This is a fun idea for a summer barbecue or your upcoming Memorial Day celebration.  Serve chili and cornbread in a jar!

You can find the detail from Givers Log here.

Start by serving a Texas-sized spread of salsas, guacamole, queso and tortilla chips.  For the main course, keep things simple by serving easy steak sandwiches and Texas style chili.  Be sure to serve some Texas size margarita’s and of course some cold beer.

Decorate with cowboy boots, bandanna’s and big football decor.  For the guests that might not be as involved in the game, set up a table to play Texas Holdem.

Remember that “Everything is BIGGER and BETTER in Texas”!

Boots with flowers; Texas Style Steak Sandwiches; Texas Style Chili;  Cake; Real Texas Guacamole; Bandanna Cones;  Margarita; Bandanna Napkins

One thing that we all like when we cook out are Jalapeno Poppers so I thought I would post several ideas with Jalapenos.

The Pioneer Woman has a similar recipe to our Jalapeno Poppers.

Here is a great appetizer recipe for Jalapeno Jelly.

Try grilling this Jalapeno POP Burger.

My Dad loves peanut brittle but here is a new one to try…

Jalapeño Beer Brittle

Spray a large cookie sheet with cooking spray and place an oven set to “warm.” Combine one cup white sugar, a half-cup corn syrup, a quarter-teaspoon salt, one-third cup beer (preferably dark beer), and one or two chopped, seeded jalapeños in a large saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, and then attach a candy thermometer to saucepan. Stir often until temperature reaches 300 degrees F. (Keep a close eye on it after 280 degrees, Porter says. “The temperature has a tendency to race up at that point.”)

Remove the pan from heat and add one teaspoon baking soda and two tablespoons butter, stirring until incorporated. Quickly add in a cup and a half of roasted, salted peanuts and stir until completely coated. Remove cookie sheet from oven, and pour brittle out onto it. Use two buttered forks to pull the brittle mixture out from the center, until it is thinly spread and relatively even. Cool completely and then break into pieces.

I am not sure if I would try this one…

Jalapeno Ice Cream

To all of the great Dad’s (especially mine!)…  Have a wonderful weekend!

Watermelon Wedge Pops

Watermelon Popsicle

Watermelon Jello

Watermelon Cupcakes

WATERMELON SHERBET SMOOTHIE

(Family Fun)

You may want to consider buying “seedless” watermelon, which has small, white seedpods (instead of black seeds) that are edible and virtually unnoticeable once you blend the melon. For a special touch, serve in tall frosted glasses and top with a sprinkling of mini chocolate chips.

3 cups fresh watermelon cubes
1 cup crushed ice
1 cup watermelon, raspberry or lime sherbert
4 tsp. lime juice
1/2 cup miniature semisweet or white chocolate chips

About 10 minutes before you’re ready to mix the smoothies, place four tall glasses in the freezer to frost. Then wash the whole melon as you would other fruits and vegetables, and cut it into quarters. (The number of quarters you’ll need to yield 3 cups of cubes will depend on the size of the melon.) Slice each quarter you plan to use lengthwise into three wedges, then slice the flesh away from the rind. Use a fork to scrape away the seeds and chop the melon into cubes.

Combine the crushed ice, watermelon cubes, lime juice and watermelon, raspberry, or lime sherbert, and blend until smooth.

Pour the mixture into the frosted glasses and top each one with a half dozen or so miniature chocolate chips. Serves four.

Trim rind from watermelon and slice fruit into 2-inch cubes. You should have about 8 cups. Place watermelon in blender and purée until smooth. Combine watermelon juice, tequila, Cointreau and lime juice in pitcher or jug and add plenty of ice. Garnish the glasses with thin slices of lime or watermelon, if desired.

Makes 8 generous drinks. Recipe may be doubled or tripled as needed for a bigger party.

Source

Take your family on a fun picnic together.

( Country Living)

Here is another great Cookout Menu.

Pizzazzerie has a great tablescape!

Be sure to get some of these great free printables from Posh Pixels!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend!

Red, White and Blue Dessert Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened 
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped
• 2 quarts strawberries, halved, divided
• 2 quarts blueberries, divided

Directions

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and extracts until fluffy. Fold in whipped cream. Place a third of the mixture in a 4-qt. bowl. Reserve 20 strawberry halves and 1/2 cup blueberries for garnish.
• Layer half of the remaining strawberries and blueberries over cream mixture. Top with another third of the cream mixture and the remaining berries. Spread the remaining cream mixture on top. Use the reserved strawberries and blueberries to make a “flag” on top. Yield: 18 servings.

Patriotic Taco Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1-1/2 cups water
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1 envelope taco seasoning
• 6 cups tortilla or corn chips
• 4 to 5 cups shredded lettuce
• 9 to 10 pitted large olives, sliced lengthwise
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

Directions

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the water, tomato paste and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
• Place chips in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Spread beef mixture evenly over the top. Cover with lettuce. For each star, arrange five olive slices together in the upper left corner. To form stripes, add cheese and tomatoes in alternating rows. Serve immediately. Yield: 8 servings.

  Editor’s Note: If you wish to prepare this salad in advance, omit the layer of chips and serve them with the salad.

Fourth of July Pizza Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tube (13.8 ounces) refrigerated pizza crust
• 2 slices process American cheese
• 4 string cheese, cut in half lenthwise
• 1 jar (15 ounces) pizza sauce

Directions

• Unroll pizza dough and press onto the bottom and 1/2 in. up the sides of a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 425° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
• Using a 1-in. star cookie cutter, cut eight stars from the American cheese. Cut each strip of string cheese in half lengthwise. Spread pizza sauce over crust.
• Arrange stars in the upper left corner. For stripes, arrange 15 pieces of string cheese over sauce (save remaining piece for another use). Bake 5-8 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Yield: 16 slices.

Recipes:  Taste of Home

If you have a variety of fans coming to the party, spice it up by serving a Colts beef chili (this even uses blue food coloring) and a Saints Chicken Chili.

Set up the buffet with different condiments:

• Cheeses
• Chips and Crackers
• Cornbread Squares
• Sour Cream
• Onions
• Jalapenos
• Corn
• Tomatoes
• Hot Sauce

If you need some more ideas for Chili Recipes check out Food Network or Rachel Ray.

Of course, you should have a variety of drinks to serve and the guys usually love the beer!  If you want to change things up a little try the Linebacker Limeade.

If you want to go with a traditional theme, decorate with a chili peppers theme.

String Chili Pepper Lights and use fun accessories like this snack tray from Hostess Jo.

Other fun themes or theme names could be:

The Hot Chi-hua-huas – decorate with colorful Mexican accents and serve chips in a sombrero

The Wickedest Chili of the West – decorate with a Wicked Witch or ideas from the Wizard of Oz

Texas Hotties – Use cowboy hats and baskets with bandanas

Doctored Up – Dress like doctors and nurses and use medical decorations

Rachel Ray has some great ideas on hosing a Chili Cook-Off Party.

Here is a great Texas Style Chili recipe.

Don’t eat too much!!!

You can