fall, football & Food - are you ready for some football?

No doubt this year is going to be quite different than yours past.  However, we can still make the best of it and enjoy a little football with our favorite snacks!  Fall is definitely my favorite time of the year!  

I can't wait until sweater weather.   I did go ahead and put out my little velvet pumpkins, purchased some new pumpkin spice candles, and changed out the pillow covers for some fall vibrants.

I did another Zoom segment with the gorgeous Ashley King for KTHV11's The Vine.   For the appetizers this go around, I went with something a little less traditional.   The #sweetyellowcornbread dip is amazing!  Of course, I used sweetyellowcornbread for my base.   It is simple and delicious.   You can make it up the night before and cover tight until you are ready to serve.

WATCH THE LIVE VIDEO FROM THE VINE SEGMENT HERE

I also brought out my little "crack" Cheese-It crackers.   These delicious crackers are fun to make.  Adults, and kids will love them.   They are called "crack" because you just can't stop eating them.     You can put a little heat to them by adding red pepper flakes.

I am sharing these two recipes below.   Enjoy them!   Be sure and cheer on our Hogs regardless.  #gohogsgo

Pat's Sweet Yellow Cornbread Dip

Bake your Sweet Yellow Cornbread and let cool.   If you don't know how to make it. You can click here for the recipe or use Jiffy or Martha White.  Martha White makes a delicious sweet yellow cornbread.  However, you want to double the batch if you use this mix.  Otherwise it is really thin.

Ingredients:
1-2 cups of Sweet Yellow Cornbread.  (Crumble small but not mushy)
2-3 Teaspoons of Duke Mayo  (delicious mayo and did you know it's sugar free)
1-2 Teaspoons of Lemon Juice
1/4 cup of chopped green onion (I use the stems and not the white part)
1 can Sweet Yellow Corn  (drain well)
1 can Pinto Beans (I use Bush)  Drain well
1/4 cup diced tomatoes 
3-4 Cooked Crispy Candied Bacon -- Crumbled
You can top with a little shredded sharp cheddar cheese if you like.   It is delish with out without


To make;
Crumble cornbread in a large bowl (don't crumble small)   It needs to be bigger than bread crumbs
Add in your drained corn, pinto beans, onion and stir gently until blended in.
Add in your Mayo & Lemon Juice and mix in gently.    Str gently to keep cornbread from going mushy.
Top with the diced tomatoes, bacon and cheddar cheese.  
Cover and let chill.   It needs to chill for about 1-2 hours or overnight.

What is candied bacon?   Thick cut Petit Jean Bacon, baked in oven with maple syrup & brown sugar.  You can use regular bacon in this cornbread dip if you like.  However, the candied bacon is delish!    To make it, you lay the bacon flat on the cookie sheet, drizzle pure maple syrup and brown sugar over the bacon.  Bake at 400 for about 35-40 minutes until crispy.    You can do this in microwave as well - However, cook the bacon first, then dip in the maple syrup and brown sugar.  Place in a zip lock bag and put in fridge for about an hour to cool.

Serve with chips as a dip!

Pat's "Crack" Cheese-Its

Ingredients:
1 Box of Cheese- It original crackers
2-3 Tablespoons of Garlic Pepper
1/2 Package of Ranch Seasoning Mix --- or use the whole pkg.  
1/4 cup of Canola Oil or vegetable oil
1-2 Teaspoons of Red Pepper Flakes

Preheat Oven to 250 Degrees ---- Line large cookie sheet with aluminum foil 

Scatter the cheese-its on the lined cookie sheet
Drizzle the oil to cover the cheese-its
Drizzle the cheese-its with the Garlic Pepper, Ranch Seasoning Mix & Pepper flakes

Place in oven at 250 Degrees for about 15-20 minutes.    HInt:   I take mine out of oven and mix more ranch,, oil and garlic pepper on mine and place back in oven for an additional 2-3 minutes.  I like mine very flavorful.

You can taste yours and decide if you want to add more or not.     Either way, you can't go wrong.

Once out of the oven, let cool on cookie sheet.   You can put them in a Zip Lock Gallon Bag until you are ready to serve.

Enjoy!
Pat
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Link to the Pumpkin Dark Chocolate Chip Granola on the Segment  - click here

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