Monday, December 30, 2013

Celebrate New Years with this Buffalo Wings Flatbread Appetizer!

I love a New Years Eve Party! Well, I love just about any reason for a party, but....New Years Eve is a great reason, and if you are looking for a simple, but yummy, appetizer for your New Years festivities, this Buffalo Wings Flatbread is for you! One of the reasons I love this appetizer is because I used actual leftover buffalo chicken wings to create this recipe. My husband and I went to TGI Fridays to have some lunch. We tried some appetizers, one of which was a flatbread. We also ordered chicken wings, some other yummy food, and had a really fun time. As usual, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, and we ended up bringing home a bunch of chicken wings. After 2 days, the wings were still in the fridge, and I wanted to do something with them. I remembered that I had some flatbread I had bought at the grocery. Then, I thought about the flatbread we had at lunch, and I thought, what if I do this and add this, and I ended up with this flatbread, kinda inspired by TGI Fridays!

Buffalo Wings Flatbread

1 Flatbread
4 oz. Cream Cheese-softened
1 1/2 teaspoon Franks Red Hot Wing Sauce
7 cooked Buffalo Wings
2 stalks Scallions
1 Roma Tomato
Ranch Dressing
Blue Cheese Crumbles

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
I bought these at the grocery store.
They were sitting on shelves in front of the deli case.
The first thing to do is de-bone the chicken wings. I tried
to use a little of the skin, for the great flavor,
 but I pulled out any really fatty pieces. 
Chop your scallions also.
Chop your tomatoes. 
It is best to make them bite size or smaller.
Bake your flatbread, with nothing on it, for 10 minutes in the oven.

While it is cooking, mix your softened cream cheese and 
the wing sauce together. Add more or less to your liking.
Spread the cream cheese mixture over the flatbread.
Top the spread with chicken, scallions and tomatoes.
Bake in the oven for 10 -15 minutes
 Drizzle with ranch dressing, or.......
add some blue cheese crumbles. Yum!!
I cut my flatbread like a pizza slice, but you could do squares
and serve a lot more guests!

Thank you for joining me today!

Have a Happy, Happy New Year !
See you in 2014!!









Friday, December 20, 2013

The Season of Sweets at P.F.Chang!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of P.F. Changs for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I admit it! I have an incredible sweet tooth. To satisfy it, I am always on the lookout for some new or revamped treat that will conquer my craving and leave me happy and smiling! During the holidays, sweets are everywhere, and they are easy to obtain. But P.F. Chang’s is offering some seasonal sweets that satisfy and delight!

How does a handmade Dessert Wonton sound? I know, right? It sounds incredible! Now, how about two different flavors~Chocolate Raspberry and Sweet Vanilla Cream. All I can say is bring them on, and bring both kinds! The Chocolate Raspberry is stuffed with a creamy chocolate-raspberry filling, dusted with powdered sugar, served with chocolate and raspberry sauces and fresh raspberries and mint. Oh, heaven!! And the Sweet Vanilla Cream? Warm and crispy wontons filled with vanilla cream cheese, dusted with powdered sugar and served with vanilla and raspberry sauces and fresh mint.  photo d3f7af4a-3858-4175-a9d5-7e42e8ad35ae_zps70fdfd3f.jpg

What about a Peppermint Mocha Cappuccino? It sounds like a great way to end a wonderful meal, doesn't it? You can enjoy a Crave Mint Chocolate Liqueur and vodka added to a classic cappuccino, finished with crushed peppermint candy. Are you in love with the aroma and taste of vanilla bean? Then treat your taste buds to a Vanilla Bean Bourban Milkshake!!  Woodford bourbon is blended with vanilla bean ice cream, graham crackers and honey, and served with a honey graham cracker pop. Pure bliss!

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Drop in to P.F. Changs this holiday season and enjoy their traditional menu, which is always wonderful, and add some sweet to this sweetest of seasons by trying their delicious handmade dessert wontons or one of their two handcrafted holiday beverages.

If you get there before me, order me a Sweet Vanilla Cream Wonton and a Peppermint Mocha Cappuccino!

What are you excited about ordering?

 

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Thursday, December 19, 2013

Cardamom Orange Sugar Cookies, a Cookie Swap Party and a $50 Target Giveaway!

 Today I have the pleasure of joining in a Cookie Swap Party! Being a devout cookie lover, I decided to try something a little different this time, and I made a Cardamom-Orange Sugar Cookie.  The flavor of cardamom is one of my favorites (although I seldom use it), and when I saw this recipe from Dede Wilson of  Epicurious.com, I had to try it. I hope you enjoy it too!
 Cardamom Orange Sugar Cookies
2 1/2 cups Flour
1 1/4 teaspoons Ground Cardamom
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 cups Butter, room temperature
1 cup + 2 tablespoons Sugar
1 1/2  teaspoons finely grated Orange Peel
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
1 large Egg
1/2 cup Milk Chocolate Chips, melted
holiday sprinkles
 Whisk your flour, cardamom, and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, beat your butter and sugar until light and creamy. 
Beat in finely grated orange peel and vanilla.
Add your egg and beat to blend.
Add your flour to the wet ingredients in 3 increments.
Beat on low after each addition, just until blended.
Divide your dough in half. 
Wrap each half in parchment or plastic wrap.
Chill about 45 minutes. Dough can be chilled for
up to 24 hours if you want to make ahead.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Use a cookie scoop, or you can form with your hands,
and place dough on the baking sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Let cool.
Swirl your melted chocolate on top of your cooled cookies.
Sprinkle with holiday colors!

A note about Cardamom~It is an expensive spice. It can be used
in lots of different recipes, not just sweets. It has a unique flavor,
which I love, and I am sure you will too.

Let's meet the hostesses of this fun link party:
Ang from Juggling Act Mama is bringing Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
Teri from The Freshman Cook is bringing Cardamom Orange Sugar Cookies
Jamie from Love Bakes Good Cakes is bringing Italian Anise Cookies
Carrie from Frugal Foodie Mama is bringing Biscoff Snickerdoodles
Paula from Call me PMc is bringing White Chocolate Chip Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
Stacey from Glued to my Crafts is bringing Almond Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
Deb from Cooking on the Front Burner is bringing Cranberry Orange Slice Cookies
Jaime from Mom's Test Kitchen is bringing Holiday Vanilla Pudding Cake Cookies
Marilyn from 4 You With Love is bringing Chocolate Peppermint Rice Crispy Treats
Please be sure to hop around and visit all the ladies and check out their tasty cookies! Join the Holiday Cookie Link Party!

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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Gingerbread Cookies with Eggnog Topping!

Today I am sharing my official cookie of this years Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. This is my third year participating in this fun, tasty and rewarding holiday activity~I just love it. The cookie swap is a great time because I actually send 1 dozen real, not virtual, cookies to 3 different participants. It is oh, so tasty because I receive 3 dozen yummy cookies from my swap partners.The rewards I reap are because the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap participates in Cookies For Kids Cancer. This is a national non-profit organization committed to funding new therapies used in the fight against pediatric cancer, which claims the lives of more children in the US than any other disease.This year we raised $13,778.40 for Cookies for Kids' Cancer! Great fun, great Christmas Cookies and a great cause! Win, Win, Win!!!


So, what did I make this year? One of my old favorites, but with a new twist! 
Gingerbread Cookies with an Eggnog Topping
3/4 cup Butter, softened
1 cup packed Brown Sugar
1 Egg
3/4 cup Molasses
4 cups Flour
2 teaspoons Ground Ginger
1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda 
1 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves
pinch of Salt
1/2 bag of Wilton Candy Melts~Eggnog flavor
Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
 Add egg and molasses.
Combine flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, 
cloves and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mix.
Divide your dough in half and refrigerate it for about 4 hours.
 Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 
Scoop the dough into balls and place on your baking sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Cool completely.
Melt about 1/2 package of candy melts
according to package directions.
Spread the melted melts on top of each cookie.
Let the tops set up.

I packed up the cookies,
decorated the cookie tin, and sent them on their way!

But, I did keep a few for quality control!.
I hope you enjoy this recipe.
Visit the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap facebook page,
and find out how you can join us next Christmas!
Thank you 
Lindsay from Love and Olive Oil
and
Julie from The Little Kitchen
for all you hard work and dedication!