Food

Most of my readers know… I LOVE a good pasta salad. If you were to ask me, “What is one of the best summer dishes to share with friends and family?” My go-to is this Easy Pasta Salad Recipe. It never disappoints and you will find it really easy to put your own spin on it.

My mom used to make the best pasta salads when I was a kid and I remember how I would keep going in the fridge to see if it was chilled and ready to eat. It’s just one of my favorite things!

Pasta Salad is good when you’re having lunch by the pool or at a picnic. Take one to your best friends BBQ or just put one in the fridge when you are looking for a healthy, light alternative for lunch. A great pasta salad will transcend your surroundings.

One thing that really sets off a pasta salad is fresh ingredients and right now I am all about the seasonal bell peppers that are Fresh From Florida.

I’ve lived in South Florida for almost 15 years and one of the many things that I love about it is the fresh produce. The bell peppers are particularly vibrant this year and taste incredible!

I’ve decided to use them in one of my favorite recipes… Easy Pasta Salad.

Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

• 14.5oz package of Tri-Color Rotini Pasta
• 2 Fresh From Florida Bell Peppers
• 1 bottle of Italian Dressing
• 1 10oz jar of Quartered Artichokes (Drained)
• 1 8oz container of Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1 can of pitted Kalamata olives

Instructions:

1. Boil pasta for 10 minutes, drain and put into large bowl.
2. Add Fresh From Florida Bell Peppers, Artichokes and Kalamata olives.
3. Stir in 3/4 cup of Italian dressing.
4. 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
5. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours.
6. Serve!

If you like this recipe, click here to check out all of the great pepper recipes from Fresh From Florida.

How about some dessert, but not just any dessert… One of the best St. Paddy’s Day desserts of all time! How about some Guinness cupcakes with Bailey’s frosting?

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, I’ve decided to pull out a holiday favorite of mine. Crack a Guinness, pour a shot of Bailey’s, because…

We’re gonna make cupcakes baby!!!

But not just any cupcake, we’ve got a cupcake of epic proportion. These cupcakes are going to have beer and liquor in them. They are one of the most perfect desserts in the world.

Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey’s Frosting Recipe

Guinness Cupcake Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
•  1 cup sugar
•  1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 6 oz Guinness
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/2 tbsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup sour cream

Bailey’s Frosting Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Butter
• 2 cup Powdered Sugar
• 2 tbsp Bailey’s Irish Cream

How to Make Guinness Cupcakes:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Whisk together cocoa, sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt.

3. In another bowl, combine the Guinness, melted butter and vanilla.

4. Beat in eggs and sour cream until combined and smooth.

5. Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet mixture.

6. Line muffin pan with paper liners.

7. Fill each about 3/4 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.

8. Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

How to Make Bailey’s Frosting:

1. Cream butter until fluffy.
2. Slowly add powdered sugar.
3. Add Bailey’s until the right consistency is achieved.
4. Transfer to piping bag and frost cupcakes.
5. Dust with a little cocoa powder if desired.

More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes:

• Oreo Mint Cookie Bars
• Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies
• Guinness Bread
• Grasshopper Mint Chocolate Bark
• Guinness Beef Stew
• Mint Chocolate Chip Fudge

Breakfast Pigs in a Blanket are a fun twist on the classic Pigs in a Blanket. Made with crescent rolls, link sausage and cheese, they’re easy & delicious.

The school year is in full effect at my house. We’ve had tests, we’ve had meetings, extracurricular activities have started and I’m getting up WAY too early in the morning. I don’t want to just throw any old thing together for my son’s breakfast. Even though I’m still waking up myself, I try to make him good food to get her day started off right.

This is one of those insanely easy recipes that are easy for me to make and she still thinks that I’m a culinary wizard… Breakfast Pigs in a Blanket.

Pigs in a Blanket Breakfast

One of the problems I first had when I came up with the idea, was trying to find sausage that I didn’t have to pre-cook. Johnsonville must have read my mind! They recently came out with Johnsonville Fully Cooked Breakfast Sausages and breakfast has never been tastier or easier.

They’re perfect for all of you breakfast recipes and ready in just 30 seconds. They have all the amazing, big, bold flavors of Johnsonville without all the muss and fuss.

My family loves breakfast sausage, but on a school day where you wake up at 6:30 in the morning and hit the ground running, cooking sausage doesn’t always fit into the window of time that we have each morning. 

The most important question is, “Do they still taste like breakfast sausages that were just fried up?” Oh yeah! They have a great, fresh flavor that got a big thumbs up from my entire family.

Breakfast Pigs in a Blanket Recipe

Other recipes you might enjoy:

• Breakfast Pizza Recipe

This summer, my family and I have been doing a lot of experimenting with new dishes. Especially ones that get us excited, not only about cooking, but also something that’s shareable with our friends because we love having people over. The newest creation is… The Best Chicken Enchilada Dip.

I LOVE Chicken Enchiladas and I’m crazy about dips. So creating the recipe for The Best Chicken Enchilada Dip seemed like a natural culinary partnership. It’s creamy, flavorful and is perfect whether you’re looking for a great snack to make for the family or as a centerpiece for your next Summer celebration or get-together!

[mv_create key=”4″ thumbnail=”https://www.rickontherocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cinco4.jpg” title=”Chicken Enchilada Dip” type=”recipe”]

If you’re looking for a beer to pair with it… Tortilla Chips and the red enchilada sauce really set off the flavor of the Mexican Pilsner. 

It’s easy, crazy flavorful and will quickly become a favorite in your house! We’ve already got people asking for the recipe… It’s a good thing!

What are some of your favorite dip recipes?!

I’ve been waiting for the return of football for what seems like forever. It’s my favorite time of year, and I love coming up with recipes that are perfect for game day. I am about to share with you one of the best dips EVER! The Best Bacon Cheeseburger Dip Recipe! Who doesn’t like bacon, burgers, and football?!

I have been crazy for dips for as long as I can remember. It all started with a homemade French onion dip that my mom used to make on special occasions.

As soon as I heard that we were going to a cookout or a holiday party, I would get excited. I knew that mom was going to make her famous dip! 

It was a secret family recipe, and I used to sit in the kitchen and watch her make it, paying attention to every ingredient and detail. She would let me be the taste tester… until I started eating it by the spoonful. She always answered all of my food questions and made me a Curious Cook. 

To me, party dips are the perfect food. Once I realized that I had a knack for cooking, I’ve been coming up with dip recipes ever since. I make this Bacon Cheeseburger Dip Recipe all year long. It’s perfect for game day, sporting events, holidays and friendly get-togethers.

The Best Bacon Cheeseburger Dip Recipe

More Dip Recipes

• Nieman Marcus Dip
• Sausage and Cheese Dip
• Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Bacon Cheeseburger Dip
• Cowboy Queso
• Reuben Dip
• Fritos Bean Dip Recipe
• Franks Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip