Hot Sauce Love

I am not a “throw-a-can-of-peanuts-on-the-table” kind of gal! When I am planning a party, it is important to me that I choose thoughtful, satisfying recipes that:

Are simple to make

Have few ingredients

Hold up well over time

Are pleasing to look at and of course,

Taste great!

Over the years, I have tried out a lot of recipes on my friends and family and no doubt about it, the “Most Requested Hot Appetizers, Delicious Desserts and Summer Drinks” are those listed below (in no particular order).

Top 2 Hot Appetizers

Number One Most Requested Hot Appetizer–Warm Chipotle Cheddar Dip

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1-8 oz. can whole kernel corn, drained (3/4 cup)

1-4 oz. can chopped green chili peppers, drained

2 teaspoons finely chopped canned chipotle chili peppers in adobo sauce (or to taste)

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped (3/4 cup)

1/4 cup sliced green onion

2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro

Vegetables, crackers or chips

I found this dip when I was on a low carb diet and was looking for a party appetizer that would work well with vegetables. Something with a robust flavor that would perk up the veggies. Well this one definitely fit the bill.

This appetizer has become a favorite among my friends. It’s served multiple times throughout the year at various parties that I either host or attend.

You can make it as smokey and spicy as you want by adjusting the amount of chipotle peppers (smoked jalepenos) but watch out. You can easily go from mildly spicy to blow-your-face-off hot by adding too much!

Steps to Make Cheddar Chipotle Dip

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Stir together cheeses, mayonnaise, corn, green chili peppers, chipotle chili peppers and garlic powder in a large mixing bowl. Spread mixture into a 1 quart, covered dish. Bake for 30 minutes until bubbly.

Top with tomato, green onion and cilantro. I like to make a pattern out of the toppings so I put the tomatoes all in the middle, make a ring around them with the green onion then sprinkle the cilantro over all.

Serve with vegetables, like red, green and yellow peppers. Tostido and Frito Scoops work well too.

Number Two Most Requested Hot Appetizer–Warm Green Chili Dip

8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese

8 oz. shredded mild cheddar cheese

2 cups mayonnaise

1 small sweet onion, minced

1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilis, drained

1-1/2 oz. chopped pepperoni

1/2 cup sliced ripe olives

Tostidos or Fritos Scoops

In a shallow baking dish, combine the first five ingredients. Top mixture with the pepperoni and olives. Bake at 325 degrees about 25 minutes or until bubbly.

Serve with Scoops, crackers or assorted fresh vegetables.

Note: I do not recommend using reduced fat mayonnaise.

Speaking from personal experience, both of these hot appetizers are guaranteed to be a hit at any get together.

WARNING: Get ready to hand out the recipes!

Top 2 Delicious Desserts

Number One Most Requested Delicious Dessert–Raspberry White Chocolate Dream Bars

1 box white cake mix

1/3 cup evaporated milk

1-1/2 sticks melted butter

1 cup chopped nuts

1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam

12 oz. white chocolate chips

Combine cake mix, milk, butter and nuts. Makes a very gooey dough. Spray a 9 x 13 pan and spread half of the dough into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Melt the jam in the microwave (about a minute) and spread on top of hot crust. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over jam. Crumble remaining dough on top and bake an additional 20-25 minutes.

Cool completely before cutting. For bigger parties, this recipe easily doubles and can be made in a 15 x 10 pan.

Once you get the hang of this technique, you can think of all sorts of combinations. How about using chocolate cake with mint chips? Or lemon cake with white chocolate?

Number Two Most Requested Delicious Dessert–Chocolate Amaretto Bundt Cake

1 pkg. chocolate devil’s food cake mix

1 small pkg. instant chocolate pudding mix

4 eggs

1 cup milk

1-1/2 oz. Amaretto liqueur

1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup fresh raspberries (optional)

1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam (optional)

Whipped cream (optional)

Glaze

1 stick butter

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup Amaretto

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Combine first 6 ingredients and blend well. Stir in chips. Grease and flour a bundt pan. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

Melt glaze ingredients in a saucepan or microwave. Pour 2/3 of glaze over top of cake while cake is hot from oven and still in pan. Allow cake to remain in pan for 25 minutes. Remove cake from pan and drizzle with remaining glaze.

When I make this cake dessert, I fill the middle with fresh raspberries and present it on my grandmother’s crystal pedestal cake stand which is very dramatic.

Just before serving, I make a raspberry sauce by melting the jam in the microwave. Each lucky guest gets a plate with some of the sauce, a slice of cake, a few berries and some whipped cream. Yum!

Top 2 Summer Drinks

When most people host parties, they usually have the basic alcoholic beverages, like beer and wine, but rarely do you see a host offer a selection of really special summer drinks. I have perfected my list of offerings over the years and now I share my Top 2 with you.

Number One Most Requested Summer Cocktail–Limoncello Mint Lemonade

1/2 cup lemonade concentrate

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Ice cubes

1/4 cup Limoncello (lemon liqueur)

1/2 cup club soda

Lemon and Mint for garnish

In a small pitcher, “muddle” mint leaves together with lemonade concentrate and lemon juice. Muddle means to bruise the leaves so they release their flavor. I use the end of a wooden spoon.

Stir in ice cubes, Limoncello and club soda and pour into 4 glasses. Top them off with a lemon slice, a sprig of fresh mint and an umbrella.

Makes 4-10 oz. drinks.

Number Two Most Requested Summer Cocktail–Fruited Brandy Punch

This one has become a favorite at my home and a lot of the parties I attend, most likely because everyone loves it and you can make a huge amount and serve it in a punch bowl.

1/2 part brandy (I use Christian Brothers brand)

1 part lemon-lime soda

2 parts fruit juice (Cranberry-Peach blend is my favorite)

1/2 bag frozen fruit (Blueberries and strawberries look great)

1 fruited ice ring (see recipe below)

Slices of lemons, limes and oranges, if desired

Mix fruit juice and frozen fruit together in a nice punch bowl or container. Pour in lemon-lime soda, gently stir and then float an ice ring on top (see recipe below).

Rather than spike the punch, I serve the brandy on the side so my guests who prefer non-alcoholic punch can drink it too.

To make ice ring

Pour 1-2 cups of the juice mixture from above into a Bundt pan or another mold. Add some of the fruit and/or fresh citrus slices. Freeze overnight.

Just before serving, set the pan into some hot water to loosen the ice ring and then turn it into the punch bowl. It makes a really beautiful presentation, cools the punch and since it’s made with juice, it will not water down the punch. Perfect!

This recipe can easily be altered so you can serve it from a Drink Fountain which is really gaining popularity lately. Just leave out the fruit and the ice ring.

If you went to a summer party and somebody handed you any of these summer drinks, wouldn’t you think that the hosts went out of their way to make things special? That they really took time to get it right? Everybody loves a special summer drink on a warm sunny day.

So, now you have the recipes for my “Most Requested Hot Appetizers, Delicious Desserts and Summer Drinks” to WOW your guests with. I am certain that over time, several of these recipes will become your favorites just as they are mine. Enjoy!

gold dredges

orite sauces for ribs have different bases that make them delicious, and give the ribs a different flavor. Sauce is a great way to add variety to ribs, whether you are grilling and smoking them, baking or broiling them, or simmering in a pot on the top of the stove. Ribs are always best parboiled before grilling and baking to make them tender.

1. Barbeque Sauce-of course, this is one of the favorite sauces for ribs, whether it is homemade or store bought. Most people love this one, and it is the number one favorite sauces for ribs.

2. Honey Mustard Sauce-You can use brown, spicy mustard or a Dijon and mix the honey in and then marinate and baste the ribs while grilling on the smoker or baking in the oven.

3. Sweet and Sour Sauce-You can use store bought sweet and sour or make your own using vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, ketchup and a little cornstarch.

4. Teriyaki style sauce- made with brown sugar, ginger and pineapple juice-This is one of the favorite sauces for ribs that are smoked on the grill.

5. Lemon Garlic Sauce-If you love garlic, this will be one of your favorite sauces for ribs. Use lemon juice and diced garlic to marinate the meat, top with lemon slices, wrap in foil and grill, or bake.

6. Peanut Sauce-This is Thai style ribs and you can buy peanut sauce in the store. You can make your own with peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, vinegar and a little water. Good for grilling, baking, or dipping.

7. Southwestern Spicy Sauce-This sauce uses spicy mustard or barbeque sauce, and then you add chili powder, dried red pepper flakes, ground cloves, and some instant coffee granules. If you like spicy ribs, this will be one of your favorite sauces for ribs, and it is especially good boiled on top the stove and served over rice or spaghetti.

8. Garlic Rosemary Sauce-This is one of my favorite sauces for baking ribs in the oven. Diced garlic, loads of fresh rosemary and Worcestershire sauce, with a little red wine are used as a marinade and baking sauce.

9. Buffalo Ribs-If you like buffalo wings, you all like traditional buffalo ribs, using vinegar, Tabasco, melted butter and basting the ribs while you grill, bake or broil.

10. Beer and Lemon Sauce-The beer and lemon juice tenderizes the ribs when they are grilling or baking, add olive oil for browning and adding a dash of liquid hickory smoke, garlic and onion makes these um, um, good. Also great for slow simmered ribs on the stove.

11. Lemon Pepper Sauce-This is a traditional of the favorite sauces for ribs, using lemon juice, white wine, garlic, onion powder and black ground pepper.

12. Italian Style Rib Sauce-This is one of the favorite sauces for ribs that can be served over rice or spaghetti, using stewed tomatoes, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, basil and oregano, slow simmering with ribs on the top of the stove.

These are just a few of the favorite sauces for ribs. There are dipping sauces you can make, such as horseradish and sour cream sauce, blue cheese and sun-dried tomato sauce, tangy ranch sauce, and just about any combination you can think of can be favorite sauces for ribs.

bitch tits

I know a lot of people have already asked if there’s a difference between cayenne pepper and chili pepper but I want to know if I can substitute one for the other? I don’t have cayenne pepper and a barbeque sauce recipe calls for it, can I just use chili pepper instead or will it make the barbeque sauce taste weird or different?

gynecomastia surgery

With the current grocery prices and all the other economic downturns, we are all looking for economical recipes that will help us feed our families nutritious meals.  Here are a couple of old-fashion recipes from my vintage recipe collection.  Both are quick, easy, economical and tasty.  Perfect for an inexpensive family meal.  Corn chips, chili, and cheese casserole uses a minimal number of ingredients, goes together quickly and only needs to bake for 20 minutes.  Not only is it tasty and economical, it is also perfect for the busy mom.  Country surprise slaw has an apple in its ingredient list, giving it a little something extra and adding fruit to the mix.

CORN CHIPS, CHILI, AND CHEESE CASSEROLE

2 tbsp margarine

1 lb ground beef

1 1/4 oz pkg chili seasoning mix

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups coarsely crumbed corn chips

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cans (8 oz each) tomato sauce

Melt margarine in skillet and brown ground beef with onion. Drain. Stir in chili seasoning mix, tomato sauce, and 1 cup water. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Lightly grease 2-quart casserole dish. Layer 1/2 chili mixure, corn chips, then cheese. Repeat layers. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

COUNTRY SURPRISE SLAW

6 cups shredded or chopped cabbage

2 large carrots, shredded

1 medium bell pepper, chopped

1 large red apple, chopped

3 green onions, sliced

1/2 cup chopped celery

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, apple, onions, and celery. In a small mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour dressing mix over cabbage mixture and toss to coat well. Put in a covered bowl and refrigerate.

Enjoy

 

gold metal detector

It’s that time of year when hosts and hostesses turn their thought to themes for parties celebrating everything from their favorite college or professional football game and Super Bowl parties to Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s parties, and celebrations of All of the other World Holidays during this holiday season.

We at I-ShopTheWorld are what you might call “party people,” so we have some party idea suggestions that will add variety and spice up your party: host a saucy chili cook-off.

Compile your guest list so you can create teams of 3-6 cooks. On your invitation let your guests know they’ll be participating in a chili cook-off and who’ll be on their team (have some extra fun and mix up couples). Ask them to bring any special ingredients they like to use in their chili, but let them know that every thing they could possibly will likely be provided and everyone will be starting with a basic batch of chili you will prepare in advance. Then they can spice it up. Be sure to arrange for enough pots and utensils for each team to have their own. Tell them to BYOA (bring your own apron).

Here’s how it works: The day before your party prepare a big batch of chili starter sauce using your choice of basic ingredients. Here’s one recipe. We suggest you multiply the ingredients to accommodate the number of teams you’ve organized with a hefty batch of starter sauce.

Basic chili sauce recipe to serve 6

• 1 pound lean ground beef or steak chopped into bite-size pieces

• 1/2 cup chopped onion

• 2 chopped garlic cloves

• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes or tomato puree

• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

• 1 teaspoon salt (regular or garlic)

Preparation:

Spray the skillet with nonstick cooking spray or a light coating of an oil, such as olive oil. Brown the ground beef or chopped steak with the onion. Add the remaining ingredients stirring as you go. Note, you are not adding beans at this point; your guest cooks get to do that. Cover and simmer for at least 20 minutes. Refrigerate till party time.

On the day of the party, scoop up an equal amount of the basic chili sauce for each team, then invite them to complete the cook-off by adding any of the following ingredients you’ll have available in whatever quantities they prefer:

• cooked, browned ground pork

• pre-cooked sausage

• cans of beans, including kidney, chili, black, cannelloni, and pinto

• cans of vegetarian refried beans with chilies

• cans of tomato sauce or whole tomatoes with and without chilies

• cans of whole kernel corn

• fresh tomatoes

• fresh red, green, and yellow sweet peppers

• fresh jalapeno peppers

• fresh squash and zucchini

• garlic powder

• paprika

• fresh natural black pepper, white pepper, dried chili spice, and India long pepper spice

• an assortment of gourmet Tortuga sauces, such as Sweet Heat Carib, Mango & Ginger Stir Fry, Hot Caribbean Pepper, and Hell Fire Hot Pepper Sauce.

• jars of Tortuga Gourmet Wildflower and Citrus Honey

Give each team a couple of hours to finish the cook-off, then conduct the taste contest and let your guests vote on the best. If you get a wow! Winner, consider having the team try it again for charity, presuming they have kept track of their ingredients and can repeat the taste (check out those opportunities at http://www.chilicookoff.com).

Consider serving other I-ShopTheWorld products like Thai coffee and tea. Treat your guest cooks to beverages made with Tortuga Rum Punch Mix. And, don’t forget the dessert; you’ll be so busy making the basic chili and organizing teams and ingredients, you may want to serve a variety tray of Tortuga Gourmet Fudge, rum balls, or rum cakes.

Go ahead, just do it.

Tell everyone to “pen” in the date, start arranging the details, and place your order online.

Let I-ShopTheWorld help you concoct the sauciest party your family and friends have ever had.

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Please Reply and Post All of Your Feedback and Comments regarding this Article and …

- Your Saucy Party Ideas?

- Your Best Favorite Chili Recipes?

- Your Favorite / the Best Chili Ingredients?

- How Hot / “How Many Alarms” do You like Your Chili?

- Where do you stand on the “Bean” or “No Beans” “Great Chili Debate”?

- How about Meats in Your Chili?

— Do You prefer Your Chili with or without meat(s)?

— Which meat(s) do You like Best in Your Chili? / makes the Best Chili?

- Your other ideas do You have to Share for Great Parties?

Again, Please Reply and Post All of Your Comments at:

http://i-shoptheworld.com/2008/09/27/how-to-concoct-a-saucy-party/

regarding all of this and anything other Great Party Ideas can think of for the Mutual Benefit of Everyone Around The World, ok?!

gold dredge