Oven-Baked because when it comes to chicken wings – they are equally delicious prepared in the oven as they are deep fried. And well….New Years resolutions!

Of Love! It just sums up how we feel about these finger-licking good crispy chicken delights!

If you’ve ever had Bang Bang Shrimp then you know how crazy good this crispy sweet heat combination is! There was a time when I’d crave these shrimp and have to make a trek to the nearest Bone Fish Grill. Now we make them at home without sacrificing flavor!

The wings are tossed in a mixture of panko and cornstarch, then layered on a rack lined baking sheet and baked for an hour at 400 degrees F.

The magic happens when the wings are tossed in the heavenly Quick & Easy 4-Ingredient Bang Bang Sauce. It has just the right balance of tangy sweet heat and comes together quickly.

Oven-Baked Bang Bang Chicken Wings of Love make the perfect crowd-pleasing Game Day treat!

Have you got a favorite flavor pairing? I’m always on the lookout for new chicken wing inspiration. We’re thinking Dill Pickle should be next up!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Oven-Baked Bang Bang Chicken Wings of Love!

Oven-Baked Bang Bang Chicken Wings of Love make the perfect crowd-pleasing Game Day treat!

Course Appetizer

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Oven-Baked Wings

• 1 pound chicken wings flats & drums separated
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (Gluten Free for GF version)

For the Bang Bang Sauce

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
• 1 Tablespoon sriracha hot sauce
• 1 Tablespoon honey

Instructions

For the Oven-Baked Wings

• Preheat the oven to 400° F. Place a rack in a rimmed baking sheet.
• In a large bowl combine cornstarch and panko. Toss wings in mixture then place on rack in a single layer. Bake for 1 hour.

For the Bang Bang Sauce

• In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients. Place baked wings in a large bowl, add sauce and toss to coat.

The post Oven-Baked Bang Bang Chicken Wings of Love! appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

You’ve got a two bite slider roll bursting with Hot Dog Chili, ‘Lil Smokies, and Cheddar Cheese?!!

Tailgate Party Perfection!

I recently made a Tailgate Luncheon for 45 people…..eeek! And it turned out great! The picture below shows the set up! It was grand!

Here’s how we assemble these super easy and crowd pleasing sliders.

• Dinner Rolls – sliced across the top (not all the way through)
• Beef Lit’l Smokies – one per roll
• Hot Dog Chili – a generous spoonful per slider
• Cheddar Cheese – sprinkled on top of chili
• Bake at 350 degrees – for 10 minutes

Whether you’re hosting a birthday party, planning a game day tailgate party, or a college kid looking for an easy (and affordable) way to feed a crowd – these mini chili cheese dogs do the trick!

We’ve rounded up over 50 of our favorite Game Day & Tailgate Party Recipes for you to choose from. What’s your favorite prime time snack? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Chili Cheese Dog Tailgate Sliders

When you're planning a game day menu, you bet these Chili Cheese Dog Tailgate Sliders will be included.

Course Sandwich

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 24 Sliders

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 batch Hot Dog Chili or favorite canned variety
• 2 12-count pkgs dinner rolls
• 1 12 ounce Beef Lit'l Smokies cocktail franks
• 1 8 ounce block cheddar cheese shredded, about 2 cups

Instructions

• Prepare Hot Dog Chili (recipe link in post). Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Lay dinner rolls into (2) 9×13 baking dishes (or one full size foil pan). Cut slits on the tops of each roll being careful not to cut all the way through. Place one Lit'l Smokie in each roll. Top with a generous spoonful of chili. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
• Bake uncovered at 350° F. for 10 minutes or until cheese is fully melted.

The post Chili Cheese Dog Tailgate Sliders appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

We were at an away tennis match, where traditionally the home team provides a spread of food. 

These little bites of ooey-gooey-love got our attention in a hurry.  

I have no idea if we won or lost our match that day. However, there’s no question that leaving with the recipe for Antipasto Squares was a Win!

I have since made these yummy squares many times. Most recently I shared a batch at a neighborhood gathering.  They were a hit!

The smell of warm buttery croissants alone draws you in. 

Combine that with all your favorite Italian meats and cheeses and you’ve got flavor magic. 

The roasted red peppers give them that familiar antipasto flavor which all comes together as they bake. 

There’s no question, these Antipasto Squares are rich.  I found cutting them into 1 1/2″ squares gives you a nice two-bite sample that’s easy to handle and allows you to come back for more with no very little guilt ;)  

These are a fantastic party food served warm or perhaps even better at room temperature.  And if you happen to be throwing a Game Day Party these Antipasto Squares are a fan favorite!

Delizioso!

For my college kids cooking in an apartment…. Make these!! They’re so easy and everyone will love them!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Libby with Lemony Thyme

These Antipasto Squares combine all your favorite Italian meats, cheeses and roasted red peppers in buttery croissant dough! Winning!

Course Appetizer

Servings 30 squares

Author All Recipes

Ingredients

• 2 10 ounce cans refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
• 1/4 pound boiled ham thinly sliced
• 1/4 pound provolone cheese thinly sliced
• 1/4 pound Genoa salami thinly sliced
• 1/4 pound Swiss cheese thinly sliced
• 1/4 pound pepperoni sausage thinly sliced
• 1 12 ounce jar roasted red peppers drained, cut into thin strips
• 3 eggs
• 3 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp. pepper

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Unroll one package of crescent roll dough, and cover the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan. Layer the ham, provolone cheese, salami, Swiss cheese, pepperoni, and red peppers, on top of the dough.
• In a bowl, beat the eggs lightly, and stir in the Parmesan cheese and black pepper. Pour 3/4 of this mixture over the peppers.

  Unroll the second package of dough, and place over the top of the peppers. Brush with the remaining egg mixture. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove foil, and bake another 10 to 20 minutes, or until dough is fluffy and golden brown. Cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

The post Antipasto Squares {Winning} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

These sticky sticks are finger-licking good. The Kung Pao sauce packs a little heat with giant sweet and savory flavors!

The Kung Pao Sauce

This Asian inspired sauce is sweet, savory and slightly spicy. When cooked, the sauce thickens making it the perfect marinade and basting sauce.

The shallot and garlic are sautéed in olive oil, then the remaining ingredients are added. Bring to a boil and allow to cool completely.

• Olive oil
• Shallot & garlic
• Honey
• Soy Sauce (or coconut aminos)
• Rice Wine Vinegar
• Ginger
• Chili Crisp Oil (or sriracha hot sauce)

Instructions

Marinate 4 chicken drumsticks for 1-2 hours in cooled Kung Pao sauce. You can easily double or triple this recipe!

Remove chicken from Kung Pao Sauce and place on a rack set in a foil lined baking sheet. Pour sauce into a small saucepan and bring to a boil.

The Method

Many recipes I reviewed called for frying the chicken legs before baking.  I opted to go for a total baked version, basting along the way with boiled sauce. 

Bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes or until internal temp. registers 175 degrees when stuck with meat thermometer.  They will be crispy, juicy and delicious!

We have one of those great meat fork thermometers.  If you don’t, I recommend the ThermoWorks one.  And I’d get it today and gift it to the house grill master.

Serve the drumsticks topped with crushed peanuts and sliced scallions.  Serve with fingers and napkins. These chicken wings pack so much flavor you’ll want to make them again and again!

Do you have a favorite finger food you’d like for me to recreate here? I’d love for you to share in the comments below.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Kung Pao Chicken Drumsticks

This Asian inspired sauce is sweet, savory and slightly spicy. When cooked, the sauce thickens making it the perfect marinade and basting sauce.

Course Appetizer

Prep Time 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Time to Marinate 2 hours hours

Total Time 3 hours hours

Servings 2

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the sauce…

• 2 Tbl. olive oil
• 1 small shallot minced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 Tbl. grated ginger
• 1 Tbl. rice wine vinegar
• 2 Tbl. soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 1 Tbl. brown sugar
• 1/2 Tbl. sriracha or chili crisp oil

For the chicken…

• 4 chicken drumsticks
• 1/4 cup peanuts
• 1 scallion thinly sliced

Instructions

For the sauce…

• Saute shallot in olive oil until tender, add garlic for 1 minute. Then add remaining ingredients and bring to slow boil then reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Cool completely before adding sauce to chicken for marinating.

For the chicken…

• Marinate drumsticks in Kung Pao sauce for 1-2 hours, reserving some sauce for basting.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place chicken legs on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes or until done to your liking when stuck with meat thermometer. Baste drumsticks 3-4 times during the cooking time.
• Top with crushed peanuts and sliced scallions.

The post Kung Pao Chicken Drumsticks That Are Finger-Licking Good! appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

And run hard!

The fun thing is, this recipe is SOOOO easy!!

Easy enough that even my college kids can handle this recipe. #collegecooking

Back in March I decided to run with a series of meatball recipes called March Meatball Madness. April is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month and I embraced that as well.

When May rolled around I challenged myself to put out a new Chicken Wing recipe each week for 5 consecutive weeks. We ate a lot of wings! And no one was complaining.

I’m not sure how many chicken wing flavor combinations is enough for one blog to bear. But we’re committed to find out!!

Random thought. Remember the Tootsie Roll commercial. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop? I’m feeling that. Except I’m not willing to give in at 3 or 5 or even possibly 10 chicken wing flavors. Let’s hold off and see how many flavors it takes to create the perfect Chicken Wing Recipe Roundup!!

The Honey Garlic Butter Sauce

The key is a 5-Ingredient Honey Garlic Butter Sauce that’s out of this world.

• The sauce starts with butter. Because butter.
• Next comes garlic. Lots of garlic.
• Then of course we add honey.
• Soy sauce (or coconut aminos for a gluten free version) adds a salty influence.
• Finish with sriracha hot sauce!

So simple, yet this sticky sweet buttery sauce elevates baked chicken wings to near perfection. Humbly, I hold back!

The Method

For this recipe, start by tossing your chicken wings in garlic powder, salt & pepper. Lay them on a rack over a foil lined baking sheet. Bake them at 400 degrees F. for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

Don’t be afraid to broil them for a few minutes at the end to achieve crispy perfection.

Pour that luscious sauce over the baked wings then toss to coat!

Recipe Note: Depending on your tossing skills you might want to move outside for this step!

Did I mention that these wings are insanely good? They are a fabulous addition to any game day spread or tailgating party!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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The Best Honey Garlic Chicken Wing Recipe

Honey Garlic Chicken Wings are so simple. The sticky sweet buttery sauce elevates the baked chicken wings to near perfection.

Course Appetizer

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Wings

• 2 pounds chicken wings flats & drumettes separated
• 2 Tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

For the Honey Garlic Butter Sauce

• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 4 cloves garlic fine chopped
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 Tablespoons soy sauce (or coconut aminos for GF version)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sriracha hot sauce

Instructions

For the Wings

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Place a rack over a foil lined baking sheet.
• Combine garlic powder, salt & pepper in a zipper top bag or bowl. Add wings and toss to coat. Arrange wings in a single layer on prepared rack. Bake at 400° F. for 45-50 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Switch oven to broil for last 5 minutes if needed.

For the Honey Garlic Butter Sauce

• In a small saucepan over medium low heat melt butter. Add finely chopped garlic and simmer for a minute. Add honey, soy sauce and sriracha and simmer for 5 minutes until sauce has thickened slightly. Remove from heat and allow to rest.
• Once wings are cooked through and crispy transfer to a large bowl. Pour sauce over wings and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

The post The Best Honey Garlic Chicken Wing Recipe appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Puff Pastry Rocks!

We filled the buttery crisp dough with savory Buffalo Chicken Dip and baked it until it was warm and gooey! Your guests (and your family) will love this quick & easy appetizer!

I made this recipe for our neighborhood Thirsty Thursday gathering and it was a hit! As in, there were merely crumbs left at the end of the evening.

How to Assemble the Stromboli

• Thaw the puff pastry sheets at room temperature for about 40 minutes
• Unwrap and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet
• Generously fill the center third of the dough with cold buffalo chicken dip
• Sprinkle with green onion and crumbled blue cheese

• Using a pairing knife, cut 12 strips into the left and right thirds of the dough
• Alternate folding strips over filling, overlapping as you go
• Trim the last strips if necessary
• Brush with beaten egg
• Bake at 375 degrees F. for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown

The great thing about this Simple Buffalo Chicken Braided Stromboli recipe is everyone loves Buffalo Chicken Dip AND the result looks fancy, but is super easy to assemble.

The flavor pairings for these puff pastry Stromboli’s are endless. We’ve done Sausage, Peppers & Caramelized Onion; Bacon, Egg & Cheese; and Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Simple Buffalo Chicken Braided Stromboli

Course Appetizer

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Time to Thaw Puff Pastry 40 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese softened & cubed
• 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese shredded
• 1 cup ranch dressing
• 1/2 cup Frank's Hot Sauce
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken a rotisserie chicken works well
• 3 scallions thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
• 1 17.3 ounce box frozen puff pastry (2 sheets) thawed
• 1 large egg beaten

Instructions

• Thaw puff pastry at room temperature for 40-45 minutes. Preheat oven to 375° F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

For the Buffalo Chicken Dip

• Meanwhile, prepare buffalo chicken dip. In a medium pan over medium heat, combine cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, ranch dressing and Frank's Hot Sauce. Stir until melted and fulled combined. Remove from heat and fold in shredded chicken. Cool.
• Unfold pastry sheets. Generously fill center third of each sheet with cooled buffalo chicken dip. Sprinkle each with half the sliced scallions and 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese.
• Using a pairing knife, cut 12 strips into the left and right thirds of each pastry sheet, as shown in the images above. Alternate folding strips over filling, creating a 'braid'. Trim last strips if necessary. Brush tops with beaten egg.
• Bake at 375° F. for 35-40 minutes until tops of pastry is golden brown. Allow to cool slightly. Slice and enjoy!

The post Simple Buffalo Chicken Braided Stromboli appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Yes, I referenced the holidays. They will be here in no time and this year we’ll be ready! We’ll have a whole line up of appetizers queue’d up and ready to go!

It just so happens this warm & cheesy dip is also game day worthy!

For this oven baked dip think bacon-wrapped, cheese-stuffed jalapeño popper flavors! Fresh jalapeños, 3 kinds of cheese, bacon-love, and a buttery crisp topping make this dip a fan favorite.

Jalapeño Popper Dip Ingredients

• For the Dip
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
• 4 ounces Monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 5-6 jalapenos, roasted & diced
• 6 slices bacon, cooked crispy & chopped
• For the Topping
• 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• 4 Tablespoons butter, melted

How to Assemble the Dip

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place a rack in a rimmed baking pan lined with aluminum foil
• Arrange bacon slices and jalapenos on rack and bake for 20 minutes (or until bacon is crispy)
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the remaining dip ingredients
• Chop bacon and jalapenos (discard stems and seeds), mix into dip
• Transfer dip to an 8×8 baking dish coated with cooking spray
• In a small bowl, combine Topping ingredients and spread on top of dip
• Bake for 20 minutes
• Garnish with crispy bacon and sliced jalapeno
• Serve with favorite chips or crackers

Recipe Tips

• You can adjust the ‘heat’ on this dip by adding more jalapenos or including the seeds. I used 5 average sized jalapenos (about 4″ long) and discarded the seeds. The result was mild on the heat meter.
• Cooking the bacon in the oven makes for easy cleanup.
• Roasting the jalapenos first mellows them out a bit and adds a nice smoky flavor.

For my college cooking kids, this Easy & Delicious Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe is right up your alley! You can even assemble it the day before and just pop it in the oven before serving.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Easy & Delicious Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe

This Easy & Delicious Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe is perfect for holiday entertaining and a great addition to your game day spread!

Course Appetizer

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Dip

• 6 slices bacon
• 5-6 jalapenos
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 4 ounces cheddar cheese shredded
• 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese shredded
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

For the Topping

• 4 Tablespoons butter melted
• 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs (gluten free for GF version)
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese shredded

To Serve

• garnish with reserved crispy bacon & sliced jalapeno
• serve with favorite chips or crackers

Instructions

For the Dip

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Place a rack in a foil lined rimmed baking sheet. Arrange bacon slices and jalapenos on rack. Bake for 20 minutes or until bacon is crispy.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine remaining Dip ingredients. In a small bowl, combine Topping ingredients.
• Remove bacon and jalapenos from oven. Allow to cool slightly. Dice jalapenos, discarding stem and seeds. Chop bacon, reserving 2 Tablespoons for garnish. Add remaining bacon and diced jalapeno to dip. Transfer mixture to an 8×8 baking dish. Spread topping over dip. Bake for 20 minutes.
• Garnish with sliced jalapeno and crispy bacon. Serve warm from oven with favorite chips or crackers.

The post Easy & Delicious Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Looking for some great Pub Food ideas or game day snacks?! These nacho-style kettle chips are a fan-favorite at our house.

After enjoying these tangy chips at restaurants for years it was time to recreate them at home! They are so delicious and could not be easier to make. Did I mention they’re addicting too?!

Start with a bag of your favorite kettle chips – you know the extra crunchy, super sturdy kind.

We’re big fans of Cape Cod Kettle Cooked Potato Chips!

Spread them on a baking sheet and warm them in the oven for 5 minutes. This will get your chips happy and ready to be loved!

Layer them with this super easy Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing and blue cheese crumbles.

Then sprinkle the mountain of Blue Cheese Chips with crispy bacon, diced tomatoes and green onions! It’s kind of a nachos wedge salad lovefest! You can totally mix up the toppings and even the cheeses.

With football season about to get into full swing, we can’t have enough fun & easy appetizer recipes in our rotation. We served these on Super Bowl Sunday and they were a hit!

Check out our collection of Hot Party Dips for some recipe inspiration!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Blue Cheese Chips with Crispy Bacon for the Win!

Sprinkle the mountain of Blue Cheese Chips with crispy bacon, diced tomatoes and green onions! It's kind of a nachos wedge salad lovefest!

Course Appetizer, Snack

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 8 ounce bag Kettle Chips I used Cape Cod brand
• 4 strips bacon cooked crispy and chopped
• 1 cup blue cheese dressing recipe link in post
• 4 ounces blue cheese crumbles
• 2 scallions thinly sliced
• 2 roma tomatoes diced

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425° F. Spread kettle chips on a baking sheet and warm in oven for 5 minutes. Layer with blue cheese dressing and blue cheese crumbles. Top with chopped crispy bacon, sliced scallion and diced tomatoes.

The post Blue Cheese Chips {with Crispy Bacon} for the Win! appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Last week I shared what would be the first recipe in a new series called College Cooking. My 21 year old bonus-son and his roommates requested some recipe inspiration.

College Cooking Challenge

“Start a recipe series called College Cooking and give us a new recipe each week that we can prepare in our off-campus housing kitchens!

Be sure the ingredients are readily available (and affordable) but help us break free from blue box mac ‘n cheese, frozen pizzas, and fast-food meals.”

When we went down for their initial move-in visit, little did I know that they had planned a cooking challenge for me. A ‘Chopped-like’ College Cooking Competition.

They gave me 5 typical college survival ingredients and asked me to turn them into an Appetizer, Entree and Dessert.

Oh boy!

My College Cooking Challenge Mystery Ingredients

• Instant Mashed Potatoes
• Ramen Noodles
• Frozen Chicken Tenders
• Steak-umms
• Cap’N Crunch

I can honestly say all but ramen noodles were making their debut on Lemony Thyme!

Before I planned my recipes, I was able to ‘shop’ from their pantry and fridge/freezer. No question they have their staple ‘survival’ ingredients, but they also had a nice array of spices and cooking essentials.

We made a run to their local Walmart for the remaining ingredients! That was an adventure in itself. Envision a college town Walmart the day after move-in weekend. Chaos but we nailed it!

The College Cooking Challenge Results

Cooking for these kids was a blast! I found some pretty creative ways to incorporate their go-to staple ingredients. And most importantly they loved the results and ate every last bite!

For the Appetizer Round I made Nashville Hot Chicken & Waffle Sliders, incorporating the frozen chicken tenders.

And I also made these Loaded Baked Potato Tots with Sour Cream & Cheddar Dipping Sauce! They were a huge hit!

Loaded Baked Potato Tots

My challenged included a 4-pack of microwavable instant mashed potatoes. Let me say a couple things about that. Of all the mystery ingredients, this was the one I feared most. All I could envision were thin and flavorless ‘watery’ mashed potatoes.

I now feel a bit foolish! They are nice and thick and taste pretty darn good straight out of the microwave. I can see why these meat & potato loving kids stock their cupboards with them.

*Partly attributed to the sodium count which weighs in at 690 mg. per serving.

So for this recipe, whether you use instant or have leftover homemade mashed potatoes is completely your choice.

Loaded Tots Ingredients

• You’ll begin with 3 cups of mashed potatoes
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup finely chopped crispy cooked bacon
• 2 Tablespoons snipped fresh chives
• Panko or plain breadcrumbs

• Combine all ingredients and mix well
• Using a teaspoon, scoop out mashed potatoes and shape into ‘tots’
• Roll each tot in breadcrumbs
• Place tots on a parchment or foil lined baking sheet
• Bake at 375 deg. F. for 25 minutes
• Serve with Sour Cream & Cheddar Dipping Sauce

You can certainly pan-fry these tots but oven-baked yielded a nice crispy tot with cheesy loaded mashed potato inside! And this dipping sauce is crazy good with cheddar cheese and bacony love.

There was not a tot to be found after the appetizer round!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our Instagram Story Highlights for how the entire College Cooking Challenge went down! More recipes to follow!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Loaded Baked Potato Tots Recipe

You can certainly pan-fry these tots but oven-baked yielded a nice crispy tot with cheesy mashed potato inside!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Ingredients

For the Loaded Baked Potato Tots

• 3 cups mashed potatoes cooled
• 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup crispy cooked bacon finely chopped
• 2 Tablespoons fresh chives snipped
• 1-2 cups dry plain breadcrumbs

For the Sour Cream & Cheddar Dipping Sauce

• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 Tablespoons cheddar cheese shredded
• 2 Tablespoons crispy cooked bacon finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon fresh chives snipped
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt (or garlic powder & salt)

Instructions

For Loaded Baked Potato Tots

• Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
• Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Using a teaspoon, scoop out potato mixture and form into tots. Roll tots in breadcrumbs then place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Serve with Sour Cream & Cheddar Dipping Sauce.

For Sour Cream & Cheddar Dipping Sauce

• Combine all ingredients and chill until ready to serve.

Recipe adapted from Rachel Hollis.

The post Loaded Baked Potato Tots Recipe appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

To which I replied “Sounds amazing! Recipe please.”

So this Fresh Fig & Mascarpone Sweet Potato Pizza is my version of her recipe. She was 100% correct. The combination of fig, mascarpone, and honey is incredible! The sweet potato ‘pizza crust’ is like a match made in heaven!

If you’ve been keeping up with our latest recipes you’ll know I’ve developed a fondness for sweet potatoes.

In particular using sweet potato ’rounds’ in place of otherwise gluten laden ingredients, like hamburger buns, English muffins, and pizza crust!

Simply slice the sweet potato into rounds about 1/4-inch thick. Roast them on a parchment lined baking sheet at 425 degrees F. for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.

Voila!

Recipe Note: this recipe can easily be made using traditional pizza crust. Bake your crust until almost done. Then remove from the oven and proceed with the following steps!

A little schmear of mascarpone on each round, topped with sliced figs.

Give your pizzas a generous drizzle of local honey.

Figs and honey are soul mates you know.

Then it’s back into the oven for 5 minutes where the magic happens.

Lastly, I knew I wanted to incorporate fresh herbs as well. So a final sprinkle of fresh rosemary or lemony thyme will add just a touch of herby love.

This is my second fig recipe in as many days. Check out Prosciutto Wrapped Mascarpone Stuffed Figs of Love!

I hope you’ll give both of these recipes a try. These little Fig & Honey Sweet Potato Pizzas make a wonderful appetizer, but I may serve them as dessert!

Are there recipes that remind you of a favorite vacation that you’d like to see us recreate? I’d love for you to comment below. Your feedback is so important to me (and keeps the recipe love fresh).

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Fig & Mascarpone Sweet Potato Pizza {Gluten Free}

The combination of fig, mascarpone, and honey is incredible! The sweet potato 'pizza crust' is like a match made in heaven!

Course Appetizer, Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 large sweet potato cut into 1/4-inch rounds
• 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
• 2-3 fresh figs sliced
• 2 Tablespoons local honey
• fresh rosemary or lemony thyme minced

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425° F. Slice sweet potato into 1/4-inch thick slices and place on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, flipping half way through cooking time.
• Remove rounds from oven and schmear each with a tablespoon of mascarpone cheese. Top with sliced figs. Return to oven for 5 minutes.
• Remove from oven and drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with minced fresh herbs like rosemary or lemony thyme.

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