The count down is on! Super Bowl XLIII is five days away and the game is shaping up to be a good one. Everyone is looking forward to the traditional festivities for their Super Bowl party, such as the manly (or womanly) bonding, yummy food, friends, etc. However, according to Extra, the average person eats about 1,200 calories in snacks alone on Super Bowl Sunday?! That’s insane! Participating in this time honored tradition can be detrimental to your diet!

Well, take a breath….we’re providing you with two recipes that are for the healthy conscientious. Feel free to snack on these bad boys, in moderation of course, guilt-free!

Fresh Tomato Salsa

From Eatingwell.com Ingredients

• 4 cup(s) diced tomatoes (5-6 medium)
• 3/4 cup(s) finely diced red onion ( about 1 small)
• 1/4 cup(s) red-wine vinegar
• 1 1/2  jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
• 1/2 cup(s) chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• cayenne pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Combine tomatoes, onion, vinegar, jalapeno, cilantro, salt and cayenne in a medium bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

With only 21 calories per serving and 0 grams of fat, you can snack happy with this recipe! J Be sure to serve with reduced fat or multi-grain chips for an added health bonus!

Spicy Blue Cheese Dip

From Eatingwell.com 

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream
• 2/3 cup(s) crumbled blue cheese
• 1 tablespoon(s) distilled white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Whisk sour cream, blue cheese, vinegar and cayenne in a small bowl.

This blue cheese dip is perfect compliment for buffalo wings (again, moderation is key) or with a tray of veggies!

You have enough on your plate this month with Easter rolling around, pictures needing to be taken and baskets to be assembled. Why not have your little ones help you out this Easter dinner? Below are really easy and simple recipes for you and your little helpers!

Edible Easter Bunny Salad



Ingredients:
Pear halves
Raisins
Miniature marshmallows or cottage cheese
Lettuce
Apple slices or Almonds

Directions:
Place a lettuce leaf on a plate. Add the pear half on lettuce, for body. Insert raisins for the eyes and nose. The ears are made from apple slices or almonds and a miniature marshmallow or cottage cheese become the bushy tail.

Banana Pops

Ingredients:
• 2 Bananas
• Honey (or melted chocolate)
• Dessicated Coconut (or rice krispies)
• Popsicle sticks
• Plates
• A baking dish lined with baking paper
Directions:
1. Peel the bananas, then cut them in half and push Popsicle sticks into the bottom of both pieces of banana.
2. First, Roll the bananas in some honey, and then in the coconut.
3. Place the banana pops on a baking tray lined with a sheet of baking paper and then freeze.
4. Your banana pops will be ready to eat the next day

Source: dltk-kids.com & amazingmoms.com

This is an old family recipe of mine. Hope you enjoy as much as I do!! J

Perfect-Every-Time-Fudge

Item s you’ll need:

3 6oz. packages of semisweet chocolate chips

¼ teaspoon of salt

1 cup of butter

1 7 oz. jar of marshmallow cream

1 13 oz. can of evaporated milk

41/2 cups of sugar

1 cup of chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Instructions:

Put chocolate, salt, butter and marshmallow cream into large bowl. Combine

evaporated milk and sugar in large saucepan; place over moderate heat. Bring to full rolling boil stirring constantly. Boil 15 minutes. If you use a candy thermometer, temperature should register 236 degrees. Pour milk mixture over chocolate mixture and beat until chocolate is melted and blended. Fold in nuts and vanilla. Spread into two greased 8×8 pans. Refrigerate until candy is firm. Cut into small squares-makes about 5 lbs of yummy goodness! J

Spicy Seven Layer Dip

Items you’ll need:

1-2 cans Refried beans

Container of Avocado Dip

1-2 tubs of Sour Cream

1 lb of ground beef/turkey/chicken

1 Green Pepper (diced)

Sliced Jalapeno Peppers

1 bag of Shredded Cheddar or Taco/Mexican Cheese

1-2 bags of Tortilla chips (recommended Tostitos Gold Tortilla Chips as they are thicker & will hold the dip better)

Process:

1. First Layer: Heat up the refried beans in the microwave until it becomes smooth (a few minutes), you’ll need to spread a flat layer on your pan. Then let it cool.
2. Second Layer: smooth over the avocado dip onto of refried beans layer leaving a ¼ to 1/8^th of an inch on the side.
3. Third Layer: smooth sour cream over the avocado dip, also leaving ¼ to 1/8^th of an inch on the side (so you can start to see the layers on the side of the pan).
4. Fourth Layer: sprinkle the ground beef onto of the sour cream layer. For a healthier alternative you can use ground turkey or chicken. Depending on your taste you can lightly sprinkle or pile on the meat. (or none for vegetarian dip)
5. Fifth Layer: add the diced green pepper on the ground meat
6. Sixth Layer: add Jalapeno peppers onto of the green peppers (more if you like extra spice, less if not too spicy)
7. Seventh layer: depending on your preference for cheese, you can sprinkle or just dumb the whole bag (evenly distributed) on top of the entire dip!

This dip can be refrigerated until needed, so you can do this in the morning, make all your preparations for the party and bring it out as guests start to arrive.

Cheddar-Chive Biscuits

These Cheddar-Chive Biscuits are an easy option when you want to set out the food and enjoy the fun.

INGREDIENTS
4 cup(s) self-rising flour
1/4 cup(s) fresh chives, snipped
2 tablespoon(s) sugar
1 teaspoon(s) freshly ground coarse black pepper
3/4 cup(s) solid vegetable shortening, chilled and cut in small chunks
1 cup(s) shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cup(s) (up to 1 3/4 cups, as needed) buttermilk
1/4 cup(s) unsalted butter (optional), melted

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir flour, chives, sugar, and pepper until blended; using a pastry blender, cut in shortening and cheese, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Drizzle 1 1/2 cups buttermilk over the flour mixture, stirring it in with a large fork until a moist dough forms, adding the remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk if dough seems dry (it should be slightly sticky). Turn dough out onto a floured surface. With floured hands, gently knead 3 or 4 times until dough comes together.

Dust surface with a little more flour, then roll dough 3/4-inch thick. Using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit or cookie cutter, cut out rounds. Transfer dough rounds to a baking sheet, 1 inch apart. Gather dough scraps and repeat rolling and cutting, for a total of 24 biscuits.

Make a slight dimple in the center of each biscuit to help the top rise evenly. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and brush tops with melted butter, if using. Serve warm.

Souce: MSN Lifestyle

Hot Artichoke and Tuna Dip
3 oz. tuna, drained
12 oz. marinated artichoke hearts, drained
1-2 cloves garlic
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup chopped canned green chilies
1 tablespoon minced green onion
2-3 tablespoon mayonnaise
Hot pepper to taste
Crackers or French bread to eat with

Blend all ingredients, expect crackers or bread, in a food processor. Process till blended, not pureed. Put in ovenproof dish and bake uncovered in 350 degree temp (Fahrenheit) for 30 minutes or till golden brown. Serve hot with crackers or bread. Makes 12 servings.

Crab Dip

8 oz Cream Cheese

1 ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon of mayonnaise

1 small finely minced onion

Dash of Tabasco sauce

Garlic powder to taste

Mix well and spread in round glass pie plate.

1 12oz. bottle of Heinz chili sauce

Dash of Tabasco sauce

1 tablespoon of horseradish sauce

Mix and spread on top of cream cheese layer

1 lb. of lump (or claw) crabmeat-sprinkle on top of chili sauce (add chives on top for color)

Hope you enjoy these!