i promise you can't tell

So, I don't know what prompted this, but I decided it was time to make some buffalo (not-so) chicken dip.  I compiled various recipes for both vegetarian and meaty buffalo chicken dips and came up with this one.

It's very simple. 

Completely terrible for you.

And absolutely delicious. 

So here you go:

Ingredients:

2 packages Morningstar fake chicken, 20-24 oz, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces

(I used one package of their buffalo chicken nuggets and one of their grilled chicken slices)

16 oz cream cheese at room temperature, the low-fat version is a good idea here

1 cup ranch dressing

¾ cup Frank’s hot sauce

1 cup shredded cheddar and pepper jack cheese, plus some more for the top

½ cup scallions, sliced

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Mix all ingredients.  

Put mixture into a greased pie pan.

Top with some more shredded cheese and chopped scallions.

Bake for 30 - 45 minutes or until warm in the middle.

Serve it up with some celery and soft pretzels like I did, or whatever you fancy with your buffalo dip.

Yup. Absurd.  

A treat to be had quite infrequently. 

xoxo

an end to the brackets.

Ok. So I'm sure y'all saw the big news, 

that cornbread lost to beignets in the finals!!! So ridiculous, I know. 

Oh wait. The basketball bracket. 

Oh yes, that ended too. With UK winning, and I'm so happy they did. 

Why? Oh because it meant I finished in 3rd of our bracket group. boom diggity.

But also, we had a party to watch some of the great basketball since UNC and NC State were playing on the same night. It was a great time with lots of booze and food and fun. 

 Ashley did her hair all fancy with two braids in the back:

Casey sculpted a wolf in sheep's clothing (a wolf out of sheep's milk cheese) to represent his inner turmoil of being an NC State grad working at UNC...adorable.

 

And then everyone else brought snacks, 

the real reason we come together to watch other people run around. 

  

There were many more that I missed. 

A solid time team,

xoxo

lunch these days

This is the semester from hell. 

We are all about to pull our hair out and cry, and we aren't ones to cry, promise.

Lunch is often filled with many mini containers of things. You know how I love a mini. 

There is usually ranch and some veggies, cheese, bread and some protein.  Here it was hummus.

Please note my reading glasses, a recent addition.  Too much to read in this place.

xoxo

Oh Arkansassy!

I recently got to spend a few days in Little Rock with my Arkansas team and it was of course a wonderful time filled with my wonderful people and delicious food.
I of course had to go to my favorite brunch spot, b-side.  Seriously people, it may be my favorite place to get brunch in the country.  I force myself to get something different every time I go and I'm never disappointed.  I went basic this time with the traditional breakfast - eggs, bacon, toast, gouda grits. Yes gouda grits, they are so friggin' good it should be illegal.  Did I mention the $3 mimosas? Yeah, I love this place.

I also got to enjoy some items that really you can only justify while on vacation...in the south. Items like, buffalo chicken dip and a bacon cheeseburger topped with a fried egg...

During these fine few days I also had a take on my summer fancy.  Any gin cocktail that combines cucumber, mint, and lime will do.  It is an amazingly refreshing combo that never disappoints.  This one was called the effin good martini, and it was.

Finally there was the absolute ridiculousness that was dessert.  We ordered key lime pie and a flourless chocolate cake topped with ganache, blue bell, and whipped cream.  Now the piece of pie in the picture was a standard slice of pie to help show how absolutely massive the chocolate cake was.  And it was every bit as delicious as it looks.  Now Arkansas holds a good piece of my heart, but I worry I can't ever live there again or else I'll blow up like a hot air balloon...