Two Easy Superbowl Recipes

Let's be honest - If the Bears aren't playing (or even if they are), the Superbowl is a really good excuse to binge eat and a drink on a Sunday with your friends in your fat pants...which pretty much sounds like the best day ever. There's a lot of dips, a slew of wings, endless crock pots set on high, and oh yes, some football playing on the side. 

We have always loved cooking up a storm to coincide with the can't miss commercials and halftime show and this year, we took care of both brunch and afternoon snacks because this is a marathon, not a sprint, ladies. We were excited to work with SPAM® on these recipes, because it's a super easy way to add some protein in your snacks...they have a few different flavors now and we were very happy to see the low-sodium option, which can make you feel a tiny bit better considering all of the calories that will be consumed on Sunday :)

Saucy Meatball Sliders

Is there anybody who doesn't like meatball appetizers? I feel like they are universally enjoyed and one of the first things to go at a potluck. Plus, these are a guy's dream...ham, bacon AND pork? It doesn't get more dude than that. These were a big hit with my Fam...the brown sugar and mustard  makes the sauce a perfect blend of sweet and savory. These are game day gold! 

Ingredients:

• 1 12-ounce can SPAM® Classic
• 6 slices uncooked bacon
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt

Sauce:

• 2 cups ketchup
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• Bread: I used Hawaiian rolls

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Put the SPAM®, bacon and pork in a food processor and pulse briefly to chop fine. Do not puree.
• Place the mixture in a large bowl with the remaining meatball ingredients and mix well to combine. Using your hands, shape mixture into balls, 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Arrange in a casserole pan.
• Combine the sauce ingredients in a small pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour over meatballs.
• Bake for 15 minutes, baste meatballs and turn them in the pan. Continue baking another 15 minutes or until internal temperature is 165 degrees F. Baste occasionally with sauce. Serve on rolls, adding pan sauces on top.

Ham & Spinach Mini Quiches

How perfect would these be if you have people coming over early in the day? These breakfast quiches are great because you can make them ahead of time and just heat them up when you're ready...plus, do you not love the idea of a mimosa bar on game day (or ANY day?) You can offer a few different alcohol and juice options so people can customize their drinks. I just love brunch and maximize any opportunity to include it in my meal plan!

Ingredients:

• 8 large eggs, lightly beaten
• Half a package of low sodium spam, cut into small squares 
• Half a 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 3 12-ounce cans refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease muffin pans.
• In large bowl, combine SPAM®, eggs, spinach, onion, milk, cheeses, nutmeg and pepper; mix well.
• Place biscuits in muffin cups, pressing gently to fit. Spoon SPAM® filling into each cup.
• Bake quiches 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown and egg mixture is set. Serve warm. ADD MIMOSAS ;)

What are you cooking up for the big game? We're looking forward to seeing the commercials and Lady GaGa! 

This post was created in partnership with SPAM. While SPAM provided us with material and resources to complete these recipes, all statements and sentiment on sistersmarie.com are our own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! 

Finger Lickin' Ribs (No Prep Required!)

"Okay, that was delicious, right? And I didn't even have to do anything"...

First words out of my mouth after my husband and I finished licking our lips to savor the last of our rib dinner. No prep, no hassle (and no sauce -- just a seasoning that's to die for). We are big BBQ fans in this house and everything from the rub to the smoke made these taste 100% authentic...you can definitely tell these guys have mastered their craft.

But even better than the taste is the ease of cooking...Heat the oven, cover a baking pan with foil and bake for 35 minutes. In other words, have these ready to go by the time your husband arrives home (or guests in the case of a party) and feel free to take credit for marinating and slaving over a hot stove all day. Whoever said there's no shortcuts in life has never tried this beautiful hunk of meat ;)

Oh and these sweet potatoes are my favorite side-dish...easy AND healthy (just add a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar!)

P.S. Can we please talk about these blooms? I spotted them at the Green City Market and couldn't take my eyes off them...not only is the color extraordinary but I've never seen the shape or texture before. They are the perfect weeknight centerpiece!

What is your favorite put together & go meal? 

Blackhawks & BBQ

Let’s be honest, weekdays at  the office have a tendency to drag on for what feels like weeks so I love having things to look forward to in the evenings. Lately, that’s been making a fun dinner and watching the Hawks try for another Stanley with (both) of my boys. Planning evening events keeps me motivated at work and in a good mood because I know I am going to home to something happy. With that said, you just can’t help but be exhausted by 5:00 some days and THOSE are the nights I turn to pre-made meals that can be thrown together in minutes.

This combination is my new weeknight favorite…the pulled pork & loaded mashed potato combination was amazing, especially since my husband and I have a fridge full of different BBQ sauces (#awesomesauce?) so we were able to add our own flavor to a meal that otherwise, pretty much made itself. I went to work, went to spinning (my new favorite…I know, I’m late to the party) and pulled this dinner together in 5 minutes, just in time for the game…which by the way they lost, but that’s another story for another beer. 

We simply toasted some bread and made pulled pork sandwiches complete with our favorite IPA’s. This is the new Monday funday... :) 

What are your go-to meals for quick weeknight dinners? 

P.S. Today is a very special birthday in our lives...our Dad (Lisa's Dad-in-law) so we are all getting together tonight for a (hopeful) Blackhawks WIN! 

Happy Birthday to the best Dad there is!

A Touch of Irish

One of our favorite traditions is our annual family St. Patricks Day get together. With surnames like Fergus and McSweeney, it's no surprise that we look forward to wearing our green and gold ;) 

Our fam always put on a great spread filled with what have become staples on this day: Corn beef sandwiches, shoestring potato chips, potato salad, macaroni salad, Green River, Harps lager and a whole slew of themed desserts. It may not be the most traditional Irish meal but it's definitely inspired by the holiday and has something for everyone.

This year, I whipped up a few desserts to share (shocking, I know. One of these days I will actually cook something to bring). All I knew was, I wanted to base a dessert around this: 

Enter Salted Caramel Peanut Butter...

These guys keep rolling out pb flavors with one better than the last and I am sucker for anything that combines salty and sweet. I continued with that theme and went with home made peanut butter pretzels...SO easy, festive & delicious.

(flowers via Bloompop)

Yet, I wasn't satisfied with just 1 recipe using this peanut butter so next, I made healthy peanut butter cups (yes, it's possible!) by following the recipe from Whole Yum.

Using coconut oil, honey and coco power, these are a healthier version of everybody's favorite treat. These may not be green but they sure taste like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow ;)

And last but not least, the next best thing after desserts...photo props.

Happy St. Pats! 

An Appetizer for Awards!

It's always a little disheartening when the last bit of holiday magic dies out until next year but luckily us #fbloggers have another kind of magic right around the corner: Enter award show season. Once that first red carpet is rolled out for the Golden Globes and Giuliana Rancic reminds us all that she hasn't eaten a cheeseburger in months, we can officially start the countdown til the Superbowl of awards and my Mom's annual Oscar party. 

Like most of our family gatherings, this one revolves heavily around great snacks and adventurous cocktails. In the past, we have dined on mini macaroni bites, gourmet cupcakes, edible arrangements and various "let's try to be healthy" options (which don't get much action). 

My mom makes fantastic bacon-wrapped dates that I always look forward to so this year, I tried my hand at them using Hormel's new brown sugar bacon (omg) and stuffed them with feta cheese for a fun surprise. Using this recipe, here's the simple process in photos:

The delicious smell of "beggin" awoke somebody from his nap...he'd help himself, but he doesn't have thumbs ;)

What treats you indulge in during award shows?

Here is another bacon-themed app that I'm dying to try! 

*I am currently a member of the Hormel Foods Extended Blogger Program and this post is part of my involvement in the Group. While Hormel Foods provides me material and necessary resources to complete various activities, all statements and sentiment in Sisters Marie are my own.