Three Football Party Recipes Everyone Will Love

It’s football season! And what’s the perfect addition to watching the game? Food! These 3 football party recipes from Blue Cheese Bungalow are a must-have for every game-day that everyone will love. They’re easy to make and bite-size, so get ready to grab a plate and watch your team win!

Ham and Cheese Sliders

INGREDIENTS

  • 12 King’s Hawaiian dinner rolls
  • 2 tablespoons Mayo
  • 12 slices deli ham
  • 6 slices swiss cheese (cut in half)
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder or minced onions
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

INSTRUCTIONS

First, preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13″ baking dish.

Next, slice the King’s Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally. Try to keep the rolls connected to each other while cutting. Remove the top section and set aside. Place the bottom section in your baking dish. Spread mayo onto the insides of both the bottom and top sections. Place a slice of ham and cheese on each roll in the bottom section. Add the top section of the rolls to the lower half in the baking dish and evenly match up.

For the sauce, whisk together the butter, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, and poppy seeds. Pour mixture evenly over all of the rolls. Let sit about 10 minutes for the sauce to soak in.

Cover the ham sliders with foil and bake for approximately 10-15 minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 2 minutes to brown the top of the rolls. Cut the sliders according to the slices of the rolls. Serve and enjoy!

Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Dip

INGREDIENTS FOR THIS FOOTBALL PARTY RECIPE

  • 1 large loaf French bread
  • 8 oz. softened cream cheese
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup Frank’s Original Hot Sauce (the more you use, the spicier it is)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons dry ranch dressing seasoning mix
  • 1/2 tsp EACH chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder
  • salt to taste
  • 1/4 cup Blue cheese crumbles (depending on how much you like blue cheese, you can use ½ cup)
  • 1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided into ¾ cup and ¼ cup
  • 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, divided into ¾ cup and ¼ cup
  • 3 cups packed shredded chicken (about 1 1/2 pounds)

Toppings (optional)

  • 6-8 pieces cooked and crumbled bacon
  • blue cheese

 INSTRUCTIONS

First, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Next, slice about 2 inches deep through the top of the bread and cut a large rectangle. Make sure not to cut through the bottom of the bread. Remove the top of bread and hollow out the middle to create a rectangular bread bowl. Set aside.

Whisk together cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, hot sauce, chili powder, cumin powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and ranch seasoning. Then stir in blue cheese, ¾  cup cheddar and ¾ cup mozzarella, and chicken.

Spoon the buffalo chicken dip mixture into French bread, then top with remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Place into the oven and bake on a baking tray at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly golden.

Let bread sit approximately 10 minutes to set and slightly cool, then slice into bite-size pieces. Enjoy!

Bacon Mac and Cheese Bites

INGREDIENTS

  • 12 slices precooked bacon (or turkey bacon)
  • 2 1/2 cups of prepared macaroni and cheese
  • 1/4 cup Italian Panko breadcrumbs

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS FOOTBALL PARTY RECIPE

First, preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then grease muffin pan and place uncooked bacon strips into muffin cups (one slice per cup).

Divide the prepared macaroni and cheese between the cups in the muffin pan, stuffing into the bacon strips lining the muffin cups. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and cook in the oven for about 15 minutes or until the breadcrumbs look golden and bacon is thoroughly cooked.

Allow the bacon mac and cheese cups to set for 51-10 minutes and cool before removing them. Enjoy!

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8 Must Do Things in New York City this Fall

New York City is notorious for its bright lights and big-city buzz, but it’s also a beautiful spot to visit during the fall. The crisp air and colorful autumn trees bring a coolness to the city you can only experience during fall.

Whether it’s your first time visiting the Big Apple or your twentieth, these eight fall must-dos are for everyone to check out.

Forget Central Park – the Botanic Center is where it’s at. Filled with green-turned-red and orange maple, sumac, dogwoods, and oak trees, you can check out the fall foliage at the Japanese Garden and smell the roses in the Rose Garden. You can also experience a true fall festival in the heart of the city with their Harvest Homecoming Festival, complete with hayrides and apple cider.

This winter activity actually begins in October in this city! The Rink in Rockefeller opens around the middle of October to make sure visitors and locals can get the most out of the seasons. Rent your ice skates directly from the center, and once you’re done grab a hot cocoa or hot apple cider for the ultimate fall experience.

  • Explore NYC’s Haunted History On A Ghost Tour

Is it really fall if you don’t go on a ghost tour? You may not initially think of New York City as haunted, but rumor has it you can find a ghost or two once the sun goes down. St. Paul’s Chapel is said to have a headless ghost in residence, the Hotel Chelsea is the perfect place for a spooky story, and even the Empire State Building is said to have the ghosts of past suicide jumpers roaming the building. To experience a professional ghost tour, click here.

From a special theme to a Grand Marshall, this parade is everything Halloween. Come in your best-themed costume to join in on the parade and have fun with the band, dancers, puppets, and more! Then afterward join in with the after-party and have a scary good time with friends new and old.

  • Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an American tradition, so why not make it a tradition to see it in person? Held in Manhattan and lasting about three hours long, this annual parade is filled with huge balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from all over the country, guest artists, and last but not least, Santa in his sleigh.

One of the Tri-State area’s most epic fall festival, this event is held in Hudson Valley and filled to the brim with – you guessed it – Jack O’Lanterns. Make your way through thousands of elaborately detailed pumpkins, and make sure to check out the Pumpkin Carousel twirl and the Pumpkin Windmill whirl and step inside the Pumpkin Planetarium for a star show like you’ve never seen. It’s a unique way to experience part of New York City you may not have before.

This festival is one of the oldest and largest street festivals in Brooklyn, New York. Atlantic Avenue is filled with food carts, art and crafts booths, performances, and live music as community members from all over come and enjoy themselves and explore other cultures.

  • Bike Across The Brooklyn Bridge from New York City

Grab a bike rental from one of the cities many shops and get pedaling! This activity is fun andaccomplishing, and lets you get a view of the city that the locals do. Biking in fall means the weather is almost always perfect (so maybe you won’t even break a sweat!) Make sure to explore Brooklyn before heading back!

For more travel related news and information, click here.

NSU Nursing Program Recognized

The nursing program at Nicholls State University has been recognized for the quality and affordability of the program by several online resources. Registered Nursing, a nursing advocacy organization of registered nurses that bridges the gap between resources and future nurses, ranked the Nicholls online bachelors in nursing number seven in the country and best in Louisiana.

Best Health Degrees, a website dedicated to spreading awareness of healthcare education, named Nicholls nursing program the number four most affordable accredited program in the country.

Dr. Sue Westbrook, provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, is delighted about the program recognition. The former dean of the College of Nursing says “It’s satisfying to know that our program offers high quality at an affordable price.”

The Nicholls nursing program is the most popular on campus, and also remains one of the most successful program in the South with their graduates regularly passing the RN licensure exam at rates that are higher than both state and national averages.

Nicholls nursing program offers a traditional BSN, LPN to BSN Articulation Program, RN to BSN Articulation Program, and a Master of Science in Nursing. The MSN program is offered in affiliation with the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN) and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In the MSN program, you can choose from three specialty concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing Education.

With a mission to prepare students to contribute to a global society and a diverse workforce as productive, responsible, and engaged citizens and as well-educated nurses to meet the healthcare needs of the Bayou region and beyond, it’s estimated that eighty percent of the Bayou’s Region’s nurses are Nicholls alumni. Students will receive hands-on education from experienced and award-winning faculty, and 100 percent of Nicholls recent nursing grads are either employed or in nursing school.

Anna Busalacchi, a graduate from Nicholls with her Bachelors of Science in nursing, states “It’s cool to be prideful of my alma mater. I had so much on my resume because I attended Nicholls and it helped me get a job so much easier.”

Nicholls’ College of Nursing aims to send off their graduates embracing these core values:

  • Civic responsibility
  • Diversity
  • Excellence
  • Integrity
  • Leadership
  • Respectfulness
  • Responsibility
  • Caring
  • Professionalism
  • Safety

Registered Nursing determines its school rankings using a variety of higher education statistics, while also factoring in school accreditation, graduation rates, cost of tuition, the ratio of instructional faculty to tenured faculty, and student acceptance rate.

Best Health Degrees determines its school rankings based on accreditation from either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and by the cost of tuition.

Best Health Degrees helps prospective students learn what skills and training they need for their ideal career field, the salary they can expect to earn, and advice on how to land their dream job, as well as information they may need about the college or university of their choice.

For more information about Nicholls nursing program visit nicholls.edu/nursing.

For more education related information, click here.

 

 

The Best U.S. Cities to Visit This Fall

With fall comes cooler weather, beautiful scenery, and tons of things to do. October seems to be a fan favorite for traveling since the heat of the summer has worn off and everyone is eager for bonfires and sweater weather. Plus, with fall comes charming earth-toned colors that place a beautiful blanket of leaves on everything. Many people choose to travel during the fall so they can find fun festivals and events that introduce them to new places and keep their schedule busy. Whatever your reason for choosing to travel this fall, here are some of the best U.S. cities to add to your road map, according to Travel and Leisure.

The quaint southern town is the epitome of southern charm. Sprinkled with cobblestone streets, historic architecture, and yummy true southern dishes, get ready to fall in love and never want to leave.

Halloween is a special time in Charleston, with extra spooky ghost stories and haunted cemetery tours for locals and visitors alike. Book a tour with Bulldog Tours and explore the Spirit of Magnolia Cemetery, or check out The Haunted Arsenal, U.S.S. Yorktown, or Haunted Jail tours – which also include expertly told, spine chilling ghost stories.

Although Sonoma is beautiful at all times of the year, fall must put something in the air. With gold and orange tint to surrounding trees and vines, a cool breeze, and a beaming sun creates the ultimate vacation atmosphere.

Make sure to check out the 45th Annual Harvest Fair in Santa Rosa or the MacArthur Place Hotel and Spa for ultimate scenery and relaxation. If you’re a Peanuts comic strip fan, check out the Charles M. Schulz Museum and have the opportunity to meet cartoonists, participate in crafts, and check out the gift shop.

Also known as The Music City, Nashville has the perfect mix of southern charm and rock n’ roll. Fill your schedule with music festivals like the Breakaway Music Festival or the Free Day of Music Festival.

Love Dolly Parton? The Grand Ole Opry is hosting a tribute to the country music icon in early October and those Elton John lovers can head to the Bridgestone Arena for Sir Elton John’s Farewell Yellowbrick Road Tour.

When you get hungry, head downtown for some southern barbeque or hot chicken and then head to the Bobby Hotel to catch up with some old friends.

Calling all foodies! Chicago is the place to go for the ultimate deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, or Italian beef sandwiches. Want something a little more classy? Make sure to check out some of the cities upscale dining spots, like Oriole or Alinea.

More into films than food? The 55th Chicago International Film Festival occurs in October and has more than 150 short and full-length festivals from around 50 countries.

Prefer to take in the sites and keep it casual? Taking a river cruise is a perfect way to see this U.S. city (take one at sunset – you won’t regret it), or take a walk on the Chicago Riverwalk and check out the Community Market and public art.

For more travel related news and information, click here.

 

Visit These 8 Haunted Sites In Louisiana

October is finally here, which means it’s time to get your spook on!  Louisiana’s history is without a doubt one of the more haunted. In the early colonial days, the city was fought over between the French and Spanish, each leaving their fingerprint in the food and architecture. Later, African slaves were brought against their will and brought their culture with them. Now, visitors from all over the world come to visit the melting pot of culture and religion, drawn in by the city’s unique history.

This post from Getting Stamped clues in both locals and visitors to where they can get the ultimate Louisiana haunted experience.

St. Louis Cemetery #1

This landmark was built in 1789 behind the French Quarter and houses approximately 100,000 of the cities dead. Chances are, some restless souls may still be haunting their final resting place, left to wander for centuries to come.

Visit the most prominent resident of the cemetery, the powerful Voodoo Priestess, Marie Laveau. Hoards of followers flock to her grave, following the local lore of knocking on her tomb three times, drawing “XXX”, and knocking three more times in hopes of having their wishes granted.

Get a Physic Reading from Cari Roy

Wanting to make with loved ones on the other side? Cari Roy, a renowned psychic and medium, will help you cross that barrier. She can tell you things about yourself and your family that no one could possibly ever know.

Her site claims she is “a professional psychic (that tunes) deeply into your being to see the who, what, and where details of your life experience and work with you to enhance and enrich all aspects of your journey. As a medium, I open myself to the spirits that wish to speak and to aid in bringing solace from our loved ones who have passed.”

She also gave Getting Stamped a few tips to finding paranormal activity. “Skip the cemeteries and focus on the buildings and places that meant something to people,” she says. Make sure to schedule a session with her and find out what’s happening on the other side.

The Hanging Jail

Actually called the Gothic Jail of DeRidder, built in 1915, is believed to be haunted by two men who were hanged for the murder of their taxi driver, hence the “The Hanging Jail”.

Louisiana Travel explains the story: Two men, Joe Genna and Molton Brasseaux, hired a taxi driver, Joe Brevelle, and promptly murdered him, dumping Joe’s body into the old Pickering Mill pond. The body was found and both men were convicted and hanged from the third-floor gallows. They still walk the floors of the Jail of DeRidder to this very day.

Jackson Square

Once the sight of public executions, multiple people claim they can spot the spirits of those who departed from this sight. You may also spot the ghost of monk Pere Dagobert walking through the square carrying a lantern.

The LaLaurie Mansion

This three-story mansion housed the LaLaurie family and is considered one of the most haunted places in the city. The LaLaurie family was known for the fact that they carried out torturous experiments and violently abused their slaves.

The story is, the abuse was so bad that one young girl flung herself to her death from a third-floor window. Another slave, who had been chained to a stove and beaten, began a fire while chained inside. Once the firemen and police came, the woman was badly burned and told them of the stories happening behind the walls. It’s estimated that 300 souls were murdered in the building at the hands of Delphine LaLaurie and her doctor husband.

The Voodoo Museum Voodoo is a highly respected practice in Louisiana, with its roots with the Western and Central African slaves brought into America. This specific practice uses trinkets to protect you and your family, or alternatively uses trinkets to bring harm to your enemies.

Hotel Monteleone If you see a child playing in the halls of this hotel, it may be spookier than you think.

In the late 1800s, the Begere family lost their son, Maurice, who succumbed to a fever, while staying at the Monteleone. The next night, Maurice’s mother saw him in the hotel, saying “Mommy, don’t cry. I’m fine.”

Guests who stay on the same floor Maurice died on have reported seeing a friendly child playing in the hallway. Some have even reported he enters their room while they are on their bed.

The Pharmacy Museum

The Monteleone Museum isn’t the only spot haunted by children. The Pharmacy Museum was once home to the first licensed pharmacist in the country, Louis Dufilho. Louis lost two young children while living here, and some people have reported seeing those two children playing in the courtyard behind the museum.

Later, the building was sold to a man names Dr. Dupas who reportedly used the building to perform experiments on pregnant slaves. Now, a ghost fitting the description of Dupas has been seen standing in the old pharmacy and is known to throw books and cause other mischievous trouble.

 For more Louisiana related articles, click here.

 

Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp Gumbo

The leaves are falling and the weather is finally cooling off, which means it’s finally fall, and we have the perfect fall dinner recipe for you! Gumbo is a hearty stew the fills up rumbling bellies with a medley of meat or shellfish, okra, onions, peppers, celery, and Creole or Cajun seasoning. A trademark Louisianan food, Gumbo is easily a famous and well-loved dish amongst Louisiana residents (so much so that it was named the official Louisiana state food!).

It’s thought the dish originated at the beginning of the 19th century and is rooted in the history of West Africans and Choctaws. Throughout its long history, the recipe has helped form a Louisianan culture and has been created in vast ways, gracing the tables of those from all economic statuses.

This chicken, sausage, and shrimp gumbo recipe from Savor the Flavor is guaranteed to bring both the flavor and Louisiana culture straight to your table.

This recipe makes about 9 cups of gumbo and takes approximately 3 hours to make from start to finish (including prep time).

Ingredients: 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound chicken breasts
  • A pinch of salt and pepper
  • 12 ounces Cajun-style Andouille sausage, cut in round pieces
  • 6 pieces smoked bacon, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
  • 3/4 cup lard (fat)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 green pepper, chopped
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic (about 6 cloves)
  • 5 cups seafood or shrimp stock
  • 10 ounces fresh or frozen sliced okra
  • 4 thyme sprigs
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 seedless lemon
  • 1 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined
  • hot sauce, to taste
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley (to garnish)
  • Cooked rice

Instructions:

Step One: The Meat

First, heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat, then transfer chicken breast pieces to olive oil. Brown chicken pieces. Once they’re browned, remove from heat and place on a plate. When chicken is cool, shred with a fork.

In the same pot, add sausage and (already smoked) bacon. Cook until the sausage is browned, then remove from heat and place on paper towel-lined plate until cool.

Step Two: The Roux

Using a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, hit lard over medium heat, then whisk in the flour, stirring constantly until the roux turns a deep copper (penny colored). For step by step instructions on how to make the roux and different tips and tricks, click here.

Step Three: The Gumbo

Using a heavy-bottomed pan, transfer roux and add celery, onion, and green pepper. Over medium heat, stir until vegetables are softened, then add garlic and cook until fragrant. Next, pour in the seafood stock and shredded chicken and the sausage and bacon combination. Stir until combined, then add in the sliced okra, fresh thyme, bay leaves, and half of a seedless lemon.

Cover and bring gumbo to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for about a half-hour.

Now, you’ll remove the lemon and add the shrimp, hot sauce, and salt and pepper. Stir until combined then allow to cook for about 5 more minutes. Taste and add seasoning based on preference.

Garnish with parsley and serve over a bed of hot rice. Enjoy!

Quick tip: Gumbo is even better the next day! Make sure to store leftovers refrigerated in a sealed container for ultimate freshness.

For more delicious recipes, click here.