Nacho Round Up

SUPER BOWL! The Super Bowl is just around the corner, y'all. Are you football food ready? If you're in need of upping your nacho game, you've come to the right place. I'm talking more nachos than you could ever dream of making - and they can all be made in a sheet pan in less than 10 minutes.

Buffalo Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos

One of my favorites are these Buffalo Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos smothered with sharp cheddar and chunks of chicken, drizzled with spicy buffalo sauce and sour cream, and sprinkled with celery, green onions, fresh matoes, and crumbled blue cheese.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip Sheet Pan Nachos

I also love this dip inspired version - Spinach & Artichoke Dip Sheet Pan Nachos topped with Mozzarella, Monterey jack, Cotija, and an easy peasy stove top spinach and artichoke dip. Creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor!

Leftover Brisket Two Ways

So, I made the Pioneer Woman's braised brisket this week. It slowly braises in the oven in a sea of flavor for the good of all mankind. 😉 So. So. Good.

I turned my tasty leftovers into football food - 'cause I'm all about the football. You know me, football fanatic and all. I jest. But I do love football food. Football food is my true team. "Go, football food!"

Smokey Chipotle BBQ Brisket Sheet Pan Nachos.

I had to make nachos. I couldn't not make nachos, right? These Smokey Chipotle BBQ Brisket Sheet Pan Nachos are smothered in sharp cheddar, hickory smoked BBQ sauce, and chipotle cream.

As if a tray full of fabulous nachos wasn't enough, I put the rest of the brisket into delicious Buttery Baked Brisket Sandwiches.

Buttery Baked Brisket Sandwiches on sourdough rolls with horseradish mayo, swiss, and smoked provolone.

These Buttery Baked Brisket Sandwiches are loaded with flavor packed brisket, horseradish mayo, swiss and smoked provolone cheese. Uh, yeah!

This is why I love football season. Come on, game day!

If you don't have time to braise a brisket, pick up one of those precooked packages from the deli section to whip up these easy and delectable game day yummies.

Smokey Brisket Sheet Pan Nachos

INGREDIENTS
1 7 to 10 oz bag corn tortilla chips
1 8 oz bag shredded sharp cheddar
2 cups chopped or shredded brisket, warmed in its braising liquid
1/2 cup hickory smoked BBQ sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
1 to 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1/3 cup sliced green onions

DIRECTIONS
1. Blend sour cream with 1 or 2 chipotle peppers (I used an immersion blender).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Lay down a layer of chips on your baking sheet and top with all of the cheese.
4. Bake for about 7 minutes until cheese is melted and chips are toasty.
5. Use a slotted spoon to spoon brisket over nachos.
6. Squirt BBQ sauce all over nachos.
7. Drizzle on the chipotle cream.
8. Sprinkle the green onions on top.

Buttery Baked Brisket Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup mayo
1 tsp horseradish or 2 tsp prepared horseradish or to taste
12 sourdough rolls
6 to 8 oz swiss cheese
6 to 8 oz smoked provolone
2 or 3 cups thinly sliced brisket, warmed in its braising liquid
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
2 tsp dried onion
2 tsp brisket braising liquid
1 tsp prepared horseradish
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish or pan with oil spray.
2. Mix mayo with horseradish according to your taste.
3. Cut rolls in half and spread with horseradish mayo.
4. Divide cheese evenly amongst rolls.
5. Distribute brisket evenly with a slotted spoon.
6. Close sandwiches and stuff into prepared dish.
7. Whisk together melted butter with the rest of the ingredients and pour over sandwiches.
8. Cover with foil and let rest 10 minutes.
9. Then, bake for 20 minutes.
10. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes.

What's for Dinner? Italian Lentil Stew

It's soup season. Hip, hip, hurray. I'm so happy. I love soups and stews and make them throughout the year, but especially in fall and winter. I make so much soup that my family begs me to make something different. Hee, hee!

Jump into soup season with this Italian Lentil Stew!

This Italian Lentil Stew is my mom's recipe. It's one of my favorite soups - hearty, flavorful, and pretty in the bowl. Thanks, Mom!



Loaded with Italian spices, flavorful sausage, hearty veggies, and yummy lentils, this Italian Lentil Stew is a must-make. Protein packed soup anyone? It also goes great with crusty bread and it freezes well too. That's a fantastic soup in my book. Oh, and did I mention that it's totally easy to make.



First, brown your sausage.



Next, add in all the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. The stew cooks for 45 to 50 minutes or until the veggies are tender and the lentils are soft. So easy!



This recipe makes a nice big batch of stew. I like to freeze half of it so as not to soup out the fam. Everything in moderation - except for cupcakes. 😉

Hearty and flavorful Italian Lentil Stew is the perfect way to kick off soup season!

Italian Lentil Stew

INGREDIENTS
1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb Italian sausage
2 cups lentils
2 14 oz cans diced tomatoes
3 cups diced mirepoix (celery, carrot, onions)
2 cups diced red potatoes
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 Tbsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
2 tsp salt
8 cups chicken broth

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large dutch oven or stock pot, heat oil over medium high heat.
2. Brown sausage and drain off any excess fat.
3. Add in all of the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 45 to 50 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Taste stew to make sure lentils are cooked and veggies are tender. If stew is too thick, add a little more broth or water to get the consistency you like.