Mardi Gras Mustard dipping sauce (like Popeye's)

Inspiration.

I wouldn't have chosen Mardi Gras Mustard dipping sauce but I was at Popeye's with my mother and brother, someone else chose did.  Since it was there I tried it and I loved it.

Shrimp Dip

Inspired 

1/2 cup chili sauce I used Heinz
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, slightly softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated onion use your cheese grater
1 teaspoon creamed horseradish
1 dash or two of Worcestershire Sauce
1 dash or two, or three of Tabasco Sauce
1/2 pound cooked salad shrimp or shrimp meat can sub small can shrimp, divided
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Use an electric mixer to blend the chili sauce into the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl until very smooth.
Add all of the remaining ingredients, except the shrimp, and blend until well combined.
2. Use a spoon to fold in the shrimp and chives, reserving a couple of tablespoons of shrimp for garnish. Cover and
chill for at least an hour or two prior to serving.
3. Pile the reserved shrimp in the center of the dip and serve with Ritz Crackers and celery sticks.

Pimento Cheese Crackers

Inspired

Crack Corn - originally posted on May 23/13

**Warning!  Do not make this recipe!  It's called Crack Corn for a reason.  You will eat so much of it your stomach will hurt.**
I love The Chew.  I record it every day and watch it faithfully.  The hosts inspire me to cook more and to try new and interesting things.

Baba Ganoush is the new hummus - originally posted on Oct 15/12

You know about hummus, right?  It's a dip made from chick peas and a few other ingredients.  Creamy and delicious, it's a healthy, high fibre dip for veggies, pita or crackers.  Heck, it's great as a sandwich spread too.  I used to make it all the time.  A bowl of hummus was always in my fridge.

Wings - originally posted on Oct 20/12

I wanted buffalo wings but I didn't have any blue cheese dressing on hand so I used the Google.  I stumbled on this recipe.  I love the technique of simmering the wings because you can walk away.

Honey Sriracha Wings - originally posted May 9/15

I found two recipes that sounded good, put them together, added my own spin and here's what I ended up with;

Fig and Walnut Pate

"the memory of a good French pâté can haunt you for years." -Julia Child

Chinese Five-Spice Kettle Corn

I love the sweet-salty-crunchy of kettle corn and have wanted to try making it for some time. When I came upon this recipe in a magazine I couldn't resist. It didn't turn out quite as sweet as I hoped for but it's spicy and tasty.

1/2 c. popcorn
2 Tbsp canola oil
4 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp Chinese 5 Spice powder
1 tsp salt

In a large pot with a tight fitting lid over medium heat combine popcorn the ingredients. Shake constantly. Once the popcorn begins to pop, turn the heat down to medium low. Continue to shake until popping slows down. Leave it with the lid on until the popping stops. Drizzle with melted butter.

I have been a hot-air popcorn popper for several years, so I was nervous about making popcorn on the stove again for the first time since I was a kid. It turned out quite well. The exciting thing is that you could use any spice or spice blend you wanted. Imagine using chipotle chili powder. Or curry. oooo the possibilities are endless

Muhammara

where did I get this?

Family Picnic Time (hummus)

So, you've agreed.

Hummus (or however you spell it)

2 large cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp paprika
1 can garbanzo beans, drained
zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 Tbsp tahini
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup fat free plain yogurt
1/2 tsp cumin, ground
1/2 tsp chili powder

Throw the garlic in the food processor while it's running. Then add everything else and puree until it's smooth and creamy. A non "diet" version would use enough olive oil to make the mixture smooth and creamy and no yogurt, but this version is tasty and has only 50 calories per 2 tablespoon serving.

The raw garlic delivers a bite, which increases as the dip matures in your fridge. Next time I would roast the garlic a little to tame it. Then you might need 4 cloves.

Christmas Potluck Question-What to bring? (feta cheese ball and chicken wings)

You've been invited to a Christmas party and it's pot luck. First of all, celebrate because pot luck is not only easier on your host/hostess than a full serve menu, but it's a great way to see what your friends are up to in a culinary sense. You want to bring something that will be a hit and make you look like the next "Martha" but you don't want to spend the day in the kitchen. Here's a tip (this one's for free) double the recipe and save some for your own family, entertaining or another pot luck.