Beer Cheese Dip

This easy dip takes 5 minutes to make and is jam-packed with flavor! The longer you let the ingredients marinate, the bolder the flavor, which is why I prefer to let mine stay in the refrigerator over night.

Beer Cheese Dip

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) packages of softened cream cheese
• 1 package of Dry mix –  Ranch Dressing (like Hidden Valley)
•  1/2 -3/4 can of beer  (A lager, or full bodied beer, as opposed to a light beer will give you a better flavor)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Pretzels for dipping

Directions

1. Mix cream cheese, dressing, and beer until you reach your desired creamy consistency.
2. Then mix in 1/2 cup of cheese, leaving the remaining cheese to sprinkle on top.
3. Refrigerated overnight to let the flavors marinade or at least 3 hours before.
4. Serve with pretzels.

Recipe source: http://beautyandbedlam.com/beer-dip-recipe/

Mushroom Stroganoff

Stroganoff is the epitome of what we view as Russian food. I took a Russian staple and decided to make it healthy. I found this recipe for mushroom stroganoff and decided it would be a great alternative to the typical beef stroganoff. This recipe is also dairy-free!

Mushroom Stroganoff

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup raw cashews
• 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
• Pinch fine sea salt
• 1 1/2 pound assorted mushrooms
• 3 shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 1/2 cups mushroom broth or low-sodium vegetable broth (I used chicken broth because that is what I had on hand)
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or dill, for garnish

Directions

Place cashews in a small bowl and cover by about 1 inch with boiling water. Let soak 30 minutes. Drain, discarding soaking liquid. In a blender, combine cashews, 1/4 cup water, vinegar and salt, and blend until smooth; add more water a tablespoon at a time as needed to make a cashew cream.

Halve or quarter smaller mushrooms and thickly slice larger ones. Place mushrooms and shallots in a heavy pot and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms begin to brown; add broth a few tablespoons at a time to keep mushrooms from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Cook, adding more broth as needed, until mushrooms are browned and softened, 10 to 12 minutes.

Stir in remaining broth, mustard, paprika and pepper. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer until mushrooms are very tender and sauce is thickened, about 25 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup of cashew cream. Sprinkle with parsley and serve over pasta or rice with the remaining cashew cream on the top.

Recipe source: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/mushroom-stroganoff

Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole

I took my 4 favorite ingredients and put them into 1 casserole for a delicious dish, and vuala!

Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 -3 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup garlic-infused olive oil (or 1/4 olive oil, and 1 tablespoon garlic powder)
• 1/2 tablespoon rosemary
• 1/2 tablespoon thyme
• 1 lb shredded brussels sprouts
• 1 cup crumbled goat cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon chives

Directions

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Cube the sweet potatoes and add them into a bowl. Mix in the garlic olive oil, rosemary, and thyme. Roast the potatoes for 30 minutes at 500 degrees.

Meanwhile, shred the brussels sprouts. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to a pan and heat up the brussels sprouts until they become a bright green color and start to soften. Set the brussels sprouts aside and add the chicken to that same pan. Heat up the chicken until cooked through.

Once the sweet potatoes come out of the oven, reduce the oven to 350 degrees.

Now it’s time to layer up! In an oven safe casserole dish layer the chicken, sweet potatoes, and brussels sprouts. Add crumbled goat cheese on top, along with the mozzarella. Sprinkle the chives on top of the whole dish.

Bake your casserole for 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted, at 350 degrees.

(I like to add a little hot sauce to my serving for extra heat. I used Sambal chili paste for the perfect bite!)

Recipe source: http://www.food.com/recipe/loaded-potato-and-buffalo-chicken-casserole-493413

Spicy Cinnamon-Chocolate Brownies

These no-fuss chocolate brownies get a subtle kick of spice that brings this all-time favorite dessert to the next level.

Spicy Cinnamon-Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

Vegetable oil cooking spray, for greasing pan
One 21-ounce box brownie mix, such as Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch ceramic or glass baking dish with vegetable oil cooking spray. Line the dish with a 15-inch-square piece of parchment paper, allowing the excess paper to overhang the sides. Spray the parchment paper with vegetable oil cooking spray.

Blend together the brownie mix, eggs, vegetable oil, 1/4 cup water, cinnamon and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Beat the mixture for 1 minute using an electric hand mixer on medium speed. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted about 1-inch from the edge of the baking dish comes out clean, 25 to 27 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool for 1 hour.

Lift the brownie layer from the pan, using the excess paper for handles. Run a thin spatula underneath the brownie layer to loosen it from the parchment paper. Cut into squares and serve.

Recipe source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/spicy-cinnamon-chocolate-brownies-recipe.html

Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Easiest soup recipe ever. Only 15 minutes to make and I love soup on cold winter nights!

Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked Italian sausage (I use 2 mild links and 2 spicy links)
• 3 cups uncooked tortellini
• 4 cups water
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 6 chicken boullion cubes (if you want to use chicken stock instead, 1 cube= 1 cup of stock)
• 1 tbsp. oregano
• 1 tbsp. parsley
• 1 tbsp. chives
• salt & pepper to taste
• parmesan cheese

Directions

Put all ingredients except tortellini in medium size sauce pan and bring to boil.  Allow to simmer about 15 minutes.  Add tortellini and allow to boil according to pasta package instructions.  Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve.

Recipe source: http://partyinmykitchenparties.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-recipe-to-share.html