Easy Appetizer: Sicilian Pizza Fries

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NestleHoliday #CollectiveBias

The holiday season is here which means that holiday parties are in full swing! My family and I will usually host one or two events during the holiday season and at every one of those events you will fin d the easiest appetizer ever: Sicilian Pizza Fries!

Never heard of pizza fries? Well you are in luck because today, I am going to show you how easy they are to put together. First, you need Sicilian pizza. My choice: CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN® Crispy Thin Crust Oven Ready Pizza Sicilian!

This pizza is awesome for pizza fries because of the crispy crust and the extra flavorful kick from the spicy ham! Follow package instructions for cooking (preheat oven to 400 degrees and then bake in center rack for about 18 minutes!)

SICILIAN PIZZA FRIES

Serves 5-6

Ingredients:

1-California Pizza Kitchen Sicilian Pizza

1 cup ranch dressing

1 cup marinara sauce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Bake pizza in center rack for about 18 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool.

Slice and serve

Doesn't this look like it's sent from above? Look at all those toppings.

I am your typical guy and do not like to complicate my life anymore than what it already is. Simple is key for me so when asked to create an appetizer, you know it's going to be easy. After your pizza is baked to perfection, let it cool for about 5 minutes and then slice it. First, you slice it vertically in 6 sections and then cut those 6 section in half. Assemble on a festive plate, add ranch and marinara in small containers as dips and serve!

It really doesn't get any easier than that. Oh and it also looks fancy which is a plus! If you want to continue with an Italian theme for your event, I recommend picking up some STOUFFERS® Large Family Size Lasagnas and other NESTLE® to serve. Holidays are all about spending time with loved ones, not being trapped in the kitchen!

Do you have an easy go-to appetizer that you prepare for holiday gatherings?

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HolidayWithGlade #CollectiveBias

The holidays are here and that means that my wife starts setting out “holiday-scented” candles throughout the house. My favorite one is the Cherishthe Present™ Apple Cinnamon from the Glade^® Limited Edition Winter Collection . This scent evokes a sense of calm and joy in me. It also reminds me it’s time for me to start making one of my kids’ favorite foods: Apple Cinnamon Muffins!

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup melted butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 medium apple, chopped

Glaze:

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease (or use muffin cups) a 12-cup muffin pan, set aside. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon in bowl. Add milk, butter, vanilla and egg and stir until moistened.

 

Add the apples. I used one medium-sized Honeycrisp apple. Don't chop it too small, you want to make sure you can see and taste your apple pieces! Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake 20-23 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

For the glaze:

In a small bowl, mix sugar, cinnamon and butter for glaze. Once the muffins have cooled take a muffin and dip the top in the glaze and twist. Make sure to cover all the top of the muffin.  Repeat until all muffins have been glazed.

Like I mentioned before, these muffins are my family’s favorite. I make them often throughout the holidays!

Each fragrance from the Glade^® Limited Edition Winter Collection aims to embody the special moments with friends and family that make the holidays so special.

We purchased our Glade^® Jar Candles at our local Publix.

Ad: Black and Bleu Burger

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BPPatties #CollectiveBias

I love burgers. To me, a burger is man food! My favorite burger is a Black and Bleu burger. Believe me, if I see a black and bleu burger on a menu, I am ordering it. I love it so much that I have even learned how to make one at home. Yes, this is coming from a man that only knows how to fry eggs. Black and Bleu burgers are amazing. They are a blackened burger patty, topped with bleu cheese, bacon, mushrooms and caramalized onions. I mean, does it get any better than this?

My honey knows how much I love burgers so the other day when she was grocery shopping, she bought these  Ball Park ® Flame Grilled fully cooked burgers. I'm always on the go and don't always have time to grill a burger so these fully cooked frozen burgers, which are microwavable, were a great solution!

Beef and Cheese or just Beef? How is a man to choose?

As soon as I saw the bags of Ball Park® burgers in the freezer last night, I knew I wanted a Black and Bleu burger for dinner! I mean look at this beauty!

BLACK & BLEU BURGER

Serves one

Ingredients:

1 Ball Park® Beef with Cheese and Bacon patty

2 rounds of sliced red onions

1 tbsp butter

4 baby bella mushrooms

crumbled bleu cheese

2 slices of thick bacon, fully cooked

1 French hamburger bun

 Directions:
In a pan on medium heat, add butter and onions. Cook onions for about 5 minutes or until softened.

While onions are cooking, put one frozen patty on a microwave-safe plate.

Microwave according to package directions.

Once onions are soft, set aside and add mushrooms to the same pan. Cook 2 minutes per side. A black and bleu burger needs a blackened patty, so as soon as the mushrooms are done, set aside and add the patty to the pan. Cook for 1 minute on each side over high heat. Remove from pan.

Now it's time to assemble your burger. First, cut a French hamburger bun (or any good bakery roll) in half and place patty on bottom half.

Top with crumbled bleu cheese. The cheese will slowly melt over the hot patty.

Add mushrooms over cheese.

Then add the bacon.

Finally, top your creation with the caramalized onions!

I don't add ketchup or mustard to this burger but you are welcome to do so to yours. This is burger-perfection right here and in less than 10 and no grill required!

I was very happy with my dinner and so happy that I can now have a burger any time! Next time, I'm adding a fried egg. Gotta make sure to use all my cooking skills!

Ball Park® patties are available in the frozen food section at Publix. They come in 7 different varieties, so I'm sure there will be one you will love for your burger creation! 

HALL OF FLAME SWEEPSTAKES/GIVEAWAY

Make sure to enter the Hall of Flame Sweepstakes/Giveaway today where you can enter to win your chance at $1000 in prizes! 

What's your favorite burger? Ever had a black and bleu?