Living La Vida Holoka


BBQ Chicken Skillet Dip {SoFabFood Post}

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Hot and cheesy dips are an easy appetizer to make while entertaining at home!  This BBQ Chicken Skillet Dip is made with rotisserie chicken, cream cheese, cheddar, green onions, and barbecue sauce!


Happy Friday! Weekends are made for home entertaining, binge watching TV, and eating comforting, homemade dishes and snacks.  So today on SoFabFood.com I’m sharing a recipe for cheesy, BBQ Chicken Skillet Dip.  It’s an easy appetizer that has all the flavor of BBQ chicken without the mess! 

This skillet dip is loaded with rotisserie chicken (so easy!), barbecue sauce, cheeses, green onion, and a sprinkle of cilantro.  Serve it hot and bubbly with tortilla chips or your favorite dipper!  Your weekend will be off to a great start with this crowd pleasing dip! Head to SoFabFood.com to grab the recipe and dig in! 

Want a couple more hot and cheesy dips to have on hand the next time you’re entertaining?  Check out my Spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip and Easy Cream Cheese Crab Dip!

What’s your favorite skillet dip recipe?

So Fresh and So Green Quinoa Salad

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This post may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Ditch the line at the deli counter and make this simple, colorful, and super flavorful So Fresh and So Green Quinoa Salad at home instead!


Do you ever just really want a salad?

A couple weeks ago, I hit up the deli counter at the supermarket for some salads.  I took home a small container of a baby spinach and feta quinoa salad that totally rocked my taste buds!  It was fresh, healthy, and packed with flavor!  So I snapped a shot of the label and worked off of the ingredient list to try and make my own version.  

My version came pretty close.

This superfood makes a super salad!

 
Over the past year, quinoa has become a pretty big staple in our home. It’s become the base for many side dishes and salads and taken the place of grains like rice.  Not only is quinoa super healthy for you, but it’s a great foundation for building an awesome salad!  This salad starts with rainbow quinoa.  Rainbow quinoa isn’t much different than regular quinoa.  I just like the extra color and nuttiness to it.  If you like regular quinoa, go with it! 

Once the quinoa is cooked and cooled, I mixed in baby spinach, feta cheese, corn, cilantro, green onion, and red bell peppers.  I roasted the bell peppers over the flame on my stove.  If you’re not doing this already, I highly recommend starting. Char the skin, let it cool, then peel it off.  Roasting peppers gives them an amazing flavor!  Finally, this dish gets finished off with a homemade lime and garlic dressing with a slight kick of chili paste!

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So Fresh and So Green Quinoa Salad

So Fresh and So Green Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup rainbow quinoa, cooked according to package
  • 2 red bell peppers, roasted and diced
  • 1 - 8.5 oz can sweet corn, drained
  • Approx. 2 cups baby spinach leaves
  • 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
    • For the dressing:
  • 1/3 cup white vinegar
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1 garlic clove, mashed
  • 1 tbsp. mild chili paste

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix the quinoa, bell peppers, corn, spinach leaves, feta, green onions, and cilantro together.
  2. Add the vinegar, a drizzle of olive oil, lime juice, garlic, and chili paste to a mason jar. Screw on the lid and give the jar a good shake until all of the ingredients are combined.
  3. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix to coat evenly.
  4. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
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I was having trouble finding a name for this recipe. The store simply calls it “Baby Spinach and Feta Quinoa Salad,” but it’s so much more than that! Thankfully, Outkast’s “So Fresh and So Clean” got stuck in my head and inspired the new name for this recipe. This salad is seriously “so fresh and so green!” So there you go!

I can’t describe how good this salad is to you. You just have to trust me on this and make a batch for yourself. It’s packed with flavor and all sorts of ingredients. It’s not too spicy, but if you’re not a fan of spicy foods just cut out the chili paste or drop it (like it’s hot) down to a teaspoon, or even half a teaspoon, and work from there.


This version is so much cheaper than the supermarket’s and probably a tad fresher than the deli case (I mean, let’s not go there, but I’ll just leave you with that).  It’s a colorful feast for your eyes and a super healthy side dish!

What’s your favorite quinoa salad recipe?

 

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If you like this quinoa salad recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries

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This post is sponsored by McCain Potatoes but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Score a touchdown with your game day crowd with these Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries topped with cheddar, pulled pork, green onions, and coleslaw! This dish a definite win for fans of football food!


Here’s the deal – I might not be able to talk football, but I can definitely talk football food!  You’ve got to have some great finger food during the big game whether it’s sandwiches or a spread of frozen appetizers and snacks!  There’s nothing easier than pulling out your slow cooker the morning of the big game, cooking up some hot sandwich fillings, and then baking up frozen snacks for your crowd.  

One of the easiest hot sandwiches you’ll ever make in your slow cooker is pulled pork.  Serve them with a side of fries and boom – dinner’s done!  So I decided to take inspiration from one of the ultimate tailgating sandwiches and make some seriously loaded fries!  I mean, what’s better during game day than a pulled pork sandwich, a side of crispy fries, and a cold beer?  Putting it all together in one dish!


These Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries start with crispy McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries from Walmart.  Bake them in the oven or start them in the air fryer, like I did, for extra crispiness.  Then, load them up with shredded cheddar cheese, BBQ pulled pork, green onions, and a hefty spoonful of coleslaw!  

My tip to you is to make the pulled pork the night before.  We had pulled pork sandwiches for dinner and then I used the leftovers to make these loaded fries the next day!  So easy!  You could also swap McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries  for McCain Seasoned Curly Fries or McCain Extra Crispy Crinkle Fries.  


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Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries

Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. boneless pork loin
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 12 oz. can beer
  • 18 oz. bottle barbecue sauce
  • 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 bag McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese mix
  • 1-2 green onions, sliced
  • 3/4 cup coleslaw
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Optional: splash of Tabasco

Instructions

  1. Place the boneless pork loin in the slow cooker.
  2. Add the garlic powder to the pork loin and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Pour the beer, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire sauce over the pork loin. Add a splash of Tabasco sauce, if desired. Stir well to combine.
  4. Set the slow cooker on low for 8 hours. During the last hour, shred the pork with a fork and continue cooking.
  5. While the pulled pork finishes, cook the McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries according to package (I cooked them at 400º for 12-15 minutes in my air fryer).
  6. Add the fries to a large cast iron skillet. Top with shredded cheddar and pulled pork.
  7. Place the skillet back into the 450º oven for a few minutes, just until the cheese melts.
  8. Top with coleslaw and serve with extra barbecue sauce, if desired.
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The ultimate game day dish!

 
You could make the pulled pork with pork shoulder, but I always use pork loin. It’s a little more tender and I still get the same delicious results! I also recommend saving some of the barbecue sauce you made for the pulled pork to dip the fries into!  It came out really good!

If this isn’t ultimate game day food, than I don’t know what is!  Grab a fork (or just use your fingers) and dive into these Loaded BBQ Pulled Pork Beer Battered Fries!  It’s definitely a snacking win!


Grab everything you need to make this game day dish at Walmart. You can find McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries, McCain Seasoned Curly Fries, and McCain Extra Crispy Crinkle Fries in the freezer section.

We love how McCain Craft Beer Battered Thin Cut Fries stay crispy, even loaded up with pulled pork and toppings!  They’re made with American pale ale, giving them an amazing flavor that’s perfect football food!

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What’s your favorite ultimate loaded fries recipe?

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

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 This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Skip the box of chocolate this Valentine’s Day and bake up a batch of these Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts instead!


It seems like I can’t go grocery shopping without seeing an entire aisle devoted to Valentine’s Day this time of year.  But there’s only one reason I keep venturing down these aisles – my husband.  Every year for Valentine’s Day, I buy him the same small box of chocolates.  It’s become a yearly joke between us. 

My husband loves Blue Nose Pitbulls.  So five years ago, when I stumbled across a box of chocolates with a couple of blue pits on it, I knew I had to get it for him.  He ended up loving it so much that he kept the cover of the box.  

Year after year, I kept seeing the same box of chocolates.  So every year, I’ve bought it for him.  This year, I haven’t seen that box of chocolates yet, but I’m determined to find it!  In the meantime, my permanent Valentine gets to help me test out recipes for Heart Day – you know, just in case that box of chocolates doesn’t show up this year!


These chocolate dipped meringue hearts are better than a box of chocolates!

 
During the holidays, I did a lot of baking! Most of it was semi-homemade from cookie mixes, but I did manage to bake a batch of homemade meringues.  I had misplaced my star tip, so I affectionately called my holiday meringues “snowman poop.”  They were vanilla meringue cookies decorated with a snow inspired sprinkle mix.  The cookies turned out so good that I decided to make them again for Valentine’s Day.  This time, I made them into pink hearts and dipped them into dark chocolate.

I figure these cookies will easily keep me from nosing around those Valentine’s Day aisles for myself, as tempting as they may be.  My sweet tooth will stick to meringue.  After all, a plain meringue cookie is only 10 calories.  It might be a little more dipped in dark chocolate, but it’s so worth it.  Especially when you compare it to the candy hanging out in those seasonal aisles in the store!


These cookies are light, crispy, and have a subtle vanilla flavor. You could definitely swap out the vanilla extract for a strawberry or raspberry extract.  I dipped them in dark chocolate because that’s what I had on hand.  Plus, dark chocolate is basically the healthiest chocolate you can consume.  Despite the sweet temptation of the Valentine’s Day season, I’m still trying to keep my healthy eating habits in check. 

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Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Meringue Hearts

Ingredients

  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
  • Dash of salt
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • Red food coloring
  • 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • Valentine's Day sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Add egg whites to a small bowl and let them come to room temperature, at least 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 250 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. In a bowl of a stand mixer, add the egg whites, vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat with a whisk attachment until the eggs become foamy.
  4. Gradually add the sugar. Once the sugar is incorporated, add a couple drops of red food coloring.
  5. Continue mixing on high until glossy and stiff peaks form.
  6. Add the mixture to a piping bag with a round tip. Pipe heart shapes onto the prepared baking sheets.
  7. Bake the meringue cookies in the oven for 45 minutes. Then, turn off the oven and let the meringues sit in the oven for an hour.
  8. Once the meringues are baked, melt the dark chocolate over low heat, stirring continuously until the chocolate is smooth and melted completely.
  9. Dip half of each cookie into the melted chocolate. Then, sprinkle with Valentine's Day sprinkles.
  10. Let the chocolate set in the fridge (or at room temperature) and enjoy!
  11. Store the cookies in a sealed bag or container in a cool, dry place.
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Have a Galentine’s Day gathering coming up or want a special treat for your Valentine?  Whip up a batch of these cookies!  As long as you make sure that your egg whites come to room temperature before whipping up these meringues, you’ll be good to go! 

Don’t forget to share your meringue hearts by tagging me @lavidaholoka and using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats! 

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If you like this Valentine’s Day recipe, you might enjoy these as well:


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