Chile Pepper Magazine featured these potato skins in a 2006 story about tailgating fare, and I’ve drooled over them ever since. Potato skins have always looked like a lot of work to me, so I put off making these for over 4 years. When I finally decided to tackle this recipe, I wondered why I had put it off for so long. Yes, it takes a while to bake then scoop the potatoes, but there’s a lot of downtime during baking, and really, this recipe ends up not being much more effort than some of my weeknight meals. And they taste so much better than any frozen version you’ll get; the effort is definitely rewarded!

Since I like a hit of habanero, I quadrupled the amount called for in this recipe (Come on, 1/2 a habanero for 40 skins? Craziness!! Toss a couple in there, and keep the seeds in, unless you’re a wuss 😉 ). (more…)

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Appetizers, Gluten free by Courtney

Yep, it’s that time of year, folks. The time when buzz begins about which commercials were banned, which team will win, and of course, which food we will serve! So let the countdown to Sunday begin! And let me help you with that most important part — what food to serve to your guests or take with you to the party.

We’ll start by looking back at the recipes that have been posted so far, and the rest of this week I’ll pull in a few more ideas to help you in your countdown to party time. Let’s throw a few ideas out there:

• Cheesy Nachos with Guacamole and Salsa – There’s really no explanation needed for this one. Make the recipe just like it is, and enjoy! If you’re headed to a party and don’t have access to an oven, simply make the guac and salsa and serve as a dip with chips. It’s a hit every time!
• Courtney’s Vegetarian Chili – chili is always a crowd pleaser, and if you have any vegetarian friends in the crowd, they’ll surely appreciate this hearty dish.
• Mozzarella-stuffed Meatballs – Make the meatballs in this recipe with the marinara, but instead of serving over spaghetti, serve them up on buns. Who doesn’t love a meatball sandwich?? Well, except the vegetarians, who are already covered with the chili above. (more…)

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Appetizers by Courtney