Recipe: Buffalo Cheese Dip

I hope you all enjoyed watching the Superbowl yesterday! I was rooting for Seattle, so I don't have too much to complain about, but it's always more entertaining when it's a close game. I have to be honest, I was pretty disappointed in the commercials. Though I'm not even going to pretend I didn't cry during the puppy/horse budweiser commercial, I know I'm not the only one. Other than the commercials, I'm all about the food. Chloe made the most delicious vegetarian buffalo cheese dip and I'm very excited to share the recipe with you! Since it was just the two of us, we decided to have a fully vegetarian spread. The rice in the dip is to replace any meat and it adds substance. I always like having veggie dips in my arsenal, because when they're this good no one is going to care that there's no meat! 

Buffalo Cheese Dip

Serves 4-6 people

What you need:

1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice (about a cup of uncooked rice)

1/2 cup ranch dressing

8 oz. cream cheese

1/2 cup buffalo sauce (more in my opinion)

1 cup shredded cheese 

What to do:

1. Melt cream cheese and ranch dressing together in a sauce pan
2. Add and stir in about a third of the cheese
3. Add buffalo sauce and stir until thoroughly mixed together
4. Stir in the cooked rice and the rest of the cheese
5. Serve hot with tortilla chips!

Something I learned while documenting this, it's pretty hard to take a picture of dip and have it look appetizing. Though dip is probably one of the best party foods, it's not great to look at. Rest assured that though this dip isn't winning any beauty contests, it's oh so addicting. I recommend making a big bowl for guests, then strategically planting yourself next to it so you can subtly eat it all. Or if you're not as food-sneaky as I am, maybe just eat a bunch while you're making it before guests come over to judge you.

Flatlands

I recently took a trip to Indiana where the lands are flat and the cats are huge. It also happens to be the stomping ground of my partner in crime, Chloe, who is now one year older (and none the wiser, I assure you). I couldn't possibly let her celebrate her birthday alone, so I flew out to see what the Midwest has to offer. During my plane ride there I had a reverse-Dorthy moment upon seeing all the flat, farmlands punctuated with very few houses:"Toto, I think we might be in Kansas." It turns out that most things people think about the Midwest seem to ring true - Walmart, drive-ins, but mostly how NICE everyone is. If you live in a cave and have never heard this, let me be the first to tell you - people in the Midwest are so nice. They give out cookies at the airport, conversations happen with many of the people you encounter and it seems like everyone was smiling. Being reunited with Chloe made me realize how excited I am to be living together again. Isn't it cool how there are people that who, no matter how much time has passed, can pick up exactly where you left off? On Chloe's birthday we barhopped, my favorite being an outdoor bar where we took solace from the rain by sitting under a canopy in a pair of car seats, complete with a gear shift and cup holders, from three different cars. After a quick disco nap, her family threw a nice get together with her friends. I got her this killer 'thinking cap' beer helmet, which got a bunch of use at the party. The next day we walked around a beautiful park just before proving (mostly to myself) that I could eat a chili-cheese dog in four bites - a task that most people can do, but I had yet to succeed. I got experience my first drive in and get a kick-ass America shirt at Walmart. The weekend went by in a second and pretty soon it was time to go. Though it was hard to leave Chloe, I can't wait for the adventures we'll have in Brooklyn in just a few short weeks.

Heatwave

The fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. It's always filled with hanging outdoors, barbecues, warm weather, hot dogs and all things America. It is also Natalie's birthday, which always adds another reason for celebration. We lit off little fireworks that we found in a box in the attic and ran around the yard with sparklers. The following day we packed too many people in Natalie's van and drove to the beach. The car felt like it was going to break down the entire time I was driving down the highway and the air conditioning was broken. It just meant driving with the windows down and the music blasting. At the beach we made Manuel into a mermaid (how beautiful is he?), spent time soaking in the sun and cooling off in the waves. Sitting in the backseat on the drive home and having our bodies touching at every possible point was so hot, the only relief was pressing my face close to the open window. There is a heatwave that has been making the days unbearably hot, but the nights are pleasantly warm.

Disposable

I finally got my disposable camera developed. These pictures are from Andy's 21st birthday at Barcade, a visit I took to Bard to visit Ella and most recently my housewarming! Between finals and moving, I feel like I've had no time. Things are finally starting to get settled and everything is coming together. I don't start my internship until next week so until then I've been having visitors nonstop! I'm so excited to show off my new place and also to see my friends home for the summer. I love disposable cameras, I wish they didn't add up so quickly. I used to use them alot in high school and recently rediscovered how great they are. The pictures never need to be edited and I like that they're so candid. I've been guilty of looking at a camera and saying "oh no I don't like this one, will you take another one?" With a disposable you get what you take. The only problem is a couple of the photos didn't come out, but the ones that did are great!

Grunge

Spent Saturday night reliving the 90's. We tied flannels around our waist and played twister. The 90's were absolutely my most awkward times, filled with high-water pants and questionable hairstyles. Looking back on it, I wish it was as glamorous at Clueless made it seem (plus I wish I had Cher's closet!). I miss things like giga pets, light-up sneakers, dunkaroos and of course the TV shows! My favorite were Doug, Hey Arnold, Clarissa Explains it All, Boy Meets World and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. I'm not as good at patty cake as I once was...or twister for that matter. 

Birthday Party

These pictures were all taken by Chloe last Thursday for my 21st birthday! I spent dinner at Loreley Restaurant and Biergarten with my loved ones, a perfect place to eat and drink alot. Afterwards Chloe and Gabby threw a party for me at Gabby's apartment. It was honestly perfect. Alot of my friends are not 21 yet, so I'd rather spend it in an apartment than a bar. Thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate, it was an incredible birthday!