Buffalo Chicken Cheeseballs

Yikes. I am 31 weeks pregnant today and beginning to feel totally unprepared for the reality of having 3 children.  I went to see the ob yesterday for my every 2 week check up (yes, I am blessed to go every 2 weeks since I am such a high risk for premature labor) he said everything looks fine. Just keep counting contractions and make sure I stay well hydrated.

Ugh. That dreaded word. Hydration. I am sure that he does NOT mean copious amounts of Mountain Dew or Dr Pepper. But I have a secret. I hate water. It is so boring. I even tried those crystal light packs to try and fool myself into thinking I was drinking yummy, sugary kool-aid - but I still knew it was water. So....I went to the grocery store and bough a HUGE watermelon!! I LOVE watermelon! I struggled to get it into the car and then when I asked hubby to take it out he said, Are you having a party?? Nope, just trying to stay well hydrated! haha

Printable Recipe

Anyway, this has nothing to do with this recipe. I also continue to crave spicy things. With my current youngest child's pregnancy I seriously at hot wings like 3-4 times a week. She came out a firey rambunctios red head. I am blaming it on the hot wings. So this time I told myself I would eat lots of cake so she would be a sweet quiet and obedient child. Haha - yeah still need the heat. Silly cravings!

I am a big fan of "I can make that!". My friend had a super bowl party and she had catered and they made these buffalo bites. So here is my version of the tasty treat!

Ingredients:

• meat from 1 cooked rotisserie chicken
• 1/3 cup hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped white onions
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 cups panko bread crumbs
• oil for frying ( I use peanut oil) 

Directions:

Heat oil in deep fryer to 350 degrees. Place chicken into a food processor and chop until fine crumbles.  Transfer chicken to a bowl and add hot sauce, pepper, cheese, and onions. Mix well.  Roll the chicken into small (quarter sized) balls. Roll each ball in the flour, then egg, then bread crumbs. Fry chicken in oil in batches. Remove to paper towel lined plate to drain any excess oil. Serve with ranch or blue cheese!

Our Ratings:

Mama F: 9 - Love how the panko bread crumbs make the outside crunchy! These are the perfect little bite sized treat and they pack a punch!

Daddy F: - 9 These were spicy and tasty. Would be great for a party or BBQ.

Fuller Kids: 1 - Not fans. My 4 year old insisted she needed to try them even after I told her they were spicy. She may have cried a little. That means they are good, right?

Lucky the Dog: 3 - Human mommy said it was too spicy. But I did enjoy the chicken she put in dog bowl!

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Slow Cooker Sundays - Carne Guisado

I love trying out new things in the crock pot. This is something that I have cooked on the stove before but it is SO much more tender (and easier!) when made slow.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound stew beef
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/8 cup onions thinly sliced and chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 2 serrano chile peppers, chopped
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch, dissolved in a small amount of cold water

Directions:

In a skillet over med heat, brown meat in oil on all sides. Add in onions and cook until translucent, about 2 mins.  Pour off excess grease. Place meat and onions into slow cooker.  Add tomato paste, beef broth, salt and pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, chile peppers, and water. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 12 hours, or until meat is very tender. Turn to high and dissolve about 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in small amount of cold water and slowly pour into stew until desired thickness of gravy is obtained. Serve with pico de gallo and warm tortillas.

The Slow Cooker Sunday Link Up, hosted by Doggie at the Dinner Table, is a place for other foodie lovers to share links to their blogs. Every Sunday a linky will be posted with recipes from my own kitchen. The linky will be open for 24 hours and you can link up to posts you’ve posted in the past. 

The Fine Print: 

• You are free to join the Slow Cooker Sunday link up at any time. You can also skip a few weeks and then come back.But we will miss you! :)
• Please link directly to a post containing a slow cooker recipe— not your main blog URL.
• Please only link to your own blog or photos hosted online.
• You MUST link back to Doggie at the Dinner Table in your blog post. This way, if someone else wants to join the fun, they can. You can either link with text or using the Slow Cooker Sunday photo which can be found in the sidebar.
• I highly encourage you to visit other participants and leave comments. This is a great way to meet new friends and become inspired in your culinary quests! I try to visit all the blogs participating as well!

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Freebie Friday! Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

Welcome to the March $100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway Event,
hosted by Musings From a Stay At Home Mom!

How It Works:

One lucky person will win a $100 Amazon gift card. Unlike our previous Amazon events, this event has one big Rafflecopter form. We still encourage you to visit each of the 10 blogs sponsoring this event (who knows? you might find your new favorite blog!), but you no longer have to hop to each one to gain maximum entries. Be sure to come back each day for your daily tweet!

The Blogs:

Fabulous Finds 
Shopaholic Mommy
The Mama Report
Simple Savings for ATL Moms
Only a Breath
Acadiana's Thrifty Mom
Doggie at the Dinner Table
Philzendia
Southern Girl Ramblings
Musings From a Stay At Home Mom

This giveaway is open Worldwide, 18+
Ends March 16, 2012 at 11:59 EST

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Choco Peanut Oaties

These were always some of my favorite cookies growing up. Unlike the rest of my family I always have enjoyed the texture of oatmeal in my cookies. As I grew older I learned it was healthy(er) for you too.  Of course, my kids are weird and dont like chocolate so I made a batch without the chocolate chips. They taste almost as good. :)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Heat oven to 375.  In a large bowl cream together peanut butter and butter. Add sugars. Beat in vanilla and eggs until well blended.  Mix in baking soda and flour on low speed. Stir in oats and chocolate chips by hand.
On ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by tablespoons ( I pushed them down with the back of the spoon so the would cook more flat). Bake 10 -12 mins or just until edges begin to brown. Remove from oven and cool.

Eat just one, I dare you!

Our Ratings:

Mama F: 9 - who doesn't love a cookie warm from the oven!

Daddy F: 10 - I love the way the edges are crunchy and the middle says moist!

Fuller Kids: 10 - they loved their non chocolate versions. My oldest requested to eat them for dinner because "its peanut butter and oatmeal so its like breakfast" haha.

Lucky the Dog: 12 - Mmmmmm cookies!!! Lucky loves peanut butter!! I eat kid kind. No chocolate for doggies. 

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