Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

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With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

For about the first 10 years of our relationship, J only ate pepperoni pizza. I can’t blame him for loving it; it’s a classic for a reason. But with so many possible options, I knew he was missing out.

I don’t remember the circumstances that led to him first trying chicken bacon ranch pizza, but to say it changed his life would not be overstating things. A whole new world of pizza options was opened to him, and he now has a new go-to order.

With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

All that is great until you start to eat low carb. While there are several different crust alternatives out there, several of which we’ve tried, none were as big a hit with J as this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza.

The secret to this beauty is that the chicken is in the crust. Yup. The base of this pizza is a mixture of ground chicken and shredded cheese. It’s a flavorful alternative to the other dough replacements out there, some of which I find a little too rich. The ranch dressing on top is perfectly creamy, while the pepper jack cheese and crumbled bacon add just the right amount of heat and salt.

With a truly unique crust and a topping that includes crispy bacon and creamy ranch dressing, this Low Carb Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is sure to satisfy.

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Easy Instant Pot Baked Beans

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With a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and smoky, Easy Instant Pot Baked Beans will be your new favorite side dish for every cookout and picnic.

With a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and smoky, Easy Instant Pot Baked Beans will be your new favorite side dish for every cookout and picnic.

As a food blogger, I take nearly any available opportunity to test out recipes on people other than family. That’s why I recently volunteered to make baked beans for the hospitality room at the district basketball tournament at the high school. I knew right away I’d be making Easy Instant Pot Baked Beans.

With no soaking necessary, these guys are the perfect balance of sweet and smoky and spicy. Though there’s little work required, the end result is a batch of beans that taste like they’ve simmering all.day.long. It’s not hard to see why this will quickly become your go-to baked beans recipe.

With a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and smoky, Easy Instant Pot Baked Beans will be your new favorite side dish for every cookout and picnic.

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Jalapeño Popper Twice-Baked Potatoes

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Why not combine two of your all-time favorite party foods and make these perfectly cheesy and irresistibly savory Jalapeño Popper Twice-Baked Potatoes?

Why not combine two of your all-time favorite party foods and make these perfectly cheesy and irresistibly savory Jalapeño Popper Twice-Baked Potatoes?

Are you ever awed by your own brilliance?

I’m not, at least usually, but one exception would be these Jalapeño Popper Twice-Baked Potatoes. I can’t remember what led to that stroke of culinary genius, but I remember standing in front of the refrigerator, both doors open, and thinking, “I should make jalapeño popper twice-baked potatoes!”

And so I did.

Why not combine two of your all-time favorite party foods and make these perfectly cheesy and irresistibly savory Jalapeño Popper Twice-Baked Potatoes?

I poppered these puppies up in a few different ways. First, I added diced jalapeños to the potato filling. I tossed in some cream cheese, too. Lastly, I topped each potato half with a mixture of Parmesan and bread crumbs to give the whole dish that golden crunch you expect from good jalapeño poppers.

I know I’m not the first person to combine these two particular food favorites, but damn is it a good combo.

Why not combine two of your all-time favorite party foods and make these perfectly cheesy and irresistibly savory Jalapeño Popper Twice-Baked Potatoes?

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Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Baguette

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When it comes to cheesy, spicy, crowd-pleasing, freezer-friendly appetizers, it doesn’t get more perfect than this Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Baguette.

When it comes to cheesy, spicy, crowd-pleasing, freezer-friendly appetizers, it doesn't get more perfect than this Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Baguette.

Y’all, this is bread stuffed with cheese and bacon and jalapeños and more cheese. It’s the ultimate in mouthwatering appetizers. Okay, fine, full disclosure: I might have baked up a section of this stuff for myself for lunch the other day. But to be far, I needed to get some photos of it, and then I couldn’t just not eat it.

If you watch many of those addictive food videos on Facebook, you’ve likely seen a few that feature stuffed bread-related recipes. A lot of those involve carving out the top of a loaf, though, like a boat, and I couldn’t picture that method being conducive to appetizer- or snack-size portions. So instead I hollowed out the center of a baguette, stuffed it with a jalapeño popper-inspired filling, and cut it into party ready rounds. I took this Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Baguette to two different get-togethers in the last month and it was a hit both times.

When it comes to cheesy, spicy, crowd-pleasing, freezer-friendly appetizers, it doesn't get more perfect than this Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Baguette.

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Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits

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Forget the bland kind that come in a tube; these Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits are flaky, buttery, and everything homemade biscuits should be.

Forget the bland kind that come in a tube; these Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits are flaky, buttery, and everything homemade biscuits should be.

One of the first recipes I ever made was these Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits. I was 21 and J and I were newly married, living in a tiny apartment in Jackson. This was before the days of Pinterest, so much of what I made came from Google or from actual cookbooks.

I remember first making these biscuits in our little kitchen, with its one narrow drawer and its burners that refused to heat evenly. I was so new to cooking and baking then; every recipe was precisely followed because I wasn’t confident enough to make even the smallest changes. Over the years, though, I’ve adapted this recipe, adding the chives and tweaking the process. The result, these Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits, are just as satisfying to make now as they were all those years ago.

Forget the bland kind that come in a tube; these Homemade Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits are flaky, buttery, and everything homemade biscuits should be.

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Creamy Cheese and Bacon Dip

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Got a party? Game night? A regular Tuesday? No matter where you’re going or what you’re in the mood for, Creamy Cheese and Bacon Dip is the perfect answer.

Got a party? Game night? A regular Tuesday? No matter where you're going or what you're in the mood for, Creamy Cheese and Bacon Dip is the perfect answer.

We had a staff potluck at school the other day, also known as the perfect excuse to try a fun new recipe and pass the calories along to my coworkers. I typically bring two recipes to these shindigs because J and I teach at the same high school. Of course I had to make something sweet, but I wanted to make a yummy savory dip, too.

This recipe had me at bacon and cheese. The original version called for all mayonnaise, but I’m not a huge fan, so I included sour cream, too. I found the whole thing a little bland when it was all mixed up, but a few dashes of hot sauce a little garlic salt did the trick.

My Creamy Cheese and Bacon Dip was a hit at the staff party! The bowl was empty by the end of the day, even though I doubled the recipe. It went quickly with the Town House crackers I brought along. One of the office secretaries spread some on a biscuit and raved about the results; clearly, this stuff would be amazing on pretty much anything.

Got a party? Game night? A regular Tuesday? No matter where you're going or what you're in the mood for, Creamy Cheese and Bacon Dip is the perfect answer.

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Cheesy Bacon Rotel Phyllo Cups

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Cheesy bacon rotel phyllo cups are tasty little phyllo cup bites stuffed with melted cheese, chewy bacon, and the spicy goodness of Rotel tomatoes.

Cheesy bacon rotel phyllo cups are tasty little phyllo cup bites stuffed with melted cheese, chewy bacon, and the spicy goodness of Rotel tomatoes.

These cheesy bacon rotel phyllo cups are hard to describe. They’re an instant hit with everyone who tries them and, considering all the baby showers, tailgates, and family gatherings my mother-in-law has made them for, that’s a lot of people. Bite-size appetizers are always appealing, but when you throw in bacon and cheese, they’re irrestible.

Don’t let the use of mayonnaise throw you. I don’t care for mayonnaise in general, but you don’t taste it in this recipe. Instead, it just serves as a binder for all the ingredients you can taste, like the melted cheese and the chewy, salty bacon. If you’ve never had phyllo cups, you’re in for a treat. This Greek dough is thin and crispy, making it the perfect vehicle for what’s inside.

Cheesy bacon rotel phyllo cups are tasty little phyllo cup bites stuffed with melted cheese, chewy bacon, and the spicy goodness of Rotel tomatoes.

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Brown Sugar Bacon-Wrapped Sausages

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These brown sugar bacon-wrapped sausages are seriously like crack. They’re sweet, savory, addictive, and perfect for any party you’re having.

These brown sugar bacon-wrapped sausages are seriously like crack. They're sweet, savory, addictive, and perfect for any party you're having.

There are some big changes afoot in the Winstead household. While I typically try to avoid vague statements (like the one I just made) without further explanation, I’m too excited about what’s happening to not say something. I’m excited, nervous, hopeful, and anxious all at once, and I’ll be sharing more details in coming weeks.

In a season of life when there are still so many unknowns, it occurs to me that I have so much to be thankful for. In addition to the obvious, like the health of my family and a beautiful home to live in, I’m so thankful for answered prayers and peace of mind amidst uncertain circumstances. During a time when so much of the future is up in the air, I’m thankful for confidence that God’s timing is perfect.

Things might be looking different around the Winstead house soon, but some things never change. One thing that will always remain the same is my love for cute little bite-size appetizers, particularly those that include bacon-wrapped anything. These brown sugar bacon sausages are a recipe my mother-in-law has made for a few years. They’re a huge hit with anyone who tries them, and with good reason.

The sausages themselves aren’t anything special. They’re the kind often served smothered with barbecue sauce at parties. The bacon is where the beauty begins. The strips are the same width as the length of the sausages, making them a perfect pairing. When the dish bakes, the brown sugar on top gets sticky and caramel-y. The result is a perfectly sweet and savory bite that’ll be a hit at any holiday or game day event.

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Oven Roasted Potatoes with Bacon and Cheese

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Oven roasted potatoes with bacon and cheese are the perfect quick, easy, and delightfully delicious side dish for any time of day.

Oven roasted potatoes with bacon and cheese are the perfect quick, easy, and delightfully delicious side dish for any time of day.

I started writing this post a few months ago, sometime around the start of my third trimester of pregnancy. I craved carbs something fierce- even more fierce than usual- while I was pregnant with Q, and many nights I couldn’t think of a good excuse not to make some sort of potato dish and call it supper.

I ate Parmesan garlic roasted potatoes more than a few times, along with home fries. I had these oven roasted potatoes with bacon and cheese plenty of times, too.

The recipe is surprisingly quick and easy to make. Because the potatoes are cooked in a skillet still hot from frying the bacon, they cook quickly and develop that coveted softness on the side while becoming crisp on the outside. After the potatoes are cooked through, they’re sprinkled with crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese and returned to the oven to let everything melt together.

I often eat them just as they’re pictured, but they’re also great served with salsa, green onions, or diced avocado.

Oven roasted potatoes with bacon and cheese are the perfect quick, easy, and delightfully delicious side dish for any time of day.

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Breakfast Calzones

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With store bought dough and a few classic breakfast staples, you can whip up a batch of easy, satisfying, portable breakfast calzones.

breakfast calzones2

Another breakfast recipe means another recipe that we don’t actually eat for breakfast. Like so many recipes before this one, we enjoy these breakfast calzones for supper. We’re just suckers for bacon and eggs; top it with cheese and wrap it in dough and we’re powerless to resist.

Like so many of the recipes I share, this one can be completely customized depending on what your family likes and what you have on hand. Swap sausage for the bacon, load it up with veggies, or add a few spoonfuls of salsa. Whatever you decide to include on the inside gets all wrapped up inside the handy dough pocket, making these breakfast calzones ideal for breakfast- or lunch or dinner- on the go.

I imagine these little pockets would be fairly freezer-friendly, but I’ve yet to give that a shot (though I can vouch for the freezability of these homemade pizza pockets). Let me know if you give it a try with this recipe!

With store bought dough and a few classic breakfast staples, you can whip up a batch of easy, satisfying, portable breakfast calzones.

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