BLT Dip

My daughter moved back from California a few months ago. Ever since she got back she has been wanting to make this dip for me. She seriously went on and on about it. Every time I went to the store she would ask me if I would pick up the ingredients for her to make it.But since she lives about 20 minutes away and doesn't drive yet, I told her I wasn't going to buy the ingredients until I knew for sure she would be here to make it. Also I didn't want her to make it late in the evening because we would have dinner to eat. WOW I so sound like a Mom right now don't I?

Well with the issues I have been having with my eye, and my inability to drive, her brother stepped up to chauffeur Mom around so she could run her errands and my daughter tagged along  to keep us company. One of the places I needed to go was the grocery store so there was her opportunity. Middle of the day, Mom's buying groceries, she was a happy camper. She knew what she needed off the top of her head, so grabbed everything and away we went. 

Once we got home she took over my kitchen, shooing me away anytime I came near. I had flashback to her sitting on the floor at 3 years old trying to tie her shoes. After some frustrated grunts I would ask her if she needed help and she would sternly tell me, "I do it myself Mommy" so cute, but I needed to plan on leaving at least 30 minutes before we needed to so she had her time to "do it herself"!

Creamy Pesto Shrimp Rolls

I love shrimp. Heck, I love seafood period! So when I saw shrimp on sale at the store I grabbed a couple bags and set my mind to plan a couple nice "Summer" type dishes. Should I grill them? Should I make a salad (which I will be doing so keep an eye out for that post!)? Oh, I have it, Kevin loves sandwiches so lets do that. I wasn't sure how he would feel about the shrimp OR the pesto. He has been kind of iffy on pesto but come around much more since I started making my own.

He kind of hung over my shoulder while I was making them, and I was wondering if I was going to get any complaints, but he is used to me subbing Greek yogurt for everything now and as soon as he saw my homemade pesto he actually seemed excited. Who knew?

I have to say that I am in love with these sandwiches! They are creamy, crunchy, and sweet. Now I am hooked and craving all kinds of seafood! I am sad that Kevin isn't working where he was last year because some of the customers used to bring him fresh crab they had just caught. That was what I made my Crab Salad Sammies, and Crab Stuffed Mushrooms with. I guess I will just have to throw a crab pot out there and see what happens right?

Spicy Chili Mac and Cheese

Yes my friends, yet another Mac and Cheese recipe for you. I swear I should start a section of my blog just for Mac and Cheese. I can't help it though, it is one of my favorite comfort foods so if I can find new ways to enjoy it you can bet I will do it!

I refuse to take all of the blame for this one though. One of the dishes I used to make for my kids when they were growing up was a chili mac and cheese and they loved it. They would actually request it for their "special" birthday meal! Now, remember, I didn't really cook back in those days. I mean I cooked, but I didn't "cook". I lived out of cans and boxes. So their "special" meal boiled down to a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese mixed with a can of Hormel chili. They loved it, it was easy, nuff said!

Once I started down this road of trying to make our favorite dishes a bit more healthy this was probably the one they complained about the most. I have said in the past that Rachael Ray was one of my inspirations when I began cooking. She didn't intimidate me and she made meals that you didn't have to be a trained chef to prepare. My first blog was called Bobbi Renee and Rachael Ray (ala Julie and Julia) but I was afraid of copyright issues so I closed that one and began Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen. Anyway, whenever I would tell the kids I was making this dish they would beg me not to "Rachael Ray" it, which was code for changing it up. 

Manic Monday Party #33

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Did you celebrate Cinco de Mayo? You know I love any excuse to have Mexican food!! 

We had a wonderful party last week, our biggest ever! Cram packed with tons and tons of wonderful offerings!! Here are the features.....

KFC Mashed Potato Bowl from Comfy Cuisine

BLT Burger Salad from Hungry Little Girl

Chipotle Lime Chicken from Who Needs a Cape

Cinco de Mayo Round Up from Modern Christian Homemaker

Great stuff!!! Now let's get to partyin'!! I am so excited to see what you bring!

Please make sure to read the party guidelines:

If you would like to be featured in next weeks party, or would like your posts shared on Facebook, Twitter, and Pintrest the instructions below MUST be followed.

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Leave up to 3 of your favorite posts

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Chicken Enchiladas with Avocado Cream Sauce for Cinco de Mayo #SundaySupper

Oh happy day!! It is Cinco de Mayo woohooooo. For those of you that just recently started reading my blog I will fill you in here. I am a Mexican food addict! I mean seriously, it is bad, I need a 12 step program or something. The thing, well thingsss that make it worse are 1) my boyfriend does not like Mexican food! Yes I know, I have wondered what is wrong with him for a long time now. 2) There are probably 5 Mexican restaurants in my tiny little town. Why does that make it worse? Because none of them have reallllly good food. I mean it is good enough when I am really jonesing for a Mexican fix. But for the most part it is more of a tease, giving me just a bit of what I want but not going all the way. 

Oh, back to the woohooo it is Cinco de Mayo thing. I grew up in Southern California, the land of fantastic Mexican food, aaahhhhh the good ol' days, where there was a Mexican restaurant on just about every corner and they were all, for the most part, good!! Cinco de Mayo there was one big HUGE party. The food, the margaritas, more margaritas, mmmmmmmm. 

Now I usually just make my own Mexican food and those days are few and far between now that the kids have moved out. They all loved Mexican food too, so when it came down to a vote I was always on the winning side and Kevin had to suffer through. Now with it just being the two of us I am only able to sneak it in once in a while. If I try to make it more than once a week I get the "look", sheesh you would think I was trying to poison him or something. Anyway, when I found out #SundaySupper was doing a Cinco de Mayo theme I was sooooo happy. I would have made an entire feast if I thought I could have gotten away with it!  

One of my kids' favorite dishes is my Chicken Enchiladas with Chili Verde Sauce. Super simple and very tasty. It is one of the first recipes I came up with when we moved here. I decided I wanted to use that recipe as a jumping off point. I love avocados in any way shape or form. I will just cut one open and eat it with a bit of salt for lunch. Throw some chicken salad in it, you name it.....yum!! So I wanted to do something that used avocado instead of just as guacamole. This is what I came up with. Creamy, a little spicy, and sooooo good! Pair it with my Fresh Homemade Pico de Gallo and it is the perfect Cinco Mayo (or any other day) meal!