OH, THE MADNESS!

As any basketball fan knows, we're well into March Madness and the NCAA bracketology. Before too long, we'll be heading down the road to the Final Four. And there's no better way to watch the games than with good friends and good food. Tired of the same ol' pizza delivery? How about delivering pizza DIP to your hungry NCAA fans?!

Our pizza dip is a layered masterpiece of perfection – smooth seasoned cream cheese, tangy tomato sauce, spicy pepperoni, and stringy mozzarella. Mmmmm. Sous chef Shelby and I promise it won't last long!

For the pizza dip, you will need:

• 2 Tbsp. cream cheese, softened
• 2 tsp. sour cream
• 3/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
• dash garlic powder
• 1.5 Tbsp. pizza sauce
• 3 slices of pepperoni, diced
• mozzarella cheese
  

Preheat oven for 15 minutes. Combine first four ingredients in a bowl; spread into pan. Spread on the pizza sauce. Top with pepperoni and a sprinkle of mozzarella. Bake for 15 minutes. Enjoy warm with corn chips or tortilla chips.

Here at Lightbulb Cuisine, we prefer the corn chips. The dense corn goodness makes a hefty scoop for our creamy pizza concoction. But don't just take our word for it. Try some of each!

That's Easy Baking!

Love, Cookie B.

IT'S FRY-DAY!

Hallelujah! The end of the work week is upon us. And what better way to unwind than with a happy-hour snack? Today, Lightbulb Cuisine is serving up French fries! So pour yourself a cocktail and let's have some spuds.

I like my fries sprinkled with Tony Chachere's creole spices. The spicy zip of the fries complimented by sweet, tomato-y ketchup is heavenly.

What you'll need for fry-day fries:

• French fries
• Tony Chachere's creole spices
• A cocktail

Preheat the oven for 15 minutes. Spray the bottom of the pan with oil. Pop the fries into the pan and slide the pan into the oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Move the pan to the cooling chamber, and start another pan to crisp. Continue until enough is enough. Or until your cocktail is finished, and you need to have a little lie down.

That's Easy Baking! Have a wonderful FRY-DAY.

Love, Cookie B.

SNACKS WITH BITE

This seems like as good a time as any to note that the Easy Bake oven isn't just for cakes and cookies. It's perfect for after-school snacks, made with love!

Today, I'd like to spice things up with some kicky Buffalo chicken nuggets. Doesn't that sound magnificent?! Why serve up dry crackers or a boring apple after school when you can whip up a warm, zesty snack for your little darlings? For this recipe, you should really use the refrigerated nuggets. Because after all, we don't need to wait all afternoon for frozen nuggets to cook. You'll spoil your dinner! The refrigerated variety will allow you to fix a tasty snack in a jiffy.

For the Buffalo chicken nuggets, you will need:

• Refrigerated chicken nuggets
• Texas Pete, or other hot wing sauce
• Side of celery strips
• Side of ranch or clue cheese dressing

Preheat the oven for 15 minutes. Spray a pan with cooking oil and lay out your nuggets. Brush with wing sauce. Bake for 15 minutes, then move the pan to the cooling chamber while you heat another batch of nuggets.

Nuggets are delish with ranch or blue cheese dip. Eat a celery strip if you need to cool your mouth from the spicy wing sauce!

That's Easy Baking!

Love, Cookie B.