Shrimp Chip Dip

mouthwatering

     Yay for new years! I love New Years Eve, it brings a refreshing feeling,hope that you can make your life better. I normally don't share my goals for the upcoming months, but I'm going to need moral support on 2015's. I'm quitting sugar, I legitimately have a sugar addiction. 

But who cares about all the unrealistic resolutions?  The expectations we have  are hardly ever met, wishes a rarely granted,  and the dang muffin top never leaves.  All this talk about failing goals and quitting sugar is making me sad, Enough sad talk!   

  What really matters is food!

      The real reason why i love new years is the food! At any party, you're gonna find me at the food table. I don't have time to worry about my flaws when I'm hungry. Food is there for you. 

             One of our family favorites on new years, and the yearly super bowl,   is 

 shrimp chip dip.

looks odd, tastes great!

 My grandpa Nicki Black came up with this savory creation years ago, and it's stuck around and we've gobbled tons of this stuff. It's so good, i am actually doing a service by sharing the recipe.

                                                                                                                                                    

Gather your needed ingredients,  a fork, and  a large mixing bowl.( milk is not pictured)
The miracle whip provides a nice, sweet, tangy taste. You  can improvise with Mayo is you like.

                                                                                                                                          

 

(I know it kinda looks gross). With the fork, smash the cream cheese, miracle whip, and milk together.

The cream cheese needs to be softened at room temp.

 If you are looking for a good arm workout, this gets your bicep nice and sore.

Don't use an electrical beater! The fork won't take all the clumps out and make it smooth like a beater will, but that's the point! You want everything to me mixed, but still have a chunky texture. Even if it looks kind of...disturbing..

 Now, add you shrimp and onion salt.

  Mix it one last time and let the delicious dip chill in the fridge for a couple of hours.

  Chilling makes it nice and cold, and lets the flavors really combine well. 

             WARNING: the shrimp kind of smells like bad breath when you drain the juice, be brave!

                                                      The finished product! OH YAY!

 INDULGE

 The crunch of the salty chip with the creamy,  almost sweet  dip, makes perfection.

                         This will be you appetizer for every meal and your choice of snack until it's gone! 

ENJOY!

___________________________________________________________________________________

              Shrimp Chip Dip

• a box of  8oz of cream cheese
•  2 Tbs of Miracle Whip (or mayo)
• 1 Tbs of milk
• 6 oz can of mini shrimp
• 1 tsp of onion salt 

Combine cream cheese, MW, and milk. Mash with fork

 until mixed, but still a little bit chunky.  Add shrimp, and onion salt.

 Let chill in fridge. Serve with wavy lays.  


-megan

Ooey Gooey Salted Caramel Corn

This is one of my most requested recipes.  It is GOOD!  It's perfect for a last-minute treat or if you need something to bring to a potluck.  We seem to make some kind of yummy popcorn on Sunday nights.  It's the perfect porch-sitting snack.  Plus it's super easy, you really can't screw this one up.

My kids LOVE when I bust out this retro air-popper.  

It's a party.

In a saucepan add:
1 stick of butter
1 pound of brown sugar
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup corn syrup. 

Turn burner onto medium heat stirring often.  Meanwhile, you can start popping the corn.  I did two 1/2 cup batches of kernals to get this big bowl.  I've also done it using 3 bags of microwave popcorn, and that works perfectly too.

Continue to cook mixture until it begins to boil.  Here's the trick to the ooey-gooeyness.  Bring it to a boil, but don't actually let the mixture boil.  Cooking it past a boil will make tacky popcorn, not ooey-gooey popcorn.  Remove from heat and add 1 tablespoon of vanilla.

I'm spoiled and have a mom who makes the worlds best vanilla.  That's right, homemade vanilla (more on that later).  The flavor is much more pure than its store-bought friends, which only adds to the richness of this treat.

Pour caramel over popcorn, using a large bowl helps!

 Stir to combine and make sure every piece is deliciously coated.  Finally sprinkle with salt, I like to use a coarse salt.  MMMM.

Oh baby, this is good!

Posted by Tiffany :)

Energy Balls

 

These little things are packed full of some of my favorite things, and the best part is that they are GOOD for you!  Also, they're no bake which is a plus in these hot summer months. We make these regularly at our house.  My kids love them.  They are the perfect snack for those awkward times in the day when you're in-between meals.  I like to keep them in the freezer instead of the fridge, they don't freeze completely, and there is something yummy about them when they're ice cold.  Make them TODAY!

 

4 cups oats (use the real oats, not quick oats)

2 cups peanut butter (crunchy or creamy works)

2 cups coconut

1 cup honey

1 cup flax seed (make sure it's ground)*

1 TB vanilla

mini chocolate chips

 

Combine all ingredients.  I like to put everything into my Kitchenaid with the paddle attachment and let 'er rip.  After everything is well combined, roll into little balls and store in a Tupperware in the fridge.  (Or freezer like me)

 

*if you've never used flax seed in your baking, start doing it now!  It's packed with SO many good things like fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids.  Add some to oatmeal, muffins, breads, etc.

 

Posted by Tiffany :)