Halloween rivals Christmas at our house. The kids start planning costumes in August and can’t wait to roam the neighborhood trick or treating. There are lots of potlucks, parties and even golf carts driving around here Halloween night. It’s big fun for parents too.
So if you are partaking in the festivities, here are two perfect treats you can make to host or bring to your neighborhood potluck.
The first is a Pumpkin Cheese Ball. And yes, for those of you that know me well, you know I’m not real crafty–but this didn’t take a lot of skill, and was simple to make—and tasty. Who doesn’t like chips and dip?
This next recipe is my husband’s “Award Winning” Chicken Chili. It’s a perfect choice for Halloween because you can make it ahead and let your guests add all the fixins. Rotel tomatoes and an Octoberfest beer are the secret ingredients.
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Ingredients:
16 ounces room-temperature cream cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
3 tablespoons minced onion
2 tablespoons salsa
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon minced jalapeno.
Crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos
Directions:
With a mixer, blend the cream cheese, shredded cheddar, minced onion, salsa, cumin and Jalapeno.
Scoop onto plastic wrap and use the wrap to form the mixture into a 5-inch pumpkin-shaped ball; chill at least 2 hours.
To serve, unwrap, roll in crushed nacho-cheese flavored Doritos and press a bell pepper stem into the top.
Chicken Chili
Ingredients:
- 2 T. olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into cubes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 packet chili seasoning
- 1 can rotel tomatoes
- 1 28-oz can of tomato sauce
- 1 or 2 can black beans
- 1 can chili beans
- 1 beer (we buy the seasonal Octoberfest)
Directions:
Sauté the chicken in a Dutch oven with olive oil over medium-high heat until cooked through. Remove chicken to plate. Pour another tablespoon of olive oil and add onion and cook until soft, 5-10 minutes.
Add chili seasoning and mix. Add chicken back in along with rotel tomatoes, beans, tomato sauce and beer.
Simmer for 30-45 minutes to let flavors blend.
Serve with cheese, sour cream and green onions.
Happy Halloween!
Happy Eating!
Tonja
Tonja’s Table
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