Football Friday Tasty and Toasty Tailgate Treats

Happy Football Friday, Y’all. There is a chill in the air as winter is storming in with a vengeance. We need some toasty and tasty tailgate treats to warm up your game day.  But before we dive into this week’s recipes did y’all save last week’s recipe “The Top Five Teams“? Which was your favorite recipe? Let me know which is your favorite go-to tasty and toasty treat. Enjoy!

Football Friday Tasty and Toasty Tailgate Treats

Louisiana Hot Crab Dip

Ingredients:

• ½ pound jumbo lump crabmeat
• 8 ounces of cream cheese
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 tablespoons minced green onions
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine the first 10 ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir well.
3. Transfer mixture into a 2-qt. baking dish.
4. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.
5. Serve with toasted crackers.

Polar Bear Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. (60ml) Peppermint Schnapps
• 3/4 oz. (22ml) Irish Cream
• 3/4 oz. (22ml) White Creme de Cacao
• Hot chocolate mix
• Hot Water
• Garnish: Whipped Cream, Chocolate Shavings

Instructions:

1. Pour the hot chocolate mix into the base of your serving glass.
2.  Pour over peppermint schnapps, Irish cream, and white creme de cacao, and stir.
3. Add hot water and stir again.
4. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Chili-Cheese Mac

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• ¾ pound ground round
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 cups fat-free, lower-sodium beef broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 (10-ounce) can of mild diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
• 8 ounces of uncooked elbow macaroni
• ½ cup fat-free milk
• 4 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
• 4 ½ ounces finely shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1. Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
2. Add oil.
3. Add beef and the next 4 ingredients; cook for 3 minutes.
4. Add broth, water, and tomatoes; bring to a boil.
5. Stir in macaroni; cover and cook for 10 minutes or until macaroni is done.
6. Heat milk and cream cheese in a saucepan over medium heat.
7. Cook for 4 minutes or until cheese melts, stirring frequently.
8. Remove from heat.
9. Stir in cheddar.
10. Add cheese sauce to the macaroni mixture; toss well to coat.

Sausage, Bean, and Spinach Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 (1 lb.) package of hot ground pork sausage
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 (8-oz.) package of cream cheese, softened
• 1 (6-oz.) package of fresh baby spinach, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (15-oz.) can of pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded Parmesan cheese
• Serve with: Corn chip scoops, red bell pepper strips, pretzel rods

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Cook diced onion and the next 2 ingredients in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, for 8 to 10 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain. Stir in garlic and thyme; cook for 1 minute. Stir in wine; cook for 2 minutes or until the liquid has almost completely evaporated.

2. Add cream cheese, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes or until cream cheese is melted. Stir in spinach and salt, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes or until spinach is wilted. Gently stir in beans. Pour mixture into a 2-qt. baking dish; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese

3. Bake at 375° for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with corn chip scoops, bell pepper strips, and pretzel rods.

Caramel Apple Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 (8-oz.) package of cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• Fresh apple slices

Instructions:

1. Stir together the first 3 ingredients just until blended. Spoon mixture into a 10-oz. ramekin; level and smooth surface with a spatula. Cover and chill for 2 to 8 hours.
2. Preheat the broiler with the oven rack 5 inches from heat. Sprinkle granulated sugar over the mixture in a ramekin. Fill an 8-inch cake pan with ice; place a ramekin in the pan.
3. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes or until sugar is melted and caramelized. Let stand for 5 minutes. Serve with apple slices.

On The Menu

Stay warm this weekend.  Enjoy your toasty and tasty treats.  We will be back next week with more tasty tailgate treats for your game day fun.  Hope your team is winning and having a great season. Enjoy the tasty tailgate treats.