Super Bowl Sips and Dips!

The big day is approaching! Are you ready for the Super Bowl?

If there's one thing people love more than watching those crazy commercials, it's digging in to some great food during the game. Whether you're having a big party or just enjoying the game at home by yourself, I've got two fabulous and easy dips for you to enjoy!

Guacamole Dip

3 avocados, peeled, pitted and diced
1 tbs sour cream

2 (3 oz) packages cream cheese, softened

2 tbs salsa (I use Tostitos Chunky Salsa)

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp onion powder

In a small bowl, mix the avocados, sour cream, cream cheese and salsa. Mix to desired consistency, then add salt, pepper, garlic salt and onion powder, stirring to blend completely. Cover and chill in your refrigerator for 1/2 hour before serving. 

*Serving tip: I love this dip with Tostitos "Hint of Lime" chips. While I don't particularly like these chips on their own, they go really well with this cool, creamy guacamole variation!

Artichoke Dip

1 can (8 oz) artichoke hearts, chopped

1 cup olive oil mayo

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 tbs garlic powder, or to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a baking dish until blended, and place in preheated oven for 5 minutes, or until bubbly. 

*Serving tip: This dip goes well with pita chips or tortilla chips, but you can also use Ruffles or Wavy Lays.

Now that you've got some food ideas, you'll need some great drinks! For an easy, pre-made margarita (but very tasty - this is my favorite pre-made mix!) to go with your mexican-inspired guacamole dip, try Jose Cuervo's Golden Margarita mix (http://www.cuervo.com/products/golden-margaritas.aspx). 

If you're not a margarita person or you simply prefer beer on Superbowl Sunday, change it up with a Blue Moon Winter Sampler. You'll get 3 each of the original Blue Moon, Pale Moon, Winter Abbey Ale and, my personal favorite, the Spiced Amber Ale. Yum!

 

Check back in with me on Thursday, where I'll give you a recipe for Taco Sliders that are perfect for entertaining - and ridiculously delicious!

Cheers!

Party Plates: Football Food!

The time is here: the end of football season. The last playoff games before the BIG game. If you're having friends over to watch the remaining games of the season, here's a menu that will knock their socks off!

Sure, the staple for football fans may be wings - but why not switch that up? After you make these fabulous, fall-off-the-bone ribs, you may reconsider your typical game day grub. Just because it's winter doesn't mean you can't make delicious, tender ribs - without having to weather the cold.

Oven-baked ribs

1 rack baby back ribs

1 tablespoon Season-All

2 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Season both sides of ribs with Season-All and place on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Place ribs in 350 degree oven for 10 minutes per side (20 minutes total). Remove from the oven and baste with BBQ sauce. Place back in the 350 degree oven for 10 minutes per side (20 minutes total). Remove the ribs.

With the tops of the ribs facing up, baste with the remaining BBQ sauce. Cover with a "tent" of aluminum foil, ensuring that all sides are properly sealed. Turn the oven temperature down to 250 degrees.

Place ribs in 250 degree oven for 2 1/2 hours. Once done, open up the tent of foil (carefully!) and test the ribs with a fork. They should fall easily from the bone. YUM!!

*Want an easy side to pair with your ribs? Try this slow cooker macaroni and cheese recipe!

Spicy Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese

3 cups cubed pepper jack Velveeta cheese

2 1/2 cups milk

1 large egg, beaten

1 teaspoon salt

8 oz elbow macaroni, cooked al dente

Combine cheese, milk, egg and salt in a slow cooker (4 qt or larger). Cover and cook on high 1 hour.
Add macaroni and stir. Cover and cook on low 4 hours.
Note: If you prefer your mac and cheese on the milder side, substitute the pepper jack with original Velveeta!

I hope you enjoy both of these super savory, delicious recipes - and the game! Stay tuned for more game day recipes, including homemade guacamole and artichoke dip - coming up next!

Cheers!

Mix of the Month: The Cranberry-Orange Mimosa

Happy 2012, everyone!

It's a new year. You've made resolutions, set goals, and promised yourself that you're going to start this year off right. After all, you've got to start it off right to end it that way!

It seems only natural that January's featured cocktail recipe includes champagne, seeing how we all started our year off toasting with glasses full of it! Allow me to introduce January's Mix of the Month: the Cranberry-Orange Mimosa. This morning-time drink is refreshing and sweet, and only requires three easy ingredients. It's also super easy to make kid-friendly! Here's what you'll need:

Cranberry-Orange Mimosas

 2 parts Brut Champagne or Sparkling Wine

1 part light cranberry juice cocktail

1 part orange juice

Tip: If you're only making these mimosas for a couple people, your grocer should sell champagne or sparkling wine in packs of 4 small bottles. This way, you don't have to open an entire bottle to make a couple of these drinks for you and your spouse or a friend. 

Want to make it kid-friendly? Simply replace the champagne/sparkling wine with sparkling grape juice!

Cheers to the New Year! Enjoy :)

Mix of the Month: The (Georgia) Peach Margarita

With summer right around the corner, there's nothing better than getting outside and enjoying the sunny weather with a fruity, refreshing drink in hand. Whether you like them frozen, on the rocks, or however the bartender's serving them, ice cold margaritas are perfect for kicking back on the deck or relaxing poolside. In the first installment of a monthly feature I'm calling "Mix of the Month," I'm taking this popular staple and giving it a twist that I know you'll love.

The (Georgia) Peach Margarita

This southern style drink is light, refreshing and easy to make! And, with the addition of homemade peach puree, you can drink something you know is super fresh while supporting your local farmers. To make your own homemade peach puree (and if you live in Georgia, you should - peaches are in season right now!), pick up some ripe peaches from your local grocery store. The amount you'll need will depend on how many of these tasty concoctions you'll want to make; two peaches will make enough peach puree for approximately 4 margaritas. Peel, pit and chop the peaches. Toss the peels and the pits and put the fruit pieces in the blender, blending until smooth. Strain the puree mixture into a measuring cup. Voila! It's that simple. Now, it's time to mix up those margaritas!

1 1/2 oz Silver Tequila

2 oz Limeade

1 oz Peach Puree (recipe above)

1/2 oz Triple Sec

1/2 oz Peach Schnapps

*Slice of lime for garnish

*Sugar for rimming the glass

 *optional

Pour all ingredients (except sugar) into shaker with ice. Shake until frost forms on the outside of the shaker.

If desired, run a slice of lime across the top of a margarita glass. Dip the outside rim in sugar.

Strain shaker into margarita glasses and enjoy! This recipe will make 2 margaritas.

If you prefer your margaritas frozen, just add the above ingredients plus crushed ice into a blender and mix together for a sweet, frosty version (you should add the same amount of crushed ice as you have liquid in the blender).

Looking for a great summer drink without the "kick"? No problem! For a super easy, super light, "designated driver" version of this month's featured cocktail, pick up a box of Crystal Light's "Peach Tea." Whether you're making it by the glass or by the pitcher, all you'll need to do is add water!

I hope these margaritas leave you feeling "peachy"! Please feel free to leave me any comments/suggestions, and stay tuned for more!

Cheers!

Welcome to Cocktail Cutie!

Hello, and welcome to Cocktail Cutie!

I love to entertain. Nothing makes me happier than filling a room with my family and friends, stuffing them full of fabulous food and drinks, and showing them a great time. At the end of the day, it makes me happy to make others happy.

Cocktail Cutie is a blog completely devoted to entertaining. The entries you'll read will feature delicious, budget-friendly appetizers, refreshing, easy-to-make cocktails and fun, affordable party ideas that everyone will enjoy. You'll also find helpful tips and how-to's to make hosting your own parties easy as pie.

As a wife, a working professional, and a "mother" to a rambunctious and rowdy mutt (he knows I love him), I understand the value of time. Life is not always easy. We all know that, no matter what walk of life we come from. That being said, I also know the value of enjoying the small sliver of time that we are given to enjoy ourselves and each other. I'm hoping that the entries you find here will inspire you and assist you with making the best of those moments. I will never provide you with a recipe I haven't previously made on my own, an appetizer I haven't eaten or a cocktail I've never tasted; that's my promise to you.

I'm excited to share my ideas with you! Please check back often to read my most recent recipe ideas and entertaining tips.

*One last thing: if you're reading this right now, it's very likely that you either know me personally or know someone who does. I just want to take a moment to say thank you (so much) for visiting! I could never put into words how much your interest and support mean to me. I am so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life. THANK YOU!

Cheers!