Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Recipe for The Big Game! #GameDayGrub

With The Big Game quickly approaching, it is time to start thinking about what is going to be on your table! As a huge foodie, I am always thinking about food and what to bring to my friends party of the Big Game! 

I decided to make my famous Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip! I headed off to my local Smart & Final to pick up my ingredients! I love that Smart & Final always has exactly what I need! Where else can you find warehouse prices and market freshness? Plus, they are running an amazing contest to go along with the Big Game! 

Smart & Final is giving one lucky fan groceries for a year by simply guessing the correct Final Score in the Big Game on February 5th! 

To enter this awesome contest, click the link below:
Smart & Final 2nd Annual Final Score Sweepstakes

And that's not all! Smart & Final will also be hosting a Twitter Chat the day of the Big Game on February 5th from 12pm PST to 1PM PST. There will be a $150 Smartcash card given to a random winner who joins us and uses the hashtag #GameDayGrub during the Twitter Chat!

But while you are waiting for the Big Game let's go shopping for the ingredients for the chocolate chip cookie dough dip!

Now it's time to head home and make the chocolate chip cookie dough dip! 

Ingredients

• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese 
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup toffee bits

Instructions

1. Cream together cream cheese and butter.
2. Add all remaining ingredients and mix until well-combined.
3. Serve with graham crackers or apple wedges.

Notes

Do NOT use reduced fat cream cheese as it may cause your dip to have the wrong consistency. 

The final product! Doesn't it look delicious? Now you can use apple slices, graham crackers or even cookies to dip into this chocolate chip cookie dough! 

Thank you to Smart & Final for inspiring me and sponsoring me to make this recipe! Enjoy the Big Game out there everybody!

To learn more about Smart & Final and their First Street products, visit and LIKE their Facebook page:

Smart & Final

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Smart & Final*

The Best Homemade Meatballs Recipe!

What you'll need

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry
• 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons dried Italian herb seasoning
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup fine or panko bread crumbs

How to make it

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat 2 large, rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients until well incorporated. Try not to overmix.
3. Pinch off a teaspoon or so of the meat mixture and gently roll it into a 1-inch ball. Repeat, arranging the balls 1/2 inch apart on the baking sheets. Bake the meatballs until lightly browned and cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes.
   
   Eat 'em right away: Toss warm meatballs with your favorite barbecue sauce and serve them on toasted sandwich rolls with a side of coleslaw.
   
   Freeze 'em for later: Arrange cooled meatballs evenly spaced on a baking sheet and freeze them for 20 minutes. Transfer them to ziplock freezer bags and store them for up to three months.
4. Source: http://spoonful.com/recipes/best-homemade-meatballs

Taco Cups Recipe!

What you'll need

• 1 can refried beans
• 1/2 pound cooked taco-seasoned meat
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1 cup salsa
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup sliced black olives
• 1 bag Tostitos® "Scoops!"

Notes:

Makes 8-12 cups

How to make it

1. Set chips on a large platter and layer with beans, meat, cheddar, salsa, sour cream and black olives
2. Source: http://spoonful.com/recipes/taco-cups

Bacon and Cheese Appetizer Bites Recipe!

What you'll need

• Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 cup Hungry Jack® Buttermilk Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix
• 1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Paprika

How to make it

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray cookie sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
2. Mix sour cream and water in medium bowl until well combined. Add pancake mix, cheese and bacon pieces. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheet.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush with melted butter; sprinkle with paprika. Serve warm.
4. Source: http://spoonful.com/recipes/bacon-and-cheese-appetizer-bites

Mac and Cheese Bites Recipe!

What you'll need

• 1/2 pound (2 cups) elbow macaroni
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 ounces cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 egg, beaten

Notes:

makes 48

Variations:

Try adding cooked and chopped bacon, shredded chicken, or vegetables during step 4 for a different twist!

How to make it

1. Preheat oven to 400°F and arrange the oven racks in the upper and bottom thirds. Grease two mini muffin tins with butter or cooking spray.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions. Set aside until needed.
3. In a sauce pot over medium heat, combine butter and flour. Whisk until butter is melted and mixture is smooth, about 1 minute. While whisking, slowly add milk and bring to a simmer. Add 1 1/2 cup of cheese, cream cheese, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook until smooth and creamy. Remove from heat.
4. In a large bowl, stir to combine pasta, cheese sauce, and egg. Spoon mac and cheese into muffin tins and top each with a small pinch of remaining cheese. Place one tin on the upper rack and one on the bottom. Bake for 15 minutes, switching the positions of the tins once during baking. Remove tins and allow to cool 5 minutes before gently removing the bites. Serve.
5. Source: http://spoonful.com/recipes/mac-and-cheese-bites

Buffalo Chicken Tortilla Bites Recipe!

What you'll need

• 1/3 cup hot sauce
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup rotisserie chicken, shredded
• 6 flour tortillas
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• pinch salt and pepper
• 1 celery stalk, sliced

How to make it

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare a mini muffin tin by spraying it with cooking oil spray.
2. 
   In a sauce pan over medium heat, combine hot sauce, butter, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Cook until the butter is melted and ingredients are blended. 
3. 
   In a large bowl, stir to combine chicken and buffalo sauce.
4. 
   Using a 2 1/2" round cookie cutter, cut out  24 tortilla rounds. 
5. 
   Place the rounds in the prepared muffin tin and fill each cup with the buffalo chicken mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese on top of each tortilla cup. Place in the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the tortilla cups are crisp.
6. 
   To make the blue cheese dressing, combine blue cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a bowl. Remove the buffalo chicken bites from the pan and place on a serving plate. Top each buffalo chicken tortilla bite with a dollop of blue cheese dressing and a piece of celery or serve the dressing and celery on the side.

Pizza Pinwheels Recipe!

What you'll need

• Flour for dusting dough
• 1 pizza dough
• 1/2 cup marinara sauce, plus more for serving
• 1 cup fontina or mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup cooked ground sausage or hamburger
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Notes:

makes 12

How to make it

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Prepare a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper for even baking and easy cleanup.
2. 
   Dust a work surface with flour. Place room temperature dough on the flour and flip it to coat both sides. Roll the dough into a 13" wide circle or rectangle.
3. 
   Spoon sauce evenly over the entire pizza dough. Top with cheese, cooked sausage, and oregano.
4. 
   Using your hands, roll the dough starting from the bottom and working up forming a roll. With a serrated knife, slice the dough into 1" sections. Place each section on the baking sheet. Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until firm and lightly golden. Allow to cool slightly before serving and serve with additional marinara or ranch dressing for dipping.