Fun Find

I absolutely love this Party Chiller. What a great way to display veggies and dip, cheese and crackers or sweet treats. A local boutique in town was selling it for around $110, but after scouring the internet, I found an online store selling it for $80.

The dip bowl lifts out so the base can be filled with ice and the small and large pockets on the sides are perfect for holding crudite or other appetizers.

The Party Chiller is available in cream, sage green and scarlet red....here's a link to buy the party chiller online:
http://www.millstreetmarketplace.com/ruffled-party-chiller.html

Recipe Du Jour

I found these delicious looking cupcakes on Delish.com. They're called Pretty in Pink Strawberry Cupcakes. The recipe calls for fresh strawberries in the batter and as a garnish on top. I love the way the cut strawberries look like little hearts on top of the cupcakes. These would make for a sweet Valentines gift for my hubby, friends and coworkers. The link to the recipe is here: ttp://www.delish.com/recipefinder/strawberry-cupcakes

Valentines Day Gift Idea

With Valentines right around the corner, I started surfing around Martha Stewart's website for gift ideas. Both of the pics above are cute, easy ways to dress up a box of chocolates or other Valentine-inspired candy. The decorative paper on the left is created using organic items like fruits or flowers, laying them on a copier and reproducing the images in black and white. The outcome looks really simple and elegant. For the little bags on the right, you can use the templates on Martha's website to construct them.

Recipe Du Jour

I love, love, love buffalo chicken wings....but since they're not the healthiest appetizer, I always look for ways to re-invent that same flavor profile, but in a more healthful way. Rachel Ray has a terrific buffalo chicken chili recipe. I make it often and it always tastes great. The recipe is here: http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/buffalo-chicken-chili/print/

So, I was watching Big Daddy's House on Food Network today and he had a recipe for Buffalo Chicken Cheese Balls with Blue Cheese Dip that looked F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!! I'm gonna make the recipe for Super Bowl Sunday, however I'll most likely try to bake the balls instead of fry them. The link to the recipe is here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aaron-mccargo,-jr./buffalo-chicken-cheese-balls-recipe/index.html

Super Bowl Appetizer

I'm looking forward to the big game next week, not just to enjoy the game with good friends, but also to cook for it.

I came across this recipe and made it for Super Bowl last year - it went over really well - tasted good and looked great.

The recipe is called Field of Guacamole and can be found at AvocadoCentral.com.

Recipe Du Jour

I came across this creative appetizer idea in the latest issue of Woman's Day. It's a fun take on sushi and a great way to enjoy a healthy alternative to the traditional high fat appetizer.

The recipe is simple. Use store bought spinach tortillas, cut in half and layer with cream cheese. Cut small slices of carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers or any veggies you like and stack vegetables near the cut end. Once you've rolled the tortillas, cut them in 1" slices.