Superbowl Potluck Recipes

We don't normally attend Superbowl parties, but in the spirit of celebration we always try to have fun food that night at our house and invite our teens friends to stop by if they don't have plans. If you are going to be with family and friends that night you might need a good potluck dish. Let's face it, we can never have too many potluck recipes:) The following are easy and delicious.

Taco Beef Soup

Ingredients:
2 pounds lean ground chuck or round
1 cup sweet onion, diced
4 cups beef broth
2 14 1/2 ounce cans pureed crushed tomatoes
1 4 ounce can chopped green chiles
2 15 ounce cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Toppings:
Sour cream
sliced green onions
salsa
shredded cheese
sliced jalapenos
tortilla chips, or strips

Brown the ground beef with the onions. Drain grease if there is any. Combine all of the other ingredients except for toppings. Bring to a boil in a large pan, then simmer for about 30 minutes. Serve with toppings.

Notes: to bring to a potluck, transfer to a crock pot after simmering. Plug in when you arrive, and keep it on low, stirring occasionally. Place the toppings next to the soup in small bowls, or put them in a divided platter such as ones used for relish trays. Check with hostess to see if he/she has bowls. If not, bring disposable bowls and spoons.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Ingredients:
1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 11 oz. can corn, drained
1 tsp. minced jalapeno pepper, seeds removed
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro, discard stems
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 tsp. salt
tortilla chips

Combine all ingredients except the chips. Cover and chill for at least two hours. Serve with chips.

Cheddar Beer Bread

Ingredients:
3 cups self-rising flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
12 fluid ounces beer, room temperature
3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
6 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a 9x5 inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, beer, and cheese. Place batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading the batter evenly. Drizzle the melted butter on top of the dough.Bake 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Notes: I sometimes add a tsp. of garlic powder to the melted butter before drizzling on the dough.

Sausage and Bean Dip

Ingredients:
1 16 ounce package spicy breakfast or Italian sausage
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
1/2 cup salsa
3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 tomato, diced
1/4 cup sliced green onions
Tortilla chips

Brown the sausage, breaking up while cooking. Drain grease. Combine the sausage, beans and salsa. Spread over bottom of 9-inch pie plate or casserole dish. Top with the cheese. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes or until hot and melty. Top with the tomatoes and green onions. Serve with tortilla chips.

Classic Spinach Dip

Ingredients:
1 package (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, cooked, cooled and squeezed dry
1 container (16 oz.) light sour cream
1 cup light mayonnaise
1 package Knorr® Vegetable recipe mix
1 can (8 oz.) water chestnuts, drained and chopped
3 green onions, chopped
Optional: 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients and chill about 2 hours. Serve with bagel or pita chips. I also like serving with bagels cut into 1 inch pieces. This is the classic recipe from Knorr, but I lightened it a bit. The cayenne adds a little extra zip.

On OFL we have recipes for hot dips that work great for potlucks:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/hotdips.html

~Brenda

Easy Herb Breads for Dinner

Quick breads are easy to make and wonderful served with soups or stews, especially on cold winter evenings. Today I have a few simple recipes to keep in mind when you need a quick bread for dinner.

Herb Rolls

Ingredients:
2 tubes butter flake rolls
1/4 cup butter
2 tbsp. dried parsley
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
2 tbsp. dried minced onion

Line a greased loaf pan end to end with two rows of dough. Peel apart slightly. Bring the butter with herbs to a very low boil while stirring. Pour over the bread. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes.

Easy Herb "French" Bread

Ingredients:
3 cups Bisquick or Jiffy Baking Mix
3/4 cup water
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp. water
Sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix baking mix, water and herbs until a soft dough forms; beat vigorously for 30 seconds. Form the dough into a ball on surface dusted with flour. Knead ten times, then roll into a 11 inch by 8 inch rectangle. Roll it up lengthwise, then pinch the ends to seal. Place the loaf on a baking sheet. Mix the yolk and water; brush on the loaf and sprinkle with the seeds. Bake until lightly browned for 20-25 minutes.

Herb Bubble Bread

Ingredients:
2/3 cups grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. paprika
3 cups Bisquick Buttermilk Baking Mix
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a tube or Bundt pan. Mix the cheese, herbs and garlic. Combine baking mix, sour cream and milk until soft dough forms; beat 30 seconds. Gently gather dough into a ball, then knead ten times. Divide and shape dough until 1 inch balls. Dips each ball into the melted butter, then roll in the cheese mixture to coat. Arrange the balls about 1/4 inch apart in layers in the tube pan. Sprinkle any remaining cheese mixture over the top of the dough. Bake until golden brown for 20 minutes. Cool 5 minutes, loosen edges from the sides of the pan and remove from pan.

Herb Flat Bread

Ingredients:
Crescent roll tube, 8 ounces
1/2 c. fresh basil leaves or 2 tsp. dried
2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary leaves or 1/2 tsp. dried
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. grated Mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Roll dough into 2 long rectangles. Place one rectangle on a baking sheet. Place the basil leaves on the dough, sprinkle the rosemary on top of the basil. Place second rectangle over the herbs. Flatten the double layer slightly with a rolling pin, or hands. Brush egg over the top of the dough. Sprinkle with the cheeses. Bake until golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Notes: Italian seasoning and garlic can be used in place of the rosemary and basil.

On OFL you'll find hearty stew recipes:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/stews.html

~Brenda