Appetizers-Snacks-Dips

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MakeItAMovieNight #CollectiveBias

My perfect “Date Night In” consists of a good movie and fun theater-style treats. Coca-Cola, M&M’S® Chocolate Candies, and Orville Redenbacher Popcorn help create “fangtastic” treats for a Hotel Transylvania 2 movie night.

Mr. L&C and I don’t get to the movies often, now that we have a toddler. We love having fun movie nights at home after she goes to bed. I love creating a theme around our movies, and Hotel Transylvania 2 was the perfect time to create some fun concession-style treats with a twist.

I love all types of popcorn, especially the sweet-salty combination, and chocolate covered popcorn is always a welcome treat. Mr. L&C and I like different kinds of chocolate and candies, so I customized our bark. I spread M&M’S® Chocolate Candies over all the chocolate, and sprinkled unsweetened coconut flakes on his portion. Mine was a bit more colorful, with sprinkles and candy eyes. It was boo-tiful! (see what I did there?)

Coca-Cola is always part of our movie nights out, so I grabbed a 6-pack from Walmart, while I was gathering the rest of the ingredients for our monster munchies! Coca-Cola Floats, Coca-cola Cupcakes, and even Coca-Cola Pulled Pork are also fun ways to incorporate your favorite drink for a movie night in!

Grab your own copy of Hotel Transylvania 2 for a fun date night and you can get a $10 movie code by email (While supplies last. Limit 1 per person). Here’s how:
Buy all four of the following participating products in 1 transaction between now and 2/2/2016.
– Hotel Transylvania 2
– Orville Redenbacher Popcorn
– Milk Chocolate and Peanut M&M’S® Chocolate Candies and
– A Coca-Cola 6-pack
Snap a picture of your receipt and visit uploadreceipt.com/movienight to submit your receipt by 2/9/2016.

For more great movie night ideas visit here, and don’t forget about your VUDU offer! What are your favorite Date Night In snacks?

Monster Bark

LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Back-to-school is a great time to have an informal gathering for parents (and kids) to either reconnect or introduce yourselves if your children have changed grades or schools. With the rise and awareness of allergies and intolerance, when a guest is invited to your house, you want them to be comfortable and enjoy themselves. One way to do that is to have plenty of options, like cheese, fruit and gluten-free crackers.

6 Tips for Gluten-Free Entertaining:

• Educate yourself. Our household is not gluten intolerant, but we have many friends that are. I always check with guests if there are certain foods they prefer or stay away from, so I am prepared and not rushing last minute to come up with something our guests can eat.
• Cook from scratch. Gluten can be in a lot of places you wouldn’t expect, or don’t realize, like salad dressings and marinades, mixes, soy sauce, some bulk bin foods, and cooking spray. When I have a gluten-free guest, I make sure I read all the labels carefully and try to cook from scratch. Some ingredients to avoid are wheat, barley, malt, or rye. Again, double check with your guests what they can and cannot eat.
• Involve your guests. Entertaining is always easier when everyone helps. Sometimes a parent feels more comfortable bringing something they can guarantee their child can eat. If they want to bring their favorite gluten-free dish, be gracious and thank them – it’s never a bad idea to have extra food.
• Have options. It’s always nice to have a variety of food at party. Focus on naturally gluten free foods like fruits and vegetables, meats, seafood, beans and legumes, eggs, most dairy products, potatoes, rice and other starches like quinoa, amaranth, and more.
• Avoid cross-contamination. Sometimes when preparing food, things can get a bit messy and unorganized. Don’t rush, keep gluten-free food separate, and cook it first, if you are also serving other food that may have gluten. You can also make festive labels for the party, so everyone knows what is or isn’t gluten-free. 
• Dessert options. Sometimes, for gluten-free friends, dessert can be overlooked. It’s always good to have a gluten-free dessert option, like flourless chocolate cake, poached fruit, gluten-free cookies or ice cream.

I created a Baked Ricotta Dip and paired it with two of PARTNERS Free for All Kitchen Gluten Free Crackers – Olive Oil & Sea Salt and Olive Oil & Herb. They also have another cracker flavor, Roasted Garlic & Rosemary, which would be perfect with hummus!

The newest addition to the Free for All Kitchen product line are the Brownie Thins. They are deliciously amazing, have a great chocolate flavor and are gluten free! The Brownie Thins are perfect on their own, with a cold glass of milk, but would be amazing as a s’more or with a sweet dip. All their products are made with cassava root flour and a blend of five ancient grains: amaranth, quinoa, millet, sorghum and teff, and are GMO-Free. You can find more about their products on their Facebook page as well.

Baked Ricotta Dip

A Love and Confections original recipe
Click here for a printable recipe

Baked Ricotta Dip Ingredients:
– 2 cups Ricotta Cheese ( I used whole milk ricotta)
– 1 teaspoon minced Basil
– 1/2 teaspoon dried Oregano
– 1/2 teaspoon minced Garlic
– 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
– Salt and Pepper to taste

Baked Ricotta Dip Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the Ricotta, Basil, Oregano, Garlic and 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil. Place the ricotta mixture into an oven-safe baking dish.
3. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Drizzle with the remaining Olive Oil (optional) and serve warm.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Disclaimer: Some of the gluten-free information in the post is from CeliacCentral.org. I am neither a doctor nor a nutritionist and do not give medical advice. Please consult your physician regarding your health. This post was sponsored by PARTNERS. All opinions are my own. For a full list of stores carrying PARTNERS products or to request Free for All Kitchen products in your local store, please search here. 

I love having a movie date night with Mr. L&C. Sometimes it’s just the two of us cuddled on the couch watching whatever is on the television. Other times, we make it fun and special by having a His & Hers Date Night Double Feature. I become a hero when I recreate one of his favorite date night treats using Tyson® Any’Tizers®. My Honey BBQ Boneless Wyngz Melt is the perfect meal to get you in the mood for a FANTASTIC movie night in.

Date nights out to the movies for Mr. L&C and I are few and far between. Our toddler likes her routine and doesn’t do too well if someone else puts her to bed while we are out. If we happen to go to a late movie after we put her to bed, there is inevitably some texts back and forth with my Dad because she is up and fussy. We think she can sense that we slipped out and doesn’t sleep good until we get home.

Lots of great movies have come out this Summer and there are still so many more to come, like Fantastic Four premiering in theaters on August 7th! The Fantastic Four comes out on my birthday, so a movie night out is on my “birthday to-do list”. You can also get a FANTASTIC FOUR movie ticket in 3 easy steps.
Step 1: Buy – Buy 2 participating Tyson® Any’Tizers® products at Walmart between 6/15/15 and 8/15/15.
Step 2: Snap – Snap a picture of your receipt and text or email it to tyson@drvsusa.com by 11:59pm PST on 8/15/15.
Step 3: Get – Receive a code redeemable for a movie ticket to see FANTASTIC FOUR while in theaters. Code must be redeemed by 9/30/15 on tysonmovieoffer.com.

Until then, we will be doing some FANTASTIC fun movie nights at home, and I love making a His & Hers Date Night Double Feature. Mr. L&C and I sometimes have different tastes when it comes to movie night, but we definitely agree on having my Tyson® Any’Tizers® Honey BBQ Boneless Wyngz Melt. Tyson Any’Tizers® are a line of easy-to-prepare, frozen snacks in an assortment of varieties and flavors.

Here are my “Fantastic Four” movie night in tips:

• Movie night tip #1: have a double feature. We sometimes have a double feature because he usually likes more action/adventure and I tend to like romantic comedies. It’s the best of both worlds. 
• Movie night tip #2: disconnect. We both work on computers and I am always using social media on my phone, so I put it away or turn it on silent during movie nights; disconnect to connect. 
• Movie night tip #3: buy two (2) bags of Tyson® AnyʼTizers® snacks at Walmart and get a ticket to see the new FANTASTIC FOUR movie in theaters. Tyson® Any’Tizers® are protein packed, made with all white meat chicken and come in a variety of flavors. Curb those movie munchies and get some delicious Tyson® Any’Tizers® like these four fantastic flavors: Chicken Fries, Buffalo Boneless Wyngz, Popcorn Chicken or Honey BBQ Boneless Wyngz. Remember, this offer is ONLY available at Walmart.  
• Movie night tip #4: make a “His” & “Hers” movie night kit. He likes certain candy and flavored popcorn that I am sometimes not in the mood for, so I try and make a fun movie night kit for him that includes all his favorites. I can get everything I need in one stop at Walmart – which is great when you have a toddler in tow.

His & Hers Date Night Double Feature Movie Kit Checklist:

• Grab a cute bucket or basket – try looking in the gardening, entertaining, or even the home & bath sections
• Head to the party section to get some paper shred basket filler – that stuff you put in Easter baskets
• Get some cellophane bags with twist ties from the cake decorating section – portioning out snacks lets you have a variety during your movie night
• Don’t forget to grab your candy, popcorn, and Tyson® Any’Tizers® from the grocery section
• Print out some cute “his” and “hers” signs and decorate with a clapboard or other movie props
• Prepare everything in advance, so you can enjoy the movie!

Are you excited to see the new FANTASTIC FOUR movie? Let me know your favorite character, and don’t forget to buy two (2) bags of Tyson® AnyʼTizers® snacks at Walmart to get your ticket!

Honey BBQ Boneless Wyngz Melt
A Love and Confections original recipe

Honey BBQ Boneless Wyngz Melt Ingredients:
– 1/2 bag Tyson® Any’Tizers® Honey BBQ Boneless Wyngz
– 1 full bag French Fries
– 1/2 cup finely shredded Cheddar Cheese
– 1 cup finely shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
– 1/4 cup diced Green Onions or Scallions
– Ranch Dressing

Honey BBQ Boneless Wyngz Melt Directions:
1. Prepare Wyngz and Fries separately and according to package directions.
2. Heat oven to 350F. Layer half of Fries on a cookie sheet with sides, top with half of the Cheddar Cheese and Half of the Monterey Jack Cheese.
3. Top with remaining Fries. Add on Honey BBQ Boneless Wyngz.
4. Top with remaining Cheese, then heat in oven until the cheese is melted. Let it cool for 5 minutes, top with Green Onions and serve with Ranch Dressing. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

A Summer get-together is the best. Whether it’s for an occasion or just because, it’s always fun and usually involves food. A lot of times, my family or friends each bring something to share – pot-luck style. Having each person bring an appetizer, snack or dessert helps whomever is hosting. Plus, it’s fun to try new and different dishes.

This is the perfect dip to bring to a party, or in case you have some last minute dinner guests. It is so simple and easy to create. The best part is that by using Stonyfield Greek Yogurt instead of just Sour Cream and Mayonnaise, you can cut the calories a bit.

This month, Stonyfield partnered with Late July. I was able to try the Late July Organic Sea Salt by the Seashore Multigrain Tortilla Chips. They are a really tasty chip, perfect for holding up to my thick corn dip, and they are gluten-free, organic and non-GMO. Late July has a bunch of different flavors, including two that I want to try: Mild Green Moho and Sweet Potato. Check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Also, head to Stonyfield’s website for some awesome dip recipes too!

Skinny Mexicorn Dip
A Love and Confections Original recipe & inspired by a family recipe
Click here for a printable recipe

Skinny Mexicorn Dip Ingredients:
– 2 cans Mexicorn, well drained
– 2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese
– 1 & 1/3 cup Stonyfield Greek Yogurt
– 4 tablespoons Sour Cream
– 3 tablespoons Mayonnaise
– 1 can Chopped Green Chilies, optional
– 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Skinny Mexicorn Dip Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, mix all the ingredients together. You can serve as is, or it can be prepared ahead of time (up to 8 hours) covered and refrigerated until serving.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Disclaimer: I have an ongoing relationship with Stonyfield as a member of the Clean Plate Club. I receive product, coupons and/or compensation for posts featuring their products. As always, all opinions are my own. #stonyfieldblogger #sponsored.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DelimexFiesta #CollectiveBias

Homemade Guacamole and Cilantro-Lime Crema are the perfect additions to any fiesta. I love different toppings and dips for taco bars. The more the better, because I can mix and match and choose which topping goes best with a certain dish. Taco bars are a great option when feeding a crowd, especially for parties during college basketball season, because there are so many options for guests to choose from. Queso and salsa are a must, but homemade guacamole is the best. Also, if you want to try something different with your tacos, Cilantro-Lime Crema is the way to go.

For future taco night or basketball parties, Delimex Taquitos, Tacos and Tamales will probably make an appearance. Since college basketball is on television, it’s fun to watch, but sometimes I miss the games while cooking dinner. I made some Delimex Tacos and Taquitos and they cooked in less time than it took me to make both the guacamole and crema. They can easily be found in your local Walmart frozen food section. Delimex even has a coupon that you can print through April 7th, for $1 off any two (2) Delimex Frozen Taquito products (excluding frozen fruit taquitos) at Walmart.

Click for link to coupon

My family and I love “Mexican Miercoles” – we did “Taco Tuesday” before it was a thing, and gave it a cooler name. 😉 Whether we went out to our favorite Mexican restaurant, or stayed in and cooked, it was all about being together. The guys would sometimes grill the meats, we made homemade fillings and side dishes, but one constant was guacamole! My Uncle makes THE best guacamole, and this recipe is adapted from his.

I decided to try something new for a topping and came up with the Cilantro-Lime Crema. We love cilantro-lime rice and I often make it when we have taco night, so that’s where the flavor profile came from. Cilantro and lime are great together and with the Greek Yogurt and Sour Cream, it blends perfectly. I will definitely be making some more tacos and salads soon, so I can have more of this delicious crema.

Delimex made taco night a breeze. I shared some of my favorite recipes and I’d love to hear your favorites. Be sure to check out more delicious recipes at Kraft.com and head to Walmart to grab some game-day Delimex!

Homemade Guacamole
Adapted from a Love and Confections family recipe
Click here for a printable link

Homemade Guacamole Ingredients:
– 2 ripe Haas Avocados
– 1 medium Tomato, diced and seeded
– 1-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed Lime Juice
– 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
– 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
– 1/2 teaspoon Salt
– 1 tablespoon finely chopped Cilantro
– a few dashes of Hot Sauce (optional)

Homemade Guacamole Directions:
1. Slice the Avocados in half and remove the pits. Using a spoon, scoop the avocado meat into a medium bowl. Dice the Tomato and add it into the bowl, making sure to discard the seeds, otherwise your guacamole will be too watery.
2. Add in 1 tablespoon of Lime Juice, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, Cilantro and Hot Sauce. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut the ingredients together. You will want a chunky guacamole, so these tools are the best for that and not a food processor.
3. Serve immediately. Guacamole is best when served right after making, but can be refrigerated up to 8 hours. It will start to darken in color, so make sure to press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to help prevent oxidation. Enjoy!

Cilantro-Lime Crema
A Love and Confections original recipe
Click here for a printable link

Cilantro-Lime Crema Ingredients:
– 1 cup Greek Yogurt
– 1/2 cup Sour Cream
– 1 teaspoon chopped Garlic
– 2 tablespoons finely chopped Cilantro
– Juice and Zest from 1 Lime
– 1/4 teaspoon Salt

Cilantro-Lime Crema Directions:
1. Using a stand blender or immersion blender, combine all the ingredients until completely mixed. Keep refrigerated until needed. Can be stored for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Cilantro-Lime Crema is great for topping tacos, salads and grilled meats. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PepItUp #CollectiveBias

Wontons have been on my mind for some time. Those lovely little wrappers can be stuffed with so many different fillings and either baked or fried to perfection. While working with Hormel Pepperoni, I knew wontons were at the top of my pepperoni recipe ideas list. Add in a little pesto, mozzarella, spices and cream cheese to create a fabulous snack or appetizer for any occasion.

Some areas of the country are still getting snow, but our temperatures have been in the 80’s most days. Spring is here and I am enjoying it before the Summer temperatures set in. Spring is all about new growth and I have decided to grow my own basil! You might be wondering why this is a big deal. Well, I don’t have a green thumb – it’s more of a black thumb. I can’t keep plants alive. I either forget I have them and don’t water, or sometimes I water them too much. This Spring I will try, again, to grow something – Basil.

Mom’s Basil plant when it was “little”

My Mom has a basil bush that grows huge every year – at least four feet high and very full. It is really impressive. I absolutely love cooking with fresh herbs and basil is one of my favorites. Once, she had so much basil that needed to be used before the weather changed that she had a pesto-making party. Pesto is such a great idea if you need to use up some basil, and it freezes really well, too.

I decided to do something less traditional with my wontons and filled them with a cream cheese-mozzarella-pesto-pepperoni mixture and they are delicious! The wontons got nice and crispy – I love a good crunchy snack – and were the perfect savory bite. They can even be dipped in homemade (or jar) marinara sauce for some extra delicious flavor. These Pepperoni & Pesto Wontons are definitely going to make an appearance at my next party.

I’ve shared my unique Hormel Pepperoni recipe with you. I’d love to hear how you use pepperoni. Leave a comment sharing your most creative use of pepperoni in your family’s favorite recipes. For more great pepperoni recipes, check out Hormel Foods on Facebook and Twitter.

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Gather ingredients for filling.

Mix filling and fold in pepperoni

Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites
A Love and Confection original recipe, Inspired by Damn Delicious
Click here for a printable recipe
Yield: 35 Wontons

Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites Ingredients:
– 8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
– 4 ounces finely shredded Mozzarella Cheese
– 3 tablespoons prepared Pesto
– 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
– 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
– 1/4 teaspoon Salt
– 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
– 2 & 1/2 ounces Hormel Original Mini Pepperoni
– 35 Wonton Wrappers
– 1 large Egg
– 2 teaspoons Olive Oil (optional)
– 1 ounce shredded Parmesan Cheese (optional)
– Marinara Sauce for dipping (optional)

Pepperoni & Pesto Baked Wonton Bites Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375F. Spray 2 sided sheet pans with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Place the Cream Cheese, Mozzarella cheese, Pesto, Garlic powder, Onion Powder, Salt and Black Pepper in a medium bowl and combine with a hand mixer or use your stand mixer.
3. Fold in the Mini Pepperoni with a spatula so you do not break them apart. Prepare a station with the cream cheese mixture, Wonton Wrappers and Egg. Crack the egg into a small bowl and whisk it with a fork to create an egg wash.
4. Spoon 1/2 tablespoon sized portions of the mixture into the center of the Wonton Wrappers. Using your finger, wipe all four edges with the egg wash and bring the points up to the center to create a package. Seal the sides of the wonton wrapper together by squeezing them gently and forming an “X” on top. Place the sealed wontons on the baking trays. Optional: brush the tops with Olive Oil then sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.
5. Bake one tray at a time, turning halfway if necessary, for 10-12 minutes. Serve warm with Marinara Sauce for dipping. Enjoy!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!