Six ingredients and you are on your way to deliciousness. It's party time!
It's all a bit ridiculous. You see, when late August and September roll around, I seem to lose my brain and just assume everyone loves appetizers and football as much as I do.
I quickly find out that not everyone feels the same way. I've served two different appetizers for dinner to my family in the past week. These bourbon dogs and nachos. Separately. As the meal. The kids love it, but the husband kind of looks at me like I've lost my marbles.
Why do people have such a hard time eating an appetizer as a meal? It's fun! Geesh, People can be so up tight.
Appetizer or not, I do realize that many, many people are NOT football fans, could care less and frankly have stopped reading by now because they are already annoyed. I get that. If you talked about soccer or bowling or whatever that sport is where they poke each other with swords I'd be drifting off too.
But, here's the thing. Football watching = yummy eats. You know I'm right! I've never been to a party, where the game is on and good food isn't being served. So for that reason alone, even if you are a non-football-fall-loving-sports-guru, I still have a WEE bit of faith you are still with me.
A version of this recipe came from this great cookbook {p. 18}. When the publisher recently contacted me wanting to know if I'd like an advanced copy to review and share with my readers I immediately said YES.
#1 - I love my slow cooker. #2 - all of the recipes are submitted by home cooks. #3 - the cover looked pretty. I do judge many books by their cover. It's a fault I've fully embraced.
With football officially starting and appetizers on my mind, I browsed through the 38 pages of finger foods and started weeding through the ones that stuck out at me. These bourbon dogs reminded me that people do still buy kielbasa or little smokies at the grocery store. For awhile I thought only my mom did, but so does Lois Ostrander from Lebanon, PA {the lovely gal who submitted this one}.
I grew up eating kielbasa. It is a fully-cooked mild sausage. My mom served it just one way. Fried in a skillet with a side of {again} fried potatoes. Put a big doll-up of ketchup next to both of these on my plate and I was golden from the ages of 4 to 18.
I tried serving this meal to the husband early on in our relationship and it quickly got shut down. He didn't understand the love. It disappointed me, but I moved on. Until about two weeks ago when I saw this recipe and all those memories came flooding back. I still remember the old skillet my mom used {I think she still has it}, in our old house, in the kitchen that sat at the front of the house and kept her away from all the action in the living room where we all were {she hated that}.
Regardless of all this nostalgia, my family loved these! Yes, they are spiked with some bourbon, but not much and it cooks off, so chill out folks...they are good! These would be ideal for a potluck or upcoming football or tailgating party.
Slow Cooker Bourbon Dogs
adapted from Fix It and Forget It Slow Cooker Magic
2 c. ketchup
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. bourbon
2 T. dried onion
1/2 c. water
2 pkg. kielbasa sausage, cut into bite sized pieces
1. Combine all ingredients in a 3 quart slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
2. Stir half way through.
3. Serve warm.
And guess what? I'm giving a copy of this cookbook away. To one of you! Do you like my cute little model? Her and I have been hanging out this week as preschool for her doesn't start until Tuesday {the days could not drag out any slower}.
I'm keeping this giveaway super simple. Just leave a comment answering the question below. That's it! So nothing, I mean NOTHING, should keep you from entering. This cookbook would be a perfect Christmas gift! You can purchase it HERE, if you want a head start.
Did I just say that? Sorry. But if you are like me, I don't buy my gifts until the week prior, so winning this cookbook would be a wonderful head start.
I will pick one random winner on Tuesday, September 8th. Good luck!
What is your favorite T.V. show of all time?
