Generally speaking, I’m not much for contests. I just don’t have a strong competitive nature! But after I was contacted by Saucy Mama to participate in the “I’m a Saucy Mama” contest, offering bottles of all their wonderful products to work with, and the chance at a cash prize…I gave in. Always a sucker for cash!
The goal of this contest was to create crowd-pleasing party recipes. As someone who throws parties–and often on short notice–I know the importance of having easy recipes that look and taste great, but don’t take a lot of time.
I couldn’t decide on one product…so I tried them all in a variety of recipes. My focus was to develop user-friendly recipes, and let the flavor of the Saucy Mama product shine through! That’s what makes Saucy Mama products so fantastic. With just a few extra ingredients, you can pull together simple dishes that are FLAVA-LICIOUS and easy on the eyes!
With an extended dining table full of taste-testers, I threw my hard-core competitors into their first challenge. The dishes contended well, with only a few minor tweaks needed for their next battle. The Chipotle Aioli with Steamed Artichokes was MY personal favorite. Yet, the taste-testers all had varied opinions, so who knows!
Saucy Mama offered another set of wonderful sauces to use for a Blog Giveway! One winner will receive Saucy Mama’s: Sweet Onion Marinade, Hot Wing Sauce, Lime Chipotle Marinade, Cracked Pepper Marinade, Chipotle Mustard, and Jalapeno Stuffed Olives! Guidelines at the end of the post…
Without further adieu, I offer you my entries.
Chipotle Aioli with Steamed Artichokes
This aioli (Provencal-style dipping sauce) was made with Saucy Mama Chipotle Mustard. It is fabulously addictive, and perfect for nearly ANY party food including: oven fries, plantain chips, raw veggies, and crostini. My favorite way to eat it is with steamed artichoke leaves!
2 tablespoons Saucy Mama Chipotle Mustard
¾ cup mayonnaise
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground pepper
2-4 large artichokes
Half a lemon
Set a steam basket over a large stock pot filled with 2 cups of water. Cover and place over high heat.
To trim the artichokes: Cut the stems off the artichokes. Then cut about 1 inch off the tops of each. Pull any rough or loose leaves off the bottom. Using kitchen shears, cut the tips off of every leaf around each artichoke.
Rub the artichokes with a half of a lemon so the cut edges don’t brown. Place them in the steam basket
Meanwhile, mix the Chipotle Mustard with mayonnaise, garlic, salt and pepper. Mix well.
To eat: Pull the artichokes leaves off, and dip them into the aioli. Use your teeth to scrape the “meat” off each leaf, then discard the rest!
Spicy Olive “Pate”
This olive and almond spread is a wonderful topper from thin bruschetta slices, but can also be served with crackers or endive leaves! Its bright nutty essence is perfectly complemented by Saucy Mama’s briny Jalapeno Stuffed Olives!
1- 5 oz. jar of Saucy Mama Jalapeno Stuffed Olives
1 cup toasted almonds
1 small garlic clove
3 tablespoons olive oil
The zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon parsley
To toast the almonds: Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the almonds on a baking sheet and bake for approximately 10 minutes—or until the color in slightly darker and you can smell the almonds!
Place all the ingredients in a food processor
This could also be chopped by hand for a rougher, tapenade-style spread.
Cracked Pepper Stuffed Mushrooms
A quick and easy stuffed mushroom recipe that is flavor-packed and filling!
12 oz. of crimini or button mushrooms
12 oz. pork sausage
1/3 cup Saucy Mama’s Cracked Pepper Marinade
2 tablespoons honey
*Garnish with chives
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Remove the stems from the mushroom caps and place the caps in a rimmed baking dish. Fill each cap with pork sausage and shape into a tight mound. Mix 1/3 cup of Saucy Mama Cracked Pepper Marinade with 2 tablespoons of honey. Brush over the tops of the stuffed mushrooms, reserving half the mixture. Bake for 10 minutes. Brush the caps with marinade again and bake another 6-8 minutes.
Garnish with fresh cut chives and serve warm!
Hot Knots with Sweet Onion Dip
This party snack will disappear in moments! Spicy dough knots are fantastic on their own, but can be enhanced (and tamed) with sweet onion dip made with Saucy Mama’s Sweet Onion Marinade!
1 lb. store-bought refrigerated pizza dough (usually in the deli section)
½ cup Saucy Mama’s Hot Wing Sauce
¼ cup brown sugar
Sweet Onion Dip:
½ cup Saucy Mama’s Sweet Onion Marinade
¾ cup sour cream
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll the pizza dough out on a floured work surface. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut strips of dough that are approximate ¾ inch wide and 4 inches long. With your hands, roll each strip on the floured surface until it’s about 6 inches long. Then quickly tie into a loose knot. Place on a baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough.
Mix ½ cup of Saucy Mama’s Hot Wing Sauce with ¼ cup of brown sugar. Brush the mixture over the dough knots, covering them completely. Bake for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix the Sweet Onion Marinade with ¾ cup sour cream. Serve the Hot Knots warm with the Sweet Onion Dip on the side!
If you want to make your own pizza dough click here!
Chipotle Black Bean Salsa
This super quick and FRESH salsa is sure to be a party favorite with mango, avocado and Saucy Mama’s Lime Chipotle Marinade!
1- 15 oz. can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 avocado, peeled and diced
1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
¼ cup chopped red onion
2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro
¼ cup Saucy Mama’s Lime Chipotle Marinade
Salt and Pepper to taste
Tortilla chips or endive leaves for dipping
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Salt and pepper to taste!
Saucy Mama GIVEAWAY!
To enter:
1. Subscribe to A SPICY PERSPECTIVE by RSS, Facebook, Twitter, or Email.
2. Leave a comment telling me how you subscribed.
FINE PRINT~
*All participants MUST live in the continental U.S. and have a permanent address (No PO Boxes, please!)
*Readers may enter until 12 noon (EST) on September 25th, 2010.
*A winner will be selected by random drawing and announced in an evening post September 26th.
*Once selected, the winner will need to provide a shipping address to receive their winnings!
*If a winner does not respond by September 30th, 2010, a new winner will be selected.
gorgeous!
wow…so many saucy dishes…yummy!
I am already subscribed to your posts my mail !!
Sinfully Spicy
Those meatballs and knots are fantastic – great ideas for a party….
already subscribed via facebook. added the email as well. cheers!
Wow, Sommer…you've been an incredibly busy Mama in that kitchen of yours. Wonderful recipes and spread all around ;o)
I do follow you on my blogroll, however, I unfortunately do not qualify for your giveaway…being Canadian seems to always be a deterant when it comes to these gifts…how disappointing ;(
Good luck to everyone else ;o)
Ciao for now,
Claudia
Just like you couldn't choose the product, I can't choose the recipe I like best. They're all so creative. A couple will be perfect for our holiday open house – 150-200 attendees – so I'm always keeping my eyes open for make ahead appetizers! Thanks!! Kate @ kateiscooking
Forgot to mention – I'm a follower on Facebook
These all sound lovely! Now if only we could get Saucy Mama sauces in England!!
Those are fantastic looking sauces and even better recipes you came up with. Love the meatballs and the knots, they look delicious!
(
I'm following on Facebook, was trying the twitter but it didn't work
These are all great. My favorite being, well all of them. Thanks for sharing.
You went above and beyond…and succeeded in everything. It looks like the perfect spread for a party. I am following you on twitter (@frugalantics)
Wow, your post is really making me hungry, just love all your goodies! I received my package from your last give away and boy do those chocolate truffles smell good:) I'll take a picture and post it on facebook later, thanks again Sommer, Patty
ps. Love your business card, I seriously need to get serious and have some of those made for Patty's Food!
Wow, Sommer… what a feast! Gorgeous food, great pictures. where do you live again? LOL. You would be a mighty fine Neighbor. My Neighbors next door have gyn equipment instead of dinning room. Sigh* I am probably their worst nightmare, because while they are doing Abdominal Crunches I'm frying bacon next door. Hahahahaha!
Amazing job developing recipes from all of these sauces. They are all so simple for entertaining–seems like each one of them would be a hit at any party. I think my favorites are the stuffed mushrooms and the salsa.
Terrific recipes! I love saucy mama's products but I haven't tried their olives yet, those sound really good!
Dishes look divine!
Already subscribed via facebook, now on email.
great recipe, your sure to win..love the meatballs and the black bean salsa…good luck, finger crossed
I subscribe, love ya girl
sweetlife
First of all, all of those recipes look sooo delciious!
Secondly, I subscribed via RSS.
A very tasty spread! Everything sounds delish and looks fabulous!
Looks wonderful! Making me hungry! I already sub. via email. Great job!
Those artichokes look divine. I usually just dip my steamed artichokes in mayo…this looks A LOT better. Great ideas for everything!
(I subscribed via RSS)
I'm a sucker for appetizers of any sort. You did a wonderful job with all of these!
Oh… Those mushrooms and hot knots look like winners in my book! Thanks for sharing the recipes.
Wow, you have really outdone yourself! I just wanted to comment on your beautiful entries! I'm partial to the Cracked Pepper Meatballs, but they all look terrific! I entered the contest also, but only submitted one recipe.
needless to say, everything looks divine…
Me too! Those look so flavorful and delicious.
Cheers,
Rosa
Georgous & tasty looking dishes! Too bad it isn't for foodies in Europe!
But good luck to the rest!
I subscribed via Facebook. If we subscribe more than one way, does that increase our odds? I throw a lot of parties myself, so I'd love to win this – and all of your party dishes look GREAT!
Wow Sommer! You've been a busy girl in your kitchen! All of these look absolutely delicious!
You know me and I follow you from all angles.
Have a great weekend!
Although I cannot take part, your treats look extremely appetizing.
I am so impressed! The artichokes and mushrooms look unreal!
I follow you via email!
Keeping my fingers crossed!
They all look great! I follow on FB.
I'm already subscribed-Yes! It' true (smile). And these sauces look nice. I like free stuff;)
Oh, and all of the food looks so good, Sommer. Dare I say I want one of those meaty mushrooms?!
So gorgeous Sommer! Please forgive my noticeable absence from your blog but I have been moving and am playing blog catchup.
Your treats are absolutely delectable as usual and your pics are getting better by the minute. What a wonderful collection of finger foods these would make at a party! YUMMMMMM…!
Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
I am keeping up to date via email
I'm not looking to take part in your contest, but I love the chipotle and artichokes. Two of my favorites.
Wow! What an impressive and delicious post! Those stuffed mushrooms and hot knots look fantastic. Following you on Twitter (I'm @socalsustenance)
Enjoy your weekend!
-Laura
You did a wonderful job with the product you were sent. I especially loked the salsa. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
Ok.. I have so much to say, but I'll try to keep it brief:
1) I've never heard of Saucy Mama. Not only do the flavours intrigue me, but the packaging is wonderful.
2) All of your party dishes are wonderful! I especially like the spicy knots and will try them.
3) Next time you have a taste test party, please invite me!!!!
4) Thank you for sharing.
5) Following you on Twitter now as well
YOU are amazing! Saucy Mama picked the right person to use their product.
Yum! I want to try everything:) I subscribe via Twitter. Thanks so much for your kinds words about my eye ordeal:)
Subscriber via Facebook (SusanBenegas)
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
I want all of that. ALL ALL ALL. Please invite me
Oh besides I love any one who has a spicy perspective. Loving everything on your blog.
so much great food!! those sauces sound pretty darn good! And here I thought you were the spicy mama!
wow amazing party foods, oh I coming to Asheville oct 6th with a friend, if you wanted to meet drop me a line
Rebecca
Great giveaway Sommer! Wish I could participate but I'll just cheer from the sidelines
Everything looks amazing but I am really salivating over the pizza dough knots and the chipotle black bean salsa. GORGEOUS!!!
Looks fantastic, I think I would have to be at the gym for about 5 years after being presented with all this food! ha
Thanks for the giveaway! I subscribed by emails.
Thanks for this giveaway and I follow this blog via email…
ramvinayak_81@rediffmail.com
I subscribed via email and will by FB too. I found your site from my friend Bethany (Ms. Mulligatawny Soup) Love your site. Thx Bethany for the FB post.
The hot knots look delicious! Subscribed by RSS and Twitter of course