Running from the Law: Chips, Dips and Casseroles

Monday, August 19, 2013

Chips, Dips and Casseroles


As a blogger, every now and then I come across opportunities to review products, sample items, attend events, etc.  Most of the time those products aren't really all that interesting to me (and therefore I doubt you would care enough to read a blog post about them), so I try to politely decline, always keeping my eyes open for things that I think you'd all like.  So, when I came across the opportunity to sample some new veggie chips from Green Giant™ (which are amazing, by the way) and come up with some recipes to go with them, I got really excited!  


I got two different flavor samples from Green Giant™ - Garden Ranch Tortilla Chips and Multigrain BBQ Sweet Potato Chips.  Out of the four possible flavors (other two being sea salt and cheddar), they nailed it when it came to my preferences.  (Although can you really go wrong with salt or cheese?)  

When the chips showed up on our doorstep, Ryan and I immediately opened the bags and dug in to try them out.  I wanted to get a sense of what they tasted like so I could figure out what kind of recipe I wanted to use them in.  Ryan was just hungry and wanted food.  Honestly, they were both so good that we were tempted to eat both entire bags right there on the front porch!  I had to take them away and hide them in the top of the pantry so we'd have enough left to use in a recipe.  Yeah, they were that good.  Ryan's still pissed at me.   I was really surprised at how good they were...much better than other veggie chips I've had.  These actually tasted like chips and not stryofoam.  Plus, being veggie chips, they're healthier than regular potato chips.  Win-win.  

(Note to self: next time photograph the bags before you rip into them and devour the contents.)


Also, when you put good snacks within the reach of tiny toddler hands (and dogs), you must be very careful.  Obviously, we weren't the only ones that liked the chips.  (This was just before Sage knocked him over and stole the chips out of his hand. Bad dog!)  




Anyway, I was so excited to play around in the kitchen over the weekend and come up with some new recipes.  It feels like forever since I've posted any recipes on this blog (probably because I suck at cooking these days), so it's about time!  

The first recipes is a Sour Cream & Roasted Red Pepper Dip that I found in a Weight Watcher cookbook (slightly modified).  It's made with light sour cream, home-grown roasted red peppers and garden-fresh herbs.   We paired the dip with the Garden Ranch Tortilla Chips and they were amazing!  The dip was cool, light and really refreshing.  It didn't have a lot of overwhelming flavor, but it wasn't necessary because the chips have so much flavor (they definitely not mild or lacking on "ranch" flavoring).  The chips were very crunchy and tough enough to hold up being dipped.  They kind of reminded me of the whole-grain tortilla chips we usually get, but with a lot more flavor.  


Sour Cream & Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Yields about 1/4 cup per serving
Weight Watcher Points: 2


Ingredients:
  • 2 cups roasted red peppers (either from a jar or roasted yourself) 
  • 1 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream  
  • 1/2 cup basil, fresh  
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, fresh
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder  
  • 1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste  
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste  
Instructions:

In a blender (or food processor), combine roasted peppers, sour cream, basil and garlic powder; puree until smooth. Season to taste with salt and black pepper; garnish with cilantro.  Serve with Green Giant™ Garden Ranch Veggie Tortilla Chips.



The second recipe is completely made up out of thin air!  I was looking for a way to incorporate the Multigrain BBQ Sweet Potato Chips into a main dish and the one dish that kept coming to my mind was BBQ chicken pizza, which I love, but has been done before and I wanted to try something new.  So I decided to take all the ingredients and throw them into a casserole!  (My dad would be so proud - he's the king of made-up-random-ingredient-lets-just-try-it-how-bad-could-it-be casserole recipes.)  I was a little worried it might be too sweet, but it wasn't at all.  I think it was pretty darn fantastic!   We had it two nights in a row and Mac and his nanny both had some for lunch and loved it.  I'll call that a winner!

BBQ Chicken (Pizza) Casserole

Ingredients:
  •  3 cups pasta (rotini)
  • 2 pound ground chicken (or turkey, or shredded chicken)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 whole medium red onion, chopped
  •  ¼ cups fresh parsley, chopped
  •  ¼ cups fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1-2 cups of BBQ sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray's Sweet & Spicy)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 bag Green Giant™ BBQ sweet potato chips, crushed
Instructions:
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spray a 2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.  
  3. Cook and drain pasta according to package directions.
  4. In a large skillet, cook chicken over medium heat 8-10 minutes until brown, drain, set aside.
  5. In the same skillet, cook onions in olive oil with a pinch of salt until caramelized.
  6. Combine meat, onions, pasta, parsley, milk, BBQ sauce, mozzarella and Monterrey Jack cheese in skillet over low heat.
  7. Stir well until all ingredients are combined and cheese is melted.
  8. Spoon into casserole dish. 
  9. Bake uncovered 30-40 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
  10. Top with crumbled sweet potato chips and a drizzle of BBQ sauce across the top.
  11. Bake (or broil) for additional 5 minutes. 


The chips are available at a grocery store near you!  (I spotted them at our local Scnuck's last night.)  Go get some!



I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

13 comments:

  1. Both of these sound SOOO good!

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  2. HAHA "Ryan was just hungry and wanted food." Love it! These recipes look so delicious!

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  3. these look delicious...the chips and the recipes! are these chips avialable in stores yet?

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  4. Wow those look like awesome recipes! I'm not brave enough to attempt my own made-up casserole. I'm gonna have to try these chips though. They look healthy too, right? I mean, better than most potato chips.

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  5. The dip looks amazing!! I can't wait to give it a try. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  6. These sound amazing!!! I can't wait to try. Glad to know that Mac likes the casserole too.

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  7. File under: Things To Make For Sara And Ally Take London 2014. Which should REALLY be 2013, but, whatever, I'm over it. I'm also drooling, so, thanks for that.

    And that picture of Mac makes me miss you guys oh so damn much!

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  8. Both of these recipes sound great! I will have to look for these chips next time I'm at the store.

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  9. The sweet potato chips are a HUGE hit in this house. SO GOOD.
    And, woah, that dip looks phenom!!

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  10. We're going to have to try that casserole!! {Jackson's a fan of all things pasta.... no carb left behind... that he gets from me!}

    Thanks for sharing! :)

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  11. Oh yum the dip looks amazing and so does that yummy casserole!

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  12. That dip looks so good! I didn't know Green Giant had veggie chips :)

    xx
    Megan
    IG: megawat
    http://hellonewlywedlife.blogspot.com/2013/08/currently-lovin_20.html

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  13. Oh my goodness, that casserole looks good! I'll be making it really soon!

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