I Didn't Love Them As A Kid

When I was growing up I did not enjoy some "kid friendly" foods other children my age craved. For example, I was not a fan of tacos or corn dogs. How did this occur? Well, my dad was a meat and potatoes kind of guy, and some of those "fun" foods weren't ones my mom made. But she also raised me right, and every time I was at a friend's house for supper and it was taco night, I ate with a smile and didn't utter a word! 

It wasn't until I was a teenager I learned to enjoy Mexican food and Chinese food, and they quickly became favorites. Ironically, my dad loves Mexican food now too! Once he got a taste for it, he couldn't get enough, and he would be happy to see tacos on his supper table these days. 

I was actually an adult before I tasted a corn dog I truly enjoyed. It was at a local street fair and Alex wanted one, so we shared. Oh my gosh! I ended up getting another one. I had to know why this one tasted different from any other I had every tried. Have you guessed it yet? Honey. The extra bite of sweetness put the flavor over the top for me and since that day, I have loved them as much as my kids, as long as they contain that magic ingredient. 

Imagine my delight when I found boxed, frozen corn dogs at Aldi that declared right on the box "made with honey in the batter!" They have become a staple in our house, so when I saw this new internet craze, I knew they would be perfect for this brilliant idea.

Take frozen corn dogs, take the stick out, add some chili, cheese and onions and ta-da...Chili Cheese Corn Dogs! How genius! 

Looking for a simple supper this week that the kids will love? Done! Trying to plan the menu for your Super Bowl party in a few weeks? Done! 

I wasn't a picky eater as a kid, Lord knows mom wouldn't have allowed that; but how funny is it the few things I didn't enjoy were ones other kids begged for? Thank goodness I grew to love them all so my kids could too! 

  

Chili Cheese Corn Dogs

2 (6 count) boxes frozen corn dogs

2 (15 oz.) cans chili without beans

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 medium white onion, diced

1/4 cup yellow mustard

Preheat oven to 375. Bake corn dogs for 13-15 minutes, or according to package directions. While corn dogs bake, warm chili on stove top. Once corn dogs are cooked through, carefully remove stick. Using a sharp knife, cut down the center of each corn dog. Squeeze or spoon a small amount of mustard into each. Spoon chili into each. Top with shredded cheese. Bake for 10 minutes more until cheese is melted. Top with diced onion.

 

Two Favorites One Simple Game Day Treat

 Every time I post a recipe that mentions "game day" I always get comments about "We don't watch much football, do you think this would work for a supper idea too?" 

Let me clear, 99% of my recipes are absolutely adaptable to your needs. Just because my family is a football watching, pigskin loving group doesn't mean I don't realize not everyone is. Likewise, if I post a recipe that I think would be a terrific game day treat or tailgating fare, chances are it would be just as tasty weeknight meal too! You make it when you want to. How will I ever know? 

In fact, the recipe I'm posting today screams football season to me. Chili. Sliders. Those are game day staples. But I tested this recipe over the summer, and guess what. It was our supper that night! 

If you've never had Cincinnati style chili, you need to prepare yourself for an entirely different experience. It's use of Mediterranean spices give it an unique flavor profile. It can be served as is, but is also served over spaghetti, baked potatoes and of course hot dogs. The restaurant chain Skyline has made it famous, and the day it came to our city, we were thrilled. We love this stuff so much I even created a pretty close copycat recipe I make in the slow cooker all fall/winter long. 

For this recipe I actually used the canned Skyline chili you can find in the grocery store. I had a can of it sitting in the pantry and I was looking for a new way to top some slider burgers. Two favorites came together in a simple burger supper that we loved. Like I said, this was back in the summer so we grilled our sliders, but you could cook them whatever way works for you. We grill year round, but an indoor grill or even baking would work too! 

I know without a doubt I will making these again soon so we can eat them in front of the television while we cheer on our favorites team(s)! But like so many of my recipes, football isn't required to enjoy them, just an extra bonus for us! 

 

Cincinnati Chili Sliders

2 lbs. ground beef

1 (15 oz.) can Skyline Chili, or 2 cups leftover homemade, warmed

1 medium white onion, finely chopped

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

3 tsp. seasoning salt

Black Pepper

Slider Buns

Score ground beef with knife or back of your hand into 12 equals portions. (My packages were 1 pound each, so each was scored into 6 sections) Form 2 inch patties, leaving an indention in the middle with your thumb. Sprinkle with seasoning salt and black pepper. Preheat grill to high and grease. Cook patties for 3 minutes on each side to sear. Lower heat to medium low and continue cooking, and flipping until cooked through, 10-12 minutes. Place each slider on a bun. Top with shredded cheese, chili and onion. *NOTE* If using canned chili, remove the extra liquid in a colander before using to avoid extra moisture.

Welcome Back Football

If you aren't a football fan, you might not even realize or care that the season is officially here! This past weekend was the kickoff to NFL, but high school and college teams have been playing for a couple weeks now. While I never look forward to the end of summer, the return of pigskin fun is something our whole family looks forward to every single year. 

Let's face it, part of the fun of watching football is the food that comes along with it. Even those who don't care about first downs, penalties and the score can get behind some tasty game day eats. 

With stadiums filling up once again, you know there are going to be some outrageous tailgate parties pre-game! But even if you are cheering your favorite team from home, you can enjoy some great snacks! 

If we are going to have an entire day of football watching, I love putting out a mini spread and we graze through every touchdown. From hot dips to sandwiches or a big batch of chili, game days in our house mean something yummy to eat too. 

These pretzels have become our latest addiction. Seriously. You can't eat just one, or just one handful! They are buttery, salty and filled with flavor. I don't drink, but my husband tells me a big handful of these and a cold beer are a perfect match. 

Game days are some of the most fun, and most delicious! Football fans and non-fans alike can always agree on a big plate of tasty dishes.

If you love game day food as much as we do, please be sure to check out some of the fantastic collections I've written for Parade Magazine!

• 50 Best Game Day Foods On A Budget
• 60 Finger Foods For Football Seasons 
• 50 Crock Pot Super Bowl Must Haves  
  

 Everything Pretzels

1 lb. bag mini twist pretzels

2/3 cup butter, melted

6 TBS everything bagel seasoning 

 Preheat oven to 325. In a large bowl combine pretzels and butter. Gently stir to coat. Sprinkle with seasoning. Gently stir well. Transfer to large rimmed baking sheet. Bake 10-120 minutes until butter is absorbed. *NOTE* Some of the seasoning will fall off, you can't help it. The 6 tablespoons allots for that. We like dark pretzels, so I let mine bake for 20 minutes. 

Shared at Weekend Potluck