.  It’s only a few ingredients and it comes out so creamy and full of flavor.  I will definitely being making this again! It’s a perfect side to a summer BBQ or meal!

Creamy Ranch Coleslaw

Ingredients:
14 oz Color Coleslaw Slaw
1/2 packet Ranch seasoning Mix
4 green onions, sliced (both green and white)
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1/4 C + 1 T lite mayonnaise (More or less for flavor)
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Directions:  In a medium bowl add in the coleslaw mix and green onions.  Spoon in the mayonnaise and mix well. Drizzle with oil and season with Ranch packet.  Mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  Mix well before serving.  Enjoy.

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