I'm B-A-C-K!!!  After a long break, I'm back!

And I did it right.  I did it with a Hormel Buccaneer Football Party!  I couldn't have been more thrilled when I signed up for a Food Buzz opt-in that, 1) offered Hormel products, 2) gave me an excuse to host a Tampa Bay Buccaneer Football Party, and 3) gave me a good reason to blog again.

Hormel sent me a few samples and some coupons (including a few to share with my party guests) to host a party and feature their products.  I really enjoyed this, to say the least.

I started working on the menu a few weeks ago and it has changed many times.  But ultimately, it came together and was a good pick of items.

On the menu:  Buffalo Chicken Dip, Mini Pepperoni Pizzas, Potato Skins, Chili Cheese Dip, and Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches.

In attendance for the party:  Janice, James, Jimmy, Marty, Danny, Kenny, Chris, Linda, Rex, and Angie. 



Buffalo Chicken Dip
Hormel

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
2 (12.5-ounce) cans Hormel® Chunk Breast of Chicken, drained
1 cup ranch salad dressing
3/4 cup hot wing sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Crackers, tortilla chips and celery sticks

1.Heat oven to 400°F. In large bowl, combine cream cheese, ranch dressing, hot wing sauce and shredded cheese until well blended. Gently stir in chicken.

2.Spoon mixture into 2-quart casserole dish. Bake 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve with crackers, tortilla chips and celery sticks for dipping.



Mini Pizza
 Hormel

3/4 cup pizza sauce
1 (12-ounce) package English muffins, split
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4 ounces Hormel® Pepperoni (mini Turkey)

1.Heat oven to 425°F.

2.Spread pizza sauce on cut sides of English muffin halves. Sprinkle with cheese; top with pepperoni. Place on baking sheet.

3.Bake pizzas 12 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.



Potato Skins
All Recipes
 
4 large baking potatoes, baked
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon pepper
8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
4 green onions, sliced

Cut potatoes in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/4-in. shell (save pulp for another use). Place potatoes skins on a greased baking sheet. Combine oil, Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder, paprika and pepper; brush over both sides of skins. Bake at 475 degrees F for 7 minutes; turn. Bake until crisp, about 7 minutes more. Sprinkle bacon and cheddar cheese inside skins. Bake 2 minutes longer or until the cheese is melted. Top with sour cream and onions. Serve immediately.

*I made 8 taters and doubled the recipe.  Used Hormel Crumbled Bacon.




Chili Cheese Dip
The Girl Who Ate Everything
 
1 (8 oz) block of softened cream cheese
1 (15 oz) can of high quality chili ( I used Hormel)

Warm ingredients until blended in a pot on the stove or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Serve with corn chips (Fritos).



Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
The Girl Who Ate Everything

24 good white dinner rolls
24 pieces good honey ham (Hormel brand)
24 small slices Swiss cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup miracle whip

Poppy seed sauce (you probably could half this...I had plenty extra)
1 T poppyseeds
1 1/2 T yellow mustard
1 stick butter, melted
1 T minced onion
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and miracle whip. Spread onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet. Place very close together.

In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all of the sandwiches. Let sit 10 minutes or until butter sets slightly. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for 2 additional minutes. Serve warm.

** sandwiches can be assembled a day ahead and kept in the fridge ready to bake.
 
 
 
Everyone enjoyed the party and the food.  I took a vote at the end and this was the score (Tampa Bay 31, Carolina 16 ):
Ham and Cheese Sandwiches - 4
Buffalo Chicken Dip - 4
Potato Skins - 2
(Jimmy didn't eat.)
 
Hormel -- A winner!!!