During the colder months, our family tends to fall into a weekly routine of having certain foods on certain days. Taco Tuesday, Pizza Friday, Soup and Chili Thursday, etc. Somedays, we get a little crazy and decide to mix things up a bit. This Taco Chili happens to be one example our crazy antics!

We love Tacos in the Dine & Dish house. We love Chili too. So, I thought, what about combining the two and making a Taco Chili? Instead of traditional chili seasoning, I used homemade Taco seasoning, amped up the flavor with some Wholly Salsa and topped it off with a generous dollop of Wholly Guacamole. …

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The post Taco Chili and a Wholly Guacamole Giveaway appeared first on Dine and Dish.

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Rebecca Olson! Thanks to all for entering.

As part of my 2012 focus word to “connect” more with others, I have decided to shoo away my Reluctant Entertainer and open up my home to others more often. Occasions big and small, I’m happier and my home is a happier place when we share it with others.

Budget is often something that we have to take into consideration when we entertain, so when Sam’s Club challenged me to create a menu on a budget for a get together, I jumped at the chance. My assigned budget was $60.00. I decided for a New Year type gathering (or even a Super Bowl party) snacks and appetizers were the way to go. Into my cart went:

• A package of large shrimp (For Panko Crusted Shrimp..recipe below) $11.98
• A bag of Italian Meatballs (For Game Day Meatballs) $13.98
• A package of Chicken Wings (For Oven Baked Chicken Wings) $13.98
• A large bag of Pretzel Crisps $5.98
• A box of Clementines $5.96
• A box of Red Grapes $7.98
• I picked up a Diet Coke fountain drink as a special treat for me $.89
  • Grand Total: $59.65

With a few pantry staples to create the recipes, I think this makes for a quick and inexpensive entertaining menu, don’t you? I always appreciate when hosts set out fresh fruit to snack on. If it is there, I’m more likely to to munch on that versus chips, which my waistline appreciates! Sam’s Club has some of the best fresh fruit around, in my opinion, all season long!

When you think about entertaining in 2012, remember, you don’t have to break the budget to open your home to others. Shop smart, think simple, and shoo away your “Reluctant Entertainer“. Open your home and people will be thankful for your hospitality.

Entertaining is certainly  more fun with the right equipment, right? How would you like to win a KitchenAid mixer so you can whip up more great things for your guests? Sam’s Club has offered to give one lucky Dine & Dish reader a new KitchenAid Professional Stand Mixer! To enter the giveaway simply leave a comment on this post telling me your best tip for entertaining on a budget.

For additional entries:

• Become a fan of Sam’s Club on Facebook. Leave a separate comment on this post letting me know you completed this.
• Tweet the following: “I’d love to #win a @KitchenAidUSA Stand Mixer from @SamsClub and @DineandDish http://bit.ly/yWzhWt ” Leave a separate comment on this post letting me know you completed this.
• Share the link to this giveaway with your Facebook friends.  Leave a separate comment on this post letting me know you completed this.

All entries must be received by midnight CST on Thursday January 12th, 2012. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and notified via valid email address. Thanks for entering and best of luck!

Now for the recipe…

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Recipe: Oven Baked Panko Crusted Shrimp

Short on time? Give this easy shrimp recipe a try!

Course Main Course

Cuisine seafood

Keyword seafood, Shrimp

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes minutes

Total Time 23 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 20 large shrimp peeled, deveined with tails intact
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Zatarain's Original Creole Seasoning
• 1 egg
• 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil divided

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 450° F. Drizzle a baking sheet with 2 Tablespoons olive oil.
• Place shrimp in a large bowl and sprinkle with Kosher salt and black pepper. Toss.
• Beat the egg and pour over the shrimp. Stir until the shrimp is well coated.
• On a large plate, combine the Panko bread crumbs with creole seasoning. Mix well.
• Coat each shrimp with the bread crumb mixture. Place on the baking sheet.
• Drizzle the shrimp with 1 Tablespoon olive oil and bake for 8 minutes or until golden brown.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Sam’s Club. Sam’s Club provided me with a gift card to cover entertaining expenses and is providing one lucky Dine & Dish reader with a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. All opinions expressed are my own.

The post Entertaining on a Budget with Sam’s Club {KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway} CLOSED appeared first on Dine and Dish.

When I do go to the store, I want to go to only one store. I don’t want to shop all over town looking for what I need. I want to be able to buy what I need in amounts that will enable me to not have to go to the store all that often (aka – reducing the amount of public store meltdowns I have to endure). That’s my plan, and honestly, my two year old is the reason why.

Since visiting Sam’s Club last summer in Arkansas, I discovered that “bulk” doesn’t necessarily mean buying for huge restaurants and institutions. Buying in bulk can be very useful for my family too. I can buy a lot of something, and Sam’s Club often will have it packaged for smaller, family size, use. For my family, shopping at some place like Sam’s Club is the solution to my “I don’t love going to the grocery store because of my 2 year old” problem!

My friends at Sam’s Club challenged me to buy one of their Whole Boneless Pork Loin’s and wanted to see how I could stretch it out into several meals. I first decided to tackle dinner and created this Asian Style Pork Loin. Check it out, let me know what you think, and come back in a couple of days to see what else I created with the same Pork Loin – stretching out our meals so I can reduce trips to the grocery store. Woo-hoo!

I’m hosting a Twitter party tonight (December, 13, 2011) with Sam’s Club from 7pm-8pm CST. There will be plenty of giveaway opportunities as well as great tips for planning your holiday meal. Follow the hashtag #SimpleSavings for all the great tips and several chances to win!

Recipe: Asian Style Pork Loin (adapted from AllRecipes)

The post Sam’s Club Simply Delicious Meal Challenge {Recipe: Asian Style Pork Loin} appeared first on Dine and Dish.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my take on a holiday meal over the past few weeks.  I started off the Breakstone’s Holiday Showdown by sharing an appetizer of Creamy Pumpkin Soup Shooters. For the main dish, we enjoyed a savory salmon with a herb cream sauce. Our dessert was a tasty baked apple brulee.

I enjoy a traditional holiday meal as much as the next person, but I also find that by the time we are done with all the holiday entertaining, I get tired of eating the same thing over and over. By January, I’m definitely turkey’d out!

When we have our annual holiday party with friends, I like to make something different… something our friends aren’t going to be tired of by the time they get to our holiday party.

Sweet pumpkin desserts are popular during the holidays, but rarely does pumpkin get the chance to take on the starring role as an appetizer. Creamy Pumpkin Soup Shooters give pumpkin the chance to shine in a non-traditional way during the holidays.

Salmon is an elegant addition to any meal and what better time to treat your friends and family to something unexpected and delicious than during the holidays?

Baked Apple Brulee is a dessert I love. Typically when I am done with the main part of a holiday meal, I am stuffed. Apple brulee is a light, non-heavy dessert with a sweet richness and creamy texture. It’s definitely not your traditional way to end a holiday meal, but it certainly is delicious!

This is my last time to remind you all… you still have time to vote for your favorite holiday recipes over on the Better Homes and Gardens website. If you enjoyed my non-traditional take on the holiday meal, I would definitely appreciate your vote!

Head over to the Breakstone’s Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Showdown page to cast your vote. Voters will be entered to win a weekly drawing for a $50 gift card. In addition, one lucky voter will win the  $2500 grand prize. Voting on the Holiday Showdown entries on the contest page will immediately enter you into the grand prize drawing. Thanks for voting and good luck!

Thanks so much and happy holidays to you all!

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Breakstone’s Sour Cream. I was compensated for my time and ingredients and have the opportunity to win a cash prize if my menu is selected as the winner.

The post Breakstone’s Holiday Showdown – The Recap appeared first on Dine and Dish.

I’m not Irish, however I married a full-blown Irish man, so that makes me what they call “Irish by Marriage”.

What I have found out, through my 11 years of marriage to an Irish man, is that once you are “in” with the Irish, your entire life starts to become very Irish. Green suddenly becomes your favorite color. Gifts for your home start pouring in, many adorned with an Irish saying or shamrocks. When you run down the list of options for kids names, you begin to notice most of them have Irish roots… Kelly, Megan, Molly, Collin, Patrick.

You would think my initiation into the world of the Irish would leave me with an abundance of ideas for a St. Patrick’s Day feast, but it hasn’t. What do the Irish like to eat? From my experience? Ice cream, whiskey and beer. Now you know the secret to why Irish people are always so chipper… it isn’t from the Corned Beef and Cabbage, I can tell you that!

I decided to turn to the Foodily recipe site for a St. Patrick’s Day menu since as much as it would be fun to live off of ice cream, whiskey and beer, some people (non-Irish people, I assure you) may frown upon that. For this St. Patrick’s Day, we are going to feast on:

• Beef and Irish Stout Stew
• Bourbon Carrots
• White Soda Bread
• Irish Potato Salad
• St. Patrick’s Day Grasshopper Ice Cream Cocktails (recipe below)

So, let me tell you a bit about Grasshoppers. I don’t know that this is truly an Irish dessert, but at most occasions within our family, Grasshoppers are somewhere to be found. We most always have a bucket ready to serve in our freezer. The minty flavor of Grasshoppers plus the green tint just make me think of St. Patrick’s Day, so we’re going to go with that.

When I texted my husband at work to get the recipe, I discovered that he doesn’t really have a recipe. He bases it all on the taste and feel of the ice cream, which was a total light bulb moment for me… if he’s tasting the grasshoppers as he makes them, that then explains why he is always so chipper when he’s done making them. I think I want to be on grasshopper making duty next time!

Recipe: St. Patrick’s Day Grasshopper Ice Cream Cocktails

• 5 Quart Plastic Bucket of Vanilla Ice Cream
• 3 shots of Creme de Menthe liquor
• 1 shot of Creme de Cacao liquor
• 1 shot of Irish Whiskey (We prefer Jameson brand)

Place all ingredients in a large bowl. Knead together by using two large ice cream paddles or spoons or use your stand mixer and knead using your bread hook attachment. Once well blended you can either serve or place back in the freezer to re-freeze. If desired, top with whipped cream. (Adjust liquor to taste. For a darker green and stronger mint flavor, add more Creme de Menthe)

The post Being Irish {Recipe: St. Patrick’s Day Grasshopper Cocktails} appeared first on Dine and Dish.

Some of you really like things hot. I know my dad isn’t happy with the heat of something unless he has tears streaming down his face. His “hot” tolerance is off the charts. For most of us though, we may like a  little spice, but we don’t want the heat to take over the flavor of the food. Instead, we prefer for it to simply enhance what we are eating.

For that special kind of spicy zest, I always turn to TABASCO® Original Red to add a little extra flavor to what I’m cooking. In fact, when I was looking back over my soup recipes getting ready for Soup-a-Palooza, I realized that the majority of the recipes I love have a splash or two of TABASCO® sauce to give that extra element of flavor. Try it next time when you are making soup. Add a Tablespoon of TABASCO® to your pot and I promise you will love the subtle yet distinctive flavor it adds.

Since I love TABASCO® sauce in soup, I decided to head over to the TABASCO® website to see if there were any soup recipes there to try out. Not only did I find this great Spicy Sweet Potato Soup recipe, I also discovered a multitude of recipes I can’t wait to try out! (By the way if you are still trying to decide what to make for Soup-a-Palooza, they have so many delicious looking soup recipes on their website!)

The Spicy Sweet Potato Soup recipe is the perfect example of a medly of flavors blending together brilliantly. If you love sweet potatoes and the richness of a broth and cream based soup, you will really enjoy this soup recipe. With a touch of TABASCO® Original Red it has all of the elements of a perfect soup recipe!

If you’re still in need of ideas for all those sweet potatoes you have on hand, give this Sweet Potato Cake a try!

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Spicy Sweet Potato Soup with Tabasco Original Red

Spicy Sweet Potato Soup (slightly adapted from Tabasco.com)

Author Dine & Dish

Ingredients

• 4 cups chicken broth
• 3 cups diced peeled sweet potatoes (about 1 pound)
• 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1/4 half and half cream
• 2 teaspoons Original TABASCO® brand Pepper Sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

• Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Add sweet potatoes; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
• Using a hand-held blender or food processor, puree sweet potatoes and chicken broth until smooth; stir in orange juice, zest, half and half, TABASCO® Sauce, and nutmeg. Place over low heat and heat through.
• Garnish each serving with cilantro.

The post Spicy Sweet Potato Soup with Tabasco Original Red appeared first on Dine and Dish.

Join Menu Planning Monday. More information can be found at I’m an Organizing Junkie!

• Monday – Bierocks from Delicious! Delicious!
• Tuesday – Penny with Pumpkin Cream Sauce from Everyday with Rachael Ray
• Wednesday – Church Mother’s Circle Kickoff (eat out prior!)
• Thursday – Cheesy Baked Shells and Broccoli from Real Simple Magazine
• Friday – Homemade Pizza
• Saturday – Angel Hair with Spicy Shrimp from Real Simple Magazine
• Sunday – White Bean Chicken Chili from Dine & Dish

• If you are participating in Adopt-A-Blogger 2 and haven’t heard from your partner, please contact me ASAP! Also, if you are an experienced blogger and missed out on adopting someone, we still have newbies who want to be adopted. Just let me know!
• The winner of the Country Bob’s Cookbook is Lan from Angry Asian Creations. Congratulations to you!
• Remember to enter the Dine & Dish giveaway from Cabaret Chocolate for a jar of their delicious Brewed Chocolate! More info can be found HERE.

The post Menu Plan Monday appeared first on Dine and Dish.

6

servings

1¾ hours 45 min prep

While browsing through the December issue of Food and Wine Magazine, I found the perfect wine to pair with our meal. Zisola… a tangy blend of wild berries with a rustic, leathery note. This wine was featured in Ray Isle’s article Exciting New Wines of 2006.  At a very reasonable price of $19 per bottle, it will be a nice addition to our dinner party’s meal.  I can’t wait to give it a try.

The post Le Menu appeared first on Dine and Dish.