SUPER BOWL SNACKS: 9 easy recipes any crowd would love!

I almost didn't do a Super Bowl food post this year because my heart is so bummed about the Packers not being there this year!

BUT, just because my team isn't in it to win doesn't mean there still can't be a great Super Bowl Party, right?!?

Here are 9 super easy recipes to make that are sure to please any crowd. They're all way more fun to bring to a party than packages chips or crackers, I promise!

While they're all vegetarian friendly, carnivores will love them just as much :)

SRIRACHA CREAM CHEESE WONTONS (+spicy soy dipping sauce): Who doesn't like cream cheese wontons? These are great because you can make them less spicy for the wimps in your friend group (kidding!) or EXTRA spicy for those who like a little kick!

HOT OR COLD BRUSCHETTA: I know, bruschetta is totally NOT a typical football food- but I promise if you make these they'll disappear. Enough bread to soak up the beer you're drinking, but there's nothing fried or overly greasy to give ya a stomach ache!

FRESH GUACAMOLE: I mean, do I need to justify guac? No? Good.

BAKED EDAMAME 3 WAYS: These little buggers are freaking addicting. This recipe has 3 different flavors so everyone will find something they like.

BLEU CHEESE & CRANBERRY WONTONS: Bring these and people will talk about them more than the game. But fuh real. Creamy, crunchy, tart perfection!

CHEESE STUFFED JALAPENOS: Love spicy stuff? Look no further.

GARLIC PARMESAN POPCORN: Nothing is more addicting than popcorn, amiright? 

CROCKPOT SPINACH DIP: The great part about this recipe is you just get to throw it all in the Crockpot and let it go. #win

WHITE CHEDDAR CAYENNE POPCORN: I stand by my popcorn statement above...

What snack are you going to have at your Super Bowl party?

Be sure to share pictures of the great food on Instagram!!

xo, lp

if we're not already- let's be friends on instagram! you can find me here --> @lpodlich

4 SWEET & SALTY SNACKS FOR FALL

 You're probably sick of me telling you that Fall is my favorite season.

I really don't care.

Sorry.

I mean.

Fall is so short in the Midwest, that I think gushing about it for a few goods weeks is fair, right?

Here are my 4 favorite fall treats- 2 sweet, 2 salty:

Baked Cinnamon Apple Rings. 

Healthy, Sweet. No sugar added. You're welcome:

 Zucchini Bread

This is a snack. And a breakfast. And a dessert. It's THAT good.

 White Cheddar Cayenne Popcorn

I eat popcorn pretty much daily, and this is hands down my favorite recipe. 

Spiced Roasted  Pumpkin Seeds.

NO not sweet like a PSL- I mean spices like paprika, cayenne, and garlic powder. Mmm-mm.

What are your favorite Fall snacks?

For more tasty treats, go HERE!

xo, lp 

i love pictures almost as much as i love you.

let's be instagram buds.

find me here --> @lpodlich

WHITE CHEDDAR CAYENNE POPCORN ("gourmet" popcorn files, part 2)

Today I bring you installment #2 of the Gourmet Popcorn Files.

If you're new around here, this isn't really gourmet popcorn, but it's something a little elevated from your average microwave popcorn! You can see the whole background here.

Today's popcorn recipe: 

What you'll need to make it happen:

- Popcorn Popper (I use a stir crazy)

- 3/4 cups unpopped White Popcorn Kernels

- 2 Tbsps Vegetable Oil

- 2 Tbsps Kernel Season's White Cheddar Seasoning

- 1 tsp Cayenne

- 2 Tbsps Butter

- 2 tsps dried parsley

- 1/2 tsp garlic powder

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Pop your popcorn as directed 

Step 2: Melt your butter and drizzle evenly over the popcorn

Step 3: Immediately after, sprinkle your White Cheddar seasoning, cayenne, parsley, and garlic powder over your popcorn.

Step 4: Enjoy! 

If you're not a big spice fan, skip the cayenne- the popcorn will still taste great without it!

What snack have you been making lately?

If you need a new recipe to try, pin this and give it a go!

xo, lp

For more Kernel Season's Recipes, try my Garlic Parmesan Popcorn, and my Ranch Pumpkin Seeds!

*I was not paid to write this post, nor is it a sponsored post by Kernel Season's. Once again, I buy this seasoning all the time on my own, even though they have sent me flavors to try at times! Either way, this is truly a recipe I make multiple times a month and I wanted to share it with you, and give Kernel Season's some credit for making a great product. xo, lp*

PARMESAN GARLIC POPCORN ("gourmet" popcorn files, part 1):

I know I've mentioned this multiple times, but in case you're new to the party: I am a popcorn addict.

No no, really. Like probably an unhealthy amount? Not quite sure. If I keel over soon, you all know it's most likely from excess popcorn consumption. Ehhhh there are worse ways to go, right?

So now that we're on the same page, let me explain this post:

When I was a sophomore in college my friend's dad owned a grocery store. He got samples of new food products to try to see if he'd want to sell them, so when Kernel Season's came about- they sent him a ton of popcorn seasoning to try. Being the cool guy he was, he gave them to us to try out- which we promptly had a popcorn party with. Since that day, I've been buying this, and only this brand of popcorn seasoning- for the copious amount of popcorn I eat. To keep it from being the same old, same old, I started adding other spices and such - and realized it was time to send some fanmail.

Yep, fanmail. People spend so much time these days just sending negative feedback when they aren't happy with a product or service, but rarely take the time to send fanmail. So like a proper groupie- I sent fanmail to Kernel Season's. I told them I've been buying their stuff since the beginning and was hoping to post about their seasonings. What did they do? They sent me a gift box of their current flavors. If they weren't in another state I would hug them. Hard. And then make them popcorn.

I realize this is the longest intro EVER to a recipe post, but I wanted to give you background before you thought this was just a sponsored post and this was all just fake. Other than the seasoning they so kindly sent me, I'm not getting paid or forced to do this post or anything. This is the first in a "gourmet" popcorn series, using one of their seasonings & other flavors to enhance them!

So here goes:

Popcorn is a huge crowd pleaser (especially if the crowd is me), but I never feel like bringing plain popcorn to a party is really special...seems kind of like a copout to making something better. So I decided to start using seasoning to make popcorn that seemed "fancy" - but was easier to make than anything else!

What you'll need:  *recipe is for 5 cups popped popcorn

- Popcorn popper & White Corn kernels

- Veggie or canola oil (amt depends on your popper)

- 3 Tbsps butter

- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

- 1 heaping teaspoon dried basil

- 2 teaspoons Kernel Season's Garlic Parmesan seasoning 

** you COULD use bag popcorn- just make sure to get white corn, like Jiffy Pop Tender White**

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Pop your popcorn!

Step 2: Melt your butter and drizzle lightly over your popped corn.

Step 3: Shake in your Kernel Season's and dried basil.

Step 4: Top with shredded Parmesan, and enjoy!!

Easy, right?

So of course now you see why I said it's "gourmet"...in quotations. It's actually just a cheap, easy treat to bring to a party  or work (or eat all by yourself)...but it sounds so much nicer to say "I'm bringing Garlic Parmesan Popcorn to the party!" than "I'll bring popcorn", now doesn't it?

Alright, that's all for now.No more popcorn babbling!

Anyone else have a good idea for mixing with Garlic Parmesan seasoning?

Pass it my way, I'll probably be making more tonight :) 

xo, lp 

thanks again to Kernel Season's. your stuff is seriously the best. and so are you. xo.

BAKED SRIRACHA CREAM CHEESE WONTONS +spicy soy sauce

I love cream cheese wontons- which is strange, because I don't really like cream cheese on anything else...but maybe it's because they're usually deep fried?

Well a while back a friend made these amazing baked wontons with a whole bunch of delicious ingredients in them... and I knew I had to make some myself.

I wasn't sly enough to steal her recipe with the abundance of ingredients- so I just went the simple route and made my own with just 3 main ingredients, and then whipped up a dipping sauce. Oh man, they're good. Like, REALLY good.

Sriracha Cream Cheese Wontons (Makes about 25)
1 brick of cream cheese (8 oz)
Wonton wrappers (I used Nasoya)
3 teaspoons chopped chives
5 teaspoons Sriracha chili sauce (more if you like things extra spicy)
Olive Oil cooking spray

Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons stone ground mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1  1/2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons Sriracha chili sauce
2 teaspoons lemon juice

This is pretty foolproof, but here are a few notes:
1. Mix together your chives, cream cheese, and Sriracha really well for the mixture:

I'm sure the images below are pretty clear, but here are a few steps for ya:
1. Use about a tablespoon of the mixture- too much will just explode out the side!
2. All you need it water to wet the edges- it'll glue the sides together really well.
3. When you fold it in half, make sure to push all the air bubbles out! You also could stop at this step and bake them like this- but the edges burn really easily...
4. Spray both sides before baking at 350 for 7 minutes. Now, this TOTALLY depends on your oven. When I make them at home they take 7 minutes. When I make them at my friend Dani's house they take 16. Watch 'em carefully!
5. For your dipping sauce? Just mix it all together & dip!

There you have it! Golden brown, crunchy, creamy, ooey gooey wontons!

The best part about them is they aren't greasy at all- I'm not saying they're healthy AT ALL, but it's nice to not have your hands full of grease while you're eating an appetizer. I can't recommend these enough. If you don't like spicy things- DON'T pass this recipe by! Just add less (or no) sriracha, and you have a still delicious crunchy snack!

 I'm making these again this weekend for a night of darts & beer with some friends...and it can't come soon enough!

What's your go-to appetizer/snack to make?
This is hands down my favorite. Did I mention they're great to make them ahead of time & just pop in the oven when you're ready?

xo, lp


Other favorites? 
Healthy Chili Garlic Broccoli
Sweet Crunchy Asian Salad
Cranberry Pecan Bleu Cheese Dip


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Let's be Instagram friends, shall we?
You can find me here---> @lpodlich

*Psst: if you're an online shopper, you HAVE to use Ebates. Fer real, y'all. Find out more HERE*