Mardi Gras Pasta Salad

Hello my Hy-Vee friends!

Mardi Gras is just around the corner and as much as I love sharing recipes for all food Cajun and Creole, today’s idea is a bit more "colorful." The colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. While I won’t bore you with what the colors mean, I did want to represent them in a dish. After some thought, I created a pasta salad that simply screams Mardi Gras. 

All you need is 3 one pound boxes of your favorite pasta and a box of food coloring. In one pot add the bottle of yellow, in the second pot add the bottle of green and in the third add ¾ bottle of blue and the entire bottle of red food coloring. Boil each pound of pasta separately in each pot of water. Drain and combine. At that point add what you want! I mixed in a red wine vinaigrette with olives, salami, ham, and provolone. Delicious and festive!

Let the good times roll and as always, Praise the Lard!

-Chef Alex

Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip

Hello my Hy-Vee friends!

Oh the memories of the big game growing up...can I remember any of the stats? Of course not. But I can remember the first dip I made. I was about 8 years old and it was French Onion Dip. I opened a pack of that French onion dip powder, poured it into a bowl and mixed in sour cream. Voila, it was done! It was cool, creamy and delicious. I still love that dip but a little over 35 years later, my taste buds are craving something a little more sophisticated.

I now caramelize the onions, mix in bacon and add asiago cheese. I am no longer that nervous 8 year old boy but tasting this new improved version of the dip still brings me back to that that small kitchen in Chicago helping my mom make food for the big game.

Caramelized Onion Bacon Dip

All you need:
1 tablespoon oil
2 large onions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon brown sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, softened 
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup shredded asiago cheese
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled 

All you do:
1. In a medium sized skillet add oil, brown sugar and onions. Cook over low heat until onions are brown and caramelized.
2. Combine onions, cream cheese, mayonnaise, 1/2 cup grated asiago and bacon.
3. Spread into a baking dish and top with remaining cheese.
4. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes of until top is nicely golden brown.
5. Enjoy!

We also sell this dip on the shelf across from our Produce department!

Enjoy the big game and as always, Praise the Lard!

-Chef Alex