Football season is upon us and I couldn’t be more hyped.  I don’t really like watching the games as much as I love the excuse to be able to throw a party every Saturday for the next 4 months.   I have compiled some homemade dips for you to spice up your own game day celebration.  The main ingredients in many dips tend to be mayonnaise, sour cream and cream cheese.  To cut some calories, go for the reduced fat versions and serve the dips with veggies instead of bread and crackers. Enjoy!

Bloody Mary Dip

- 3 cups cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup V8 juice
- 1/3 cup tomato puree
-1 large green bell pepper, finely minced
-1/2 cup finely minced onion
-1/3 cup finely minced celery
-1/3 cup mayonnaise
-Horseradish, lemon juice, Tabasco Sauce

Mix all ingredients together in a food processor. Add horseradish, lemon juice, Tabasco Sauce and salt and pepper to taste.

Hot Artichoke & Roasted Red Pepper Asiago Dip

-1 8-ounce package  cream cheese, softened
-4 ounces  Asiago or Parmesan cheese, finely shredded (1 cup)
-2 cloves  garlic
-1 13- to 14-ounce can  artichoke hearts, drained
-1 cup  bottled roasted red sweet peppers, drained
-1 cup  sliced fresh mushrooms
-1/2 cup  sliced green onions

1. In a food processor bowl, combine cream cheese, Asiago cheese, and garlic. Cover and process until mixture is well combined. Add drained artichoke hearts, drained sweet red peppers, mushrooms, and green onions. Cover and process with on/off turns until finely chopped.

2. Transfer mixture to an 8-inch quiche dish or 9-inch pie plate, spreading evenly. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes or until heated through. Or, micro cook, uncovered, on 70 percent power (medium-high) for 6 to 8 minutes or until heated through, stirring the dip and turning the dish halfway through cooking time. Serve warm with thinly sliced French bread or pita wedges. Garnish with additional red pepper and parsley, if you like. Makes about 3-3/4 cups

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Spicy Cilantro Pesto Dip

• -1.5 cups cilantro, large stems removed
• -1/2 cup roasted almonds
• -1/4 cup chopped onion
• -1 dried red pepper (or 1/4-1/2 teas red pepper flakes) – Another option  that would be lovely would be jalapeno.
• -1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• -1/4+ c parmesan cheese
• -1/2 teas garlic
• -dash black pepper
• -dash lemon juice
• -1/4-1/2  cup olive oil

In your food processor, combine all ingredients up to the garlic.  Process, until finely chopped.  Drizzle in 1/4 cup of olive oil, slowly while processing.  Add the next set of ingredients, one at a time, tasting as you go.  Drizzle in additional olive oil until you reach a smooth consistency.  Recipe from foodwhirl.com

*Happy Game Day*

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment

by Alexis Novak

I blame my Catholic school upbringing for my love of cursing.

I once gave my dad a lecture on the grammatical flexibility and superiority of the f-word- noun, verb, adjective…it’s just that versatile, and if used sparingly, is the curse word with the most bite. I love that damn word! As parents, if we say it now it is with scrunched up noses through gritted teeth, softly. But to really do it justice you have to shout it. I love the way it fills up your mouth with pissed-off-ness and shoots out like a bullet. It’s offensive and delicious. Today I use it to punctuate a point I am making, usually in an argument, usually when I am right. You know, a lot.

The problem is now I have a living tape recorder who follows me around all day and said last week, “Cold water sucks” and then laughed. I cringed.

In my former life words like “sucks” were fairly innocuous. These were safe substitutes when real cursing wasn’t appropriate. Like when I was a nanny, preschool teacher, high school teacher and my brief stint in the convent.  Then I had these precious beasties I call my daughters and I had to edit fast.  A young cursing mom is as attractive as a smoking one; neither of which I aimed to be. In my house, the vocabulary evolution went something like this:  shit; crap; crud; Christ. Kidding.  It really went like this: fuck; freak; fart; ffffff. See, I still need a good sub. Saying the sound isn’t nearly as satisfying. Ditto with spelling it out; no pleasure in that whatsoever.

Censuring is harder in some mom situations than others. For example, I am sweet like Mary Poppins but as soon as I turn the key in my ignition I become a mean-ass potty-mouth. Motherhood has brought out the warrior in me and I believe bad drivers are trying to murder my family. So please get the word out to senile Florida drivers- if it comes down to you and me, I will cut a bitch. (But quietly so as not to frighten my kids in the backseat.) I once almost fought a 60 year old man driving a lime green VW convertible because he cut me off at a roundabout and then flicked me off. Sure, my wrath was fueled by some postpartum weirdness but I think I could have taken him. Instead of screaming the f word at him which would have been my go-to road rage slur, I thought it much more intimidating to throw up gang signs. Showed him.

I also find that the kitchen is a room where curse words like shit can surprise you, especially when you are clumsy. I am always burning myself, ruining the measurement of an ingredient or spilling salt in my homemade salsa when I meant to do a pinch. Without thinking about it, the phrase “oh shit” sneaks up and then I scan the ground quickly to make sure my toddler isn’t right there to hear it. Thankfully, toddlers never stop moving so she rarely is.

Thank God, I mean Thank Goodness, there are times when I can let the fucks fly. When I have date night with my hot mama friends and the margaritas are flowing, I try to drop f-bombs constantly, hitting my quota for the week so that I can go home all clean and pristine and ready to mother.  Until more adult time, I will stick to “toots”, “tushie” and “Oh My Gosh”…all the g-rated substitutes that I can stomach. Cursing for me will have to go the way of many other guilty pleasures- wait ‘til the kids are out of house in about 20 years and then start talking like a truck driver again. WTF.

Written by Alexis Novak • Leave a comment

Name: Heather Moffett

Kids: 2 Sons – Wyatt (8) & Trey (3)

Occupation: Horse Racing Television Host & Producer

Hometown: Harrington, Delaware

H&H Interview with Heather:

1. What are the top 3 items in your grocery cart?

1) Bananas

2) Orange Juice

3) Laundry Detergent

2. What are you reading (honestly)?

* Goodnight Moon (What parent isn’t obligated to read this 10 times a night to their toddler?)

* The Murad Method – I am a dedicated user of Dr. Murad’s skin products.

3. What is your guilty pleasure when you get a break from the kids?

I absolutely love New Kids On The Block! Since they got back together a couple years ago, I have gone to several concerts and even went on a New Kids On The Block cruise. I have my picture with all of them except Joey. I’m still working on that!

4. What would we be surprised to find in your purse?

No Credit Cards – I cut them up!

5. What is your favorite reality TV show?

The Jersey Shore!!!

6. What is your cocktail of choice?

Mike’s Hard Lemonade

7. What is the funniest thing your kids have said or done lately?

My oldest son Wyatt is really into the Presidents of the United States right now. He can tell you EVERY President. It’s quite amazing. He dressed up like Abraham Lincoln recently for a school project and shook everyone’s hand as they walked by just like a politician!

8. What is your favorite quotation?

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Ghandi

9. What are you currently working out to on your iPod?

Kesha – I love her lyrics… “Wake up in the mornin’ feelin’ like P-Diddy!!!”

10. Who is your favorite celebrity mom and why?

Kelly Ripa. I find her refreshing, funny and very down-to-earth.

11. What is something most people don’t know about you?

I am a Hello Kitty fanatic. I have been collecting Hello Kitty since I was 9 years old.

Also, I had a secret desire to be in a pageant and, finally, this year at the age of 38, I competed in my first ever pageant for Mrs. Delaware United States and had a blast!

12. What is your secret to staying Hot & Healthy?

1) Drink LOTS of Water!

2) Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

3) Take supplements!

4) Marry someone 10 years your junior!

5) Pray!

6) Own the emotion of being happy!

Written by Lea Barlow • 3 Comments

Now this is the way to start a weekend.  Contrary to popular belief, absinthe is no longer illegal in the states and is actually available in most liquor stores.  Personally, I think this is because they removed all of the more ‘fun’ properties the spirit had to offer.  Green fairies ring a bell?  The absinthe-and-champagne concoction is credited to Ernest Hemingway and named after his 1932 treatise on bullfighting, Death in the Afternoon. The book is ‘all about dichotomies: fear and courage, life and death. And the fiery anise taste of the absinthe—like hot licorice—pierced by the effervescence of chilled champagne is another testament to the allure of duality‘.  Kind of deep for me.  The only duality I’ll be experiencing is the before and after effects of this potent drink.  Please note that I will be dropping the kids off at their grandparents before imbibing.  Cheers!

Written by Lea Barlow • 2 Comments