Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Add a whole bunch of chopped berries to a classic dessert recipe and you get these sweet, chewy, tart, and decadent Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Add a whole bunch of chopped berries to a classic dessert recipe and you get these sweet, chewy, tart, and decadent Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies.

On Wednesday nights, I cook with the youth group at church. The idea is to teach them some basic kitchen skills while also preparing meals that can be given to church members who need them. It’s often the highlight of my week, partly because I have a ton of fun and partly because the kids are constantly cracking me up with their lack of kitchen common sense.

One night we were making brownies and I noticed one senior student reaching over to plug in the electric hand mixer. “Don’t bother with it,” I told him. “Just mix them by hand.” I stepped out of the kitchen to check on Q and returned a few minutes later to find the student wrists-deep in the bowl of brownie batter. After I caught by breath from laughing so hard, I explained to the group the vital distinction between the phrases, “mix by hand,” and, “mix using your hands.”

What does that have to do with Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies? Nothing, really, but that’s okay. We can take a sec to talk about the recipe. I’m a chocolate-covered strawberry junkie, so making these cookies was a no-brainer. They turned out to be perfectly chewy and sweet, and the berries, after baking, were just a touch sour. The combination is an addictive cookie that I ate way too many of.

Add a whole bunch of chopped berries to a classic dessert recipe and you get these sweet, chewy, tart, and decadent Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies.

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Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip

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Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip is a unique, sophisticated twist on a classic. You’ll find the bold flavors and creamy texture irresistible.

Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip is a unique, sophisticated twist on a classic favorite. You'll find the bold flavors and creamy texture irresistible.

I first made this dip years ago, back when we still lived in Oregon. I don’t even remember now what I made it for, but I remember it was the first time I’d ever made caramelized onions. It was the first time I’d roasted my own garlic, too, and I felt like quite the successful cook afterward.

I went several years before making this Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip again, but, in true foodie fashion, I thought longingly about it quite a few times. As a proud lover of both garlic and onions, I dream about this stuff. Don’t worry, though, if not all the people in your life are as fond of those ingredients as I am; the process of caramelizing the onions and roasting the garlic develops the flavors into sweeter, smoother, toned-down versions of themselves.

You can rest easy making this recipe for just about anyone.

Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip is a unique, sophisticated twist on a classic favorite. You'll find the bold flavors and creamy texture irresistible.

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Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake

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This Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake combines three dessert favorites –  moist vanilla cake, fluffy cream cheese frosting, and tart strawberries – into one mouthwateringly decadent dessert.

This Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake combines three dessert favorites -  moist vanilla cake, fluffy cream cheese frosting, and tart strawberries - into one mouthwateringly decadent dessert.

Today my five-year-old looks up, as I’m in the kitchen and she’s in the playroom, and casually says, “Mama, I’m jammin’ the wifi.” (<— imagine this is said with the most country Southern accent you’ve ever heard). I’m not sure where my little aspiring hacker comes up with these things, but between her, her big brother, and her little sister, there’s literally never a dull moment. I love it.

Speaking of jamming the wifi. If there was a ever a cake that possessed the power to do just that, it’d be this Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake. This cake can jam wifi, slay dragons, settle feuds, and turn even the crappiest day good. It’s the cake equivalent of laughing baby videos.

This Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake combines three dessert favorites -  moist vanilla cake, fluffy cream cheese frosting, and tart strawberries - into one mouthwateringly decadent dessert.

At first glance, it might seem like an ordinary cake. I use, as usual, a cake mix, but I add a bunch of stuff to fancy it up. Sandwiched between each of the cake layers are gorgeous slices of fresh strawberries and a generous amount of homemade cream cheese frosting. The tender cake and the creamy frosting are uh-mazing on their own, but the addition of the tart berries rockets the whole thing into another stratosphere. Does that sound like hyperbole? Perhaps it is, but ask anyone who’s had a slice of Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake; they’ll vouch for me.

This Strawberries and Cream Layer Cake combines three dessert favorites -  moist vanilla cake, fluffy cream cheese frosting, and tart strawberries - into one mouthwateringly decadent dessert.

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Instant Pot Refried Beans

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Forget the can, and forget sweating over a hot stove. Instant Pot Refried Beans have that smooth restaurant-style texture you love, with the perfect hint of spice.

Forget the can, and forget sweating over a hot stove. Instant Pot Refried Beans have that smooth restaurant-style texture you love, with the perfect hint of spice.

It all started with a bag of frozen Green Chile Chicken Taquitos. Two bags, actually. We had two bags, 14 taquitos in total, in the freezer at church. They were too old to give to people (“Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Here’s a bag of slightly freezer-burnt taquitos to help you out.”), but not too old to feed to the Wednesday night crowd.

14 taquitos wouldn’t be enough to feed everyone, of course, so I volunteered to make more. I volunteered before I was told just how many more would be. 100+, as it turns out. By that point I was all in, though, so I brainstormed a side dish, too. I’ve been making slow cooker refried beans for ages, so I knew immediately I had to replicate that recipe for the instant pot.

I’m used to having beans cooking all day when I make them in the slow cooker; it was so nice to have these guys ready in a fraction of the time, with the added bonus of not needing to stir them occasionally. The group at church Wednesday nights is mostly kids, so I wasn’t sure how refried beans would go over, but they were a hit! Several of the kids came back for seconds. At the end of the night, there hardly any left in the pot.

Forget the can, and forget sweating over a hot stove. Instant Pot Refried Beans have that smooth restaurant-style texture you love, with the perfect hint of spice.

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Southern Sausage Balls

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Loaded with hearty sausage and plenty of golden, melted cheese, Southern Sausage Balls make the perfect appetizer, snack, or party food.

Loaded with hearty sausage and plenty of golden, melted cheese, Southern Sausage Balls make the perfect appetizer, snack, or party food.

I’m not saying sausage balls are an exclusively southern dish. I’m just saying that, while the only ones I ever had while growing up in Oregon were made by southern relatives, they’re a staple at nearly every wedding and baby shower in The South. And because most people are huge fans of anything that combines cheese, pork, and some of form of bread, Southern Sausage Balls are always a hit.

I ate them for years and loved them; I even made them myself. Then one day my mother-in-law made a batch (actually, I’m sure it was at least a double batch) with a new secret ingredient. That secret ingredient was cream cheese and, y’all, it revolutionized the sausage ball eating experience. If you think that’s an exaggeration, you’ve clearly never eaten Southern Sausage Balls with cream cheese.

The addition of the cream cheese ups the moistness of the recipe and leaves all other versions tasting dry and boring. Even if regular sausage balls are already in your repertoire, I implore you to add cream cheese. It’s a total game-changer. If you’ve never made Southern Sausage Balls at all, what are you waiting for? Make them for game-day, for a party, or just for breakfast or a snack at home.

Loaded with hearty sausage and plenty of golden, melted cheese, Southern Sausage Balls make the perfect appetizer, snack, or party food.

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Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese

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Step up your toasted sandwich game by making gooey, sweet, savory, and unique Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

Step up your toasted sandwich game by making gooey, sweet, savory, and unique Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

I’m not sure if this is normal, or if it’s a foodie thing, or if I’m just weird, but I sometimes obsess over leftover food. Not boring leftover meals, but fun or unique ingredients sitting in the fridge or cupboards. In this particular instance, I’m referring to the Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions I made a few weeks back.

I made that batch so I could make Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip. That was a solid decision, but I ended up with a container of leftover onions in the fridge. Sure, that’s a good thing, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d make with them. I mulled over and discarded several ideas before landing on Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese.

The last amazing hot sandwich I made was a Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese. Y’all, I still dream about that sandwich, and I can’t believe I haven’t made it again recently. Now it’s got competition, though, in the form of this Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese. I used American cheese for that classic grilled cheese ooze, plus pepper jack for a little boost of heat. Everything was layered on white sandwich bread, which I only buy especially for making kick ass grilled cheese sandwiches.

The star of the sandwich show, though, was definitely the caramelized onions. If you’ve not tried them, even if you don’t usually care for onions, you’re missing out. They aren’t your typical harsh, overwhelmingly-strong onions. Instead, they’re cooked down to a deep brown. The sugars are caramelized, leaving you with tender, sweet onions that are perfect for everything from French onion soup to topping burgers to stuffing inside this over-the-top grilled cheese sandwich.

Step up your toasted sandwich game by making gooey, sweet, savory, and unique Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

 

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Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos

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For an easy weeknight meal that’s low carb, gluten-free and, most importantly, ridiculously tasty, look no further than Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos.

For an easy weeknight meal that's low carb, gluten-free and, most importantly, ridiculously tasty, look no further than Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos.

I’ve been eating low carb for a few months now and, I have to say, the only thing that eases the pain of giving up bread is the promise of all the cheese I can eat. I’ve developed some outstanding recipes lately, but I’ve also eaten a lot of iterations of the chicken and cheese combo. One of my favorite way to showcase those two staples is alongside poblano peppers (you might remember Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip or Pasta in Roasted Poblano Cheddar Cream Sauce). Considering my love for poblanos, stuffing them with a filling mixture of cheese, chicken, spices, and cheese is a natural fit.

Sometimes it feels like eating healthier means spending a ton of extra time in the kitchen, which is why these effortless Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos are especially popular in my house. They’re easy enough to throw together for lunch, but hearty enough to make a satisfying supper. Add to that the endless filling possibilities, and you’ve got a recipe that’s likely to snag a regular spot in your dinner rotation.

For an easy weeknight meal that's low carb, gluten-free and, most importantly, ridiculously tasty, look no further than Chicken and Cheese Stuffed Roasted Poblanos.

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Creamy Sausage Macaroni and Cheese

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A grown-up take on a classic childhood dish, Creamy Sausage Macaroni and Cheese is as hearty and satisfying as it is easy and simple.

A grown-up take on a classic childhood dish, Creamy Sausage Macaroni and Cheese is as hearty and satisfying as it is easy and simple.

Surely I’m not the only person who grew up eating macaroni and cheese (blue box only, please) with sliced hot dogs mixed in. While I’d like to think my palate is slightly more refined than it was 20 or 25 years ago, child Abby pretty much considered that meal a delicacy. We spent a lot of time each summer with my dad’s mom, Granny, and any day we could convince her to make hot dogs and macaroni was a good day.

Truth be told, there’s probably enough nostalgia attached to that dish that I’d still gladly eat it. But since I can’t quite bring myself to do that, I’m settling for the next best thing: this Creamy Sausage Macaroni and Cheese. Really, though, nothing about this recipe is “settling.” You’ve got hearty chunks of sausage, which can be as mild or as spicy as you’d like. You’ve got the pasta of your choice (for these photos I used a partial box of mini farfalle and a partial box of rotini). You’ve got a creamy, gooey, melty cheese sauce that puts that neon powdered stuff to shame.

If that isn’t enough to convince you to give Creamy Sausage Macaroni and Cheese a try, consider that it comes together in just about 30 minutes and, if you opt for a no-boil pasta, you can make the entire recipe using just one pot. Sold yet? That’s what I thought.

A grown-up take on a classic childhood dish, Creamy Sausage Macaroni and Cheese is as hearty and satisfying as it is easy and simple.

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20+ Irresistible Game Day Dip Recipes

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Kick back with friends and family, put the big game on TV, and enjoy one – or a bunch – of these irresistible game day dip recipes.

Kick back with friends and family, put the big game on TV, and enjoy one - or a bunch - of these irresistible game day dip recipes.

Maybe it’s the fat kid in me, but there are few things I find more comforting than relaxing with family on a Saturday, watching college football and munching all day on dips. Granted, the whole experience is much more relaxing when our team actually wins, but it’s not a bad time either way.

With college bowl season and then NFL playoffs upon us, this is the perfect time to showcase a roundup of some of the most irresistible game day dip recipes to be had on the interwebs. You can’t go wrong making a recipe, or seven, from the list here. If you try of them, be sure to leave a comment letting the blogger know what you thought!

Irresistible Game Day Dip Recipes

Cheesy Goodness

Cheesy dips are always a hit, and these recipes are no exception.

Cheesy Chicken Poblano Dip

Kick back with friends and family, put the big game on TV, and enjoy one - or a bunch - of these irresistible game day dip recipes.

Cheesy Mexican Corn Dip

Kick back with friends and family, put the big game on TV, and enjoy one - or a bunch - of these irresistible game day dip recipes.

Green Chile White Queso Dip

Kick back with friends and family, put the big game on TV, and enjoy one - or a bunch - of these irresistible game day dip recipes.

Copycat Torchy’s Tacos Queso Dip

Kick back with friends and family, put the big game on TV, and enjoy one - or a bunch - of these irresistible game day dip recipes.

Southern Pimento Cheese

Kick back with friends and family, put the big game on TV, and enjoy one - or a bunch - of these irresistible game day dip recipes.

Creamy Cheese & Bacon Dip

Kick back with friends and family, put the big game on TV, and enjoy one - or a bunch - of these irresistible game day dip recipes.

Game Day Queso

Kick back with friends and family, put the big game on TV, and enjoy one - or a bunch - of these irresistible game day dip recipes.

 

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Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

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Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

I hosted some family at our house several weeks ago and, as I’m sure is typical with most foodies, I spent an inordinate amount of time determining the menu. It was an early afternoon event, so I put together a small menu of appetizers and finger foods. It took some finagling to get what I considered to be the perfect balance of sweet and savory, light and heavy, but every dish was a hit, including this Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip.

Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

Fruit dips, in my opinion, tend to have a bad reputation. A lot of people think of the sickeningly sweet store-bought version. You know the kind I’m talking about: the little tub that’s nearly grainy in texture? There’s nothing wrong with choosing that option in a pinch, but it can’t begin to compare to my Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip. This stuff is rich — duh, it’s got cream cheese and heavy cream in it — but the unsweetened cocoa powder provides a hint of bitterness that is offset by the sweet fruit. This recipe is perfect for making in advance to lighten your day-of load.

Skip the bland and boring store-bought options and make this rich, decadent and perfectly sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Fruit Dip instead.

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