Super Bowl = Super Snacks

At Christmastime, I typed "cheese dip" into my blog's search engine, hoping to save a little time and not dig through a pile of printed-out recipes. Some cheesy recipes popped up, but it wasn't the dip recipe I was looking for. I tried other combinations because I was just sure that I must have shared such a tried-and-true recipe before on Kim's County Line.

Nope.

So when one of my friends asked if I was going to do a Super Bowl food blog post, I decided it was time to remedy that oversight. After all, we'll need all the sustenance possible to cheer on the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl this Sunday!

This Southwest Ranch Cheese Dip was a recipe shared by my friend, Kim Volker, back when I was compiling favorites for a recipe book project as a shower gift for Jill and Eric.
They've been married more than 10 years now, and both Jill and I have used the recipe over and over again. Even though we eat leftovers for our after-Christmas-dinner supper, I always stir together Southwest Ranch Cheese Dip to serve alongside the ham sandwiches. And it's a favorite with Mexican meals and for parties, too.

It's super simple, and I usually have all the ingredients on hand in my fridge and pantry. Though the original recipe's directions called for using a slow cooker to heat up the dip, I've also sped up the process by combining the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and "zapping" it.

It's great served as-is with chips or fresh veggies. You can also use it as a topping on tostadas or baked potatoes.

It's been 50 years since our Kansas City Chiefs have been in the Big Game, so having the right munchies is paramount. Besides the recipe for the cheese dip, I've provided links to more tried-and-true recipes from Kim's County Line. I don't put them on the blog unless we've enjoyed them ourselves.

With Kansas City known as a barbecue hub, try out the BBQ Oven-Baked Ribs, BBQ Meatballs or BBQ Beef Under a Bun.

Since the Super Bowl is in Miami this year, I shared some tropical flavors with both the Lemon Buddy Snack Mix and the Chili Lime Tacos with Grilled Pineapple Salsa. Or try Jill's Guacamole recipe.

You'll also find a variety of sandwiches, snack mixes and sweet treats compiled below.

Enjoy and Gooooooooo CHIIIIEEEEEFFFFS!

Southwest Ranch Cheese Dip

From the kitchen of Kim Volker

1 can fiesta corn, drained
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. fiesta blend cheese, shredded (the original recipe called for Monterey Jack. I always have the fiesta on hand)
4 oz. can diced japalenos
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing mix
8 oz. sour cream
A little milk, if needed

Mix together all of the ingredients (except milk). Heat for 2 hours on low in a slow cooker, stirring every 30 minutes or so. If the dip is too thick, add a little milk to thin it.

Optional: Microwave the ingredients in a glass bowl. Microwave for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes at a time and stir. Keep heating and stirring intermittently until it's melted. Add additional milk as needed to thin it.

It's also good as a dip for raw vegetables or served as a topping for tosadas and baked potatoes, for example.

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Click on the links for the recipes pictured below. Looking for something else? Type "bar cookie," "snack mix," "cookies," "sandwiches," "soup," etc., into the blog search engine. The search engine is found in the upper lefthand corner of the blog post.

Oven-Baked BBQ Ribs AND Sweet & Sour Baked Beans

BBQ Meatballs - Make them full-size or bite-sized

Chili Lime Tacos with Grilled Pineapple Salsa 
Homemade Guacamole

 Cheesy Pull-Apart Sliders

 Zesty Italian Wraps

Turkey Club Pinwheels

Crescent-Wrapped Cranberry & Brie

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

Lemon Muddy Buddies

Super Snack Mix-Up

Brownies for a Crowd

Let's hope the San Francisco 49ers have Butterfingers - NOT the Chiefs!

Butterfinger Blondies

Peanut Butter S'Mores Bars

Are You Ready for Some Football?

We got a letter from Coach Bill Snyder last week. He wanted us to help fill Bill Snyder Family Stadium for K-State's football season opener last Saturday. So we did.

What? You got the letter, too? It wasn't just a special message to Randy and me?

Oh well. I'm glad we went anyway. It does feel like family at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, just like Coach says:

As I have stated so many times publicly and in my own thoughts, we (my family & I) came to Kansas State because of the people and returned to Kansas State because of the people.  You have been the foundation of the development of our football program and our University.  You have taken our attendance from 13,000 to 50,000.  You have ... genuinely cared about your “family football program” for the right reason. ...

As the 2014 season is about to get underway, I hope you will join us in supporting your program by filling “your family stadium” with caring, passionate K-Staters.  And thank you for recognizing that this is about far more than winning and losing and that its true meaning is relative to the development of quality young men who establish character and intrinsic values that will guide them to successful and meaningful lives.

Our Kansas State Wildcats were victorious over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, 55-16, Saturday night. We were winners on the scoreboard. We were winners in getting reacquainted with the other season ticket holders in Section 13. It does end up feeling a little like a family reunion as we visit with the people who sit near us, year after year.

And we were winners in the Kansas sky department, too.

Even though it was too hot - even with a 6:10 start time - the skies and clouds were beautiful as we moved toward sunset. 

Those sun-kissed clouds added a beautiful backdrop to the Pride of Wildcat Band's halftime show.

Then, fireworks lit up the sky, too.

The west stadium provided its own light show, as we left and walked back toward Brent's house. Bill may think we're all family. But it was Brent that let us park at his house and save the $20 parking fee. 

Thanks, Bill! It was a great family reunion, and it was good to be back.

Say Cheese!

I grew up watching sports on television. Back in the "olden days," we didn't have so many choices with our rural antenna, but if there was a game of any kind on TV, we were watching it.

Dad passed along his love of all things sports to his children. (If only my abilities had matched my fervor. I was, however, an excellent bench sitter on a couple of state championship basketball teams. And, as my Dad says, who did those girls practice against?)

We grew up going to high school games - home and away. And my love for K-State football developed early as we made the trek to Manhattan to watch our beloved Wildcats. 

So, I'm not one of the people who watches the Super Bowl for the commercials. Even though I don't have a favorite team in the line-up this year, I'll be just as attentive to the game between the Broncos and the Seahawks as I am to the outrageously-priced, 30-second spots advertising beer and chips. 

I'm also a fan of the Super Bowl spread. If you're looking for a winner in that department, you might want to try this cheeseball recipe. Before Christmas, the kids' piano teacher, Dorothy Trinkle, sent it via email, saying it was the "best cheeseball recipe I've ever found." She got it while cruising the Mississippi on a boat trip.

Dorothy usually halves the recipe when she makes it. However, since I was using it for three different holiday gatherings, I decided to make the full recipe. (The full recipe is below.)

You can make the cheeseballs as big or small as you'd like. For crisper almonds, roll the cheeseballs in the nuts just before serving, but leftovers are good, too. As Dorothy says, "It lasts well ... if people don't eat it!"

Gridley Cheese Ball
Recipe from Dorothy Trinkle

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
8 oz. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2 tbsp. mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip)
1/4 cup milk
2 oz. dried beef, chopped finely
6-8 green onions, chopped
2 tsp. garlic salt (original recipe call for 3 teaspoons)
Toasted almonds

Combine all ingredients except almonds. (The original recipe said to do it with a heavy spoon, but I used my mixer, and it worked great.) Refrigerate at least 6 hours. Shape into balls and roll in toasted almonds, pressing lightly so they stick. You may make the balls as small or as large as you like. I made this at Christmastime and divided the cheese mixture into several  balls so that I could take them to different holiday gatherings. You can also freeze cheeseballs, minus the nuts. When you're ready to serve, thaw one out. Roll in almonds just before serving.

Serve with crackers, vegetables and/or fruit.

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Looking for other recipes for your Super Bowl party? Try these from my kitchen:

Baked Ham Harvest Sandwiches

(aka Funeral Sandwiches)

Million Dollar Deli Slices

Baked Brie

 

Sweet Potato Beef Mash-Up

(The contest is over, but the recipe is still a winner!)

 

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Today, I'm linked to Wake Up Wednesdays, a feature of Wichita blogger (and fellow K-State fan!) Ashley on her Kitchen Meets Girl blog. Click out the link to check out lots of other recipes for the game or for every day. 

K-S-U Wildcats by Kinley

Hi again! It's Kinley, reporting from Manhattan.

 

I must confess that I did not make it to the K-State vs. Iowa State game on Saturday. My Mommy and I were home cleaning. When my Daddy left home to come to the game, I was dusting the low spots, while Mommy got the higher real estate. I also helped my Mommy make corn muffins and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  (Last week, I went incognito and did my cooking as an owl. This week, I just had to cook in my regular clothes.) Mommy had to make the chili by herself because I needed to take a nap. I was getting ready to have my GG (Great Grandma Carol) and my Daddy's family come to dinner on Sunday. I got to play with my cousin and fellow flower girl, Hannah.

October 27, 2013

Anyway, I did get to go to the K-State football game on October 26. Sorry I am so slow in reporting the homecoming festivities.

There is a lot to watch at the K-State football games. Even though most people are there to watch football, I think I like the band the best. I am pretty good at keeping a beat. Just ask my Grandmas.

My Grandma Christy and I were ready when our Wildcats moved the ball down the field. We moved our arms just right when the announcer said, "Good for a Wildcat first down!"

My Daddy has been working with me when we score a touchdown. I know just what to do: Arms straight up in the air!

I explained all the finer points of the game to my Grandma Christy and Grandpa Alan.

And, I also provided my insight about the Wildcat offense and its two-quarterback system to my Grandma and Grandpa Fritzemeier. I must have been a good luck charm because the 'Cats got a win, 35-12 over the West Virginia Mountaineers!

After the game, we got our photo taken outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. I think it's not just Bill Snyder's family. My family seems to show up at that stadium quite regularly, too.

October 26, 2013

My Grandmas both thought I would have liked Fort Riley Day on Saturday, since there were three bands. A military band joined the Pride of Wildcat Land for the pregame patriotic fanfare.

And then the Iowa State band, the K-State marching band and Fort Riley worked together during the halftime show, including playing Stars and Stripes Forever, where they unfurled a giant flag.

Even Willie the Wildcat was dressed in camouflage. Maybe I'll get to go to Fort Riley Day next year. I wasn't sure whether K-State could win without me, but they did, 41-7. 

Until next time,
Kinley Marie

Kinley K-Stater: A First-Person Report

Hello, all! It's Kinley with a report from my first K-State football game of the 2013 season.

We had to park a long way from Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The parking lot reminded me of Grandpa's pasture, even though there were no cows. Thankfully, my Mommy and Daddy didn't make me walk the whole way. But once we got to the parking lot, I gave them a break. 

I kept getting distracted by all the kids playing football. Hey, guys! Don't you know that there's going to be a game inside the stadium?

We got there just in time for the pregame show. My family knows all the words to the K-State Fight Song and the Alma Mater. I'm still working on them. Itsy Bitsy Spider, anyone?

Then it was time for Willie the Wildcat to lead the football players onto the field.

They came down to the south end zone where I was sitting. Everybody seemed really excited to see them.

Then I saw one guy carrying a flag with a K on it. Was it for me, Kinley? My Mommy said it was for K-State, but I think maybe they were welcoming me to Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

 

My Grandma wanted to take my picture. She is always wanting to take my picture. Not now, Grandma! I'm watching the game!

While those boys were out there running around, I got a little hungry. Shhhh! We weren't supposed to bring in cereal. Maybe they thought the people around me would be jealous. I would have shared. If only they would have shared their purple popcorn with me. Mommy said I couldn't have any this time. (Something about a choking hazard. I wouldn't want that!)

And here's another "Shhhh!!!" Don't tell my Uncle Brent that I was too busy drinking water to join everybody in saying, "Good for a K-State TOUCHDOWN!" He would be SO disappointed. (But he knows I can do it. I've showed him on Skype.) And even though I missed it that time, I did it when the Wildcats scored another touchdown. Really, Uncle Brent!

I liked finding all the Wildcats at the stadium. There was one on my chairback. Mommy had a Powercat on her shirt. So did Grandma. And I had one, too. Poor Daddy. His shirt was defective. It didn't have a Powercat. It was the right color, though. I got an A+ on colors at daycare last week, so I know all about purple. There sure was a lot of it at that ballgame!

As exciting as the game was, I probably liked the halftime show the best. It was Band Day, so the football field was full of kids playing their instruments. Every time they would quit playing, I would tell them, "More! More!"

I was sorry that Grandpa Fritzemeier had to stay home and cut corn, but I used his seat. Thanks Grandpa!

Last year, Grandpa taught me about "Good for a Wildcat FIRST DOWN!" So I knew what to do this year.

September 2012

I think I've grown quite a bit since then.

Grandma Fritzemeier and I cheered the Wildcats on to victory. We beat the University of Massachusetts 37-7! Good job, Wildcats!

I also got to see Grandma Christy and Grandpa Alan at the game. It may be Bill Snyder's family stadium, but I have a lot of family there, too.  It was so crowded that I didn't get to see them all. Maybe next time!

Until then, this has been your Wildcat sideline reporter, Kinley Marie.