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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Deconstructing Super Bowl Snacks

If you have ever watched Bravos' Top Chef, you had heard the term 'deconstructing'. It involves taking a popular dish, breaking down its ingredients, and using them in a different way to evoke the same flavors.

This Super Bowl there were only three of us, and my husband wanted the traditional football foods- chicken wings, tacos, pizza. Instead of that, I deconstructed those snacks and made dips out of them.

I used to make this Taco Dip all the time when the boys were home and we had Mexican night.
Taco Dip
1 can refried beans
1 cup taco sauce
8 oz. softened cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
8 oz. shredded Mexican cheese blend
shredded lettuce
1 chopped tomato
sliced black olives

Directions: Spread beans on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Top beans with taco sauce. Mix cream cheese and sour cream and spread on top of beans and sauce. Top with shredded cheese and bake for 20-30 minutes, until bubbly. Top with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and sliced black olives. Serve with tortilla chips.
Taco Dip


I made Chicken Wing Dip using Frank's Hot Sauce's recipe, which is just softening 8 oz. cream cheese and spreading it in a casserole dish, mixing 1/2 cup blue cheese dressing with 1/2 cup Frank's Hot Sauce and 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella, stirring in 2- (12oz) cans of chunk chicken breast and spreading that on top of cream cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with celery and carrot sticks. My son also makes his own version of this dip, but he informed me that he uses shredded rotisserie chicken, not canned chicken.
Chicken Wing Dip

I did not make my famous Pepperoni Dip, which I got from a community recipe book many years ago, but it falls under the deconstructing umbrella. Everyone loves this dip, so I'll share the recipe here too.
Pepperoni Dip
8 oz. tub soft cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp.  dried oregano
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1/2 cup chopped pepperoni
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Directions: In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, oregano, garlic powder and red pepper. Spread in a 10 inch pie plate. Spread pizza sauce over top. Sprinkle with pepperoni, green pepper and green onion. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. top with mozzarella and bake for 5 minutes more.

I also made homemade peanut cups for dessert and french dip sandwiches with Johnny's French Dip sauce that we got in a lovely food basket from my parents for Christmas. It was delicious!


Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
11 oz. package of milk chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions: Line a mini muffin tin with paper muffin cups. Melt 1/2 of the chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute, stir to melt completely. Spoon melted chocolate into paper muffin cups, drawing halfway up the sides until evenly coated. Cool in refrigerator til firm. In a small bowl, mix peanut butter, salt and confectioners' sugar til smooth, then put on top of chocolate. Melt the rest of the chocolate and spread over peanut butter to the edge of the cup. Chill til firm.
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
What was your favorite Super Bowl snack this year?

This post is part of Beth Fish Reads' Weekend Cooking.  If you have anything related to food, cookbook reviews, novel or non-fiction book reviews, recipes, movie reviews, etc., head over to Beth Fish Reads and add your post. Or, if you want to read food related posts, head over to read what some interesting people have to say about food!




19 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! All of these recipes sound amazing! I think the first one I'll try is the Taco Dip as I am a Mexican food addict! Thanks for sharing these yummy treats!

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    1. We used to love Mexican night when the boys were home!

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  2. Can it be Super Bowl weekend again really soon??? I love doing deconstructed recipes and yours sound awesome. Yum, yum, yum. I want one of those sandwiches!

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    1. I used to got to this restaurant back home that had the most delicious French Dip sandwiches. i think it was the Kimmelwick buns with onions and sat on them that made the dish.

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  3. All of your recipes look so good. Since we can't have Super Bowl again for another year I need to think of an event/party when dips and appetizers are the main attraction. Maybe, before the nice weather starts, we'll have a movie marathon. Whatever it is, I'll think of a good way to feature some of your recipes.

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  4. Wow, what a feast. I'm coming over to your house next year (and I don't even like football)!

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  5. I'm not a big football fan either- we can talk and eat!

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  6. Everything looks delicious, especially the Taco Dip and Chicken Wing Dip. I won't be able to wait until the next Super Bowl to try these recipes!

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  7. the only good thing about football...I could really use one of those roast beef sandwiches with the dip..

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  8. Great idea to change it up and make the favorites a new way! Everything looks so good, I 'd have been too stuffed to watch the game!

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  9. I am a sucker for both of those first two dips...but I need to try that pepperoni dip- it sounds like another one I'd love. And of course homemade pb cups- YUM! I made pretzel dogs (not blogged yet) for Superbowl this year.

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  10. Not sure if my original comment went through so I'm trying again. What a great idea to make your favorites a new way, it all looks fantastic!

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  11. I'm in New Zealand so no super bowl for me. I could be tempted by yours dips though, especially the first one.

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  12. That all looks delicious! We boycotted the Super Bowl, but watched Moneyball that night -- so, we had popcorn to go with the baseball theme!

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    1. Moneyball is a fabulous movie! I watched it for the second time on airplane and liked it even more the second time around.

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  13. I have never had any of these dips-what a great idea.

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  14. Great that you linked in, thanks.
    Have a super week

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