web1_lombardo.jpg

Police charge Joe Lombardo in another armed robbery case

web1_Materialize-With-Drew-Thomas-Press-Image.jpg

Illusionist Drew Thomas materializes at F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre

<p>Whether you&#8217;re a football fan or tuning in just to see Beyonce and Coldplay, Super Bowl 50 is an appropriate time to toss diets aside and indulge in some tasty snacks.</p><p>In honor of the Feb. 7 matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers, Test Kitchen offers a few delicious and good-looking treats perfect for any Super Bowl party. If you&#8217;re not into football, tuck these recipes away because they will come in handy at some point.</p><p>Chicken wings are probably the No. 1 snack during football season. Fried, grilled, breaded or baked, it&#8217;s the sauce on these bites that matter. We made a Carolina barbecue sauce, which has a mustard base and vinegar flavor not typically found in regular barbecue sauces.</p><p>An incredibly easy recipe, this barbecue sauce will go perfect with wings, pulled pork or ribs.</p><p>Taco dip is another classic. You can&#8217;t really go wrong with this one. There are only a few ingredients, but tap into your creative and chef and take some liberties with this recipe. It doesn&#8217;t require actual cooking, enabling hungry snackers to attack right away. Pick a strong man to mix the cream cheese, sour cream and taco mix while you prep the toppings and it&#8217;s that much quicker.</p><p>Sticking with dips, how does a pizza dip sound?</p><p>Get that strong man (or woman) back to help mix one package of cream cheese with some grated parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Add in any pizza spices, such as oregano, parsley, Italian blend, basil or whatever you like. Place the mixture at the bottom of a pie pan then top with additional parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Add pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms, or any of your favorite pizza toppings.</p><p>Cook this dip in a 350-degree oven for about 20 minutes or until the top and sides are bubbling and have slightly browned.</p><p>Let this dip cool a little before serving. Serve with chips, baguettes, crescent rolls or crackers.</p><p>No party spread would be complete without some jalapeno poppers.</p><p>Grab some ever-popular crescent rolls, diced peppers, bacon bits and cream cheese and you&#8217;ve got a winner.</p><p>Warning: If you&#8217;re dicing the jalapenos with your bare hands, take every precaution to not touch your eyes mouth or nose, as the burn from the peppers is very unpleasant. Wash your hands with soap, hot water and some lemon juice when you&#8217;re finished handling the peppers.</p><p>First, unroll the crescent rolls and separate them into their pre-cut triangle shapes. Make sure the dough is really chilled, it&#8217;s much easier to work with. Once they&#8217;re separated, place a dollop of cream cheese, about 1-2 teaspoons, in the middle. Next add a teaspoon each of peppers and bacon (or no bacon for the vegetarians) and then seal up the crescent. Dabbing a little water on your fingers and sealing any seams will help keep the pastry from oozing out while cooking in a 350-degree oven.</p><p><strong>TACO DIP</strong></p><p><em>What you&#8217;ll need:</em></p><p>1 package taco seasoning</p><p>1 16 oz package cream cheese</p><p>1 16 oz container sour cream</p><p>2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese</p><p>1 can diced tomatoes (or one fresh tomato diced)</p><p>Shredded lettuce</p><p>Other additions to consider are taco meat, black olives, salsa, hot peppers or anything else you like</p><p><em>Procedure:</em></p><p>Mix room temperature cream cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning together, blending well.</p><p>Place the mixture on a platter or in a 9x9 glass pan. Top with shredded cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and other toppings.</p><p>Add some chips around the edges of the dip and serve.</p><p><strong>PIZZA DIP</strong></p><p><em>What you&#8217;ll need:</em></p><p>1 8 0z package cream cheese</p><p>1/2 cup sour cream</p><p>1 cup grated parmesan cheese (divided)</p><p>2 cups grated mozzarella cheese (divided)</p><p>Oregano, parsley, Italian seasoning, basil</p><p>1 cup pizza sauce</p><p>Pizza toppings of your choice</p><p><em>Procedure:</em></p><p>Preheat oven to 350. Blend cream cheese, sour cream and half of the parmesan and mozzarella. When mixed, add in spices of your choice.</p><p>Spread the mixture in the bottom of a pie pan then add the pizza sauce. Top with the remaining parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Top with pepperoni or other pizza toppings.</p><p>Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.</p><p><strong>JALAPENO POPPERS</strong></p><p><em>What you&#8217;ll need:</em></p><p>1 can crescent rolls</p><p>6-8 oz cream cheese</p><p>4 jalapenos, seeded and diced</p><p>1/4 cup bacon bits</p><p><em>Procedure:</em></p><p>Preheat oven to 350. Separate the rolls. Place 1-2 teaspoons of cream cheese in the middle, top with diced peppers and bacon.</p><p>Gather the edges of the roll so they are touching and seal the edges so the mixture will not leak.</p><p>Use cooking spray or parchment paper on the baking tray and bake for 11-15 minutes or until golden brown.</p><p>Let cool for a few minutes before serving.</p><p><strong>CAROLINA BARBECUE SAUCE</strong></p><p><em>What you&#8217;ll need:</em></p><p>1 cup yellow mustard</p><p>1/2 cup sugar</p><p>1/4 cup brown sugar</p><p>3/4 cup cider vinegar</p><p>1/4 cup water</p><p>2 tablespoons chili powder</p><p>1/2 teaspoon soy sauce</p><p>2 tablespoons butter</p><p>Black and cayenne pepper</p><p><em>Procedure:</em></p><p>Mix all ingredients together except soy sauce and butter. Simmer for 30 mintues. Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 more minutes. Refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to blend completely. If you&#8217;d like your sauce to have more a hot kick, add a few drops of your favorite hot sauce.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_bbq-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Are you a Carolina Panther fan? Then you have to try this Carolina barbecue sauce that has a mustard base. Perfect on top of wings, pulled pork and ribs. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_bbq-4.jpg</photo0><caption0>Are you a Carolina Panther fan? Then you have to try this Carolina barbecue sauce that has a mustard base. Perfect on top of wings, pulled pork and ribs. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4347-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gather your ingredients for this taco dip. You&#8217;ll need cream cheese, sour cream, taco seasoning, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4347-4.jpg</photo1><caption1>Gather your ingredients for this taco dip. You&#8217;ll need cream cheese, sour cream, taco seasoning, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4349-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Combine the cream cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4349-4.jpg</photo2><caption2>Combine the cream cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4350-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Layer your dip in a glass pan and then top with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and any other ingredients you want to include. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4350-4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Layer your dip in a glass pan and then top with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and any other ingredients you want to include. </caption3><photoCredit3>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4354-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Serve the taco dip with chips and enjoy. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4354-4.jpg</photo4><caption4>Serve the taco dip with chips and enjoy. </caption4><photoCredit4>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4371-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Crescent rolls are a great option for making jalapeno poppers. All you need is the dough, spicy peppers, cream cheese and some bacon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4371-4.jpg</photo5><caption5>Crescent rolls are a great option for making jalapeno poppers. All you need is the dough, spicy peppers, cream cheese and some bacon. </caption5><photoCredit5>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4374-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dice the jalapenos removing as many seeds as possible. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4374-4.jpg</photo6><caption6>Dice the jalapenos removing as many seeds as possible. </caption6><photoCredit6>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4376-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Unroll the cresecent rolls and place a little cream cheese on each piece. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4376-4.jpg</photo7><caption7>Unroll the cresecent rolls and place a little cream cheese on each piece. </caption7><photoCredit7>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4378-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Add peppers and bacon to the cream cheese. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4378-4.jpg</photo8><caption8>Add peppers and bacon to the cream cheese. </caption8><photoCredit8>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit8></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4380-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Close each roll around the ingredients making sure to seal it as well as you can. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo9>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4380-4.jpg</photo9><caption9>Close each roll around the ingredients making sure to seal it as well as you can. </caption9><photoCredit9>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit9></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4381-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">These poppers are sure to be the hit at any party. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo10>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4381-4.jpg</photo10><caption10>These poppers are sure to be the hit at any party. </caption10><photoCredit10>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit10></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4384-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">These poppers are sure to be the hit at any party. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo11>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4384-4.jpg</photo11><caption11>These poppers are sure to be the hit at any party. </caption11><photoCredit11>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit11></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4385-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Pizza dip is a creative way to incorporate a classic at your next party. Gather cream cheese, parmesan and mozzarella with pizza sauce and your favorite pizza toppings. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo12>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4385-4.jpg</photo12><caption12>Pizza dip is a creative way to incorporate a classic at your next party. Gather cream cheese, parmesan and mozzarella with pizza sauce and your favorite pizza toppings. </caption12><photoCredit12>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit12></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4386-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Combine the cream cheese, parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese until fluffy. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo13>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4386-4.jpg</photo13><caption13>Combine the cream cheese, parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese until fluffy. </caption13><photoCredit13>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit13></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4387-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Top the mixture with pizza sauce and the shredded cheeses set aside. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo14>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4387-4.jpg</photo14><caption14>Top the mixture with pizza sauce and the shredded cheeses set aside. </caption14><photoCredit14>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit14></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4388-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Add pepperoni and then place in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the sides start to bubble. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo15>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4388-4.jpg</photo15><caption15>Add pepperoni and then place in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the sides start to bubble. </caption15><photoCredit15>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit15></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4389-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Are you a Carolina Panther fan? Then you have to try this Carolina barbecue sauce that has a mustard base. Perfect on top of wings, pulled pork and ribs. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo16>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4389-4.jpg</photo16><caption16>Are you a Carolina Panther fan? Then you have to try this Carolina barbecue sauce that has a mustard base. Perfect on top of wings, pulled pork and ribs. </caption16><photoCredit16>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit16></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4391-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Add pepperoni and then place in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the sides start to bubble. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo17>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_IMG_4391-4.jpg</photo17><caption17>Add pepperoni and then place in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the sides start to bubble. </caption17><photoCredit17>Sarah Haase | Times Leader </photoCredit17></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Dips, poppers and barbecue sauce perfect for any party</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Sarah Haase</p><p>shaase@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Test Kitchen: Super Bowl snacks guaranteed to win over any crowd