Category: Appetizers

Bratwurst and Potato Kebabs

kebab 1Have you ever noticed that food tends to taste better on sticks.  I don’t know why, but there is something more appealing and tasty about it.  I was just at the Iowa State Fair last week and I enjoyed a pork chop on a stick and a bacon wrapped rib on a stick…delicious! So, to keep the fair fun going in my back yard, I designed this tasty kebab with some of my ordinary grilling staples.  It includes potatoes flavored with olive oil, garlic, and dill. And when you thread that with onions and green peppers, the flavors meld beautifully.    

kebabs 4

kebab 5So get out your skewers and let’s start cooking.  If you use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent burning on the grill.  This is a picture of my skewers soaking in water on a cookie sheet.

skewersStart by cutting the baby potatoes in half.  Then place the baby potatoes in enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer for 5-7 minutes so that the potatoes are fork tender. Then drain them and rinse them with cold water so they are easier to handle.

cooking potatoesThen cut up 1 green pepper into 1-inch pieces.

green pepperThen cut up the onion into 1-inch pieces.

onionsThen cut up the pre-cooked bratwurst on a slant in 1-inch size pieces.

bratsNow in a bowl mix the potatoes with 2 teaspoon of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon dill weed, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.

potatoes and spicesAlternately thread bratwurst, onion, potato, and green pepper onto 8 12-inch skewers.

putting it on skewersGrill kebabs, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until bratwurst is browned, turning frequently.

Bratwurst and Potato Kebabs 1Now you have a great twist on bratwurst to serve at your next backyard barbecue.

kebab 6

 

Bratwurst and Potato Kebabs

Ingredients

  • 10 -12 baby potatoes
  • 1 Vadalia onion
  • 1 green pepper
  • 2 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 package of (cooked) Johnsonville Stadium Bratwurst or other pre-cooked bratwurst

Instructions

  1. So get out your skewers and let's start cooking. If you use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent burning on the grill. This is a picture of my skewers soaking in water on a cookie sheet.
  2. Start by cutting the baby potatoes in half. Then place the baby potatoes in enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer for 5-7 minutes so that the potatoes are fork tender. Then drain them and rinse them with cold water so they are easier to handle.
  3. Then cut up 1 green pepper into 1-inch pieces.
  4. Then cut up the onion into 1-inch pieces.
  5. Then cut up the pre-cooked bratwurst on a slant in 1-inch size pieces.
  6. Now in a bowl mix the potatoes with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon dill weed, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
  7. Alternately thread bratwurst, onion, potato, and green pepper onto 8 12-inch skewers.
  8. Grill kebabs, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until bratwurst is browned, turning frequently.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/08/20/bratwurst-and-potato-kebabs/

Pigs in a Blanket

pigs in a blanket 1Summer is here and this is a perfect recipe for a quick lunch or dinner. My mom has been making this recipe since the 1970s when I was a little girl, and I’ve always loved them since then.  Now as a mom I enjoy making them for my family. This is definitely a kid friendly recipe to try this summer.  And don’t be afraid to have your kids help you make them.  Kids love the fact that they taste like a cross between a grilled cheese sandwich and a hot dog on a bun; two of their favorite meals. Pigs in a blanket pairs perfectly with a bowl of tomato soup.  So let’s get out the ingredients and make this easy summertime meal.

baked pigs in the blanketYou will need one package of 8 hot dogs, 8 slices of American cheese, 8 slices of bread, and enough soft butter for one side of each piece of bread.

ingredients for pigs in a blanketFirst spread the butter on one side of each piece of bread and place it buttered side down on a cookie sheet lined with foil.

buttering breadNow place one slice of cheese on each piece of bread.

cheese slicesNow place a hot dog on each slice of bread.

hot dogs on bread

Pull each side of the bread up and secure it with a toothpick.

adding toothpicks

 

pigs in a blanket ready to bake

Bake them in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

baked pigs in the blanket

Let them cool for a few minutes and serve with ketchup and your favorite soup. The kids and adults will love this quick summertime favorite.

Pigs in a Blanket

Ingredients

  • 1 package of eight hot dogs
  • 8 slices of American cheese
  • 8 slices of bread
  • butter (softened for spreading)

Instructions

  1. First spread the butter on one side of each piece of bread and place it buttered side down on a cookie sheet lined with foil.
  2. Now place one slice of cheese on each piece of bread.
  3. Now place a hot dog on each slice of bread.
  4. Pull each side of the bread up and secure it with a toothpick.
  5. Bake them in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.
  6. Let them cool for a few minutes and serve with ketchup and your favorite soup.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/06/14/pigs-in-a-blanket/

 

 

Pigs in a blanket long pin

Easy Chicken Nachos

chicken nachos 2Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Today I am featuring a very special recipe that is a must for your Cinco de Mayo party. It is a cheesy nacho dish featuring chicken, red beans, and peperoncini peppers. Plus you can’t forget about the onions and tomatoes.

Chicken Nachos 1This dish is so easy and you can put it together so quickly that you will have time to enjoy your party. And feel free to add some of your favorite toppings that I may have left out .

Start by rinsing the chicken breasts and then chopping them into bite sized pieces.

chickenThen cook chicken in a pan with 1 tablespoon of butter until it is no longer pink and temps at 165 degrees on a meat thermometer.  Then mix 1/2 tsp. chili powder, 1/4 tsp. garlic powder, 1/4 tsp. onion powder, 1/4 tsp. oregano, 1/4 tsp. paprika, 1/2 tsp. cumin, 1/4 tsp. pepper, and 1/2 tsp. salt into 2/3 of a cup of water.

spicesPour the spices in the pan with the cooked chicken and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the sauce has thickened up.

cooked chickenNow get out a 9″x13″ baking dish and add one layer of tortilla chips.  

chip layerThen add 1/2 of the chicken on top of the chips.

chicken layerAdd 1 cup of cheese.

cheese layerAdd 1/2 of the onions and tomatoes.

onions and tomatoes

Rinse and add 1/2 of the (15 oz.) can of red beans.

rinsed beansAdd 1/4 of a cup of sliced Peperoncini peppers.

pepper layer Bake the nachos for 7-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

finished nachoesNow you are ready to serve this nacho dish at your party and when the plate is finished you will have enough ingredients to make a fresh batch.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Easy Chicken Nachos

Ingredients

  • 1 bag of your favorite tortilla chips
  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2/3 of a cup of water
  • 1/2 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp. onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/4 tsp. paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (1 cup for each batch of nachos)
  • 1 (15 oz.) can red beans ( 1/2 can for each batch of nachos)
  • 1/2 cup sliced peperoncini peppers (1/4 cup for each batch of nachos)
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 tomato chopped

Instructions

  1. Start by rinsing the chicken breasts and then chopping them into bite sized pieces.
  2. Then cook chicken in a pan with 1 tablespoon of butter until it is no longer pink and temps at 165 degrees on a meat thermometer.
  3. Then mix 1/2 tsp. chilli powder, 1/4 tsp. garlic powder, 1/4 tsp. onion powder, 1/4 tsp. oregano, 1/4 tsp. paprika, 1/2 tsp. cumin, 1/4 tsp. pepper, and 1/2 tsp. salt into 2/3 of a cup of water.
  4. Pour the spices in the pan with the cooked chicken and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the sauce has thickened up.
  5. Then add 1/2 of the chicken on top of the chips.
  6. Now get out a 9"x13" baking dish and add one layer of tortilla chips.
  7. Add 1 cup of cheese.
  8. Rinse and add 1/2 of the (15 oz.) can of red beans.
  9. Add 1/4 of a cup of sliced Peperoncini peppers.
  10. Bake the nachos for 7-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
  11. This recipe makes two batches of nachos.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/05/05/easy-chicken-nachos/

Easy Chicken Nachos long pin

Cream Cheese and Olive Dip

Cream Cheese and Olive DipThe big game is tomorrow and you may be looking for a great dip to serve at your party. Well look no further.  If you’re an olive fan, you will love this dip!  And for a little kick, the cayenne pepper gives it some heat.  This is a super easy recipe to make… all you have to do is chop up olives and mix everything together.  In my playbook that is a game day winning recipe!  If I am hosting a party, I love making recipes like this where you mix everything together ahead of time and then all you have to do is get it out of the refrigerator right before the guests arrive.  Then just throw some crackers on a platter to finish off the presentation. So let’s get started so we are ready for the big game.

The ingredients you will need are olives, softened cream cheese, minced garlic in a jar, and cayenne pepper.

ingredients for dipFirst scoop the softened cream cheese into a bowl.

softened cream cheeseThen chop the olives into small pieces.

chopped olives Mix the olives into the cream cheese.

mixing in olivesPour in the minced garlic and mix it in.

adding garlicAdd the 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and mix it in.

mixed dipNow refrigerate until you are ready to serve the dip.  Serve with your choice of crackers.  

Cream Cheese and Olive Dip

Ingredients

  • 7 oz. jar of green olives chopped into small pieces
  • 1/4 cup of minced garlic
  • 2 (12 oz.) tube of cream cheese
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. First scoop the softened cream cheese into a bowl. Then chop the olives into small pieces. Mix the olives into the cream cheese. Pour in the minced garlic and mix it in. Add the 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and mix it in. Now refrigerate until you are ready to serve the dip. Serve with your choice of crackers.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/01/31/cream-cheese-olive-dip/