Okay, guys. I hope you’ve had your coffee or morning caffeine already because I’ve packed SO MUCH INFO into this blog post. But let’s not panic, because this info involves: a delicious recipe, all natural chips, a GIVEAWAY and for you DCists, a fun weekend activity. Are you ready?? Are you pumped?? Let’s do this! …I’ve definitely had my caffeine already.
When I go back home to Buffalo, New York, I make two lists: a list of places + people I want to see and then a second life of things I want to eat. My flights back to DC usually involve elastic waistbands.
Stuffed banana peppers are at the top of my list every time. The spicy appetizer is found in pretty much every deli in Western New York and I never imagined a life in which it would not exist. DC, get it together and introduce stuffed banana peppers to the local fare. I guarantee they’ll be a smashing success!
The banana peppers are stuffed with a blend of cheeses, crumbled crackers, banana pepper pieces and cream cheese. I mean, come on. It doesn’t get much better than that!
When Food Should Taste Good asked me to come up with a recipe, I knew I had to turn this favorite app o’ mine into another delicious appetizer. The stuffed banana pepper dip took me about 30 minutes from start to finish and paired with Olive and Multigrain chips, it was a deliciously wonderful way to break up the work week. Warm, cheesy, spicy dip + all natural chips with flavor that just doesn’t quit + wine + girl talk = best Wednesday ever.
Time for some dip foodporn and then we’ll get to the really good stuff: the recipe, weekend activity + a GIVEAWAY perfect for your Sunday football party or casual wine night with the girls. Or guys, that’s cool too. Are you a male reader? Don’t be shy, please say hi!
Ingredients
3, light cream cheese blocks (Room temperature and no, this isn’t a fire drill)
2, jars of banana pepper rings, drained (Spicy or Mild, dealer’s choice)
1/2 sleeve, crumbled Ritz crackers
1, cup of Parmesan and Provolone cheese (Plus additional for sprinkling on top)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, whisk the room temperature blocks of cream cheese for a few minutes.
Add the banana pepper rings. Note you might want to slice the rings into bite-size pieces.
Add the cheese and crumbled Ritz crackers. Combine ingredients with a spatula.
Scoop mixture into a lightly greased pan. Sprinkle additional cheese on top to your little heart’s content.
Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until bubbly and cheese on top is golden.
Serve with Food Should Taste Good Olive and Multigrain chips!
As one of my friends exclaimed through a mouthful of dip + chips: “These Olive chips are really effing good!”
Can’t get a better testimonial than that, guys. Well, the empty dip + chip dish at the end of the night also spoke volumes.
And now the fun part where you can win all the trimmings for your own Chip Fest 2014! Would you go for a football smorgasbord or a wine night with the girls? Both? If so, I dig your style.
So what’s in the giveaway package? You’ll win:
- 9-Piece Square Dipping Set
- Nostalgia Electric Fondue Pot, including 6 forks
- Stainless Steel Snack Bowl
- $100 Visa Gift card
- A Variety of Food Should Taste Good products
And now the weekend activity: Food Should Taste Good will be celebrating Adams Morgan Day this weekend on Sunday from 12-7 with a 3-D chalk art from muralist Shawn McCann. You can also sample their Harvest Pumpkin, Sweet Potato and Blue Corn Tortilla Chips. If you’re planning a Friendsgiving or are hosting Thanksgiving this year (you brave soul), it’ll be a great source of inspiration + recipes. Check it out! I know I’ll be swinging by : )
Oh my goodness. We made it through all that info. I think we’ve really grown on this journey together. Hope to see you at Adams Morgan Day!
Cheers to the weekend!
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This post was sponsored by Food Should Taste Good Chips®. All opinions and product sentiments are my own.
HUGE fan of Food Should Taste Good fan! Chef Carla Hall turned me on to them at a JLW Kids in the Kitchen demo. I am going to have to hunt down the Harvest Pumpkin chips!
I hope you entered the giveaway then! I loved Carla on Top Chef, I hope she’s sweet in person.
I’ll ask where you can find the Harvest Pumpkin and report back!