People Often Ask . . .

How I got my junk-food loving husband to get on board with a real food diet. It’s simply, really:

I seduced him.

Ahem. I mean I seduced his palate and his imagination with all his favorites, real foodified. If you’re gearing up for game day this weekend and you have a real food skeptic coming over, give these recipes a try!

Chips & Dips

This jalapeno popper dip takes a little planning since you have to make your own cottage cheese, but YUM! Not that I’m really surprised considering the recipe calls for almost an entire stick of butter.

Check out the recipe here.

Creamy Mexican Dip Without The Velveeta!

This queso dip from Food Renegade is pure awesomeness. Serve it with organic corn chips or homemade tortillas.

If you want to skip the canned diced tomatoes and green chilies, make it from scratch using this recipe.

Get the queso recipe here

 Best Tex-Mex Salsa Ever

Oh my, I think my lack of humility is showing!

Truth be told, though, this is not really my recipe. It’s the way just about everyone I know makes it back home.

Get the recipe

Parmesan Crisps

Ridiculously easy to make and perfect for dipping, these crisps are a great alternative to potato chips.

Seriously, we are talking one ingredient and a few minutes of your time here. Try these.

Get the recipe

Other fabulous dips: easy guacamole, guacamole with a sour cream twist, pineapple papaya chutney, and babaganoush

Buffalo Wings

Did you know that tabasco sauce is very possibly genetically modified? Yeppers, non-organic vinegar-based products are often derived from GMO corn. Check out how easy it is to make your own version here. It’s oh-so-much better than anything storebought, but you’ll need to start today if you want it by this weekend! Now that we’ve got THAT out of the way, here are some buffalo-style recipes you’ll love:

Mini paleo buffalo chicken sandwiches from Ditch The Wheat

Oven baked chicken thighs with buttery buffalo sauce from Healthy Living How To (A few notes: I would substitute this recipe for Frank’s original hot sauce, this recipe for Worchestershire sauce, and I would use honey rather than xylitol – here’s why)

Need quick and easy recipes for buffalo sauce and bleu cheese dressing? Get them here.

Salty Finger Foods

Did you know that popcorn has higher levels of polyphenols (antioxidants) than most fruits? It’s true. According to The Healthy Home Economist it’s one of the healthiest snacks you can eat.

Of course, we’re not talking about the microwaveable stuff whose vapors can cause irreversible and possibly life threatening lung damage. We’re talking about air popped corn drizzled in real butter, made in a whirly pop, or on the stove. Don’t overdo it as too much can irritate the digestive tract, but if you’re not grain-free definitely pop some up this Sunday!

Spiced Nuts

Looking for something with a little extra crunch factor? This recipe from Cheeseslave is so yummy!

A few notes, though: I cannot handle anywhere near 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. If you’re not sure you’ll be able to, either, start with a sprinkle and work up little by little until you have it just right. Also, substituting honey for sugar makes them a teeny bit sticky, but I like it more.

Check out the recipe here

Sourdough Pretzel Bites

If you have some sourdough starter on hand, make up these pretzel bites! I love her trick for making them extra chewy.

Get the recipe here.

These Italian pocket sandwiches look good, too, if you can find quality sourdough baguettes.

Hearty Chili Recipes

First up is my ultimate beef and liver chili. Now, before you automatically skip on to the next one read this!

I made your liver chili from your book Nourished Baby! [It's the same one linked to above] The first time I made it I didn’t tell that it was liver. My husband unknowingly said it was the best chili he ever had. He even requests it if I wait too long to make it. He went to the farmer’s market last week just to get the liver so I would make it!

~ Chelsea

Also worth considering:

One pot paleo chili from Grass Fed Girl

This recipe from DIY Natural also looks ah-MAZing, but I would modify the recipe to use traditionally soaked beans instead of canned ones

And this one from Jennifer of 20 Something Allergies and Counting . . . Down has an intriguing chipotle twist.

Though not technically chili, these fiery hot pork skewers pictured above are totally on my list.

 

Sweet Things

This grain-free cookie recipe is super chewy even without the addition of an egg, so if you run out of time in the kitchen just toss the dough on the living room table and let them dive in.

Flourless Brownies

With a photo like this, do I really need to say anything?

Yes? Okay then, if it were me I probably wouldn’t give these brownies to small children. They’re nothing short of awesome but they do use a lot of cocoa powder, which contains caffeine.

Get the recipe here

Cinnamon Coconut Chips

I debated whether to put these under sweet things or chips because there’s an intriguing chili-lime variation that I want to try.

Since they’re so simple I guess I’ll do both!

Get the recipe

Gummy Stars

Oh yes, these are for kids of all ages. Just yesterday Daddypotamu came wandering in and said, “Where are the gummy stars you promised the kids?” When I told him the kids had already eaten them the look on his face said it all! Better make a double batch just to be safe.

Get the recipe here

Have fun this weekend, y’all! If you have a favorite Super Bowl snack recipe please share it below!

Photo Credit: esimpraim  cc,  jimnicholas, Zsuzsanna Kilian, chotda