Super Bowl Snacks: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

The last time I was this excited for the Super Bowl was back in 2004; the only other time in my lifespan that my hometown team was a contender in the game. This year, I am crossing my fingers for a big W. Here is my current favorite app for game day. Go Birds! xo RCN

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

INGREDIENTS (yields about 2 dozen):

1 lb Ground Chicken (a little more than one pound is fine, too)

1 Egg 

1/2 Cup Panko breadcrumbs

1 Carrot (grated & chopped) + sliced carrots for side/garnish

1 Stalk of celery (chopped fine) +sliced celery for side/garnish

3 Cloves garlic (minced)

1/2 tsp Paprika

2 Green onions + some for garnish (chopped)

1/4 tsp Kosher salt

1/4 tsp Cracked pepper

1/3 Cup Franks Buffalo Wing Sauce (for coating)

1 Tbsp Butter (for coating)

Ranch &/or Blue cheese dressing on the side

INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 400 F and set aside a greased baking tray (OR grease tinfoil and place on sheet to make clean up easy). Set aside. Chop and mince all veggies and garlic. Set aside some of the green onion for garnish. Cut additional carrot and celery sticks for side dish.

Combine ground meat, egg, all dry ingredients and chopped vegetables in a mixing bowl (everything except buffalo sauce, ranch/blue cheese and butter). Mix until evenly combined.

Roll into small meatballs about 1" circumference. Place on tray and bake for about 20 minutes. Flip meatballs about 10 minutes into baking to help cook evenly (it's ok if they aren't perfect balls!!). While meatballs bake, combine butter and hot sauce and melt together in microwave.

Remove meatballs from oven, toss around in buffalo/butter sauce and serve w/ ranch or blue cheese dressing. Serve beside carrots & celery and top with green onions. For the finishing touch use these cute football party picks

 

 

 

 

Championship Cupcakes

What better way to get into the football spirit for this weekend's upcoming NFC and AFC championship games, than by decorating and getting all fancy with some colorful cupcakes? A perfect treat and activity to do with the kiddos while you're staying warm and cozy inside! All you need is a box of cake mix, icing, food dye, piping bags + tips and a colorful assortment of fan favorite sprinkles and cupcake liners. Oh, and a printer, scissors, tape and toothpick for the logo picks! Pretty self explanatory there ;)

I will be rooting for the Eagles in the NFC (obvi) - the matchup I am really excited about. The Birds have a tough game come Sunday when they face the Vikings, another household favorite team, being that Zach's fam is from Minnesota. Zach says "I want them both to win." Well, that's not possible, sorry Z, but I guess the good news is that either outcome, someone will be happy in our house when it's all said and done. The cupcakes should help with that, too. xo RCN

 

Mango Monday Smoothie Bowl

I have always been a major fan of smoothies and acai bowls, and really all of that fruity breakfast business. I'm bringing my smoothie game hard this year with an effort to avoid skipping breakfast altogether, and with the plan to try out some new recipes. First up, my Mango Monday Bowl. Sure to kick any Monday blues, or at least I think so! xo RCN

Ingredients for bowl mixture (serves 2):

1/2 Cup frozen peaches

1/3 Cup chopped frozen mango

1 Whole fresh mango sliced

3/4 Cup Coconut Milk

1/2 Kiwi chopped

1 Tbsp raw honey

Toppings:

1/4 Cup granola mix (whatever kind you like...I use Cascadian Farm's organic vanilla, coconut & pumpkin seed granola mix)

Sprinkle of shaved coconut flakes

Spoonful of chia seeds

1 Kiwi for "M-A-N-G-O" letters + 3 thin slices (I used mini cookie cutters from Homegoods)

1 frozen mango cube cut into 8 small  pieces

Add a few floral buds from whatever flowers you may have laying around in the house. This will definitely help to impress your breakfast buddy!

Instructions:

It's pretty simple folks. Combine all mixture ingredients together in a blender. Blend until thick and frozen creamy, about 1 minute or so. You may need to open blender, stir, then pulse again for an additional 20 seconds if the mango slices get caught underneath the blade (this happened to me). Then, top it all off and decorate with the extra coconut and healthy goodies. Happy Monday or whatever day it may be!