Name: Red Hot Chicken and Blue Cheese Bites
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese; 1/4 cup Buffalo wing sauce; 1/2 cup ranch cheese dressing; 1/4 cup blue cheese dressing; 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese; 20 ounces canned chicken in water, drained and shredded; 6 ounces blue cheese; 6 burrito size flour tortillas

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Creamy Buffalo chicken dip is spread onto tortillas and sprinkled with blue cheese in these Red Hot Chicken and Blue Cheese Bites.

How did y’all celebrate the fourth? For us, we used to pack a couple of coolers and head downtown. And by downtown I mean, Washington DC, downtown.

We moved to Northern Virginia in 1980. I remember it like it was yesterday. There was a potted plant between my legs the whole trip here in a blue and white suburban truck. I know it was January, because my birthday is in January and I remember getting the Crayola Caddy for my birthday. And I remember seeing Dad with it at Bradlees before I got it. Sorry, Mom! I knew I was getting it before I got it. That’s okay, though. I still LOVED it! I mean, it had crayons, markers, paints, you name it!

Of course, when we moved here, we didn’t have a lot of extra money. Who am I kidding!? We had like NO extra money. And Mom was always on the lookout for free things to do in our new city. We went to torchlight tattoos at the Naval yards, we saw the changing of the guards at tomb of the unknown, we saw countless concerts on either Capitol Hill, monuments, or the Kennedy Center. Almost all of these events are on major holidays like Fourth of July or Memorial Day.

With the exception of that one time, in the middle of winter, Mom dragged us down to the Capitol building. I was little. That’s all I really remember. We stood with a large crowd of people for such a late hour. I’m standing there with family, not really understanding what’s really going on. The next thing I know, this hand grabs me and pulls me away from my family. He’s pulling me to the front of the large crowd of people so I could see what’s about to take place. This was the changing of the guard as the last unknown soldier from the Vietnam war lie in state at the rotunda of the Capitol.

Every United States citizen can feel pride on the Fourth of July. However, experiencing it while living so close the Nation’s capital; your heart will burst with pride for living in this great nation. I have experienced, witness, and seen so many amazing things by living so close to Washington, DC. The landing of Challenger, great works of art on exhibit in the Smithsonian, the Hope Diamond, the Constitution and the Magna Carta, original photographs from countless artists including Ansel Adams and Annie Leibowitz. Living so close to Washington, DC has me spoiled on so many different levels. To say that I feel most proud during the Fourth of July is an understatement.

So, to get back to our Fourth of July picnic on the Capital lawn.

It was always two coolers of delicious food. Two because it was essentially two meals. We had to pack lunch, snacks, and dinner. The Fourth of July started with packing the cold fried chicken, macaroni salad or cole slaw, pasta salad, cookies, brownies, chips, dip, crackers, and cheese along with countless drinks into the two coolers. We would drive downtown, drop the coolers off by the Capital lawn along with the blankets and umbrellas while Mom would miraculously find a parking spot that’s a few blocks from our picnic. I have no idea how she did it!!

We would sit and listen to the radio, play cards, wander around, or just nap while we waited for the Capitol Fourth concert before the fireworks. I’ve seen Frankie Valli, Patti Labelle, Steve Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Faith Hill before she was married to Tim McGraw, Barry Manilow, Gloria Estefan, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and countless entertainers on that lawn. We’ve seen Barry Bostwick, Tony Danza, Jimmy Smits, Florence Henderson, and E. G. Marshall as hosts of the event. Then, while the 1812 Overture is playing (sometimes WITH the vocals which is always chilling to hear), the fireworks would start behind the Washington Monument.

Goose.bumps. Honestly.

There is NO BETTER way to witness the birth of this great nation then IN the Nation’s Capital. I may be biased…

For the first time since I met the hubs, the Fourth of July is on a weekday and we get to celebrate it together. That’s the first time since 2007. Nine years. NINE YEARS! That’s a long time. That’s the longest I’ve been with anyone. Ever. And that’s a lot of years to not celebrate holidays because they’re on a weekday. To not celebrate birthdays because they’re on a weekday. To not do a lot of stuff because it’s on a weekday.

You see, the hubs had a security job. It’s 24/7/365. He’s so good at it, too. He could be great at it, but his employer sucks. THEY are able to spend holidays with their family, but not him. They won’t promote him to an office position to further his career. He’s stuck in the field. Well, not any more.

Does that mean we’re going downtown for the fireworks and concert? Oh no.

It’s not as easy or stress free now. You can’t get onto the lawn until 3. You can bring food, but not so sure about a cooler. There’s a CRAPTON of people that go there now. It’s just not like it used to be. There are so many people that it’s just not worth it to us. We prefer to watch the concert and fireworks on TV. Actually, this year I’m not sure what we’ll do! If we don’t watch the concert, I hope we at least stop to see the fireworks. That’s always been my tradition since we moved here in 1980..

What family traditions do you have for the Fourth of July or your nation’s holiday? Do you have a food you serve every year?

16 servings

Red Hot Chicken and Blue Cheese Bites

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Creamy Buffalo chicken dip is spread onto tortillas and sprinkled with blue cheese in these Red Hot Chicken and Blue Cheese Bites.

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup Buffalo wing sauce
1/2 cup ranch cheese dressing
1/4 cup blue cheese dressing
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
20 ounces canned chicken in water, drained and shredded
6 ounces blue cheese
6 burrito size flour tortillas

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400.
Place the cream cheese in a mixing bowl with the wing sauce and dressings. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat until blended and creamy. Add the chicken and mozzarella, stirring until combined.
Pour the chicken mixture into a casserole dish and bake at 400 for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.
Allow to cool at least 30 minutes.
Spread 2/3 cup of the chicken mixture down the center of a flour tortilla. Place 2 tablespoons of the crumbled blue cheese down the center.
Using a sharp knife, trim to the tortilla to within a half an inch on each side of the chicken mixture. Carefully roll the tortilla, sushi style, into a tight roll. Place a toothpick every inch to secure the roll. Carefully slice between the toothpicks and place on a serving dish.
Serve with carrot and celery sticks and ranch blue cheese dipping sauce.