Jalapeno Popper Dip

Credit: Closet Cooking

My wife actually found and made this recipe, and everyone has been asking for it. She tweaked the original slightly.

Ingredients:
1 (16 ounce) container cream cheese (room temperature)
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup cheddar cheese (grated)
1 cup parmigiano reggiano
1 (8 ounce) can sliced jalapenos (pickled)
2 fresh jalapeno peppers (sliced, optional)

Directions:
1. Mix the cream cheese, mayonnaise, most of the cheddar cheese, parmigiano reggiano and pickled jalapenos in a bowl and pour into a baking dish.
2. Take remaining cheddar cheese and sprinkle over the top, followed by sliced fresh jalapenos (optional).
3. Bake in a 375F oven until bubbling, about 10-20 minutes.

Etco-Cooler

Credit: The Nerdist

Normally I come up with, or pass along, relatively healthy cooking suggestions. This is not one of those weeks. If you grew up in the 80's you will remember the animated Ghost Busters cartoon. A slew of toy and food tie-ins (like the Slimer pie) existed, one that I foundly remember my mother not letting me go near is the Ecto Cooler. Joke is on you Mom, because I can make my own...

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup orange juice (no pulp)
3/4 cup tangerine juice
1 packet orange Flavor-Aid
1 packet tangerine Flavor-Aid
1 spoonful Country Time powdered lemonade mix (or 1 packet of lemonade Flavor-Aid? Just throwin’ it out there)
1 3/4 cup sugar
Blue and green food coloring

DIRECTIONS:
Stir all ingredients in a gallon jug. Add water to fill the jug. Add food coloring until it’s just the right, unsettling shade of green.

New Orleans Hurricane

I found this last week due to Hurricane Irene, and I figured it would make a good labor day weekend drink!

INGREDIENTS:
Ice
2 oz light rum
2 oz dark rum
2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
juice of a half a lime
1 Tbsp simple syrup
1 Tbsp grenadine
orange slice and cherry for garnish

DIRECTIONS:
Drink!