Puppy Party

This weekend my adorable dog Herman turned two, and since I am always looking for an excuse to entertain he had a birthday party. His best dog friend Louie came, and I had a bunch of my friends gathered as well. I made a menagerie of appetizers for this shindig, so I figured I would post a few. These are all easy and fun summer recipes, and they best part is they can all be made ahead of time. So here are some recipe highlights from Herman's 2nd bday!

Red-Neck Caviar

Sorry I did not get a picture of it in the pretty serving bowl- but at least this will give you an idea of what it should look like! 

Ingredients:

2- cans black eyed peas

2- cans show peg corn

2- cans Rotel tomatoes

1- can black beans

1- large purple onion

1- large vidalia onion

1- tsp garlic powder

1- tsp onion powder

1- tsp cumin

1-tsp chili powder

1/3 cup sugar

1- 160z bottle zesty Italian dressing

Directions:

-Finely chop onions and combine all ingredients, being sure to drain each can before adding the contents

- Add dressing and stir until all ingredients are well incorporated

- Refrigerate for at least 8 hours so that flavours can develop

- Serve chilled with chips or crackers(I think Tostitos scoops work best!)

The best thing about this recipe is you can make it your own, if you like it more spicy add some peppers. You can add more of one kind of bean or another to suit your preference. Since it needs to refrigerate for so long it is best done a day ahead of time, so it makes entertaining day a little less hectic as its one thing you can scratch off the to do list way ahead of time!

Poppyseed Dressing(Fruit Dip)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup miracle whip light

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup sugar

1/8 cup distilled white vinegar

1 tbsp poppy seeds

Directions:

Whisk together all ingredients until smooth and refrigerate until serving. 

Could this be easier? I served it with a menagerie of fruit and cheese so its a cool crisp summer plate. Its so yummy and could also be used as a sweet dressing on a summer strawberry salad. A great recipe to have in your arsenal when you need something quick!

Smores Bars

So last but not least are Smores Bars- oh my yum! I do not have a picture of these, but that's is because they were gone before I could snap a pic! 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter(room temperature)

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 large egg

1tsp Vanilla extract

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup Graham crack crumbs(I used a full cup, I love this flavour)

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 kind sizes Hershey bars

1 1/2 cups Marshmallow fluff

Directions:

-Spray 8x8 baking pan with Pam and preheat oven to 350

-In large bowl cream butter and sugar, then beat in egg and vanilla

-In separate bowl combine flour, crushed Graham crackers, baking powder and salt- then add this to the butter mixture mixing at low speed until combined

-Divide dough in half and press half into even layer in the bottom of the pan- Place Hershey bars on top of dough layer- Spread the marshmallow fluff over the chocolate(most easily done with a greased spatula). Finally place the remaining dough in a layer over the top. This is easiest if done in small pieces like shingles. 

-Bake for 30 minutes until dough us lightly brown and allow to cool fully before cutting!

My only tweak for this recipe would be making one and half servings of the dough, as I had a hard time making it stretch across the top! The flavour and consistency of these bars was divine, a super yummy and way less messy way to enjoy a child hood fav!