Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Dipping Sauce {+ a P.F. Chang's Date Night-In}

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of P.F. Chang’s Home Menu for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Although I try to meal plan almost every week, there always seem to be at least a few evenings each month when I don't have a dinner plan in place. Or I forgot to defrost meat for what I did have planned. 

Or what I did have on the meal plan for that evening isn't appealing to me that day for some reason. Or by the time 6:00 rolls around, I am out of steam for the day & just want something easy to make. 

For all of the above reasons, I try to have a few easy & quick dinner solutions tucked away inside my freezer. Meals that can be quickly defrosted or cooked or baked and that require minimal prep on my part. 

Recently I discovered P.F. Chang’s Home Menu items in the freezer aisle of my local grocery store (available in your grocer's freezer aisle nationwide), and I am smitten, folks. They now have a permanent place in my freezer as one of my new favorite quick meal solutions.

The other day I picked up the P.F. Chang's Home Menu Orange Chicken and their Chang's Cream Cheese Wontons. I decided to whip up a quick flavorful dipping sauce for the wontons. Golden honey and bold sriracha sauce come together in this delicious & quick Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Dipping Sauce. And though I call this a dipping sauce, it is also fabulous poured over plain rice... ;)

Apricot Sriracha Pigs in a Blanket

A childhood favorite gets a sweet & spicy makeover perfect for the adults in these Apricot Sriracha Pigs in a Blanket...

This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where I’m a contributor.

Who else loved pigs in a blanket as a kid? I remember squirting out an equal dollop of ketchup and mustard side by side on a plate, and then dipping in each flaky crescent wrapped hot dog making sure to get the perfect ratio of ketchup to mustard with each bite. 







At almost 40 years old (I am cringing just a tad even typing that), I still love a good pig in a blanket. It is one of those childhood favorites you just never outgrow, but that's not saying that we can't give them a sweet & spicy makeover that even the most discerning of adults can enjoy. ;)

By adding just two simple ingredients- a little apricot preserves and a tad of spicy sriracha sauce, this childhood classic is magically transformed into a party-ready appetizer for the grown-ups. Okay, well maybe there really isn't any magic involved. However, some may argue that sriracha sauce is pretty damn magical in and of itself. ;) 







Whether you are hosting a cocktail party, a little back deck get-together, or a backyard barbecue, these Apricot Sriracha Pigs in a Blanket are a fun and delicious way to start off your shindig...

Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Almonds Trail Mix

You only need 4 ingredients to whip up this easy to make & addictive Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Almonds Trail Mix... 

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Huy Fong Sriracha Almonds.

Who else just loves getting their snack on? Personally, I am a big fan of anything sweet, salty, & crunchy with a little kick of heat. Who else is with me on this one? ;)

That is why I was crazy excited when I got the chance to try the one and only Huy Fong Original Sriracha Almonds. These California roasted premium almonds are flavored with the official, full-flavored taste of the authentic Huy Fong brand Sauce. It's just like having your favorite Sriracha sauce in a perfectly snackable form! 

Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Cheese Ball

This Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Cheese Ball is the perfect combination of sweet & spicy with its roasted, crunchy sriracha almonds, sweet dried apricots, and an added extra kick of heat from a little sriracha sauce...

My husband and I love to entertain all year round, but we really kick up our party and get-together hosting once the warmer weather arrives. Our side deck and fire pit become an extension of our kitchen and dining area making it easy for us to invite over and entertain even more family and friends. 

Most of our summer get-togethers are laid back with very little fuss. While I love cooking and creating in the kitchen, I would rather be spending more time chatting with our guests and enjoying the company so I try to make self-serve dishes and appetizers that I can easily prep while guests are arriving or that can be completely made ahead of time.

When Blue Diamond sent me some of their brand new Bold Sriracha Almonds to try, I instantly was inspired to create an easy-to-make cheese ball that would be perfect for summertime entertaining. These Bold Sriracha Almonds are addictive, my friends. 

After enjoying a few small handfuls of these crunchy and spicy almonds, I knew I wanted to pair them with a little sweetness for this cheese ball.  This Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Cheese Ball is the perfect combination of sweet & spicy with its roasted, crunchy sriracha almonds, sweet dried apricots, cooling cream cheese, and an added extra kick of heat from a little sriracha sauce... 

Top 16 Recipes of 2016

These are the Top 16 Recipes of 2016 on Frugal Foodie Mama as clicked on, pinned, and shared by you...

I am still finding it hard to believe that we have just flipped the page to the start of a new year a few days ago. In fact, I just now bought a brand spanking new binder with tabs and calendar sheets for my blogging editorial calendar. Yes, I am a little old-fashioned like that. No Google calendars or a streamlined online planner for me. There is just something about putting the ink to a fresh calendar page that is so personally satisfying to me. Even though I have definitely went full-on digital in many other aspects of my life, I have a feeling that I will always stay low-tech when it comes to my yearly planner and stick to paper & ink. ;) Can anyone else relate to me here?

I think the start to a new year always prompts most of us to look back on the year past. Which goals did we meet and which ones did we fall short of in the past 365 days? Blog-wise, I had set 3 goals for myself at the beginning of 2016- 1. To grow to 10,000 followers on Instagram. 2. To foster more of a community with my readers and followers on social media by becoming more engaged & present. & 3. To learn & embrace Snapchat. The first one I fell short of by a little less than 2,000. With the second goal, I feel that I have made great strides with it, but I do feel I can still improve on this community of ours even more over the next year. And the last goal? Well, let's just say I didn't even start it. As much as I tried, I just couldn't make myself love Snapchat. And then Instagram came out with their Stories feature, and I didn't see much of a point in learning yet another social media platform. ;) 

Coconut Curry Tomato Soup

 A classic favorite comfort food gets a delicious update with the addition of Indian & Thai-inspired flavors in this easy to make Coconut Curry Tomato Soup...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

Dating someone who used to own a British/Indian fusion restaurant certainly has its advantages. Not only can he cook homemade Indian food like nobody's business, but he has been providing me with a whole new world of recipe inspiration for the blog.

I haven't experimented very much with Indian flavors or curries on the blog yet even though I have been a fan of Indian cuisine for decades now. I have always found the idea of cooking Indian food from scratch a bit daunting and intimidating, to be honest.

If you find yourself feeling the same way about trying your hand at Indian cooking at home, then today's recipe for this Coconut Curry Tomato Soup is the perfect way for you to dip your toes into the waters of homemade Indian cuisine. 

This flavorful soup requires no complicated cooking techniques, is made from ingredients that are easy to find, and can be on your dinner table in less than 30 minutes...

3 Easy Steps to a Crowd-Pleasing Homegating Platter

Whip up a snack platter that is sure to score a touchdown at your next game day get-together with these 3 Easy Steps to a Crowd-Pleasing Homegating Platter...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own.

When it comes to game day snacking & entertaining, I go for easy & fuss-free every single time. I never want to be the hostess that is stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is enjoying the big game. I mean, what fun is that anyways? ;)

One of my favorite homegating dishes to throw together for a football party is an easy, yet crowd-pleasing platter. A tasty snack platter almost always serves as the star & the centerpiece of my game day spread. Once I have the platter made & ready to go, I can easily build the snack table from there with all the goodies that my party guests bring.  

Building the perfect homegating snack platter doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming. In fact, you can whip up a platter that is sure to score a touchdown at your next game day get-together in just 3 easy steps...

Sweet & Spicy Fruity Dipping Sauces {for Meatballs}

Serve this trio of Sweet & Spicy Fruity Dipping Sauces- Mango-Salsa, Cherry BBQ and Orange-Ginger- alongside your favorite meatballs for the perfect game day or party appetizer...

When it comes to hosting a get-together for the big game (or games), I often like to rely on easy recipes that can feed a crowd no matter what their taste preferences are and that also happen require very little prep on my part. I mean, who wants to be stuck in the kitchen the entire time and missing all the big plays? Not this game day hostess! I have a bracket to keep up with, you know. ;)

That is why I am loving this recipe for Sweet & Savory Fruity Dipping Sauces for meatballs. I like to use frozen and fully cooked meatballs, so all I need to do is heat up the meatballs (Easy, peasy, right?). While the meatballs are heating, I quickly whip up 3 different dipping sauces for these party-perfect meatballs: Mango-Salsa, Cherry BBQ and Orange-Ginger. Your guests are sure to find one or more of these sauces that they will love dipping these meatballs in, and you're going to love how much of the game you don't miss serving these up... 

Slow Cooker Banh Mi Pork Sandwiches

Flavorful slow roasted pulled pork, a quick pickled slaw, and a simple sriracha mayo are the delicious building blocks for these Slow Cooker Banh Mi Pork Sandwiches...

This tasty recipe post is sponsored by the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council, & the Minnesota Pork Board. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Happy Friday, friends! I would like to take this moment to introduce you all to one of my new favorite things- Banh Mi! :) Not familiar? No worries. You certainly will be by the end of today's recipe post. 

I hadn't actually tried Bahn Mi myself until last month when I attended the Pass the Pork tour in Minneapolis & found myself in charge of mixing up the Bahn Mi Pork Burgers recipe that my team was assigned to during our group cooking class. 

I had definitely heard of Banh Mi before, but I had not actually tried it until we had cooked up those flavorful and juicy burgers. And guess what, folks? I am now 100% hooked! 

For those not familiar with Banh Mi, let's start with just what it is exactly. Banh Mi actually refers to the Vietnamese baquette or roll that these tasty sandwiches are usually served on.

These crusty on the outside, soft on the inside rolls are stuffed with flavorful meat and are then usually topped with some kind of pickled veggies. Some people also add a little mayonnaise, chili paste, fresh cilantro, or thinly cut slices of jalapeno to their Banh Mi. 

For this Slow Cooker Banh Mi Pork Sandwich recipe I am sharing with you all today, I simply topped them with a quick pickled slaw and a sriracha mayo. But feel free to throw on some fresh cilantro springs or a few jalapeno slices as well if that happens to be your thing... ;)

Spicy Tuna Roll Quinoa Salad

Inspired by one of my favorite sushi rolls, this Spicy Tuna Roll Quinoa Salad makes the perfect quick & easy lunch idea...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of StarKist Selects E.V.O.O.®.  

With my youngest back at school 5 days a week now & the busiest time of the year for most of us food bloggers just around the corner, I am ready to get re-focused on some of my own personal goals that I want to accomplish before the end of the year. One of my biggest goals for this past year has been to work towards getting myself to a better & more healthier place physically. 

I have come a long way in the past few months- making my gym time & yoga practice a priority and making better choices when it comes to my daily diet- but I don't want to lose any of that progress as we head into the upcoming holiday season.

In addition to having a vitamin-packed green smoothie for breakfast most mornings of the week, I have also been focusing on creating healthier quick & easy lunch ideas. One of my go-to's for lunch at home or on the go is a filling quinoa salad. 

I usually make a big batch of quinoa at the beginning of each week so I can conveniently have it hand in the refrigerator. Sometimes I toss it with tuna, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, & a light dressing, and sometimes I saute veggies to add to it & serve it warm.

But perhaps one of my new favorite ways to enjoy a quick & flavorful quinoa salad for lunch is with this super easy recipe I am sharing with you all today for my Spicy Tuna Roll Quinoa Salad...

Slow Cooker Peach Habanero Short Ribs

These sweet & spicy Slow Cooker Peach Habanero Short Ribs are the perfect fall comfort food & would make a tasty addition to that game day menu...

This recipe first appeared on the Bridgeport Farmers Market Let's Get Fresh site.

I am on a mission once again this outdoor farmers market season to show you all how you can create a delicious recipe purchasing mostly locally grown & raised produce and meats at your local farmers market. I started this locally inspired recipe series last summer, and I am thrilled to be continuing the series this year as well. Each month I will be sharing a recipe here to the blog inspired by and featuring some of my own personal favorite fresh & local finds from my local market. 

For the month of September & for my final recipe for this year's outdoor market season, I am sharing the recipe for these sweet & spicy Slow Cooker Peach Habanero Short Ribs with you all today. These hearty & saucy short ribs are the perfect comfort food for a crisp fall day. They would also make a tasty addition to your next game day menu! :)

Easy Chicken Ramen Salad

 This time-saving Easy Chicken Ramen Salad uses pre-cooked chicken, canned mandarin oranges, & crunchy ramen noodles to make a tasty, family-pleasing dinner salad in under 20 minutes...

One thing that I do love and can rarely pass up is a good salad with crunch. There is just something about a good crunch factor that takes a hearty salad to the next level for me.

Give me a a salad with crisp kale or cabbage and some crunchy nuts over a delicate salad with spring greens and soft fruit any day of the week. 

It's not that I can't enjoy a softer salad as the start to a meal, but if the salad is going to be the meal? Nope. It needs to have all the crunch.

And maybe it is just the texture tricking me into thinking that a salad with some crunch just has to be more hearty and filling. Or maybe it is just a personal preference. But I do love me a big ole salad with multiple layers of crunch.

Smokehouse Game Day Platter

This simple and tasty Smokehouse Game Day Platter is sure to score a touchdown with your guests at your next football party or get-together...

This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. 

If you ask me, the best thing about the big game is the food, folks. I mean, I can get into cheering for the hometown team and all, but the I get the most fired up over the game day snacks. 

No matter which team wins, as long as the snacking spread is a winner then I am a happy gal. ;) Being the food blogger/self-proclaimed foodie in my family, I am usually the one bringing something a little different for the game day spread. Chips and dip are great and all, but let's kick that football party menu plan up just a notch or two, shall we?

Blue Diamond's new game changing Smokehouse Almonds served as the inspiration for this tasty and easy to make game day platter. It starts with a can of Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds- salty, crunchy, with just the right amount of smoky flavor. 

I paired it with sweet & smoky cocktail sausages and a few of our favorite smoked cheeses with crackers. This simple and tasty Smokehouse Game Day Platter is sure to score a touchdown with your guests at your next football party or get-together...

Pizza Pierogi Casserole

You can customize this easy to make Pizza Pierogi Casserole with your favorite pizza toppings. It is perfect for a busy weeknight or to bring to a friend in need...

Whether you are a blogger or just follow blogs online (like this one), you may have heard us use the term blogging community here and there. Most of the time a blogging community is created and fostered so that we can help each other grow our blogs, bounce ideas off of each other, ask for blogging advice, and to share each other's work.  

In the world of blogging, you can't "make it" without some other bloggers supporting you. And that is a fact, folks. ;)

And then there are times when blogging community comes to mean so much more to us. Like when one of our own is dealt a blow or setback in their personal lives. As bloggers, we come together to rally behind those in our community who have fallen on more difficult times even when we haven't met that blogger in person...

A little over a year ago, Ashley from CenterCutCook found out that their husband of 10 years has colon cancer just one week after learning that she was pregnant with their first child.  A joyous moment that they had been celebrating was soon clouded over with that very scary diagnosis. 

Their son Miles was born healthy and happy, and the family had reason to be hopeful and joyous. But not even two months after his birth, Ashley and her husband were dealt yet another gut-wrenching blow- Miles was going into kidney failure. 

Miles is currently in need of both a kidney and a liver transplant and receives hemodialysis 4 times per week, while his father is enduring bi-weekly chemotherapy treatments. I can't even fathom how strong Ashley has been and continues to have to be on a daily basis. 

While many of us bloggers in her "community" do not live close enough to be there to physically help her out, we are banding together online today to rally behind her, spread the word about their family, and to ask you all to help with their growing medical bills- even if you cannot donate much, every little bit helps and would be greatly appreciated by Ashley, Ryan, and Miles.