Getting Ready for the Big Game #Hormel

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

I love themed parties and themed dishes for those parties. Whether it is making a cake for the kids, customizing the invitations or having a party for the football game, I love the challenge of the theme.

This is one of my favorite party serving pieces, that I pull out for any football themed gathering:

I fill the middle with chips and the two ends with dips. This year, it will be tortilla chips with Wholly Guacamole on one end and a chipotle dip on the other.

This year, I also decided to dress up the cheese and pepperoni tray (I have an addiction to cheese, crackers and Hormel Turkey Pepperoni). I had seen something similar posted by a friend.

Do you theme your gatherings? Are you having/attending a party for the game?

No compensation was received for this post. Product samples and thought starters are provided by Hormel through the Hormel Extended Family Blogger program, in which I participate. All opinions are my own or that of my family.

Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip #Hormel #Dip

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

The other weekend, we hosted a game night at our house. We have always been a big game family and have always enjoyed having friends in for game night. This most recent evening was a smaller gathering with only three couples able to join us. One tradition is that everyone brings a snack to share. One of the women that I met when I first moved to town 12 years ago brought along a dip that my kids both loved. So, when we hosted family for a birthday party this weekend, I reached out to get the dip recipe to make it for party. The recipe called for bacon, to make it easy, I used a jar Hormel Real Bacon Pieces. It actually was less bacon than the recipe called for, but was just right in my opinion. I loved that it made prep quick and there was no mess from frying bacon that I had to clean up. The dip was a hit!

Bacon Cheddar Ranch dip

16 ounces light sour cream
1 package ranch dip mix
2.8 ounces Hormel Real Bacon Pieces
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Mix all ingredients. Chill. Serve with pretzels, crackers or chips.

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information for this post. The recipe was shared by my friend, I don't know the original source.

Chili Cheese Dip - a Giveaway

You know how there are just some foods that once you start eating them, you just can't stop? For me, chili cheese dip and nacho chips is one of those dishes. There is just something about that flavor combination that is so appealing to me. Warm it up and it is even harder for me to resist.

Hormel Foods has created a Limited Edition Chili Cheese Dip kit. The kit combines Hormel Chili without beans and Hormel Cheese Sauce. Combine the two (in a crock pot is my preference) and serve with ChiChi's White Corn Tortillas for an easy and tasty snack. Of course, you can always amp it up by adding jalapenos, ground beef or other ingredients to the cheese dip to take it to the next level.

Thanks to Hormel Foods, I have the chance to giveaway to one winner a Pumpkin Trick or Treat Basket full of Hormel Food Goodies. The prize pack contains: a limited edition Hormel Chili Cheese Dip Kit, Hormel pepperoni minis and Hormel chunk breast of chicken.

To enter: Leave a comment sharing your favorite fall-themed dish or meal.

Additional Entries (please leave a separate comment for each entry):

Follow ABusyMomofTwo on Twitter.

Follow Hormel Foods on Twitter.

Tweet about this giveaway. You may complete this entry once per day. (You may use the following or write your own: Enter to win a
@HormelFoods Chili Cheese Dip Prize Pack. @ABusyMomofTwo. Ends 11/1 #giveaway http://bit.ly/sRVXr0)

Follow A Busy Mom of Two. Subscribe to updates in your feed reader or in e-mail. Leave me a comment letting me know that you signed up, or that you already subscribe.

Like A Busy Mom of Two on Facebook.

Giveaway will remain open until November 1st at 6 pm. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected using a random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (be sure to leave one!) and will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program.

Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip

For a long time, it seemed like there were very few Bzz Campaigns that I was getting invited to. Recently, that has changed. One of the Bzz Campaigns that I have right now is for Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip.

We eat a lot of fresh vegetables at my house and usually, the kids like to have a dip to go with them - so it felt like a natural fit for my family to try theshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gife new dips. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

The first dip I tried was the Otria Cucumber Dill Feta Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip. It just sounded very appealing to me. I love dill dips - I make a Dill Weed dip almost anytime that we have gathering. I love cucumbers - have you tried any of the cucumber ranch dressings? I love Feta cheese - I use it mostly on my spinach salad and my roasted shrimp and tomatoes dish. So, basically, I loved it all!

We had some friends over for dinner one night but were waiting on my husband to get home from class before eating. The kids were getting munchy, so I pulled out some carrots and celery and the dip.

Before opening it, I quickly scanned the ingredient statement, as I know that my friend can't have MSG and that she has said that many dips and ranch dressings have it in them. I didn't see it, so I opened it and set it out for the kids (my friend wasn't in the kitchen at the time). I ran to another room to grab something, and when I came back, sure enough, she was scanning the label looking for the same thing. (Turns out we had both missed the little note on the container that said - No MSG).

We both gave it a try. I have to say that I loved it! I used it over the nexthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif week for dipping vegetables and then tried it with honey wheat braid pretzels. I couldn't get enough (although I did exercise some great self-control and didn't over indulge too much). It became an evening requirement that along with my cup of tea, I had 5 pretzels with dip (counting the pretzels was my control).

I had good intentions of trying another flavor, but when I went back to the store, I just bought the same one again! Thankfully, my friend had enjoyed the dip and she bought the Garden Herb Ranch flavor to bring to a gathering at my house. I tried it, and it was good, but I think I will stick with the Cucumber Dill Feta flavor.

I just noticed, in sharing links that there is a $1 off coupon offer on their sidebar here.

No compensation was received for this post. I received coupons to try the product and share my experience. I also received $ off coupons to share with my friends and family.