Monday, 22 January 2018
Friday, 19 January 2018
Monday, 15 January 2018
Monday, 8 January 2018
Thursday, 4 January 2018
Chicken Enchilada Dip is Cheesy Goodness
This cheesy, creamy Chicken Enchilada Dip is a simple yet hearty appetizer that will be the star of your next get together!
Hey y’all! It’s Pam and Sara here, the mother-daughter blogging duo from Biscuits & Burlap. We’re back to share another one of our scrumptious party recipes developed just for Ugly Duckling House! We just know that you’ll love this Chicken Enchilada Dip as much as we do.
If you’ve missed our past posts, you should definitely check out our appetizers like Herbed Goat Cheese Crostini with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and cocktails like Spiked Hot Chocolate with Bourbon and Grand Marnier. Today, though, we’re bringing you chicken enchilada dip!
Southwestern flavors are just our absolute favorite and this enchilada dip has it all. That smoky enchilada sauce, creamy Monterey Jack cheese, black beans and cilantro… You really can’t go wrong! The shredded chicken and black beans make this dip hearty enough to hold over your guests until dinner is ready and if you’re taking it to a party, it won’t take long to see how addictive it is.
Here’s how easy it is: Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, enchilada sauce, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Then, gently fold in the diced or shredded chicken, 3/4 of the Monterey Jack cheese, and the green chilis. Then, add the black beans… be gentle! you don’t want them to turn to mush. Add the whole shebang to a cast iron skillet or a small casserole dish.
If you’re not yet a member of the cast iron skillet fan club, you need to get on board! They’re inexpensive, indestructible, and you can literally make anything from breakfast to dessert in these bad boys. We made our chicken enchilada dip in one because cast iron heats up quickly and it stays that way, so it’s perfect for a hot dip.
Now that you have the mixture transferred to your skillet (or casserole dish), top with the remaining cheese, and pop it in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbling around the edges and in the center. Serve with tortilla chips!
PrintChicken Enchilada Dip
This cheesy, creamy Chicken Enchilada Dip is a simple yet hearty appetizer that will be the star of your next get together!
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked chicken, diced
- 1/2 cup red enchilada sauce
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 4 oz. can green chili peppers, drained
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, grated and divided
- 1/2 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained (We prefer reduced sodium)
- cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Mix cream cheese, sour cream, enchilada sauce, cumin, chili powder and salt until smooth.
- Stir in 1.5 cups Monterey Jack cheese, chicken and green chilis. Add black beans last.
- Pour into oven safe skillet or small casserole dish and top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
- Bake 20-25 minutes or until hot through and lightly browning around edges and on top.
- Garnish with cilantro and serve with corn chips.
Have you made any of the recipes we’ve shared on Ugly Duckling House so far? Tell us below!
The post Chicken Enchilada Dip is Cheesy Goodness appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.
from The Ugly Duckling House https://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/chicken-enchilada-dip-cheesy-goodness/
Tuesday, 2 January 2018
A Crazy Christmas with the Fogles — My 2017 Christmas Dinner!
Just a few holiday highlights from my first time hosting Christmas at the UDH!
If you were ever curious about if I’d accidentally burn my house down hosting Christmas, this post has your answer. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, start here and catch up (read onward from that post), or just guess from the somewhat obvious context.
But regardless, here were are: my first time hosting Christmas. You guys would know more than most how satisfying it must have been checking this off of my goals list. Considering how much renovation has been done to this house (and still needs to be done), I sure was happy to see people enjoying a home I’ve worked so hard on! Despite the chaos, I’m happy to report that there were zero fires where they weren’t supposed to be (just the one was in the fireplace, *coos* like a good little fire).
There was also dog shit on my floor at one point. I suppose that’s what happens when you party naked invite a family that has six dogs between us. (This post has a lot of dog photos… thankfully no pics of poop.)
And the fur… my god, the fur that flew! I am pretty sure we vacuumed before everyone showed up, but there was no evidence of that after the first hour.
Just in case you don’t know these puppers, let’s recap:
Charlie + Stella
Charlie is mine; Stella is K’s (if you haven’t been here in ages, he’s the not-so-new boyfriend and his dog is the cutest little mini dachshund… with attitude).
Buddy
Buddy is Mom and Dad’s dog… aka, the Pooping Menace (thus the dog shaming). I love him dearly, even though he’s kind of an asshole for being a guest in my home and pooping on my floor in response. C’mon Buddy, my decorating isn’t that bad.
Lemon, Lana… and Dobby!
My sister is a foster mom failure… she just hasn’t quite figured out that whole giving-them-back part of being a foster. Lemon and Lana are sisters (Lemon = red, Lana = black) and have wildly different personalities (Lemon will hide and run away, while Lana will get right in your face). Dobby is a brand new lil’ man and he is so gangly and such a ham for photos!
Ok, so that’s all the doggos, and my goodness, what a crazy first hour that was. Everyone went in and out the doors to grab presents, bring the dogs in, take off coats, find a place to sit, clean up poo, stuff our faces with appetizers (not in that order, but after washing our hands), hugs, etc. Possibly the funniest part was that I had just finished touching up the scratches on the black and white staircase that morning!
I’m brilliant with my timing, I tell ya.
K decided on steak for our dinner, so he took over cooking while I entertained in the living room. He’s in pursuit of the perfect peppercorn sauce recipe, so be on the lookout for that post coming to the recipe section soon!
After the first bit of chaos, we settled in to watch movies and simply catch up. Anyone recognize this movie??
Also? THIS CHEESE. It’s my favorite, and I am just going to tell you that I am automatically an authority on cheese by virtue of Wisconsin birthright, so you should listen to me on this. It’s called Humbolt Fog by Cypress Grove, so pick some up and try it for yourself. This is not a sponsor, and the stuff isn’t even from Wisconsin, so it’s not a state pride thing — I just stuff this cheese into my mouth with reckless abandon and advocate that others do the same.
Family
Mom asked me to take pictures of everyone with my “nice camera”, but I didn’t set up any extra lighting. In hindsight, I wish I had. In front of the tree was definitely the best spot, but facing a light source and photographing people is a bit different than fixed objects!. Still, I’m glad I got a couple of pics. K and I had to wait until later in the evening because we were running around so much. My sister and her BF are extremely photogenic, aren’t they?
Mom and Dad and the Pooping Menace (Buddy).
We all had a really great time. Mostly retelling funny stories, missing loved ones, and making each other laugh. And, obviously, never sitting still long enough to photograph. (Goal for 2018: learn how to take better photos of moving targets.)
And as you can see, making a giant mess! We passed out presents, ate a wonderful dinner, and then dispersed as the dogs tired out. When they all started to fall asleep (Charlie gets these adorable droopy ears and eyes), we knew it was time to say goodbye.
My first time hosting was cozy, frantic, and fun. I am so glad I got to show off the house this year!
Did any of you host this year? How did it go?
The post A Crazy Christmas with the Fogles — My 2017 Christmas Dinner! appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.
from The Ugly Duckling House https://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/a-crazy-christmas-with-the-fogles-my-2017-christmas-dinner/
Friday, 29 December 2017
Best Reveals of 2017
Sharing the best reveals of 2017, along with the projects I’m most proud of!
I hope you all had an AMAZING holiday break! I have definitely used it to take some time off and simply relax. And holy cow, did the switch go off for me to take ALL of my Christmas decor down the second Christmas was over. My brain is already bubbling with tons of goals for 2018, and I need a clean slate!
Today, just as a way to give myself a little boost for the coming year, I thought it best to recap some of the changes that 2017 brought to the UDH. I often feel like the house makes such slow progress, and that can start to weigh on you after a while. So, recaps like these help to remind myself that even when I’m up to my ankles in sawdust, I DO have something to show for it!
I’m not going to base this list on anything other than my own opinion on what I liked best about 2017. I’m not looking at traffic stats or any of the usual bloggery yard sticks to say what was and was not “best” for the year. Instead, I am looking at what made the biggest impact to how I live everyday, what made me more confident with DIY, or things that taught me most. I think, realistically, that’s a much bigger deal than what was popular. So, here we go!
The Laundry Room Reveal and Plywood Countertop
I kicked off 2017 with a bang: my new, organized laundry room! I’ve done things like installing a new tile floor in previous years, but the laundry room got its finishing touches with lots of new plants, better storage, and even a new plywood countertop (as well as cleaning product storage that looks like decor).
Laying a Concrete Slab
Every year, I learn something new that makes me feel kinda badass. So even though it wasn’t really a huge transformation, my new concrete slab on the side of the house is worthy of recognition on this list. The fence that surrounds it was also finished in 2017 but not shared (in fact, there are a few things I always meant to post about but didn’t), so that will be something I will be revisiting soon.
Speaking of concrete and learning new things…
My Most Controversial Post – ??
Strangely, 2017 also included one of the most controversial posts I’ve ever written: trying out a product after one of my fence posts got knocked out of its footing (I know, *gasp* not a review!! the horror!). Not every new product to market performs to expectations, and DIY is all about experimenting and learning new things. I’ve shared posts like these several times over the years, but what surprised me about this one was the rampant, condescending (coughcoughsexistcough) comments from new visitors to the blog who didn’t appear to actually read the post. Definitely an unexpected result, to say the least, but it also taught me a lot on what I will (insightful questions) and won’t (posturing bullshit) make time for in the day.
5-Ingredient Spicy Chicken Quesadillas
For years, I’ve been averse to sharing recipes on the blog except for a few Christmas-related ones and family memories. But 2017 also spurred a new interested in nixing my pizza-ordering habit and eating a little better. That meant also cooking more at home. To kick off my new recipes section, I shared one of my easiest dinner/appetizer ideas with this 5-ingredient chicken quesadilla. I also introduced my contributor team around this time, which included more recipes!
Sooooo many backyard changes!
One of the most significant things that came from 2016 was a flatter backyard. So, after the sinkhole was filled in, it was like a lightbulb of inspiration: creating the new fire pit, adding a beautiful little corner garden of hydrangeas, ripping out the chain link fence, and the new addition for 2018: my pub shed! I have made a little more progress on it, so I’ll be sharing a new post on it and the goal is to finish in the first half of 2018. I am looking forward to year 2 and seeing how everything fills in this coming year… it will add SO much color!
DIY 2×4 Coffee Table (Cut in about 15 Minutes!)
I got rid of some old furniture this year, especially in the living room. So, along with my new sectional, I needed a new coffee table. Instead of buying, I chose to DIY as part of a fun 2×4 challenge. While this may not be my forever table (I’m holding out for a thick live-edge slab, but that is an investment), I loved how it turned out!
The Master Bathroom Shower Reveal and Crown Molding Hack
Guys, this was SO HUGE for me. The master bathroom has been a pain in the ass for years. I almost want to laugh at myself that a sponsor was responsible for kicking me into gear with more motivation to make some progress. Sometimes, you need an outside force to breathe new life into a project that frustrates you. As a result, I got a shimmery, beautiful new shower and learned a lot more about renovating a shower from start to finish. I’m also pretty proud with the outside-the-box (to me) shower curtain I DIY’d and the creative solution for the crown molding I figured out. Honestly, that’s another post I’m pretty proud of; but if it’s anything like several other tutorials I’ve created regarding home hacks, it will take a while before that one gets more eyeballs!
How I Create My Own Cross Stitch Patterns
Before this year, I didn’t really share that I love to cross stitch. But in this post, I covered a new fall pattern I created as well as my quick-and-dirty process for how I generate patterns. Note: I have a new Christmas one also starring my pup Charlie, but that will be shared soon! You can also subscribe to have access to my free patterns library where I add all the new patterns!
A Most Thankful Year
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to reflect on what you’re most thankful for. I did that in this post while celebrating the vow renewal of two of my closest friends in St. Lucia. Broken hearts, mental health, self-care, the value of true friendship, and more were touched on here. I think it’s one of my personal favorites of 2017 because it was so tough to find the right words. And I loved the way you guys responded to it and shared your own stories. Thank you for that. <3
DIY Plywood Wine Rack
It’s art. It’s woodworking. It’s functional. My wine rack is so many things that it was hard to figure out the title for the post! But my new wood-art-slash-wine-rack in the dining room was one of those projects where I worked hard on a single project for several weeks, learned new skills, and came out on the other side with something I’m really proud of. You can get the recap and download the free plans from my new woodworking plans library.
What was your favorite post that I shared in 2017? I can’t wait to share what’s in store for 2018. This time, I’m breaking out my colored pencils to draw up some of the makeover ideas. Art is going to be a considerable part of 2018!
Come back this weekend, too. I have a few posts to get under the wire before the new year. Happy holidays, friends!
The post Best Reveals of 2017 appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.
from The Ugly Duckling House https://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/best-reveals-of-2017/
Sunday, 24 December 2017
Brown Wrapping Paper with Feathers and Gold Ribbon
Want to get that brown kraft paper gift wrap look for cheap? You’ll probably laugh when I tell you where I found mine…
Merry Christmas Eve, friends!
Going all out on a “theme” for holiday gift wrapping has never really been a tradition in my family. We might grab one of those 3-pack rolls of wrapping paper where they share a color scheme, but that’s about as far as we’ve ever gone. It’s not really that I haven’t ever wanted to try something a little fancier… it’s that I never had the time!
This year, I went for it with my neutral/woodland Christmas theme. And it was a lot of fun. Not all that much extra work, either.
The best part for me was finding the kraft paper for super cheap. I noticed that whenever a cheap DIY hack like this becomes really trendy, it gets repackaged and sold at a premium. The brown kraft paper is relabeled as wrapping paper, and then suddenly it’s $5-10 more expensive and has at least 4 fewer feet on the roll… funny how that happens, eh?
Instead, I went searching at the home improvement store in the dropcloth aisle where you find painter’s tape. There, I found the same paper for just $4. The roll is actually so long, it will no doubt outlast my desire to wrap things in it. That happens whenever I think I’m being “smart” by buying a huge roll (can anyone relate?).
For the record, these are all actual gifts. No fake empty boxes. So all of this pretty packaging is in the burn pile as I type this (oh well, fun while it lasted).
I was really excited about that glittery gold wrapping paper you see, too. But after trying in vain to wrap only two gifts and seeing it wholly reject my tape, I gave up. It also tore really easy (thick enough not to fold neatly; forcing it tears… UGH). Who designs crappy-ass gift paper that looks this beautiful but can’t be taped or folded without popping open again?? Even clear packaging tape was of no use. So frustrating. If you’ve got a solution for me, I’m all ears — I have almost two rolls of this beautiful, useless stuff.
I learned my lesson. Stick to the kraft paper and get creative instead. I found the feathers at the craft store and the bows were leftovers from my Christmas stash. The flourishes might have been a little more spendy than I usually go for, but the cheap paper made it about the same cost and looks a lot nicer.
Sources:
I guess I now understand why magazines will package all of their presents under the tree to match their theme; it looks way more professional than we all know I am. But unlike the magazine versions you might see, this was short-lived; about three hours after everyone (plus dogs) arrived for our Christmas dinner, it was all gone.
Have you ever used the kraft paper gift wrapping idea? I found tons of other ideas online that I am keeping in mind for next time!
The post Brown Wrapping Paper with Feathers and Gold Ribbon appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.
from The Ugly Duckling House https://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/brown-kraft-paper-gift-wrap-with-feathers-and-gold-ribbon/