The Shindig...

So this past weekend JL and I hosted yet another gathering at our house and I personally think this was the best one yet. All the food was perfect and everyone had fun laughing and hanging out.

So we had decided on making a few new items as well as some old tried and true favorites.

Layered Bean Dip
Spinach & Artichoke Cheese Dip
Fruit Salad
Pizza Rolls
BBQ Ribs
Potato Salad
PB Cup Brownies
Mini Funfetti Cupcakes

Most of those I made by scratch, all but the cupcakes and potato salad (I know, probably one of the easiest things to make on the list...), and this was time consuming!

Below I will list the recipes on some of the dishes I did make and I hope you will try them out!

Pizza Rolls
2 cans pizza dough (Pillsbury)
8 oz mozzarella cheese cubed into 48 pieces
1 pouch of peperoni
1/4 c olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Parmesan cheese, to sprinkle on top
Pizza sauce for dipping

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Roll out dough rectangle and cut into 24 squares, you will need to do this for the second can of pizza dough once you run out of dough from this one.

In each square, wrap a cube of cheese and a piece of pepperoni.

Place seam side down in a greased 9x13 pan. The sides of the rolls should touch. Continue until you have used up all the dough.

Combine oil and seasoning in a bowl and brush on top of the rolls. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 16 to 24 minutes.


BBQ Ribs
1 rack of baby back ribs
1 dark beer, I use Newcastle
BBQ sauce

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a 9x13 pan lay the rack meaty side down, you can also cut it into pieces before this process to make it easier (I did this for the party to allow for people to grab just the amount they wanted).

Pour the beer over the ribs and place in the oven. Bake for 2 hours or until the meat is tender, test with a fork.

Once they are done, place rack, or pieces, on the BBQ and brush sauce over them. Allow for sauce to caramelize a bit on the ribs and flip. Since the meat is cooked through, you are just trying to add the flavor of the sauce to the ribs, so you will have to judge when they are done.


PB Cup Brownies - Recipe Courtesy of Jessica from How Sweet It Is (the link to her site is on the left)

Brownies

1 stick unsalted butter
2-3 squares baking chocolate
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.

Melt butter and baking squares in a microwave safe bowl. In the mixing bowl, cream melted butter and chocolate mixture. Add in sugar and vanilla and beat until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add in eggs, beating one at a time. Add flour and stir just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour into greased muffin tin. Bake for 18 to 25 minutes, or until just barely done. Cool before frosting.

Peanut Butter Frosting (Recipe was adjusted from original)

3/4 stick butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 pound powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-2 tablespoons milk

Cream butter and peanut butter together. Gradually add in powdered sugar and vanilla. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time. If frosting is too thick, add more milk. If it is too thin, add more sugar.

Frost brownies once they have cooled.



Live, Laugh, Love & Enjoy!